Ok... this is a no brainer for me. I'm going with 5 stars. This is now officially my favourite beer pub in Toronto. Having previously lived in both Montreal and Vancouver, I'm willing to go on a limb and say Barhop is the best beer pub in Canada. I returned many, many times since my original review and wanted to share a few updates:
The fantastic service continues to be very consistent - either on a busy Friday / Saturday night, a Sunday afternoon, or a quiet weekday. The staff appear to be real supporters of the craft beer scene (and friendly people in general). The outstanding staff is becoming a competitive advantage for Barhop.
I think what really sets Barhop apart from other beer pubs is the delicious food. I'm never disappointed. Easily one of the city's best Club sandwiches, tasty fries, a killer Gnocchi poutine and other favourite selections like Deep fried pickles, Mushroom risotto balls and muscles. Food prep is also very consistent - the same quality on all my visits.
The rotating beer menu on tap continues to improve and is currently the best mix since I started coming here. Keep the Beau's Wag the Wolf.
I also want to share a recent experience that supports my 5 star rating. I ordered a beer that was placed in front of me at the bar. I didn't pay tmuch attention but when one of the owners (At least I think he was) walked by, he did a double take and quickly concluded it didn't look right. He took it back, changed the keg and poured me a fresh pint. There is a good chance I wouldn't have noticed since I never tried this particular beer but he clearly wanted to make sure I enjoyed this beer the way it was intended to be served.
Needless to say I will be back again.... and again....
BK