I stopped at the Irv Gastro Pub to pick up a to go order so I could have food on my drive home back to Ohio. Jackie had just opened up the bar. She was setting up while I looked the menu over. I was going to get a burger but their brunch menu looked so appealing I decided to get the breakfast poutine as well as the regular poutine. I know it sounds redundant but we don't get poutine in Ohio so I kind of felt like it was a necessity. While the food was being prepared I looked around the bar. It was very clean and had a really cool vibe to it. I loved the wooden stools and everything about the place. I chatted with Jackie while I waited for the food. She was super nice and told me all about the place. There was an "in memory of" plate at a seat I asked about so she told me about Scotty, a former patron. During my drive back to Ohio I ate my breakfast poutine. It was advertised as the food to cure a hangover. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if I had a hangover. I haven't had the regular poutine yet because I was full from the breakfast poutine and my drive home is only 4 1/2 hours, but I imagine it's nothing less than impressive. The Irv is a fantastic place and with Toronto being only 4 1/2 hours away I plan to go there again. So to all you locals I recommend that you go in there and pay this place a visit. It's a great place with great food and great people. It's a place where they clearly respect their patrons, as evidenced by Scotty's permanent spot at the bar. And for those who don't know, Irv, the namesake, passed away from ALS. ALS is a horrible disease and if my supporting this establishment can even remotely support people with ALS then this place gets my vote. These folks are awesome people who do awesome things. I will support them anyway I can. I only wish I had found this place before the day I was leaving! Oh well. Reason #1 to come back!
(Julie)