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| - It's only been about a week since this place ("finally" as they themselves acknowledge on their website) opened, so this could easily warrant a follow up review, but I did go there within the first couple days. It was empty and people started to trickle in after about a half hour to 45 minutes.
Didnt stop my wife and i from ordering 4 shots of tequila and 4 beers and chatting it up with the bartender, who kind of looks like he could be an action hero straight out from lock stock and two smoking barrels or something. apparently it took them forever to get a liquor licence and they are working on cracking the patio for next summer. Not such an easy feat, as they have to get proper signatures from their local neighbours.
I think though, that it is bound to happen and three cheers for that because it will surely be packed when the weather is nice. As it stands presently, one gets the feeling that they are lounging in an old, seasoned hotel bar or saloon even. Theyve got the lights turned down real low and original large tin ceiling tiles hung on a few walls as bulletproof wallpaper. the wall that is left is papered as though it could belong in an old new york tenement building or at your grandmother's first apartment when she moved to toronto way back when. this perhaps is what really cinches the saloon feel for me.
we sit comfortably on a couch, sinking back and resting our beers on the coffee table below, that once surely was used to serve tea, perhaps coffee but likely never beer. Every piece here (and here, every chair and couch is a "piece") is vintage and in great condition.
The only thing that puts a damper on it for me, is the widescreen tv above the bar. totally not necessary and more nuisance than anything.
They have beer like Blanche Du Chamblis on tap and Stiegel in a can. Dont ever feel, if you ever do, like you have to wear anything in particular here, its very homey and currently unpretentious, but they also dont have an established clientele yet. But my guess from what ive seen so far is that itll be an older one, late twenties and up perhaps; and the post restaurant crowd in the area.
i look forward to my return.
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