I've never been to this place any other time other than in summer. For some reason, this place, including Shops on Don Mill, loses its appeal when the weather gets cold.
When this place was first opened, I had a ridiculous hard time trying to book seats for my friends and was never successful trying to door crash the place. (Although there were numerous times when I was offered a seat on lap of older gentlemen at the bar - to which I rejected.) My experience up to that point was very negative and I strongly disliked the place.
My perception on this place changed last summer when me and my colleague were able to score a seat on their patio in mid-afternoon one hot summer day. We had 2 dozen oysters with other appetizers and shared about 6 pints of beer with a good number of cocktails. Although there were still some older, perverted looking guys eyeing us in the not so far distance (two tables over), we had a good time.
This experience made me wanting to go back again. So I did the following week. On the patio again, enjoying cold drink and juicy oysters.
When the weather got a bit colder, I returned and sat at the bar side. I started to notice it wasn't as hard to score a table at this place anymore. My experience this time was rather dull and not that exciting. I found the indoor experience was not that different from other restaurant/bars. My exciting and vow to taste every beer off their menu soon died after I've tried most of the fruity/light beer that were more suitable to my taste bud.
I will like this place, only in the summer. I will be back on the patio with a beer and an oyster in each hand.