My friends and I happened to stumble into this hidden jewel on Spadina Ave in Toronto. I laugh at that statement because we stumbled into the place and we were stumbling out of it after we went there. It was during happy hour on a weekend and the place was nowhere near as crowded as I imagined it would be. The place is a good size but I guess when more patrons come it might get crowded but luckily during our visit that was not an issue.
The ambiance of the place is traditional tavern. The quintessential long bar where the libations reside, exposed brick walls, and dark brown furniture to let guests know that this place means business are all present. You can take your fancy auburn woodwork somewhere else. Then add a little tea light candle to set the mood and I felt like I was in another country. Oh wait I was. And man did I appreciate mingling with the local Canucks.
The server was fantastic and her recommendations were right on. The bartender knew how to make my friends and I feel welcome and I even took a selfie with her and the server. They even gave us tips on what to do in the area afterwards which really helped considering we would be popping out of the tavern after a happy hour stint and you know what that means!
We ordered drinks which I care not to recall but the food I do remember. Mainly because I was smart enough to take a picture of the menu BEFORE the drinks arrived (haha win!) We shared the tempura cauliflower, chick peas fritter, beef cheek and smoke cheddar poutine, mozzarella sticks, and for some sweet tooth satisfaction had the Nutella cream filled beignets. Man Canadians have the whole poutine thing down to a science. When I say that my favorite dish was the beef cheek and cheddar poutine it was because I could have eaten three bowls worth of it all at once. I mean come on it's super tender beef cheeks on top of fries drenched with smoked cheddar and a smidgen of pickled peppers to add the extra zing that elevates the dish to what it is. The tempura cauliflower was the dark horse with it's flavorful punch that made me like cauliflowers! The chick peas fritter and mozzarella sticks were the typical fried finger foods and the Nutella beignets finished the meal on such a delicious note I couldn't help but lick my fingers clean of the extra Nutella that made it's way to it.
If you are ever on this part of town while visiting Toronto please stop by. The Tavern by Trevor is a gem of a find. I found it worthwhile to visit and would do so again if I'm ever back in the area.