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| - To date, this is my favourite pub in Toronto. I've been meaning to stop in for ages and whilst on a hearty bike ride from the east end to the west end, my friend and I spotted this homey little place with it's unassuming white picketed patio.There weren't any spaces in the shade, so we opted for indoors since my Ginger pal isn't much of a sun bunny.
6 oysters were pricey at $20, but Irish oysters are among my faves so I sprung for them. My fave are Galway Flats, but they were featuring some other Irish ones that were almost as delicious-- especially when washed down with a Guinness. The brackish scent of fresh oysters, beer and whiskey was heavy in the air and I hadn't felt so close to Ireland since hopping the pubs in Galway five years ago.
My friend had the Mushrooms on Toast, which was three times the size that we were expecting. We were overcome by the delicious button, shitake and oyster mushrooms on top of crusty multigrain soda bread and crowned with Caschel Blue Cheese. This is pub snacking at it's finest!
Service was spot on and as soon as our drinks got low, we were offered another.
Embarrassingly, I loved this place so much that my boyfriend and I popped in for Irish Brekky on the patio today. Another pint of Guinness was washed down with an alarmingly non greasy and perfect plate consisting of two bangers, two strips of bacon, white and black pudding (proper and delish) with home simmered beans, roasted tomato and a fried egg. For $15 this is absolute breakfast perfection. The service was, again, spot on, with a couple of servers looking after us and never a long wait for anything but no rushed feeling either.
This little gem of a pub is not cheap, but it's a whole lot cheaper than Ireland-- with almost all of the flavour. A great bet for a night on the piss with your mates, or a brunch on the patio with your beloved.
I'd say that I'll be back, but I've already covered that base.
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