I don't care that the service is sometimes crap, or that the food isn't really always super fantastic. This is a great local for me to go with a friend, on a date, or with a group. I love the patio, love that it's not full of typical Bloor West pretention and love love love that when I ordered the ploughmans meal it came with a jar of Branston Pickle - and a spoon.
The English born girl in me shed a tear of joy at that very moment.
The red damask walls inside fill me with joy, and a friend pointed out that some of the tables inside have marks on the tables from people's elbows. A sign of a local pub that has heard many good stories and its fair share of drunken eves.
Sorry Firkin up the road, I've always loved you but the Dark Horse has bumped you to my second choice in Bloor West.