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| - The Caledonian only got better on my repeat visit. A confluence of elements created the perfect meal - cozy dimly-lit dark wood interior, gorgeous bar, quiet chatter, amazing owner, delicious food, wonderful beer selection. It's the perfect place for a casual date night (if you enjoy your date). The service was also top-notch, and not for nothing, but the servers and the owner were all running themselves silly to provide their guests with the best experience in the most unpretentious manner.
The owner is a no-nonsense but delightful and warm woman who darts around the place like a pistol, clearing plates and spouting out wonderful things in a Scottish accent, such as "Of course we've got room for you! Jump on in there!" This, my friends, is what you want from a front-of-the-house manager. Straightforward and charming, she made the experience go from good to great. My husband swore that she'd go zipping across the room on a horse just like the main character in Brave at any moment, gorgeous wild red hair flying behind her!
The selection of Innis and Gunn here is fabulous - they have the original, the oak aged and a seasonal. In my opinion, go with the oak aged. It goes perfectly with just about anything! We got the Taste of Scotland appetizer...something right up my alley. Fried haggis, sausage rolls and a Scotch egg. Beautifully plated and a wonderful mix of textures - squishy, crunchy, salty, moist. Just the right amount to warm two people up with a couple pints of beer. As we usually do, we split an entree as well, this time being the steak pie with a side order of neeps. Mmm, mashed turnips - a favorite of mine from childhood that I haven't had in ages! The steak in the pie was fork-tender and the crust was homemade too. It was a nice little portion and, after our starter and beers, just the right amount of food. Of course this left room for dessert. We got the fried Mars bar. Every time I have this dish, I'm amazed by how good something so simple can taste -- that melted chocolate and carmel, covered with the crispy batter and a little dollop of ice cream is the perfect way to finish off the night!
The crowd at the Caledonian is mostly people in their late-20s to mid-50s. It's couples and groups catching up, it's not a place to go on a girls' night or a guys' night to pull someone of the opposite sex. Once you've found them at another bar, though, this is the perfect place to get to know your date better without killing your bank account. This isn't to say that the place wouldn't be perfect for groups to do organized whiskey tastings. Looks perfect for that!
A favorite that we will certainly return to as much as we can in Toronto, the Caledonian conjures warm and happy memories just as I write this review. We'll be back!
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