Tuesday, December 28th - Beer Bistro - Toronto

Beer Flight at Beer Bistro

On the hunt for artisinal beers for O's boyfriend in Downtown Toronto over Christmas.  We had planned on a Brewery tour of a microbrewery out in the 'newish' distillery district but oddly enough they only do one a day. WTF?  Oh well.  O recommended we walk up to the Beer Bistro not too far from the Union Station.  First reaction?  Not at all what I expected.  I had anticipated something a bit more 'pubby'.  It isn't.  It is quite slick. 

The small/medium floor plan is divided into more formal dining area and then a 'bar' area that looks like the lounge in a men's club with condo-style leather banquets facing a wall of beer.  I should have taken that as my hint when we decided to order snacks.  When I spotted Potato Skins with Salmon and Capers, I assumed it would be typical bar fare.  It too was not.  They were mini Potato Nugget Skins, topped with Smoked Salmon and Microgreens.  It was quite nice but expectations are everything right? and this wasn't quite the warm-up, comforting bellyful I had hoped for, but quite nice.

Salmon Potato Skins

Since we had planned to try a few beers, including their option for a 'Beer Flight'.   A taster of about 2 oz of three beers from their extensive selection, A decided we should get more snacks and ordered the Three Dips and Chips.  It too was not what you would anticipate.  We receiped a small plate of Flatbread 'chips with the three dips: Red Pepper Puree, Hummous and Tzatsiki.  The dips were fresh and tasty. 

Three Dips - Beer Bistro

Given the track record thus far of 'snacks' in the 10-12$ range leaving us wanting, we were sufficiently tempered for lowered expectations on the portion of Frites we decided we needed.  Funny though.   I guess you can always count on Frites.  They were fresh cut Potatoes with Smoked Tomato Ketchup and Dijon Mayo.  We didn't even leave the polite, 'no we couldn't possibly' crumbs on the bottom of the cone.

Frites - Beer Bistro

Looking back, I supposed being situated in the banking district may influence the style but still there are a number of other establishments in the beer, pub genre in the area where a potato skin is a potato skin and not a nugget skin ;^)  Still, it's about expectations.   It was a nice harbour from the cold and the beer selection was very good and the staff were very knowledgeable in their recommendations.  Would I go back?  I would have to be in a very particular mood and probably not for barfood.

Cuisine: Modern, North American
Cost: $$$
Ambiance: Relaxed, Chic, like Yuppy condo
Service: Knowledgable and efficient

Beerbistro

18 King St E
(416) 861-9872
Toronto, ON M5C
http://www.beerbistro.com/



Beer and Appetisers



.

Tuesday, December 28th - Bier markt - Esplanade - Bland Disappointment

Swiss Beer Fondue

O's boyfriend is a beer-lover.  O is my sister.  She and her man live in the Bay Area.  He was told by a customs officer that if he loved beer, he HAD to try this one local Toronto microbrewery.  Having realised, too late, that we missed the one and only tour they do per day (WTF), we decided instead to make sure we took him somewhere he could have some nice beer.  We had a decent selection earlier in afternoon at the Beer Bistro on King so I had high hopes for the Bier Markt. 

Admittedly, I had not been there in over 5 years and back then, it was only to throw back some cocktails with some girlfriends.  I was sorely disappointed by the revisit.  It's funny because given the pseudo swanky exterior with the awning and carpet, you expect something entirely different to the dowdy, heavy, wood interior.  No matter, we were there for the beer and food. 

Second disappointment was the beer list.  Whilst there was a variety, it was rather 'run of the mill'.  Alot of big names and very few local beers.  It was not what we expected from a place with Bier in the name.  We 'settled' on a couple of acceptably interesting, yet unfortunately, branded beers. 

Third disappointment came from the service.  Our server was pushy yet absent.  How does he do that?  We rarely saw him.  Both our kerosene table lights burnt out while we sat there and no one came to relight them.  We never saw a refill of water.  Yet for the brief interludes that he was with us, it felt like he was trying to sell us a used car.  Even A, O's boyfriend mentioned it and he's quite sympathetic to service staff since he spent time as a waiter as a student. 

Fourth disappointment was the food.  The food was, well, not good.  I had the Swiss Beer Fondue. It came with an assortment of Gerkins, Asparagus, Tomatoes and Bread.  The dippables, though quite mean in portion size were the only good thing on my plate.  The Cheese was barely above room temperature.  The tinly little votive did little to nothing accept add to the ambiance particularly since two of our table lights had burned out.  It was Swiss and Emmenthal, both nutty and distinctive cheeses. The Cheese fondue, sadly, was VERY floury and bland.  It was all filler.  Very disappointing for the size and cost.  O had the Smoked Gouda Fondue with Bacon.  The Bacon and smokiness helped 'mask' the filler fondue but that floury texture was still there.  It was like eating papier mache paste.   She only ordered that after the special of the day was sold out and we were there for an early supper.  A decided to order the BBQ Chicken Flatbread.  It was dry and sadly topped.  We don't recall the dish being described as including mushrooms but they were all over the bread.  I didn't mind because I took the discarded Mushrooms from A, who hates them.

Smoked Cheese Bacon Fondue

We considered ordering more drinks but we never saw our server again.  Our food was brought by two very efficient food expediters.  They were polite and fast but also did not relight our table lights or offer us any water.  We were soooo close to opting for Fiona McCool's one door down and we really wish we had.

Cuisine: Dutch/German Beer house
Cost: $$$-$$$$ (Starters ~$20)
Service: Absent yet pushy
Ambiance: Dark and heavy
Bier Markt - Esplanade
St Lawrence Market/Old Town
58 The Esplanade
(416) 862-7575
Toronto, ON M5E

Friday, Aug 20th - Stellas Poutine with Miso Gravy and Wit Beer Poutine

Stella's Poutine with Miso and Wit Beer Gravy

An unexpected Sunny Friday found us on a Patio on Stella's on Cambie. It was meant to rain so what else could you do but celebrate with Artisan Beer and Poutine. 

Stella's in a ridge of Cambie which fills with sunlight and a fabulous view on a good day.  It is on the corner of 17th and Cambie so their patio wraps around except for the inset barbershop which is on the exact corner.  Funny.  The interior, which I only saw on the way to the loo, is unexpectedly sleek.  All leather and clean dark wood lines.  The patio is far simpler than that.

We were quite lucky to arrive when we did.  The line up for seats outside extended to the sidewalk where the impatient stared longingly as the series of our empty glasses were replenished. 

Their Beer is really their specialty.  They serve food but I think, to a small extent as a secondary thought to the beer.  Their Beer menu is like a book and their servers know, really KNOW, each one.  When you order, they will ask you what you fancy.  Dry, Wet, Sweet, Fruity, Malty, Clean, ..... Though somewhat less so on the wine, they still went out of their way to ask if I wanted to switch glasses when I changed  up the white I was drinking for another white.

I had a nice Folonari Pinot Gris followed by a far to oaky Chilean Errazuriz.  Well, it was too oaky for me and far too oaky for poutine :^P. 

I was a bit noshy though we had been eating heaps of their hand cut Potato Chips.  I ordered their Poutine made with handcut fries with Cheese Curds and Miso and Blanche the Chambly Gravy.  The Blanche de Chambly wheat beer added a nice aromatic quality to the gravy but I thought the Miso made it too salty.  Therefore, the bites that did not have any Cheese were unpalatable.  I will say, that aside briefly, I liked that the Gravy did not run out after the top layer of fries.  Because of the salt though, I could not finish the Poutine.

My friend ordered the Calamari.   I was not really impressed.  It was plain-unbattered, lightly fried Calamari rings powdered in Paprika and served with a Yogurt sauce.  The Garlic in the sauce over powered the Calamari and since it was unbattered, which I don't mind, but was otherwise unattended to, was just a vehicle for the Garlicky Yogurt sauce.   I think I'll have to come back for a dinner because I did enjoy the patio and the drinks.


Cost: $$-$$$
Service: Knowledgeable and attentive
Ambience: Sleek beer room
Wine list: limited (but it is a bier haus)

Stella’s on Cambie

3305 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V5Z
(604) 874-6900
www.stellasbeer.com

Food - Bar Tapas

Patio Service

.