The Roosevelt Room might be the most punk-rock thing to come to Toronto in ages. If punk is about open defiance, well, what could be more in-your-face than opening an immensely swanky supper club during a global recession?
At least, that seems to be the general consensus. But actually, the Roosevelt Room takes more flack for its nod to decadence than it deserves. Sure, its 120-seat dining capacity and 550-person dancing capacity means it has sprawl. And yes, there are $35 cocktails as well as a burger that tips the scales at $28.95 (and boasts two kinds of beef - if that's not the definition of decadence, I don't know what is). But, to be fair, with entrees in the range of $20-$40, the Roosevelt Room falls in the normal range of most upscale restaurants and is at least a whole decimal point away from the legendary prices at the erstwhile Bymark.
It's also remarkably, incredibly beautiful, with dramatic stripes of gold on a polished black background; vaulted, angular arches; and sweeping gold figurines, all harkening back to the Art Deco styles of the 1920s and 30s. TV's The Designer Guys are the brains behind this operation; their firm The Design Agency brought the club's retro theme to life, and added modern touches like hydraulic lifts that lower the dinner tables, transforming them into bottle service booths when the club opens for dancing at 10:30pm.
After work, you'll find Bay Street wheelers and dealers at the club's bar, wearing suits and unwinding with cocktails. Later on, more well-heeled patrons make their way into the dining room to chow down on the French-influenced cuisine that was modelled on the first Academy Awards dinner menu from 1929, and includes swanky dishes like lobster thermidor and coq-au-vin (both $35). After 10:30pm, diners are politely encouraged to leave so swished-up clubbers willing to drop $20 on cover charge can get down to Top 40 hits and house music. The club also hosts cabaret girls and other entertainment acts.
Even the staff are gussied up to keep with the theme, with pretty bartenders dressed in flashy flapper outfits, and an efficient-looking concierge manning the front desk, ready to order you a taxi or send you home with some Tylenol and chewing gum.
If you really wanted to go punk and splash out, bottle service is the way to look like a high-roller here. With a minimum of two to four bottles, (depending on your poison), up to sixteen people in your party can recline in luxury in a bottle service booth. Cocktails can get expensive, too, but with mixologist Frankie Solarik behind the drinks menu, you can rest assured that they're worth it. The club's website also adds that personal security can be added for an additional fee, which, if you ask me, is just a marketing ploy. Personal security! That's even fancier than two kinds of beef in one $30 burger.
Roosevelt Room is really worth checking out, even if the thought of braving the club district gives you the chills. The stunning space is located at a relatively quiet end of the neighbourhood, at Adelaide and Peter, and has an unassuming - perhaps even purposefully unwelcoming - exterior of black walls and blocked windows. Only the red carpet and the doorman standing in front of the double-Rs gives it away. Inside, it's the most luxurious 1929 you could ever imagine, and a dream world that's worth seeing - at least for one retro cocktail, if lobster thermidor isn't quite in the budget.
Writing by Jessica McGann
Additional Details
- Beers on Tap:
- Nothing
- Signature Drink:
- Bottle service
- Bar Snacks:
- A full menu
- Patio:
- No
- Music/Genre:
- Jazz and retro French music during dinner, Top 40s, house, and live DJs after 10:30pm
- Live Music:
- No
- Who Goes There:
- The Bay Street set, scenesters, the young and posh
- Hours:
- 5pm to 2am, Monday to Saturday
Discussion
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Two kinds of beef in one burger? Do you mean two cuts, or is there another bovine genus I'm not aware of?
After reading this write up, there is clearly NOTHING essential about this resto-club. It is nothing more than over priced kitsch designed to sucker in those with nothing better to do with their money. I deeply look forward to never having hte misfortune of ending up at such an establishment. Thank you for the review.
5 photos, that all look staged, did like someone get treated to a night out by the establishment. Everything reads like it was taken out of press material
It's Saturday afternoon, I drive up from Montreal to TO, party all night in my friend's building and at 1PM head out to Roosevelt, where my friend has reserved not 1, not 2, but 3 of their over-priced alcohol.
Being dressed in presentable casual clothing, but wearing a ski jacket and Nepalese tuque, the bouncer let our whole group in except me. I tell him I'll take off my winter attire (obviously) and then I take of my tuque and flash my longish blond hair at which point the bouncer crossed all-limits of politeness by saying: "you can't get in with that hair" to which I respond: "what am I supposed to do? get a hair cut?".
Considering that my friend was dropping an insane amount of cash, they let me in. But it was too late, my night was ruined. Anyways, the music wasn't too good either.
I've been to this club twice now and I really think it is over-rated. The bouncers are both arrogant and inept. As a young professional who was attending an event where our party had bottle service, we were treated incredibly poorly. In a city where there is so much choice and nightlife, I strongly encourage you to NOT go to this bar over the many other choices available.
I personally will never go here again, and will not plan any events here in the future. I will l be happy when this bar closes down as it inevitably will. Not worth your money, time or effort and incredibly overly pretentious with no real reason to be.
Food is mediocre, ambience is predictable and crowd and staff such a cliche.
Amazing venue! Loved the food and the staff were very nice and helpful! The music kept me dancing all night. overall, one of the best times I've had in a long while!