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Eat & Drink

The Bier Markt Opens on King West

Posted by Tim / August 9, 2008

29 Comments

Bier MarktThe Esplanade Bier Markt has expanded beyond its flagship location south of St. Lawrence Market to a large below-level space at the corner of King and Portland.

Located in the former home of the Amsterdam Brewery and the same building as the Spoke Club, the newest member of what we can now refer to as the Bier Markt family just opened last Monday after about a year of planning and renovations.

This Bier Markt has the same menu as the original location except it has added a breakfast menu that's available during the week. But beyond the eggs and pancakes, expect the favourites here to be the mussels (the restaurants combined are now the largest retail purchaser of mussels in Ontario), the seafood tower, the three cheese and lager fondue, and the Aberdeen Angus steaks brought in from Pennsylvania.

The restaurant seats 200 people with an extra 130 chairs up for grabs on the side patio.

With the Bier Markt's arrival on King West, it will be interesting to see the competitive battles heating up east and west on the strip. Expect The Banknote and Fynn's of Temple to be the main sources these guys hope to woo their customer base from.

Bier Markt Toronto

Bier Markt King

Bier Markt Menu

Discussion

29 Comments

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Pramesh / August 9, 2008 at 03:01 pm
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I can't go to the St. Lawrence Bie Market... It's like a campus pub for college grads who still thing they're in college. If the new location draws a better clientele and drops the live band, I might try it out. With that said, I dtill prefer Beer Bistro at King/Yonge. Better beer, better food, better service.
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Johnny / August 9, 2008 at 03:14 pm
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That place on Lawrence is a rip off...Fucking $7.50 for a wheat beer?

If i am gonna spend big on beer i hit up smokeless joe's on John.

Best mussels in the game!
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Corina / August 9, 2008 at 03:20 pm
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I'm not a big fan of the St. Lawrence location either, but I might try this one.

I live in the King W area - there's nothing like the Banknote's ribs.
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mugrubson / August 9, 2008 at 04:14 pm
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I'm gonna check this place out, if they don't impress though I wont be back, there is just to much competition in the area. Whoever likes the Banknotes ribs has not had real ribs before because they are obviously boiled and than slathered with tons of average BBQ sauce to make up for it. With the look of the restaurant if they have good food they will take many customers away from the Banknote as it reminds me of a western saloon, except scuzzier.
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rek / August 9, 2008 at 04:16 pm
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Th?t ?s ? t?rr?bl? st?p?d s?gn.
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Joe / August 9, 2008 at 04:45 pm
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Gotta second the recommendation of Beer Bistro over biermarkt. The Bistro is expensive, sure, but its atmosphere and food quality, as well as servers that actually really know beer, make it a win in a landslide.
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Adam / August 9, 2008 at 05:29 pm
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I'm not big on the Bank Note's food considering there price either. I live right around the corner of King & Portland so I could see this becoming a regular haunt during the weekdays after work. I'm afraid that with the Devil's Martini being so close, I'm going to have to beat the 905'ers off with 2x4s on the weekend.
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Corina / August 9, 2008 at 05:45 pm
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You boil ribs, then you BBQ... but that's a debate for another post ;)
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jamesmallon / August 9, 2008 at 09:31 pm
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I too liked 'Smokeless Joe's' on John, but that won't get me back in the 'Entertainment District' at night. You see, I'm over 30, live in the 416, and don't pick fights for entertainment: three strikes.

Bier Markt an expensive place for college types? Too right! Leave before the dance floor is busy, unless you enjoy dodging puke more than me.
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Teena in Toronto / August 10, 2008 at 12:42 am
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We enjoyed it when it was the Portland Alehouse (after Amsterdams left). We'll check it out and give it a chance.
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Bruttium / August 10, 2008 at 10:26 am
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@jamesmallon

Funny that! When I lived in the 905 I used to frequent the Entertainment District almost on a weekly basis. When I moved to within minutes of the district just before turning 30, I effectively did not set foot there again except to go to the movies on occasion.
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Corina / August 10, 2008 at 11:22 am
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Heh, having moved from Simcoe/University to King W, I cant tell you how much more entertained I am (vs. disgusted)
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jamesmallon / August 10, 2008 at 02:55 pm
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@Bruttium, welcome to urbane adulthood! It really is better to wake up beside someone you can inroduce to your friends.
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ROb / August 10, 2008 at 05:32 pm
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I went in last night for a beer with my girlfreind... sat at a table inside due to the weather and was told they would not serve us beer if we did not order food.. NICE for a place that calls itself the Bier Market!.. Also hours on the door state that they close at 1am???
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Andrew / August 11, 2008 at 06:11 pm
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The New Beir Market is not bad seeing as no bar in the King Central West ever has a combination of good beer, food and service. Banknote is alright despight the pet Mouse they used to have running around the restaurant...I forget what they named it. If you would like to see BAD beer, food and service at it's peak it would suggest The Wheat Sheaf
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hungrybum / August 12, 2008 at 10:25 am
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$14 for a burger. Ben Dover!
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Jason / August 12, 2008 at 03:32 pm
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Rob:
I think it's more of a restaurant than a bar anyhow. I might try it once but I doubt it'll displace Cloak and Dagger as my beer bar of choice.
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sugar_jane / August 12, 2008 at 04:25 pm
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Don't. Waste. Your. Money.
Nothing spectacular. Went for lunch with a friend. Had two iced teas, a steak sandwich (which was very dry!) and a chicken sandwich. The chicken sandwich was tasty, however, both dishes only came with a sad little side of potato salad. Our bill was $37.00!!
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Toby / August 13, 2008 at 12:01 pm
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Beer Bistro is nowhere near as good an experience as the Bier Markt!! Bier Markt has twice the beers, much better and more European food (beer bistro has some strange selections...) and the Bier Markt always has a good crowd and a buzz.
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Beer_is _Better / August 19, 2008 at 03:22 pm
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Sorry but ddi I see that Sugar_Jane had 2 Iced Teas at the Bier Markt??
I am disappointed in myself for even commenting on that waste of time, but felt obliged.
If you're too cheap to order a Beer don't bother reviewing.
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Eric / August 22, 2008 at 03:24 pm
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I live a block away so know the area pubs well. My favourite place is Bar Wellington (Portland and Wellington) for the great patio, cozy atmosphere, good beer selection and friendly servers. (And... not so much for the food!) In my opinion, the reason to go to the Bier Markt is for .. the beer. If you want to try some great, different varieties on tap not available elsewhere, this is the place to go in the area. The inside is noisy and cavernous, but the patio is nice (though crowded). The staff (at opening time) seemed to have not been trained very well -- and the beer I wanted -- Denison's Wiewbier -- wasn't on tap yet. (That will change with time, I hope.)Food is a cut above most pubs, though you pay for it. In short: go here for the beer.
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Courtney / August 26, 2008 at 02:35 pm
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I'll Take Fynn's Temple Bar over the Bier Market or Banknote any day. Their new pulled pork sandwich is Deelish. The service is always great, and I love the atmosphere. Very welcoming and warm. They are opened late (2AM), and there is no pressure to order food with your beer. They also have monthly special events like whisky and beer tastings. Very good times!
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yummi / August 27, 2008 at 02:29 pm
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I agree... Fynn's is a great place. The prices are reasonable, and the food is always good. I go there all the time. I've had the pulled pork before, it is really good. They used to have it once in a while as a daily special, glad to see its now a part of the regular menu.
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Laura / January 18, 2009 at 08:34 pm
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The bouncers are a bunch of assholes
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alwaysrightguy / June 21, 2009 at 01:52 pm
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King West = RIP.

That is, unless Hummers and fake tans are your thing... oh also popped collars - big on that.
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the zoologist / May 23, 2011 at 06:32 pm
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100 Bears!!!!!!!!!????????
I'M THEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ken L. / September 19, 2011 at 10:47 am
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Don't go to the Bier Markt. They are bullshit when it comes to bringing innocent birthday cupcakes for someones birthday. They treat it as if we will "poison someone". If there was a chance, don't go. I want to make sure this is out and everyone is aware of this. It will be known.
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Zee / November 23, 2011 at 12:40 am
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Do not go to the Beir Markt for food! Its waaay over priced for what you get, I ordered a burger and the meat was very dry like saw dust and luke warm. And if you don't tip the waiters 80$ on a 100$ bill they'll chase you out the door asking you to pay more!
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Kevin replying to a comment from Ken L. / February 5, 2012 at 05:01 am
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I have some experience with this sort of thing. It's actually a Health Code violation to bring in outside food. Obviously they just don't want to get shut down. Who brings food to a restaurant anyhow?
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