Restaurants
Bar Hop
Bar Hop is an ambitious venture on King West, brought to the street by Rob Pingitore in the space that was once Libra Lounge. His mission, amongst other things, is to shine a spotlight on craft beer by pairing it with upscale pub food. In an area already rife with watering-holes, It'll be a challenge to make a name for this new venture.
The ample drink offerings cover the walls, and the beer menu is a dazzling seven pages, broken down by origin, alcohol percentage, and flavour profile. There are 25 craft brews on tap and Bar Hop announces when they tap a new keg on Twitter. The long list of options is almost intimidating, but the staff are happy to help narrow down your choices.
Six different mussel preparations are on the menu, of which I chose the Lager & Jerk and Chipotle ($14.95). These were two lbs of the fattest mussels I've ever had. The rich and savoury broth was almost as thick as gravy, and two huge slices of bread weren't enough to sop all of it up.
Dinner took a weird and terrible turn with the Jalapeno Chicken And White Bean Chili ($16.95). We expected a steamy bowl of, well, chili. Instead we got a plate of beans rehydrated with lime juice hiding the piece of shoe leather masquerading as a chicken breast. The dish was irredeemably foul and promptly sent back.
Thankfully it was comped, and we got the Turkey Burger with fries ($13.95) instead. Served on a multi grain flat bun, it was unexpectedly juicy and well seasoned, with crispy prosciutto making it better than a BLT. A good save.
There are only two desserts on the menu, but on the first visit the Beeramisu ($9) had run out. I got to try it on the second go and it is exactly what I expected: tiramisu with lager flavoured syrup — in other words, worth the wait.
As a drinks destination Bar Hop has completely won me over. I want to go back and hit up the bar menu Pokemon-style. As a dining venue, it has some more work to do, but I see a lot of promise mixed in with the errors. I hope it sticks around long enough for me to get through the beer menu.
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I am also not a fan of the Jalapeno chicken.
I also agree with "moron"s(?) comment, get a life J!
enough of your first world problems!
THANKS!
I actually checked this place out after it had just opened 4 weeks prior. The service was perfect. Barely any waiting, our beers and food were brought almost immediately (and the place was quite packed), but those fresh oysters took the million dollars. My friends and I visited Bar Hop on a Tuesday, which is when they have their Buck-A-Shuck deal. Let's just say we shut down the oyster bar that night, easily having about 30 oysters between 3 of us. We also ordered a plate of mussels. I had the Chipotle Mussels in Coconut broth and they were superb. Super fresh and tender, cooked just right. I could have used a little more coconut flavour in the broth but that's just a personal preference. My friend ordered the Mussels a la Vodka and they were very tasty. Again, the cook nailed it. Lastly, my other friend ordered their version of Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa in a Dijon Cream Sauce. It was amazing.
While the food alone was great. The beer selection is incredible.
The fact that they have Unibroue Ephemere Pomme which I have only found in Quebec speaks for itself.
I wish I could go back there more often and become a regular, it's that good!
From the article: "In an area already rife with watering-holes, It'll be a challenge to make a name for this new venture." ...This bit is really misleading. Sure, there are a bunch of other bars in this area but really none that cater to the craft-beer enthusiast. Bar Hop is quickly becoming my favorite beer bar in the city.
There is one issue, and that is the location. Sitting on that patio, you are privy to some pretty douchey street traffic, but it's definitely worth it for the convenience. I can't always make it to the depths of some far off awesome neighbourhood so this is a compromise well worth making. As well it really contrasts the vibe of Wvrst down the street which I also love for their beer, but isn't so great for having a sit down with some friends over a few pints/hours.
The beer banter to be had with the staff is on the level of Volo, and it's those conversations that really set the best places apart for me. I'll be back many many times.
Try reading reviews made by established critics to help guide you next time.
Best of luck !
Very good starting place for the night. Highly recommended.
P.S. To those who comment on spelling and grammar mistakes, make sure to use proper spelling and grammar before you bust other peoples' chops.