Restaurants
The Dog & Bear
The Dog & Bear pub is the latest iteration of 1100 Queen Street West, a space best known as the former home of the Social. Converted by members of the team behind Parts and Labour and the Hoxton, the once club-like space is now an Empire-styled pub, and one that should prove quite popular in a neighbourhood that's witnessed a massive influx of condo-dwellers over the last few years. While there's no shortage of restaurant and bar options in the area, the Dog & Bear still fills a hole with its sports-friendly atmosphere and traditional pub offerings.
The walls are stone and hung with old-style tapestries, while large televisions above the bar face comfy booths on the opposite wall (thus giving them solid sight-lines). My visit happened to fall during a Euro Cup match between England and France, which left but one table available with out a wait — the one that doesn't have a complete view of the televisions. I didn't mind though, because on any other day, the gorgeous wooden table set against the window would make for an ideal people-watching spot.
As far as the food and drink goes, the beer selection is decent (I counted around 20 draught offerings or so), but by noon on game day they were already running dry on over half their stock. This wasn't a total loss as there was still plenty to choose from and the type of snafu one tends to chalk up to the early period of an establishment's life. And besides, we were there for the pub grub, and first up was the fish and chips ($17).
The fish was tender without being soggy, and the batter was nicely crisp. The fries were brown and soft, like those one expects from a chip truck. It's not the best fish and chips I've ever had, but the dish isn't an overall miss either. The highlight was the tangy slaw, which added som much needed crunchy texture and and some acidity to cut through all the batter. For $17, I'd expect a bit bigger portion, but nothing's altogether cheap here.
Next, I went with another pub staple, the cottage pie ($12). It was accompanied by a delicious onion gravy that was served separately, meant to be added once I'd cracked the crust of the mashed potatoes. I had a few bites before adding the gravy, and it was a wise choice.
The pie is made with an adequately fatty ground beef, so it has an amazingly full beefy taste, and is complemented nicely by the buttery potatoes. There could have been more vegetables in there, but the onion gravy, once added, brought out such a rich flavour combination that I hardly even missed them.
After all that we were rather full, but I had to get my favourite British dessert — sticky toffee pudding ($6). It's a simple treat: just soft cake covered in thick, sweet sauce. The pudding served by Dog & Bear is indeed sticky and sweet, but it unfortunately also came served in enough butter to poach a fish.
There was not nearly enough toffee flavour to justify the amount of liquid. Sticky toffee pudding is not a dessert for the calorie-conscious to begin with, but this was a bit much. Once I got to the centre of the dish, I felt like I was eating an over-zealously buttered muffin.
While there were a few misses with the food, the overall experience here was pretty good, made even more exciting by the game. I'll likely be back to have that cottage pie again, and hopefully the beer selection will be as diverse as it's intended to be.
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Ordered pints and food exactly as the game kicked off. After repeated requests, I finally received my pint at the 40 minute mark of the game. By the time the second half had rolled by (already an hour after ordering), we noticed tables beside us that had come in after we had ordered were already eating their food, and finally our server came sheepishly back to inform us that "the kitchen messed up all the chits" and assured us food was coming, only after asking "what did you order again?"
A paltry $13 breakfast was served to us after an hour and a half wait, and while the food was good, the experience had left a sour taste in our mouths. At this point we had decided that the service was so abysmal that we couldn't leave a tip.
Unfortunatly we wouldn't even get that chance, as after the game was over, we asked repeatedly over the course of 40 minutes for our bill. After 4 requests to our server (who wasn't busy), we said fuck it and walked out.
Worst experience ever.
I was there today, and the fries were very different from what they were when I was there last week, which is a good thing. Seems like they may have switched the potato they were using. Maybe too many complaints.
$17 may be a little much, but if it's line caught fish like they are serving, I'm sure that's worked into the price. And if the fries stay like they were tonight then I'll be pleased.
Was hungry for fish, went to the grocery store and purchased High Liner fish sticks. Not too bad, not too greasy, more fish too and WAY cheaper than the Dog & Bar. Woof woof.
The owners who run this place are idiots (i forget the other douche bags who are partners, but 1 name that sticks out is Jesse). I am surprised this place even turned into a bar.
The staff that work at these venues are uneducated, but the position the employees hold at dog&bar, hoxton etc fits their positions uniquely.
avoid this place.
The Dog And Bear (formerly a place called the social that I am told was a hole)is an English style pub located at 1100 Queen Street West, in between Lisgar and Dovercourt.
The bar opened about two months ago and has been generating a steady flow of regulars and new comers alike ever since, the wise decision to open at the beginning of Euro 2012 having a echoing effect on any locals who turned up to scream blue murder at their blood connections, which means the place already has a welcoming and familiar feel. A rare atmosphere for a place so new to the paltry offerings that surround it.
The fish and chips are great as is all the other food. (pickled eggs for $1 should have all those tight purses above piping down about the cost and quality) Now I read again, should those that haven't even frequented yet be leaving comments? Makes one look rather stupid in my eyes.
A few unique dishes of note would be the Fries Smelts (whitebait in the UK) with caper mayo. You get the perfect amount for sharing while a game is on or to nibble on as the night passes with laughter and smiles.
The Poached Haddock salad is awesome, a really well thought out, summery dish with the perfect amount of vinaigrette.
I would also recommend the wings, while some seem to find them small, this is actually how I prefer my wings as the flavour intensifies, also nice to see the two choices of honey garlic and buffalo, you aren't bewildered with fancy names for hot sauces and combinations that suggest the creator pointed at two random pages in a dictionary.
Overall this place is just awesome, it has a great crowd running the show (Come on guys, if you are gonna call someone a douche bag try and follow the British trait of saying it to their face and not on here, do grow up) Richie always putting a hand over the bar to shake those of his regulars, even if its only a second coming. The vibe is always one of laughter and cheeky stories and if you, like me, are bursting at the seams for the Premiership season to start then their schedule will be more than enough to appease. I sense a higher order of breakfast goods being placed when the time rolls around and long may such a trend continue!
Whether you live here or are coming for a visit, this place is great, its just that the majority of Torontonians see most things from a glass half empty perspective and like to moan. All that from a very well traveled Brit who is more than well placed to comment on all things British, half the miserums above have probably never been, nothing to say yet saying it far too loudly springs to mind.
The Dog and Bear, it's the one!!
Its cosey inside and my partner and I were thrilled to find old board games behind the booths. There was a good crowd in the back getting loud playing darts but that added to the pub vibe.
Food was prompt, delicious and good value. Servers were polite, great atmosphere
We will definitely be back
I've book marked it for later!