Restaurants
Football Factory
The Football Factory prides itself as a "true Canadian soccer bar". Flags and banners float proudly alongside Bob Marley paraphernalia. Devotees of Toronto FC congregate here each weekend during regular soccer season and a sea of red jerseys parade down Bathurst Street to BMO Field to catch a match. There are 13 HDTV's and four private booths where you can control what you watch.
The Football Factory's version of "Angels on Horseback" ($14.95) goes like this: four jumbo B.C. oysters coated with creamy bearnaise sauce and smokey bacon bits. Served delicately in oyster shells, it's a sexy little display and a perfect balance of sweet and salty. Just because the Football Factory is a sports bar doesn't mean they have to serve greasy traditional Pub food.
Also beautifully presented is the Venison Carpaccio ($10.95). The slightly charred and thinly sliced Venison arrives plated in a circular fashion drizzled with a balsamic reduction and shaved grana-padano. Toast points and a single poached egg rise up through the centre. I dip some Venison in the egg yolk and it melts in my mouth.
The Football Factory menu is one of those that attempts to offer something for everyone: it's market-fresh, international, a bistro, and a local watering hole. I try the "Number Nineteen" ($12.95 - top photo), traditional Vietnamese Noodles with bbq'd beef, mixed vegetables and cashews. Tiny minced specks of coriander and mint have been marinating in the fish sauce which I add to the noodles. It's not Pho Hung but it's a tangy explosion of flavour and nice to look at.
Lastly, The Bathurst Village Salad (8.95) is a composed creation of vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, a balsamic reduction, shaved parmesan and chopped black olives. I had hoped for some greens here (like baby Arugula) but there are none. Nevertheless, it's a delicious and satisfying salad.
The Football Factory is open every day at 7:00 a.m. until the July 1st break during the World Cup. After that it opens at 9:00 a.m. Indoor seating holds 80 patrons. Ask about the special Red Card/Yellow Card Martinis ($9.00) for those who are "out of the game"!
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I hope it sticks around for a long while.
We're in Canada fool!
Change the name to Football Fakery.
First off, we ordered nachos and deep fried oysters for apps. The nachos were covered in way too much oily cheese (really strong flavoured and not the yummy type of cheese). The cheese was too heavy that the nachos were soggy and couldn't maintain their crisp-ness. How do you screw up nachos?? Then the deep fried oysters was like basically eating an oily ball of mush that exploded in your mouth. I almost gagged.
My order of the Bison burger was average for a burger. A little dry and un-exciting. The fries were way too oily and there were barely any on the plate. My friends ordered the curry; which they both complained was drowned in butter and was difficult to finish because of how heavy it was. The Ribs were just 'average' based on my husband's opinion and nothing exciting. The fish and chips were again on the greasy side and didn't have that nice crisp outer layer...more drowned in oil.
I had large expectations for a 'football' factory...but really it was just like any other pub with a bunch of soccer decorations. The icing on the cake was the terrible service we received and how rude our waiter was.