C'est What?

Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

67 Front St E
Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1B5
Canada

(416) 867-9499 | map
cestwhat.com

C'est What? brand beers are brewed by County Durham Brewery and can be added or reviewed at:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2793/
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.16
Reviews:
69
Ratings:
95
pDev:
9.13%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by seagoat:
Photo of seagoat
Reviewed by seagoat from California

4.34/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5
C'est What? is located a little bit east of the main downtown area and a few blocks off of the waterfront. Like the photo shows, the main entrance is designated by the blue and white awning.

Once inside the doors you will be going down a flight of stairs, so the entire establishment is below street level. It is a spacious place that is split between two main rooms with a bar in each. There are a couple pool tables in back near the washrooms. The walls are all brick and stone which give it a bit of a cave like feel. There is a fair amount of beer bottles and beer signs decorating the place but not so much that it gives it a cluttered feel.

There were about 25-30 beers on tap and a bottle list of about 30 more. They say that they only serve Canadian microbrewed beers. The staff was friendly the couple times we went there but not terribly helpful with information about some of the local breweries such as location, open to the public, tasting rooms, etc.
We didn't eat there but it looked like a good menu with a number of different things that we would have been willing to try.

I'm giving it a 3 $ because the price of beers was more expensive than I expected and am used to from many places in the States. They were usually $5 - $8 range for bottles or draft but there is also 14% tax for goods and services and a Provincial tax combined. That applies everywhere though and not just at this bar.

We enjoyed this place, it was comfortable and relaxed, and we were able to try a bunch of Canadian beers that we were not familiar with. A definite stop on a trip to Toronto.
Jan 25, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of CXBrad
Reviewed by CXBrad from Canada (ON)

4.69/5  rDev +12.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4
One of my all time favorite places to drink. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and are always willing to go the extra mile to make sure you have a good time. There is a beer (or cider) for everyone here. If you want to try something, chances are they have it.
Feb 10, 2020
Photo of ben741
Reviewed by ben741 from Canada (ON)

4.65/5  rDev +11.8%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.75
My favourite beer bar in Toronto. The food is average but they consistently have interesting Ontario micro brews on tap.
I always sit at the bar and every time the staff is friendly, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable about the selection of beers.
The basement vibe is really cool without being pretentious,.
Mar 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.18 by AllanCox1 from Canada (ON)

Sep 13, 2018
Photo of TheSeeker
Reviewed by TheSeeker from New York

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
I'm starting to question my time on this site based on the reviews I seem to be at odds with much of the time. C'est What is NOT a brewpub for starters, it is a great pub that only serves Canadian micro brews. Very comfortable, great staff, beer is always fresh, well served, and with a wide selection. I suppose BA geeks might miss the lack of imperial stouts and IIIPAs, but who cares, the quality here is excellent. Definitely my favorite in Toronto, don't miss it.
Oct 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Oct 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.78 by chrisjws from California

May 18, 2017
Photo of eberesford
Reviewed by eberesford from Canada (ON)

4.09/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
Good menu, huge rotating range of craft beers, many cask conditioned. Knowledgeable and helpful staff. All round one of my favourite places to have a few in the city.
Apr 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.6 by talbotjf99 from Canada (QC)

Dec 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.28 by kevinlater from Canada (ON)

Jun 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.91 by Bf_89 from Canada (ON)

Jun 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.76 by Electros from Canada (ON)

Mar 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.41 by sherillc from Canada (ON)

Jan 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.35 by beerdrinkr from Canada (ON)

Aug 30, 2015
Photo of jjboesen
Reviewed by jjboesen from Maryland

4.6/5  rDev +10.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
Stopped by for a birthday lunch and left very happy. C'est What is located across the street from Toronto's "Flatiron Building" (Not sure of the actual name) in a cozy, comfortable and attractive subterranean room decorated in light wood and stonework. There is a lengthy bar on one side and the usual smattering of tables and such. Very atmospheric. Along with this is a very impressive beer list that offers their own house beers and several local crafts. (They do have something on cask, as well.) Excellent service and some hearty grub made for a fine lunch amid the hustle and bustle of the city's downtown core.
During my visit, I enjoyed these: Hogtown Kolsch, Al's Cask, Joan's Dark Secret and a tasty IPA from one of Ontario's newer brewers Rhyme and reason.
A worthy stop when in Toronto.
Jul 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by dgilks from Australia

Apr 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Soloveitchik from New York

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Canada_Dan from Colorado

Oct 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by liamt07 from Canada (ON)

Oct 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by hunterjames from Canada (ON)

Sep 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by terrec

Jul 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Jun 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.01 by AugustusRex from Canada (ON)

Jun 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by crashdavisinoh from Ohio

Mar 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by yancot from Canada (ON)

Mar 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Dee13 from Canada (ON)

Feb 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by HATS4BATS from Canada (ON)

Feb 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Jan 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Jotora from Canada (ON)

Jan 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Beer-Fetish from Canada (ON)

Jan 07, 2014
Photo of MarcatGSB
Reviewed by MarcatGSB from Michigan

3.85/5  rDev -7.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3.5
Clearly C'est What? is a mainstay in the Toronto beer scene. And as it appears to me, is the cask ale headwaters for Toronto. After talking with people through out the week I stayed in Toronto, it seems C'est What? really pushed the boundaries of beer in Toronto from the start.

Place is kind of hard to find as well, as there is a small door that leads you into the basement of an office building. It's a cool, English Style pub feel. With center posts, low ceilings, and many smaller, broken up spaces. It's rather well lit, and very clean. It's a nice looking place.

Great selection of Ontario beers, quite a few of their own on tap. Food was pretty middle of the road...But good. Make it a point to check out C'est What? on your next visit.
Jan 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by toronto_beermaven from Canada (ON)

Dec 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by valianes from Canada (ON)

Oct 16, 2013
Photo of sahd-1
Reviewed by sahd-1 from Illinois

4.26/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 3.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75
This place is a must try if you find yourself in down town Toronto. The outside is deceiving as it is merely a door nestled between restaurants/bars with outdoor seating. Once inside it has a nice Euro-pub feel. They had approximately 8 - 10 beers on cask! The only bad thing I can say about this place is that they serve mostly Canadian beer.
Oct 11, 2013
Photo of GarthDanielson
Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
If you aren't careful, you might walk right past this place, and that would be too bad. This is a great beer bar nestled into a posh area of downtown Toronto. Not much frontage to find it, but if you spot the awning then you are in for a treat. You enter the doorway and walk down a flight of stairs to enter a cool, mid-lit bar that is reminiscent of a Prohibition-era American speakeasy. There's even an old-school vault in the wall. Plenty to do, with pool tables and dart boards. There's even an aquarium when you first walk in, which my little one was enamored with long enough to provide me time to actually taste some beers. Plenty of seating at tables and booths, as well as some couches around an old, sealed up fireplace. The bar is a long, straight shot of bright oak, with plenty of seating and a plethora of tap handles. The staff was fantastic, and was overly accommodating to my family, including my 18 month old. They cranked our food order out faster than I have ever seen in a restaurant setting, and were very attentive to get to-go boxes when our little one decided she was done with dinner. Very decent tap list, including 6 of their own brews. Beers from all-over Canada, as well as a few imports. I stuck to their brews, as we were visiting for a short time. Very solid beers, and the food was damn tasty, too. Very mixed food menu, including plenty of apps, entrees, and desserts. Really, there is something for everyone. Also, while there we saw plenty of advertisements for bands, art exhibits, and other events held at C'est What?. Seems like a really cool place overall, friendly and affordable. If we lived in the city, I would find myself there a lot. What a treat to hang out for a short time!
Jun 25, 2013
Photo of 307x
Reviewed by 307x from Canada (ON)

4.26/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 3.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
Pretty much a hipster haven, which isn't normally my bag but it definitely works for this bar. Always a great selection on tap - and in fact they are undergoing renos to expand the tap selection. Some bartenders are good but some are pretty bad. Table service is spotty at best, and quite poor when it's busy. Great looking place with two separate bars, and a little nook for bands to play. I've never had a bad meal there, and they make the best jambalaya in Toronto, easy. One of my favourite hangouts in the city, with the below average service being the only downfall.
Jun 08, 2013
Photo of Bieregod
Reviewed by Bieregod from Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
Located across the street from the Flat Iron building downtown Toronto. After going down some stairs you enter one of the best craft beer joints in Toronto. They have their usual suspects as well as a rotation of different Ontario craft brews. Staff was great and knowledgeable. While in Toronto it is a must. Two blocks away from the hockey hall of fame. It is also near the Biermarket another beer location that ismore suited towards Belgians and English brews. I enjoyed a Muskoka Mad Tom Ipa and a Flying Monkey Atomic Smashbomb.
Apr 30, 2012
Photo of vladimerjr
Reviewed by vladimerjr from New York

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I have not been here in a while but business used to frequently bring me to Toronto. I would make sure to stop here every time. A fellow BA who I had made some trades with back in the day introduced me to this place and I am very grateful to him for it. As normally I would have walked right by not even realizing what this was.

Located esentially in a basement it is very unassuming. Once you walk down the stairs the place is much bigger than I imagined. It has a little something for everyone with pool tables louncge chairs restaurant table and nice long bar areas. Great selection of beers mostly locals(I highly recommend the Carraway Rye) and good atmosphere. Have had a couple instances were the service was great but a couple also were it left something to be desired.

The food is great. My favorite is the lambburger. and all reasonably priced.
Feb 20, 2012
Photo of trxxpaxxs
Reviewed by trxxpaxxs from New York

4.18/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I popped into this place for some lunch and a few beers on a recent trip to Toronto. I ordered two different beers (The Big Butt Smoked Porter and the Caraway Rye Beer). The beers were both pretty solid. They have a few nitro taps and casks, which is rare for me to find in the US.

The food was awesome (I had the falafel). One of the other people I was with seemed to really enjoy the his Buffalo Burger. Our bartender was very pleasant and attentive. The atmosphere was quite nice.

I'd recommend this place to anyone interested in a nice place to eat and enjoy a brew.
Feb 20, 2012
Photo of hopsolutely
Reviewed by hopsolutely from Canada (ON)

4.63/5  rDev +11.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Perhaps my favourite bar in the world, so I'm overdue in reviewing it!

35 Ontario Craft Beers on tap at any given time with something to suit any taste. I am told their wine is also decent, although have personally never gotten beyond the draught. They support the local music scene and have numerous seating areas, so you can choose the "vibe" that works for any particular group - whether it be the restaurant, lounge, or one of the two bars. The servers have outstanding beer knowledge and complement the very casual, pleasant atmosphere. Multiple casks at all times and the food is also excellent. I tend to stick to the lamb burger as it's the best I've ever found, so haven't sampled the full variety of their fare.

All in all I don't get to Toronto nearly as often as I like, but any decent visit will always include some time at this pub. Can’t recommend highly enough!
Aug 29, 2011
C'est What? in Toronto, ON, Canada
Place rating: 4.16 out of 5 with 95 ratings