So I'll be traveling to Toronto on August 14-16. I'm planning on hitting nickelbrook and maybe Great Lakes on the way up Friday and then getting dinner at Bellwoods. Saturday is probably lunch at WVRST or bar hop and dinner at bar volo. Sunday is brunch at beer bistro then headed home? Any trip advice?
Sounds like you have a well planned trip you are hitting the best spots. Bar Volo has a great charcuterie plate and Wvrst has a ton of sausages made from different animals. There is a Comfort Inn that is a couple blocks from Bar Volo that is close to everything or at least a short cab ride.
Bellwoods could fill up early on a Friday. If you can get there for 5:00, do it. Otherwise you might be waiting for a table. Don't be afraid to spend the money on their special brews... They're worth it! Barrel-aged grandmas boy and bring out your dead were stellar.
wear big pants? sounds like you know your stuff. the only thing i'd change would be brunch at Beer Bistro. i wouldn't waste your time or money going there. this city has enough great brunch restaurants with decent to good beer that i'd put food first. Beer Bistro doesn't have great beer and their food's alright to pretty decent. i'd go to Bar Raval or Beast for brunch. you'll be much happier. plus Raval has (overpriced) bottles of Trou du Diable. and yes, get to Bellwoods early on a Friday OR be prepared to put your name on the list and go for a walk and snack elsewhere. and Ossington's a great food street. you have BangBang (homemade ice cream and cookies. so, the best ice cream sammies you'll have), OddSeoul (Korean drunkenly delish food), Foxley, etc etc all around you for snacks or dinner. you can also walk over to Get Well. good tap and bottle list, free vintage arcade games.
Not a beer recommendation but I highly recommend the burger at Bar Hop. It was amazing. I agree with everyone else, your list looks pretty good.
eh. it's just devastatingly large. not a bad burger, but not the best in the city. you can walk down the street to P&L or Burger's Priest for a better burger. when at BarHop, i stick to the mussels. they're actually pretty legit.
beer's great. hearing the food's gone downhill since Grant shifted to Raval and his chef left a few months ago. may still be good. i'd just hit Raval and drink overpriced Trou du Diable La P'toune
While I wouldn't cross anything off your list to visit the place, I always enjoy a visit to Indie Ale House. The beer is generally good with 10 to 15 available at any one time (usually one cask too). The fried chicken has become a guilty pleasure of mine. It is a huge portion (whole chicken?) and boneless. I usually go through three servings of the hot honey mustard and leave feeling full, guilty and happy! http://www.indiealehouse.com/#slideabout
Was going to suggest them to, but his list is already so full. Also a big fan of Thirsty and Miserable but as stated his list so full.
Heading to Indie/Junction tonight for a small brewery crawl. Definitely try the ricotta at barvolo, the owners son heads to woodbridge every other day and grabs fresh ricotta and let me tell you as an italian, it's heaven sent. That's a killer list you've put together, bellwoods will definitely be busy especially on a weekend.
Indie Ale House, Rainhard Brewing, The JuntionBrewery which also has the Toronto Craft Distillery right beside, are close if you are going to Bellwoods.
Barvolo usually has a live DJ but I think that might be it for live music and craft beer. The garrison might be the closest to having craft beer and being a live venue...
