Cocktailing Toronto – Part 2

416 Snack Bar started with a blog based on under-the-radar local food offerings in the city. 416 Snack Bar prides itself on serving cutlery-free since 2011 (yes, this means you eat with your hands). The food is meant to reflect the city of Toronto.

The menu changes regularly, but the items are always delicious. I recommend the tartare, Korean fried chicken and whatever the “special thing” is on the menu. For cocktails, we kept it classic with Negronis, although they also have good beer and wine choices.

If you go, please keep in mind the 416 Snack Bar RULES NOT MEANT TO BE BROKEN:

1. Resos: Because space is so limited, unfortunately we cannot accept reservations. If you’re wondering about booking the place out entirely, we can do so – but only for the entirety of a night’s service. Please hit us up in the inquiries field below.

2. Cutlery: There’s literally no cutlery in house for guests. All of our snacks are made to be eaten with your hands – if you want to share, you might have to be okay with your friend’s cooties.  

3. Mod: Because we put out a lotta plates in such a little kitchen, if we took modifications, things would get ugly.  We don’t want you to wait a long time, and as such, we respectfully ask for your understanding. 

4. Split Bills: We only split bills when asked upon arrival. It says so right on the menu, so please don’t get mad when we can’t divide your 37 items onto 8 separate bills at 9pm on a Friday night.

5. Takeout: We don’t do takeout as the food is generally not-so-good cold.  However if you want to bring in tupperware, order at the bar and have us plate into reusable containers – we won’t object! 

The other cool thing about 416 Snack Bar? You can go visit their second location – in Buenos Aires!

Next on our list was The Cloak Bar. This was a last minute switch up as the spot we originally planned to go to was closed for an event. While I’ve been to the Cloakroom in Montreal for drinks (read about it here),and used to work in a cloakroom in high school, I had not yet made it to the Cloak Bar. To get into The Cloak Bar, either come early (like very early when they open at 7pm) or make a reservation. This is important as when you arrive, you have to call for entry.

We came early, which was great because we had the place to ourselves (briefly) and got to spend some time chatting with one of the bartender/servers, David. According to David, this spot is extremely popular for Tinder Dates (hmmm, maybe that’s why I hadn’t been before).

For drinks, you can pick from their Cocktail menu or play Cocktail Roulette. We, of course, chose the Cocktail Roulette.

For Amy, a classic and what some consider to be the precursor to the martini, The Martinez. The Martinez was first served in the 1860/70s and first showed up in print in O.H. O’Byron’s “The Modern Bartender” in 1884, which stated that the drink was the “same as a Manhattan, only you substitute gin for whisky.” This version did not use Genever, but used gin and Jamieson.

I had a Death & Co cocktail, the European Union, which mixes Genever gin), Strega, sweet vermouth and Calvados (a northern French Apple Brandy) with a spritz of lemon.

Devin had the Oaxaca Old Fashioned which was created originally by Phil Ward (another Death & Co. cocktail) and mixes Reposado Tequila with Mezcal with added mole bitters to give a Mexican riff on the original Old Fashioned.

While we gladly would have stayed to have another cocktail and chat more with David (if you stop by, say hi), we had to leave as there was more research to do.

Bathurst Local, our next spot, may very well be the best deal in the city. Their motto is “allowing you to talk to the person in front of you without yelling since 2014”.

The spot, just south of Dundas, looks like someone raided a thrift store (she says with great respect) for the eclectic mix of chairs, glassware and odds and ends. It may have been love at first sight.

To find the cocktail menu (brilliantly priced cocktails at $7.96), you have to check the china cabinet. For the incredibly low priced scotch menu, look inside the old bar. I’m not kidding, these are definitely the BEST scotch prices in the city!

The curated cocktail list varies, but the night we were there, the popular choices were the “Stay Gold” (a 3 oz bourbon, Chartreuse, lemon and honey creation) and the 2.5 oz “Little Red Corvette” (made of Sloe Gin, Chambord, Campari and lemon). 

Feeling a little hungry? There is only one item on the food menu, but I have to say, what an item! It’s a slightly spicy (mayo sriracha) grilled cheese sandwich for $3.53, which is served with ketchup chips (oh, Canada!) and a pickle spear.

Owners Glenn and Anna will take your order from behind an old throwback LCBO-like counter (millennials, you will not understand what I’m talking about) and bring out your drinks.

This spot is highly recommended for the cocktails, cocktail prices and the great grilled cheese!

The last spot of the evening is the “hidden bar”, Suite 114. This one is a touch tricky to find, as there is no street number 114. You have to enter at 116 Dundas Street West and walk up a flight of stairs [ELIN’s TIP: follow the painted martini glass]. You’ll need to answer a skill-testing question to obtain the secret code that must be punched in at the door to enter the bar.

Speaking of secret, there is a regular menu, but if you answer the riddle, you get the secret menu.  There is a new secret menu every two weeks which is based on a theme: Canadian, Halloween etc. The week we were there was the Halloween menu.

The room is on the small side with only 40 seats (they also take reservations). The five owners (we met one of them, Lawrence) have been running the bar for one year. The reason for the puzzles? They also own the Escape room downstairs and decided to carry the puzzle theme upstairs with their speakeasy-type bar.

The night we were there, Jordan was behind the bar mixing up the cocktails and running the smoking gun.

Amy picked the most “Instagrammable” drink of the evening, the Zombie Brains, made with cranberry hibiscus syrup “brains”. 

To smoke the Jaurez, they use apple wood, because it is possible to smoke it for awhile.

I decided to give Jordan an arm workout and ordered the Jessie Schofield – definitely #foamporn!

Thanks to Amy and Devin for being copilots on this journey! It was definitely a fun evening discovering some new favourite cocktail spots.

Stay tuned, there will be a part 3!

If you go:

416 Snack Bar: 181 Bathurst Street (at Queen), Toronto; 416-364-9320; www.416snackbar.com; Open: Monday – Thursday: 5pm – 2am; Friday – Sunday: 12pm – 2am

The Cloak Bar: 488 Wellington Street West, Toronto; 416.710.7697; www.thecloakbar.com (for reservations); Open: Tuesday – Sunday  7pm- 2am

Bathurst Local: 322 Bathurst Street (south of Dundas), Toronto; www.bathurstlocal322.com; Open: Tuesday – Saturday: 8pm – close

Suite 114: 116 Dundas Street West (west of Bay), Toronto; www.suite114.ca; Open: Tuesday – Thursday: 5:30pm – 12am; Friday: 5:30pm – 1am; Saturday : 7:30pm – 1am; Sunday: 7:30pm – 12am (closed Monday)