BEER BISTRO

I work around Yonge and Eglinton and my husband Stephen typically travels for his job. He comes home late in the week and we spend the weekend juggling our social calendar between family and friends. This means when we do have a Friday to ourselves, we try to take full advantage of it, especially if Stephen’s working downtown. One of our favourite spots to grab an after work drink and bite is Beer Bistro at Yonge and King with their expansive beer menu and delicious mussel bowls.

Atmosphere: There are two dining areas in Beer Bistro, one in front of the bar with casual seating, and a more formal dining area that takes reservations. On a Friday night, the casual area was full of suits, boisterous and crowded. When we arrived at 6pm, the seated table area was quiet but quickly filled up. The restaurant is a popular spot and I’d recommend making reservations if planning to visit for dinner.

Service: Our server was great, she was friendly and attentive without being obtrusive. When I was choosing the beers for my flight, she answered all of my questions about each beer and made recommendations based on my tastes. She checked in on us throughout the evening to see how I was enjoying each beer and made sure we had plenty of loaves of sourdough bread to dip into our mussel broth.

Food: To accompany our beer, Stephen and I ordered just a few dishes to nibble on. Many of the menu items include beer as an ingredient from using the beverage in the marinade to beer breaded croutons. We started with the steak tartare, served with a golden egg yolk, and breadcrumbs to be mixed together at the table. On the plate were also lettuce leaves, capers, mini cucumbers and toasted crostini. The steak was well seasoned and creamy from the egg yolk. I always order the Belgian Frites at Beer Bistro. The generous cone of perfectly crispy fries is served with mayonnaise and smoked ketchup, and absolutely delicious. Even with the large portion size, I finish every last fry.

For our main, Stephen and I opted for New England Style Mussel Bowl with beer bacon, leeks, potatoes, smoked cheddar, parsley, shallots. I’ve tried every mussel bowl on the menu and also like the Belgian White (garlic, parsley, lemon) and the Brussels Mussels (smoked sausage, sweet peppers, lime, cilantro). When we’re really hungry we’ll order one bowl each, but I find sharing a single bowl filling enough. Especially since each bowl comes with a loaf of sourdough bread that can be refilled. The Staub bowl was designed with a grate that catches the mussels, granting easy access for dipping the bread in the broth. When our main arrived, and the lid lifted, the aroma was heavenly. Stephen and I dug in and even forgot to take photos until we were near the bottom of the bowl. The broth was creamy, savoury, and I loved the light beer flavour.

Overall, Beer Bistro is a great spot for casual drinks or dinner. I would also recommend their Beer Ice Cream and Cheese and Lager Fondue.