Now, not every restaurant in Toronto has the space for a patio. And while they can open for socially distanced indoor dining now that we’re in Phase/Stage/Step 3, it still means lost revenue for some of the smaller businesses. That’s why I really dig what they’re doing with Patio at Yonge and St. Clair, where they’ve set up a buncha picnic tables in a parking lot, along with a beer tent, and they’ve got an app that lets you order takeout from 11 nearby restaurants — delivered right to your table.
Now, you know me, I can’t just order from one or two different places on an evening such as this… so I made it a three course meal from three different funky joints, along with a coupla beers — cuz hey, this ain’t Burgers, Bacon & Diet Pepsi, bro!!!!
So, we’re starting off with a handful of empanadas from 9 Bars Latino Cafe, this funky little joint just east of Yonge St. You can choose from beef, chicken, cheese, fish or black bean & cheese, although they don’t let you mix and match, so you gotta get five of the same. I paired these tasty little flavour nuggets with a Henderson Radicle Gose, which added a nice, sour, limey taste to the mix.
For the main meal, I slammed this Reuben sammy from Zelden’s Deli and Desserts, which is just south of St. Clair. It comes with your choice of fries, rings, slaw, tater salad or a “garden salad,” for some reason. I went with the onion rings, and I’m glad I did — these were the biggest, beefiest rings I’ve had since I ordered takeout from The Irv, bro!!!
Now, that’s a really nice ring, Au-bro Graham!!!!
We’re washing this down with a Figo Italian pilsner from Henderson. This might be the maltiest, most flavourful pils I’ve ever crushed — and there’s nothing wrong with that at all!!!
Now, speaking of Italian… When we went to Capocaccia Trattoria last weekend, I actually didn’t have room for dessert. But when I saw them sending up cannoli to the Patio, you KNOW I was all over that like Danilo Gallinari, bro! You’ve got pistachio to the left of me, chocolate to the right, and here I am chowing down in Flavourtown, Leroy Brown!!!!!!
Burgers, Bacon & Beer 