Hungry Brew Hops

Love the beer sangria! Miss the pear cider and the pork belly tacos.
Service is slow. All the time.
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March 7 2016
I do not recommend coming here with a large group of people. They definitely neglect you the whole time. The two times I’ve come here with my work family we’ve had the WORST ATTITUDE AND THE WORST SERVICE. Who knows why we even come back, probably because they’re the only spot on Main Street that’s open on a Monday. Anyways we will no longer be coming back and I definitely don’t recommend coming unless it’s just you and one other person.

Love HBH. The food has always been excellent, and the selection of craft beer is good. A great addition to Main St Newmarket. We look forward to trying LBH in the near future.

Thought the place would be packed on a Friday night so we decided on an early dinner time. Started with the bone marrow and the brussels sprouts. Both are AAA+++. They also had 33 beers on tap at the time. For our main course, I had the beer braised short ribs. Lots of flavour and the meat were just falling off the bone. Wife had the margarita pizza which was just average. Will definitely go back.

So I’ve been here twice now, and both times were a different experience.
First time we went, the food blew my mind. I had the surefire burger, mussels and bone marrow and a strawberry donut for dessert. The food was phenomenal. But the service was a bit shotty, waitress was slow and a little bit unpleasant. But I was willing to look past that, because the food was just so good. Also, they have so many beers on tap. Win.
Flash forward a couple of months later, to my second visit. The three of us ordered a bunch of stuff to share. Surefire burger, which was a complete miss this time. The pizza special, which was just okay. Bone marrow again, because how can you go wrong with bone marrow. Roasted Brussels sprouts which other than the face it was overly seasoned with black pepper, was quite nice. And the daily donut, WASN’T EVEN A DAMN DONUT! It was something they described as their version of a Passion Flakey. Ugh, wrong. At least those things are good. The thing that really irked me this time was the service. Again. And I guess the food just wasn’t as great as last time so it bugged me even more this time.
So. damn. slow.
We were seated before 2 other tables in our section, and our drink orders taken first. And we were ready to order too, but guess what. Our server decided to ignore us and serve the other 2 tables first. Why? I don’t know, but it pissed me off.
Also, we sat right by the kitchen, so we were able to see a lot of what was going on. They used microwave popcorn bags for their popcorn dish. LOL. Also, using store bought canned whipped cream and Chapman’s ice cream for dessert. LOL. LOL is all I can say.

I like the atmosphere and the unique décor/​layout. Good vibes there. Friendly people good drinks. Im a picky eater so i dont care much for most of the menu, (lots of bone marrow, mushrooms) but i must say, they do have the best nachos ive ever had. The bbq pork is always loaded on and the stout sriracha is to-​die-​for. Also the frites with the garlic aioli and curry ketchup are incredible. Had a couple other things there but those are definitely my absolute favourite. Can get very busy/​crowded on weekend evenings, as is to be expected, but usually with great, fast service. I constantly tell people to visit, even just for the nachos.

I love this place. It’s too bad it’s all the way in Newmarket or else I’d be here every week. The food is fantastic — but the real reason I come here is for their beer selection. They have a rotational beer menu that is awesome. It’s so hard to find a bar like this north of Toronto, so HBH is a real catch.
They’re located in downtown Newmarket, so parking is tough during peak hours. Their building also has no LTE/​Cell phone reception — so you’re going to have to talk to whoever you’re with… like the olden days!
Please open a HBH in Richmond Hill and I’ll be there all the time.

There are so many drinks to choose from which is great but if you don’t know what to go with, the staff I’ve encountered are horrible at making recommendations. I asked them to make me a flight based on my fav beer being mill st organic and all 5 selections were honestly just awful. The food was really sub-​par as well. So why am I still giving 4 stars despite all this negativity? The atmosphere is so unexpected for Newmarket — it really does have a Toronto vibe to it and I think if you know what you like to drink it’s a great place to go have a few beers.
Be warned that it is extremely loud inside and not stroller friendly.

Great food, great brews, great service! If you can’t get parking out front, there’s a parking lot in the back.
Had the nachos (fantastic) and wings (just OK).

Excellent addition and alternative to an area that desperately needs some diversity and an upscale drinking spot. They do a great job here.
My only complaint is there really isn’t much in terms of ‘healtheir’ options so if you’re eating here — accept the fact that you might pay for it at the gym later.

Came here recently, after having a chance to sample some of their goods at a prior event. Was craving both the HBH Burger (which was fantabulous the first time I had it), as well as the Beer-​infused Fried chicken. Sadly, the server confirmed that there no longer is (or never was?) such a dish — perhaps it was all just some dream I had of two of my favourite things dancing together?
FOOD:
I was able to go for a full version of the HBH Burger, which did not disappoint. The patty was tender and decently-​sized. While the «Sweet Chili Aoili» sauce came on a bit too strong for me, I’m always a fan of sauteed (and in this case beer-​braised) onions by the handful. What looked to be a Brioche bun, was soft and held the burger up nicely.
Fries were just the way I like them, one part chewy, and one part crispy. These came with sides of ketchup and mayonnaise, which is a plus in my book — you can never go wrong with mayonnaise and fries!
ATMOSPHERE:
This place has a really unique décor, not really sure how to describe it though. Seems like a great place to enjoy a fine dinner, while also enjoying drinks with friends. There’s a nice patio out front, and an interesting little nook at the back of the resto where our table was placed. Loved the sliding doors that were located behind us, and the golden-​coloured safe right by our table — not sure if the safe is part of the decorations, or HBH is making (and storing) boatloads of cash. Either way, it adds to the vibe of the place.
SERVICE/​POLICY:
The server herself did a fine job, taking and delivering our orders. However, as much as I enjoyed the food and atmosphere of this place, it would be remiss of me not to mention the 18% auto-​gratuity for «large groups.» In our case, our table of 7 was told before dinner that this would be added on.
As I’ve mentioned in a few of my other reviews, I am adamantly opposed to such policies — a tip/​gratuity is meant to reward servers for providing excellent, or at least decent service. There is no incentive to provide this, if servers know that they will be getting a large-​ish tip from the get-​go. If a certain percentage of gratuity is REQUIRED of customers, then restaurants might as well be transparent with this, and factor it in directly into the price. –1 STAR for this.
VERDICT:
Not a fan of the auto-​gratuity, but a fan of the food and atmosphere. I’ll be back.

Came here after a Y.E.E. recently with a few elites.
Firstly, I was not impressed w/​the auto 18% gratuity as our group had 7 people. Even though the service was good (I could have filled water in a jug too), the extra 3% was not justified. Tips should be earned. Otherwise, what’s the point? This was also the reason I decided not to order anything else but my burger. But at least HBH told us about the 18% in advance & didn’t charge us for water unlike another burger place in Markham.
I ordered the HBH burger, which I have been wanting to try again after having it at the Hungry Brew Hops Y.E.E. It was delicious. But I thought it was better the first time around. It was definitely cooked to perfection.
I did not like the fries that came with the meal as it was not crunchy enough. Not a fan of soggy fries.
Would definitely like to come back again to try more things if I’m in the area.

Hbh! So couple of us Unilocalers decided to come here to grab a bite to eat after the Unilocal event. First thing I noticed was the floors were quite slippery, which is quite dangerous in a bar scene! Also as we sat down we were told there was an 18% gratuity included since we had 7 people. It says on the menu *subject to 18%* i didnt get a chance to ask what makes it 18% or not. The service was ok, server made sure we had lots of water!

I had the pulled pork nachos and bone marrow. The bone marrow is definitely something ive never tried and is quite unique to eat. Or at least to me it is. I am not a fan of it as i like something more solid. Definitely something to try though! The menu is quite unique and as i dont remember some items. Most are not what you would find at your local bar or restaurant. Definitely check this place out!

Wow! .First off, I didn’t even know there was a main street newmarket. I am impressed! A group of us stopped by after being in the area for a axe throwing event, and we were famished. A few of us had been here before and it was definitely a recommendation, so why the hell not?
The place itself is very nice and classy, with a rustic feel to it. We got a table at the back, which had great space and it made us feel as if we were in a more private area. Right off the bat, we were informed that we had to pay a 18% gratuity because we were a group of 8. Meh, I’m not a fan of restaurants that do that so one star knocked off. The service was ok, she came back several times to check on us and she was patient was us even though it was that time of the night and we were being a slightly rowdy bunch, asking many questions and blah blah blah. I am a huge fan of their décor (they have this water jug that reminds me of trafficking moonshine) and wall murals (tobermory painting on the wall). I’m also a fan of places where you can see the open kitchen from where you’re sitting. Don’t know why, but that’s just the way it is.
Once I saw bone marrow on the menu, I HAD to get it– I’ve always wanted to try, but it’s hard to find. It was $ 9 and it was delicious! Salted/​spiced just right and the bone fat just melted onto the toast, and then in my mouth shortly after. HUGE FAN. The bbq pork nachos were also on point. Usually when I spend $ 15 on nachos at caucasian restaurants, I end up getting loads of cheese/​tomatoes/​bullshit on top of soggy tostito chips. This dish was baked to perfection, with juicy/​tender pulled pork piled on top of crispy nachos. That’s right– crispy. As in, every single piece that touched my mouth was crispy and crunchy. Perfection. On top of that, it was a serving big enough for a giant. (or my boyfriend, in that case) The other dishes that our group ordered were also good, but their fries were a bit plain and left my tongue bored. I heard their curry ketchup was interesting though? Their drink menu is also extensive and they have beers and cocktails that I’ve never even heard of. I had this grapefruit/​citrus beer (can’t remember the name) and it was the perfect cider to go with a meal.
I’ll definitely come back to newmarket to try more dishes. or maybe just get the bone marrow. but I’ll definitely come with less than 7 people to escape the forced gratuity. (seriously, even high end places only charge 15−20% for super large groups, and certainly not to a group our size)

Finally had the chance to visit this place last night with some friends and I could not be more pleased with my experience. We shared the bone marrow which was amazing though you might not want to share! I had the sticky ribs which just about fell off the bone, and the sauce they were covered in was sweet, tangy, and had just a bit of a kick. I tried some of my friends’ food and can also vouch for the steak frites and pulled pork nachos. We all split the donut of the day to finish things off. The food was great and I honestly can’t say there was anything I didn’t enjoy.
The tables felt a bit squished together near the back and with the staff walking by things got a tad claustrophobic at times. Overall however the servers were friendly and attentive even though the place was packed.
I would highly recommend Hungry Brew Hops if you’re looking for a quality gastropub experience in the Newmarket area.

I love the unique food and atmosphere this place has.
Great food, great place for a Friday night but only problem is that it is way too busy. Really hard to get a table here. I know that everyone loves the bone marrow, it’s not for me though… A little too oily but first time I ever had it so maybe that’s just the way it is.
I loved trying their flight beers and the pretzel actually :)!!
Can’t wait to come back, if I can ever get a table: p

If you’re new to Newmarket, you’ll fall in love with this place. It’s our new watering hole when we move up here next year. We brought up some friends to check out this gem. There’s no reservation unless over 7 people
They didn’t have the beer braised beef short ribs (as seen in another post) but the beef checks won’t disappoint. The Braised Beef cheeks ($ 24) were cooked to perfection served on slices of butternut squash and sweet potatoes with a savoury sauce. It’s so rich that it should be served on a bed of risotto or brown rice. This one is definitely a new favs. I’ll be ordering this again.
The 3 pork belly tacos ($ 14) were perfect with a side of bacon topped roasted Brussels sprouts ($ 5). Alone it might be on the small-​size. One more would have been good. The sprouts were seasoned well with caramelized shallots and sherry vinaigrette — roasted to perfection.
Kids pizza was a 12″ three-​cheese pizza. It was really good cheese pizza! It came with a choice of milk, soda or juice (including one refill!). Pomegranate ginger ale… yum…my new favourite non-​alcoholic drink
We had the 4x 4oz sampler beers ($ 10). It’s a good idea to buy since there were 33 types of drinks on tap tonight. Pom (apple flavoured) and Fruitesse (fruit punch flavoured) we’re good for a light-​weight drinker like me. The House beer was my hubby’s favourite. The Chouffle was not bad either for a blonde ale.
Great selection of beer, very good food and definitely a place to come back to eat with friends and family.

Bumping this place up based on last nights experience. We came back knowing that they now had the new crowd favourite Red Racer from Central City on tap. My girlfriend loves that beer. We each sampled a «flight» of four beers which were all unique and yummy.
We then feasted on pulled pork nachos… with jalepenos and sriracha. Yummy. Their jalepenos are particularly spicy and juicy. I then had a spicy burger with kale salad. Service was good. Food was good and price was decent. Again… while the burger meat was steaming and delicious… I find I wanted a tomato or pickle or something else on my burger to balance out the meat, cheese and bacon.
Anyways.up to four stars. Would like to come back.

Beer, beer and more beer!
I’d like to start this review by saying this gastro pub deserves more than a ³⁄₅ when referring to their food and beer selection. The beer assortment is sure to quench your thirst and the food offers a variety of rich samples from different cultures. I’ve tried the shrimp pasta in a cream herb sauce (to die for), root veggies as a snack, bacon popcorn, Thai chicken wings and the pork belly sandwich. All were great. The reason why I’m giving this place ³⁄₅ is because their service needs some revamping.
Each time I’ve come to visit, the place is packed! That’s not a complaint in my books by any means. What sucks is I feel they cannot keep up with the number of people. Often, you wait a good 10 – 15 minutes before your bevy even arrives at the table, if you’re lucky enough to get a table. The bar tender is great; he suggests many types of beers to you if you’re uncertain what to drink. He’ll find you a great match… but don’t count on him to be readily available to take your food order. The food comes out quickly but just getting anyone’s attention to take your order is difficult. The place is always hoppin’ but the service lacks. They are friendly and courteous; they just need more of them!
The overall price is reasonable & there’s tons of parking in the complex behind the bar. Although service is a big thing to me, food is more important so I will keep coming back! As Christina R mentioned, a patio would be amazing.

Came here a few months back during a Unilocal event and I was super impressed with the samples of the food they offered. I remember the sticky ribs, signature burger and fries were awesome! My guest from the event also wanted to come back and try their regular menu, so she and I decided to come here on a weeknight for dinner and also to catch up on our lives.
Since we both wanted to try something else, we ordered food items that were not offered last time at the event except for the fries. Unfortunately, it did not meet our expectations!
The fries are still good, they are fried in lard so it’s very tasty but unhealthy at the same time. However, the mayo and ketchup that come with the fries made it super good and make you forget how deadly the fries are. The ketchup is in a typical red colour, however, you can taste curry in it! The daily special pizza was also good, thin-​crusted and had lots of toppings, the presto base made it taste extra good! However, from here on all the other food we ordered had a common theme, SALTINESS.
Ordered the Roasted Bone Marrow and it comes with a few slices of burchetta, it looked very special, but was super salty and I didn’t feel too special about it. We also ordered the oxtail goat cheese raviolis, and it was very salty also, and we both felt the raviolis were kind of hard.
This place is pretty far from where i live, however, I will come back here another time to order some of their signature dishes to see if they are much better.

After many visits for one reason or another, I can finally put my touch on one of my favourite restaurants in the GTA, and in my opinion one of the best in Newmarket!
It’s located on the rapidly changing Newmarket Main St, in what was once an original bank. To enter HBH, you’ll be blown away by the décor first of all, reclaimed wood industrial feel, meets vintage fixtures, meets micro craft beer and gastropub style eats.
My most recent visit, I wasn’t anticipating to stop and eat, but then I started looking at the menu, I had a pint of Great Lakes Breweries Canuck Pale Ale, and before I knew it — screw it, I’m eating here!
I went with the well photographed and often enjoyed Bone Barrow appetizer to start. Kind of a gross thing when you think about it too hard –so don’t… just eat it! A beef bone sawed in half, lightly seasoned and cooked in the oven. Served on a wood baord with some pickled onions, lemon and crustini bread. You basically scoop the marrow out, spread it on the bread and enjoy — and you will because this is every foodies dream and every vegan/​vegetarians worst nightmare so be sure you’re in the right company if you order this one up.
For my main I went with the Shrimp po-​boy sandwich. On taste and presentation this was a winner. A sure fire winner, jerk seasoned jump prawns in a Italian style bun, topped with pineapple chunks served with a side of homemade potato chips. Incredible. My only grief was the size, even after the bone marrow app and eat the sandwich and all the chips I was still hungry. Lesson learned if you’ve got a huge hunger on this might not be the best option for you — go for the HBH burger instead — now that’s a meal. That said, if you love a good po-​boy and don’t eat like the pig that I am than this sandwich will suit you just right.
Lastly… the beer — this place doesn’t stock any beer that isn’t from a micro brewery and they come from all over the world and they’re always changing so be sure you’re checking back in regularly because you never know what you’re going to get
Eatcrest Out