BLND TGER

So this place has had a bunch of past versions (Shallow Groove, Cabin, Lodge 559, a few other names too I’m sure) that I never visited despite holding somewhat intriguing one off events including some decent house djs… I can say based on my visit this new version is pretty focused on the modern rap crowd. Despite that, on a random night of Little Italy bar hopping we decided to stop in as there was no cover and the offer of $ 3 mixed drinks, so based on that we couldn’t help but stay for a couple beverages to scope the place out.
From a venue perspective, the place has a nice layout for a medium sized venue. Decent dj booth and dancefloor area, some areas with tables and chairs, a few video games spread around the back corners and a pool table along the side. We shot at people in the Time Crisis 3 video game and drank cheap drinks, which I suppose wasn’t a bad thing. Yielding a plastic video game handgun to the sounds of gangster rap gave me a chance to let my inner thug out, which doesn’t happen often.
From a bar perspective, the drinks were weak (perhaps to be expected at $ 3) and the beer selection was terrible (only Budweiser on tap, and then standard big brand bottles including $ 8 Stella Artois).
I’m being generous with a 3 star review because I probably won’t return for their regular nights, but I hope some Toronto promoters can put this place to use as a venue as the set up isn’t bad and has the potential to be 4 star quality.

VERY DISORGANIZED CLUB, MAJOR SCREW UP.
I had booked a booth and bottle service for my birthday 3 weeks in advance for the date of Saturday April 25^th, 2015. After a call and email to set it up, I never got ANY confirmation or reply back so I decided to call AGAIN to confirm it myself. Promoter said it’s all set, confirmed the date, the bottles and my name.
Finally on my birthday night. about 35 of me and my friends and another group of people are outside BLND TGER at 10pm-10:45pm waiting in the cold. After numerous people calling them to see wtf is going on, my boyfriend finally got through to the guy saying they’re closed for the night because they didn’t have enough people to fill out the club. He denied ever having a booth/​bottle reservation for me for that night… Of course I was SOO furious because I got a group of friends ready to dance and drink, waiting outside with nowhere to go! Thank god for THE MIDTOWN across the street, the bouncers were the nicest guys I’ve ever met and totally took care of my friends and I for my birthday.

I came here for a special event so I’m okay with paying cover. However, the coat check seemed a bit high at $ 4 per item. Has it been that long since the last time I went out that coat check has doubled in price?
Next, one bar rail drink and a beer for $ 17. Really? We are not talking premium libations here either. I do have to say the bartenders were very nice even when I asked for some water.
The set up of this venue isn’t bad. There’s a large bar in the middle, booths along one side, and a pool table with a few more bottle service tables next to the dance floor and DJ area. They have a few scattered arcade games and a foosball table.
I’m not sure what it’s like on a regular night but it’s driving me crazy because I just can’t figure out what this place used to be called.