The Tavern by Trevor

Came here for winterlicious and the food was amazing. Only drawback is the slow service once business started to pickup around dinner time, since they only had 2 waitresses plus the owner

Came here for an early morning brunch, and was pleasantly surprised. Had the chicken and waffles, which came with two decent sized waffles and two very tasty pieces of chicken. It would have been nice had there been a bit of a garnish, a few pieces of salad or potatoes perhaps.
I’d go back, and hope they’re around for a while.

Closer to a 3.5 for me.
I came here with a couple of friends for lunch. Prices were good and the service was great! We did arrive at an off-​peak time (11 – 11:30 AM), on a weekday, though. The place was nicely decorated, homey, and fairly small, so it filled up quickly by the time lunch rolled around.
I got the Fried Chicken. I called it ‘Fancy Popeyes’. It came with two large pieces of chicken, a small portion of mac n cheese, and a biscuit. See? Fancy popeyes! It was good, but nothing that really blew me away, or that I would get again. The fried chicken was. you know, fried chicken. Tasted good to me. The mac n cheese had goat cheese in it, I believe, as I thought that I could taste it, but I can’t remember if it was stated on the menu. However, the goat cheese that they used for it and for the mushroom, goat cheese flatbread dish, has a very, very mild flavour. So you want to try goat cheese? Go for it!!! The biscuit also had a strong thyme flavour, which I didn’t mind.
Overall, I will be back. Because brunch gives me life. And I didn’t know that they served brunch on the weekends only. Next time!

First, the service was great, considering for the entire place there were only 2 people (one in the kitchen, and one server). Our server was a portrait of grace, given the busy day, but the kitchen did her NO favors.
We were in a hurry, so we asked given the circumstances if we could have our food quickly. Our server did make this happen, so I know she was really trying. However the food was bad.
We ordered the Tavern breakfast and the BBlt from the brunch menu.
The english muffin was burnt. Burnt black. Some of the side bacon was reasonably cooked, but some was severely undercooked. The back bacon, had burnt, charred bits that we scraped off to make the bacon edible. The bun on the BBlt was old and stale. The server replaced the burnt muffin with some toast that was well prepared. The vegetable cassoulet was dry, crusty and gross.
It was pretty awful. We told our server, and she explained the staffing challenge. We understood, but as we left we saw another table where the patrons had left remnants of their food, underdone waffles, and undercooked chicken.
Finally, we have been here before and had good experiences for drinks and bar food. Brunch at Tavern by Trevor really needs to step up to even border on acceptable. Kudos to the server for her honesty and genuine efforts in a tough situation.

Went here for lunch on a weekday. Most items on the menu are fairly expensive ($ 11-​$ 30), but the sandwiches essentially range from $ 10-​$ 15. There was a steak sandwich special when I went there which included roasted peppers, green olives, and arugula, with a side of fries and garlic mayo or aioli of some sort. It was only $ 10 + tax, and it was pretty gourmet, filling, and I’m really glad I ordered it. Instead of ordering fries I could have ordered a salad, but I’m a glutton. My friend ordered the salad and it was a kale salad with pomegranite, apple, and some other cool ingredients – very innovative. The restaurant itself is pretty classy and has cool artwork. I’d go here again in a heartbeat.

I actually like this place, something about the din lights, natural earthly color décor, comfy couches and saloon doors that makes this place appealing. Not to forget they also have a small outdoor patio at front which is a plus!
After walking around during Nuit Blanche 2015 our entourage decided to come here for some R&R for drinks.
Their drink menu isn’t overwhelming that it’ll take you hours to decide, however tonight I felt like BEER… though I’m a wine type of guy.
Few of us decided to order their «Flight of Draught» which gave you 3 type of beers on tap, Blonde, IPA, and dark for $ 8…which was not a bad choice at all.
The place is chills, the staff are sweet and its a place where you can just totally kick if back with good company.
I’d totally recommend if you’re in the area, especially for after work drinks.

Drinks are cheap and good during happy hour until 7pm ($ 5), but the food is just average and WAY overpriced. Their cheeseboard is most definitely NOT worth $ 19, don’t even think about wasting your money on this. The deep fried cauliflower is great, but I’d plan on this being a drinks before food kind of place.

The patio here is on a fabulous corner for people watching and in the evening light is entirely pleasant. I have come to love the menu. Portions perfectly sized (meaning not enormous… Just right) and the prep is careful and consistent.
Their take on grilled cheese is my favourite. To balance that I love the steamed green beans, a platter of fresh al dente long beans in a very light sauce, or the kale salad.
The latter is one of the best I’ve had in the city, assembled and presented with intent and care. And it is delicious.
Service is casual but also attentive.
A wonderful place to re-​enter the world after an hour of yogic flow.

Came here the other week for a bite after work. Had the beef check and bacon sandwich. It was also happy hour so I had a domestic micro-​brew for $ 5!!! The sandwich was great… all nice charred bits of beef cheek and crispy bacon with kale.
My only issue was with the service. Our Waitress seemed a bit angry with us and when we asked about the sides was rather kurt, saying the fries were $ 6 and then seeming offended when we didn’t order any.

My friends and I happened to stumble into this hidden jewel on Spadina Ave in Toronto. I laugh at that statement because we stumbled into the place and we were stumbling out of it after we went there. It was during happy hour on a weekend and the place was nowhere near as crowded as I imagined it would be. The place is a good size but I guess when more patrons come it might get crowded but luckily during our visit that was not an issue.
The ambiance of the place is traditional tavern. The quintessential long bar where the libations reside, exposed brick walls, and dark brown furniture to let guests know that this place means business are all present. You can take your fancy auburn woodwork somewhere else. Then add a little tea light candle to set the mood and I felt like I was in another country. Oh wait I was. And man did I appreciate mingling with the local Canucks.
The server was fantastic and her recommendations were right on. The bartender knew how to make my friends and I feel welcome and I even took a selfie with her and the server. They even gave us tips on what to do in the area afterwards which really helped considering we would be popping out of the tavern after a happy hour stint and you know what that means!
We ordered drinks which I care not to recall but the food I do remember. Mainly because I was smart enough to take a picture of the menu BEFORE the drinks arrived (haha win!) We shared the tempura cauliflower, chick peas fritter, beef cheek and smoke cheddar poutine, mozzarella sticks, and for some sweet tooth satisfaction had the Nutella cream filled beignets. Man Canadians have the whole poutine thing down to a science. When I say that my favorite dish was the beef cheek and cheddar poutine it was because I could have eaten three bowls worth of it all at once. I mean come on it’s super tender beef cheeks on top of fries drenched with smoked cheddar and a smidgen of pickled peppers to add the extra zing that elevates the dish to what it is. The tempura cauliflower was the dark horse with it’s flavorful punch that made me like cauliflowers! The chick peas fritter and mozzarella sticks were the typical fried finger foods and the Nutella beignets finished the meal on such a delicious note I couldn’t help but lick my fingers clean of the extra Nutella that made it’s way to it.
If you are ever on this part of town while visiting Toronto please stop by. The Tavern by Trevor is a gem of a find. I found it worthwhile to visit and would do so again if I’m ever back in the area.

Went for dinner with a friend at 11:00pm. It was during happy hour so all drinks under the bottle label are 5 $
Food: my friend n i shared the mozarella sticks, poutine with beef n yellow bell peppers, and beef sliders. All in all the food was delicious n a good spread to share between 2 ppl.
Venue: its a decent sized place with 2 booths a bar, a few tables, and a small patio.
Price: the price is fair for the after hours menu as well as the good selection of beer (i had a beer that tasted like grapefruit/​lychee while my friend had one that gad the taste of cider)
Service: it was good but the place wasnt filled to the brim. Our waitress checked on us from time to time and was polite and friendly.
Final thoughts: decent place to visit at night, decent selection of beers and food choices. Would go back to try a different kind of beer with friends.

I came here with a large group of friends at 12am on a Saturday night and was one of the only groups in the bar. Last call was at 1:30am so we expected there to be a crowd there, and was actually disappointed that there was only 2 other small tables at the bar.
The bartender was great with her stories and really accommodating. The mixed drinks were really diluted and not that great though. I would only suggest going to the bar with good company.

I went here, in a party of 4 for a casual birthday dinner a few days ago, made reservations because all the other reviews had mentioned that this place is small. If you want to go here, you should make reservations.
Ambiance: The place is loud, they play loud music and the lighting is dark — likely to capture a «tavern» experience. It’s a bit difficult to have a conversation with the person next to you when it fills up. The place is so small that it gets very noisy when there are more people.
FOOD:
beef cheek & smoked cheddar poutine — didn’t taste the smoked cheddar and don’t remember seeing any cheddar. There wasn’t much gravy or sauce at all, it relies on the beef cheek for the sauce. The beef cheek itself was tasty. Fries are tasty but together it was only so-​so.
seared whitefish — cooked perfectly, dressing is light but it’s just the right amount and it tasted pretty good. Only problem: portion was very small. My friend who ordered this, ended up eating the rest of the fries from another person’s steak frites.
duck confit carbonara — likely the best entrée we’ve had here. the linguine is topped with a duck leg. The duck is cooked really well and has a nice smokey flavour to it. I would recommend this dish. (it also might be the only thing I would return for)
steak frites — The small steak is over seared (similar to House of Chans). The sear gives the steak a hard outside — it’s almost cooked to char, but the inside was medium rare as requested. It comes with a huge wad of fries, REALLY big portion of fries, that took up the whole plate. (these fries came in handy, as my still hungry friend who ordered the fish — devoured them).
6oz kobe burger — Just a burger, nothing special. Couldn’t really tell it’s kobe beef.
tempura green beans — we ordered this because the waitress kept suggesting it, and said it was popular. I was hesitant because previous Unilocalers had mentioned that their tempura cauliflower wasn’t very good. As you guessed it, neither was the tempura green beans. It’s tempura batter to bean ratio was off by a lot — too much tempura batter and oil. Regret ordering this.
Overall: The place is OK. Some of the dishes are good, but some are a bit disappointing. Once was enough for me.

Went for Sunday brunch with an old friend and its a cute place. *Protip* there’s also $ 5 all day Sunday parking across the street so that made things much better!
I got the Lobster Benedict and WOW. Like many of the other reviews, this place is serious about food! Presented beautifully and tastes beautifully, this tavern knows how to do brunch. The Kobe Burger is juicy and their fries are actually a mix of sweet potato and regular potato tater bits!
The caesar could of been better. But the food and service makes up for it.
After our main dishes came out and me and my friend asked the server to move to another table, she was more than happy to help! (even I thought I was a bit annoying with that request…)
Anyhoo, this place is an all star five. It’s a gem, and perfect for a downtown brunch.

Do not be afraid to try out this new Tav near Richmond and Spadina.
It’s small (aka not a lot of seating — probably about 30 – 35 tops), but the food is MIGHTY… that is to say MIGHTY GOOD.
Came here with a friend, we had the Beef Cheek and Bacon sandwich with Kimchi on top and shared an order of fries.
The sandwich was open faced and oh so yummy. Pretty filling too — not sure I would both with the fries next time.
We were watching orders go by and everything looked fab.
They have specials of the day and also special $ 10 deals (sandwich and a side).
Located right on the NE side of Richmond and Spadina, this is welcome addition to the ‘hood.
Be sure to check it out!
PS — you can get lunch in 1 hour for sure. The place is also licensed for those that want a beer with their pub meal.

My boyfriend and I went there on a Tuesday night and we were impressed!
Pros:
Ahi tuna– so fresh, perfectly seared on the outside and green onion was a nice touch.
Mac and cheese– to die for! So cheesy and delicious
Steak– amazing Dijon dressing and cooked to perfection– beef quality was so-​so cuz it was a bit tough.
Service was fast and friendly
Cons:
Sat outside on the patio and it has a bit of a too close and awkward set up.
Steamed Green beans were a bit too salty and not worth $ 5 compared to the bar snacks.
Will definitely be back and want to check out that brunch!

I have long been a fan of Trevor Kitchen + Bar on Wellington Street. From the first time I had their Asiago Mac ‘n Cheese to my varoius ‘Licious experiences there, to indulging in all my foie gras laden desires as one of Toronto’s restaurants that will pretty much put foie gras on anything for you at your request. So when I heard about their new sister restaurant Tavern by Trevor — I was ecstatic (especially since it was down the street from where I work).
While Trevor Kitchen + Bar is a cavernous, intimate, dimly-​lit, white table cloths kind of place; the Tavern is what I’d call a watering hole that happens to have food.
My girlfriend took me to Tavern for my birthday dinner and I had high hopes considering how much I love its Wellington Street sister. Unfortunately, you just can’t compare Britney Spears to Audrey Hepburn and all the things I love about Trevor Kitchen + Bar are absent at Tavern.
First, the cocktails are awful. I sent the first one back and got a second one which I also couldn’t finish. The art of creating a well-​balanced cocktail isn’t a feat that everyone can accomplish. To be fair they’re not called Speakeasy; so maybe I should’ve stuck with the beer instead?
Second, our server was one of the most aloof ones I’ve ever encountered in all my years as a diner. She’s exemplary as the reason why Toronto, despite all it’s culinary talent is light years away from being known as a true culinary destination such as New York and Paris. That’s what happens when you have aspiring artists and university students working the service industry to support their aspirations. They are like hobos who hop from train to train, but serving is not their final destination and it shows.
So last but not least, we arrive at the food.
We order a bunch of things to share. More misses here than hits.
Foie gras is to me as a moth is to a flame. If it’s on the menu, I’m getting it. We ordered the fried foie gras with Concord grape jelly. More batter than foie here, and a thick thick batter at that. I see it’s been taken off the menu now. Good riddance to that. If they ever decide to put it back on the menu, I would refer them to Martin Picard’s foie gras cromesquis as a reference guide.
Having not fulfilled my hankering for something deep fried, we also opt for the pickerel goujons with lobster tartare sauce. An improvement from the first dish, but I find the tartare sauce to be lacking in any discernible lobster flavoring. If I closed my eyes, I quite possibly could’ve been eating dollops of McDonald’s tartare sauce.
My eating spree thus far, having been all things deep fried guilts me into grabbing a side of kale salad. Perhaps simplicity is the saving grace here; tossed in a zingy horsereadish dressing with jicama and parmesan — it was yummy.
In a desperate attempt to salvage my adoration for Trevor, we also order the bison & pork tourtière with pickled beets & apple chipotle sauce. The pastry is neither buttery enough nor flaky enough and the filling errs on the side of lean. One of my favorite Quèbec specialties fails to perk me up.
My girlfriend orders the kobe beef burger to satisfy her inner carnivore and finally we have a glimmer of hope that our entire evening isn’t going to hell in a handbasket. She’s a devout Catholic so I guess the Lord heard her prayers. The burger was meaty, juicy (to the point of dripping) but it is everything you would want in a burger. No extra condiments needed.
We probably should’ve stopped at the burger, but we also order the beef cheek & bacon, an open-​faced sandwich served atop a slab of potato bread and garnished with coriander, kimchi, and ginger mayo. At this point I think we were full from disappointment.
My partner in dine then chides that it’s not a birthday dinner unless I have dessert so we opt for the deep fried Snickers bar à la CNE with bourbon caramel & vanilla ice cream. If this night has taught me anything, it’s that clearly my girlfriend should start her own food blog. Of all the things we eat, the kobe burger and this dessert were of her choosing and end up being my favorites of the night.
As heavy and decadent as the dessert sounded, it was surprisingly light. Wrapped in sheets of phyllo, the Snickers bar was not just a fork full of stick-​to-​the-​roof-​of-​your-​mouth messiness. The berries were also a nice addition to cut through the chocolate. And with my final fork full of dessert; all was right in the world again.
At the end of the day I am still a fan of Trevor Kitchen + Bar; to be fair the food at Tavern is not cooked by Trevor Wilkinson and it is a totally different concept than it’s original location. I still remain a fan of its Wellington Street operation, but the Tavern fails me as both a watering hole and a place to grab food.

Have to say I LOVED the malt vinegar mayo and fries but that is all I had so I should probably reserve my judgment until I eat a meal. However Wednesdays were half price wine soooo, I had an A-​Ok time :)

I love the Canadian theme going on at this place!
I ordered the grilled tofu, kale salad and steamed green beans. I was a bit skeptical at first with the salad since I normally hate horseradish and jicama, but combined it tasted amazing! The portion was a good size too considering the price. The dressing complements the kale well, since you don’t get that acrid taste.
The tofu is an absolute must order. Honestly the best tofu I ever had. It’s both sweet and savoury.
My cousin ordered the kobe beef burger which he also really enjoyed.

The dynamic duo of Trevor and Mike are more Bevis and Butthead than Batman and Robin.
Wilted lettuce, raw chicken, running out of one of only three entrees after I ordered it and no apology for anything puts me in villainous mood… enter evil laugh.