Go Long: celebrity chef Brad Long is opening a pub in Bloor West Village
Chef and Food Network star Brad Long has a quick answer when asked what will be on the menu at his new Bloor West gastropub: “Canadian food.” He pauses. “What the hell is Canadian food?”
Long has been trying to answer that question for a while, from his days at the CN Tower’s revolving restaurant, 360, to his current gigs as executive chef at King East’s Veritas and sometime-guest on Restaurant Makeover. The quest will continue when the new joint, officially named My Place: A Canadian Pub (subtitled “like a bad movie,” says Long), opens in early September. It will be the pub yin to Veritas’s bistro yang, but the grub will still hinge on Long’s stock-in-trade: seasonal, local ingredients.
So what is Canadian food? We can’t offer a definitive response, but Long is certainly on the right track. Expect a menu with all-Canuck inventions (like tourtière), mash-ups from cultural enclaves around the city, and a few dishes spun purely from Long’s imagination. Everything will take advantage of Ontario’s fish, game and wildlife abundance.
This may all sound familiar—who isn’t serving fresh and local these days?—but that’s only because it’s a popular act. That’s lucky for Long, considering he has many seats to fill. The four-floor My Place seats 75 on the rooftop patio alone (its former incarnation was Billy Bob’s Bistro and Saloon). Long isn’t worried: My Place sits snugly between Bloor West Village, Swansea and the Kingsway, and he expects to draw enough foot traffic to easily cover rent. “The trick is to get people to come back,” says Long.
Isn’t it always?
My Place: A Canadian Pub, 2448 Bloor St. W. (at Jane).
Yeah, good luck Brad. 4 Floors? Bloor West? Hmmm. Seems a little over-confident to me. Maybe you should re-watch your Restaurant Makeover old tapes and see where those guys are now. Pretty cocky in this environment to think that you’ll be able to pull this off. Must have a)cheap rent b)partners with deep pockets or c)don’t care to lose your life savings.
Haven’t you done any research, man? Read a paper one of these days…sheesh. And, sorry, but am I the only one that doesn’t think Brad’s food is that exciting? Canadian food? Uhh, ok, we already have Canoe. And we already have a cabillion gastro-pubs. How many freakin’ gastro pubs do we need in this city? Are we turning into London? At least London can do a decent pie and fish & chips.
Toronto Life: let’s revisit this story in a year, ok?
August 28, 2009 at 12:33 pm | by ShockerA welcome addition to the Bloor West neighbourhood…I for one support Canadian and local food – there is much goodness to be had….if there is a decent wine list to match, then yahoo!
August 28, 2009 at 1:06 pm | by AnneOk Brad, oops I mean Anne, whatever you say.
In what way will this be a welcome addition? There are already pubs/restaurants in that area serving the same food that Brad is saying he wants to serve. Why is his going to be so much better? Cause it has 4 floors? Or cause he’s there?
Oh, and what does a ‘decent’ wine list mean to you in a gastro-pub? Just curious to see if you have the chops.
August 28, 2009 at 1:58 pm | by Shocker@ Shocker.
Someone is a little sour huh? The Fan had its run as a pretty good sports bar. If someone wants to be extravagant with his location and up the ante for the competition at Bloor West Village, then it’s all good.
August 29, 2009 at 7:09 pm | by AndreBloor West needs this pub, many people my age (late 20s) need a new, big, slightly upscale retaurant/bar to frequent…there’s only so many times you can visit Bryden’s and A Dark Horse.
I commend Brad for taking this perfect location and getting locals like me excited for a roof top patio!
Food won’t be the main attraction here…atmosphere and entertainment will be.
August 29, 2009 at 10:23 pm | by danielleI think this is great news. Bloor West is a great neighbourbood, but sorely lacking in the food department. I wish him all the best and am looking forward to it.
August 31, 2009 at 9:36 am | by StephanieI am an early 30′s female living in Old Mill hood and am very happy to see a new gastro-pub opening so close to home. A big patio too….finally. Rooftop hopefully means we’ll get to enjoy the sunshine in the evenings.
Yahoooo!
August 31, 2009 at 3:47 pm | by SallyI completely agree that Bloor West is SORELY lacking in the food department, what a shame. We usually head to Roncy to eat out.
August 31, 2009 at 3:48 pm | by SallyDoes anyone know what exactly Bloor West means? I am at High Park and Bloor and would really appreacite a nice place within walking distance from my home, especially during winter. However, I’ve noticed that whenever someone mentions “Bloor West”, they usually mean Bathurstish… Exact address pls!
September 1, 2009 at 9:37 am | by A la RusAgree with all the posts aside from Shocker’s. BWV so needs something of this nature. He isn’t opening a bakery or a European butcher/meat store: two things that BWV REALLY doesn’t need.
The gastro-pub theme also hasn’t been THAT played out yet. Although I agree it is au courant to do use that as a concept; there’s an opportunity to bring this to a different area. Because the other BWV options are pubs first; cuisine second. I am welcoming a new food option for the area – especially one with an accompanying pub atmosphere.
Also, in terms of restos that serve “Canadian” food, saying that we already have 1 (!?) in Canoe is a bit of a laugh. How many people can eat at Canoe on a frequent basis? Plus, we live in Canada – nothing wrong with a little nationalism and trying to nail down a sense of what Canadian cuisine could/should be.
September 1, 2009 at 12:14 pm | by GSGS, I think it’s laughable that:
a)You don’t think that the gastro-pub concept hasn’t been THAT played out yet? Are you waiting for McDonald’s type dominance in the theme for you to declare it over?
b)You think that this new ‘pub’ will make cuisine FIRST! Ha. Haa. Haaa. Have you ever EATEN at Veritas? That place is disgusting on a plate. Please.
c)That you think that this will actually be Canadian food, for that many people, at those prices that they will probably charge, which will be low to mid. Mark my words and you’ll see the usual suspects on this menu with a couple twists that make it seem Canadian.
d)You think you’ll want to be eating that this place on a regular bais because it’s cheap! That one takes the cake.
I’d rather eat at Canoe once every year than eat at a shitty place everyday. It’s called quality over quantity. Maybe a concept you and Brad would like to explore further….???
September 1, 2009 at 12:39 pm | by ShockerSorry, forgot one more laughable:
That you think BRAD LONG will be the one who will show us what our Canadian cuisine identity will be!!! Good one GS.
Again, do some research before you declare this guy the bearer of the Cdn cuisine torch. As a Platinum season ticket holder for Leafs, I was forced to eat his garbage food that was overpriced for years. Even before that, I was forced when entertaining family/friends to the city to eat at the gross 360. I’m all for national pride and supporting our own locals, but let’s have more Jamie Kennedys, Mark McEwans, and Anthony Walshs to do it with, please.
September 1, 2009 at 12:43 pm | by ShockerWent to the small opening this evening. Having been a regular of the old restaurant for many years (and having planned more than a few parties and my own reception there over the years) I can definitely say that this place will appeal to everyone and anyone. I’m so looking forward to this being our local – not only for the great food, but for the ambience that it clearly promises by having redone everything, but keeping some of the charm. A lot of the staff is local, keeping in mind that many of the patrons will be as well and are well trained and accomodating. We look forward to seeing Brad and his staff make My Place a great destination – once again – for the Bloor West Village!
September 1, 2009 at 8:51 pm | by TOLasyYou know, here is a list of positive and encouraging comments, and Shocker, you sound so cynical and unhappy. Toronto has many good dining establishments, and Canoe may be one, but not a realistic regular destination. For that matter, you can go to Didier, and even if the food is French, most of the ingredients are local and support the local economy.So let’s be more positive and get a grip on reality…
As far as a decent wine list, and this goes for beers too, stuff that is NOT on general list at the LCBO is already a good thing. I do not like knowing the retail price of a bottle and then pay 200-300% mark up. So if there is something original, than fine..
Glad to hear soft opening went well…look forward going there!
September 1, 2009 at 9:01 pm | by AnneCaution! Trolls are on the loose!!
September 2, 2009 at 2:41 pm | by Candi