(Image: Signe Langford)
The traditional gold lettering set against a black wall might bring to mind Foxes, Fiddles and Firkins, but this is no cookie-cutter ye olde pub. Behind the simple black doors is a serious chef, 20 local craft and imported beers on tap, another 30 by the bottle, fat leather wingbacks and the welcoming aroma of smouldering peat.
“I wanted to design a place that I would want to live in, where I would feel cozy,” says 37-year-old co-owner Erin Gamelin, a 22-year industry vet. Her co-owner (and partner) is Craig Abbott, a mail carrier by morning and carpenter and builder of one really big pub by afternoon. Completely gutting the 20-year-old Brass Taps location, the pair created a brand new bi-level, 106-seat space that is warm and relaxing—think dark wood floors and wainscoting, red-brick walls decked out with photos from Ireland, Arts and Crafts lighting, yellow-gold banquettes and velvet curtains.
In the kitchen, chef Yehuda Goldberg creates what he’s dubbed “comfort food with class.” The George Brown grad has come home after several years in Europe cooking under the likes of two-Michelin-starred chef Jean-Paul Lacombe of Brasserie Léon in Lyon, France. Now he’s busy roasting veal bones, reducing ales and attempting to elevate pub grub classics—prime rib sandwich, chicken pot pie, shepherd’s pie—beyond the usual greasy fare. In his devil’s beef stew ($15.49), Ontario Angus is aged 41 days, then braised over six hours in red wine and Great Lakes Brewery’s Devil’s Pale Ale. Cameron’s fish and chips ($15.49) is a gargantuan 10 ounces of haddock, battered in Cameron’s Dark Ale and served on a mound of chunky fries with homemade tartar sauce.
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- Stout Irish Pub’s warm dining room
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- Co-owner Erin Gamelin sips a pint by the fire
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- A 10-ounce fillet of haddock, battered in Cameron’s Dark Ale and served on a mound of chunky fries with homemade tartar sauce ($15.49).
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- Ontario Angus beef aged 41 days then braised over six hours in red wine and Great Lakes Brewery’s Devil’s Pale Ale ($15.49)
Sunday afternoons feature a drop-in ceili—an Irish (and Newfoundland) tradition of homemade music and beer—but don’t expect to find Guinness on tap. “I like to deal with the underdog, and the small craft brewers are the underdogs,” says Gamelin. “They are all about passion, care and quality.” Instead, she might pull you a proper pint of Murphy’s Irish Stout or a frosty Rock Creek Cider (both $6.73). And if making a choice proves difficult, flights of four five-ounce beers are only $7.49.
Stout Irish Pub, 221 Carlton St., 647-344-7676, stoutirishpub.ca.
I haven’t even been yet, and already I am hyper-excited about this place opening up in my neighbourhood. Finally, an Irish pub in Cabbagetown that ticks all the boxes, including the crucial ones: great food, a peat-burning fireplace, and a regular ceili. Welcome Stout!!!
January 21, 2011 at 2:08 pm | by Abi DWe haven’t been yet either, but I’m salivating just reading the menu. I can’t wait to talk to a real Irish server and try the Ontario beer. We’re looking forward to the ceili and meeting people from the neighborhood. Congratulations Erin & Craig on your wonderful pub!
With much Love,
Mom & Dad (Vicki & Bud)
January 21, 2011 at 3:19 pm | by Vicki & Bud GamelinManitoba
There’s nothing better than curling up near a fireplace with a pint of stout! This pub looks so cozy and wonderful. I can’t wait to go and try the beer sampler.
January 21, 2011 at 3:40 pm | by MelissaWow, this is incredible guys, absolutely. It looks awesome and sooo inviting and warm, a place you want to keep going back too. Congratulations to you both and Shannon and I can’t wait to see it in person. Love and miss you both. Cheers! :)
January 21, 2011 at 4:01 pm | by WilmaWell, you had right up until finding out they don’t pour
January 21, 2011 at 4:22 pm | by Bethany BeltonGuinness???
How can they call themselves and “Irish” pub, if they don’t pour Guinness?????
That’s just plain nutty!
Food sounds good though.
Nice piece, Signe.
Beth
Can’t wait to visit Toronto’s newest success story! The Devil’s Beef Stew and Cameron’s Fish and Chips are calling my name. Love, too, that Stout is supporting the small craft brewers!
Sláinte!
JP
January 21, 2011 at 9:13 pm | by JPIt looks absolutely wonderful! We’re already wondering how we can change our tickets this summer from Montreal to Toronto! Congratulations Erin & Craig on your new pub!
January 21, 2011 at 11:54 pm | by Janos and RobertJanos and Robert
Richmond, BC
Omg I love it!!! I was there the servers were great, I loved the different beers, the best part was the food!! I had the chicken pot pie it was huge and delish!
Diane
January 22, 2011 at 12:40 pm | by DianeI went there last Saturday night with a group of friends and everyone had a great time. The atmosphere, the food and the drinks are wonderful.
January 22, 2011 at 12:42 pm | by AFAt first a friend wasn’t in the mood to order food, but after seeing the first dishes being served, he QUICKLY changed his mind.
Keep up the great work!
Congratulations Erin, you done good!! There was never any doubt that you’d grab the tiger by the tail. I’m proud of you…and one of these days, when you least expect it, this wrinkled old face will dart your doors. Cheers.
January 22, 2011 at 2:23 pm | by Shirley CroweA delightful Irish Pub in our Cabbage Patch, we sure needed one as a reminder of all the Irish ladies & lads that had
a pint or two in yesteryear on this land known as Cabbagetown.
Welcome to our neighborhood, we sure enjoyed your hospitality and business acumen.
January 22, 2011 at 2:43 pm | by Jan & Ron HebertGreat place! We’ve eaten here twice…Cameron’s Fish & Chips are worth coming out on a cold night for. Beer selection is really good, and Erin makes everyone feel as if they’ve come home! Definitely an asset to the neighbourhood. Looking forward to many more evenings at my new ‘local’!
January 22, 2011 at 4:38 pm | by YDlol are you joking? The menu is pathetic “county clare crostini” “waterford wings” “isle of erin mac’n'cheese” etc.
January 23, 2011 at 7:49 pm | by Irish_LadWas there for brunch on Sunday, pleasant service and terrific food – you must try the stew.
Looking forward to my next visit.
January 24, 2011 at 12:51 pm | by Quite ImpressedHonestly, I have been a few times so far, and I always have a BLAST! For some reason, this place loses the usual ‘Toronto pretention’ and lives up to a down-home name. Had the Cameron’s Fish and Chips and it was WAY too much food (umm… is that a bad thing?) but scruptious! Finally, a real reason to cross Jarvis into the East Side! Loves it!
January 24, 2011 at 6:42 pm | by Tom S