The Ossington Guide - Page 18
Image credit: Jessica Darmanin
The Painted Lady
THE PLACE: The bordello-themed Painted Lady ups the
strip’s retro ante, taking it back to the ’40s and ’50s with old-school jazz
and pre-Kennedy cocktails. New Orleans imports and co-owners Nicky Potter
and Sam Papatragiannis wanted the watering hole to be “a drinker’s drinker’s
bar” that combines live music (minimum three nights a week), a diverse menu
and killer bar blends. Mixologist Christine Sismondo puts twists on such
traditional drinks as the Moscow Mule (vodka, with homemade ginger syrup and
lime mix) and the Corpse Reviver (Cointreau, gin, floating absinthe, Lillet
and lemon). Sugary concoctions keep drinkers hopped up, so come prepared to
shake a tail. “We party hard seven nights a week,” says Potter, “and the
staff frequently dress up and act out.”
OPENED: January 2009.
MOST POPULAR ITEM: Slow-cooked pulled pork sandwich ($7.95). It comes slathered in the secret house barbecue sauce and served on a Portuguese bun from a neighbouring bakery.
COME ON: Saturday for the red light special, when flirty girl–style dancing is a must.
CAPACITY: 111, plus boulevard café. Back patio coming soon.
SERVES: Dinner; will be serving lunch when the patio opens.
The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., 647-213-5239.
4 Comments
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I'm surprised you left off my favourite place on the street: LE BAR A SOUPE. Strange that you've reviewed every other restaurant on the strip but the ONE where all the people who WORK in all these bars and restaurants actually eat themselves.
June 13, 2009 | by JMJolicoeurMy poor little Ossington is growing up to be a monster. She now attracts the worst kind of unappreciative patrons on Friday and Saturday night; it's heartbreaking really. She's like a child stuck in the ugly phase, trying to find her identity. She's being ruined. Please for the love of god stop talking about how great Ossington is, you've already taken all the greatness out of her.
June 16, 2009 | by kenttUgh. On the subject of Sweaty Betty's: Get over yourselves. They need to learn how to identify the real a-holes from the people who've patronized their joint since its first days, by people who lived in the neighbourhood a good decade before it became deluged with 'hipsters'. Either inform your newbie staff with an obnoxious sense of self-importance about who to 'ban', or stop complaining, rake in the coin, and accept that Ossington is as over as Queen West east of Spadina.
June 18, 2009 | by nikidanThe painted lady has the most gorgeous wooden bar.... Probably one of the best wooden/ old school bars i have seen in the city.... it really does make the space. Not sure about the rest of the place though, as it seems like a mish mash of design.... I am also not very fond of the atmosphere.
July 14, 2009 | by Shlee