Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern, a cozy American bistro in the middle of Leslieville
Name : Brooklyn Tavern
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
Contact Info: 1097 Queen St. E., @BklynTavernTO
Owners: Cindy Wilkes and David Steadman
Chef: Mike Dougall, a former chef at Opus
The Food: Throwbacks to Mad Men -era cuisine: meatballs, pan-fried liver and onions, and an iceberg wedge topped with buttermilk blue-cheese dressing and crumbled bacon. The house-ground brisket burger comes square and medium-rare.
The Drinks: Local craft beers and affordable Ontario wines, including a pair of house wines made from Henry of Pelham grapes.
The Place: If Sam Malone had been a decorator with a penchant for salvaged finds, Cheers might have looked a bit like Brooklyn Tavern. The neighbourly space has comfy blue banquettes, a big central bar and, for decor, a hodgepodge of vintage memorabilia, including photos, framed LPs and an antique boxing-ring bell.
The Numbers:
• 20 embroidery hoops repurposed as coat hooks
• 8 ounces of brisket in each burger patty
• 4 vintage sconces from homes around Toronto
• 2 walls made out of tortoiseshell-patterned acrylic
• 1 original Prohibition-era arrest warrant
• 1 friendly ghost who’s reportedly been haunting the space for years
• 1 house mascot named Doris, who appears in a painting behind the bar (the owners claim she drinks gin and talks out-of-place—but always stays classy)
249371 Brooklyn Tavern is located in the centre of Leslieville, at Queen and Brooklyn (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-10-e1386166556407-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-10/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-10 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249370 The couch by the entrance was purchased on Craigslist and recovered with a funky floral fabric (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-09/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-09 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249369 The neighbourly space has a big central bar and, for decor, a hodgepodge of vintage memorabilia (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-08/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-08 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249368 The wall decor includes framed LPs and a collection of photos autographed by jazz musicians (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-07/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-07 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249363 Iceberg wedge with buttermilk-blue cheese dressing, shallots and crumbled bacon ($7.50) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-02-e1386166655657-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-02/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-02 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249365 Seafood cocktail with shrimp, clams, calamari, octopus and mussels in house-made salsa ($14) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-04-e1386166639875-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-04/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-04 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249362 House-ground brisket burger on a milk bun ($14). Cheddar, bacon and fried egg are optional add-ons ($2 each) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-01-e1386166691129-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-01/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-01 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249364 Veal and pork meatballs with grilled sourdough ($8) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-03-e1386166671239-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-03/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-03 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249366 A giant meatball stuffed with pulled pork and served in a chipotle–white bean broth ($13) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-05-e1386166605150-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-05/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-05 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249367 Stout chocolate mousse ($7) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-06-e1386166624591-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-06/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-06 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
249372 House wines made from Henry of Pelham’s grapes ($7.50 per glass or $35 per bottle) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern Introducing: Brooklyn Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-11-e1386166577573-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/brooklyn-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-11/ toronto-restaurant-brooklyn-tavern-11 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)