Introducing: The County Cocktail, the Queen West diner’s new Riverdale café and snack bar
Name: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar
Contact Info: 798 Queen St. E., 416-781-4743, thecountygeneral.ca/cocktail , @countycocktail
Neighbourhood: South Riverdale
Owner: County General owner and former Splendido partner Carlo Catallo
Chef: The County General’s Danai Hongwanishkul, formerly the sous-chef at Canoe
The Place: The County General’s new east-end spin-off is a café, snack shop and cocktail bar in one. (It opens its doors at 7 a.m. on weekdays, in time for morning commuters to get their caffeine fix, and stays open until 11 p.m.—or later on weekends.) The space is bigger and sleeker than the original, but it conveys the same country-style spirit with bright red bar stools and discrete touches of gingham.
The Food: In addition to a few County mainstays, like the excellent chicken thigh sandwich, the menu is filled with shareable riffs on classic comfort dishes. Devilled eggs are topped with miniature cod fritters and shreds of pickled ginger, and steak “tar tar” is blended with green mango, peanuts and taro chips. Instead of Korean Fried Chicken (“KFC”), County Cocktail serves Peking quail with moo shoo pancakes and hoisin barbeque sauce. Desserts are homey and fun: they include warm chocolate chip cookies and spiced pumpkin cake with pear butter.
The Drinks: Unsurprisingly, cocktails are the main focus. The back bar stocks an impressive collection of rums and bourbons, which are blended with things like house-made cream soda and cherry-masala-chai bitters.
The Numbers:
• $55 for the County Seafood Platter, which comes heaped with oysters, salt cod brandade, potted shrimp, fried calamri, Alaskan king crab and several sides
• 32 seats, plus 12 more on the sidewalk patio
• 23 types of rum
• 7 days a week, with brunch on weekends
• 7 a.m. start on weekdays
265129 <strong>County Cocktail</strong> is located at 798 Queen Street East, at Boulton (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-04/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265142 The space was designed by local design firm <strong>Stroudfoot.</strong> It’s bigger and sleeker than the original (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-17/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-17 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265130 The country-chic vibe is achieved with bright red bar stools and touches of gingham (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-05/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265136 Devilled eggs are stuffed with deep-fried cod fritters ($5) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-11/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265128 A canapé version of the steak “Tar Tar” appetizer, which is made with green mangos, peanuts and taro chips ($14) (Image: County Cocktail/Instagram) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 624 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-03/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: County Cocktail/Instagram)
265132 Oysters are served with a verjus mignonette ($3/pc) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-07/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265126 A canapé version of the confit Arctic char appetizer, served on a pretzel crostini with crème fraiche and cucumber relish ($14) (Image: County Cocktail/Instagram) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 624 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-01/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: County Cocktail/Instagram)
265127 The County General’s famous chicken-thigh sandwich is topped with avocado chutney and cilantro ($14). It’s served with a side of soup, salad or chips (Image: County Cocktail/Instagram) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-02/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: County Cocktail/Instagram)
265139 Warm chocolate chip cookies ($4) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Baril Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-14/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265141 Bar manager <strong>Veronica Saye</strong> is responsible for all of County Cocktail’s signature crafted cocktails (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-16/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265140 The Belafonte: Wild Turkey, Amaro Montenegro, sweet vermouth, Fernet Branca and cherry-masala-chai bitters ($14) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-15/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265134 Molasses Rum Sour: rum, molasses syrup, lime, egg white and orange bitters ($13) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-09/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265131 The Town Tart: rum, spiced raisin syrup, lemon and ginger beer ($12) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-06/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
265137 The Patty Mae: Wild Turkey, crème de cacao, lemon and mint ($12) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The County Cocktail and Snack Bar Introducing: County Cocktail https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/county-cocktail-toronto-restaurants/slide/county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-12/ county-cocktail-bar-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)