Introducing: Tavern by Trevor, a new spot for brunch and bar snacks (deep-fried foie gras!)
Name: Tavern by Trevor
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
Contact Info: 147 Spadina Ave., 416-546-3447, tavernbytrevor.com, @tavernbytrevor
Owners: Mike “Yuker ” Yaworski (owner of Wide Open) and Trevor Wilkinson, the man behind Trevor Kitchen and Bar on Wellington
Chef: Trevor Wilkinson
The Food: Wilkinson calls his food “new Canadian cuisine.” Menu-wise, that translates into over-the-top comfort dishes drawn from a bunch of different global cuisines: Japanese-inspired shrimp tempura, for instance, and Cajun po’boys, plus a handful of rejigged Canadian classics, like bison-and-pork tourtière and pork-belly poutine. In an extremely haute take on the jalapeño popper, hunks of foie gras are deep-fried and served with ice-wine grape jelly.
The Drinks: Draught beer, wine and traditional cocktails, like old-fashioneds and negronis.
The Place : The simple room is decorated with plenty of barnboard and a pair of comic-bookish murals. Sports fans can follow games on the flat-screen TV behind the bar.
The Numbers:
• 46 years’ industry experience between Yaworski and Wilkinson
• 40-year-old tourtière recipe passed down to Wilkinson from his mother (the bison is his addition)
• $19 for the most expensive dish: steak frites
• 14.5 centimeters: the height of the brunch BLT
• $11 for any bar snack on the menu
• 6 ounces of kobe beef in the house burger
268902 The restaurant is located at 147 Spadina Avenue, just south of Queen Street (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-11/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268903 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-12/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268909 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-18/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-18 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268904 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-13/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268913 The room’s <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Steadman">Ralph Steadman</a>-esque murals</p> were painted by SEWP (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-22.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-22/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-22 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268905 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-14/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268908 The room’s <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Steadman">Ralph Steadman</a>-esque murals</p> were painted by SEWP (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-17/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-17 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268910 The drinks list sticks to standard cocktails, like old-fashioneds and negronis (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-19/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-19 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268892 BLT with fried egg, avocado and lemon aioli on brioche ($12) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-01/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268894 Miniature bison-and-pork tourtiere with pickled beets and apple-chipotle sauce ($13) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-03/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268895 Grilled cheese finger sandwiches and tomato soup ($12) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-04/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268896 Tuna carpaccio with coriander, shoyu mayo, crispy shallots and scallions ($11) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-05/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268897 Tuna carpaccio with coriander, shoyu mayo, crispy shallots and scallions ($11) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-06/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268898 Brioche French toast with mascarpone, black plums, vanilla ice cream, pistachio and maple syrup ($14) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-07/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268899 Brioche French toast with mascarpone, black plums, vanilla ice cream, pistachio and maple syrup ($14) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-08/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268900 Deep-fried foie gras with concord grape jelly ($11) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-09/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268901 Deep-fried snickers bar with bourbon caramel and vanilla ice cream (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-10/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268906 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-15/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
268912 Owners <strong>Mike Yaworski</strong> and <strong>Trevor Wilkinson</strong> (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Tavern by Trevor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-21.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurants/slide/tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-21/ tavern-by-trevor-toronto-restaurant-21 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)