Introducing: Rose and Sons Swan, the Queen West diner with a new lease on life courtesy of Anthony Rose
(Image: Gabby Frank)
Name: Rose and Sons Swan
Neighbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods
Contact: 892 Queen St. W., 647-348-7926, roseandsonswan.com , @roseandsonsswan
Owner: Anthony Rose (Rose and Sons, Big Crow, Fat Pasha, Schmaltz Appetizing)
Chef: Sonia Marwick (Fat Pasha)
The Food: A menu inspired by Rose’s chef-school years in San Francisco and the five years he spent cooking in Cali. “California cuisine is a very loose title,” says Rose. “What it really means is that it’s just good simple food—not doing a lot to it and using a lot of interesting, good, local purveyors.” So while you might find Frito Pie at Big Crow, the dishes at Swan are on the lighter, fresher side and veggies play a bigger role. (To chef Sonia’s chagrin, Rose has given her a new nickname: Swan-ia.)
The Drinks: Four signature cocktails, a selection of bottled and canned beer and a fairly long wine list featuring more than just California grapes.
The Space: “It looks like it did before, but different,” says Rose, who was in Mexico on a yoga retreat when the Queen West diner went out of business. “I wasn’t supposed to be checking my email, but I did and saw that Swan had closed. By the time I got here I was like 30th in line—everyone in the city had looked at this place.” Refurbished booths, a record player, some flash art by local graffiti artists and a lone surfboard distinguish this version of Swan from the previous one. And there’s a park-facing patio in the back now, which Rose says is perfect for white squirrel sightings.
320962 Save for some personal touches (like that wall of flash art), the restaurant looks much like it did before. (Image: Gabby Frank) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods.jpg 1200 766 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods 0 0
(Image: Gabby Frank)
320952 Watermelon, bacon, mozzarella, hot sauce and mint ($16). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-bacon-melon-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-bacon-melon.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-bacon-melon.jpg 800 1111 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-bacon-melon/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-bacon-melon 0 0
320951 Griddled albacore tuna, roast beetroot, olives and aioli ($24). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-albacore-tuna-beets-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-albacore-tuna-beets.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-albacore-tuna-beets.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-albacore-tuna-beets/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-albacore-tuna-beets 0 0
320955 Duck confit, duck liver toast, watercress, cherries and mustard vinaigrette ($24). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-duck-confit-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-duck-confit.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-duck-confit.jpg 800 1148 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-duck-confit/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-duck-confit 0 0
320959 Soma chocolate custard with burnt banana and coconut shortbread ($9). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-pudding-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-pudding.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-pudding.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-pudding/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-pudding 0 0
320954 Do It Again: Four Roses bourbon, medium-dry sherry, watermelon, lemon and mint ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-do-it-again-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-do-it-again.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-do-it-again.jpg 800 1167 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-do-it-again/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-do-it-again 0 0
320961 The Liability: lavender-infused gin, Dillon's rose gin, Luxardo, lemon, honey and egg white ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-the-liability-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-the-liability.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-the-liability.jpg 800 1093 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-the-liability/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-the-liability 0 0
320953 Chef Sonia Marwick (left) and manager Jen Bubleit (right) pose with a <a href="http://hesssurfboards.com/" target="_blank">Danny Hess</a> surfboard. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-chef-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-chef.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-chef.jpg 800 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-chef/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-chef 0 0
320960 Having a record player for a sound system means staff need to be on top of flipping the vinyl every 20 minutes. Rose's favourite record is that Joe Cocker one on the right. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-record-player-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-record-player.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-record-player.jpg 1200 795 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-record-player/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-record-player 0 0
320957 The park-facing patio. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-patio-2-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-patio-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-patio-2.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-patio-2/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-patio-2 0 0
320956 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-exterior-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-exterior.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-exterior.jpg 800 1149 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-trinity-bellwoods-anthony-rose/slide/toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-exterior/ toronto-restaurants-rose-and-sons-swan-exterior 0 0
West: 126
East: 9
South 124
North 32
Nobody gives a sh*t about you or the crappy east end. Go start a publication that does cover it if you are so concerned.
Ah, the troll is back. The Bolo Punch – the guy who for some reason is terribly upset by Darren’s project.
???
(attempt at humour?)
that is actually a really good idea. Might breathe some new life into the East