416 Snack Bar

For almost eight years now, this lovable hole-in-the-wall at the corner of Queen and Bathurst has been pumping out craft beer, classic cocktails (there’s no list; just tell them what you want) and a surprising amount of wine to go with its menu of globe-trotting small plates. Its “snack bar” label doesn’t do justice to what comes out of executive chef Dustin Gallagher’s kitchen—these are no ordinary bar bites: there’s Argentinian barbecue, two skewers of juicy parilla-style beef tenderloin with red chimichurri; a reuben sandwich on bread griddled to the extreme so it shatters like delicious, buttery glass on contact; pillowy steamed buns stuffed with juicy pork belly; and nuggets of spicy Korean fried chicken. The menu, save for a few favourites, is in constant flux, and often lists seasonal specials, like a take on Mexican street corn or so-good-you-order-it-twice organic heirloom tomato toast dressed simply with a thick blanket of mayo. Don’t go looking for any utensils, because you won’t find any—416 Snack Bar is cutlery-free and proud of it. But when the food is this good, who gives a fork?

181 Bathurst St., 416-364-9320, 416snackbar.com