Introducing: Bar Fancy, Chantecler chef Jonathan Poon’s new Queen West snack bar
Name: Bar Fancy
Contact Info: 1070 Queen St. W., 416-546-1416, @BarFancyTO
Neighbourhood: West Queen West
Owners/chefs: Chantecler’s Jonathan Poon and former Fabbrica chef (and Chopped Canada contestant) Jesse Fader
The Food: “Cheap and cheerful” is how Poon describes the dishes on his short snack menu. “We take a serious approach to food, but it isn’t—ironically—fancy.” Everything’s plated on colourful Melamine tableware, including two different chicken dishes: jumbo wings seasoned with mouth-tingling Sichuan peppercorns and fried chicken pieces paired with pickles, butter and springy white Wonder Bread. The menu will soon be expanded to include some larger options, like a 32-ounce rib-eye steak.
The Drinks: Cheap beer, wine and simple mixed drinks.
The Place: Located just west of Ossington on Queen Street, Fancy’s gold-plated storefront is impossible to miss. The interior is comfortable but much less flashy, with cozy brick walls and a bustling open kitchen. Follow the neon tiger sign down the left-hand alleyway to find the bar’s side entrance.
