/
1x
Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
Food & Drink

Introducing: Boots ‘n Bourbon, a country-western saloon in Riverdale from the owners of Rock Lobster

By Gizelle Lau
Copy link
Boots 'n Bourbon
(Image: Gizelle Lau)

Name: Boots ‘n Bourbon Saloon Neighbourhood: South Riverdale Contact Info: 725 Queen St. E., 647-348-0880, @BootsBourbon
Owners: Rock Lobster owners Matt Dean Pettit and Matt Coulter; Kee to Bala owner Mike Homewood; and Nav Sangha, who also owns Wrongbar and  The Great Hall on Queen West Food: Matt Dean Pettit

The Place: One of two line-dancing locales to open in Toronto within the span of a week (the other is Rock ’n Horse Saloon, on Adelaide Street). The Queen East space, formerly home to Riverside Public House, has been outfitted with all the components of a country-western saloon: horseshoe-shaped bar, plaid-shirted waitstaff and even a mechanical bull. A small stage at the back hosts country-themed acts like Alberta-based singer Brett Kissel, who played on opening night.

The Food: Southern-style bar snacks, like fried beer cheese, deep-fried pickles and chili. Chicken comes two ways—beer-can or fried—and ‘po boys are stuffed with catfish, Cajun shrimp or spiced lobster.

The Drinks: Bourbon cocktails and novelty drinks, like the 32-ounce Stampeder, a beer-based cocktail that comes in a giant boot-shaped glass.  The General Lee Caesar blends smoked hickory bitters with beef jerky–infused bourbon, and comes garnished with a pepperette.

The Numbers: • 32 ounces of beer, whiskey, bitters and ginger ale in the Stampeder, which comes in a big glass boot • 25-plus types of bourbon • 1 mechanical bull, available for rides from Monday through Wednesday • 1 slushie machine for boozy cocktails

Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon
Boots 'n Bourbon

NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY

Sign up for Table Talk, our free newsletter with essential food and drink stories.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Big Stories

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar
Deep Dives

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Inside the Latest Issue

Inside the Latest Issue

The April issue of Toronto Life features the anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.