Introducing: Home of the Brave, an all-American diner from the owners of La Carnita
Name: Home of the Brave
Contact Info: 589 King Street W., 416-366-2736, thehotb.com, @theHOTB
Neighbourhood: King West
Owners: Andrew Richmond, who also owns Little Italy taqueria La Carnita
Chefs: Jonathon Hamilton and Nate Middleton, La Carnita’s executive and sous chef, respectively
The Place: The second-floor space feels like an updated diner with retro orange booths, graffiti wall art and touches of vintage Americana, like Liberty Bell light fixtures and artwork scrawled with the revolutionary motto “Join or Die.” A small front patio overlooks King Street.
The Food: American comfort food, like tater tots with gravy and a fried bologna sandwich topped with house-made processed cheese. The Kentucky Fried Handshake Sandwich comes with a chicken foot dangling out one side.
The Drinks: Spiked slushies, root beer on tap and an elaborate cocktail menu divided into three sections: house drinks, guest book cocktails (borrowed from popular American bars) and Prohibition-era classics.
The Numbers: • 50 mason jars stocked with herbs, spices and other ingredients for concocting house-made bitters • 36 hours in the smoker for the smoked pork belly sandwich • 10 litres of spiked slush sold per night • 3 desserts: banana split, ice cream cookies and red-velvet funnel cake
