Introducing: Against the Grain, a new lakeside pub with a lakeside patio
For so long, Toronto’s eastern waterfront has felt like a barren wasteland (remember when The Guvernment seemed like the edge of the world?). Lately, however, it feels as though it just keeps getting better and better. First there was the new Corus Entertainment building, followed by Sugar Beach, with its pink umbrellas and Muskoka chairs, and Sherbourne Common, the verdant park and water purification facility (no, really). The most recent addition is Against the Grain Urban Tavern, one of the very few lakeside restaurants in the city.
Against the Grain is located on prime real estate at the back of the Corus building on the edge of Lake Ontario. Behind it all is FAB Concepts Inc., the food and beverage people who run Mill Street Brewpub, The Pour House and Brazen Head Irish Pub, to name a few. Against the Grain is all about the “evolution of the pub,” says FAB Concepts co-owner Sean Bayley, careful not to peg himself into the city’s gastropub trend. Hence, “urban tavern.”
In the kitchen is chef Sera Antheunis, who has a pedigree suited to the pub’s meat-heavy fare—she’s worked in the kitchens of Beer Bistro and Cowbell and is the owner of Sausage Party Artisanal Charcuterie. Her menu hews to the seasonal and sustainable ingredient trend, with signature items including the Berkshire pulled pork sandwich, braised in dark beer and molasses ($14); the big smokey clubhouse with smoked chicken and double-smoked bacon ($14); and the smoked rainbow trout sliders on mini egg buns ($12), these last two smoked in house in the kitchen’s Cookshack SM160. They’re all served with hand-cut Yukon gold fries or onion straws.
Other staples include stone oven–baked pizzas ($15–17) and traditional pub fare like fish and chips ($16, served with a spicy beer ketchup), Baja-roasted chicken nachos ($15) and a daily chef’s poutine ($9) that included prime rib, caramelized onions, beef gravy and blue cheese on our visit. The weekend brunch menu has a cream cheese–stuffed French toast ($12) and tavern eggs benny on cheddar buttermilk biscuits with beer-marinated bacon ($12). The bar serves up classic cocktails ($8–14), a dozen draft beers and local microbrews, as well as obscure beers from Holland and Belgium, like the cult favourite Westvleteren 12.
Designed by William Cummings of WTC Designs, who also worked with FAB Concepts on Watermark, Brazen Head and the Mill Street Brewpub, the space is warmed with orange and brown accents but offers, as any modern pub should, a dozen flat-screen 55-inch LED TV screens. But the big draw is on the on the outside, where patio tables and loungey couches surround fire pits and offer views of the Toronto Islands and Sugar Beach.
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- The entrance to Against the Grain
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- The dining room
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- Booths
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- The bar
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- The big draw: a sunny lakeside patio
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- The patio as seen from the lake
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- Against the Grain is situated at the back of the Corus building
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- Pulled pork taco ($12): molasses and Tankhouse ale–braised pulled pork on soft flour tortillas with smoked gouda, avocado crème fraiche, and pickled watermelon and radish salsa
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- Ontario angus burger ($13): an 8-oz burger completely dressed and served on a Fred’s Bread brioche bun
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- Berkshire pulled pork ($14): braised in dark beer and molasses, topped with crunchy coleslaw and served on a Fred’s Bread brioche bun
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- Against the Grain’s signature cocktail, the Aperol Spritzer ($11)
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Against the Grain Urban Tavern, 25 Dockside Dr., Corus Quay, 647-344-1562, atgurbantavern.ca.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-against-the-grain/&title=Introducing: Against the Grain, a new lakeside pub with a lakeside patio&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/against-the-grain-patio.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_76219" align="aligncenter" width="624" caption="The big draw: Against the Grain sports a sunny lakeside patio (Image: Gizelle Lau)"][/caption]
For so long, Toronto’s eastern waterfront has felt like a barren wasteland (remember when The Guvernment seemed like the edge of the world?). Lately, however, it feels as though it just keeps getting better and better. First there was the new Corus Entertainment building, followed by Sugar Beach, with its pink umbrellas and Muskoka chairs, and Sherbourne Common, the verdant park and water purification facility (no, really). The most recent addition is Against the Grain Urban Tavern, one of the very few lakeside restaurants in the city.
Against the Grain is located on prime real estate at the back of the Corus building on the edge of Lake Ontario. Behind it all is FAB Concepts Inc., the food and beverage people who run Mill Street Brewpub, The Pour House and Brazen Head Irish Pub, to name a few. Against the Grain is all about the “evolution of the pub,” says FAB Concepts co-owner Sean Bayley, careful not to peg himself into the city’s gastropub trend. Hence, “urban tavern.”
In the kitchen is chef Sera Antheunis, who has a pedigree suited to the pub’s meat-heavy fare—she’s worked in the kitchens of Beer Bistro and Cowbell and is the owner of Sausage Party Artisanal Charcuterie. Her menu hews to the seasonal and sustainable ingredient trend, with signature items including the Berkshire pulled pork sandwich, braised in dark beer and molasses ($14); the big smokey clubhouse with smoked chicken and double-smoked bacon ($14); and the smoked rainbow trout sliders on mini egg buns ($12), these last two smoked in house in the kitchen’s Cookshack SM160. They’re all served with hand-cut Yukon gold fries or onion straws.
Other staples include stone oven–baked pizzas ($15–17) and traditional pub fare like fish and chips ($16, served with a spicy beer ketchup), Baja-roasted chicken nachos ($15) and a daily chef’s poutine ($9) that included prime rib, caramelized onions, beef gravy and blue cheese on our visit. The weekend brunch menu has a cream cheese–stuffed French toast ($12) and tavern eggs benny on cheddar buttermilk biscuits with beer-marinated bacon ($12). The bar serves up classic cocktails ($8–14), a dozen draft beers and local microbrews, as well as obscure beers from Holland and Belgium, like the cult favourite Westvleteren 12.
Designed by William Cummings of WTC Designs, who also worked with FAB Concepts on Watermark, Brazen Head and the Mill Street Brewpub, the space is warmed with orange and brown accents but offers, as any modern pub should, a dozen flat-screen 55-inch LED TV screens. But the big draw is on the on the outside, where patio tables and loungey couches surround fire pits and offer views of the Toronto Islands and Sugar Beach.
Start the slideshow »
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Against the Grain Urban Tavern, 25 Dockside Dr., Corus Quay, 647-344-1562, atgurbantavern.ca. ){kind=link}
finally something in the east end for a change! I can’t wait to ride my bike down to check it out.
great patio and it’s away from the more touristy area of queens quay terminal, plus sugar beach is next door. love it!
Enjoyed a few beers and a duck confit on that patio with my girl. What a great relaxing night. Well worth it!
TO MUCH MONEY for what youget , other wise good
The patio scenery is the only reason to go imo.
They still have to iron out a lot of service problems. Our wait staff was not trained to handle customers professionally. They also did not know the menu. The mains arrived before we barely started the appetizer. The overall dining experience was the worst.
If you want to chat up with the guys and take in the scenery, great. But don’t expect to take the dining experience seriously.
Great View, that is ALL it has going for it.
Snooty staff, if I want to have someone treat me with attitude I can go to KFC and have the 16 year old who doesn’t want to be there serve me.
Food was poor except the cheese and charcuterie platters which you can’t really screw up.
If you want to go in the afternoon or evening to have a couple of beers and sit by the water it is alright, if you want good food and/or service this is NOT the place to go.
I would not suggest this place to my worse enemy. Did not honor our reservation for the patio but told us 10 seconds and we can sit inside. 30 mins later we sit down. Tried to order a round of drinks but they seemed to be out of everything. Out of 10 people only 3 of us got what we actually wanted to drink. However, even though they sad they were out another table was getting that exact drink! Next, we order appetizers and entrees. Hour goes by, one appetizer comes out, second one missing. 2nd hour goes by still no food. Finally the manager sent over a cheese platter to the table … 2 small rolls with 5 different cheeses … for 10 people? Gee thanks. Finally after talking to the manager asking what was going on, we were told our table was next …. yet we see table after table get their food “next.” Finally food comes out, with the other appetizer.
Side note … there were 2 lights on the patio and most people were eating in the dark.
Nice location, nice decor, food was good, great waitress but I would suggest giving them a year to get there stuff together and work out the kinks. They don’t seem to know what to do with larger parties so go with a small group. There is great potential though!
I will echoe previous comments in that the patio is all they have going for them. Just what the city needs-another over-hyped, over-priced venue with bad service.
BEST SERVICE,FOOD,VIEW!!! What more can i say! Service was excellant, atmosphere fun, view gorgeous. Would return in a heartbeat – can’t wait to have a glass of vino on the terrace.
Thank you!
Can we assume this is Jane bayley, the owners wife.
Went to this place for brunch a couple of years ago and I agree that food was very mediocre and serivce was poor as well. The restaurant Manager or Supervisor was busy talking on the celllphone away from the restaurant for almost the whole time we were there.
This place is a classic O’tooles/Shoeless Joe type joint that is trying to add some glam. The usual suspect that own these joint do not have the concept of serving good food with basic wholesome ingredients. They have run pubs for years serving chicken wings, chicken fingers etc and still have not seen the light.
At the end of the day, this is watering hole and you can’t expect anything else. I walked in and walked out of Brazen Head as well.