Kitch bills itself as a place for “eats and beats”—the eats coming courtesy of Bryan Jackson, noted waffle lover and owner of Starving Artist, and the beats from Jose Rodriguez, talent booker for Charles Khabouth’s Ink Entertainment. The casual restaurant/bar/lounge is meant to be the kind of place where comfort snack food is paired with great music ranging from Nas to electronic to indie (with precious little Bieber or Top 40 here, unless, say, it’s a really cool remix). And unusually for a place like this, it’s nestled in among the auto body and plumbing supply shops north of Dupont and Dufferin.
The huge 2,800-square-foot space is full of the sort of kitsch you’d expect from a place named Kitch (which is also a play on the word “kitchen”). The centrepiece is a long bar, featuring a 70-year-old bowling alley top. Behind the bar, pantry shelves showcase retro pieces like a pair of golden eagles, mix-and-match cookie jars, gnomes and tiny televisions. Topping the whole assemblage off is a handpicked selection of antique speakers, which fill up the wall. Small diner tables and chairs in the front bask in the glow of retro cartoons and stunt videos projected on the wall. In the back, high bar tables, a small lounge and a patio (complete with picnic tables) offer some more seating. There’s also an upstairs loft space whose retro, mismatched furniture makes it feel a little like stepping into your parents’ basement.
The menu offers dishes that are best described as something between Mexican and comfort food (i.e. the kind of food that happens to pair well with lots of drinking). Large plates of nachos are intended for sharing ($12.50 for veggie, $14.50 for chicken, $14.50 for beef or veggie chilli). Tacos ($6-9) are filled with beet and goat cheese, hamburger or jerk chicken. There’s also burritos ($8) and spicy mac ’n’ cheese with smoked bacon ($6). For drinks, there’s sangria ($19 for 750 ml) and margaritas (1 ounce for $6.50), tallboys of beer like Steam Whistle, Tecate, Stiegl or Amsterdam Blonde ($6.50 each) and specialty Mexican Kool-Aid ($2.50) that comes in lime, cantaloupe, guava, mango and pineapple. With summer on its way, plans are underway for barbecues on the patio, and the big launch party is set to take place on Cinco de Mayo.
Checked out this place a few times already. Fantastic! Foods is delicious and made with care, decor is inspired and ambiance is everything you look for in a spot. Come here to jam or to eat or just to marvel at the art incorporated into every square inch. The tacos are to die for. This is my new favourite place in Toronto!
I am so excited about this. I’m glad someone has already tried it out. We moved into this (mostly industrial) neighbourhood last fall and found Starving Artist.
I love this place! I’ve been a couple of times with friends. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is chill and happy with amazing music. It’s going to be the spot for those want to get away from the same old places on Ossington, King etc. I can imagine that this place will be packed in the summer, especially the outside patio. Anything on this menu is amazing, especially with a Stiegl in hand.
*same old places on Ossington*
hahahaha how long ago Ossington was a new and happening place?
…hipsters :(
went there on opening night. DISAPPOINTING. Cash only. You had to go to the bar and order food for yourself and then pay . Very odd system. Couldn’t the wait staff take your order like any other lounge/restaurant? Greatly understaffed. Food took forever. Our food order was incorrect so the manager told us it was on the house. Unfortunately it was already paid for so it took too long to correct. After our meal we had to get a busboy to clean our table b/c the plates just sat there for 30 minutes. Looks cool inside and a cool vibe but to eat there and chill with friends….not worth the isolated location.
I was just at this place and I was far from impressed. They messed up our order. Gave my vegetarian girlfriend a steak burrito. Charged $8 for a can of beer. Overall had a lousy time. Never returning.
Not very impressed, the music was too loud and food was not anywhere near what i expected after hearing from a few people. Seems like a big disappointment when toronto needs a good mexican RESTAURANT not a bar.
At least you don’t have to wait at Taco Bell.
any updates?
I’ve been going almost once a week since its opened and I just have to say that I love the new menu, way more selection. Also love the $5 pabst. They seem to be straying away from straight up mexican food and are making whatever they want now. cool, chill vibe inside and out.
I so wanted this place to fill a huge void in the neighbourhood…i.e. a cool place to listen to good music, grab a bite and enjoy a beer (on tap). Unfortunately when my husband and I went to check it out back in May, we felt like we’d gotten lost and walked into a cheesy bar up on St. Clair West. They’ve got the decor right, but the music was something you might hear pumping out of a souped-up Honda Civic, and all the beer is sold in cans! What is this, Richmond St. West? Oh, and we weren’t allowed to eat at the bar. They reaaaally blew it.