Introducing: Museum Tavern, a classic American brasserie right across from the ROM
(Image: Megan Leahy)
Taking trips together to New York, Chicago and San Francisco, brothers Kyle and Glen Kristenbrun fell in love with classic Americana, so much so that they decided their family’s next restaurant project would have to be an ode to the great American bar. When they shared the idea with their dad, Tom —former Argonaut, chartered accountant, onetime co-owner of the El Mocambo and the man behind the now-closed institution and celebrity hotspot Bistro 990— he told them it sounded a lot like Bemelmans, the New York–style bar he once ran in the space that now houses Hugo Boss at 83 Bloor Street West, and threw his sons a key to a storage locker. Inside, they found a pile of perfect old-school decor: an antique cash register, oversized saloon-style chandeliers, two deer statues and an old Bemelmans sign. Thus was born Museum Tavern.
Situated in the space above brunch spot Over Easy (another Kristenbrun eatery), Museum, whose patio faces the ROM, is styled as an American brasserie: copper-plated ceilings, checkered floors, sleek banquettes, marble tables and a covetable wrap-around bar accompanied by leather-tufted stools with proper backs. In the kitchen, executive chef Stephen Gouzopoulos (previously of L’Unità ) prepares classic American fare with international twists. The most imaginative dishes fall under the menu’s small plates category, such as tuna poke cones with avocado, pickled cucumber and sriracha mayo ($16), salmon tiradito with aji amarillo, roe, cilantro and citrus ($14) and stuffed chicken wings with bacon, blue cheese and hot sauce ($16). Under the supervision of pastry chef Cora James, all breads are made in-house, appearing in plates like lobster rolls with mayo, chives and double-smoked bacon ($18) and duck buns with hoisin, green onion and sriracha ($12). Mains, meanwhile, include Great Lakes fish and chips, pan- or deep-fried, served with house tartar sauce ($18), Tamworth pork chop with fingerling potato salad and barbecue sauce ($27) and lamb sirloin with bulgur, Greek salad and charred lemon ($29).
To say the bar is stocked is an understatement. It’s hard to tell what head bartender Moses McIntee (formerly of Lucid ) is proudest of: the soon to be over 100-strong list of scotches or his elaborate house cocktails. The latter include Peach Cobbler with Bacardi Superior rum, peaches, lime and saffron-sage syrup ($12), French Tonic with Cointreau, Jerry Thomas’s Own Decanter bitters, lime, falernum and tonic ($12) and Apricot Bourbon Sour with Maker’s Mark bourbon, lime, black pepper-apricot syrup, bitters and egg white ($12). The drinks menu also includes oak-aged spins on classics ($14) like negronis and sazeracs and a list of summer favourites ($12) like mint juleps and caipirinhas ($12). With its nostalgic decor and extensive drink list, it’s easy to imagine Museum giving that other faux-old joint down the street a run for its money.
160559 Peach Cobbler ($12): Bacardi Superior rum, peaches, lime and saffron-sage syrup (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern19.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern19/ aug12museumtavern19 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160558 French Tonic: Cointreau, Jerry Thomas’s Own Decanter bitters, lime, falernum and tonic ($12) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern18.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern18/ aug12museumtavern18 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160557 Apricot bourbon sour ($12): Maker's Mark bourbon, lime, black pepper–apricot syrup, Jerry Thomas’s Own Decanter bitters and egg white (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern17.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern17/ aug12museumtavern17 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160556 Tuna poke cones with avocado, pickled cucumber and sriracha mayo ($16) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern16.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern16/ aug12museumtavern16 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160555 Duck buns with hoisin sauce, green onion and sriracha ($12) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern15.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern15/ aug12museumtavern15 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160554 Canadian prime double cheeseburger and fries with lettuce, onion, pickle and sauce on an egg bun ($22) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern14.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern14/ aug12museumtavern14 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160553 White fish tostada with adobo mayo, red cabbage and cilantro ($12) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern13.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern13/ aug12museumtavern13 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160552 Lobster Rolls with mayo, chives and double-smoked bacon ($18) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern12.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern12/ aug12museumtavern12 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160551 Stuffed chicken wings with bacon, blue cheese and hot sauce ($16) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern11.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern11/ aug12museumtavern11 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160550 Spicy maple baby back ribs with fresh chilies and green onions ($18) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern10.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern10/ aug12museumtavern10 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160549 Salmon tiradito with aji amarillo, roe, cilantro and citrus ($14) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern9.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern9/ aug12museumtavern9 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160548 Vegetable chop with vegetables, seeds, nuts and plum vinaigrette ($12)<br />
(Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern8.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern8/ aug12museumtavern8 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160547 The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal is visible from the patio (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern7.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern7/ aug12museumtavern7 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160546 The second-storey patio faces Bloor Street (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern6.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern6/ aug12museumtavern6 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160545 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern5.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern5/ aug12museumtavern5 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160544 Museum’s well-stocked bar (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern4.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern4/ aug12museumtavern4 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160543 Tom Kristenbrun, father of Museum owners Kyle and Glen Kristenbrun, was once a partner in the El Mocambo (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern3.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern3/ aug12museumtavern3 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160542 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern2.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern2/ aug12museumtavern2 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160541 The antique cash register came from Bemelmans, Tom Kristenbrun’s old Yorkville bar (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern1.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern1/ aug12museumtavern1 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
160540 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Museum Tavern Introducing: Museum Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug12museumtavern_intro.jpg 656 460 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-museum-tavern/slide/aug12museumtavern_intro/ aug12museumtavern_intro 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
Museum Tavern, 208 Bloor St. W., 416-920-0110, museumtavern.ca, @MuseumTavern
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Taking trips together to New York, Chicago and San Francisco, brothers Kyle and Glen Kristenbrun fell in love with classic Americana, so much so that they decided their family’s next restaurant project would have to be an ode to the great American bar. When they shared the idea with their dad, Tom—former Argonaut, chartered accountant, onetime co-owner of the El Mocambo and the man behind the now-closed institution and celebrity hotspot Bistro 990—he told them it sounded a lot like Bemelmans, the New York–style bar he once ran in the space that now houses Hugo Boss at 83 Bloor Street West, and threw his sons a key to a storage locker. Inside, they found a pile of perfect old-school decor: an antique cash register, oversized saloon-style chandeliers, two deer statues and an old Bemelmans sign. Thus was born Museum Tavern.
Situated in the space above brunch spot Over Easy (another Kristenbrun eatery), Museum, whose patio faces the ROM, is styled as an American brasserie: copper-plated ceilings, checkered floors, sleek banquettes, marble tables and a covetable wrap-around bar accompanied by leather-tufted stools with proper backs. In the kitchen, executive chef Stephen Gouzopoulos (previously of L’Unità) prepares classic American fare with international twists. The most imaginative dishes fall under the menu’s small plates category, such as tuna poke cones with avocado, pickled cucumber and sriracha mayo ($16), salmon tiradito with aji amarillo, roe, cilantro and citrus ($14) and stuffed chicken wings with bacon, blue cheese and hot sauce ($16). Under the supervision of pastry chef Cora James, all breads are made in-house, appearing in plates like lobster rolls with mayo, chives and double-smoked bacon ($18) and duck buns with hoisin, green onion and sriracha ($12). Mains, meanwhile, include Great Lakes fish and chips, pan- or deep-fried, served with house tartar sauce ($18), Tamworth pork chop with fingerling potato salad and barbecue sauce ($27) and lamb sirloin with bulgur, Greek salad and charred lemon ($29).
To say the bar is stocked is an understatement. It’s hard to tell what head bartender Moses McIntee (formerly of Lucid) is proudest of: the soon to be over 100-strong list of scotches or his elaborate house cocktails. The latter include Peach Cobbler with Bacardi Superior rum, peaches, lime and saffron-sage syrup ($12), French Tonic with Cointreau, Jerry Thomas’s Own Decanter bitters, lime, falernum and tonic ($12) and Apricot Bourbon Sour with Maker’s Mark bourbon, lime, black pepper-apricot syrup, bitters and egg white ($12). The drinks menu also includes oak-aged spins on classics ($14) like negronis and sazeracs and a list of summer favourites ($12) like mint juleps and caipirinhas ($12). With its nostalgic decor and extensive drink list, it’s easy to imagine Museum giving that other faux-old joint down the street a run for its money.
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Museum Tavern, 208 Bloor St. W., 416-920-0110, museumtavern.ca, @MuseumTavern){kind=link}
Sure doesn’t look like Bemelmans — definitely downscale.
What a bunch of unoriginal rip off artists the Kristenrun’s are!!!!! There is a famous London haunt called the “The Museum Tavern – London” that has been around for over 150 years, and is located across from the British Museum. Trying to say that this was the result of “visiting cities across America” is dishonest and Toronto Life should have done its research, even if it is a paid story.
Original thinkers should go out of their way to stay away. Nobody likes a copycat, rip off artist. And that’s what this place is.
Who writes these personal attacks?? Probably former employees or struggling competition. Well I am a former employee and I will let you the Kristenbrun brothers took a mixture of their family history, 1920’s decor and outstanding cocktail/cuisine recipes; to create an original concept that they feel comfortable presenting. It may have the same name as another venue half way across the world….but we are here in Toronto and perhaps they can be successful for 150 yrs here!! As I used to say…..by all means!!
Oh yeah…spell their name correctly idiot!
If you are going for Americana, those portions should be 2x as large… As an American, this is dis concerning