Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern, the downtown power-restaurant’s sleek second location
Name: Reds Midtown Tavern
Contact Info: 382 Yonge St. (in the Aura condo), 416-598-3535, redsmidtowntavern.com, @redswinetavern
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
Owner: Peter Fowler, the CEO of restaurant superpower SIR Corp, which also runs Bay Street hotspots Far Niente, Four and the original Reds Wine Tavern
Chef: Matt Robertson, the former sous chef at Canoe and TOCA
The Place: The space is a dead ringer for the Adelaide Street location, from the communal redwood tables and leather banquettes to the trio of chandeliers made from recycled wine bottles. One unique detail: an illuminated glass case displaying 27 antique Zippo lighters.
The Food: The same menu as the original Reds: casual burgers, sandwiches and wings, plus some less conventional options, like chili-spiked lobster guacamole and potato flatbread topped with chimichurri aioli.
The Drinks: The bar has 30 beers on tap, two-thirds of which are local craft brews, and an extensive wine list. The cocktail menu includes holdovers from the original Reds, like the maple-bacon Manhattan with bourbon-soaked cherries.
The Numbers:
• 7,000 pounds of poured concrete for the bar top
• 720 bottles of wine doubling as décor
• 78 storeys in the Aura condo tower
• 3 chandeliers fashioned out of wine bottles
• 2 shuffleboard tables
• 1 old-school cigarette machine
243574 The entrance to Reds Midtown Tavern at the corner of Yonge and Gerrard (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A001.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a001/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a001 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243575 The restaurant, located in the bottom of the Aura condo tower, is 6,800 feet square (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A002.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a002/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a002 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243576 One of two shuffleboard tables (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A003-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A003.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A003.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a003/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a003 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243577 The chandeliers are identical to the ones at the original Reds location on Adelaide (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A004-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A004.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A004.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a004/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a004 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243578 The private dining room (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A005-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A005.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A005.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a005/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a005 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243579 The glass case holds a collection of 27 antique Zippo lighters (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A006-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A006.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A006.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a006/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a006 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243580 Charcuterie board with pickled vegetables, mustard and toast ($20) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A007-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A007.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A007.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a007/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a007 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243581 Lobster guacamole with Guajillo chili ($18) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A008-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A008.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-A008.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a008/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-a008 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243582 Sliders with cheese and dill pickles ($14.50) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B001.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b001/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b001 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243583 Ceviche with Serrano chili and radishes, served with house-made tortilla chips ($11.75) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B002.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b002/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b002 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243584 Potato flatbread with arugula, Parmesan, garlic, chimichurri aioli, roasted tomatoes and balsamic gastrique ($10.75) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B003-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B003.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B003.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b003/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b003 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243585 Bacon cheeseburger ($15.25) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B004-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B004.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B004.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b004/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b004 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243586 Buffalo-butter chicken wings with blue cheese dipping sauce ($13.25) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B005-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B005.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B005.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b005/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b005 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243587 Carrot cake with molasses–cream cheese icing, candied pineapples, pecans, walnut meringue and edible flowers ($8) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B006-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B006.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B006.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b006/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b006 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
243588 Maple-bacon Manhattan with bourbon-soaked cherries and bacon bitters ($10) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: Reds Midtown Tavern https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B007-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B007.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-B007.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/reds-midtown-tavern-toronto-restaurants/slide/reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b007/ reds-midtown-toronto-restaurant-b007 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
Looks like a great place and I’m looking forward to trying it out but who in the hell came up with the name “Reds Midtown”? He or she needs a lesson in 21st-century Toronto geography! For God’s sake, who in their right mind would consider Yonge and Gerrard “midtown”? Maybe in the 1860s it could be considered midtown but holy crap the city extends north to Steeles nowadays and midtown is Yonge and Eglington. If anything, this is the “midtown of downtown”. I realize they probably want to differentiate themselves from the financial district location of “Reds” but then why not call it something like “Reds on Yonge” or “Reds at Aura”? At least come up with something slightly less ridiculous than using the term “midtown” for a location that is in the middle of downtown.
Power restaurant…
I was confused by that too
Since when is Gerrard and Yonge “midtown?