Introducing: Bar Fancy, Chantecler chef Jonathan Poon’s new Queen West snack bar
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
Name: Bar Fancy
Contact Info: 1070 Queen St. W., 416-546-1416, @BarFancyTO
Neighbourhood: West Queen West
Owners/chefs: Chantecler’s Jonathan Poon and former Fabbrica chef (and Chopped Canada contestant) Jesse Fader
The Food: “Cheap and cheerful” is how Poon describes the dishes on his short snack menu. “We take a serious approach to food, but it isn’t—ironically—fancy.” Everything’s plated on colourful Melamine tableware, including two different chicken dishes: jumbo wings seasoned with mouth-tingling Sichuan peppercorns and fried chicken pieces paired with pickles, butter and springy white Wonder Bread. The menu will soon be expanded to include some larger options, like a 32-ounce rib-eye steak.
The Drinks: Cheap beer, wine and simple mixed drinks.
The Place: Located just west of Ossington on Queen Street, Fancy’s gold-plated storefront is impossible to miss. The interior is comfortable but much less flashy, with cozy brick walls and a bustling open kitchen. Follow the neon tiger sign down the left-hand alleyway to find the bar’s side entrance.
298386 <b>Bar Fancy</b> is located at 1070 Queen West, just west of Ossington. (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Bar Fancy https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-fancy-toronto-bars-restaurants/slide/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-06/ bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-06 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
298383 The bar's a lot cozier inside than its gold-plated exterior might suggest. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-fancy-toronto-bars-restaurants/slide/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-03/ bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-03 0 0
298384 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-fancy-toronto-bars-restaurants/slide/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-04/ bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-04 0 0
298385 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-fancy-toronto-bars-restaurants/slide/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-05/ bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-05 0 0
298382 Chefs <b>Jonathan Poon</b> (left) and <b>Jesse Fader.</b> https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-fancy-toronto-bars-restaurants/slide/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-02/ bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-02 0 0
298387 This cheese and charcuterie plate consists of Tête de Moine (a Swiss cow’s-milk cheese), Avonlea cloth-bound cheddar and thin slices of Fiocco ham from <b>Crown Salumi</b> ($16). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-08-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-fancy-toronto-bars-restaurants/slide/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-08/ bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-08 0 0
298388 Chicken wings are seasoned with mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns ($7). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-fancy-toronto-bars-restaurants/slide/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-09/ bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-09 0 0
298381 Fried chicken is served with pickles, whipped butter and slices of Wonderbread ($15). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-fancy-toronto-bars-restaurants/slide/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-07/ bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-07 0 0
298380 A lot of work goes into starting a new business. Here's Poon catching up on emails in his fancy new office. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bar-fancy-toronto-bars-restaurants/slide/bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-01/ bar-fancy-toronto-restaurants-01 0 0