Introducing: Eastside Social, a new Maritime-themed restaurant near Queen and Carlaw
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Name: Eastside Social
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
Contact Info: 1008 Queen St. E. , 416-461-5663, eastsidesocial.ca
Previously: Italian bakery and brunch spot The Upper Crust
Owners: Former Ruby Watchco co-owners Cherie Stinson, of Restaurant Makeover fame, and her husband Joey Skeir
Chefs: Chris Mentier (Céilí Cottage) is helming the kitchen with the help of Stefan Skeene (Ruby Watchco)
The Food: Born-and-bred Haligonians Stinson and Skeir wanted to bring Maritime cuisine to Toronto’s east side. Rather than sticking to straight-up Scotian food, the menu lists coastal fare from spots around the globe, including Peru (sea bream ceviche with pink grapefruit), Portugal (cod croquettes), Mexico (surf-and-turf tacos) and New England (clam chowder). There are also a few contemporary British dishes, like a Yorkshire-pudding poutine swimming in rich demi-glace.
The Drinks: Boozy punches are served by the bowlful in eclectic British vessels. For the less sharing-inclined, there are signature drinks like the Dill on Dill, a gin-based cocktail with a smoked-salt rim.
The Place: The 52-seat space is divided into two rooms. Customers enter via the raucous bar, which looks into the open kitchen. The comparatively calmer dining room is done in a Nova Scotian palette of moss green and Atlantic blue, with heaps of rough-hewn wood. Lobster-trap light fixtures and antique naval decor (ship bells, sailboat miniatures, a brass boat light) reinforce the Maritime theme.
282341 Before <strong>Eastside Social</strong> moved in, the space at 1008 Queen East had been occupied for 19 years by a bakery-café called <strong>The Upper Crust</strong> (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-06/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282345 The entire reno took only six weeks (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-10/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282343 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-08-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-08/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282344 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-09/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282337 Punch bowl for two: gin, vodka, port, rum, grapefruit juice, chamomile syrup, citrus and nutmeg ($21) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-02/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282351 Smoked trout salad with chocolate tomatoes and kidney beans ($16) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-16-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-16/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282349 Liver ‘n’ Onions: brûléed chicken/duck-liver pate, caramelized-onion scones, onion marmalade and Pommery mustard ($12) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-14-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-14/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282350 Yorkshire pudding poutine with Quebecois curds and demi-glace ($13) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-15-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-15/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282348 Chipotle-spiked deviled eggs with pickled chilies and onions ($7) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-13-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-13/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282352 Skate schnitzel with caper butter and German potato salad ($17) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-17-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-17/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-17 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282347 Owners <strong>Joey Skeir</strong> and <strong>Cherie Stinson</strong><br />
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(Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-12/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
282346 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Eastside Social https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/eastside-social-toronto-restaurants/slide/eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-11/ eastside-social-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
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