Introducing: Hitch, a cozy new Leslieville bar named for an irascible literary gadfly
Name: Hitch (yes, after writer and noted drinker Christopher Hitchens )
Neighborhood: Leslieville
Contact info: 1216 Queen St. E., 647-351-7781, facebook.com/HitchLimited, @hitchlimited
Owner: Douglas Tiller, co-owner of Mercury Espresso
The drinks: A small selection of classic cocktails, like old fashioneds ($11.50) and manhattans, ($11.50), as well as craft beer (Duggan’s, Beau’s, Mill St.), wine and a wide range of bourbon. Naturally, Hitch also serves its namesake’s drink of choice: Johnnie Walker Black Label with soda and a twist of lemon ($9.50).
The food: Hitch doesn’t have a kitchen—food is brought from Hooked and chef J.P. Challet and served in mini mason jars. Expect olives marinated in orange and fennel ($7), pork and duck paté ($9), smoked trout rillettes ($10), albacore tuna preserved in herbed oil ($10) and chorizo served with manchego cheese and bread ($10).
The place: A cozy neighbourhood bar with plenty of reclaimed wood and light fixtures fashioned from mason jars. In keeping with the Canadiana trend, patrons are greeted by a deer bust at the head of a long communal table as they enter. A back patio should be ready for this summer.
By the numbers:
• 600 square feet
• 115 years, the age of the barn whose wood was reclaimed for the bar’s back wall
• 40, the number of seats
• $6–$15, the price range for a shot of bourbon
192340 Manchego cheese with bread and chorizo ($10); marinated olives ($7) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-12/ hitch-bar-toronto-12 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192333 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-05.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-05/ hitch-bar-toronto-05 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192334 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-06/ hitch-bar-toronto-06 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192336 Hitch’s bourbon selection includes Blanton’s Original, Basil Hayden’s, Baker’s, Four Roses, Woodford Reserve, Makers Mark 46 and Hudson Baby from New York (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-08/ hitch-bar-toronto-08 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192335 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-07/ hitch-bar-toronto-07 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192332 Light fixtures made from mason jars (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-04/ hitch-bar-toronto-04 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192331 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-03.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-03/ hitch-bar-toronto-03 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192330 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-02/ hitch-bar-toronto-02 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192329 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-01/ hitch-bar-toronto-01 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192338 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-10.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-10/ hitch-bar-toronto-10 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192342 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-intro/ hitch-bar-toronto-intro 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
192337 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Hitch Introducing: Hitch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hitch-bar-toronto-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/hitch/slide/hitch-bar-toronto-09/ hitch-bar-toronto-09 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
Cute but a bit generic at this point. Would be nice for the walls to tie into the neighbourhood somehow. Dark grey + barn board + mason jars = 1st year interior design project.
Why on earth does that pompous, pontifical old poop need a restaurant named after him? Hope the food and drink isn’t as bad as his writings.
Can 18 year olds enter the bar to eat, even if we cant drink? Or is it only 19 plus?