Introducing: Rush Lane, a modernist snack bar and booze laboratory on Queen West
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Name: Rush Lane
Contact Info: 563 Queen St. W., 416-551-7540, rushlaneto.com , facebook.com , @rushlaneco
Neighbourhood: Queen West
Previously: Hot Wings Grill and Rib House
Owners: Jordan Bushell, Alexis Arrowsmith, Simon Hooper, Doug Twigger and Brett Klyszejko
Chef: Chris Scott, the former chef de cuisine at Bero in Leslieville
The Drinks: Rush Lane is owned and operated by a pack of experienced bartenders, so it’s no surprise that the drinks list is pretty interesting. It consists of ten complex cocktails made with far-flung ingredients like “beet grenadine,” “hopped grapefruit bitters” and a type of seasoned vodka that’s been banned in the US since 1978. In the back of the room, a glass-walled laboratory is crammed with tech gadgets, including a rotary evaporator (for flavour-extraction), a centrifuge (for separating substances), a tissue tearer (a next-level hand blender) and a Clinebell ice machine, which can freeze a 300-pound block of clear ice in a day.
The Food: Pretzels, corn dogs and other humble comfort foods get the molecular treatment from former Bero chef Chris Scott, who has a background in modernist cuisine. For dessert, a sarsaparilla float is made with vanilla-flavoured frozen meringue instead of ice cream.
The Place: Unlike some of the city’s signless, nondescript watering holes, Rush Lane is hard to miss—the bar’s two-story facade is stenciled with a giant black-and-turquoise mural. The inside is outfitted with low banquettes and chesterfields, but the focus is the long, well-stocked bar, which is where most of the magic happens.
283744 <strong>Rush Lane'</strong>s stenciled facade makes a statement (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rush Lane https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-04/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
283747 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-07/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
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283752 Co-owner <strong>Simon Hooper</strong> and <strong>Chris McCrabb</strong> https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-12/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
283750 P.X. I Love You: amontillado sherry, cachaça (a South American spirit distilled from sugarcane), umeshu (a sour Japanese liqueur), marmalade liqueur and lemon ($14) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-10/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
283757 Daniel’s Hammer: Bison grass vodka (a Polish liquor that’s currently banned in the US), yellow chartreuse, Lagavulin 16-year-old Scotch, lemon, rosemary and egg whites ($14) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-17-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-17/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-17 0 0
283758 Chai-Tai: Sailor Jerry spiced rum, Grand Marnier, pecan orgeat, chai-vanilla syrup, pineapple, lime and angostura bitters ($14) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-18-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-18/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-18 0 0
283743 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-03/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
283751 Pretzel with candied mustard seed and smoked butter ($8) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-11/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
283754 Pig’s-head corn dogs with coriander, corn pudding and sugarcane ($9) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-14-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-14/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
283755 Ash-crusted halibut fritters with peas and sprouts ($10) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-15-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-15/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
283756 Foie gras torchon with watermelon, almonds and Lillet ($16) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-16-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-16/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
283749 Root beer float: sarsaparilla, frozen vanilla meringue and dehydrated plums ($8). (The silver disc is a fancy bottle-opener.) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-09/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
283742 The Rush Lane “cocktail lab” https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-02/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
283741 <strong>Simon Hooper</strong> with the rotary evaporator. The $6,000–$8,000 machine is used to concentrate flavours and extracts. According to Hooper, this is the only one in Canada (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rush Lane https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-rush-lane/slide/rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-01/ rush-lane-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
Looks cool, but go to any university and they’ll have a rotary evaporator.
Can’t wait to go. Toronto definitely lacks serious cocktail focused bars.
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Yup, my work has a heidolph rotovap, so at least there are 2 in Canada….. :)