(Image: Gabby Frank)
Name: Louis Cifer Brew Works
Contact Info: 417 Danforth Ave., 647-350-5087, louisciferbrewworks.com, @LouisCiferBW
Neighbourhood: Riverdale
Previously: Longstanding Greek restaurant Myth, which closed in 2010, followed by two short-lived tenants (Legion sports bar and 417 Restaurant)
Owners: Erin Gamelin and Craig Abbott, who also co-own the nearby Stout Irish Pub.
Chefs: Angel Sevilla and head brewer Christine Nagy
The Food: The menu includes pub staples (burgers, nachos) and a handful of more upscale options, like a rack of lamb with sour-cherry gastrique. Dishes are infused with beer wherever possible—the house ale adds flavour to an onion soup, a cheese fondue and a plate of PEI mussels. This being the Danforth, there’s also a kids’ menu.
The Drinks: Once the brewery is fully operational, the 24 taps will be divided evenly between house beers and ones from Ontario craft mainstays like Great Lakes, Cameron’s and Nickel Brook. Pommies cider can be ordered as a regular pint, or as a boozy slushie made with a special machine Gamelin imported from Japan. Beer cocktails (called Hoptails), traditional mixed drinks and house-made root beer are also available.
The Place: With 230 seats (including 20 on the patio), Louis Cifer is one of the largest restaurants in the neighbourhood. Gamelin and Abbott took possession of the space in May and spent the summer overhauling the massive space. Multiple big-screen TVs give the restaurant a sports-bar vibe.
297533 <b>Louis Cifer</b> is the second restaurant for <b>Erin Gamelin</b> and <b>Craig Abbott.</b> They also own <b>Stout Irish Pub</b> on Carlton. (Image: Gabby Frank) Introducing: Louis Cifer https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-01/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-01 0 0
(Image: Gabby Frank)
297534 The restaurant is located at 417 Danforth Avenue, between Chester and Arundel. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-02/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-02 0 0
297549 "The space was basically a shell when we took it over," says Gamelin. A complete overhaul was required. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-17-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-17.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-17/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-17 0 0
297535 The finished restaurant has a casual sports-bar vibe, thanks to multiple flatscreen TVs. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-03/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-03 0 0
297544 The menu includes lots of pub staples (burgers, nachos), plus a few more upscale dishes. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-12.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-12/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-12 0 0
297539 Chef <b>Angel Sevilla</b> decided that mac ‘n’ cheese would be more “shareable” in deep-fried croquette form ($10). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-07/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-07 0 0
297540 Sticky spare ribs get a Southeast Asian makeover with almonds, red chilies and cilantro ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-08-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-08/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-08 0 0
297541 Pork belly is braised and then deep-fried to make “pork belly rinds” ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-09/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-09 0 0
297538 Beetroot salad is served over chickpea purée with charred zucchini and green goddess vinaigrette ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-06/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-06 0 0
297543 The Cornish game hen is deboned for easy eating. It’s served over a white bean purée and finished with demi-glace ($25). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-11.jpg 1000 1315 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-11/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-11 0 0
297537 Head brewer <b>Christine Nagy</b> graduated from Niagara College's brewing programme. Her beers at Louis Cifer will include a traditional farmhouse saison, a bitter and a brown porter. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-05/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-05 0 0
297548 Nagy’s recipes are currently being brewed offsite (Louis Cifer’s brewery isn’t quite ready to go yet.) Once the equipment is fully installed and licensing completed, brewery manager Craig Abbott expects they'll brew approximately 200,000 pints in house per year. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-16-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-16/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-16 0 0
297542 The cider slushie (right, $8) and radler bellini ($8). The latter consists of Louis Cifer lager mixed with seasonal fruit juice (it's about to switch from peach to pumpkin). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-10/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-10 0 0
297545 Along with Louis Cifer's house beers, Abbott plans to showcase one-offs, seasonals and special blends from other Ontario breweries. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-13-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-13/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-13 0 0
297547 The house beers will be available to take home in 64-ounce growlers or 500-millilitre bottles. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-15-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/louis-cifer-brewpub-toronto-restaurants/slide/louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-15/ louis-cifer-toronto-restaurants-15 0 0
Went here with a few friends last week. The service was TERRIBLE. We waited almost 1/2 hour for our drinks. They didn’t have a beer menu besides the one on the chalkboard above the bar, which was not in our view. They messed up the order of our beer tasting. I ordered wings well-done…they came back barely cooked. My friends food came back cold. I get that this is a new establishment but that’s no excuse. – GetUrShitTogether!
Beer and cocktails are very good. Killer Caesar! However the food needs A LOT of work. Their fondue is horrific (a C college students idea of a fondue) and the ribs tasted boiled, not smoked with no flavour except from the heavy dose of sauce. The only thing we liked was the beat salad. I was afraid to try anything else.