Introducing: Rock ‘n’ Horse Saloon, the other place in town where you can ride a mechanical bull
Name: Rock ‘n’ Horse Saloon
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
Contact Info: 250 Adelaide St. W., 647-344-1234, rocknhorsesaloon.com, @rocknhorseto
Owners: Matthew Gibbons, president of entertainment company MRG Ventures
Cher: Mark Crofton, the former executive chef at Tap House
The Place : Rock ‘n’ Horse is the second country-western saloon to open in Toronto in the span of a week, the first being Boots ‘n’ Bourbon in Riverdale. Like its east-end doppelganger, Rock ‘n’ Horse boasts live music, Southern bar snacks, novelty cocktails and a massive mechanical bull that customers are welcome to ride—provided they sign a waiver. In keeping with the club-zone address, the space is more bar than restaurant: there are bouncers at the door, a DJ booth at the back and ample floor space for sexy spurlesque, a mash-up of line dancing and stripping. Wannabe broncos can snag their own cowboy hats at the on-site retail store.
The Food: Standard bar snacks and Southern comfort food, like Texas street corn and chili “dawgs.” Meaty mains include hickory-smoked beef brisket, bison burgers and a 10-ounce, bone-in rib eye with smoky cowboy beans.
The Drinks: Beer, bourbon and typical bar drinks. A dedicated margarita menu lets diners customize cocktails according to type (blended or on the rocks), flavour (lime, mango, strawberry or raspberry) and tequila (Olmeca, Cazadores or premium). Adventurous drinkers can opt for The Bulldog, a giant margarita topped with an upside-down bottle of Corona.
The Numbers:
• 15 kinds of bourbon
• 7 saddle-topped bar stools
• 3 salads
• 1 mechanical bull
• 1 wagon-wheel chandelier suspended over the pool table
• 1 Elvis-themed pinball machine
250378 The country-western saloon is located in the centre of the downtown club zone, at 250 Adelaide Street (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-15/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-15 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250366 Wagon wheels, horse saddles and gingham tablecloths create a down-home aesthetic (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-03/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-03 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250368 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-05/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-05 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250364 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-01/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-01 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250367 Saloon doors lead to the washrooms (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-04/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-04 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250369 The Bulldog: a giant margarita topped with an upside-down bottle of Corona ($14.75) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-06/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-06 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250373 Mini corn dogs with spiced mustard and chili ketchup ($4) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-10/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-10 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250372 Corn on the cob with chili butter, cilantro and queso fresco ($11) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-09/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-09 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250370 Buttermilk fried chicken with jalapeno corn bread and coleslaw ($17) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-07/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-07 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250371 Braised beef chili with chive sour cream and jalapeno corn bread ($12) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-08.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-08/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-08 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250374 10-ounce bone-in rib eye steak with mustard jus, polenta fries and cowboy beans ($19) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-11/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-11 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250375 Double chocolate brownie with buttercream, crumbled Oreos and berry coulis ($9) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-12/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-12 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250376 Riding the bull! (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-13.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-13/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-13 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
250377 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Rock ’n’ Horse Saloon Introducing: Rock ’n Horse, the other new country-western saloon in town https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rock-n-horse-saloon-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-14/ toronto-restaurant-rock-n-horse-saloon-14 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
So now here is the big question…which Southern saloon will make the cowboys and cowgirls of Toronto happiest?