Introducing: Snakes and Lagers, Little Italy’s new craft beer hall and board-gaming café
Name: Snakes and Lagers Board Game Bar
Neighbourhood: Little Italy
Contact Info: 488 College St., snakesandlagers.com
Owner: Aaron Zack
Chefs: Consulting chef Ariel Coplan and kitchen manager Nick Morra, both previously from Acadia
The Food: Shareable, street food–inspired dishes conducive to casual mid-game snacking. The short menu includes fried chicken sliders, pickled deviled eggs and a miniature double-decker burger called the “petit mac.”
The Drinks: A happy place for beer nerds, Snakes and Lagers has 19 brews on draught, including taps devoted to local breweries like Kensington and Mill Street. Classic cocktails and a small scotch selection round out the drinks list.
The Place: The cozy downstairs space is well-suited to first dates and intimate get-togethers. Hardcore gamers head upstairs, where roomy booths offer room to spread out.
The Numbers:
• 250-300 board games
• 19 beers on draught (plus five rotating taps)
• 15 bucks for any trio of sliders
• 5-dollar cover for unlimited gaming
• 0 games of Risk (“it destroys friendships” says Zack.)
257453 The new board-gaming bar is located at 488 College Street, just a few blocks south of Snakes and Lattes (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-02/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257452 The space has two floors: a cozy downstairs bar and an upstairs room outfitted with booths big enough to accommodate multiple expansion packs (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-01/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257454 Nineteen craft beers are available on draught, including five rotating taps (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-03/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257458 The board-game library holds between 250 and 300 games, but Risk addicts are out of luck (“It ruins friendships,” explains owner Aaron Zack) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 518 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-07/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257455 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-04/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257456 Gamers at play (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-05/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257457 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-06/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257459 Fried chicken slider ($6) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-08/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257460 Fried Brussels sprouts ($4.50) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-09/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257461 Pickled deviled eggs ($4) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-10/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257462 Petit mac slider ($6) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-11/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257463 Pork belly banh mi ($6) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-12/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257464 Duck-fat fries ($4.50) with chili ketchup and kimchee mayo ($1 each) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-13/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
257465 Bourbon sour ($10)<br />
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(Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Snakes and Lagers Introducing: Snakes and Lagers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurants/slide/snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-14/ snakes-and-lagers-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
1) Beau’s is not a local brewery. 2) “One block south of Snakes and Lattes”? Snakes and Lattes is located at 600 Bloor W, while Snakes and Lagers is at 488 College, which is at least 5 blocks away.
Wow, is those pictures doctored? Because when I went this afternoon there were about 3 games on each shelf – and NO strategy games to be found. I reckon there are 100 games max, if even that.
Decent selection of beer. Food was overpriced and mediocre. Servers had serious attitude for no apparent reason – it wasn’t even busy! $6 for a “mini mac”? I can get a real Big Mac for that price.
This is an anti recommendation. This place is not worth visiting. Nope.
The food and beer was pretty good, I thought. The games were severely lacking though… very small selection of mostly party games. I’m a big fan of Snakes and Lattes, and this was not what I expected. Hopefully that’s a temporary issue.
The server we had was similar to most servers at Snakes and Lattes… a little awkward, but alright.
The washroom was really gross though.
If you want to dip your fries in anything it’s an extra dollar? Yiiiiiiikes.