(Image: Caroline Aksich)
Name: Switch
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
Contact Info: 55 Colborne St., 416-901-9990, switchtoronto.com
Owners: Hanif Harji (Patria, Weslodge)
The Food: A pan-global menu of sharing plates. Dishes range from finger snacks (cheesy truffle popcorn and spiced, smoked marcona almonds) to more substantial nosh (scotch eggs and haute dogs). The kitchen is open from 5-10 p.m. and reopens at midnight with a curated selection of snacks.
The Drinks: A moderately priced continental wine list with both by-the-glass and bottle options. The bar is well stocked for the after-work cocktail crowd and late-night party-goers.
The Place: The cavernous space has been purposefully roughed up to give it an ultra-trendy post-industrial aesthetic. Faux turn-of-the-century adverts, exposed brick and unfussy leather banquettes are mixed with contemporary details, like a Bruce Nauman–inspired neon sign. The downstairs is more man-cave than well-heeled lounge with arcade games and big screens.
The Numbers:
• 92 white candles
• $72 for the most expensive bottle on the wine list (Querciabella’s Mongrana)
• 8 vintage arcade games in the basement
• 4 different kinds of haute dogs
• 3 a.m. closing time Thursday to Saturday
• 2 floors
214264 The Switch Dog: an all-veal hot dog with kimchi, pickled jalapeno and lime crema ($11) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Switch Switch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-06.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/switch-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-switch-toronto-06/ introducing-switch-toronto-06 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
214263 Scotch eggs served with Kozlick’s old smoky mustard, garnished with sorrel ($12) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Switch Switch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/switch-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-switch-toronto-05/ introducing-switch-toronto-05 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
214262 Potted duck rillettes served with sour dough crostini and quince jam ($13) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Switch Switch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/switch-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-switch-toronto-04/ introducing-switch-toronto-04 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
214265 The basement is a kitschy rec room with eight vintage arcade games, shag carpets and big screen TVs (Image: Caroline Aksich) Switch Switch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/switch-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-switch-toronto-intro/ introducing-switch-toronto-intro 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
214261 Faux turn-of-the-century adverts, exposed brick and unfussy leather banquettes are mixed with contemporary details (Image: Caroline Aksich) Switch Switch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/switch-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-switch-toronto-03/ introducing-switch-toronto-03 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
214260 The bar is well stocked for the after-work cocktail crowd and late-night party-goers (Image: Caroline Aksich) Switch Switch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/switch-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-switch-toronto-02/ introducing-switch-toronto-02 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
214259 The cavernous space has been purposefully roughed up to give it an ultra-trendy post-industrial aesthetic (Image: Caroline Aksich) Switch Switch https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/introducing-switch-toronto-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/switch-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-switch-toronto-01/ introducing-switch-toronto-01 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
I don’t understand how you can say this bar is well stocked. I went last night for after work drinks, and they couldn’t make a martini because they ‘don’t do cocktails, only bar rail mixed drinks.” I asked the server to check – what kind of bar doesn’t have vermouth? She assured me, there was no vermouth.
The place was absolutely empty, and now I know why. disaster.