Name: Small Talk
Contact: 110 Ossington Ave., smalltalkjazz.com, @smalltalkjazz Owners: Municipal Goods (Pizza Wine Disco, Paris Texas, Whitestone Ranch)
Chef: Afrim Pristine
Accessibility: Not fully accessible
Last month, Small Talk—the latest project from Municipal Goods, the team behind Paris Texas, Pizza Wine Disco and Muskoka’s Whitestone Ranch—opened its doors on Ossington in the former home of hotspot Baby Huey.
Afrim Pristine puts the finishing parmesan touches on a bread board
Designed for a crowd more likely to sit at a table than stand on one (read: those over 30), Small Talk reflects a changing Ossington. Guests can expect playlists of lounge-y jazz, weekly live music, a food program built by Cheese Boutique’s Afrim Pristine, and a vending machine that swaps candy and chips for mini bottles of Moët.
The Food
The menu leans into cheese. “I’ve always wanted to do a restaurant,” says Pristine. “When I was approached by the team to take on the role as executive chef here, I was given carte blanche—so I went with it.” Think boards of curated cheeses and meats, Italiansandwiches and salty snacks, like spicy nuts and briny olives.
The bread board features thick slices of sourdough and raisin ciabatta served with whipped grass-fed PEI butter sprinkled with Maldon salt and Tuscan olive oil infused with aged balsamic, Greek oregano and grated parmigiano-reggiano. $12 In the back, we have a classic selection of European charcuterie featuring spicy soppressata, 24-month Italian prosciutto, Westphalian ham and Hungarian chorizo—one of the first sausages ever sold by Cheese Boutique. It’s accompanied by pickled mixed vegetables and imported Italian fennel taralli ($22). In the front, an edition of Pristine’s rotating cheese board including rustic and creamy Wildwood from Ontario’s Stonetown Dairy; Simone, the Cheese Boutique’s own triple-cream brie; the nutty and rich Black Phillip; Robiola, that mixed-milk Italian heart-throb from Piedmont; and a 10-year organic cheddar from the Ottawa Valley, also by the Cheese Boutique. It all lands on the board with fresh grapes, red pepper jelly, sticky honeycomb and crunchy crostini ($22) There’s also a mixed board, letting diners craft their own adventure with a choice of three cheeses and three meats. $28 In the back, nestled in a house potato bun and topped with tangy balsamic ketchup, white wine mustard, and diced bread-and-butter pickles, this hotdog leans more baller than ballpark. It’s finished with shavings of Ripley gouda and served with a bowl of white truffle potato chips ($20). In the front, for when you need something to soak up all the martinis, there’s the Italian Sando: house schiacciata slathered with muffuletta spread and mint-pistachio pesto, then stuffed with prosciutto, spicy soppressata, provolone, arugula and roasted red peppers. On the side: kettle-cooked chips. $25 The only bumps for sale at this bar come in the form of Antonius Siberian sturgeon caviar. $22 House-baked chocolate chip and toffee caramel cookies are served with a cream cheese–based chantilly and drizzled with a slightly boozy Amarena cherry syrup for classic Manhattan vibes ($15)
The Drinks
Small Talk’s low-key vibe extends to the bar, where the cocktail list skips the gimmicks—no smoked ice or fat-wash theatrics here. There are five martinis, from the classic to the Pornstar, with a dirty martini lounging somewhere in the middle. There’s also mickey service—because 26-ounce bottles are for the young and reckless.
The classic martini: gin or vodka with a splash of vermouth and garnish of one’s choice. No tricks. $20 The dirty martini is made with a choice of vodka or gin and vermouth, elevated with brine from house-marinated olives and garnished with some of those same olives. $18 The Pornstar Martini combines vodka and Galliano with passion fruit purée. Served in a martini glass with a dehydrated lime slice, it comes with a splash of prosecco and a link to some NSFW videos (just kidding). $20 The Rhubarb Cosmo (left) is a refreshing spin on the classic cocktail that incorporates tangy rhubarb into the typical blend of vodka, Triple Sec and cranberry juice ($18). And it wouldn’t be a martini bar without an espresso martini. This one blends Hatch cold brew with vodka, Galliano and a dash of maple syrup ($20)
The Space
The dimly lit room is punctuated by colourful murals of jazz-era gents in baseball caps holding cheese and playing the keys. It feels like a ’30s bebop bar on acid.
Erin Hershberg is a freelance writer with nearly two decades of experience in the lifestyle sector. She currently lives in downtown Toronto with her husband and two children.
