Introducing: The Libertine, a Dundas West speakeasy with bar snacks, bacon cocktails and an in-house psychic
Name: The Libertine
Neighbourhood: Dundas West
Contact Info: 1307 Dundas St. W., 647-748-8288, thelibertinespeak.com
Owners: Forrest Kendlbacher and Bryon Dill, the former co-owner of resto-lounges Kubo DX and Colony Kitchen
Chef: Léonie Lilla, who trained in Switzerland and worked at Momofuku Daishō before opening her own space
The Place: A 2000-square-foot basement space with red lacquer banquettes and an old-school wheel of fortune displayed on the back wall. The cryptic fortuneteller signage isn’t just for show: in-house mediums give palm, tarot and numerology readings in a candlelit booth at the front of the bar.
The Food: Bar snacks, including vegan plates like deep-fried tofu in mushroom broth and a grilled asparagus salad with black olives and ponzu. Non-veggie options include house-cured salmon, boneless pork ribs and fried chicken ssäm.
The drinks: Cocktails with unconventional ingredients like root beer and bacon. A spiked Shirley Temple combines gin with strawberries, basil and white balsamic vinegar.
The Numbers:
• 2,000 square feet of subterranean space
• 3 psychic readings available: palm, tarot and numerology
• 1 antique wheel of fortune, which diners are encouraged to spin
• 0 signs bearing the actual name of the bar
229069 The Libertine’s cryptic Dundas West signage (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-01/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229070 Three psychic readings are available: palm, tarot and numerology (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-02/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229082 Sculptor Christy Langer created the four wood and porcelain sculptures that hang on the wall opposite the bar (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-intro/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-intro 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229072 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-04/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229071 Diners are encouraged to spin the old-school wheel of fortune (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-03/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229073 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-05/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229081 Devilled eggs with chives, black pepper and blue cheese ($2) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-12/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229078 Boneless pork ribs with watermelon and puffed amaranth ($17) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-10/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229076 Grilled asparagus with rapini, dehydrated black olives, rye chips, orange segments and ponzu sauce ($9) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-08/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229075 Deep-fried tofu with cauliflower, mushroom broth, nori and shallots ($11) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-07/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229074 House-cured salmon with dehydrated beet chips, peaches, pistachios, cream and sourdough ($12) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-06/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229077 Miss Shirley: gin, strawberry, basil and white balsamic ($13) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-09/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
229080 Smoke ’n Mirrors: mescal, bacon, thyme, basil and ginger beer ($13) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Libertine Introducing: The Libertine https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-libertine-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-11/ the-libertine-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
I’d like to let everyone know that I was accused of smuggling alcohol into Libertine tonight and, as a 33 year old woman, my coat was withheld as I tried to exit 4 hours after entrance. I came directly from a restaurant before entering Libertine, obviously I find it disgusting and pathetic to randomly accuse patrons of this. I hope you all know of the REAL way they chose to treat their patrons.