Introducing: The Passenger, a cute new gastropub in the Junction with a little retro flair
Introducing: The Passenger, a cute new gastropub in the Junction with a little retro flair
Name: The Passenger
Contact Info: 2968 Dundas St. W., 416-762-0777, thepassenger.co
Neighbourhood: The Junction
Owners: Michelle Vella and Heather Osler, who also co-own The Beet across the street
Chef: Kahle Flaherty (previously of The Beet)
The Food: The Passenger shares The Beet’s ethical-eater ethos, which means its food is seasonal, local, humanely raised and sustainably caught. The menu is a bit of a hodge-podge, with items ranging from a very on-trend Mediterranean plate of Berbere chicken and pearl couscous, to an hors d’oeuvre platter plucked straight from the pages of a 1950s-era Good Housekeeping mag, complete with deviled eggs, mini gherkins and bacon-wrapped dates.
The Drinks: Former Terroni sommelier Lisa Lapointe has curated a short, international wine list with all bottles available by the glass. Prohibition-era cocktails include the Blood and Sand, a citrusy scotch-based drink named for the 1922 Rudy Valentino flick.
The Place: Inspired by local history, The Passenger pays homage to the Junction’s railway-rooted past: the long, bright room is decked out in brushed steel, copper and gleaming walnut. Designer Marco Pekota, who dreamed up everything from the tables to the light fixtures, was aiming for an retro-futuristic blend of Art Deco and steampunk. (Our favourite feature: the edgy gear detailing on the bar stools.)
The Numbers:
• 100-seat patio application currently in the pipes
• $28 for the most expensive main, a good old-fashioned steak dinner
• 12 taps dedicated to craft beer (five will rotate)
• 5 years since Vella and Osler opened The Beet together
• 4 seafood dishes on the fish board, including Mussels Casino
• 1 year of renovations to turn this former Hakim Optical into an eatery
Read More
- 270939
- <strong>The Passenger</strong> took over what used to be a Hakim Optical outlet at 2968 Dundas West, just west of Keele
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-01/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-01
- 0
- 0
- 270951
- The bright, narrow space feels sort of like an old-fashioned train carriage, with lots of brushed steel and walnut
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-13/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-13
- 0
- 0
- 270954
- Our favourite design feature: these steampunkish bar stools
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-16-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg
- 667
- 1000
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-16/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-16
- 0
- 0
- 270952
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-14/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-14
- 0
- 0
- 270949
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-11/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-11
- 0
- 0
- 270941
- Charcuterie board: venison paté with cherries, pine nuts and bacon, smoked duck sausage, grilled pork sausage, plum chutney, pickled prunes and toast ($18)
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-03/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-03
- 0
- 0
- 270947
- Deviled eggs, devils on horseback, radishes with dip and greens ($12)
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-09/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-09
- 0
- 0
- 270940
- Grilled polenta with ricotta, sautéed Swiss chard, roasted shitakes and shaved Parmesan ($15)
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-02/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-02
- 0
- 0
- 270942
- Brownie sundae with <a href="http://www.delightchocolate.ca/">Delight’s</a> <a href="http://www.junctioncraftbrewing.com/">Station Master Stout</a> ice cream, cherries and meringue ($8)
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-04/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-04
- 0
- 0
- 270943
- Maple <em>tarte au sucre</em> served with bourbon whipped cream and toasted pecans ($8)
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-05/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-05
- 0
- 0
- 270944
- Blood and Sand: orange juice, sweet vermouth, scotch and cherry brandy ($12)
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-06/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-06
- 0
- 0
- 270945
- NY Sour: rye, lemon, egg whites and red wine ($12)
- (Image: Caroline Aksich)
- Introducing: The Passenger
- Introducing: The Passenger
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/the-passenger-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-07/
- the-passenger-toronto-restaurant-07
- 0
- 0
The Food: The Passenger shares The Beet’s ethical-eater ethos, which means its food is seasonal, local, humanely raised and sustainably caught. The menu is a bit of a hodge-podge, with items ranging from a very on-trend Mediterranean plate of Berbere chicken and pearl couscous, to an hors d’oeuvre platter plucked straight from the pages of a 1950s-era Good Housekeeping mag, complete with deviled eggs, mini gherkins and bacon-wrapped dates.
The Drinks: Former Terroni sommelier Lisa Lapointe has curated a short, international wine list with all bottles available by the glass. Prohibition-era cocktails include the Blood and Sand, a citrusy scotch-based drink named for the 1922 Rudy Valentino flick.
The Place: Inspired by local history, The Passenger pays homage to the Junction’s railway-rooted past: the long, bright room is decked out in brushed steel, copper and gleaming walnut. Designer Marco Pekota, who dreamed up everything from the tables to the light fixtures, was aiming for an retro-futuristic blend of Art Deco and steampunk. (Our favourite feature: the edgy gear detailing on the bar stools.)
The Numbers:
• 100-seat patio application currently in the pipes
• $28 for the most expensive main, a good old-fashioned steak dinner
• 12 taps dedicated to craft beer (five will rotate)
• 5 years since Vella and Osler opened The Beet together
• 4 seafood dishes on the fish board, including Mussels Casino
• 1 year of renovations to turn this former Hakim Optical into an eatery
[gallery columns="6" ids="270939,270951,270954,270952,270949,270941,270947,270940,270942,270943,270944,270945"]){kind=link}
Looks [email protected]!
Myself and my partner went tonight and what a total disappointment. I tried to find the good in the abundance of bad. From the pretentious attitude as soon as you walk in the door yet they serve fish and chips and burgers and fries. Beer taps behind the bar? really Draws no attention the the nice selection they have. Why even have the taps if the customer cant see them. Do you think its right to charge 15$ for 7 pieces of undercooked gnocchi
Best patio! great drink/beer list, foods great been stuck on the chicken wings the spices
they use are really good, polenta dish is also one of my favourites.
Been here about 4 times all great experiences. Patios great love the hanging lights, me and my wife shared the fresh burrata, the grilled polenta and the wings on our last visit all great!