What’s on the menu at Convenience, a bar, corner store and portal to the ’80s on Queen West
Name: Convenience
Contact: 1184 Queen St. W., 647-340-3640, conveniencerestobar.com, @conveniencerestobar
Neighbourhood: West Queen West
Previously: Addis Ababa
Chef: Pablo Robaina
Head Bartender: Stephen Smith
The food
Assorted bar-food favourites (burgers, fried chicken, tater tots) but with a wacky twist here and there, like a sprinkle of Pop Rocks on a plate of shishito peppers, a gremolata of Goldfish on mac and cheese, or a Jolly Rancher-enhanced vinaigrette on an arugula salad. The Makin’ Bacon burger, meanwhile, is a shout-out to BK. “Everyone’s focusing on making Big Mac pretenders right now, but what’s that one burger from the ’80s that’s been neglected? It’s the Whopper,” says co-owner Jesse Carere. “Flame-broiled was where it was at.”
The drinks
A motley crew of beers, on tap and in tallboys (Molson Stock Ale, Tecate, Guinness, Lagunitas IPA); Ontario wine on tap ($0.94 an ounce!); and a whole bunch of cocktails, including a few classics (old fashioned, sazerac), some kegged ones for only $5 (negroni, paper plane, pina colada) and fun signature creations, many inspired by (or made with) candy. Candy Bombs are the bar’s take on bombs of the Jäger variety, like the Dr. Pepper made with amaretto, beer and cola. “This way, you don’t have to drink something that makes you feel like you want to die after,” says Carere.
The space
“As kids, everyone had that one favourite corner store, where they got their bag of chips or their Garbage Pail Kids cards from,” says Carere, and Convenience Bar’s storefront sells a selection of treats (chips, Bubble Tape) and novelty items (View-Masters). The Community-designed space is decked out in neon signs and hand-stitched, video game-inspired wall art. Between the floor-to-ceiling windows, hanging greenery and fluorescent lighting, it’s a bit like being in a fish tank… a fish tank with $5 cocktails.
The theme carries through all the way downstairs, where guests can pick up one of four party lines to hear music or pre-recorded messages, before visiting the retro-wallpapered (She-Ra, He-Man), black-lit washroom stalls, where everything glows. (Extra fun for anyone who has recently taken a multi-vitamin.) Come warmer weather, garage doors will open onto a street-side patio.
 but with a wacky twist here and there, like a sprinkle of Pop Rocks on a plate of shishito peppers, a gremolata of Goldfish on mac and cheese, or a Jolly Rancher-enhanced vinaigrette on an arugula salad. The Makin' Bacon burger, meanwhile, is a shout-out to BK. "Everyone’s focusing on making Big Mac pretenders right now, but what’s that one burger from the ’80s that's been neglected? It’s the Whopper," says co-owner Jesse Carere. "Flame-broiled was where it was at."
[caption id="attachment_445848" align="aligncenter" width="1610"] Pop Rockin' Olives: shishito peppers, pickled veggies, olives and feta, sprinkled with popping candy. $6.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445853" align="aligncenter" width="3236"] Tap That: tapioca crackers served with salsa and nacho cheese. $5.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445854" align="aligncenter" width="1662"] Yuca Tots: cubes of deep-fried yuca, topped with queso fresco, lime crema, mojo, pickled red onion, cherry tomatoes and jalapenos. $10.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445847" align="aligncenter" width="1657"] Jah Bacon Beef Patty Sammie: a chuck beef and bacon patty served with cinnamon crema and a side of greens. $9.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445835" align="aligncenter" width="3236"] Boom Boom Bap: jasmine rice loaded up with soy enoki mushrooms, quick-pickled veggies, a cured egg yolk and sweet sriracha. $12.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445844" align="aligncenter" width="3235"] Convenience Fried Chicken: boneless fried chicken drizzled with piloncillo syrup and served with a creamy slaw, honey dijonnaise and pickled veggies. $13.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445855" align="aligncenter" width="1543"] Makin' Bacon Whopper: Flame-grilled chuck and ribeye patty, topped with cheddar, bacon, house-made pickles, lettuce, onion, ketchup and mustard. Served with a side of shoestring fries. $14.[/caption]
The drinks
A motley crew of beers, on tap and in tallboys (Molson Stock Ale, Tecate, Guinness, Lagunitas IPA); Ontario wine on tap ($0.94 an ounce!); and a whole bunch of cocktails, including a few classics (old fashioned, sazerac), some kegged ones for only $5 (negroni, paper plane, pina colada) and fun signature creations, many inspired by (or made with) candy. Candy Bombs are the bar's take on bombs of the Jäger variety, like the Dr. Pepper made with amaretto, beer and cola. "This way, you don’t have to drink something that makes you feel like you want to die after," says Carere.
[caption id="attachment_445840" align="aligncenter" width="3222"] Kegged cocktails are only $5 each.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445836" align="aligncenter" width="1532"] Bubblegum Sour: Gobernador pisco, bubblegum syrup, lemon juice, egg white, bubblegum. $11.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445839" align="aligncenter" width="1512"] Creamsicle: Bacardi Oakheart, Malibu rum, mango purée, orange juice, egg white. $11.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445837" align="aligncenter" width="3236"] Chocolate and Cherries: cherry liqueur, vodka, cherry syrup, lemon juice, cherry bitters, egg white, chocolate shavings. $11.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445838" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Coffee Crisp: Kahlua, Bailey's, Guinness, Coffee Crisp crumble. $11.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445842" align="aligncenter" width="1442"] Dublin Iced Tea: Bacardi Gold, Disaronno, Cointreau, Red Bull. $12.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445841" align="aligncenter" width="3236"] Here it is again.[/caption]
The space
"As kids, everyone had that one favourite corner store, where they got their bag of chips or their Garbage Pail Kids cards from," says Carere, and Convenience Bar's storefront sells a selection of treats (chips, Bubble Tape) and novelty items (View-Masters). The Community-designed space is decked out in neon signs and hand-stitched, video game-inspired wall art. Between the floor-to-ceiling windows, hanging greenery and fluorescent lighting, it's a bit like being in a fish tank... a fish tank with $5 cocktails.
The theme carries through all the way downstairs, where guests can pick up one of four party lines to hear music or pre-recorded messages, before visiting the retro-wallpapered (She-Ra, He-Man), black-lit washroom stalls, where everything glows. (Extra fun for anyone who has recently taken a multi-vitamin.) Come warmer weather, garage doors will open onto a street-side patio.
[caption id="attachment_445852" align="aligncenter" width="3236"] The bar's convenience store opens at 9 a.m., while the bar itself doesn't open until 5 p.m. (That Pac Man game is $0.25 per play.)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445850" align="aligncenter" width="3151"] That's the kitchen to the left.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445845" align="aligncenter" width="3236"] Four people from Community's creative team hand-stitched this sign over the course of five days, thread by thread.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445851" align="aligncenter" width="3236"] These TVs play security camera footage of botched store robberies.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445846" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] Anyone out there remember David Bronstein (a.k.a The Prince of Love)?[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_445843" align="aligncenter" width="3241"] The bar's video-game theme extends to its exterior walls.[/caption]){kind=link}