Name: Mascot Brewery King
Contact: 220 King St. W., 647-347-9553, mascotbrewery.com, @mascotkingst Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
Previously: Los Colibris
Executive chef: Jonathan Viau
Accessibility: A few steps down to the restaurant, which is in the lower level of a building
The drinks
Twenty-one beers (Mascot’s own, as well as others from local breweries) and signature cocktails, including an on-tap negroni. The beer selection includes a classic pilsner, a double dry-hopped IPA, a lager and a few sours, all of which can be enjoyed in 14-ounce glasses or sampled as part of a flight. Once renovations are complete, guests will have the chance to bring their favourite beers home from the in-house bottle shop.
All beers are $7.08 per 14-ounce pour. Here we have (from left to right) a dark lager, a classic pilsner and Haze IPA. The Mascot Mule mixes strawberry-infused vodka with apricot, lime and ginger for a fruit-forward rendition of the classic cocktail. $16. The Ruby Soho comes on tap and is made with Bulldog gin, Aperol, Lillet Blanc and grapefruit zest. $15.
The food
A selection of hearty bar food, including truffle fries, mac-and-cheese and a hanger steak. Lighter options include carbonara-spiced popcorn, a vegan Cobb salad and a sea bream ceviche. The brewery is open daily for lunch and dinner daily, and brunch on weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hanger steak is coated in a savoury spice blend and served with romesco sauce and dressed microgreens ($22). The fries in the background are double-blanched, tossed in truffle butter, topped with parm and served with a malt aïoli for ($8). Mascot’s mac-and-cheese is made with cheese curds from Quebec and comes smothered in the kitchen’s Italian Lager-infused cheese sauce. It’s finished with a garlic bread crumble. $14. The quarter piri-piri roasted chicken is served alongside a country potato salad, and comes with house-made gravy. $20. The lightly-cured sea bream ceviche features rhubarb leche de tigre, pickled chili and avocado crema. It’s served with veggie chips for scooping. $16. The vegetarian shawarma plate features baharat-spiced cauliflower, tabbouleh, pickle spears, hummus, pickled turnips and garlic sauce. $14. For dessert, there’s a house-made Pop-Tart imposter. It’s stuffed with a strawberry-rhubarb filling and glazed with cream cheese frosting. $8.
The space
After the closing of their original Mercer Street location last year due to condo construction, Mascot moved into Los Colibris’ old below-grade space. While they no longer have a sweet rooftop patio, they do have a private backyard beer garden.
The July issue of Toronto Life features the monster cottages of Muskoka versus the resistance. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.