Food Adventure #3: Earls Kitchen and Bar
Name: Earls Kitchen and Bar
Location: 150 King Street West
Category: Restaurant, bar
Atmosphere: Upscale, trendy
Additional info: Has heated outdoor patio.
Website: https://earls.ca/locations/king-street
Today, on another episode of Jurisfoodence, we will be reviewing Earls Kitchen and Bar, a well-known restaurant chain that has dozens of locations all over North America. Earls opened its first Toronto site in 2012. With its prime location right across from the Toronto Stock Exchange and its supposedly stunning outdoor patio, Earls instantly became a major hit with many who work in the Financial District. Indeed, it has even been described by friends as one of the nicer spots in the city, featuring private wooden cabanas and heat lamps in a courtyard enclosed by a gorgeous vinery amidst the towering glass towers of the downtown core, and at the same time secluded from the rest of the city. On the day my guest and I arrived, however, it was pouring rain outside and we regretfully were not able to take advantage of this urban oasis of a patio. Nonetheless, the interior atmosphere and ambience more than made up for this lost opportunity.
Described on their website as a place where “casual meets elegance,” Earls definitely lived up to this mantra. In the lounge area where we sat ourselves, polished dining tables made of a deep and richly coloured wood were counterbalanced with cold marble countertops and stone walls, while rows upon rows of exposed light bulbs hung from the ceiling. Having visited on a Saturday night, the crowd was not the same as if one had arrived after work on a weekday; it was a lot more casual than expected, with only a handful of individuals wearing business attire. We were also the youngest individuals in the room by far (both in our early 20s), while most of the patrons appeared to be in their 30s and 40s.
As both a bar and a restaurant, Earls offers a selection of dishes that draws upon many cuisines from around the world. This includes starters that range from Chicken & Wontons to Italia Pizza, and mains such as Bibimbap and Cajun Chicken. The restaurant also offers your typical selection of North American foods. Burger lovers, for example, have a number of burgers to choose from, and also notably included Vincent Vega’s favourite – the Royale with Cheese. And for meat lovers, you can have your appetite satiated with the option of steaks or BBQ Back Ribs. Prices range from $7.25 to $17.50 for starters and salads, while the mains go anywhere from $14.00 for a Kung Pao Noodle Bowl to $35.75 for BBQ Ribs & Cajun Chicken. As a fervent meat lover, I ordered the BBQ Half Ribs, while my guest ordered the Chicken, Brie, and Fig Sandwich. We agreed that the food was of good quality, though nothing mind-blowing (though to be fair, one would have to make a tremendous effort to ruin BBQ ribs; I have yet to encounter a restaurant that serves a horrible plate of ribs).
The establishment also has a healthy selection of drinks to choose from. In particular, the wine list is extensive and there are a decent number of local and imported beers. The cocktail menu, however, while respectable, does not have many classics, and contains a rather large proportion of obscure or restaurant-invented concoctions (what is a “silly wabbit”?). This is not to say that obscure or newly created drinks are inherently worse, but it would be nice to have some familiar drinks to be able to choose from on nights where you just want to enjoy an old personal favourite (such as the Manhattan for yours truly). Luckily, Earls had one of my fall back choices in the form of the Old Fashioned, which I promptly ordered, while my companion had a pint of the Rhino Signature Lager. Prices were typical of a downtown location, with the Old Fashioned and lager costing $12.00 and $7.25, respectively.
By the time we finished our meals, the place had become quite packed and loud (though not to the point where we had to shout at one another to be understood), as patrons slowly accumulated over the course of the night. Ultimately, Earls is a potential place to go whenever one wants to have drinks after work, or have a night out at an upscale, but not stuffy, restaurant/bar.
Final Rating: 3¾ Stars