TRAVEL: Stirling, Scotland, No. 2 Baker Street

Location:

2 Baker Street, Stirling

As far as pubs go, No. 2 Baker Street (yes, sounding very much like a popular 80s TV show) is the No. 1 place to go.  A local favourite, it serves up my favourite beer Guinness, and serves it EXTRA COLD.

They don't serve food at the pub, but bags of chips sure hit the spot.

And you can't go home without trying the Scotch.

Needless to say, we frequented No. 2 Baker Street muchly during our two day stay in Stirling.

Now, if only they could change the address to 1 Baker Street.

Wayne Gretzy's

Location:
99 Blue Jays Way, Toronto 

www.gretzky.com 

Poutine$6.99 

Salmon Burger $14.99 

....and the BEST apple pie I've ever had!  With pecan ice-cream, what a change from vanilla, and so delish!!

(Not the greatest pics here, but I was more interested in digging in!) 

Salmon burger and poutine!

Apple Pie with Pecan ice-cream

 

The food is really great at Gretzy's and the service is wonderful.  They have a super happening (always packed) tropical-esque roof-top patio which is great for those warm summer nights.

Fynn's of Temple Bar

Location:
489 King Street West, Toronto

www.fynnstemplebar.com

It used to be a Fionn MacCool's and now the name isn't all that different but the menu certainly is.  For one, they have these God-awful photographs that don't really look related to anything ON the menu. Things like three scoops of vanilla ice-cream that looks as if a bite were taken out of one of the scoops. And tomatoes. Just you know, random tomatoes.

Regardless, Fynn's is always a staple lunch time spot for us 'cause it serves what we really want for lunch on Fridays: beer. In my case, Guinness.

The food is still yummy and plentiful in portion-size.

Can't ever go wrong with the Fish n chips.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="fish n chips $14 (one piece $9)"][/caption]

Unfortunately my fave Jerk Tilapia has now been changed to tilapia with pesto and tomatoes (ah, I see where the image of tomatoes comes in useful now). It's not bad, but I miss the Jerk Tilapia 'cause it had a delicious pineapple salsa on top. Bring it back, please!

pesto tilapia and roasted tomatoes on quinoa and basmati rice, with veggies, $16

Overall, no complaints though, this is definitely the best pub on King street near Spadina.

Bar Wellington

Location:

520 Wellington St W, Toronto

Oh, Bar Wellie, how you've changed.

View

Okay, not to be quite so dramatic, but we really had some good times Bar Wellie and I. Once upon a time, when the service was nice and friendly, and I had my first taste of Leffe beer. Let me tell you, it was something else.  Now it really IS something else.

The service is sloooooooooooooow and rude and the food is, well, okay, so the food was never really THAT good.  The club sandwich, really dry and the pizza bland.

Club Sandwich

Pizza



It does have a big outdoor patio though, but size isn't all that matters.

I guess we will always have Leffe Beer.

Hemmingways

Location:

140 Cumberland Street, Toronto

Cost: Avg main is $13

www.hemingways.to

In the heart of Yorkville there's a cosy little people (or celeb) -watching pub that has the likeness of some Great-Grandfather's study. Green walls, heavy bookcases laden with old books, equestrian oil paintings lit up with dimmed wall sconces, antique wooden furniture dusty with age ----oh, hang on, that actually is my Great-Granddaddy's study...

I got carried away.

But you get my drift, Hemmingways has the authenticity of an ol' pub that Hemmingway himself might have frequented, but with a menu that's a mash-up of Eastern and Western delights, ie: bruschetta, spring rolls, escargot, Boston Clam chowder, Caesar salads, Greek salads, Tandoori what-nots, roti, pad thai, kung pao whatsits, souvlaki, fajitas....it's a really eclectic menu.

The ambiance at Hemmingways

I had the chicken souvlaki once and it was great; couldn't complain. I did however complain about the wine which tasted like that cloth one uses to wipe up counters...YOU know the one! They even confessed that they had that particular bottle sitting out for a while and opened a new one for me.

Chicken Souvlaki [caption id="attachment_1286" align="alignleft" width="604" caption="Chicken Souvlaki $13.99"][/caption]3.99

Besides that one incident (and I only ordered beer after that night), Hemmingways is quite simply: cosy.

And if you can't make up your mind on what to have for dinner, or if you have picky company to dine with, go to Hemmingways. Lots of food options PLUS beer.

Elephant & Castle

Location:

212 King Street West, Toronto

Cost: $50 with tip

www.elephantcastle.com



As far as pub food in the city goes...this place has got to have the blurst (read: worst).



It's got a great atmosphere for after work or late night drinks, but I've got to say the food is absolutely mediocre.

So, the mahi sandwich with fries was just okay...which is not saying much.   

It certainly was better than the chicken skewers, which were...disssssguuuust. 



Unless you like your chicken pinkish....



The bruschetta was alright.



And the fish fritters with chips (crisps) was sub-par.



Thank Guinness for beer!  I'm happy my half pint of Guinness was so generous...I needed it!

The Jason George

Location:

100 Front Street East, Toronto

I've been to the Jason George twice. Both times I had the fish n' chips. Hey, why change a good thing?

It's crispy, flaky, tender, tasty. And the yam frites are scrumptious.



Whether indoors or out, the ambiance is fun and friendly.

A great local pub.