The Only

The Only Cafe is a one of a kind little pub in eastern Toronto, just steps from the Donlands subway station, right on the Danforth. A short walk from the restaurants and shops of Greektown, the Only is a place I get to at least once every few weeks - it sits almost halfway in between my place and the home of one of my best friends.

Like the Dora and McVeigh's the Only used to be the type of place where the air was blue with smoke. You'd open the door and it would billow out. Just the type of place where a smoke went hand in hand with a pint. You can still light up on the tiny patio but inside its nonsmoking all the way, like the rest of Toronto. (Interesting to note - you could not smoke in bars in Sudbury, my hometown, before the same law came into being in Toronto. Dublin also preceded T.O. in that respect. Interesting that Toronto, a bastion of politically correct foolishness, came after these two places when it came to this law, which is pretty well standard now, though not in England. As an ex-smoker who still enjoys one now and then, I don't really miss coming home reeking of smoke. I can see both sides of the argument and certainly like to have it both ways to be honest. I don't miss the stink but when I was in England this fall I lit up every chance I could get.)

Anyhow, walk into the Only and there are a few tables at the front. Then a long aisle. On the right a line of two person tables, each lit by an old lamp. On the left the long bar. At the back of the bar, more tables, including two of fair size. Bathrooms are downstairs, as at McCarthys, McVeighs and many Toronto bars and restaurants located in the older part of the city. Graffiti abounds.

A small TV over the bar that is visible at the back end. Saturday nights hockey will be on.

The main attraction - the beer. A great selection of bottled beer. Seventeen beers and ciders on tap. Guinness (decent pint) and Kronenberg 1664. Strongbow cider. The remainder - local and regional brews as well as other microbrews from around Canada - Steamwhistle, Mill Street's Tankhouse Ale and Amsterdam's Raspberry Wheat from Toronto. From Ontario the Niagara Brewery's Gritstone (a personal favourite), Black Oak's Pale Ale, Creemore and a Wellington. Also Grasshopper and Traditional Ales from Big Rock, an Alberta brewery. I would list the rest but damned if I can remember a one.

The walls are lined with photos and posters of everything and everyone. The crowd is relaxed - mellow and friendly. The staff too.

Check it out.

The Dora Keough - She's A Beauty!

Another one of my favourites, probably in my top five. And yes, I am partial to a pint of Guinness as you know so this, like McCarthys and McVeighs, is an Irish pub. Keep coming around if that's not your cup of tea though. I can't think of another one I'd go to after those three so we'll be moving a little farther afield from now on.

Again this is an east end place, right on the Danforth, just east of Broadview on the south side.

The Dora is a beauty, literally. In my mind, three things set this one apart.

1./ Not a TV to be found. Music is kept low. There's no distraction from the task at hand - talking. You walk into this pub on a Friday or Saturday night and there is a roar of conversation that greets you.

2./The setting. A front room. A snug with a private window to the long bar. A working stone fireplace in the corner. The small copper tables and stools scattered about. The dim lighting. Maybe I'm an oddball but I love the look of this place. She's gorgeous.

3./ The beer. There are better places of course but the Dora does pretty well with 13 on tap plus Strongbow Cider. You've got your staple Irish pints - Guinness (a good one), Kilkenny and Harp. You have Fullers London Porter, Kronenberg 1664, Erdinger Weissbreu and another German that escapes me right now. You have two house beers - DK Lager and a DK Light. You have your standard Keiths. And you have three locals - Steamwhistle, Tankhouse and Durham ESB. That's right - a locally brewed bitter. I'll take a stout any time but I've been to England twice now and I'll take a bitter when I can as well. And a locally brewed one? Get serious!

Worth a look right there, no?

Anyhow, the Dora also has what they call their Guinness Sessions Thursdays and Sundays. My first experience of it, I was having a pint when the place started getting crowded, especially where we were sitting. Next thing you know everyone around us is whipping out their fiddles and pipes and all that jazz. A lot of fun. I was in Kilkenny Ireland five years ago and we had the same type of experience. Anyhow if you like the aye diddle aye its worth a look. If not, stay away Thursday nights and Sunday late in the afternoon.

In the evenings, especially late in the week and on weekends, it gets pretty busy. This may be the most popular pub on the Danforth. I enjoy it even when it is busy but if you like your quiet then go right after work. You can read a book and have your pint then.

Oh and there's no wait staff - you better get up to that bar or you'll be waiting a while for that pint.

A Man Walks Into a Bar

Its last Saturday night and I'm on my way down to Gerrard Street after hockey to pick up some takeout from The Famous. I take a quick detour into McCarthy's for a post game pint, walk in the door and the bartender smiles and says "It will be a Guinness for you" and begins to pour me a pint before I'm even sitting on my stool.

That, my friends, is sweet.

Turn off those TVs and meet your neighbours. There's a concept, huh?