Fox and Fiddle (Richmond Hill, Ontario)

Fox and Fiddle (Richmond Hill), 115 York Blvd., Richmond Hill (Toronto) Ontario, Canada. Voted the # 1 bar in Toronto in 2007 by the readers of the Toronto Sun. They have a nice sit up bar that is a square "U" shape that has a granite top. It seats about 15-20 people. There is a lot of seating and you can reserve tables, booths and areas for functions. The waitresses wear tartan kilts and are friendly and attentative. They have 18 different types of beer on tap. Numerous flat screen TV's and two dart boards. To eat, I tried the Sliders which are three mini hamburgers with cheese and a chipolte sauce. the price was around $8.95 which was a good deal. They were very good, and I would have them again. They were fresh and juicy!! I figured I had better keep going so I had the baked French onion soup. It was a bit disappointing. The Swiss cheese tasted and looked more like processed cheese slices. I was there on a Friday for dinner and it was very quiet. The bartender said that it gets very busy later on. A buddy of mine who grew up in the area used to frequent this bar and had nothing but great things to say about it. I enjoyed my visit there and would come back again!!

Brix Napa Valley Grille and Wine Bar (Markham, Ontario)

Brix Napa Valley Grille and Wine Bar, 230 Commerce Drive, East, Markham ( Toronto) Ontario, Canada. this was a good find, very modern and very popular!! They have two bars, the main bar is a granite horseshoe shaped sit up bar that seats about 15 people. The second sit up bar is called California and seats about 5. They have live bands in the evening. There is a fireplace in the middle which is nice on those cold Toronto winter nights. The first time I ate there I was not that hungry, so I had the panco, sesame crusted chicken strips which were the best I have ever had any where!! The second time I had the chicken Asian dumplings, and again they were very good. The service was very good and they tend to have rather attractive young women to wait on you. As time went on in the evening, it started to get a bit of a night club feel to it. They had a very good wine selection as well a a full bar!! It is just off the Hwy 7 and the 404, but since I don't live there, that doesn't help me much!! If you are ever in the area I suggest you give it a try, I think you will really like it.

Owl and Firkin Pub (Markham, Ontario)

Owl and Firkin Pub, 7181 Woodbine, Markham (Toronto) Ontario, Canada. Great pub that war recommended to me by a friend of mine. They have a nice diamond shaped bar in the middle of the bar. There are numerous booths and tables away from the main bar area. we were there in the middle of the week and there was a Toronto Maple Leafs game on TV so the pub was very busy with people in to watch the game. Yes the Leafs lost.....again! One of the waiters who has been there for 13 years immigrated from Sri Lanka, and he had the most amazing skill at being able to remember things. He took a whole table order, passed it on to the other waiter, asked everyone's birthday and went off visiting every one in the bar. We could not stump hi when he came back 1/2 hour later he remembered everything!! I have a hard time remembering some ones name!! The food was good, first time I had the 1/2 BBQ chicken with 40 Mile Creek BBQ sauce, which came with fries and baked beans. It was very good and the price was around $12,00 which was very good. the second time I had Steak and mushroom pie with veggies and mashed potatoes and it too was good. There is lots of seating and the last time I was there I managed to stick my head in during a pre-wedding party. You know those pictures where you say "who the hell is that!" I really enjoyed this place!!

Jack Astor's Bar and Grill (Richmond Hill, Ontario)

Jack Astor's Bar and Grill (Richmond Hill) 155 York Blvd. Richmond Hill (Toronto) Ontario, Canada. There are numerous bars which are part of a chain. Went there with a group and everyone raved about how good the food was. I had the chicken parmigiana and it was very good. My buddy had a burger and said it was the best that he ever had! Service was very good, fast and friendly. They had a very nice sit up bar but my picture does not do it any justice. They have a huge flat screen (you can see it in the picture) TV along with numerous other flat screen TV's, great for meeting some friends for drinks and watching the game!! Therre is a good atmosphere and lots of seating. Washrooms were clean!! worth the visit, and yes I would come back for sure!!

Flying Beaver Bar and Grill (Richmond, British Columbia)

Flying Beaver Bar and Grill, 4760 Inglis Drive, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Fraser River as it flows in to the Pacific Ocean, near the South Terminal of Vancouver Airport. It is about a 5 minute cab ride from the main terminal at Vancouver International Airport. Harbour Air flys float planes from here/ back to/ froom Vancovuer Island and some of the Gulf Islands. It is a great setting being right on the water, watching the float planes come and go. The decor is very West Coast, with exposed beams, a river rock fire place in the middle and a lovely 12 person sit up bar. The bar has lots of windows to enjoy the view and there is a nice out side patio area. Children are allowed in a small area just as you enter. This is part of the Mark James Group that owns several bars and restaurants in the Vancouver and Whistler area. The service is very good, friendly and quick. My wife and I were here on a Sunday for lunch and I had one of the lunch specials which was Eggs Benny with capacollo and Montreal smoked meat with hollandaise sauce, and pan fired potatoes. My wife had the breakfast sandwich which was two English muffins with lettuce, tomato, cheese, scrambled eggs, and avocado and of course pan fried potatoes on the side. They both were very good!! They have various beer on tap and a full liquor menu. There is lots of free parking across the street. I have been here several times over the years and the food is always good, the service is always good and the atmosphere is great! What can I say, but, "I will be back for sure!"

August 2011 I was back there and still a great place, busy as all get out.  Sun was shinning and everyone was relaxing and enjoying the day.  Food was still very good and I really like coming here.!!

Ichabod's Lounge (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Ichabod's Lounge, 3354 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Ichabod's is attached to D-Jay's Restaurant which has been around for 40 years or so. The parking lot in the late 1970's early 1980's was, where all the guys took their muscle cars to show them off and hang out. Ichabod's was added sometime after 1982. It is a small bar that seats about.. 40-50 people and has an outside patio. There is a very large projection screen on one wall and is great for watching sports. You can order the same food that they serve in the restaurant and the food is good. There is ample parking considering it is by the mall and that side is fairly quiet. If you are in the area all you have to do to find this place if you can't remember Ichabod's is ask any one where D-Jay's is and you will get there. They have a small sit up bar that seats about 8 people or so. Then there is a little nook where they have their VLT's (Video Lottery Terminals) Gambling. There is a dinky little wall that hides the gambling from everyone....oooohhhh! Nothing really stands out about Ichabod's, but it is a good place to go and meet some good friends!!

October 2016, still a great place to meet with friends and a great place to watch sports! 

Smitty's Lounge at the Westwood Village Inn (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Smitty's Lounge at the Westwood Village Inn. 477 Westwood Drive, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada!
Smitty's Pancake House grew up!!!
I can't believe that Smitty's now is a great lounge (bar, pub, tavern or what ever for everyone else). What once was a big pancake chain is now a great bar! This used to be the location of the infamous Village Inn Bar, then the Crazy Bar. But new owners came in and completely redid this place. It looks great inside. It seats 375 people and that is really big for a bar, pub tavern or what ever. There is a really nice bar that sits about 20 people and have about 23 beer on tap. There are very nice 42 inch and 52 inch LCD TC'S all over the place. The place is broken up very nicely, with rooms set aside for video gambling, a room that had 4 pool tables with lots of seating, then the main bar area with tables and booths all finished off really nice. I was really impressed! What a change had been done here. We spoke to the manager "Wayne", who has worked at the various bars in this location since 1981. He was busy waiting on people and keeping everyone in conversation. They say Tuesday and Wednesday nights the place is packed for wing night!! My sister and I had a platter and the wings and sweet potato fires were very good. The entire place including the washrooms were very clean and tidy. It doesn't look like much from the outside or if you remember it from the old days.....forget it, it grew up and is a very nice place to go. Hey, there is even a motel attached so you don't have to drink and drive!! I give it 2 thumbs up and will be back for sure the next time I am in Winnipeg!!