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After a run with RunTOBeer in the west end, we were in need of sustenance and libations. My friends said Indie Alehouse Brew Pub was a great place for lunch and beer, so off we went. Upon entering, you are greeted by fridges full of fresh, cold beer in their bottle shop before you enter the dining area. There are lots booths, high tables and bar seating for you to choose from. A flight of beer was in order(as well as a giant glass of water)! My flight of 4 was comprised of Lemonade Stand Sour, St. Crispin's Mild English Ale, B Sharp Saison and Broken Hipster Witbier. A good variety of flavours while I decided on what to eat for lunch. The Delicata Pizza($18) caught my eye....and boy, was it eye catching! The caramelized onions, the delicata squash, toasted pumpkin seeds, the balsamic reduction, all paled in comparison to the dollops of bright blueberry ricotta on my pizza. It's delicious AND a head turner. The sweetness of the ricotta was mild, but distinct. The squash and pumpkin seeds brought this pizza together nicely; I'd definitely get it again! After almost eating an entire pizza, dessert was not on my mind, but my friend's sweet tooth was calling. Indie Alehouse offers the Tiniest Desserts. You can get 1 for $4.50 or 3 for $12. She picked the Flourless Bourbon Brownie. She said it was rich, but the perfect size after a savoury meal. Service was fantastic. I like that the person that each person has a different role in customer service, from taking the orders to delivering the food; it makes everything run smoothly and they do it well. Who am I kidding? I know I'll be back.
Indie Ale House was a quick stop for our group of four after having dinner nearby. It was busy when we arrived, still in their dinner rush, but we got a table near the kitchen pass. They brew their own beer onsite so we had to sample some of them. Unfortunately, I was so full from dinner, I ordered only a pint of Gold Star instead of a flight, as originally planned. It was good but I would have preferred it colder. Only one of us managed to have multiple pints. One of my companions ordered a slice of Indie Cheese Cake (blueberry lemon ricotta, stout chocolate, macerated blueberry) that wasn't bad but the bottom crust was kinda tough. Sitting near the pass, we saw all the food leaving the kitchen and it all looked delicious. We may just have to come back one day.
4 years ago I made my first trip to the Indie Ale House and it got ruined thanks to my need for a root canal. 4 years later and it was finally time to try this amazing fried chicken again and actually be able to enjoy it without wanting to punch myself in the face. We showed up here on Sunday and the place wasn't crazy busy around lunch time. We got a table right away and thanks to already knowing exactly what we wanted to eat, we placed our order and had the food in front of us only 10-15 minutes later (that's the good stuff). The fried chicken itself is boneless and served with a decent amount of delicious French fries that were fantastic. The fried chicken itself was big, juicy, and full of flavour making it (quite possibly, I could be wrong) the best fried chicken Toronto has to offer. I absolutely loved it and I couldn't imagine ordering anything else when I return (it's just that good). The staff was friendly, the restaurant itself is super cool, and they even have a gift shop in the front of the establishment. I don't drink so I can't comment on the brewery aspect of this place, but if you want some fried chicken then I highly recommend making your way to Indie Ale House!
I'm basing this review off the burger I had, but let me start by saying that it's reason enough for you to come here. What makes a burger really good is a "flavour bomb" when you first bite into it, and that's exactly what you get here. This isn't a small burger, with two good sized patties, so come hungry and ready to enjoy it. There aren't many toppings that are meant to blow you away, it's just a simple burger that's done right and you'll know when you taste it. Fries were also really good and crispy. Overall the food and service were awesome. The beers here are also really good. Great place to stop by in the West End.
Went there on a Tuesday night at 930. On the entance they told us food was no longer being served. Drinks (3/5) We sat and orded a bunch of drinks: all of them were very unique and most of them had a fruity flavour. Out of 13 drinks we tried 8 we would not order again ever, 3 were OK and 2 we liked. Service: The waiter knew his beer and was friendly and entertaining. We were asked to leave at 11. Overall i was not impressed by the drinks and will not be coming back.
I made my latest visit to Indie last Sat. evening as the venue was the 4th stop on a Brewpub Crawl Event I was attending with a social Group. 8 of us arrived around 7:20 pm at which time it was packed. We were told we'd have to wait awhile for a table for 8 but if we were willing to split up into 2 groups of 4 we could get tables almost immediately. This we did and we were all seated shortly thereafter. None of us at my table ordered food and I haven't eaten there on any of my previous visits so can't really comment on their menu, but their beer selection has always been quite admirable. On this visit I ordered their Breakfast Porter, made with lots of oats and malted grains that give a smooth, coffee and chocolate character. It was delicious, and despite the venue being packed, our service was fairly prompt and quite courteous. I should note that the venue also offers beer flights of 5, which I have partaken in during at least a couple of previous visits. Most times when I've visited it's been pretty crowded, a testament to the venue's popularity and quality.
Another lunch adventure led me to this place with a few of my homies. I'd like to say I am a fried chicken connoisseur, because I've tried some of the best in the US, like the famous Roscoe's and Gussie's. I've heard the word on the street is that the Indie Ale House Southern Fried Chicken is finger lickin', so I put it to the test. Imma start off by saying, damn this place looks good. From the exterior, to the interior, to the freaking font choices for their menu and signs, it screams Restoration Hardware ideal showroom! You can tell the owners made it rain, with the money they invested into this place. I can only imagine the possibilities if this place was converted into a lounge or club on the weekends. Now for the main reason I came here, the fried chicken. Although I'm really a fan of "bone in" fried chicken, their chicken breast slices came out nice and crispy. The meat was as juicy as couture would have wanted it to be and the dipping sauces did not disappoint (only KFC's honey mustard could compare). Each bite was like heaven being inserted into a chunk of deep fried chicken breast and only a waffle would complete this dish from the gods. Can you guys put a waffle and maple syrup alongside this dish? Pretty please with a stick of butter on top? Thanks Indie Ale House, you've made my waist size go up, but my happiness meter go off the charts. Dirtybird look out son, you still my go to, but #southernfriedchicken!
Indie Ale House is located on Dundas St W on the north side near the north west corner of Dundas and Keele in The Junction. The Junction has sure changed from the times where Canadian Tire south of the underpass and grain silos used to be the background of where the train overpassed the area with the broken bridge of Old Weston road was working/notworking for years. This area from Keele to Dupont/Annette has changed. The area west of Keele to Jane has changed and businesses have turned around. There used to be a police station on Mavety and they've since moved it to what used to be a school on Davenport near Symington. The Junction has changed a lot. My very first review for Yelp was for a business just across the street from Indie Ale House so it's a nice way to reminisce as to where I was and where I am now as far as Yelp is concerned. The very same app I used to make a reservation at Playa Cabana has now sort of brought me full circle, back to the Junction which is a neighborhood that I've known well since my in laws live nearby. Indie Ale House is a place to sit down, have beer and eat something as well. My first visit around 6pm on a Friday and the front storefront was open so it was a nice open air feel near the front. The rest of the footprint seems rather crowded whether in low top tables or the bar, the place was pretty full from front to back. I ended up sitting at the bar and ready to try one of the many drinks. Although they have a printed menu, it was explained that the most up to date menu was on the wall. That sort of makes sense since they can run out of something or new offerings can be introduced without always having to print something out. For the Friday that I went to Indie, I was actually there twice within a few hours. The first time was to wait for my friends to come because we were going to eat nearby and I wanted to have a snack and a drink and the second time was to just have drinks after we ate dinner. The first visit for the evening I ended up having a couple Instigator IPA which is a west coast style pale ale. I ended up ordering a plate of fried chicken which comes in two ways, original and Nashville Hot. I noticed that Nashville Hot is slowly but surely becoming a thing and what was served up was a 4 pieces of deboned thigh, floured and deep fried with a kick of spice. This plate was served with a side of potato salad. I'm used to seeing the chicken itself resting on a single piece of Texas toast with pickles on top but this time, no bread. I liked the chicken. Being that it's thigh it's juicier and IMO has more taste than breast meat. The coating was good but not really as hot as I was hoping for but it still had a good taste. Our second go around after dinner I was just interested in a single beer. My friends each got a flight customized to what their preferences were. What I liked to see what their 5 glass flights actually came with a tiny print out of what they were having so they knew which beer was which. I found that quite helpful if you sampled something you really liked, you knew which one to order again for next time. Overall Indie is a busy place with some menu options but the draw for this place is their beer. They have a side store for take home in cans in with an attractive fridge with their products on display.
I don't know why my Yelp friend spent so much time to decide which of the 5 beers to be included in the $13 Beer Flight at Indie Ale House! I wanted to screamed just ordered them all!! But I was not thinking straight after having beer sampling at Junction Craft Brewing earlier..... Ended up we ordered 2 sample trays anyway... what we had is not really relevant since quite a few of their offerings are seasonal but we did enjoy: Barnyard Rye IPA Zombie Apocalypse Imperial Stout Instigator IPA - One of their Flagship Jump The Shark Glory and Consequences Breakfast Porter St Crispin's Mild - Light and Crisp with no aftertaste... 3.5% drinks like a light beer! Cockpuncher IPA - @100 IBU and 11%!!! and love the bad ass name!! Witner Toquie We also shared Butter squash Samosa and Pulled Pork Spring Roll which were both great as snack as we drank our beers! Love the set up!! It is one of the best brewpub I been to in Toronto that serves decent food and will a beer hall like setting! Service was excellent as our server patiently help us select our drinks! The Junction Neighbourhood is so lucky to have Indie Ale House!! I definitely will be back for some more sampling next time when I am in the neighbourhood! Just give me everything on the beer menu!!!
Elevated Pub-Food? YES, Please! I've been to Indie Ale House on numerous occasions. The one thing that never seems to disappoint is the food. Service, however, is inconsistent. Also, if you are not a big beer/ale drinker, this is not the place for you. The menu selection is far from the typical "pub grab". Most of the dishes have great thought put into the execution. For example, the 1 LB Yukon Fries are served with a lemon aioli and are sprinkled with thyme for flavour. Not your typical fries! During my most recent visit, I ordered the Proscciuto Wrapped Burrata and the BBQ Ribs. The serving of the Burrata was gigantic--definitely a plate to share. The BBQ ribs have a delicious smokiness to them with a sticky sweet sauce. To-die-for! If you're a spice lover, ask for some of their house-made hot sauce. The only disappointment is the inconsistent service and the lack of good wine on the alcohol menu. Throughout the several visits, a server always forgot at least one item that was ordered. Nevertheless, the issue was always solved in a courteous manner. As for the wine, I am fairly picky and like to enjoy a glass with my cheese. Given the fact that Indie Ale House serves charcuterie boards, they should add some selection to their wine list.
Gord and I like craft beer and have been wanting to check out the Indie Ale House for a while. We headed there for supper this evening. They brew their own beer on site. There is a store there so you can take home some beer, teeshirts, glasses, etc. I had a couple Takes Two to Mango. Gord was more adventurous and tried different ones. Gord ordered Mac & Cheese with smoked pork hock, IPA and curds. He said it was delicious and he'd get it again. He scraped the bowl pretty clean. There were lots of chunks of pork! I ordered Southern Fried Chicken with fries. The chicken was delicious! It was so tender and moist. And there was a lot of it! I would soooooo get it again! There was ranch and hot & honey mustard dipping sauces for the chicken. The dipping sauce for the fries was a mayo/ketchup It was quite busy when we left about 7ish. We'll be back!
Indie Ale House does a lot of things right. Their selection of beers, for example, is worth a visit alone. Their southern fried chicken, similarly, is a big hit and deserves some attention. I think I've had it a dozen times and was only let down once in the midst of COVID when they forgot the side of fries and the heat of the chicken was so great that it fused the plastic containers of sauce into a puddle. On the whole, I've got only good things to say, particularly for IAH in the "before times." But recently, the food and the service is struggling. We ordered a plate of their bbq pork nachos, and while we didn't wait long for the food to arrive--about 15 minutes--it came to the table unheated. The pork was cold, the real cheese wasn't melted in the least and the only heated element on the dish was the processed cheese sauce (which is pretty tasty). What made this worse was the fact that the server disappeared before we could ask if this was supposed to be served like this--it seemed too egregious a mistake to be an accident. When the server did finally show up again--to ask if we wanted more beer but not to check on the meals--I asked if this is how they intended to serve the nachos, pointing to the lumps of grated cheese that look like they've never seen an oven. The server confessed, "no, that's not how they should be served. The cheese should be at least a little melted if not fully melted. What do you want me to do? Have them reheat them?" The problem with that is that there are cold toppings on the nachos that don't do well with heat, so I declined. But they've got problems in the kitchen at the basic level of knowing that nachos should be heated, they've got troubles at the pass where their front of house staff is actually delivering this kind of dish to their guests, and they've got trouble with their servers who don't know what to do with poorly executed dished (they should've offered to refire the dish, from scratch). Meanwhile, my dining partner had finished their meal before the server even came back to ask if we wanted another beer. In fairness to IAH, the industry is struggling in trying to replace a generation of kitchen staff that have moved on to other opportunities and the front of house staff appear a bit burnt out when it comes to providing a reasonable solution to the problems that the kitchen may create. I get it, it's a complicated business and I empathize. At the same time, their prices are up about 25% and they don't come back and say, "hey, let us knock 50% off your sub-optimal servings. No they don't. And when the bill comes, the tip is preset to the 20% option, with no option below 18% provided. That left a sour taste in my mouth and it wasn't because of the Slings and Arrows. But take a look at the picture and you decide: does that cheese look like it's been in an oven.
I've fallen "in like" with this place, but not in love -- based on vibe, food and cost. The service is excellent, so a big shout out for that off the top. The upshot: it's a fairly large, upscale craft brew resto-bar that feels like it was transported from a suburb into the city. It's a reliable place for food and drink. The Instigator IPA is indeed great, the burgers are indeed huge, but there's something a bit too box store about this place for me to get fully on board. We dropped in once just for beer. The place was packed, so we were seated near the back, in view of the kitchen window. We were impressed by the food and burger platters coming out of there and thought we should return for a meal. We came back and tried the Indie Burger. This is a classic, two-patty bacon cheeseburger that tasted a lot like a Big Mac (special sauce, iceberg lettuce). It was huge and sloppy in a good way, but there was still something ordinary about it. Not just because it was the house burger -- there are ways to make even classic burgers stand out. One drawback for me from the get-go was that the bun had been toasted, but the top was very cold to the touch. (Wish I'd paid the $2 extra for lettuce wrap instead of the bun!) The bunned burger is $18, with fries or salad included. Don't get me wrong -- it was good. I'd just hoped for something a bit more memorable. And I might be getting the suburban association from the bathroom -- it's crazy bright in there and completely unadorned. You feel like you're in a gas station restroom at night. A re-think of the fixtures and decor in here would go a long way.
Located in the heart of the Junction, The Indie Ale House is a popular Brewpub with locals in the area. I recently dropped by for first time during lunch hour, and similar to all restaurants in the area, it's wasn't busy during this time so there were plenty of seating and reservations were not required. However, evenings and weekends can be quite busy, but reservations can be made via OpenTable. I ordered the Burger of The mouth with a side of salad, while my friend ordered the Indie Fried Chicken Platter. I personally found the burger and salad to be quite delicious. The beef patty was juicy, with all sauces and ingredients complimenting each other nicely. My friend on the other hand, found the chicken a little dry, and the coleslaw warm, and soggy. The restaurant had a cozy laid back feel at this time, contrary to the loud and lively evenings. The hostess/server was attentive, friendly, and efficient. She let us sit anywhere we wanted when we arrived given the quieter afternoons, and she knew the menu well. read more
I love coming here, this brewpub is a consistent favorite of ours! In a nutshell they have excellent beer, food and service and you can never go wrong when you come to this place. They have a wide range of in-house beers, sours and even hard to find Ales. The ambiance is welcoming and accomodating to all ages (even kids). If you're a first time customer and undecided on which beer to choose, I encouraged you to try their Beer Flights which includes 5 oz. sample of 5 beers on tap. I love IPA's and Pilsner so I like ordering the Instigator & Marco Polo. Instigator, a West Coast IPA has a light honeyed sweetness with plenty of hoppy goodness. Quite malty but has well balanced and smooth tasting notes. The Marco Polo on the otherhand is a flavourful dry-hopped lager but super crisp and refreshing which is perfect for hot summer days. My SO who is into strong and dark ales swears how good their Zombie Apocalyse and Breakfast Porter. But the huge draw of me coming here is mainly how impressed I am of their food menu. They offer fresh and high quality dishes that doesn't taste like your clasic pub meals. I always order their Southern Fried Chicken since this is the best Southern Fried Chicken I've ever tried. The fried chicken is intensely flavourful and incredibly crunchy and pairs well with any of their beers. The Indie Burger is another one of my fave. This is your ultimate cheeseburger - two smashed beef patties that is juicy in every bite. Staff are also knowledgeable, friendly and will answer any questions you have about their beer offerings. Top notch chef, nice atmosphere and a wide range of pints to sample makes Indie Alehouse one of the city's top must visit locations for beer drinkers and foodies alike. read more
Three stars on Yelp is suppose to represent an "A-OK" restaurant, and I think that's really what Indie Ale House is, an "A-OK" place. The beers were A-OK, the food was A-OK, and the venue was A-OK. I enjoyed my time at Indie Ale House, but it was nothing to write home about. We ordered the Fried Chicken and the Bison & Belly Burger as it seems like the most popular dish reported on Yelp. To go with the food, we ordered the Broken Hipster and the Raspberry Lemonade Stand. However, the food was a bit slow so we didn't actually get to drink the beer while having the food. This was unfortunate because the fried chicken was so greasy ( it was literally dripping oil) that I really needed something refreshing to wash it down. The taste of the fried chicken was ok, but I just wish it was less greasy, I felt a little nauseas after having it. The Bison & Belly burger on the other hand was pretty good. I really enjoyed the Raspberry Lemonade Stand but the Broken Hipster as well as the other drinks we had after, the Breakfast Porter and the Couch Surfer, were just OK. Overall, the Indie Ale House is an OK place to go to for some bites and drinks, but because it's really far from where I live, I don't think it's worth traveling such great distances to grab food and drinks that are just "A-OK". read more
After a run with RunTOBeer in the west end, we were in need of sustenance and libations. My friends said Indie Alehouse Brew Pub was a great place for lunch and beer, so off we went. Upon entering, you are greeted by fridges full of fresh, cold beer in their bottle shop before you enter the dining area. There are lots booths, high tables and bar seating for you to choose from. A flight of beer was in order(as well as a giant glass of water)! My flight of 4 was comprised of Lemonade Stand Sour, St. Crispin's Mild English Ale, B Sharp Saison and Broken Hipster Witbier. A good variety of flavours while I decided on what to eat for lunch. The Delicata Pizza($18) caught my eye....and boy, was it eye catching! The caramelized onions, the delicata squash, toasted pumpkin seeds, the balsamic reduction, all paled in comparison to the dollops of bright blueberry ricotta on my pizza. It's delicious AND a head turner. The sweetness of the ricotta was mild, but distinct. The squash and pumpkin seeds brought this pizza together nicely; I'd definitely get it again! After almost eating an entire pizza, dessert was not on my mind, but my friend's sweet tooth was calling. Indie Alehouse offers the Tiniest Desserts. You can get 1 for $4.50 or 3 for $12. She picked the Flourless Bourbon Brownie. She said it was rich, but the perfect size after a savoury meal. Service was fantastic. I like that the person that each person has a different role in customer service, from taking the orders to delivering the food; it makes everything run smoothly and they do it well. Who am I kidding? I know I'll be back. read more
Indie Ale House was a quick stop for our group of four after having dinner nearby. It was busy when we arrived, still in their dinner rush, but we got a table near the kitchen pass. They brew their own beer onsite so we had to sample some of them. Unfortunately, I was so full from dinner, I ordered only a pint of Gold Star instead of a flight, as originally planned. It was good but I would have preferred it colder. Only one of us managed to have multiple pints. One of my companions ordered a slice of Indie Cheese Cake (blueberry lemon ricotta, stout chocolate, macerated blueberry) that wasn't bad but the bottom crust was kinda tough. Sitting near the pass, we saw all the food leaving the kitchen and it all looked delicious. We may just have to come back one day. read more
4 years ago I made my first trip to the Indie Ale House and it got ruined thanks to my need for a root canal. 4 years later and it was finally time to try this amazing fried chicken again and actually be able to enjoy it without wanting to punch myself in the face. We showed up here on Sunday and the place wasn't crazy busy around lunch time. We got a table right away and thanks to already knowing exactly what we wanted to eat, we placed our order and had the food in front of us only 10-15 minutes later (that's the good stuff). The fried chicken itself is boneless and served with a decent amount of delicious French fries that were fantastic. The fried chicken itself was big, juicy, and full of flavour making it (quite possibly, I could be wrong) the best fried chicken Toronto has to offer. I absolutely loved it and I couldn't imagine ordering anything else when I return (it's just that good). The staff was friendly, the restaurant itself is super cool, and they even have a gift shop in the front of the establishment. I don't drink so I can't comment on the brewery aspect of this place, but if you want some fried chicken then I highly recommend making your way to Indie Ale House! read more
I'm basing this review off the burger I had, but let me start by saying that it's reason enough for you to come here. What makes a burger really good is a "flavour bomb" when you first bite into it, and that's exactly what you get here. This isn't a small burger, with two good sized patties, so come hungry and ready to enjoy it. There aren't many toppings that are meant to blow you away, it's just a simple burger that's done right and you'll know when you taste it. Fries were also really good and crispy. Overall the food and service were awesome. The beers here are also really good. Great place to stop by in the West End. read more
Went there on a Tuesday night at 930. On the entance they told us food was no longer being served. Drinks (3/5) We sat and orded a bunch of drinks: all of them were very unique and most of them had a fruity flavour. Out of 13 drinks we tried 8 we would not order again ever, 3 were OK and 2 we liked. Service: The waiter knew his beer and was friendly and entertaining. We were asked to leave at 11. Overall i was not impressed by the drinks and will not be coming back. read more
I made my latest visit to Indie last Sat. evening as the venue was the 4th stop on a Brewpub Crawl Event I was attending with a social Group. 8 of us arrived around 7:20 pm at which time it was packed. We were told we'd have to wait awhile for a table for 8 but if we were willing to split up into 2 groups of 4 we could get tables almost immediately. This we did and we were all seated shortly thereafter. None of us at my table ordered food and I haven't eaten there on any of my previous visits so can't really comment on their menu, but their beer selection has always been quite admirable. On this visit I ordered their Breakfast Porter, made with lots of oats and malted grains that give a smooth, coffee and chocolate character. It was delicious, and despite the venue being packed, our service was fairly prompt and quite courteous. I should note that the venue also offers beer flights of 5, which I have partaken in during at least a couple of previous visits. Most times when I've visited it's been pretty crowded, a testament to the venue's popularity and quality. read more
Another lunch adventure led me to this place with a few of my homies. I'd like to say I am a fried chicken connoisseur, because I've tried some of the best in the US, like the famous Roscoe's and Gussie's. I've heard the word on the street is that the Indie Ale House Southern Fried Chicken is finger lickin', so I put it to the test. Imma start off by saying, damn this place looks good. From the exterior, to the interior, to the freaking font choices for their menu and signs, it screams Restoration Hardware ideal showroom! You can tell the owners made it rain, with the money they invested into this place. I can only imagine the possibilities if this place was converted into a lounge or club on the weekends. Now for the main reason I came here, the fried chicken. Although I'm really a fan of "bone in" fried chicken, their chicken breast slices came out nice and crispy. The meat was as juicy as couture would have wanted it to be and the dipping sauces did not disappoint (only KFC's honey mustard could compare). Each bite was like heaven being inserted into a chunk of deep fried chicken breast and only a waffle would complete this dish from the gods. Can you guys put a waffle and maple syrup alongside this dish? Pretty please with a stick of butter on top? Thanks Indie Ale House, you've made my waist size go up, but my happiness meter go off the charts. Dirtybird look out son, you still my go to, but #southernfriedchicken! read more
8 years ago
Indie Ale House is located on Dundas St W on the north side near the north west corner of Dundas and Keele in The Junction. The Junction has sure changed from the times where Canadian Tire south of the underpass and grain silos used to be the background of where the train overpassed the area with the broken bridge of Old Weston road was working/notworking for years. This area from Keele to Dupont/Annette has changed. The area west of Keele to Jane has changed and businesses have turned around. There used to be a police station on Mavety and they've since moved it to what used to be a school on Davenport near Symington. The Junction has changed a lot. My very first review for Yelp was for a business just across the street from Indie Ale House so it's a nice way to reminisce as to where I was and where I am now as far as Yelp is concerned. The very same app I used to make a reservation at Playa Cabana has now sort of brought me full circle, back to the Junction which is a neighborhood that I've known well since my in laws live nearby. Indie Ale House is a place to sit down, have beer and eat something as well. My first visit around 6pm on a Friday and the front storefront was open so it was a nice open air feel near the front. The rest of the footprint seems rather crowded whether in low top tables or the bar, the place was pretty full from front to back. I ended up sitting at the bar and ready to try one of the many drinks. Although they have a printed menu, it was explained that the most up to date menu was on the wall. That sort of makes sense since they can run out of something or new offerings can be introduced without always having to print something out. For the Friday that I went to Indie, I was actually there twice within a few hours. The first time was to wait for my friends to come because we were going to eat nearby and I wanted to have a snack and a drink and the second time was to just have drinks after we ate dinner. The first visit for the evening I ended up having a couple Instigator IPA which is a west coast style pale ale. I ended up ordering a plate of fried chicken which comes in two ways, original and Nashville Hot. I noticed that Nashville Hot is slowly but surely becoming a thing and what was served up was a 4 pieces of deboned thigh, floured and deep fried with a kick of spice. This plate was served with a side of potato salad. I'm used to seeing the chicken itself resting on a single piece of Texas toast with pickles on top but this time, no bread. I liked the chicken. Being that it's thigh it's juicier and IMO has more taste than breast meat. The coating was good but not really as hot as I was hoping for but it still had a good taste. Our second go around after dinner I was just interested in a single beer. My friends each got a flight customized to what their preferences were. What I liked to see what their 5 glass flights actually came with a tiny print out of what they were having so they knew which beer was which. I found that quite helpful if you sampled something you really liked, you knew which one to order again for next time. Overall Indie is a busy place with some menu options but the draw for this place is their beer. They have a side store for take home in cans in with an attractive fridge with their products on display. read more
13 years ago
I don't know why my Yelp friend spent so much time to decide which of the 5 beers to be included in the $13 Beer Flight at Indie Ale House! I wanted to screamed just ordered them all!! But I was not thinking straight after having beer sampling at Junction Craft Brewing earlier..... Ended up we ordered 2 sample trays anyway... what we had is not really relevant since quite a few of their offerings are seasonal but we did enjoy: Barnyard Rye IPA Zombie Apocalypse Imperial Stout Instigator IPA - One of their Flagship Jump The Shark Glory and Consequences Breakfast Porter St Crispin's Mild - Light and Crisp with no aftertaste... 3.5% drinks like a light beer! Cockpuncher IPA - @100 IBU and 11%!!! and love the bad ass name!! Witner Toquie We also shared Butter squash Samosa and Pulled Pork Spring Roll which were both great as snack as we drank our beers! Love the set up!! It is one of the best brewpub I been to in Toronto that serves decent food and will a beer hall like setting! Service was excellent as our server patiently help us select our drinks! The Junction Neighbourhood is so lucky to have Indie Ale House!! I definitely will be back for some more sampling next time when I am in the neighbourhood! Just give me everything on the beer menu!!! read more
8 years ago
Elevated Pub-Food? YES, Please! I've been to Indie Ale House on numerous occasions. The one thing that never seems to disappoint is the food. Service, however, is inconsistent. Also, if you are not a big beer/ale drinker, this is not the place for you. The menu selection is far from the typical "pub grab". Most of the dishes have great thought put into the execution. For example, the 1 LB Yukon Fries are served with a lemon aioli and are sprinkled with thyme for flavour. Not your typical fries! During my most recent visit, I ordered the Proscciuto Wrapped Burrata and the BBQ Ribs. The serving of the Burrata was gigantic--definitely a plate to share. The BBQ ribs have a delicious smokiness to them with a sticky sweet sauce. To-die-for! If you're a spice lover, ask for some of their house-made hot sauce. The only disappointment is the inconsistent service and the lack of good wine on the alcohol menu. Throughout the several visits, a server always forgot at least one item that was ordered. Nevertheless, the issue was always solved in a courteous manner. As for the wine, I am fairly picky and like to enjoy a glass with my cheese. Given the fact that Indie Ale House serves charcuterie boards, they should add some selection to their wine list. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
Gord and I like craft beer and have been wanting to check out the Indie Ale House for a while. We headed there for supper this evening. They brew their own beer on site. There is a store there so you can take home some beer, teeshirts, glasses, etc. I had a couple Takes Two to Mango. Gord was more adventurous and tried different ones. Gord ordered Mac & Cheese with smoked pork hock, IPA and curds. He said it was delicious and he'd get it again. He scraped the bowl pretty clean. There were lots of chunks of pork! I ordered Southern Fried Chicken with fries. The chicken was delicious! It was so tender and moist. And there was a lot of it! I would soooooo get it again! There was ranch and hot & honey mustard dipping sauces for the chicken. The dipping sauce for the fries was a mayo/ketchup It was quite busy when we left about 7ish. We'll be back! read more
4 years ago
Indie Ale House does a lot of things right. Their selection of beers, for example, is worth a visit alone. Their southern fried chicken, similarly, is a big hit and deserves some attention. I think I've had it a dozen times and was only let down once in the midst of COVID when they forgot the side of fries and the heat of the chicken was so great that it fused the plastic containers of sauce into a puddle. On the whole, I've got only good things to say, particularly for IAH in the "before times." But recently, the food and the service is struggling. We ordered a plate of their bbq pork nachos, and while we didn't wait long for the food to arrive--about 15 minutes--it came to the table unheated. The pork was cold, the real cheese wasn't melted in the least and the only heated element on the dish was the processed cheese sauce (which is pretty tasty). What made this worse was the fact that the server disappeared before we could ask if this was supposed to be served like this--it seemed too egregious a mistake to be an accident. When the server did finally show up again--to ask if we wanted more beer but not to check on the meals--I asked if this is how they intended to serve the nachos, pointing to the lumps of grated cheese that look like they've never seen an oven. The server confessed, "no, that's not how they should be served. The cheese should be at least a little melted if not fully melted. What do you want me to do? Have them reheat them?" The problem with that is that there are cold toppings on the nachos that don't do well with heat, so I declined. But they've got problems in the kitchen at the basic level of knowing that nachos should be heated, they've got troubles at the pass where their front of house staff is actually delivering this kind of dish to their guests, and they've got trouble with their servers who don't know what to do with poorly executed dished (they should've offered to refire the dish, from scratch). Meanwhile, my dining partner had finished their meal before the server even came back to ask if we wanted another beer. In fairness to IAH, the industry is struggling in trying to replace a generation of kitchen staff that have moved on to other opportunities and the front of house staff appear a bit burnt out when it comes to providing a reasonable solution to the problems that the kitchen may create. I get it, it's a complicated business and I empathize. At the same time, their prices are up about 25% and they don't come back and say, "hey, let us knock 50% off your sub-optimal servings. No they don't. And when the bill comes, the tip is preset to the 20% option, with no option below 18% provided. That left a sour taste in my mouth and it wasn't because of the Slings and Arrows. But take a look at the picture and you decide: does that cheese look like it's been in an oven. read more
9 years ago
I've fallen "in like" with this place, but not in love -- based on vibe, food and cost. The service is excellent, so a big shout out for that off the top. The upshot: it's a fairly large, upscale craft brew resto-bar that feels like it was transported from a suburb into the city. It's a reliable place for food and drink. The Instigator IPA is indeed great, the burgers are indeed huge, but there's something a bit too box store about this place for me to get fully on board. We dropped in once just for beer. The place was packed, so we were seated near the back, in view of the kitchen window. We were impressed by the food and burger platters coming out of there and thought we should return for a meal. We came back and tried the Indie Burger. This is a classic, two-patty bacon cheeseburger that tasted a lot like a Big Mac (special sauce, iceberg lettuce). It was huge and sloppy in a good way, but there was still something ordinary about it. Not just because it was the house burger -- there are ways to make even classic burgers stand out. One drawback for me from the get-go was that the bun had been toasted, but the top was very cold to the touch. (Wish I'd paid the $2 extra for lettuce wrap instead of the bun!) The bunned burger is $18, with fries or salad included. Don't get me wrong -- it was good. I'd just hoped for something a bit more memorable. And I might be getting the suburban association from the bathroom -- it's crazy bright in there and completely unadorned. You feel like you're in a gas station restroom at night. A re-think of the fixtures and decor in here would go a long way. read more
Service was fast and friendly from the time we walked in until we got a table and then got served. The chicken was crispy, full of flavor, and just Juicy enough. The potato salad, done southern style was just as good, chunky with big bits of potatoes makes me thankful they didn't have gravy, otherwise, I would've substituted for fries. I love dipping my fried chicken and boy did they have a fantastic HoneyMustard, They make a lot of their sauces in the restaurant but the waitress was unsure as to whether they make this one. The beers are all craft, made in house, I could see the brewing room from my seat, if you are fickle about your beer ask about them first, my wife ordered one that she didn't like and wound up drinking my broken hipster which she didn't really like neither did I, it was a bit too fruity for me. I prefer fruit in my cocktails. The rest of the interior had a real hipster feel, this place definitely isn't the type of bar you would go to watch the game. if Hipster music isn't your thing, I would recommend you ignore that for their amazing fried chicken. After all its a dining establishment, not a dancing spot. read more
Let me preface *This review is only about the food and service. I have to say both were exceptional! I shared the beet and goat cheese salad which had kale as the main greens. They were prepared wonderfully, soft with enough crunch and very flavourful. Was a great starter. Then the main star showed up! The indie burger on a lettuce bun with fries. Delish all round! I should have taken a photo of the clean plate to vouch for that! Not a crumb left! Haha My company also enjoyed his burger. He had the bison and belly burger and fries. We both were very pleased with the quality of food. You can tell thought was put into the menu and selected dishes. The portions were also very generous. Now I must say apart from the great food, the service was exceptional. Nick was our server. He was fast, knowledgable and overall extremely helpful. Since I have a gluten intolerance, he was able to tell me what to steer clear of without hesitation and even ensured the kitchen was aware to avoid cross contamination to the best of their ability. On top of that, Nick was very personable. One of the best servers I've had in a long time. All this to say, I'll be back for sure and most likely enjoy a bevy or two! :) You'll surely enjoy yourself if you hit them up! read more
8 years ago
Highly recommended independent brew house and restaurant. The service and atmosphere here is pretty chill. They have a great selection of craft beers too. I had the 5 sampler taster, which the waitress helped pick out. She picked a great selection of flavourful, butter, malty beers. I recommend the breakfast porter and gravity well. You can also buy their beers in their small shop connected to the restaurant as well. As for the food, I got the southern fried chicken, which I knew was good since I tried it here before. I also recommend the Mac and cheese. I recommend this place for a nice brunch! Cheers read more
8 years ago
This place is moving people! Don't think you'll get a spot on a weekend afternoon. We tried, ending up quitting (towards cold spring and line length). We crossed the street, found an advertisement, jumped inside a Hole in The Wall (also cool with less waiting). Today evening was busy, not full (yet). Once seated at the bar I started to analyze part of the hip. Blonde-good looking males and females (check), easy going vibe (yes), a description of original fermented beers (double palomita), was the food going to be good? Yes, it was! Everything tasted above average! We tried the tiny tuna taquitos. I ate them in 4 bites, which permitted me to see the guac at the bottom, smell the savour of that excellent sesame oil, feel the crispiness on my tongue, feel wild without been messy with the crunch (when handling this pieces of art carefully). Squeeze a lil limón, throw some drops of salsa, mmms (I also saw it was quite a popular option). Burger speaking: Portion sized considerably good for a big eater; Good buns! My favourite so far: the one with pork belly and fries ( the kale salad you must ask if you want to balance). The other burger I'm confused due to a 5 flight beer amusement. We'll be back to figure out what have we asked for and what we've been forgetting we asked for... read more
9 years ago
I can't lie when I first arrived at Indie, I was a bit disappointed as it wasn't what I was expecting. However, I still decided to give it a try as it was a friends birthday. I started with a bourbon and had the Blanton's, which was nice and I started to feel better about eating there. I started with the fried chicken, which was an OMG moment as it was DELICIOUS! At our table we snacked in the fries, which have to be some of the best I've ever had. I finished the night with a glass of their Rabbit of Caerbannog....WOW! I know that's a beer I'd like to try again. To top it off, our server who's name is Jen, was AMAZING...so knowledgeable and was everything that we could have wanted in service staff. Management needs to acknowledge her efforts and praise her. Job well done Jen. We will be back and we would like Jen to be our server. Highly recommended place. read more
3.5 stars I was really looking forward to trying out the bison burger. The burger was good but it could have been better. The pork belly was rather unnecessary - instead of adding a creamy texture to the burger, I found it really slippery and heavy. The charcuterie and cheese boards were good - it was quite an experience for me trying out horse meat for the first time (it wasn't actually that bad!). Service was good. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Indie Alehouse - I just wish the bison and belly burger was better executed and that the prices weren't so high. read more
The first time I ventured into the Junction a couple of years back, I had my eyes on a few other places that I wanted to try out and saw the Indie Alehouse but didn't think it was for me. This was my second visit in a month and a half, and I have to say I was really glad to have tried it out. The food here is AWESOME and different. Over course of my two visits I have tried and shared a number of items on the menu with only one repeat....the fried chicken, a definite weakness of mine from time to time. Here it is served boneless, with light and dark meat and a trio of sauces should you so desire. As with all dishes I have seen and tried, the servings here are large and both times I gave taken food home. In terms if starters, the different varieties of gourmet popcorn are great for sharing, and of course work well with the many in-house brews. I have tried both the black truffle butter flavour and the white cheddar and rosemary flavour. Delish! Other winners include the lobster roll and the house made pizzas. Over the course of my two visits I have tried 3 of the in house brews, the Broken Hipster (wheat beer), the Punch Buggy (raspberry ale) and the Rabbit of Caerbannog (white IPA). The Broken Hipster is the go-to....but the Punch Buggy was different and very good. Looking forward to going back, and will take more pics next time! read more
11 years ago
12 years ago
Indie has been a favourite of many Junctionites since opening its doors in 2011. They brew their own beers and have at least 2 rotating guest taps. Favourite brews include the Broken Hipster during the warmer months and anything darker (think IIPAs and stouts) in the winter time. Last summer they added BBQ Wednesdays to their menu, which includes favourites like smoked brisket (it melts on your tongue), cornbread and BBQ pulled pork. To die for! This ain't your veggie hangout, unless you want to nibble on a side of fries. read more
14 years ago
I had the Ale house bookmarked since it opened after reading some positive reviews from various sources. Happy to say - the reviews were totally accurate. Good independent brewed beer with cool unique food options. First the good: - The Beer. I tried a beer sampler of mixed brews. All were unique and good. They have a broad selection to cover all tastes - just tell them what you like. - Great service. They clearly know beer here. We used two approaches to order - 1) I let them select my beers and 2) you can tell them the type of beers you like and they will make recommendations. Service also incredibly friendly and fast. When the beer sampler arrives, they explain the choices and give you a paper with the beer names on it. - Great atmosphere and the place is large (used to be a large Blockbuster if I remember correctly). Simple cool decor but fits the concept perfectly. - We tried two appetizers. Given their focus on brewing their own beer, I would have expected the food to be an afterthought. But this was not the case, they had creative and flavourful food selections. First up was the pulled pork spring rolls which I loved. Filled with pork that was nicely spiced / sauced. Second was the Samosas, also very unique with a nice blend of flavours. It;s clear that some thought went into their food menu. On the improve side, I would have preferred a beer menu at the table vs. a chalkboard thats difficult to see from most angles. I will be back for sure - highly recommended. read more
Came here with my teammates after our ball hockey game nearby on a Monday night. This place was packed for a Monday but we still managed to get seated near the back, we did have around 12 people! First thing that caught my eyes are the amount of beer they offer, I was told by the waiter they brew their own beer, so some of the beers on their menu are exclusive, I ordered the Rye So Sour beer and it was AMAZING! I never had a sour beer before but that beer was so delicious and easy to drink! For my main, i ordered their signature fried chicken. The chicken comes with a side and two dipping sauce. The chicken was fried to perfection! Nice and crispy on the outside but the inside was still so juicy and tender! Fried Chicken with a beer, that combo pretty much completes your protein recovery after a sport! I will definitely be back again! Was such a great find in the neighborhood! Will for sure try their beer samples next time (they let you choose 5 beers off their menu and give you a sample of each to try!) read more
9 years ago
Mostly sours.. lemonade stand -sour- it's delicious, so good, the lemon gives it a kick. Spadina monkey -cherry sour- has a tart flavor.. hmmm amazing. Macaroni and cheese with mushroom was perfect, the bread, soft but crunchy at the same time was yummy. Magic mushroom Pizza was great, that crust!!! read more
11 years ago
We went to Indie Ale House on a Sunday night. The place has a nice and relaxed atmosphere. I was afraid it was going to be be too much on the hipster side, but I'm glad that it wasn't. We sat down and ordered the flight of beers which gave you small samples of five beers. Since there was two of us, we tried ten different beers at the suggestion of our server, who was very friendly. The selection of beers are from independent brewers and changes constantly. They're very heavy on the IPA, which I'm not a fan of. But that's really on me and not on them. We ordered the the tuna tacos for appetizer and the bison and the side ribs burger as main. The tuna tacos were phenomenal, fresh tasting, and the shells were crunchy. The burgers were absolutely amazing. Definitely recommended. Overall, I really recommend this place. Relaxed atmosphere, attentive servers, and quick service. read more
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More info about Indie Ale House
2876 Dundas Street W
Toronto, ON M6P 1Y9
Canada
The Junction
Directions
(416) 760-9691
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http://www.indiealehouse.com
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Indie Ale House - breweries - Updated July 2026
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