My last visit to The Only Cafe was in January 2026, which prompted this review. Over a dozen visits in total, I've typically been there after the café section had closed, so this reflects my experience of the main bar area. The bar itself has a distinctive atmosphere with a very eclectic crowd. The real strength of the place is the beer selection, which is excellent and easily among the better offerings in the city for variety. Service at the main bar, however, has been inconsistent across visits. When it's quieter, I've generally had good interactions, and there have been positive experiences. That said, during my most recent visit in January 2026, a bartender raised their voice at me, which I found disrespectful and it made the experience uncomfortable. Earlier that same evening, I also had positive interactions with a different bartender working the café side, who makes excellent cocktails, which made the contrast in service more noticeable. While I understand that hospitality environments can get busy and stressful, I don't believe that justifies speaking to customers that way. A basic level of respect should be consistent at all times. Because of this experience, I don't plan to return. It's unfortunate, as the beer selection and drinks overall are genuinely strong. read more

Yesterday afternoon for my 2nd Saturday in a row I again met two friends at The Only Café for beer flights the day after a Tap Takeover Event had taken place there. Rainhard was the Brewery for the latest Takeover, and as I did there last Sat. I chose 4 beers and 1 cider for my flight, 3 beers of which were leftover from the Event. Like last Sat. we were there for more than 2 hours and again the venue gradually became quite crowded throughout. This time one of my friends walked over to the Café side of The Only a couple of times after we all had finished our flights and bought 2 non-alcoholic caffeine drinks from the fridge there - which offers various other beverages as well - and shared both with me and our other friend to help us sober up. Both drinks were the same brand (Guayaki organic Yerba Mate) but 2 different flavours: Peach and Berry Lemonade. Both were quite nice but I liked the latter more. The Only never fails to impress me and I always have a most enjoyable time there whenever I visit; this occasion was certainly no exception. read more

DEFINITELY MY "GO-TO" BAR IN THE AREA!!! This is my second visit to The Only Cafe, and both experiences have been top notch. They have a wide range of local craft beer on tap along with a huge bottle selection. What impressed me the most is the excellent knowledge and services by Max, their beer sommelier. Max took the time to get to know my preference for the day, and then he picked something accordingly. As you'd expect, I enjoyed his selections during both visits. I really like his "trust me, I'll get you something good" attitude! It certainly made the overall experience much better. Side note, I only remembered to take a picture after I had half of my beer. I guess that's a sign that I've had a really good time there Thanks again Max, and I'll see you next time! read more

The Only Cafe - a glass of beer on a table - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I stayed at the hostel they have, so that'll be a separate review. But I did come here for a coffee, and while I took it to go I really liked the vibe of this cafe (which is also a bar). If I lived in the area I could definitely see myself coming here on the regular. Plus I got an oatmilk latte for under $5. Starbucks who? They apparently got a good beer selection too, and the patio looks pretty great, but not in January when I was there. Maybe next time. read more

I always end up at the only cafe. It's so perfect, the ambience is very peaceful and kind. I like the mugs too very cute! read more

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I LOVE the Only. Best vibes in the Danforth. No matter who you are, you will feel welcome here -- I don't know how to explain it. It just feels good to be here. Great coffee and beer too, and pretty frequent live music as well! This place is brimming with character and I honestly don't know why I'm not here every day. read more

Ample beer selection and lovely service. The live band that was playing were great as well. Recommended.

They offer great beer menu. Their seasonal beer fest is so much fun. Only problem is pub side is so narrow and there is very little space between two sests tables and bar top, it is impossible to get through without touching people's back or side. Also when it gets busy it is such a challenge to get in there to get bartender's attention. You feel like you are trapped. read more

I live here now and I've been back multiple times since moving into the area. Its always good here. The beers are good, the crowd is nice and the service is unpretentious. Don't be a rush, be chill and you will have a good time. Rotating craft beers are always a good thing. read more

Part One - Warming up for the Winter Beer Fest at The Only Cafe Love the beer selections here both on Tap and in Bottles. I like how they have a little booklet that has the profile of what they have on tap with characteristic, tasting notes and pricing. I ended up ordering: Aporkalypse Now Oatmeal Bacon Stout ($4.50) - more smokey than meaty, but really easy to drink and I can tell myself I am having some healthy grains. I need to come back for some of their bottles. I wish my fridge is loaded with all these beers too.. Part Two - Sampling Beer in the Back Patio for Winter Beer Fest at The Only Cafe Beer Fest Winter 2013 Armed with 20 $1 sampling tickets I was able to tried quite a few of the offerings, OK almost all they have (thanks for Untapped App so I kind of remember) Great Lakes Brewery - Lube Job Baltic Porter Great Lakes Brewery - Belgian Quad Great Lakes Brewery - Harry Porter and The Bourbon Soaked Vanilla Beans Porter Great Lakes Brewery - 25th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout Flying Monkeys - Balls To the Wall Russian Imperial Stout Flying Monkeys - The Matador Imperial IPA Aged on Spanish Cedar Nickel Brook - Maple Porter Nickel Brook - Old Kentucky Bastard Imperial Stout Grand River - Jubilation Winter Warmer Hogtown - Hog Wild IPA Mill Street - ESB Extra Special Bitter Cameron's - Rye Pale Ale (RPA) Black Oak - Double Chocolate Cherry Stout Steam Whistle - Pilsner Unfiltered Plus King Brewery - Dark Unfiltered Kensington Brewing - Baldwin FishEye IPA I never thought I would be drinking beers for 2 hours outdoor in below freezing temperature. But this is one of the best beer fest I ever been to. People are nice, Beer kept flowing and those high ABV % Stout kept me warm and toasty. I will definitely be coming back to The Only Cafe for more beers.... LOVE read more

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I got coffee and a pastry here every day of my vacation last spring. Only now thought to review! The Only Cafe was around the corner from my AirBNB and was the perfect joint to read and start my day. Well-brewed coffee with tasty treats - craving one of those pain au chocolats right about now! A great atmosphere and friendly service. Will come back next time I'm in Toronto! read more

The Only Cafe is a pretty weird, unique place, but in a good way! When you first enter the bar, it looks like your regular, run-of-the-mill pub. Kind of cramped, but in a charming, kitschy way. However, what is hidden is an awesome patio at the back! It's super spacious and beautifully lit for the night time in the summer. I saw more than a couple of (obvious) first dates taking place, and I'd agree that it's a pretty good place to grab a drink with that potential catfish. The Only Cafe is another one of those places where you can bring in whichever outside food you desire, so keep that in mind if you're the snacking type. The beer selection is excellent, so you won't be left wanting in that department. If you're looking for a casual place to grab a drink with the friends, I'd wholeheartedly recommend The Only Cafe! read more

The bartender was a mean bully. She was unwelcoming and rude and unhelpful. We asked for a recommendation of beer and she looked at us like it was the worst thing we could have said. Our night was almost ruined and I could tell that she wanted it to be. Really hurt, disappointed and unsatisfied. Stay away unless you want to feel small and judged. read more

Staff are always super friendly - Best lattes & baked goods are amazing as well. One of my favourite cafés!

The Only is the epitome of Toronto's east-end bar scene. It's been around for a while, and it holds a perfect balance between your regular coffee shop, and local pub. During my first visit, I had an Americano, and I loved the coffee. Second visit was during a craft beer tasting night, which was just amazing! The ambience isn't anything extravagant - what makes this place so great are the people, and just how casually you can pull up chairs together and hang around with your friends. They do have food, not really an extensive menu - I've never eaten here. They are cool with your bringing outside food, so last time we ordered pizza from next door. Super casual place to hand out with your friends! read more

Went there for exactly 1 minute. Seems like a nice neighborhood place, pretty busy at 8:00 PM. However, the reason I was there was for the monthly open mic. I approached the organizer to introduce myself, and he was a greasy grouch. I left. read more

Great little coffee shop on the Danforth. Patio in the back is also great. Large space, lots of seating, decent coffee. Beer selection is a big plus on a hot summer's day. read more

jeez. im stumbling on all the good stuff where no one has written anything yet. The Only Cafe (here to for referred to as "the only" but without quotes) is all about the feel good atmosphere. and its beer. FEEL GOOD ATMOSPHERE: sit down and gab with the bartender, you are sure to have a good conversation. take one of their boardgames and play with yourself (no one will judge) or a friend. stare for countless hours at the walls which are plastered with posters of musical and movie icons and lord knows what else. wonder how long that candle which has spilled wax over the bar, on the floor, up your shoe and onto your leg has been burning. smile and listen to the music. OR just get tanked and do all of the above at once. enter AND ITS BEER: so i wont list them; i wont be that tedious, but if you are a beer lover, connoisseur, or cultured drunk i guess, youll love the choices they have from all the best beer making countries on earth (or maybe thats just europe and canada). ask the bartenders, they know. or just do as the romans do and follow the advice of the graphic designer that created the label good enough to dupe you into trying his beer. both methods work just as well. for a hoot, try their brunches on the weekends and lunches during the week. ive only tried the brunch and it was quite tasty: say the queens breakfast or for the sweet tooth, the belgian waffles. and bands play on sundays i think. check the website. ps theres a pinball machine. read more

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This was definitely an interesting place. When I first walked in I walked in on the bar side (entrance) but the coffee portion had its own entrance or you can walk through the back. It reminded me of an old school English bar that was repurposed with a lot more small tables and surprisingly loud given that there was me a lot of talk. It was very casual, latte was decent. Everyone has their jackets on inside sitting and working or reading--a bit chilly but otherwise a great place to work on something. read more

The Only Cafe - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Be very careful here they sell different size pours of draft. The bartender tried to rip me off and didn't think i would notice. Younger guy, black beard. Tried to charge me for 4 Pints but was pouring 400ml drafts and wasn't even ringing anything in. Asked for the bill and just screamed across bar what I owed. He's stealing off the owners. Quite the little racket he's got going there. Didn't print me a bill How much are you pocketing every night? read more

So cool is this place, it has been mentioned in a Lowest of the Low song. So cool as well is the fact that the name is a lie. The Only is not the only Only. There's also one in Peterborough, each one modelled after the other. As soon as you step in, you are affronted with a very bohemian, avant-garde bar area with collections of art work and sculpture scattered throughout. An old wooden bar lines the side wall to the rear of the restaurant which is dark and candle-lit, making this a place you'd wish to hear poetry read...or ghost stories, take your pick. The collection of beers and liquors is equally as eclectic as the décor. Presenting beers from across Ontario, Canada, and the world, the drink menu is wide of range and not overpriced in the least, a testament to the starving artist community that imbibes there. The food focuses on brunch and lunch only, but a snack menu is available featuring tasty dips and other snackables at most times throughout the evening. If you catch them at a late point in the evening where the kitchen is closed, they have no trouble with you going across the street to the 7-Eleven (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/7-eleven-food-stores-toronto-2) to grab some chips or beef jerky to bring back. I'd go way more often if I had an excuse to get to the neighbourhood more. read more

The Only Cafe - The Only - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great (and reasonably priced) beer list, BYOFood, sweet back patio where you can hang with the friendly neighbourhood raccoons. What's not to love? I always walk out of The Only thinking they've undercharged me or missed some beers because my bill is always cheaper than I think it is. Every single time. But nope, just good beer at good prices. read more

Inside, it was rather dim and pub-like - a long bar with plenty of choice of beers of tap, on one side. The wooden counter and tables work well with the wide range of chairs, which all seem to speak the same language of eclecticism. We were impressed with their selection of smoothies and veggies juices. With flue season in its full throttle, we opted in for a 32oz of Immunity from Everything. Just a few bites from our full review.. read more

The Only Cafe - Immunity Juice - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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My first time here late this afternoon. I was scheduled to meet someone around the corner from the cafe and I was a half hour early. So I went in for a drink. The young man behind the counter, the barista, was amazingly friendly. I ordered a large hot chocolate. It was made to order with great art drawn on top. It tasted better than it looked. One of the things I quickly noticed was that their were the standard tables about. But their was also a communal table. This is so common in Europe but no that common here. I loved it and sat there. The clients are very friendly. But the mix of customers is just a wee bit different. You see they also have a connecting hostel upstairs. So to your Toronto cafe mix add an assortment of travellers! As for the costs. The prices are more than fair. In fact I found them just a little bit less expensive than most independent cafes locally. The vibe is truly eclectic. A great variety of art, and thank you certificates from charities that the cafe has supported. The sandwiches in the case are wrapped in wax paper, a nice eco-friendly touch. If you are going to use their free wifi you'll love the password! This is just a place that made me feel at home from the get go. A perfect 5 out of 5! Before I finish this a shout to the friendly and genuinely nice barista. He is a great face on the place! read more

25 rotating craft taps including 5 ciders at all times. Usually have a cask too but that may be a COVID casualty. Pinball and board games also appear to be gone now, but no fault of the business. One of the best patios in the city with a retractable awning for bad weather. Great, long term staff. Great music, selected by humans, not just a looping playlist. Highest possible recommendation. There's a really good coffee shop attached too, and they've just opened a vegetarian kitchen. You used to be able to bring in outside food but I'm not sure about that now that they serve their own, you'd have to ask. Bar service only. read more

This watering hole is about two things. Being a regular local and being a "HIP" patron. If you are neither you could be a "Fish out of water" . I hate to say this but they are not unique in Toronto. There are a ton of these type of "Local Hipster" bars that are trying to carve out their "Beyond Hip" image at the expense of walk ins. I really miss the "true" local scene of the past , where everyone was welcome and not just the "HIPSTER" bullshit that is propagated in bars around Toronto, 2018. That being said , you can expect decent service from the staff that have to deal with this scene. read more

Sadly had gone downhill. Brutally pompous. Don't seem to be turning over beer quickly enough. A dive beer should have chill staff. A beer bar should have fresh beer. This place now has neither read more

Cute little cafe that's apparently also a pub and a backpackers inn lol... They have non-dairy alternatives and a very limited selection of treats, including vegan protein bars. Overall, a good place to stop in the community, not very touristy, and dark enough to appreciate a strong one alone or with company. read more

FatCat have strategy for everything in life. Thats why FatCat so successful. Bar hopping is not exception. FatCat call this strategy "Danforth Tri-Fecta of Bliss". Check this! 1. Get to The Only early and get good seat. BIG patio in the back in summer.. puuurrrr... 2. Have some drinks with good friends until hungry. 3. Run down to Danforth pizza and order pizza with favorite toppings. (also see FatCat review for Danforth pizza) 4. Wait 40 minutes. 5. Bring pizza into Only and enjoy with friends (Mr Owner so nice he not care if you bring food in) But you thinking "wait FatCat, Tri-Fecta need 3 things, not 2??" Aaaahhh.. Yes.. FatCat not finished yet... Continue 6. You drink much more at Only (because soooo many good beer on tap all times) 7. You forget you already eat pizza because you drink so much. 8. You run across street from pizza store to square boy to get Gyro on bun with fries + gravy, and bring back to Only to eat again. (FatCat also review Square boy) 9. You go home feeling like king. Not worry about tomorrow. Someone else will deal with problems tomorrow. But you thinking "FatCat, why you call this bar hopping when you only go to one bar." FatCat tell you... FatCat hop to same bar 3 times in one nite. So FatCat call this bar hopping. SIDE STORY: FatCat learn to say "Check this!" from hip-hop friend. Hip-hop friend always add swear word at end, but FatCat not roll like that (also learn "roll like that" from hip-hop friend). FatCat tell you more about Hip-hop Friend in another post. read more

***Bazinga*** I scored a Phone Number! Not from a Girl, but from a Brewery. That's a whole other level of Magic. The Only Cafe hosted the Beer Fest - Winter Edition 2013. From Back Patio Sampling Booths, I've "sampled" the Following: Beaus All Natural Brewing - Burnt Rock(Vanilla Porter) Beaus All Natural Brewing - The Bog.Father(Imperial Gruit) Brewmance(Youtube) - Rye Pale Ale Lake of Bays - Spark House Red Ale Lake of Bays - Spring Maple Belgian Blonde Ale St. Ambroise - Scotch Ale Sawdust City Brewing - Ol'Woody AltCask) Sawdust City Brewing - Whiskey Barrel Aged Long, Dark Voyage to Uranus Wellington Brewery - County Dark Ale Wellington Brewery - Smokey the Beer(Smoke Beer) Fidel Gastro's FoodTruck - Pulled Pork Chili [$7.00] Open Back Patio puts the true meaning of WINTER edition. Came to the Party too late, missed Beau's Scarf give-away. Everybody drank the Breweries dry with sudsy conversation. While inside, The Only was "Hopping" to their own Beat. Perfect atmosphere to discover many of the Bottles & Taps. A few groups of Young'uns played their Board Games too. Plans on a return visit were spoken for some Taste Flights pleasure. Stay Tuned for more event details. Maybe then I'll get a Girl's Number!? read more

Years have past since I've been to The Only Cafe, but after having had the opportunity to step in the other day I was glad to see the place still oozed the charm of my earlier visits. If you are looking for a somewhat hip, down-to-earth, local cafe/pub this is perhaps one of your best bets. Unless that is you are some kinda business professional looking for something corporate and sterile, to which there are plenty of Starbucks around for you to bask in. The Only Cafe is actually two establishments in one, cafe and pub, separated by a wall. You crossover to either side via a magic drape located near the back. On one side you have a comfortable and cozy cafe with a fair amount of seating. They serve up coffee, tea and various munchable treats. Only one blend of regular coffee available but it's super yummy. Espresso based drinks go without saying. The prices are quite reasonable and the staff are friendly. Cross over to the other side you'll find a small pub kinda reminiscent of bars along Queen St. W. back in the late 80's early 90's. 70's rock plays over the music system as people hang out and sip their beer of choice. To note, I think The Only Cafe is one of the few places you can get a Black 'N Tan beer in one of those jug like bottles. Kewl. The prices again are reasonable and there is a good selection of beer and spirits, just don't come here looking for some rare Speyside scotch. Perhaps some of The Only's charm comes from the lack of it in this neck of the Toronto woods. The place stands out like a water hole in a desert. But I think the place stands on it's merits in comparison to other pubs and cafe's. I recommend if you are in the area. Here's a tip: The Only Cafe is part of that Indie Coffee Passport thingy where you can get up to a $5 drink at 24 cafes' across Toronto for $25 up front. read more

This place gets dumb slammed. Went here on a Fri around 12:30am and oh Lordy. I get the appeal: a large beer selection, nice ambiance, and cool staff (one even returned a 10$ that we had unknowingly dropped when switching tables). If you can get yourself a decent seat you're set (which we happened upon via perfect timing), but I don't envy the many shoulder to shoulder standers. They had some board games on the wall which is always a nice touch. (One word one number: Connect 4.) I heard this is the only cafe, which makes it pretty unique, so check it out I guess. read more

I have never eaten food here. Moxie tells me there is no food served in the evening, just drinking, but that you're welcome to bring food from somewhere else to go with your beers. The good: - Good selection of draught beers and very good selection of bottled beers - Coopers and the special edition Innis & Gunn - Cheap. We had 4 or 5 Coopers and it was like 24$ - Great staff - very cool people, very cool recommendations, great time all around - Great crowd - it was a bit older, people who live in the area, everyone was happy and there for a good time, no one was out to cause problems The bad: - it's hard to get to from my house. Seriously, I can either take a trolley and a bus or a trolley and the subway. I want to only take a trolley. - I wish they had SOME food Would I visit here again? Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Absolutely. If it was easier to get to it would bump Prohibition for my local. read more

I thoroughly enjoy The Only Café. The customer service can be hit or miss, but I luck out more often than not. Ugh, hipsters, am I right?? Their coffee and beer selections are pretty awesome and they have a lot on tap, and the overall atmosphere is great! Sometimes I spend the day in the cafe working only to end up at the bar on the other side or the sweet patio put back all night. Sometimes, if you're lucky, the racoon will run under the benches out back and send people running, so you can snag their spot! They have a decent food menu, but you can also bring outside food if you prefer something different. Right at Donlands station, so you can TTC and they have lots of bike parking so you can ride come summer! read more

I don't drink beer but they have a very very extensive beer selection. So my beer loving friends love coming to this little place on the Danforth. I really enjoy the atmosphere and the other patrons as well. One friend hosted a sub-crawl: a pub crawl via the subway, get off at one stop, find a dive, have a drink. Get back on the subway go one stop and repeat! The Only Cafe was one of the stops on this tour and compared to the other "really" dive bars we were at, I found the Only to be one of our better stops! I don't consider it to be a dive. I would say the prices are fair. read more

Walking into this place I thought the only beers they would only have Pabst and Labatt's 50. I was definitely wrong; this place has a very impressive beer selection. In actuality I had heard great things about this place's beer menu and it certainly lived up to the hype.They have quite the selection of taps (around 15) of Canadian craft beers (mostly from Ontario with a few from Quebec), as well as two fridges full of bottles. They had a good mix of funky beers for beer nerds as well as some basic lagers and pilsners for the uninitiated. My friend and I opted to split a pumpkin strong ale which was pretty good. For our second round I opted for the sampler, which was 5 samples for $10 dollars, this consisted of 5 generous samples (a little less than a half pint). This is a great option as you get to try many of their beers; the only dilemma becomes which beers to choose! The bartender suggested I do more than one and try them all, brilliant! Too bad I had driven down on this occasion, but at least I have a plan for next time. One thing that was really cool was that they had about 5 taps from Niagara College's brewing program. This basically constituted a bunch of 1 offs from students projects at Niagara College (I know! A school with a brewing program! I wish I had known about this when I was graduating high school). I tried 2 samples from Niagara College, one was quite delicious, the other was too sweet for my taste; however it's still awesome that they have stuff from a nearby college. The ambiance in this place is that of a dive-bar. The space is small but they do have a street and a back patio which are both decent. The two bartenders were really nice and knew their beers quite well. I do believe they have food but this is not really a place I would come to for food. I believe they also let you bring in food as I saw some people bring in a dominos pizza. Overall a great experience in a laid back joint, this place doesn't take its self as seriously as other craft beer places (i.e. volo or beer bistro) which makes it a good place for beer nerds and non-beer nerds alike. read more

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A rainy Saturday late in April, around noon, when we walked in to The Only Café and ordered Americanos with some pasteries. Perfect coffee, delicious pastry in a very Bohemian cool café. This place plays a key part in Linden MacIntyre's novel "The Only Café" a complex and very good story, but never mind! ... then in walk a group of people who ask the barista, Cody to read a poem! About the café and him. They are part of "The Neighbourhood Poetry Project" at Pape branch of the Toronto Public Library on a tour of the hood after their workshop. This is what a local café is all about; friendly, relaxed with good coffee and vibes. read more

This review only covers brunch. I could see that there is a great beer selection but I couldn't stomach a drink after too many the night before. The brunch menu had some tasty options like huevos rancheros, a breakfast wrap, eggs benedict etc. but I was put off by the general filth and relatively small breakfasts. The coffee mugs are an assortment of stained old mugs, the sugar jar had a year of dust and grime on the top of it and the tables looked like the walls - partially stained and spotty. The food itself tasted fine, the sausage and eggs came with one sausage, a small scoop of potatoes and two eggs. This would be fine for $3.99 but it was $5.99 which sounds like the price of two beers here or even worse 6 ice teas according to Kat F. To top it off I'm convinced there is cinnamon in their coffee. If not it was something from the dirty mug. Stick to the beer. read more

Super laid back, great vibe, awesome neighbourhood watering hole! Have been here for late night drinks a bunch of times. I also drive by quite often, and it seems to be the most popular watering hole in the area! Looks like a dump but ISN'T! Strange decor but it all works - I think because THE ONLY isn't trying to be something it's not... it just IS. Staff and fellow patrons are friendly and seem genuinely happy to be there. Love that! Great selection of beer and yummy yummy cocktails! Perfect place to become a regular! read more

Casual vibe. They are serious about the beer and have a great selection. They a few tasty stout options, which I love. Bartenders care about this and will give you all the details you could ever want. Patrons vary widely in age and type. A female friend was waiting alone for a few minutes, and she mentioned that she was accosted by 3 different men crudely attempting to initiate conversation. It was probably just her being hot and wrong place, wrong time. Good patio vibes. It gets a bit shady at night. One time there was a racoon that did not care about being surrounded by humans. It proceeded to rifle through the garbage can that was outside and then saunter off past our table with some scraps of food. Conclusion: Excellent casual option for quality beers read more