I've always walked past this place from work and my coworkers and I decided to bar hop. This was one of our destinations here. The long islands made here a little treasure as they're quite cheap, delicious and do the job nicely. I couldn't help myself and grab the chicken curry as the aroma was absolutely enticing. My friend got herself the butternut squash ravioli and she devoured it as well. Service here is sublime as well as the meal and drinks. Would definitely be coming back here. read more

The Quail - Chicken Curry - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The food was excellent, I was able to only take one picture I was too busy enjoying my meal. COVID-19 protocols in place Clean bathrooms Nice waitresses and hostess. It's not overpriced We had a great experience ... read more

The Quail - Fish taco - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great Food and Service always Highly recommend this place for pints and pints no doubts.

Been coming here for years, I've worked and lived in the area forever so this place has really been a staple for me. A couple weeks ago, me and some of my pals came by on a Saturday night, to celebrate a birthday. It seemed like a busy (ish) night, but nothing absurd for a BAR on a SATURDAY NIGHT. When asked for second pieces of ID, some of my friends calmly and kindly asked for clarification as they unfortunately didn't have their license with them and were there days prior and had no problem. IMMEDIATELY the host/server became confrontational and defensive - I'm not sure if she was just having a bad night, or overwhelmed, but she was simply RUDE. When my friend quietly whispered that a pub is a pub and we can take our party elsewhere, she practically begged us to leave! It was crazy!!!! Why wouldn't you want business on a saturday night! Eventually, she brings over her manager ADAM, and his attitude was even worse! Again, we calmly ((I can't reiterate how calm we were, we really wanted to stick to the plan of meeting everyone at the quail, and didn't want to have to reroute)) asked for clarification because a) we had been there days before with no problem, b) come all the time with no problem, and c) didn't want to ruin the birthday! Immediately ADAM greets us with attitude and ignorance, and claims we were harassing his staff (honestly, not true!!!). The craziest part about this all is that they SAT US in the end. After all that. Listen, I completely understand worrying about your liquor license - but there is a nice way to speak to people, especially if you WORK IN HOSPITALITY. These employees were straight up rude, to the point of us leaving and probably never coming back. Moral of the story is we went up the street to Wylies, brought in about 30+ people who each spent at least $50+ all because how AWFUL the staff were to us. Big mistake. Huge! read more

Very disappointing. Dry cold wings with little sauce on them, and the fish was what you'd expect from a pub - only not as good. Fish was dry. Batter, MEH. I think this place paid Skip the Dishes to have their listing show up as 'Sponsored' at the top of the listings. It seems they need to do this because I'll bet almost nobody would order from them a second time. I'll certainly never order from here again. You'd have to be totally drunk to eat this food. That might work if you're drinking at this pup in non-Covid times. Not now. read more

Short comings of a franchise operation over corporate where owner/operator approaches customers from a confrontational as opposed to a collaborative experience; when attempted to provide feedback, franchisee simply states that we should not come back! Not receptive to resolution and completely overly defensive read more

Enjoyed fast and friendly service. Good selection of pub food. Comfortable relaxed vibe. And... cold beer!

Alright, after a few years away (4), while looking for a new location for the Toronto Spanish Club I decided to check this locale again. Oh my, have they changed this place around. Apparently, after my last review and as fate would have it, they went on with a major renovation of the premises and the place now looks like a totally different animal... uh, quail. The renovation is almost all-encompassing, with hardwood floors, the lighting, furniture, the flat televisions, the decor and paint, all new. It definitely feels as if the place was reborn like a fiery quail that raised from the carcass of a borderline mediocre bar... which if you think about it, is exactly what happened. I can also see by looking at the menu they are trying to go ever so slightly up-market with their prices. Even their cheaper beers are about a dollar+ or so more than nearby pubs. By the way, I am not saying you should have cheap beers, not at all, however, they are always a good baseline to start off when comparing prices in bars, so if you go out with a few friends for a gentlemanly bender -- are there any other kinds? -- then you will feel the difference when the total bill comes at the end of the night. The day I was there they had specials on Guinness Stouts for $5 so I could not complain as they apparently have specials often and you can't complain about good beer for $5. Again, it is worth mentioning, the decor really makes the place stand out. The atmosphere is that of a very large, but very cool apartment lounge, or someone's classy man-cave both comfortable and fashionable... for a pub, also that British Flag couch is a nice touch too. Oh, and let's not forget, they have a pool table as well. I did not have any food the time I was there so I cannot wager if the Quail is attempting to add the gastro-pub label to their name. Although some of the food that was ordered at our table seemed alright. It is a good location for larger groups, especially if you can get the lounge section at the back and the pub is not THAT far from a subway station, only a few minutes away. It is worth noting that to me, the patio seems to be somewhat smaller after the renovation. Perhaps it might be because the patio used to be on top of a wooden deck that made it look more imposing rather than seating on the street as it is now? Perhaps it could be the new seating arrangement? Either way, do not expect to sit at the patio if you are a larger group than say 4-6. All in all, the Quail's makeover seems like a success. As it elevates it from being what used to feel like a depressing, afterthought of a dump, one where you could draw your sorrows within its bargain bin, Firkin chain-like atmosphere as you waited for the next rainy day while pondering, "Why are Firkin pubs so drab?" to a great addition to the Rosedale neighborhood. Management seems friendly too and, as such, will be adding it to my selection of places to visit while in the area. Perhaps you should too. read more

The Quail - I was scouting locales for the #Toronto #Spanish #Club to hold weekly get togethers, so I dropped by to check #TheQuail. - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

After being turned down at The Rebel House, we walked over to the closest option. The bar, now simply called The Quail as opposed to The Quail & Firkin, has recently gone under massive renovations. Given that we were there on the second night of grand reopening, the place was virtually empty and only started to pick up as we approached midnight. I'm generally not a big fan of the Firkin pubs but I was quite taken by the atmosphere and decor of The Quail. They are still trying to sell the whole British theme but their new look is more posh and less Cockney than before. The have a big spacious floor with many types of seating options to suit your group. They have booths, bar-type tables, and a chill out area with a Union Jack couch and a pool table. They have a pretty standard beer list with the addition of Granville Island, Mr. Huff (pilsner), Tennent's and Kilkenny. read more

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The food was delicious! I really recommend the chicken fingers :). The service was quick, and the waiter was very nice. Really recommend.

It's your typical pub a slight walk from Rosedale station. The shareable pierogi flatbread was great, and so were their sweet potato fries. Our server was amazing the entire tome and especially patient with us. I tried a piece of my friend's steak with mushrooms - both the mushrooms and steak were pretty good. Their portions here are on the larger side for sure when it comes to burgers as they offer both tater tots and onion rings at the same time. Price wise, their appetizers and shareables are decently priced however, main courses were a little high. The highlight of our night was spotting Robbie Amell but we didn't want to bother him. read more

The Quail - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Although I'm usually a fan of Firkin pubs, I was less than impressed with this particular venue. The service was not overly quick or friendly, and I take issue with the falsely advertised poutine. I love poutine, so when you say cheese curds, I expect more than just a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella. It was also fairly empty, not the usual Firkin scene. Wasn't the worst pub experience in the world (other than the poutine, the classic pub fare is usually decent), but it really didn't do it for me. read more

I loved this place. It's got booths, tables, a living room lounge complete with selfie must British flag couch and a nice new pool table. Just needs darts to complete the pub look. The bar looked cool with lots of beers on tap. The staff was young and friendly and big flat screens everywhere with lots of different sports going. We ordered a couple veggie burgers that were yummy with fries and will be sure to return for pool. Great place. read more

The Quail - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We walked in and it was empty. The food was alarmingly overpriced ($16 for a turkey & avocado on multi grain?!) and the place was very bare bones with no coziness or welcoming atmosphere. As for the food, forget being overpriced: it was truly TERRIBLE! Keep in mind we were not expecting 5 star cuisine in a pub but we were hungry and willing to eat some greasy pub fare. My friend couldn't choke back the crispy chicken sandwich. The bun was stale, the crispy chicken was obviously just an old breast that needed to be used up and disguised under a layer of soggy batter. We could smell it. Fries were edible but cold. I ordered fish tacos. I'm pretty sure it was captain highliner frozen fish battered and smothered in tasteless mayo and wrapped in a stale tortilla. So Gross! On top of that, the service was slow and both of our plates were half full when we asked for the bill yet there wasn't even a question of how we liked the food. What a waste of $40. We ended up at Starbucks up the street so we didn't starve. read more

The Firkin Pubs have been around for 25 years. In days of yore, Firkin owners would've been happy to bid goodnight to drunk male patrons - the pub landscape has changed much since then. I checked out the Quail & Firkin; the fourth in the chain to undergo renovation. To date, the Firkin chain has spent $250,000 and 18 months in research, consulted with Jamie Kennedy and Rose Reisman to revamp their menu, and each location's facelift ranges anywhere from $250-600,000 depending on its size. The old-school carpeting has been replaced with hardwood floors and the entire space has been brightened up from ye olde Firkin days. My favourite piece of furniture has to be the sofa, plastered with the UK flag - definitely the focal point of the pub. Larry Isaacs, the director of marketing for the chain said that traditionally, alcohol accounted for 75% of sales and food was an after thought. But the industry landscape has evolved since then. While the female population has long been alienated (presumably because pubs are where guys whine about their girlfriends/wives?), breweries are starting to cater towards this oft ignored bunch and pubs are following suit. As a female, I am glad that we now have choices... I think us gals are more picky when it comes to beer. In my experience, if you pass a guy a beer he's going to drink it. I have never been a big pub-goer because my experience with beer has been limited to a glass of Moosehead with about half a can of Sprite poured in to it - that's how my dad used to let us drink beer as kids. Beyond that, there was the occasional Corona or Heineken. It wasn't until this year that I started experimenting with beers - but deep down I'm still a cocktails type of gal. While the cocktails do not contend with the likes of Barchef, with a healthy list of cold or hot cocktails, it's a step in the right direction to ensure that there is something for everyone - even the non-beer-drinking ladies. My favourite was definitely the Frost Bite - which tasted like a liquid "Rocket" creamsicle. The blue hue made it fun to sip and the Maraschino cherry made it almost dessert! While the menu doesn't deviate too much from the traditional pub fare, you can find healthier items such as pan-seared red snapper or a turkey cobb salad. And in keeping with the taco trend, a flash-fried tempura-battered fish taco. My favourite was definitely the Stuffed Yorkie (no Benji, 'tis not a pup) - but it is a savory Yorkshire pudding with an eggy bread, stuffed with braised pot roast, smashed potatoes and smothered in a thick layer of Guinness gravy. I could've licked the plate clean. I must also mention the Sticky Toffee Pudding - a decadent and rich dessert but every bite was delectable. It is a little bit much for one person to tackle but perfect for sharing. Two forks please! The next time I'm having a girl's night out - I'm definitely going to a Firkin pub... After all the clientele is still predominantly single, eligible bachelors right? read more

Good atmosphere, a heaping of (alas, greasy) sweet potato fries, dimly-lit.

In truth, The Quail probably deserves a 3.5 rating, but I gave it a bump because I've logged enough summer patio hours there to treat it like a good friend. Here, bud, take that extra 0.5 star! *high fives, back pats* The Firkin chain trades on a degree of consistency: standard full bar offerings, standard menu, standard aesthetic. However, The Quail is my favourite of the bunch. A nice patio, a good daytime crowd, a generous distribution of red velvety booths (and equally well-distributed wide screens for Olympics viewing)...I've spent many hours at 1055 Yonge Street. Mid-week nachos and wifi? Yep Summertime pitchers of Pimms? Un-hunh Servers who often double up on mints for me? That, too Morning-after brunch of full English breakfast and the restorative combo of sweet potato fries/chipotle aioli/Frank's Red Hot? Come'n geddit Sit on the patio and watch Yonge bustle by, or snag my favourite spot: a booth against the South wall which overlooks the brick-laid alley way...a view that helps stoke my anglophilia. Mauricio A. mentioned that there isn't a subway nearby, but if you're down with the Yonge line, Rosedale Station is just south of the Quail...should you need a quick TTC-powered get-away after one too many. Yelp note - a 2-parter! 1. The Quail is closing next month (September 2012) for a total interior overhaul. Expect a sleek modern take on pub decor, even though - as per reports from servers - there was a shocking amount of local push-back expressing "hey, no...we actually kinda like the musty beer smell!" (+1). 2. On Thursday and Saturday nights The Quail transforms into what my friends and I jokingly call "Q Lounge"...the crowd is different, the testosterone is amped (thanks, 19 year old crowd) and things are bumpin'. If you're just wanting a quiet time tucked into a booth, avoid these nights. read more

VIBE I'm not usually a frequent regular of "chain pubs," but with the Firkin's new British Revolution makeover, I quite like it. I was invited to the media launch and not obligated to write about this but I felt they did a good job with the overhaul. That said, when it's crowded it's crowded and it's not really well spaced out for that. The decor is nice. I love the Union Jack couch and mish mash of Victorian furniture. I also like the smattering of booths and countertop seating. The bar area is a bit narrow but the staff are pretty fast, friendly and good at what they do. I ATE/DRANK I had a bit of the new menu (aka I completely inhaled a friend's two plates. Luckily, she's on a carb diet). The pan roasted snapper was great: nice and flaky. The Sticky Toffee pudding is TO DIE FOR. Really moist, sticky, soft and sweet. Everything that will attract a cavity and freak out your dentist. The Sheppard's pie was also pretty great and served in a ramekin which I loved (that said, I'd probably split a regular portion). I heard good things about the poutine and the yorkshire pudding but didn't taste them. The gin and tonics here are good and strong. There's also a good list of cocktails. I loved the Frost Bite - I can't remember exactly what's in it but it's basically an alcoholic mint chocolate chip cookie in liquid format. Even if you don't like tequila (not the biggest fan), this may help you become a convert. OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK I think the Firkin has done a great job on its new look and menu. It's a bit more upscale but hasn't lost it's down to earth atmosphere. I think that's what will make regulars return but also attract new clientele. I also like that this location is a bit out of the way from downtown. Good job! read more

This place is a decent place for a pint and has some half decent pub food. (order from the special list for better food). But my complaint about this place (and I think all the Firkin pubs) is HALF PINTS! Why can't a British pub like this serve half pints. I ended up having to order a 4/5ths. And who in England ever orders a 4/5ths? We need a petition to bring HALF PINTs to Firkin pubs. read more

Very solid pub with a diverse menu. Poutine is good and they introduced me to hot apple cider bourbon on a cold day.

Good food. Had the pot roast. Unfortunately just a few pieces of meat. Less then I would have expected for 16 bucks... read more

The Quail - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I went to grab a drink on a Wednesday night, the bar was dead. There is no bouncer so I walk right in. The bar was pretty much empty. The waitress came over and was talking with us and asked if we wanted any drinks. I asked her for a menu and she returns with one and I order a drink. She then asks to see ID. My friend was 22 and I was 20. She looks at my ID and then proceeds to tell me that she refuses to serve me because the bar is now 21+. It was an empty Wednesday night, we were just trying to grab one drink, and she turns away business and tips. I was very annoyed, to say the least. She was very rude about the bar being 21+ and asked us to leave immediately. The Quail isn't cool enough to be 21+, and there are much better bars in the neighbourhood such as the Clocktower, the Rebel House, and Boxcar Social. Definitely skip this bar. The service is bad, the drinks are sub-par to other options in the area and its now going to be a bar full of people in their 50's. read more

I tried this place recently - I remember it from my old days in Rosedale - but it's all changed - I think it has lost the atmosphere - And the Curry has changed - which was my favorite meal - they made curry lamb at one time and now its no longer on the menu Other than that it's the same as the rest of Firkins read more

Disappointed that they went to the standard firkin menu but last night they had an in house special of fish and chips for $9. This won over my heart along with the $5 beer and the raptors winning to move to the second round. Cole slaw was good too!! read more

Good food, good service. A great place to drink if you enjoy the same bagpipe song every 15 minutes. If someone asked me what Scottish hell was, I would say it was this place. read more

Although I used to love this place as the decor and atmosphere is your typical pub look, the food recently has been a complete let down. I'm not sure if their chef changed or they've just started buying below decent quality ingredients but the food I was served two weeks ago, I couldn't even eat more than two bites. Not to mention I had to hug the toilet bowl for hours after going home. The meat in the burger was stale, zero seasoning and it tasted as if it had been frozen and defrosted over and over or cooked in the microwave. The shepherd's pie wasn't any better. The fries were served cold and the bitter aftertaste of burned overused oil was too overpowering to eat more than one. Considering the prices it was a complete let down. Too bad as I've been there countless times and it was never this bad. read more

Terrible service, was waiting forty five minutes after every order. When the waitress finally showed up, she had gotten the wrong order.

I was in Toronto on business and was tired of somewhat formal restaurants. When I asked a server in my hotel for directions to a pub someone recommended, he suggested that I try the Firkin a few blocks from the hotel. I was pleasantly surprised. I had the best fish and chips I'd had in many years and they had a nice outdoor patio, which I was happy to use during the lovely weather. I would definitely go back. read more

The assistant manager is extremely rude. I believe his name is Simon. He just walked by a table right beside mine and cleared their plates and asked if they needed another round while completely ignoring my empty glass and me all together. Most staff is great. This one star goes to Simon! read more

The Quail & Firkin is my local "go to" for a burger, wings and a beer. The food is above average for a Firkin I suppose, the seating is updated and comfortable, there is big screen sports and the staff are very friendly. Diana is an amazing host. read more

The Quail has greatly improved since it's makeover. Food quality is better and beer selection much better. Patio is good for people watching but gets direct sun and street noise. Prices are reasonable and servers are friendly. read more

The Quail & Firkin attracts a good crowd and it offers a decent pint. The staff seems friendly enough, but they are strictly business when it comes to disciplining the crowd and enforcing last calls. I suppose that is to be expected when they don't own the joint. read more

I like going to this place for brunch on the weekends. It's also good to sit at the front patio and have drinks.

Great place to go in for a few drinks and a bite. Super friendly staff. Food is adequate, and they have different food / drink specials every night of the week. This tends to be our go to spot in the neighbourhood. read more

Did take out for a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. Got home and it had just chicken on a bun. Unimpressed.

Just ordered chicken wings, good flavor, sub standard size. Was informed by the server that they have a new supplier. Maybe if they spent half as much money sourcing quality suppliers as they do putting in hokey, cliched faux-British decorations then I would have had a decent chicken wing. There was a time when going to the firkin chain and ordering wings meant you would get a decent feed, not so anymore. SHITKENWINGS! Btw, service was excellent. read more

If I lived nearby, I would probably be a frequent regular. Atmosphere is relaxed, beer is cold, food is good. The nachos are enough to feed a small army, and the cheese dip/naan combo is addictive. Thumbs up. read more