In the heart of Leslieville, The Roy Public House earns its reputation as the quintessential neighbourhood Irish pub -- unpretentious in presentation yet quietly accomplished in all the ways that matter. The room carries the warmth of a well-worn local: intimate, convivial, and wholly without affectation. The kitchen turns out pub classics with commendable care. The wings arrive properly executed -- crisp of skin, generously portioned, and satisfying in the way that only a good pub wing can be. The poutine, a nod to its Canadian setting, holds its own alongside the more traditional offerings. Most notably, the house curry gravy -- offered as an accompaniment -- proves to be a genuine revelation: bright, tangy, and layered with spice in a manner that elevates what might otherwise be a familiar dish into something worth seeking out. While the traditionalist in me remains loyal to the classic cheese curd and plain gravy combination, the curry variant is an adventurous alternative I would wholeheartedly recommend to the curious diner. The draft selection is solid, the Guinness pulled with proper patience, and the service strikes that ideal pub balance of attentive without being overbearing. For those seeking an honest, soulful dining experience rooted in neighbourhood warmth rather than culinary theatre, The Roy delivers with quiet confidence. read more

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Gord and I had supper Thursday evening at The Roy Public House. Gord had Fish'n'Chips (Crispy beer-battered 8 oz. North Atlantic Cod filet. Served with coleslaw & tarter sauce). He said it was very good. I had Chicken Pot Pie (Tender chicken, onions, celery, carrots, corn & peas, in a rich sauce topped with puff pastry. Served with housemade mashed potatoes). It was good and hit the spot considering it was cold and snowy outside. read more

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Roy Public House is a cozy, welcoming spot with friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere. Great selection of draft beers. We had the wings and club sandwich, both tasty and satisfying. The highlight was the sticky toffee pudding. It was absolutely delicious. A solid place for a casual bite with friends. read more

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Stopped in before an event down the road. Sat at the bar and the service was 10/10. Everyone was so friendly. I had the curry and it was soooo good. I would definitely come back here next time we come to Toronto. Loved all the pride merch as well. I believe it is a queer owned bar. read more

The Roy has definitely gone down hill in regards to their food. I have been eating their wings for years and have always loved them . My last two visits have been very disappointing. The wings were terrible. I thought it was a one off but they have been consistently out of the norm lately. Overcooked, dried out and low quality. Hardly any meat and they seem like they have been dug out from the bottom of a freezer. Sorry but I'm giving up and not returning read more

The Roy Public House is a bloody proper pub! Guinness on tap, pulled perfectly - CHECK Cozy booth - CHECK Warm and friendly service - CHECK Tasty comfort food - CHECK Cheers! read more

Quaint solid pub. Excellent service. Call ahead if you have more than 4 people so they can pull some tables together. Great place to relax with friends. read more

Great pub. Just came in for a few beers and a plate of fries. Richard served us and was great. A typical Irish Pub menu and everything was clean, including the bathrooms. Great Irish pub with genuine and friendly staff. Great stuff read more

The Roy Public House - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The Venerable Irish Pub of Leslieville. They keep it simple here. Good food, good drink, cozy with that feel of the emerald isles. A lovely pub which has made itself into a neighbourhood institution in 13 short years. Sláinte! read more

Nice neighbourhood pub. Bartender was aware and attentive. Wings were decent, way overpriced. About 7 wings for $15!? I'd stick to drinks, maybe there is food specials, when I return.... read more

The Roy Public House - Queen east - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

a solid pub, in all the best ways - the food is not pretentious and neither are the people. The service is friendly, and it has always struck me that there is a real community of regulars. Went looking for a place for dinner on a Monday night and most of my regular choices were closed. I have been a bunch of times over the years and have always enjoyed the food. On my recent visit I had the wings with bbq lime tequila sauce (YUM!!) Mild heat level but nice unique flavours. My boyfriend had the chicken club. Everything was hot, fresh and tasty read more

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10:30 pm on a Thursday night and most kitchens were closed in Leslieville?!? So we stumbled into the Roy out of desperation... and in exchange found a really cool bar! The beer list is pretty decent, and the food is classic pub fare. Even though it was late, everything tasted freshly made and totally hit the spot. Since we were seated at the bar, we chatted with the bartender for a bit. Overall, excellent service and classic pub fare - will definitely be back again! read more

This was my second time at The Roy. Remembered it was wings night and was in the area so decided to venture inside for a snack. We ordered the Honey Garlic wings and some calamari. The wings were fairly good with a good amount of sauce (not too saucy, not too dry) and each piece was fairly large compared to some other places I've been. The calamari was not bad and came in a fair portion. I've also had the Guiness Pot Pie in my previous visit but didn't find it that great. I had the same server both times I've been here and she has been excellent. She is friendly, talkative and attentive as she checked in on us often. Overall this is a pretty cool place to hang out with friends and grab some snacks and drinks. Definitely will be back. read more

What a neighbourhood pub should be...cozy, quiet with cold beer and great food. Quick and attentive staff too.

Speakeasy is a good term for it. The staff are petty, surly little indiscreet gossips. Food is mediocre. The wing are sub par for a pub, perhaps that's why they need to have 2 half price wing nights a week to get rid of the. Not recommended. read more

Let me start by saying I have come to the Roy so many many many times (I was going weekly) and absolutely love their toffee pudding cake (so good!) however, after my experience today, I will not be returning, not that they seem to care if they lose a loyal customer. After calling a few days ago and speaking to the general manager, whom was very very nice and super accommodating and she also confirmed that they do offer gluten free options, we arrived at 3:45pm and was greeted by a nice gentleman who said no problem to seating 10 of us in their empty dining room inside. The man with glasses that was working behind the bar overheard and just said "no" out loud to the gentleman who was going to seat us and then just turned his back on all of us. We were all very confused and stood there unsure of what was happening. Finally after standing there confused for a minute with out group, I asked the man behind the bar if we were going to be seated or should we sit ourselves and he replied. No, we just can't accommodate you. I replied, is it because you have reservations and he replied. No, we just can't accommodate you. I replied but your whole dining room is empty. No reply was given to that comment...he just turned away from us. We left and were very very confused and it obviously left a very very bad experience to all the people I was with that had never tried the Roy out before... I LOVE supporting local and I LOVE supporting small business so I thought it would be awesome to show the Roy some more love. Unfortunately, I guess they don't need the business. No problem at all! We went down the street and ended up spending $$$ at the amazing Leslie Jones which I highly recommend and will continue to support. SO happy to support a small business with amazing food that actually treats their customers with respect. read more

THE BEST PLACE in the neighbourhood. Good food, the staff is wonderful and the vibe is very friendly. There are a number of women who comfortably sit at the bar and chat. How many bars can you do that at?! The menu is Irish pub with some thought put into it. Prices are reasonable and the food is always good. I love wing nights!!! I really appreciate the neighbourly atmosphere. It's definitely my favourite! read more

Yummy food and casual atmosphere, great for conversation. Wish there were darker beers on tap.

Good, but... Went tonight with my son. They have a nice beer selection in a very comfortable setting. I got a burger and fries and did receive a healthy slice of onion which I asked for. However, the burger itself was overdone. Supposed to be medium but was well done. Unfortunately, our server (Cynthia) never asked how things were, so it could not be rectified, and, in any case, I was very hungry. Bottom line is the mean was not, IMHO, cooked fresh. I would give 2.5, but can't. read more

First time coming to this bar and they were so friendly and accommodating. Also very clean and working around COVID read more

The Roy Public House - a woman sitting at a table outside - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Loved this place. I read through many of the reviews before we went and I didn't have high hopes. I mean, the food was ok. Fish and Chips were a little dry, but to be fair I asked for it all well done. Curry was more like pulled meat, but it wasn't bad. I love the layout and the snug at the back. It's what a real pub ought to be. I wish there were west end places like this instead of all the fly by night hipster joints. The service was efficient and funny. I don't know what people are expecting from servers these days. Honestly, if you go into your local, the servers are usually locals, too and they may well have a little attitude (our server didn't). I like this snarky quirk. But seriously-- she was great-- we came in as a big group and were all on separate bills and arrived at different times. She was amazing at producing our bills when we all needed to leave at different times too. A total pro. I was pleased that there weren't any children there. I don't want to chat with my friends while some kid throws chicken wing bones and cries or watches a show on his or her iPad. If your kid can't sit through dinner in a restaurant without distractions, you didn't raise them with proper table manners and you shouldn't bring them to a restaurant for dinner. Also, I don't want to hold back on my swearing and drinking and such because I feel bad that your kid might overhear me. Overall, a great little pub that I'd be pleased to come back to. it made me nostalgic for my east end days and the loyalty that east enders have towards their local haunts. we could all take a dose of authenticity from the Roy. read more

First of all, to those who complained that The Roy doesnt allow babies inside - Thank God that it doesnt!! Take your stupid brats elsewhere, I love this place because its grown-ups only, everywhere else you go in Leslieville for brunch or dinner you can be sure its gonna be filled with crying, screaming, spoilt poop machines. You have plenty of places in Leslieville where you can take your brats and annoy people. The Roy is a local place where a lot of people know each other, staff is extremely friendly, they always chat with you. Its one of the places where you can go alone, sit at the bar and someone will always strike up a convo with you, I have made few friends there over a drink. Their chicken wings are amazing. read more

I've been to The Roy a bunch of times now, and I like the feel of the place. The first couple times I might have given the Roy 3 stars, but the place has really grown on me now. Good decor and atmosphere. The helpful chalkboard-O'-beers, a picture of the Queen with her eyes closed, decorative brass plates with sailing ships on them, a cozy fireplace, this place has all the good stuff. I've been in the late afternoon/early evening a couple times, and the food being served at my neighbours' tables always smells tempting. I can't say I've strayed far from my own personal favourite though... nachos. The first time I ordered them I was fore-warned by our server that "they aren't your 'normal' nachos chips". Fine by me, bring 'em on! Frankly, the chips are usually just a bland vessel to get all the good cheese, sour cream and salsa into my mouth. Now they are my fave nacho chips! They aren't your typical Tostitos-type corn chip. I think they are probably flour based, deep-fried goodness. They remind me of pita chips. I dunno for sure. What I do know, is the crunchy/chewy surprise keeps me coming back. The server said they make the chips in house. Bonus! My friends have gotten the Roybello, the fish and chips, and the grilled cheese with no complaints. I like the servers too. They are chatty and casual. No fake, over-bubbly personalities here. Doesn't hurt that one of the bartenders is easy on the eyes either ;) I'm hooked. read more

Young Children Not Welcome Wanted to go to the Roy on Sun evening around 7 pm. Wife and I had a stroller with our 8 month old. We were immediately stopped at the door by staff who said "no strollers" allowed "you have to leave it outside". A fine welcome indeed. Being flexible, we said ok, but do you have a high chair for the baby? "No" was the answer. So you don't allow strollers, and you don't have high chairs. What am I to surmise from that? I think the Roy owners must be nuts...Leslieville is exploding with kids and these dorks are turning families away. Stupid business practice. So we took our 3 course dinner with wine a few doors away to Joy Bistro, where our family was welcomed. Roy, how do you like that? You just missed out on about $200 in business and all the future business we would bring (we live down the street) which you're not going to get because we are not coming back. read more

I can't speak for the food, but the beer selection is good enough and the service is great. I found myself here with a few friends this past Saturday night. I never waited for a beer and the guy who served us was super friendly. All in all this is a pretty typical pub from the cushy booths to the black painted wood, chalk boards, and beer steins used as decoration. read more

Great burger!! Bacon cheeseburger was awesome! Went today after a cross-town bike ride and was feeling hungry but didn't want to sit out in the sun. The cool confines of The Roy pub were ideal, and they had $4 bloody ceasars! It wasn't too busy, so just the bartender was working. Sports on tv - check, they switched from tennis to baseball so we didn't miss a thing. Most of the brunch menu looked really good - poached eggs, omelettes, ploughman's lunch, but I couldn't pass up that burger. I am glad I didn't. Delicious. read more

I love the The Roy! They certainly don't cater to a crowd that needs fast and perfect service - if you want that, go elsewhere. It is a comfortable neighbourhood pub where friends gather to share good local beers, food and some great laughs with the owners of the pub. The food is simple, delicious and always served hot. I have a gluten allergy and they are so incredibly thoughtful and accommodating. I have eaten a few things here: burgers - huge and delicious; Cobb Salad with house vin. delicious, not overly huge and fresh. Others had the chicken pot pie or shepards pie - both delicious, served with what ever you like. Fresh veg on both plates. The Roy is a fav - not only to the create great food - they create great people who appreciate great local food and drink. With some encouragement from the owners my D and I were able to make awesome summer plans to visit Prince Edward Country - likely now a favourite area of Ontario. We loved the wineries, communities and of course, the Cider! read more

the sheer size of the fish in my fish and chips somewhat made up for the sub par service we got at the Roy... not sure if they were understaffed but we went in, no one was there, waited, finally got seated, waited some more for the menus and finally waited some more for someone to show up to take the orders. I think by the time we got our food, anything edible would have been good. the place wasn't packed at all and it seemed the crew there were friendly to the regulars. Food was not bad, not amazing. Big plus really was the huge portion of fish and the very reasonable prices. food 3, service 2. = 2.5. read more

great fish and chips, for once they don't drown you in fries and they give you a huge piece of fish, as well as (homemade?... kitchen made probably) tartar sauce which is a MASSIVE plus for me because I hate it when all these self righteous fish and chip places idea of tartar sauce is throwing those shitty packets at you. So yeah, Fucking good fish and chips and good beers. The layout of this place is certainly a public house. Bar at the front and a big open space with tables in the back. Very few and small booths. I don't understand why people complain about the service. The place was nearly full when I went and we were instantly greeted with a big smile by the bartender and our waitress was nice and quick with everything. I recall that right outside the place when I was just about to enter some stuck up yuppie left with a few of his friends complaining that the guy at the bar was giving him attitude. I saw no such attitude. My conclusion is that our hip leslieville friend was complaining about his fucking dog or baby not being welcome in the bar. Well good, I don't want your stupid dog humping my leg or your kids climbing in my food at the pub either so if the Roy hates kids then good on them, a Pub is no place for children. read more

The Roy is one of the best pubs in this city period. The food is always exceptional and the beer on tap is always cold and refreshing. The atmosphere is cozy and the staff and management are phenomenal. To those that take exception to no strollers and only allowing well behaved children....please take a moment and ask yourself if you would enjoy your meal with a wailing banshee seated close to you. The atmosphere is cozy, meaning there isn't space for a stroller parking lot. Keep the supersized monstrosity at home. Children are welcome, so long as they are civilized. read more

(I'm leaning towards 4 and a half stars.....) An excellent local. Good selection of beers, and they seem to clean and maintain their taps very well, because the pints taste very fresh and clear. Also a decent selection of whiskeys behind the bar. Food is excellent. The menu is limited, but all the items are very well-prepared, and they were very accommodating of a dinner companion who asked for several substitutions (waiter didn't mince and moan, just said "sure, we can do that" to each request). Servers are knowledgeable and friendly, the atmosphere is lively and convivial, and the space is well laid out. It's exactly what you're looking for if you want a good pub. read more

I've never done a review before, but this experience was so bad I feel I must. I've been to The Roy twice, and free food and beer wouldn't get me back. 1. Don't come here unless you're deaf. The owner(s) have apparently never heard of the word "acoustics" - we sat at the back and still could not here ourselves over the noise of a couple of dozen people screaming at each other. 2. They mess with traditional dishes, and hide the change in small print. Whoever heard of a "beef dip au jus" with a large helping of horsedradish mayo on it. Or a Reuben that includes 1000 Island dressing, in addition to the sauerkraut and mustard. 3. The wait staff did not check that the food was as ordered. I specifically asked to "hold the horseradish mayo" on my Beef Dip and got tons of it, nonetheless. 4. It'll take 40 minutes to get your steak cooked the way you want it, if you're not one of those "raw meat" fans. 5. I don't get out much, but $9 for a beer they paid $2.50 for is a bit much. 6. The noise, the noise....I listen to loud music, but 30 minutes in this place had me itching to get outside in the quiet. This acoustic thing is really common in Toronto bars and restaurants - any body know why? It sure prevents big spenders like me from going to those places. read more

This business has a sign posted in their front window saying that it is an adult establishment and that only "well behaved" children are allowed. I went here once with my well behaved children. We had a stroller. We were told that our stroller was a "fire hazard" and we were not allowed to enter. It was the middle of the day and there were at most three customers inside. This really happened. We are always very careful about taking our children to restaurants and would leave immediately if they ever became loud. This has never happened, but that is what we would do. We also avoid peak hours because we know strollers take space. Nevertheless, this business assumed the worst of us and never gave us a chance. They let their own preconceptions ruin what could have been a perfectly good afternoon. There is a word for this type of behaviour: discrimination. read more

The best best best best best BEST pub in the east end. The staff are like old friends (my wife and I are very local), and the food is all delicious. Do not miss the beef dip au jus - - one of the best in town. read more

Nondescript mock English pub (because we don't have enough of those in the city). I've stopped in here maybe a half-dozen times over the years, almost exclusively for drinks. Came for breakfast one time and the service was atrocious, so I haven't bothered trying that again. Just moved back to the east end after five years in the west, and ended up stopping by for a drink tonight. Was disappointed to see that their harder-to-find-draught-beers from the UK (Murphy's, Spitfire) had been replaced with mediocre pseudo craft stuff (Goose Island, Creemore, Moosehead etc). Their beer selection was pretty much the one redeemable quality in the past. Not anymore. That said, the staff was nice. I bumped up my review by one star because they're very open about not allowing kids in the place. That takes Balls in the east end. I'm sure it rubs a lot of folks the wrong way, but as a child-less thirty old, the last thing I want to endure over my ten dollar pint is the wails of your special snowflake. McDonalds has a playland, Check it out. read more

*disclaimer* I am REALLY not into pubs or pub food, and I cannot even imagine a pub I would say "yay I am a fan" to. Regardless of my anti-pub tendancies, this is a pretty decent pub. This is my neighborhood pub, which is more frequented by my SO and his friends than me, but I have still been known to pop in for a pint with them from time to time. It really has a neighborhood feel, people are always walking in, smiling and approaching other tables to say hello. The server always recognizes us and asks us how we are doing, and there are always people chatting at the bar. Considering the clientele that frequent some of the other bars in the area (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/new-tasty-chicken-house-toronto#hrid:hvxg8zr7SAgaHMlm6hDf8Q/src:self) everyone here seems normal, friendly and ready for a good time. The decor is fantastic (and I'm not just saying that because one of my bffs was involved in the design :) ) its all dark wood, deep burgundy, textures and bookshelves. Very cozy and homey. pros - they have a drink special every night of the week. Usually Creemore pints or something similar, but I like my drink specials. - nice servers with fun accents - comfy cozy decor - half price pounds of wings and fries on wing night for the chicken eaters - close to my house, they play sports on TV - very neighborhood-y cons - nothing for vegetarians but expensive salads that sound uninspired - nachos are made with flour tortilla not corn, which is a "unique" taste to say the least (blech) - usually busy and hard to get a table for 4, it is small. Plenty of seating for "2s" read more

I ordered the Publican salad with grilled steak. The steak was cooked perfectly! The server was awesome. Loved it! read more

The Roy Public House - Fantastic little spot! The bartender/server made fresh ice tea for me! The steak was cooked perfectly! Loved it! - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This is my third time I've been here. My previous experience was terrible. A years ago I had nachos and it was the worst ever. And I came here with my friend last week. We had wings and some drinks. Bar was busy and food was pretty good. Service was good. I will be back again for sure read more

Yeah, not great. I've been to the Roy x2, and both times I had the unfortunate luck to get the same pissy waitress. I'm not exactly sure what her deal is, but she was pretty damn sour both times. On the upside, the cider on tap was good. The food was standard pub, nothing spectacular. With so many incredible spots in this hood, I'll pass on the Roy. read more

Awesome pub. Great service, good grub, clean, low music and friendly atmosphere, unpretentious. The only thing I'd change is widen the draft beer selection and maybe add a few outliers. Looking forward to going back. Great spot to hang out with friends over a few brews. read more