The Paddock

"...What makes The Paddock so perfect?...Could it be the simple beauty of its curving mahogany bar, the attractive yet mature and discreet staff?...The food, far superior to your basic pub grub? Or the rotating themed cocktail specials?...its just one of Toronto's best bars... former habitues Frank Sinatra and Oscar Peterson would no doubt approve..."
- Li Robbins : Toronto Life

We are conveniently located at 178 Bathurst Street, (on the Southwest corner of Queen & Bathurst), in the heart of Toronto's lively Theatre, Music & Arts District. We are open Tuesday to Saturday between the hours of 5pm and 2am.

View The Paddock Photogallery

Contact
Email: drinks@thepaddock.ca
Tel : (416) 504-9997

178 Bathurst Street (@ Queen Street)
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada M5V 2R4

Music @ The Paddock

TUESDAYS 9pm to midnight : Kevin Quain gives our piano a workout and sings. Make it a date and don't be late !

>>> Read more about Kevin Quain

Dinner Menu
Our Dinner Menu is served from Monday through Sunday between 5pm and 11pm and features nightly specials. We accept reservations until 8pm each evening. Planning a private party or special event ? The Paddock offers an in-house catering menu to compliment your next party or event. Contact us at 416-504-9997 for all the details.

Planning a Private Party ? View all the details here [as a printable .pdf document]

View our Catering & Private Party Menu [as a printable .pdf document]

Download Acrobat Reader 7.0

D I N N E R

D A I L Y S O U P
Curried Butternut Squash with Green Apple
$7

O R G A N I C G R E E N S A L A D
apple, sundried apricots, almonds and balsamic
$8

S M O K E D S A L M O N S A L A D
baby spinach, goats cheese and a champagne vinaigrette
$9

P A N S E A R E D C A L A M A R I
with chorizo, arugula and chili dressing
$14

S A L M O N F I S H C A K E
sauteed baby spinach, garlic mash, poached egg and a citrus buerre blanc
$15

G O A T S C H E E S E G N O C C H I
with tomato sauce and mushrooms
$14

M U S H R O O M R I S O T T O
seasonal mushrooms with rosemary baby spinach and parmesan
$14

R O A S T E D H O N E Y G A R L I C
B A B Y B A C K R I B S
with frites
$17

P A N S E A R E D C H I C K E N S U P R E M E
with roasted parsnips, sauteed mushrooms and a thyme jus
$17

A A A N Y S T R I P L O I N
8 oz, with sauteed rapini, garlic mashand mushroom jus
$24

B I S O N S I R L O I N
with grilled asparagus, garlic mash and rosemary jus
$26

S L O W R O A S T E D
O N T A R I O L A M B S H O U L D E R
with potato rosti, sauteed savoy cabbage and a tomato jus
$17

-----------------------------

O L I V E S
with feta
$5

Y U K O N G O L D F R I T E S
with aioli
$6

W A R M G O A T S C H E E S E
with spicy roasted red peppers
$6

F I G S
and gorgonzola wrapped in proscuitto
$6

V O D K A S M O K E D S A L M O N
with caper berries
$6

C A R N E
selection of cured meats
$6

S H R I M P C O C K T A I L
with garlic chili oil
$6

C H I C K E N W I N G S
with spicy tomato bourbon dip
$6

A N T I P A S T I
prosciutto, rosette de Lyon, sopressata friulana, mortadella, herbed goats cheese, baby boconcini, roasted artichoke hearts and roasted cherry tomatoes in garlic
$20

-----------------------------

D E S S E R T

C A R A M E L C R E M E B R U L E E $6

P U M P K I N B O U R B O N C H E E S E C A K E
with fresh whipped cream
$7

C H E E S E P L A T E
Cured Quebec Goats cheese, Saint Agur, Guinness Cheddar, Thunder Oak Gouda, Triple Cream Brie Supreme with fresh fruit
$12

Inherent Vice Trailer ...

Atomic 7 performing at THE PADDOCK ...

Fishing with John : Catch ... Put in your Pants and Release ...

Reading Material ...

One hot afternoon in 1998, Dave Bidini – who loves hockey, watches it, plays it, and breathes it – found the Stanley Cup final so tedious to watch that at one point he clicked channels to Martha Stewart – and never switched back. This made him wonder where in the world the game might exist free of the complications of professional sport. He set out to find the tropic of hockey.

His quest took him to a rink on the seventh storey of a mall in Hong Kong – a rink encircled by a dragon-headed roller coaster – and to the gritty city of Harbin in northern China, where a version of hockey has been played for 600 years; to Dubai in the desert of the United Emirates, where hockey is brand new and incredulous Bedouin drop by the Al Ain rink to touch the ice; and to Transylvania, where the game is a war between Romanians and ethnic Hungarians, who were introduced to hockey by a 1929 newsreel of Canadians chasing the puck.

Bidini’s encounters with odd-sized rinks and players of wildly different talents and experiences have inspired him to interweave his stories of hockey in unlikely places with funny and eyebrow-raising stories about places and players back in Canada. As a bonus, readers are also treated to some striking observations about the game, its fans, and the testosterone, the profanity, and the moments of grace that enrich it.

Cocktails

Paddock Specialties :

Absolut Passion
Bourbon Cobbler
Berrytini
Cuban Special
French 75
Gibson
Manhattan
Chambord Margarita
Negroni Mango
Cosmopolitan
Jaggard Cocktail
Le Petite Soleil
Maiden's Prayer
Sidecar
Gimlet
Metropolitan
Diablo
Mandarin Martini
Vesper
Bourbon Sour
Mojito
Rouge Baise

We feature a NEW List of Custom Paddock Cocktails every month, created by our knowledgable and ever craftily creative Barteam.

What's New ?!

Drop by and say Hi ! on our myspace.com page -- http://www.myspace.com/thepaddock

WiFi @ The Paddock-- We are proud to announce The Paddock is truly a 'hot spot'. We've recently set up a Wireless Internet hub at The Paddock so you can surf the net, answer your email, and try the latest microbrew. Talk about 'multi-tasking' !

Paddock Reviews-- Read a recent Toronto Star Review as well as other archived reviews about The Paddock.

Paddock Radio -- Check out Paddock Radio our on-line jukebox featuring our Monthly playlist. Hear something you like but don't know what it is ? Drop us an email.

Book The Paddock -- The Paddock recently hosted two successful book launches by local authors Dave Bidini & John Doyle ( Paddock regulars ). It was a great turnout at both events and was good to see many familiar faces from stage, screen, and on the ice ! Are you planning a media event, cd or book launch, or office get-together ? Need a customized Dinner or Party menu ? Consider The Paddock for your next party or event. Party Menu details here.

Beer & Ale

CRAFT BREWERIES OF ONTARIO WELLINGTON BREWERY SPA, DENISON'S BREWING COMPANY WEISSE BEER, STEAMWHISTLE PILSNER, MILL ST. ORGANIC LAGER, ST. ANDRE VIENNA LAGER, NEUSTADT SPRINGS 10W30 DARK ALE

IMPORTED DRAUGHT BEER
GUINNESS, STELLA ARTOIS

REGIONAL BEERS
CREEMORE SPRINGS LAGER, KEITH'S IPA,

IMPORTED BOTTLED BEER
PILSNER URQUEL, BECKS, CORONA, HEINKEN

PREMIUM
STEAMWHISTLE, SLEEMAN CREAM ALE

DOMESTIC
MOLSON CANADIAN, CANADIAN RED CAP ALE, CARLSBERG, CARLSBERG LIGHT, LABBAT 50, UPPER CANADA (.9)

Wine List

R E D

by the ( 5 oz ) glass and bottle

C H I L E N S I S
Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Chile 2003
7 gls | 35 btle

M c M A N I S
Cabernet Sauvignon , Sonoma County, California 2003
8 gls | 40 btle

B O D E G A S y V I N E D O S T A M A R A L
Crianza Ribera del Duero Spain 2000
9 gls | 45 btle

S A N T A B A R B A R A W I N E R Y
Syrah California 2005
10 gls | 50 btle

M A C L A R E N R I D G E
Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia 2004
11 gls | 55 btle

Z A R D I N I
Clemente VII Chianti Classico Italy 2004
12 gls | 65 btle

by the bottle

C R A N E C A N Y O N
Russian River Valley, Zinfandel, Windsor, California 2000
50 btle

J. L O H R C R O S S P O I N T
Pinot Noir Monterey County, California 2005
50 btle

S T . F R A N C I S
Merlot Sonoma County California 2001
60 btle

F R O G ‘ S L E A P
Zinfandel Napa Valley California 2004
75 btle

K E E N A N
Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California 2002
80 btle (93 pts W.S.)

O L S S E N S
Pinot Noir Jackson Barry Central Otago, New Zealand 2003
80 btle

O P T I M A
Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California 2002
80 btle

L A G E R L A
Brunello di Montalcino Italy 2000
120 btle

W H I T E

by the glass and bottle

C H I L E N S I S
Sauvignon Blanc Chile 2003
7 gls 35 btle

C A V E S P R I N G
Chardonnay Musque Niagara 2005
7 gls 35 btle

C O N C I L I O
Pinot Grigio Italia 2004
8 gls 40 btle

P I E R R E S P A R R
Riesling Alsace 2005
8 gls 40 btle

S A N T A B A R BA R A
Sauvignon Blanc California 2005
9 gls 45 btle

M c M A N I S
Viognier California 2005
9 gls 45 btle

C H A M P A G N E

M O E T A N D C H A N D O N
white star 160

V E U V E C L I Q U O T
120 split 70

A S T I
Martini and Rossi Italy 200 ml 7.95

P O R T

Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca, Graham’s 10

Brandy, Samalens, Courvoisier X O

C O F F E E

free trade espresso

Paddock History

Morris Fishman was the original owner of The Paddock Tavern when it opened for business in 1940's Toronto. As famed Canadian sports writer Jim Coleman has written,

" Morris Fishman's life was the stuff of old-fashioned fiction. The gaunt-cheeked little newsboy, fighting to protect his corner rights on the downtown streets of Toronto; growing to be, first an outstanding amateur pugilist, and then a first-class jockey. And in his middle years becoming an exceptionally successful trainer of thoroughbreds and finally the affluent man of property"... Born March 3, 1911, Fishman's first good horse was High Honors, which ran under the purple and green silks of his wife, Molly, and won The Jockey Club Cup and The Seagram Cup in 1940 at Old Woodbine.

He soon assembled a stable which was best in Canada. His patrons included Harry, Carr and Fred Hatch, Harry Lahman, Lou Chesler, and Frank Conklin. Fishman's best horse was Canada's Teddy[ immortalized on Paddock coasters !], winner of the Canadian Championship[Breeders Cup at Long Branch in 1947-8 as well as Handicap Stakes at Dufferin, Thorncliffe and Woodbine. "The top performer in our handicap ranks is Canada's Teddy. He stands alone, a favourite of the racing public and a credit to the training methods of Fishman, who brought an unsound horse to peak form and kept him there for the season," said a columnist. Some of his other stakes winners were Be Brief, North York, Mugwump, First Note and Scene One.

It was said that the horses from Fishman's barn invariably were beautifully turned out. They shone with health and vigor and their tacks always were immaculate. His last stakes winner was Painted Pony in the Belle Mahone in 1971.

The history of live jazz at The Paddock extends back to its earliest days when the main floor bar had a downstairs component called The Saratoga Room, Blue Bonnets Room and the Little Saratoga Room. Performers included Oscar Peterson, Alberta Hunter and a variety of jazz players from New York City. Research indicates that live jazz at The Paddock probably ceased in the mid-50's but a colourful Racetrack Crowd of bookies, jockeys, trainers, writers and show biz / gangster types continued to hang out at the corner of Queen and Bathurst.

The Saratoga Room Menu of the day was considered very chi chi and hipsters liked the wide variety of cocktails and classic spirits. There are also persistent stories of Frank Sinatra making the scene at The Paddock whenever he was in Toronto but no photos from that time have surfaced yet.

Paddock Bookroom

Currently reading : James Ellroy and Thomas Pynchon

It is summer, 1968. The country is exploding. We are running point with three men: a Klan-raised, Yale-educated FBI agent infiltrating black-militant groups at J. Edgar Hoover’s racist behest and obsessed with a leftist shadow figure named Joan Rosen Klein. An ex-cop and heroin runner paving the way for the mob’s casinos in the Dominican Republic. A young L.A. “wheelman” for divorce lawyers within tantalizing reach of the men who killed the Kennedys and Martin Luther King and took us to the threshold of Watergate. Their lives collide in pursuit of the “Red Goddess Joan”—and they will all pay “a dear and savage price to live History.”

A literary guide to classic mixed drinks, riffing on their place in culture, art, film, and literature. Instructions included.

For over a decade Mark Kingwell has been one of Canada’s wisest and wittiest commentators on everything from political philosophy to The Simpsons. When he turns his lively mind to the gentlemanly subject of cocktails, he not only mixes the perfect drink, but also tells us where it fits into a wider literary and social world. Loosened perhaps by a few samples of his recipes, it’s a joy to follow this elegant writer wherever he may lead us through the spirit world. Kingwell introduces us to all the Collins siblings: Tom, whom we may already know, John, Pedro, Ivan, Mike, Jack, and even Brandy — all the while regaling us with snippets from Raymond Chandler, Walt Whitman, All About Eve, and Casablanca. It’s like sitting in the city’s swankiest bar with your most erudite friend and your favourite drink.

Add a dash of original art by famed Canadian illustrator Seth and a classic is born.