One of my favorite neighbourhoods in Toronto is the Distillery District. And not just because I am such a fan of all things related to beer – I also love strolling down the cobblestone streets and checking out all the heritage buildings and cool shops. No area of Toronto can instantly transport you back in time like the hip and historic Distillery District.
This area also offers a number of great restaurants too, and one of my personal favorites is the Mill Street Brew Pub located in the original Gooderham and Worts tankhouse. With its high ceilings, bright skylights and rustic wood beams, this restaurant makes the perfect afternoon stop for a bite and a pint after a fun-filled morning of shopping and art gallery visits.
The fact that this restaurant is indeed a working brewery becomes apparent the minute you walk in the door – bringing with it all the unmistakable smells of fermenting malt, hops and yeast. Not a problem for a beer aficionado like me, but perhaps it could be off-putting to some. But with the aroma of all the fine dishes steadily coming from the kitchen, the smell of fermenting beer quickly becomes less and less noticeable.
On this lunch visit, we ordered the decadent Short Rib Poutine featuring Mill Street Tankhouse Ale braised pulled beef short rib on fresh cut Yukon Gold fries with Ontario cheese curds and beef gravy, a fresh and tasty Beet Salad with walnuts and goat cheese, the Brewmaster’s Mussels, featuring mussels steamed in Mill Street Belgian Wit Biere with chorizo sausage, fresh fennel and leeks, and the Ontario Pulled Pork Sandwich with slow braised pulled pork smothered in smoked jalapeno and Mill Street Tankhouse Ale BBQ sauce, topped with apple and cabbage slaw and melted smoked Gouda cheese. Yes, everything tasted as great as they sound and look!
And if you love beer, there is no shortage of tasty choices from the Mill Street line-up of ales, lagers, porter and stout. Mill Street Organic lager has been a trusty go-to beer for me for a while now. Love the Tankhouse Pale Ale and India Pale Ale too. The Mill Street Brew Pub is a casual and lively restaurant that is definitely worth checking out on your next visit to the Distillery District in Toronto. Highly recommended. For now, back to the cage.
