Black Dice Cafe

Kitschy, friendly, small bar that is the culmination of the owner’s love of Japanese 1950s rockabilly culture. From the retro pinball machine and the vinyl jukebox, to the neon, chrome, and bright colours, this place is a small local bar with a small but fine selection of Japanese whiskey, shochu, sake, as well as a Californian sake and some draught beers on tap.
I would advise eating elsewhere since their menu is comprised of a few microwaveable snacks like a Hungryman dinner, tsukune (chicken meatballs), yakitori (doused in too much sauce), etc. Except for the edamame, I’d stick to the dry snacks, like the decent wasabi peas, and dried cuttlefish snacks (part of my childhood, but potentially exotic to the «western» palate).
The bartender was patient with us, explaining her thoughts and tasting notes on the various Japanese products. They do quite a few sake cocktails, though of the few we tried, it tended to be on the sweet side, so we switched to straight sake and whiskey afterwards. Prices are OK, with cocktails averaging from $ 12 – 16, and $ 7 – 8 for draught beer (Sapporo or Asahi). Unfortunately, I can’t remember the price for sake on tap…
Other patrons in the bar were friendly, and we struck up a nice conversation with a stranger for an hour or two. Pouring each other sake (you never pour for yourself when dining with others), trading stories. It’s just that kind of chill, and laidback space. A bar crawl came through, were quickly served, and then we were left to enjoy our conversation and great 50s music again.
Cash only. Head down a flight of narrow stairs to reach the washrooms.
I’ll be looking forward to coming back here. Especially with Phở Linh just a short walk away… and so many chill local bars in the area.

I love Black Dice Café. It’s a small bar on Dundas that offers a Japanese Rockabilly themed space. The space is not accessible, as it it small and narrow and the bathroom in downstairs. In terms of food, the menu offers mostly Japanese style snacks. Don’t expect to have dinner here. However, there are options for everyone, from meat eaters to vegans.
Also, make sure you bring cash or are able to access the ATM downstairs because this place is cash only. There’s a pinball machine and a jukebox. Both cost a quarter, which is awesome, but try to plan ahead or at least have more than just $ 20 bills. The place is super tiny, so if you don’t want to be disappointed on a Saturday night, I’d say arrive no later than 10pm.
The bar offers a wide variety of sake-​based cocktails, a few themed cocktails, Japanese beers and Japanese whiskeys. My friends and I had a few Cherry Lolas, which were Cherry Coke and Sailor Jerry Rum. They were delicious! The music all came from the Rockabilly filled jukebox. The tunes were loud enough that you could hear them, but quiet enough that you could still have a conversation. The patronage were mostly old punks/​rockabilly/​general weirdos and 20-​something hipsters. The bartender was super friendly.

Bitchin’ totally rockin’ beautiful bartender named Calla, who served us delicious cocktails and Japanese snacks. We had a great time!

I have nothing but love for this place. Pinball. Records. An amazing neon light. It’s all of the things.

Whoa. So they have this Japanese Whiskey that is super supppperr smokey. Like hits you in your face smouldering smoke. I’ve never tasted anything like it anywhere else and it’s pretty amazing.
The Back Dice is basically a Sake cocktail bar, and they really do the spirit justice. All their mixed drinks are lovely and I personally adore their Sake sour and the ‘Hime’ (Sake, Plume wine, peach juice). Feeling peckish? They’ve got Wasabi peas to much on.
Definitely an amazing spot if you need to have a night-​cap with ambience — it’s dimly lit, but the glow from the pinball machine, jukebox, neon lighting accents and the teevee above the bar cradle you in the sweet sweet arms of retro nostalgia.
But be careful of the stairs coming up from the bathroom! I’ve have gracefully tripped up those wankers every single time I’m there…

There’s a big upside to hanging with a set who have a twist & shout acumen, especially when it’s your birthday. «I just want the best jukebox you know of. Doesn’t matter what. Or where.»
Then. Through the lovely, shimmery snow flakes we walked out to the west end, down Dundas. As a traveler, a trek like this is even more memorable.
The outdoor sandwich board «Japanese Rockabilly.» Well then.
The notes are fact: this is a mighty juke. Original build. Handwritten tunes. Singles. 45s. 25¢ a track. Just enough space for three person juke jiving. I honestly couldn’t ask for a better place to wind down a birthday. The tables are limited on the perimeter and the bar seats five or six. There are motorcycle head lamps on the tap. There’s a spirited Japanese guy tending bar, who has patience. And I don’t know the Rockabilly crowd in Toronto, but in the states they can be austere & off putting with their commitment to their look so much it can make you feel out of place. Not here. There’s no reason not to twist & shout your way here.

This small bar has Toronto’s best juke box. Old school tunes, labeled by hand at 25 cents a hit.
Cash only. But you already expected that.
They have a large variety of sake as well as all of your usual friends and some decent beers on tap. The ambiance reminds me of Jack Rabbit Slim’s from Pulp Fiction, if you took out the drugs, shrunk it, and replaced the burgers with bevvies.
Admittedly, I was very excited to review this place, but my memories of it are actually pretty hazy. But what a juke box!
PEPPER PROPS to Dana D, who dubbed this place Japanese Rockabilly. Bang on, sista.

VIBE
Japanese Rockabilly. If your reaction is, «whatever THAT is…» than I suggest you visit this joint and see firsthand.
Down to earth and certainly not polished, but not overly divey either.
Cozy, but not so small you’re bumping into everyone.
I’m not a regular, but my impression is that a lot of people in the bar are. Those that come alone are friends of the bartender. Those that are down to mingle with new people sit at the bar.
PINBALL
Takes quarters. Exists. Nuff said.
MUSIC.
Juke Box also takes quarters. Limited selection offers Frank Sinatra, Wanda Jackson, The Zombies, The Platters, Sam Cooke… you get the idea. The rough thing is that sometimes it doesn’t actually play your song choice. The nice thing is that, again, it’s only 25cents.
When the Juke Box isn’t playing, it switches over to the bartender’s ipod which is always excellent.
LIBATIONS.
Drinks have a Japanese focus, with Sapporo on tap and a varied list of sake-​based coctails. I like the ‘Sakura’ quite a bit.
Nice patrons. Nice bartenders.
Great atmosphere. Great music. Great drinks.

Actual rating 4.5.
What a cute place! It was kind of like stepping into Jack Rabbit Slim’s. They went all out to capture that late 50s early 60s diner vibe. Details like the pinball machine and the jukebox really worked here. Yep, I know it’s been done a lot, but if it’s done well, I’m still down.
Cocktail prices were reasonable, and although I opted for my boring old stand by and didn’t try one myself, the consensus at the table was the martinis were solid.
It was a Tuesday night around 10 pm and we were the only ones there for a good part of our visit which struck me as very odd. A couple couples rolled in later for a nightcap, and two dudes for a couple pints, but that was it. If this place was in my hood, I’d think it would be constantly busy.
I’d go back and give the hime a try!

Small, low-​key spot with excellent sake-​based cocktails, a jukebox, and a pinball machine.
The bartender was wearing an awesome cowboy shirt.

I really enjoyed my recent visit here. The space is quite neat, great pinball machine, and very nice bartender. I intend to return soon.

Toronto HAS a Japanese rockabilly bar. That’s five stars!
Is it a GREAT Japanese rockabilly bar? Is it authentic, like the Japanese Rockabilly bars in Austin or Kyoto? Is Japanese Rockabilly Bar a meaningful concept, which could evoke a consistent representation in the minds of others? (The answers to all three: It doesn’t matter!)
Undoubtedly the best in its class. Also: Jukebox plays 45s.

I’ll try to be fair in my description of The Black Dice Café.
My memory became hazy by the end of the night but this is what happens when you ingest 10 to 15 sake shots in a matter of hours. How I did not go to the hospital that evening with alcohol poisoning defies basic biology, but I live to tell you the tale so read on.
In early June, I celebrated my birthday and I co-​shared the event with my buddy Louie. We share the same birthday (different year) and we’ve done this successfully for the past three years. It’s a great way for our friends to mingle and for us to have a great group of people together. I selected the Black Café as our party spot since he’s friends with the owners. I had seen pictures of the place and heard of how nice it was so it seemed like a great place to celebrate.
Worried that I wasn’t being smart about testing the place first, I’m so glad that it worked out: The Black Dice is a cozy bar that has a similar atmosphere to the Communist’s Daughter, and slightly bigger in size. By the time I had arrived, it was already busy but not too busy for me to scoop out a table. Louie tried to get a band to play but they couldn’t make it. I love live music but in a way, I’m glad that it didn’t work out. Given the fact that the bar was already hopping with people, I couldn’t picture where the band would play. It’s that small of a place.
What’s unique about The Black Dice is that it’s a Japanese rockabilly-​themed bar. This is thanks to its co-​owner who is Japanese. This also explains why there’s Sapporo on tap, rice crackers and wasabi peas sold at the bar, and a variety of sake next to the Jameson and vodka.
Thanks to the generosity of my friends, I personally think that I sampled ALL of the sake they had that night. Again, the exact number of shots I had varies from 10 to 15; I lost count after five. Basically, I wasn’t allowed to have a free hand empty sans booze.
If you’re not a fan of sake, the bar is well-​stocked with other alcoholic goodies. I haven’t tried the food there but to be honest I wasn’t looking for a menu. Most of my change went towards the music selection of Link Wray, Johnny Cash, B-​52s and Joan Jett on the vintage 1957 Seeburg jukebox.
Like I mentioned before, my friend tried to get a band to perform which didn’t work out. The Black Dice does play host to local rockabilly-​surf-​ska-​punk bans a few times a month. Check their calendar online to see if there’s anything that piques your interest.
The Black Dice get 3.5 stars for my overall, first impression. I hope to be back soon to check out their live music nights, but I’ll make sure to kibosh any attempts of drinking sake for a while.

My wife and I stopped in early one night to try this place out as it is so close to us. Unfortunately we had poor service and the food was no better. For such a small eclectic menu you’d think it would be good. The décor is pretty cool if you’re into retro.