The Whippoorwill Restaurant & Tavern

We were in the mood for a good burger and found this place listed on a top 10 burgers in T.O. blog — it certainly satisfied the craving! The service was great and so were the cocktails (try the Dorian Grey!). It’s a small place so definitely suggest making a reservation. We were too full for dessert but they sent us home with some delicious honey & cinnamon Popcorn on the house!

They can do the burger medium rare, albeit theme felt cold eating it: (
And they have a nice cozy space and incredibly attentive service from the waitresses. sometimes not the couple male staff I encountered.
Cute place, good food, ok price. But not special enough to return/​go out of my way for.
I think if I lived in the neighbourhood it would easily be 3.5−4 stars.

Always great food and good service. I love their creative specials. Yum! The servers have a great sense of humour and I always leave smiling and satisfied.

Wow this place is incredible. I’m pretty sure anything you get here is amazing. I went here last night with a few friends and we were definitely not expecting anything like this.
I started with the oysters, which I’m usually not keen on. Holy Sh**. I could not stop ordering the oysters. The ginger sauce it comes with is the perfect splash of sweet vinegary goodness, and the hot sauce is out of this world for reals. I also had the curried egg salad sandwich which they had on special, it was great too. My vegetarian friend was happy here as they do have good veggie options which have «very very good flavours» as she said. My other friends got the fish and duck confit, which they were very very happy with. I’m pretty sure we sat with our eyes closed half the time as we were savouring each bite of everything.
The drinks… I’m starting to run out of adjectives. Best cocktail I’ve ever had in my life. The Pickup Artist is a must try. Truly a well crafted piece of art. My friends had the whiskey sour and old fashioned which were also made with soul.
And finally, the staff. Very knowledgeable, super helpful and kind. Really just adds another layer to the whole experience.
I should mention the place itself has a nice rustic cozy feel to it, with totally on point music.
I will absolutely be coming back here, and I absolutely recommend that you check this place out. Don’t have any doubts, stop thinking about it and just go!

Went to Whippoorwill with a friend who studies these birds– he just had to go to see what it would be like. Alas, no sign of actual Whippoorwills in the restaurant at all. Maybe they don’t know about their namesake? Ah well.
I had a cider (Wapoos, tasty) and the famous burger. I thought it was okay but not super amazing like lots of the other reviewers! Very very juicy so I felt like I had to eat it really fast so that the bun didn’t become too soggy. And I admit the med-​rare kinda psyched me out a bit as I normally get med-​well.
Friends had the pork meatballs on toast («delish») and the Korean bbq chicken thigh. These were awesome! I’d go back for these but not the burger.
Great songs on the radio too. Overheard that it’s the Mad Men soundtrack; not a fan of the show but love the tunes! Kind of a kitsch, camper van style diner… that’s the vibe I got anyway. But pleasant!
I would prefer to give this place a 3.5 but not an option, and the service and the chicken thighs were nice (though expensive) so it’s a 4.

Went to Whippoorwill tonight for dinner and drinks and was very impressed. The staff was friendly and helpful. I ordered the Fried Chicken Thighs and a side of Parmesan and olive oil potatoes. My friends ordered the meatballs and toast and the whippoorwill burger. I really enjoyed my chicken, the sauce was delicious and the chicken was cooked to perfection. My friends weren’t as impressed with their meals but my review is mostly for the chicken.
I ordered a pint of MacKinnon English Pale Ale which was also very good.
I would definitely go back to the Whippoorwill.

Food and service were wonderful. My only complaint. cash only.not even debit. And impossible to know that coming in.
Now I am back to asking every restaurant I enter if I should bring seashells for currency. I get it it, helps keep costs down. but it should be on the menu or really obvious signage.
By all means go… loved the food… but ya have to drop by your bank ahead of time.

Loved happy hour here. Returned for dinner and they did not fail either! Super easy to get to ad it is right near Lansdowne station too.

Great brunch spot in the Bloordale neighbourhood! We came here at 10:15 this morning and didn’t have to wait for a seat, I’ve heard it gets busy later on though. I had the polenta with smoked mushrooms, crispy kale and Parmesan, it was a creamy flavourful delight! It was unique and so different from other brunch dishes! My husband got the burger and this was fantastic as well. Coffee was strong. Great service and attention, we were topped off with coffee without having to ask. Will be back for more!

Hands down, best burger in the city. On top of that the staff are wonderful, specials are always top notch and cocktails are not to be missed.
Also brunch here is great. That BLT tho.

Checked out this place last night with a great Meetup group.
It’s a small diner type restaurant with dim lighting, oldies music and a homey feel. It’s definitely a cute spot but if you have a large group it would be best to call and make reservations. Service was quick, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the menu.
They are known for the $ 14 burger, but I wasn’t in a meat mood so I went with the Gnocchi with hazelnuts, squash confit and crispy kale. It was quite flavourful and filling for the shareable portion size, very glad i didn’t up it to the dinner size. There were a couple other menu items that looked really delicious so I would definitely make the trek back to this restaurant to indulge in other dishes.
For drinks, they have a killer cocktail menu ranging from $ 12 to $ 16 but I went with a beer (Oasthouse) as they have a few different craft beers on tap which is nice.
Didn’t have room for dessert but from what I gathered they were quite tasty!

This place was surprisingly delicious. I have no idea why I doubted it in the first but I was extremely impressed with the service, quality of food and selection. It’s not overly priced either. The only reason why I’m not giving this place 5 stars is because they don’t accept debit (who doesn’t accept debit!) and they have an ATM that charges a $ 2.50 service fee — not cool.

Whippoorwill is a small restaurant located on Bloor West near the Lansdowne subway station. This small and narrow restaurant is a mishmash of pub, diner and fine-​dining elements. Although I can’t confidently assert the vibe they are going for, I have never been disappointed with the food at Whippoorwill. Though I must admit, I have ordered the same thing at every visit — Potato Gnocchi with Braised Beef Cheek. The first time I visited Whippoorwill, I had the «side» portion of the gnocchi, and regretted not getting a bigger portion. The gnocchi was perfect — crispy on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside. The braised beef cheek was tender, juicy and well-​spiced. It was heavenly! So on my second visit; I knew that I had to get the larger size. Several people at my table decided to get it as a side since almost everyone wanted to order their famous burger for their main. So there I sat, excited about my «large» portion! That excitement plummeted quickly when I saw that my «large» sized portion contained maybe 2 extra pieces of gnocchi, and one tablespoon more of the braised beef cheek than the «side» portion. WTH! Sure it came in a larger plate, but that was about the only thing that was bigger when compared to the side portion. How heartbreaking!
Don’t get me wrong, the food at Whippoorwill can be exceptional, but if you like a good-​sized meal, you are better off going with the burger, since the sides really are small, and the upgrade to a regular size will not get you much more food. Since I have not tried the burger, and looking back, it really is crazy that I have yet to taste this famous burger (I love burgers!), I must return to Whippoorwill so I can finally check this burger off my «10-​Burgers-​I-​Must-​Try-​In-​Toronto List.» I am also very curious about their brunch menu.
Overall all my guests loved their meal, and the burger was a huge hit. Someone gave me a potato wedge to try, and it was perfect — like the gnocchi, it was crispy on the outside and pillowy in the inside, and perfectly seasoned. I also shared a dessert, and it was delicious — no point in telling you about it in detail since the desserts we had at our dinner are no longer on the menu. Boo
Do note that they do not take reservations for brunch, but do for dinner. Also, the space is small, so it can get very loud.
Addendum — Bad News:
It looks like Whippoorwill regularly updates their menu, and they no longer have the gnocchi with the braised beef cheek on the menu. In fact, the only item they still have is the burger! They do however still offer a potato gnocchi dish, but this one comes with confit squash, and hazelnut and crispy kale. Still sounds interesting, so I am going to give it a try.
Stay tuned for my new Whippoorwill brunch and dinner review.

If you ever get the urge to sip on Christmas in a fucking glass to the smooth sounds of Smokey Robinson then head to Whippoorwill ASAP for the Irish Santa cocktail, which includes a tiny porcelain pitcher filled with Jameson and gingerbread liqueur accompanied by a highball glass of ice cubes and a cup of cherrywood smoke (as if!) wrapped like a present in red tissue and a blue ribbon and you open the package and it smells like a crackling fire at your grandparent’s farm on the outskirts of Red Deer, Alberta, and you pour in the booze, add a couple ice cubes and take a few sips while you recall a time at a bar in Vancouver when you ordered a drink that came with a polaroid photo of yourself drinking it except this one actually tastes good and you can’t help but notice a patron across the room yell-​talking about how Joel got really fat after he stopped being a vegan straightedge (duh) and you can’t tell if he’s been playing in the quote unquote snow or if he was just born insufferable but your current yuletide buzz helps you get through it while at the same time encouraging you to do questionable things like snap a quick pic of the young gentleman at the bar’s impeccable shoe and sock ensemble.

Went here for a late night dinner and was totally wowed. Had a very simple dinner, green salad and the mulligatawny soup and everything was just gorgeous. Something about the lettuce was just so special, the baby romaine was so crisp, as if someone had grew it in their garden and picked it that afternoon. Then the soup –which was completely vegan, was a little bit sweet and a little bit spicy and just so warming and lovely. My boyfriend had the burger and I don’t think it ever hit the plate after he picked it up, he completely devoured it in a second, and the potato wedges we’re hands down the best I’ve ever had.
The service was a little silly, the table was kinda minuscule, and honestly they’d benefit from front of house staff caring as much as the kitchen because the food was astounding.

The atmosphere is fantastic, the service is completely unpretentious, and the food isn’t half bad.
We didn’t have a reservation but they managed to fit us in. When a «better» table freed up before we ordered, they even offered to move us there. My dining partner’s drink was called «A Trip to the Market», and featured gin with persimmon and some other tasty ingredients. He suggested, however, that the next time they visit the market, they might want to pick up a sprig of basil or mint to take the drink to the next level.
I started with the «Simple Green Salad», which was delightful, with what I think were pickled radishes and sun dried tomato. The vinaigrette was truly what made the dish, though. I know what you’re thinking. Really? Of all the tasty sounding options, you started with a salad? Yes, I did. It takes some TLC to keep my figure this svelte.
Keeping in mind that I’m watching my weight, the obvious next step was to order the cornbread with pork belly. It came in a piping hot skillet and was garnished with green onion and prunes. The pork belly could have been a bit fattier/​crispier, but overall, it was a pretty solid dish. My boyfriend ordered the Korean style chicken wings, which blew us both away.
All in all, it was a fairly solid evening and a pleasant experience. I get the feeling that some dishes are better honed than others, however, and there’s room for considerable improvement. I’d go back and give it another shot.

Before the summer months came along, I visited The Whip for dinner and drinks for a friends birthday celebrations. It was just two couples so it was the perfect sized outing for this small diner style location (larger groups beware you may have difficulty getting in here).
Ever have that situation where everything on the bar and food menu’s looks fantastic and your brain overloads and you end up going with a safe bet. Ya that happened. Everything here sounded INCREDIBLE, like amazing enough to make me want to come back on the regular.
I looked over the drink menu and being an Old Fashioned guy myself, it was a no brainer for me when I saw their take on an OF done with a super peaty scotch. It was all my favourite things in one glass. I mean if you love a good OF or if you love a peaty scotch… or both, you’d be remiss to not order this drink at least 5 times in a row (prices be dammed this is what would happen if you put Don Draper and Ron Burgundy in a room together and told them to come up with a cocktail. The only way to make this manlier would be to have this served in a bearded glass covered in spikes and leather. That’s simply not possible so this drink is already the most manliest you can drink.
I couldn’t decide on a meal so I took a quick scoot onto the interwebs and I discovered that they had an award winning burger! I don’t care what your burger is or who gave you the award, you put award winning on it and I’m all in like it’s head to head at the WPT finals.
The burger while slightly smaller in size made up with big bold flavours, a perfect medium rare cook, juicyness running down my fingers into my palms and UGHHH I think I just wet myself…
Go hear… right now. Order all the burgers and food and down it with a peaty scotchy old fashioned-​y drink-​y-​y-​y!
Eatcrest Out-​y!

Was here for dinner last week with my son (who had just moved into the area) and my 12 year old. As soon as I saw the menu I was concerned the little one would not like the food. My son ordered the burger with fries… served nicely… nice portion and reasonably priced for the area at $ 14. Little one wanted steak so we had the only beef option that I thought she would like to share, which was the pot roast and Yorkshire with a bit of fries. It was tender small to average size portion served with a nice portion of very good gravy. My daughter enjoyed it. I ordered a soup…(Mulligatawny) it was served kind of oddly. It was placed in what looked like a very micro mini tea pot and it was thick so it was very hard for server to poor over the fresh herbs in the bowl. It was tasty but a very small portion for $ 11. My only complaint really with the soup and meal is … I go to many restaurants and every single one that is serving this caliber of food at this price point will always include some form of bread or crostini with butter or oil. Especially when served at soup… I would expect a little something on the side to dip in or savour the flavour in the bowl. It may be a small thing to offer but to me it did make a difference… so much so I opted to review so the owners can maybe consider this.
Service was very good, good selection of beers, atmosphere was very cool and music suited the ambiance. Dessert… we had the dark chocolate pudding and the apple bread puddling… cute little baked in a cup presentation and contents very rich and satisfying. Dinner for 2 with 2 drinks (since little one and I shared I think best to rate this way). $ 100 including tax. A little expensive in my opinion but the food was good. I could honestly just be put off because of the bread thing… lol! It’s my thing.
Go again… yes maybe to try brunch as I heard they have a good one.

Oh yes.
In fact if you’re in the neighbourhood and you don’t go here for food, I’d be really disappointed in you.
Food — amazing, absolutely amazing. My friend had the chicken wings and they were so good we actually went home and decided we’d make them ourselves. Or try to (that’s another story).
I had rabbit which was done to perfection. It was in a really light vinegar sauce with some local greens. It was absolutely divine.
Everything on the menu looked absolutely incredible. If I’d had the hunger I probably could have ordered two or three more things just to sample it all.
We both settled on just drinking Jameson, which while it’s an old comfort friend, I am disappointed I didn’t try more of what they have on their drink list.
The atmosphere and décor is, excuse my language, fucking brilliant. Super cosy, feels really natural and comfortable with a touch of elegance. I just really adored the feel inside. Old diner benches, done up in a newer hip refurbished way.
The staff were amazing. We chatted about all the different rad things we could do in the neighbourhood, as well as the rad stuff that they host themselves. Really felt awesome and like it was connected to a really cool community in Toronto.
Like I said, if you don’t go here, it really is your loss.

I will start off by saying that the staff were just wonderful. Servers are knowledgeable, bartenders are friendly, and they went out of their way to hang our coats (bonus points). The wine list is nice (many surprisingly tasty Ontario selections by the glass) and the cocktail list looked interesting.
I was really hoping to have at least a 4-​star experience here given the publicity about Whippoorwill and its rating as Toronto’s Best New Restaurant by Now Magazine. Unfortunately, it just missed the mark. The beets in the beet salad appetizer were kind of wrinkly. That’s really the best word I can come up with to describe the sensation in my mouth — something was off about them. The spicy wings were juicy and delicious BUT very difficult to eat because they were so large and the forearm part of the wing was still connected to the upper arm of the wing. Know what I mean? Finally, we had originally ordered the gnocchi but were told that the portion was probably «too small» to share as a main dish (with the wings) so we were recommended an alternate dish: the ribs. The ribs were the most disappointing part of the meal: they were dry and gamey and looked more like pork chops than ribs.
So although I loved the people here and although the ambiance was great (dimly lit, cozy, etc.), I can’t justify 4 stars because the food simply wasn’t great.