Earlier this week Union Restaurantwas finally given permission by the city to roll out their patio. Teo Paul had talked to all the neighbours, held a local event, filled in all the paperwork and finished all the necessary applications and finally earlier this week he was approved.
On Friday night, when we visited, the patio was in full swing with customers enjoying some of the local goodness Teo puts together. The patio, which only seats around 25 people, is fully equipped with it’s own barbeque and a composter which, tucked away to the side, is how they recycle much of their organic kitchen waste.
It’s mid-summer and we are still working our way around the local patios. The Red Light at 1185 Dundas St West is open most weekend afternoons, and at night. The two room bar also offers a cozy, South-facing patio with a lot of built in benches for seating. Order a drink from the bar before you head to the back, and lounge in the sun making new friends of your neighbors. It’s a young, friendly crowd, and sometimes they have special BBQ meals and other one-time-only events. You never know what you’ll get, but it’s probably fun at The Red Light.
Down on southern Ossington lies Baby Huey, a mostly late night spot at 70 Ossington. We stopped in on a recent Saturday after 11pm, and the crowd still hadn’t arrived, which allowed us the back patio almost entirely to ourselves. It’s a large back patio with some pretty interesting wall murals, and the drinks are cheap, so come early for a seat, or later to mingle with the cool kids. See you on the patio!
As last weekend was our first summery weekend, lots of people were enjoying the sunshine on Ossington patios.
Our first stop most mornings is for coffee. Crafted by Te Aro has a lovely back patio that not many people seem to know about. Again this weekend, there were lots of empty seats in the east facing space. They are open all day, and serve soups, sandwiches and baked goods in addition to the caffeinated beverages. There are about as many outdoor seats as there are inside, so you’ve got a good chance of enjoying the fresh air here.
Just down the street from Crafted, Rua Vang Golden Turtle Vietnamese, has a big corner patio on Argyle Street. It may be the well-priced pho, but I think the outdoor environment also draws the crowds. My favourite part about this patio is the quote painted on the wall: “In the infinite moments it takes to read this you’ll have lived forever”. Those are some heavy thoughts to chew on while sipping their delicious Pho.
In our continuing series on the great patios on Ossington, today we highlight two options for enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon, while watching the Ossington crowd roll by (which, on a Sunday, may include a few walks of shame from the Saturday night festivities) – the Lakeview Restaurant and The Crooked Star.
The Lakeview Restaurant has one of the prime outdoor spots, and includes a great menu for brunch, and recovery from the prior night’s activities. Boasting cheap Caesars and Mimosas, it’ll help you revive the hangover while you sit out in the sun on Dundas listening to the rumble of streetcars and watching locals walking over to Trinity Bellwoods. The outdoor area of the Lakeview only fits around 16 people, so can get pretty busy on nice afternoons. The patio is, in fact, open every day for lunch.
If you’re not looking for food, and just craving the hair of the dog while sitting outside enjoying the company of locals, another option is the Crooked Star. This friendly neighbourhood bar is not known for its food, but for a wide selection of beverages including a cask draft beer and other locally made brews. The plastic chairs are somewhat awkwardly placed and it can be hard to navigate down the fenced off area, however it makes for many opportunities to get to know your neighbours at the close-by tables.
If you walk down Ossington it’s sometimes hard to tell where the good back patios are as they are often quietly tucked away behind the bars.
One of the oldest back-patios on Ossington belongs to Sweaty Betty’s which recently upgraded their furniture and decor. Here there’s always a young and interesting crowd, and sometimes you might even run into a celebrity enjoying a pint. (or, if you’re lucky: owner, Pol, without his shirt). You won’t get table service at Sweaty Betty’s so pick up your drinks before you wind your way through the back room out to the oasis outside. The back patio can get crowded, but usually people will make room on the benches or move chairs around to accommodate you. It’s a friendly crowd.
Another spot which you might not notice from the street is Reposado’s back patio. Here you’ll find a nice retreat where you can imagine you’re tucked away in Mexico City while you drink a blood orange margarita or flight of nice quality tequilas. This patio has less seating, but the servers will come to you, so once you’ve finished your drink, you don’t have to get up to replace it.
There are even more hidden patios on Ossington. Keep your eyes on the blog for more of the street’s outdoor gems.
It’s finally springtime, and it’s time to sit outside. Ossington has a number of great outdoor venues both in the back and out front. This Saturday a couple of them were in full use. Here’s the first part of our Ossington patio guide outlining some of the great places to sit outside on Ossington.
I-Deal Coffee – has a nice outdoor space, if a little unkempt at times. Only last year did they fence it in and clean it up a bit, as it was getting used in the years prior. Don’t expect service out there, as you’ll have to get your coffee inside, but it’s one of the best spots on Ossington to catch some rays, being on the north side of Foxley.
BQM – This burger joint on Roylat and Ossington also has a south-facing patio and this Saturday, early in April, people were out having drinks and burgers. At BQM, you will get full service, and it’s also licensed. The wooden benches aren’t always the most comfortable at BQM, but there are umbrellas to keep parts of the patio in the shade.
Earlier this week Union Restaurant 
was finally given permission by the city to roll out their patio. Teo Paul had talked to all the neighbours, held a local event, filled in all the paperwork and finished all the necessary applications and finally earlier this week he was approved.
