ver want something no more complicated than pint of draft while the better half is whining for a Gibson served straight-up with the alchemy of a five-star hotel lounge? Well, you can't split up just because of cocktail incompatibility, now, can you? And that was the very focus Tom Patterson and Ken Horne had when they took over the Paddock, rehabilitating it into well-behaved citizen.*

The Paddock received a major facelift five years ago to turn this landmark location into a semi-chi-chi bar. The upgraded version opened in the fall of 1998 in the refurbished shell of what was previously the Paddock Tavern (since 1947), but with a local chef, a solid sound system, and a quality - and often inventive - cocktail lineup.

It may seem counterintuitive to have a tavern-like bar with all the chic trappings of urban cool, yet here it is. The old-school drinks, vintage surroundings, mixed with current sounds have been luring an energized crowd here to mingle in the happy-hour vibe of a late-'40s and early-'50s era cocktail bar.

The current rendition of The Paddock is an enhancement of the original - a design that wasn't created with the intention of being "retro" or "kitschy," like many of Toronto’s retro concept bars. It was established long before either of those hopelessly common adjectives were defined terms; when retro sounded like the name of a new Oldsmobile.

Everything about this little bar indicates an era when people gathered for rounds of stiff stuff on the rocks, while ranting about Ike, the Russkies and Art Linkletter. The room is a living, technicolour snapshot of the ‘40s; owners Tom Patterson and Ken Horne dispensed with the Paddock’s previous lack-of-funds-inspired bar theme and reconnected their Queen and Bathurst venue with walnut accenting, wooden flooring, and paneling that looks like Hershey chocolate bars - all to attract a new crowd, good energy, and therefore, street cred.

The room (and there is only one room; 3/4 of the original Paddock is sectioned off), with its velvety window-area banquettes and dark wooden chairs, is open, airy and boasts a full and surprisingly current - considering it’s the original - bar counter.

The stylized feel of the Paddock is a gratifying change from the typical Queen West bar scene which tends to range from fratty to rave-ish. And while they have beer on tap, don't overlook the creative cocktail menu. The well-made cocktails range from a Nepaul Pepper, which combines vodka, tequila and cayenne pepper to a French Connection which features cognac and amaretto on the rocks, and the Gibson, a classic but a hard-sell.

The Paddock, regardless of what night you visit it, or what crowd is inhabiting it, gives off a fairly consistent vibe. It seems like there's always a member of the previous Paddock generation somewhere on the scene, spinning tales of how things used to be. The fare is as good as any in town, but The Paddock really distinguishes itself with a quality cocktail lineup (rotating monthly), an energized crowd and an ambiance that's chic and airy enough to support fancy dates, business meetings, and martini-soaked birthday parties.

Upshot: *Well-behaved is all very relative; expect an uncontrollable party to break out at any given time.
- Don Ellis, Martiniboys.com


Review this Place
Reader Reviews