• In the Kitchen
  • At the Table
  • Stories
  • Field Notes
  • Stuff
Prepped Magazine
  • In the Kitchen
  • At the Table
  • Stories
  • Field Notes
  • Stuff
  • Restaurants

The Commoner Bar Room is a gussied-up take on the local watering hole

  • August 28, 2020
  • Jessica Huras
Braised Beef Sliders // CREDIT: Jessica Huras

It’s the neighbourhood pub experience but better.

The Story

The Commoner Bar Room in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood is the second outpost of the Commoner, a popular family-friendly gastropub located in Roncesvalles neighbourhood. The restaurant’s handsome decor and classed-up pub fare don’t stray far from the standard set by original location. 

While the original Commoner is geared towards its location in family-oriented Roncesvalles, however, the Commoner Bar aims to appeal to its own neighbourhood. Rebecca Ananda, manager at the Commoner Bar, says that meant putting a stronger emphasis on the drinks program at Bar Room to keep it on par with nearby heavyweights like Bar Raval and DaiLo.

At the same time, Bar Room aims to be a more affordable, relaxed alternative to Little Italy’s tonier destination restaurants. “We wanted to have a place that’s elevated but also really comfortable,” says Ananda. 

The Commoner Bar Room patio
The commoner bar room patio // CREDIT: jessica huras
The setting

The Commoner Bar Room is a modern, stylish reimagining of a traditional British Pub. Classic design details like exposed brick and a mix of dark and light woods are complemented by jewel-toned accents. The aesthetic is an apt reflection of the restaurant’s menu: Elegant but approachable.

A large patio tucked at the back of the long, narrow space is a hidden gem for summer dining. It’s bright and peaceful, decorated with rustic wood and lots of greenery.

The Commoner Bar Room food
the commoner board // CREDIT: JESSICA HURAS
The food and drink

The Commoner Bar Room’s food menu is all about crowd-pleasing pub fare done well.

The Commoner Bar Room features many of the popular favourites as its sister restaurant, including braised beef sliders served on a mini brioche with horseradish aioli; and crispy tempura-battered buffalo cauliflower. The Commoner Board, which can be shared between up to four people, is a nice option when you want to sample a little bit of everything while having a few drinks. It comes with ribs, Cajun honey chicken, braised beef sliders, jalapeño cornbread, caesar salad, cabbage slaw, and fries.

“It’s got a little something for everybody,” says Ananda. 

Although there’s a good selection of draft beers, the drinks menu emphasizes wine and cocktails.

 “We see ourselves as that place where you go to get a little bit fancy drunk,” says Ananda. 

The Commoner’s cocktail program focuses on spirit-forward drinks. There’s a good mix of established drinks like a Paper Plane served with a tiny paper airplane on the rim, and original concoctions worth exploring like the Botanical Spritz with vodka, elderflower, bitters, cava and grapefruit.

The wine list is a balance of Old World and New World bottles, highlighting characteristic wines from various regions, such as an Australian shiraz and a Niagara riesling. Ananda describes it as “the highest quality wines I could get for a reasonable price point.”

The Commoner Bar Room patio cocktail
smoke and mirrors cocktail // CREDIT: jessica huras
The essential order

Start your meal with the Tuna Tostada, a brightly-flavoured dish that sees a crispy baked tostada topped with a refreshing combo of avocado, apple, jalapeño. pico de gallo, feta, garlic, sour cream and cilantro. It’s a pleasant, light appetizer to contrast with the heartier main dishes. 

$$; thecommonerrestaurant.ca

Read More
  • Drinks

I’ve crossed borders and driven hundreds of miles for this white wine

Read More
  • Recipes

Pippa Middlehurst’s Sichuan Chilli Oil Wontons

Read More
  • Tools

I’m learning to love knife blocks again thanks to this Canadian-designed set

Hungry for more? Subscribe to our newsletter.

Prepped Magazine
  • About
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Preferences
  • Privacy Policy

Input your search keywords and press Enter.