Toronto
Want to get drunk and have a great night in Toronto?
Start by pounding tapas and four cocktails at Bar Raval.
Walk over to Cocktail Bar for a nice intermezzo and tie on two there.
Then walk to Gift Shop where the first question you're asked is, "Do you like fernet?"
Someone was reading my mind.
Do NOT give up that coveted space at the bar and just drift away giving in to cocktails and conversation.
Reservations? Required. Don't be a dick to your gracious host? Check.
H, yes "H," is your guide for the evening. This is his domain. Respect it. He's gruff, but quickly warms up to guests. He calls himself the Gordon Ramsay of cocktails, in that he has no problem using a raised voice and colourful language, but my guess is that he's really a teddy bear on the inside. His knowledge and skill for producing bitters, syrups and cocktails is encyclopedic.
He also must have amazing recall because he remembered me from my previous visit, three years prior. Hopefully for good reasons and not bad.
The cocktails? You're welcome to go off book, but don't. This isn't a bar with an endless menu. Pick what you like on it, because it's going to be perfect.
How slick is their menu presentation (2019)? https://donnellygroup.ca/giftshop/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2019/03/GiftShop_SP19_MENU.pdf
The night I was there, Gift Shop was capacity controlled to nine guests due to local restrictions. People were booking past midnight on a Sunday. Gives you an idea that this bar, catering mostly to locals, is on point.
H will probably be pissed I'm blowing up his spot. But I don't care. I'll just bring him a small trinket from his favourite bar to smooth things over.
To qualify for The Single Table awards, I had to visit that location in the given calendar year.