The restaurant is the newest addition to the Queen and Broadview scene. Owners Nav Sangha and Mike Homewood had a vision to create an upscale gastropub that serves up great drinks, music, and high quality comfort food.
“Our goal? To be a community hub that appeals to everyone,” Nav Sangha said. “We’ve got a first-rate Chef who puts heart and soul into his work.”
The food tastes amazing, and no wonder – Chef Dustin Gallagher is a Top Chef Canada finalist. He’s also super humble despite being kind of a big deal.
“I just want to cook great food and have some fun,” Chef Gallagher said bashfully. “There’s a little something for everyone on the menu.”
Here’s the 411 on Riverside’s simple and masterful menu of Canadian comfort food:
The Country Fried Chicken ($14 for dinner portion) fulfilled this salt-a-holic’s fantasy with its crispy goodness. I was pleasantly surprised by the savoury and meaty centre of the wings, and it was mostly white meat. Served up with a delicious side creation – a bite-sized baked potato topped with sour cream, cheddar, bacon, and chives.
I'm a sucker for fish and chips. The Halibut and Crispy Vegetables ($20 for dinner portion) scored high points for its fresh and flaky fish with a tang of lemon tartar sauce. I also liked the deep-fried sweet potato and asparagus fries as an accompaniment – something different! This dish was a real treat and almost had me licking the wrapper.
Whoever invented sliders is a genius – and so is the Riverside Burger with Smoked Mozzarella & Fries ($14 for dinner portion). The beef patty was so tender and juicy, exploding with flavour from the secret sauce. Note: this dish is seriously filling – I couldn’t eat more than two sliders (even though I wanted to).
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Mini Baked Potatoes |
You gotta balance the savoury with the sweet, right? Try La Paloma ($11) mixed with tequila blanco, fresh lime juice, and grapefruit soda. The cocktail hit the spot after the delightfully salty dishes. There’s also a generous wine and beer list available.
What I really liked about Riverside was its versatility – it’s the perfect venue for a chilled-out dinner or an upscale cocktail party. The vibe is very right now with its jet-black interior, live music, cozy booths, cathedral ceilings, and skylights. There’s also a dance floor if you want to shake it!
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Nav & Mike |
I double dog dare you: head to Riverside Public House...before there’s a line-up out the door.
Riverside Public House
725 Queen St. East
647-348-0880
Wow, this looks so good! I am going to have to pay them a visit, then go for a looooong run :)
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