The glow of comfortable tradition warms Allen's. Opened in 1987, the restaurant has achieved near-institutional status, as its bar, featuring 340 whiskies, over 100 VQA wines and 140 beers, and dining room are considered the very best of type. Customers travel from all over Canada, the U. S. and Europe to sample the unique offerings, but a solid core of local regulars maintains a consistent atmosphere of good cheer, conversation and welcome. The menu focuses on Ontario farmed and grown produce, with an urivalled presentation of naturally-raised or organic meats from area farmers. Breed, feed and age of every animal served is included on the menu. The wine cellar, with VQA selections from all regions of Ontario and British Columbia, serves as testament to Allen's commitment to Local Fare. In fine weather, there is no better spot in which to dine al fresco than Allen's backyard, where a dedicated chef cooks to order over charcoal a daily-changing menu of local specialties.more...See more text
Named after owner John Maxwell’s mentor (Joseph C. Allen), Allen's is a restaurant, informal in style, but utterly civilized, specializing in local food and drink. The Danforth Avenue haunt has been serving local residents and visitors since 1987. “It occupies the status of an institution,” says John. “It’s institutional because of its legendary hospitality, warmth of welcome and a VQA wine list, which is one of the largest — if not the largest — in the world.” Allen’s is also renowned for its beer selection (140 strong, many microbrews) and a whisky list that numbers 300.
John has been in the restaurant business for more than 50 years. He opened his first Toronto dining establishment Joe Allen in 1980 and later opened Italian hotspot Orso in 1985. Both are now closed, but today John owns one other bar in addition to Allen’s, Dora Keogh’s on the Danforth.
Many members of John’s staff at Allen's have been with him for more than 20 years. This guarantees, he explains, that customers are not just welcomed, but recognized and feel like they are part of a family. “We know a large proportion of our customers,” John says proudly. “As with other restaurants that succeed by making guests feel welcome, we don’t 'wow’ them, but instead comfort them.”
Baked Rosemary-Polenta chips with curried mayonnaise
$8.25
Grilled sweet potato wedges drizzled with cilantro-lime mayonnaise
$7.95
Organic greens with sherry vinaigrette
$8.75
Tonight's Special Menu
Meats of designated origin, with specified farm, breed, feed and aging. Consider these as "appellation controllée" or "estate" products, verified from farm to fork.
Striploin Steak 10oz
served with Jameson whiskey sauce Henry Traynor, Blackstock ON Hormone- and antibiotic-free angus; fed grass, hay, barley, alfalfa & corn, dry-aged 35 days
$38.00
Ribeye Steak 12oz
served with gorgonzola butter Richard Brooks, Lynden ON Hormone- and antibiotic-free angus; fed grass, hay & corn, dry-aged 40 days
$38.00
Rack of Lamb Chops
served with peppercorn sauce Alex McIntyre, Troy ON Hormone- and antibiotic-free angus; fed grass, hay, barley & mixed grain
$32.00
All above are served with a fresh vegetable and choice of potato
All above are served with a fresh vegetable and choice of potato Baked, skin-on Yukon gold french fries, matchstick french fries, chipotle or regular mashed, champ, steamed or rosemary-garlic roasted. We Honour the Noble Potato.
And our other specialties
Pan Fried Pickerel
served with tomato rice and a sun-dried tomato, artichoke and lemon butter sauce
$30.00
Grilled Sea Scallops
served with arugula pesto orzo and a mango-red onion slaw
$30.00
SOUPS MENU - Allen's
Chilled Tomato Soup
topped with chipotle cream
$8.75
Black Bean Soup
Vegetable stock-based soup garnished with green onion and sour cream
$8.50
Navy Bean & Double-Smoked Ham Soup
with carrot, potato, celery and onion
$9.50
APPETISERS
FOR DEEP-FRYING, ALLENS USES NON-HYDROGENATED, ONTARIO GROWN AND PROCESSED 100% CANOLA OIL
Grilled Chilli-Rubbed Shrimp Cocktail
served with avocado-corn salsa
$18.95
Mussels
Ale-steamed in a garlic & Dijon mustard broth
$14.95
Manhattan Capon Wings
served with blue cheese dressing
$12.95
Calamari
deep-fried, served with a Mongolian fire sauce
$13.95
Tandoori Chicken Quesadilla
with sautéed mushroom and Monterey Jack cheese, served with mango-ginger chutney
$13.95
Herbed Goats' Cheese Dip
served with three garlic toasts
$8.95
Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges
drizzled with cilantro-lime mayonnaise
$8.25
Baked Rosemary-Polenta Chips
served with curried mayonnaise
$8.25
Oak-Smoked Irish Salmon Potato Cakes
two cakes, topped with crème fraiche and chives
$15.95
SALADS
Caesar Salad
topped with shaved parmigiano reggiano and house-made croutons
$13.95
Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast
$19.95
Teryaki Flank Steak Salad
6oz Butchers of Distinction flank steak cooked medium rare with arugula, topped with gorgonzola cheese and a balsamic glaze
$17.95
Ahi Tuna Niçoise Salad
seared and cubed Ahi Tuna Steak with hard-boiled egg, tomato, french bean and potato, tossed in a basil vinaigrette
$18.95
Radicchio & Pomegranate Salad
with cherry tomato and feta cheese, tossed in a lemon vinaigrette
$14.95
Kale & Chick Pea Salad
with roasted pine nuts and shaved parmigiano reggiano, tossed in a basil vinaigrette
$13.95
Organic Greens
tossed in a sherry vinaigrette
8.75
Blackened Potato Salad
Cajun-spiced potatoes with lemon mayonnaise, served warm
$8.95
DINNER (MAIN COURSE)
ALL OUR MEATS ARE HORMONE AND ANTIBIOTIC- FREE AND ARE NATURALLY RAISED IN ONTARIO
Thin Crust Pizza
with roasted chicken, crispy bacon, sweet peppers, and mozzarella cheese
$17.95
THIN-CRUST PIZZA
with grilled zucchini, fennel, red onion and asiago cheese
$16.95
Shrimp Fettuccine
oven-roasted Roma tomato sauce, topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano
$19.95
Penne with Roasted Vegetable Ragoût
with tomato, eggplant, zucchini, onion and jalapeño
$18.95
Pan-Seared Halibut
7oz halibut filet in a bed of tomato vinaigrette topped with arugula
$21.95
Lager-Battered Halibut & Chips
an Allen's specialty and favourite, served with house-made lemon-dill tartar sauce
$19.95
Open-Faced Smoked Salmon Sandwich
served on house-made Irish soda bread, with dill cream cheese, red onion and lemon
$18.95
Atlantic Salmon Hamburger
with capers and lime zest, topped with dill pickle mayonnaise and pickled ginger, served with an arugula salad with red onion and Asiago
$17.95
Chef Viji's Excellent Curries all served with chapati
Vegetable potato, chickpea, cauliflower, ginger and carrot topped with green chili yoghurt
$17.95
Chef Viji's Excellent Curries all served with chapati
Butter Chicken onion, garlic, ginger, roasted cashews served with turmeric-scented rice
$18.95
Chef Viji's Excellent Curries all served with chapati
Shrimp red pepper, shallots, garlic, grated coconut and chili pepper, served with turmeric-scented rice
$18.95
Free-Range Chicken Breast with Quinoa
Butchers of Distinction grilled 7oz chicken breast, served with quinoa, grilled fennel, green onion and parsley, topped with champagne vinaigrett
$19.95
Dublin Lamb Shank
braised in Guinness, served with champ
$19.95
Tamworth Pork Rib Chop au Poivre
10oz pork rib chop, served with toasted orzo, topped with chives and sherry cream sauce
$21.95
Angus Provimi Calf's Liver
thinly sliced liver sautéed with mushrooms, charred onions and balsamic vinegar, served with the daily vegetable
$23.95
House-Made Dessert MENU - Allen's
BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
with MALDON SEA SALT FLAKES
$8.95
INDIVIDUAL WARM RHUBARB CRISP
with VANILLA ICE CREAM
$8.75
CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE
with SOUR CREAM ICING
$8.75
HOT FUDGE ECLAIR
CHOUX PASTRY FILLED WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND TOPPED WITH HOT FUDGE SAUCE
$8.75
BUTTERSCOTCH BAKED APPLE with VANILLA ICE CREAM on SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD
on SCOTTISH SHORTBREAD
$9.25
COCONUT CREAM PIE
with DARK RUM and a CHOCOLATE WAFER CRUST
$9.25
DESSERT WINES
SELECT LATE HARVEST VIDAL 2006 - CATTAIL CREEK FAMILY ESTATE
Suggested with: INDIVIDUAL MIXED BERRY and MASCARPONE TART with LATTICE CRUST
CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2006 MALIVOIRE
Suggested with: BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE MOUSSE with MALDON SEA SALT FLAKES
RIESLING ICEWINE 2004 HENRY OF PELHAM
Suggested with: INDIVIDUAL WARM RHUBARB CRISP with VANILLA ICE CREAM
I first visited Allen's back in the 80's, not long after it opened, and I was instantly smitten. So much so, in fact that I moved into the neighbourhood! First I was a regular, then a nuisance, and finally a piece of furniture. I finally moved back to Markham in 1998, and cannot justify going anywhere south of Steeles Avenue without stopping into Allen's for lunch. The food is imaginative, superbly prepared, and so delicious, that even when I'm full, I often look at the menu again, just to see what I'll be ordering on my next visit!
And the patio? Don't get me started......
You’d never know it from the front of Allen’s, but out back, a magical wonderland awaits you.
A large tree offers not only the feeling of being in a lost garden, but a bit of shade from the sun’s powerful rays.
Slim wood tables and chairs suggest a Muskoka setting or perhaps somewhere in Europe. What matters most is that you’ll seem elsewhere, outside of the city, for at least a little while.
And sometimes, that all the respite you need.
Often touted as “The Best Wings in the World,” Allen’s has been living up to that title with its Manhattan Capon Wings. Unlike its Buffalo-style counterpart, Manhattan Capon Wings are not breaded and have a spicy, sweet and sour sauce. Allen’s serves its wings with a side of blue cheese dressing. Take out is available.
