Allen's

5/5
Opening at 11:30 am
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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

Cuisine type

  • Regional,
  • American,
  • Irish,

Dishes

  • Seafood,
  • Comfort Food,
  • Hamburger,
  • Brunch,

Features

  • Extensive Wine List,
  • Restaurant With Live Entertainment,

Atmosphere

  • Trendy,
  • Casual,
  • Family,

Products and Services

  • Open Sunday,
  • Full Dinner Menu,
  • Daily Special,

Languages Spoken

  • English,
Location
143 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N2
Useful Information

Opening Hours *Holiday hours

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
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Rates:

  • $26 To $60,
  • $11 To $25,

Methods of Payment:

Meet the owner

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.”

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Menu & Prices

Mains MENU - Allen's

Allens Famous Hamburger with Matchstick Yukon Gold Fries

All burgers are topped with lettuce, tomato, dill pickle and onion

$17.00 Add aged Ontario Cheddar $1.00 Add Blue Cheese $1.50 Add Ontario Strip Bacon $2.00

7oz Brian Morrison Angus Tenderloin Steak

Hormone and Antibiotic Free, dry-aged 28 days
Served with rosemary-garlic roasted potatoes, green beans, red onion, cherry tomato and a thyme-marsala sauce

$34.00

Mongolian Fire Free-Range Half Chicken

Served with mashed potatoes, rosemary gravy, green beans, red onions and cherry tomatoes.

$22.00

Lager-Battered Halibut and Chips

$18.00

Chef Vijis Butter Chicken

Served with naan and turmeric-scented rice

$17.00

Penne with Wild Mushroom Ragoût

With oyster mushrooms, shitake mushrooms, button mushrooms and portobello mushrooms

$17.00

Dublin Lamb Shank

served with champ

$19.00

Desserts

Chocolate Guinness Cake

topped with sour cream icing

$9.00

Sparkling Wine

Cuvée Peter L.Huff 2011

Huff Estate

$60.00

The Fence Sparkling Rosé 2017

Lighthall Vineyards

$40.00

Whitecap 2017

Hinterland

$35.00

Red Wine

Cabernet Franc Violette 2018

Pearl Morissette

$40.00

Cabernet Franc (Natural) 2018

Tawse Winery

$35.00

Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Greenlane Estate Winery

$30.00

Insieme 2016

Colaneri

$45.00

Gamay Noir Small Lot 2017

Malivoire

$30.00

Notorious PTG 2017

Rosewood Estates Winery

$35.00

Pinot Noir Parfum 2015

Bachelder

$35.00

Pinot Noir Unfiltered 2016

Grange of Prince Edward

$40.00

Syrah Iconoclast 2016

Creekside Estate Winery

$35.00

Appetizers

Caesar Salad

topped with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and house-made croutons

$14.00

Manhattan Capon Wings

Served with blue cheese dressing

$13.00

Calamari

deep-fried, served with a Mongolian fire sauce

$14.00

White Wine

Chardonnay The Fifty 2016

Leaning Post

$30.00

Chardonnay 2016

3XP (Pearce, Predhomme, Pender)

$30.00

Pinot Gris 2017

Fielding Estate Winery

$30.00

Riesling 2016

Stanners Vineyard

$35.00

Riesling Picone Vineyard 2010

Charles Baker at Stratus

$40.00

Sauvignon Blanc Sand & Gravel 2017

Ravine Vineyard

$25.00
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Ratings & Reviews - Allen's

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BigJosh
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Easily My Favourite Toronto Restaurant!

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......

Atmosphere: 5/5
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
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Appears in 9 Smart Lists

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With more than 100 Scotch whiskies to choose from and a killer burger on the menu, you can't go wrong with Allen's.

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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.

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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.

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