Craning our necks to see what famous Brits are up on the second floor patio

I recently had the opportunity to dine at The Queen and Beaver Public House. It’s been on my to-do list for ages, but I happened to be staying in the vicinity so took advantage of an unseasonably balmy night to grab a patio seat and went to town.

Snap pea soup with creme fraiche

First up as my starter was the snap pea soup with creme fraiche; it was on as a special and nicely British, so dived right in. It was very velvety, thick and delicious — but thought it would have worked well as a gazpacho too.

House smoked tomatoes and cheddar on toast

My dining companion (“the missus”) had the house smoked tomatoes and cheddar on toast. Posh cheese on toast, basically. This was a hearty bite and the cheddar had a nice tang to it. The tomatoes were nice and juicy and this would be the kind of comfort food that you’d crave after a night on the lash.

Q&B sausages and mash with stout onion gravy

My main was the Q&B sausages and mash with stout onion gravy. I chose this dish because it’s my go-to pub fare — but this version was off the charts. I can never go back to the sausages and mash that I normally have in another pub. That dish is dead to me now. These were really flavourful sausages with a hint of jalapeno in for a nice little kick. I pride myself on my mashed potatoes and these were just as smooth and creamy. A generous dollop of rich stout onion gravy and bob’s your uncle. Sorted. Best dish of the night!

All in all, tied in with the selection of beers and relaxed atmosphere, we give this fine establishment a Brits in Toronto 5/5 stars. Will definitely be back.

BONUS POINTS = Dining on the table next to us with his crew was TTC boss and fellow Brit Andy Byford. Had a quick chat and he passed on this tip for a good pub, so check it out: The Rebel House.