Toronto Restaurants by Stephanie Dickison

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The Arrival - Steam Whistle Biergärten

Steam Whistle Biergärten, the newest addition to Steam Whistle Roundhouse, takes inspiration from the bier halls of Munich.

Bringing a bit of Bavaria to the downtown core, the festive spot situated across from Rogers Centre and Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, celebrated their grand opening on Friday.

Take a look:

On tap

Steam Whistle brews the old-world way. Every batch follows the Reinheitsgebot (more commonly known as Bavarian Purity Act of 1516) - a set of regulations deeming only water, barley and hops can be used to brew beer. Yeast was added years later.

 Their Pilsner is made with just four ingredients: spring water from Caledon, Golden Two Row Barley from Saskatchewan, Czech and Bavarian hops, and bottom-fermented lager yeast from Hungary, and is free of additives and preservatives.

Choose from four brews on tap ($6,12 oz) - Steam Whistle Pilsner and Unfiltered Pilsner, Von Bugle Munich Lager, and New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale – or shake things up with a beertail (Shandy, Radler, and Biercola: $7 ea).

For non-imbibers, there’s a small selection of booze-free options ($4.50-$5).

Schnitzel, Späetzle & Sausages

An essential part of any bier hall is food.

Partnering with Toronto heavyweights, The Food Dudes, you’ll find an array of traditional German fare of schnitzel ($23), sausages ($16-$18) and soft pretzels ($8-$10), alongside vegetarian and vegan options such as Beet Tartare ($12), Vegan Burger ($16) and Currywurst ($16), and Roasted Brussel Sprouts ($15).

Head chef Tyson Porcellato implements fresh and local ingredients, while incorporating Steam Whistle into condiments, cheese, nuts, soup, and batter. He even uses it to cure salmon in-house. 

The kid’s menu (Schnitzel Fingers $20, BBQ Cheese Burger $16, and Spätzle $15) is of course, booze-free.

Gärten  

Tucked away in the big black round, you’ll find a bright modern space boasting dramatic two-storey ceiling, lush greenery, and communal seating.

The bar area along the back features glossy white tiles set in a herringbone pattern, brass taps, white corrugated metal base, and industrial metal stools. A shipping container outlined in bright green and white houses the kitchen in the back corner. Wood posts, beams, and benches throughout the dining room add a rustic warmth.

Beer-to-go and assorted merch can be purchased at the small shop located to the right of the entrance, and additional seating is on the patio out front.

Not-to-be-missed features: Tiles along an outer wall boast whimsical drawings of sausages, beer, pretzels, and other ingredients; And hanging from a post near the kitchen, an oversized squeezable jug to dress your pretzels and sausages with a completely customizable amount of spicy mustard.

Prost.

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Steam Whistle Biergärten

The John St. Roundhouse
255 Bremner Blvd., Entrance Bay 7

Hours
Mon – Thurs: 5pm -11pm
Fri + Sat: 12pm -11pm
Sun: 10am – 11pm