Bar Butcher Toronto Serves Steakhouse Cuts at Pub Prices Near Scotiabank Arena
A steakhouse near Scotiabank Arena is getting a lot of attention for one simple reason. Bar Butcher Toronto serves steak and pub food at prices that are much lower than most fine dining steak spots downtown.
The restaurant is at 31 Bay Street, in the space that used to be the Miller Tavern. It sits close to Union Station, the CN Tower and Scotiabank Arena. That makes it an easy stop before a Leafs game, a Raptors game or a concert.
A More Casual Sibling to The Butcher Chef
Bar Butcher comes from the team behind The Butcher Chef, a high end steakhouse in Toronto. Co-owner Michael Dabic runs it with his family. Derek Von Raesfeld is a co-owner and the culinary director. Head chef Michael Pallister used to cook at Richmond Station, according to Toronto Life.
The team wanted a place that feels easy to walk into. “We don’t want people to think it’s something out of their price point or you have to be dressed up,” Dabic told Streets of Toronto.
He calls it a “very inexpensive, elevated luxury pub.”
What Is on the Menu
The beef is dry aged in house, and fried foods are cooked in beef tallow. The menu mixes steakhouse cuts with pub and bistro plates. Here are some items and prices reported by Toronto Life and blogTO:
- 12 oz Alberta strip loin: $76, or $38 for a 6 oz cut
- Australian Wagyu flat iron: $80 with herbed tallow butter
- Schnitzel: $28 with a sunny side up egg
- Crisp fish: $26 with mushy peas and tartar sauce
- Ceviche: $24 with nori crisps
- Cheesecake: $16
- Wine bottles: Starting at $40
Toronto Life notes that the same 12 oz Alberta strip loin costs $155 at The Butcher Chef. At Bar Butcher it costs about half that. The menu also has duck leg and lamb shank for under $30, plus fries, pasta, salads and sandwiches.
There is a full cocktail list too. It includes a smoky strawberry mezcal drink and a cacio e pepe martini. There are also drinks with no alcohol.
Why People Are Talking About It
Steak dinners downtown can cost a lot, so a lower price point stands out. The location also helps. Many people near the waterfront and the arena want a sit down meal that does not take up the whole night or the whole budget.
Dabic says the team tries to keep its promises small and its food strong. “We under promise, but we over deliver,” he told Streets of Toronto.
What Happens Next
With the holiday season and a busy run of games and concerts at Scotiabank Arena, tables near the arena will fill up fast. If you plan to go before an event, it is a good idea to book ahead on OpenTable. Hours can change, so check the restaurant’s website or call before you go.
References
- Toronto Life, Toronto’s newest steakhouse is priced like a pub
- Streets of Toronto, A cheaper version of one of Toronto’s bougiest steakhouses just opened downtown
- blogTO, Bar Butcher
- OpenTable, Bar Butcher Restaurant, Toronto
