Caesar cocktails are an iconic Canadian bevy and in Toronto you’ll find them on menus at brunch, lunch and dinner.
While the drink is traditionally crafted with a blend of vodka, clam stock, and tomato juice, stirred with horeradish, a hit of Worcestershire sauce, and a celery salt rim – in Toronto, bartenders aren’t shy to take liberties.
In The 6ix, you’ll find Caesars spiked with a range of spirits, plus creative spins ranging from amped up garnishes to international riffs.
Here are 10 must-try Caesars in Toronto.
Tabülè
Adding a Middle Eastern twist on the classic, this Caesar is spiked with Sobieski vodka, spiced with harissa, and served in a sumac and za’atar rimmed glass.
Address: 810 Queen Street East, Toronto
Phone: 416-465-2500
Address: 2009 Yonge Street, Toronto
Phone: 416-483-3747
Address: 2901 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
Phone: 416-222-5424
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Rodney’s
Designed to pair perfectly with the fruits from the sea on offer from the kitchen, this famous Toronto oyster house crafts their signature Caesars with Walter’s mix and a choice of tequila, bourbon, or scotch.
Address: 469 King Street West, Toronto
Phone: 416-363-8105
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Black Briik
Taking garnishes to the extreme, this retro ’90s bar likes to dress up its Caesar with nostalgic childhood snack foods including mini corn dogs and mac n’ cheese bites.
Address: 1077 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Phone: 416-546-6123
Thompson Diner
Thompson Toronto’s new Turkey Sausage Caesar is just $5 at brunch on the weekends. The cheap and cheerful addition to the morning meal offers things to nibble on while you wait for your eggs. Garnishes include a cocktail onion, pickle, olive, celery salt rim and turkey sausage on a skewer.
Address: 550 Wellington Street West, Toronto
Phone: 416-601-3533
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Cherry Street Bar-B-Que
The smokehouse in the Port Lands looks for any opportunity to show off its meaty specialties. A smokey Caesar garnished with a rib has become a patio favourite.
Address: 275 Cherry Street, Toronto
Phone: 416-461-5111
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Hunters Landing
The Cure is this CityPlace bar’s answer to a hangover. Calling it over-the-top is an understatement, this thing features an entire meal among the garnishes; pizza, lobster tails, bacon, cheese, pickles… it’s all there.
Address: 82 Fort York Boulevard, Toronto
Phone: 647-352-6082
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Chase Fish & Oyster
Weekend brunch is a seafood-studded affair at this fish and oyster house. The house Caesar blends vodka with Carroll & Co. Bloody mix, then finishes the drink off with Clamato, lime, and a freshly shucked oyster.
Address: 10 Temperance Street, Toronto
Phone: 647-348-7000
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Shamone
The DIY Caesar bar here is stocked with all sorts of garnishes and hot sauces. Show some restraint with just a classic stick of celery or go all out decorating your bevy with cheese, veggies, eggs, pickles, pepperettes, and even wee little pigs in a blanket.
Address: 2952 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Harlem Underground
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Carbon Bar
On the weekends, the Southern-style brunch menu at this Queen East restaurant offers seductive selections to eat and drink. From the Caesar bar, start with a choice of spirits (vodka, gin, tequila, or rye) and then choose from four different styles including the “Sea”sar that featuring layers of cucumber and tomato juice topped with a wild shrimp.
Address: 99 Queen Street East, Toronto
Phone: 416-947-7000
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram