July 26, 2011
2011-07. Visited many a Monday night this year after our ball hockey games at the Just-4-Fun gym nearby, it is a bit of a dive when you first walk in. Then you look at the tap and bottle list and mosey to the back patio and all is well again! Love the mosaic flooring and private back patio and even the resident raccoon in the tree, but strongly dislike the washroom (poorly lit and extremely cramped). Beer-savvy owner and servers are very friendly and often crack jokes. Food menu has some tasty Pad Thai and other spicy offerings, plus inexpensive grilled sandwiches and simple grub. Beer selection has about a half dozen on tap (including Blanche de Chambly!) and they list 50+ imported and interesting bottles, though not all are stocked. A good visit if you’re going by Lansdowne station anyway: sitting on a shaded patio with a pint of BdC can’t be beat in this 30 degree weather! (4/10/12/9/10/13) 78%

January 5, 2008
Popped in here at 15mins to Midnight on NYE, staff were very friendly, had DT on tap and at midnight they handed out champagne and party poppers etc. Good selection of bottles, a lot of Belgians available, I would like to see more North American stuff. Not the most aesthetically pleasing place but quirky and nice all the same

October 27, 2007 [ Updated November 7, 2010 ]
Food is fair, beer list is not bad. Not inspired to go there much. Rochefort 10 you say? Hmm..** RATING UPDATE ** Recent visits are discouraging, with terrible tasting Urquell on tap, and Maudite BSA served in skinny little Pilsner glass (almost poured me a large size in a Hefeweizen glass!) Place is dead on a Saturday night and I think the area still repels people. Perhaps the slow gentrification will raise up both the area and the clientele? I would be happy to see that. Nothing that unusual on bottles, given reputation.

August 7, 2007
at first this place seems like a bit of a dive, but the nice service and matching beer glasses (at least for the belgian ales i tried) earns extra credit. one of the few places in toronto to still offer rochefort 10.

November 16, 2005 [ Updated April 21, 2006 ]
Umm, no hookers about when I went (maybe check 5-10 years ago). Not the greatest ’hood but improving (witness condos and townhouses going up in the area). Funky dark atmosphere, great new patio in the back and the front opens as well. A true mix of swill drinkers and the odd the beer geek. Taps have taken a turn for the worse, no local micros last time I was in (some Quebec and odd imports though). Bottles are good, leans towards Belgians with some rare finds at fantastic prices. Food is amazing and great value. Service is good too, especially if the owner is around, he’ll bring you in behind the bar to check things out. Overall, an underrated place that’s been around forever.

June 12, 2005
In a horrible part of town with hookers about. But a decent selection, though almost completely what you cn buy in the liquor store. with several fruit beers. Had a Belgian that I don’t know where and why he got it. If they came up with something else interesting, I would come back. Prices less than in classier part of downtown, of course. Food did not look appetizing. Several people on a Tuesday mid-evening, must be better than dreary homes and apartments. Good waitress.

September 5, 2004
Located at one of the diciest intersections in Toronto (if you need some crack or heroin to go with your beer, just pop around the corner!), Ciro’s is a true diamond in the rough. The beer selection isn’t quite as strong as places like Smokeless Joe or BeerBistro, but aside from a few macros they keep on hand for the local yahoos, it’s all top quality stuff, with prices that are the lowest in town. The food is similarily cheap and quite tasty, with selections including massive stirfries & burgers,fish & chips and all day breakfast. Service is generally excellent, although it can get a little slow when they’re busy. And thanks to Toronto’s new non-smoking bylaw, the complaints of smokiness are no longer an issue.

May 24, 2004 [ Updated September 21, 2005 ]
This was my regular spot since it was conveniently located about 300 metres from my apartment. They have a great selection of Belgians for reasonable prices. The food is a great value too, eg. $6 for a 1/2 pound burger with fries. They also have stir-fry’s and an all-day breakfast menu. Unfortunately it gets quite smokey though.

March 25, 2004 [ Updated July 10, 2011 ]
Update: Food is still great and they now have a patio in the back that is pretty nice. Bathrooms are an adventure but don’t let that stop you! Rating March 2004: I wouldn’t call the atmosphere grungy per se, though its not necessarily a place I would have checked out unrecommended! Service was excellent. Menu is very reasonably priced, and the asian dishes I tried were massive portions. Garage doors open in summer. I will be back. Beer prices are good. (Some beers $1-3 cheaper than elsewhere in town.)

March 19, 2004
Grungy bar in a grungy neighbourhood. Definitely does not win the "decor & fine cuisine" award...heated up frozen stuff, those big, orange, melty-plastic lampshade and some sort of tiling on the floor that reminds of cheesy Greek joints. Good choice of beer from a Belgian-accented list, including some items that are rare for Toronto. Prices are low.