October 7, 2011
a real irish pub , not like all the commercial immitators that just put an o before whatever name. great meu tho i didnt try the oysters yet. lots of local crafts and a few irish imports - all the usual suspects...

September 28, 2011
Nice cozy Irish pub. Good beer, good food and friendly wait staff.

March 27, 2011
far from downtown. Twelve taps, four of which would be considered craft beers, including from McAuslin. A very nice bar inside, and the bartenders though young were professional. This would be much better in warm weather with the large patio area. So not great selection of beer, a huge dedication to whiskey.Friendly enough with both a young and middle-aged crowd. Not a primary destination for beer aficionados, but acceptable if you happen to be in the area, which happens to me every few years.

December 1, 2010
We visited this unassuming local in the afternoon when things were a bit quiet. The atmosphere is unlike anything I’ve encountered in Ontario. A warming waft of smoked peat greets you at the door and invites you to relax inside the bar’s rustic, comfortable interior. We sat by the window overlooking the patio, where the chalkboard of draught and cask offerings could still be seen. Authentic Celtic music provides the perfect backdrop for pondering the pictures of various Irish landmarks that hang on the walls. A ManU game was playing on the single flatscreen, and with only one other patron in the bar, we enjoyed a quiet conversation while marveling at the delicious food in front of us. I had the bangers and mash with onion gravy after being told that the mutton stew was not available. My girl went with the local greens and roast tomato soup. Everything was ridiculously fresh and flavourful - the homemade sausages were tender and juicy, the greens had the perfect amount of vinaigrette on them, and the sticky toffee pudding was absolutely sumptuous. As we indulged in our desert, I remarked that I never wanted to leave. My girlfriend nodded in agreement. For beer I chose the Durham Black Eye on cask as well as a pint of Hop Addict. I also spotted Scotch Irish Stuart’s Session Ale, Church Key Lift Lock Lager, McAuslan Cream Ale, and Murphy’s Irish Stout on tap. The cask was in great form and I was very pleased to find a Durham beer that I hadn’t sampled before. The small selection will likely keep über beer geeks and tickers from visiting, but with a focus on premium imports, Ontario craft brews, and cask ales, the quality makes this a destination in my books. On our way out we got a chance to speak with owner Patrick McMurray. I told him we had a lovely time and that we plan to return on future trips to Toronto. He said he was turning the patio into an ice rink for kids in the neighbourhood to play on. Clearly this man is dedicated not only to good food and drink, but also the community surrounding the restaurant. If you haven’t been here yet, don’t waste any more time: get down to The Ceili Cottage and take in one of the best pub experiences around.

June 20, 2010
A wonderful panacea for those depressed by the endless faux Irish pubs in Toronto - and a plain wonderful spot to boot. Inside is cozy and rustic-feeling with lots of exposed brick, handmade wood table and peat smoker. Outside is a nice big patio in the summer with the afforementioned oyster shells embedded - turns into a small skating rink in the winter. Service was a little uneven when it first opened but seems to be much better now and Pat is one of the finest publicans you could ever hope to meet. Menu is small (though to my mind this is more bar than restaurant) but most items I’ve tried have been good and if you like oysters you’re definitely in luck. Very unique for Toronto and one I try to hit whenever I’m in the area.

September 15, 2009 [ Updated November 4, 2009 ]
An eagerly awaited newcomer to the Toronto pub scene. This truly is as close to a pub in Ireland as you’ll get outside the Emerald Isle. From the 2 million year old bar made from granite from Ireland, to the oyster shells embedded in the concrete on the patio, this truly is a taste of home for me. The owner Patrick McMurray has done a fine job of this place, the food is all made in house (even the sausages!) and they have fresh oysters from Canada and Ireland. There are 12 taps, 4 Irish and the rest are rotating Ontario brews and a real ale cask. The staff are a fantastic bunch and certainly always friendly and willing to help. There’s different events each evening from live Irish trad music sessions, match making evenings to shuck your own oyster nights. This has become my favourite pub in Toronto by far and is a home away from home, right down to the Irish turf burner that scents the place evoking memories of home. This is a must visit in Toronto.