April 20, 2012
This is a damn cool spot over on Danforth and Coxwell. A tight space up front with more in an adjoining coffee shop type space - I usually camp out by the coolers up front. A solid selection of craft beers and a great deal on flights as well (5X5 oz for 10 bucks). An extensive bottle selection as well with some stuff that I’ve not seen anywhere else. I’ve never eaten here, so I can’t comment on the food. It’s got a nice chill vibe and they keep they’re website up to date with tap lists (which is shockingly rare for something that’s so easy to do). It’s got a chill vibe. It’s a great spot to while away an afternoon.

April 6, 2012
Small little spot (although with a pretty big patio), a touch rough around the edges but in a sort of charming way. Has a nice selection of mostly Ontario craft beers (and the odd Quebec one) on draft. Taps seem to change gradually but do evolve. Even have a cask now. Bottle selection is largely interesting and seasonal LCBO stuff but there are a few more hard-to-find ones. Service is usually pretty friendly and reasonably knowledgeable. Some of the cheaper pints in the City. The real downside is the food - I only ate there once but both my wifes and my food was terrible, and Ive heard similar tales from others. However, theyre always willing to let you bring in outside food (heck, usually the staff are running out to grab a pizza slice or shawarma) which is definitely the way to go if youre hungry. But worth going to nonetheless.

February 24, 2012 [ Updated February 25, 2012 ]
Went here for the first time in November 2011. It’s a small spot with a relaxed and welcoming vibe. Packed when we came, and no food available, but we managed to snag three seats at the bar and the beer selection is very good. Featured draughts were Publican House Head of the Trent Vienna Lager (which I regret not trying), Amsterdam Black Friday CDA, and Cheshire Valley Galaxy Pale Ale, so they seem to get the harder-to-find taps. Bottles are an extensive mix of LCBO seasonals and features and various private orders. In fact, they probably have the fourth best bottle selection in the province, next to barVolo, beerbistro, and Gambrinus. I had a fresh pint of Mad Tom IPA and a bomber of Rogue Northwestern Ale. Bartender was happy to provide samples and my non-beer geek friends really liked the place. I will definitely come back, as they offer a large and interesting range of craft beers in an unpretentious environment with reliable, attentive service. Great watering hole.

February 14, 2012
Ah, que dire de la Only? A few warnings about the Only. Firstly, it ain’t classy; I can tell you that. The atmosphere leaves something to desire, and on busy nights it gets a little cramped if you don’t have a table. That isn’t to say that it doesn’t have its charm. They get great live bands in the other room, a lot of great jazz musicians. If I had to describe the Only I’d say, rustic; but full of dirty hipsters. Unlike the crowd at Bar Volo, these wankers don’t know their shit and can be rude as fuck. This being said, the mass majority of patrons are really nice people (including the staff); make sure to avoid any plaid-laden, Ray ban-sporting dingbats. The one saving grace of the Only, are the prices; they cannot be beat. For the selection that they posses it’s impossible to deny that the Only has Bar Volo beat in prices. So for the best experience the following steps should be taken: go on a week night (other than Friday), bring a friend or two, be kind to the servers (they’ll return the favour), leave your posh attitude at home, and go simply for the beer.

July 26, 2011
2011-02. Visited on a cold Saturday afternoon in February when they were running their winter festival. Rustic and welcoming, funky beats inside and a heater out back for the hardcore festivallers, plus some cool art decorating every inch of wallspace. Service is friendly and helpful, especially in a busy crowd. Beer selection is solid with a good selection of local breweries (GLB, Mill St., Neudstadt, and Flying Monkeys) as well as not so local (KLB and Big Rock), but nothing particularly unique. Bottle selection inside looks good. Didn’t try any food but would be interested to come back. Nice local pub, check it out if you’re already in the area. (4+/8/10/NA/9/13) 70%

July 17, 2011
A friend who lives in the area suggested this bar. Cool ecclectic decor, decent tap list. Roughly 6-8 taps of good ontario micros. The fridge is full of beer, but they are roughly 85% stuff you can get at any well stocked LCBO. The staff is very ice, and friendly and they know their stuff about the beers they are serving,

February 22, 2011 [ Updated May 14, 2012 ]
Updated review as much more selection and of some of the better choices available around town. Small and almost uncomfortable club. There is almost no room to walk around the bar. Ok if there are a couple people sloshing it in the afternoon. Early evening was dark and loud music, not crowded but no service. If you live out this way, it’s likely worth it for a walk.

September 29, 2010
The Big Rock ads outside caught my eye, when I saw someone having a dieu du ciel inside I just had to come in. Cool atmosphere, though music was a bit loud at times. Great service (offered me a taster of pumpkin ale on the house). Cheap and tasty panini, I really enjoyed. Selection is as good as you can expect a place this size to have. Fantastic spot.

August 1, 2009
Wonderful little cafe that I have managed to miss for the past few years. The bottle selection is quite impressive, as well as their draft. The primary appeal to this place is the selection and the pricing. I have not ever come across a single bar that has served craft beer for so cheap, not even in Peterborough. Listing the pricing would be inappropriate, so I instead urge you to go check the place out. The waiters were very courteous and the service was altogether great. The staff was nice enough to allow us to bring in outside food since the kitchen was closed. So they definitely get two thumbs up for accommodation. Despite being the youngest group there, we didn’t feel out of place at all. If you’re lucky, you may run into a very friendly patron there; Joel, who certainly showed his generosity by offering everybody at the bar (and I mean everybody) a shot of jager. My only complaints about the place is the music. It is far too loud, and lacks that serene yet busy atmostphere that I have come to love at Volo and St.Veronus. As the night went on, the place got very crowded, so that speaks volumes about the quality of the bar (although it was a Friday). Will I be coming back? Absolutely! If they could turn the music down a few notches, that would be greatly appreciated as it is rather difficult to talk amongst your friends without having to repeat yourself. They should consider opening up the other side of the cafe as well, considering the rapidly increasing clientele as the night went on.

July 10, 2009
Originally review posting date 5/20/2008... Well, we finally made it to The Only the day after a Jays game and after about 15+ years of hearing of its splendor in the Lowest of the Low’s tune, "The Only One" (also a day before a Ron Hawkins show in Buffalo). Even traveled UNnder the Carlaw Bridge to get there and enjoy an early lunch with the family. The two bartenders/servers were very helpful - one of them even brought out a few toy cars for Jr. to play with. Awesome! Very cool atmosphere...mellow, relaxing...only issue was that the music didn’t quite fit - it was XM25 The Blend - I would’ve expected maybe The Verge or something with a little more of an edge - maybe even CFNY 102.1 (The Edge). Hey, it was pretty quiet at that time of day. Sort of a coffee bar thing next door, too. Beer selection off the tap was solid - about 10-15 taps as previously mentioned. I haven’t honed my Canadian craft knowledge to the best of my abilities so there were quite a few I hadn’t encountered just yet. Great Lakes Green Tea Ale is what I ended up with. Solid. Food was decent - huge PB&J for Junior...sandwiches and salads were pretty decent. Prices were very reasonable. Again, service was exceptionally friendly and helpful - they even looked around with me around "the table in the window" for the "shot of Chairman Mao" but we couldn’t find it. We will do our best to return to this fine establishment soon.