An enjoyable night on the town can often include some of the great shows the city's live music scene has to offer. For many, a couple of drinks (or more) can elevate the experience - and for some, especially 9-5ers, going from work to sit, relax, and have a meal before or with the show can be a life-saver.
Here are music lovers' best bets for dinner and a show in Toronto.
Lula Lounge
Lula has built a name for itself featuring jazz, salsa, and sounds from around the world. With a Latin focus on weekends, they have a Friday jazz series that includes a live bands, dance lessons, and a dinner package. Saturdays have salsa lessons and DJs. The menu features Latin inspired and tropical flavours. Red lanterns, booth seating, reasonably sized staff, and a dance floor are all part of the heart of Lula, with a capacity over 200, and dinner reservations if you'd like to guarantee seating.
Hugh's Room
Presenting some of the finest folk, blues, gospel, world, and tribute shows since 2001, Hugh's Room entertains with their dinner-theatre style showcases. They serve a full menu, with eating capacity is over 200, and an "al a carte" menu is offered for evening performances. Doors open at 6pm, dinner at 7pm, with music around 8:30pm. Table service can be infrequent depending on how large attendance is, and sometimes servers attend only during breaks in shows. Their priority seating policy means the first reservation (for dinner) is assigned seating location first.
Jazz Bistro
Joan and Colin Hunter opened the Jazz Bistro in the former digs of the Top O' The Senator. The pair renovated the venue into a three-level club featuring a $100,000 Steinway piano on the main floor. Patrons above can view the musicians looking down, or on multiple monitors. With a state of the art sound system, the Jazz Bistro features some of the world's and Toronto's top jazz musicians. There's a general cover charge for the music, and as for food, they received a 5 star food review from (the late) Steven Daley. They also have a no talking policy.
Flying Beaver Pubaret
The Flying Beaver Pubaret has the distinction of having "Pubaret" trademarked. Operated by Heather Mackenzie (who owned Slack's) and Maggie Cassella (a comedian), "pubaret" is meant to be a combination of pub and cabaret. Narrow, Firkin-ish, and at a capacity 50, the venue is intimate and designed for stage performances focusing on dinner and show. Located close enough to the Village, they have a diverse patronage. The current entertainment format is a mix of comedy, music, and well, great cabaret.
Harlem Restaurant
If you're looking for some soul, jazz, and r&b with your southern fried chicken, Harlem on Richmond St. E. has it. The Harlem Restaurant (associated with Harlem Underground) main floor is described as "artfully subdued" with a seating capacity of about 40. The second floor is grander with a ballroom fee where depending on the show, seats are removed for standing room. Their menu is a Caribbean-Southern American fusion complete with catfish, Jambalaya, and Bayou stew. Music on the second floor can be heard on the main floor, with reserved seating for shows recommended.
BONUS
The Rex
Showcasing live music, and primarily Jazz since the 80's, the Rex has been a Toronto institution for more than 60 years. In keeping with policy, they maintain cheap beer prices, and cheap pub fare. The Rex is a spot to have a burger, nacho or wings after work with some quality jazz.
For live music nightly with regular menu options, see also:
- 3030 Dundas
- Castro's Lounge
- The Central
- C'est What
- Free Times Cafe
- Gate 403
Note: some dinner reservation times can change per show and often prix fix is available. Drinks and taxes are sometimes separate from show dinner-show packages.
Photo: Jazz Bistro via rock-it promotions
by Ryan Ayukawa via blogTO
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