416 Snack Bar

The TTC ruined my plans for the evening, so on a whim my girlfriend and I decided to try 416 Snack Bar. I had read about this place a number of times and had my interest piqued by the idea of “stoner cuisine” or “snack cuisine”. There's something about sharing numerous small plates that makes dining so much more enjoyable for me. Perhaps it brings back some fond memories of childhood, helping my dad cook chicken wings or grill the finest of strip loin. Or maybe it reminds me of my time in Asia, pouring over a tiny little table-top grill in a oh-so-cramped bar with great friends and great booze. What ever it is, truly sharing a meal with someone gets my blood flowing.

416 Snack Bar offered all of that good stuff and really, really got my blood flowing. First things first: the draft selection is limited, but they've got Flying Monkey's Hoptical Illusion. I LOVE that stuff. I don't care to pair it appropriately...I just want to drink it. Second, the place is just cool...and I mean that. It's right up my alley. It's like grungy-cool, like a well-worn bar with many stories to tell. There are gigantic wood things in the corner. The tables and smooth and the chairs are mismatched and used. I'm a sucker for this decor.

Third, and most importantly, the food was great. We sampled the entire menu and the only thing I objected to was the underwhelming sushi pizza. Highlights for me include the lamb chop rogen josh, the marrow toasts, rabbit food and the delicious Chinese-style pork buns (yum).

The entire menu (literally) plus a pint of the good stuff totalled $74 after tax and a generous tip. This is fair for me but I can see why some people might be opposed to the idea of paying 75 bones for tiny little morsels of food. Either way, I left feeling very full and very satisfied. Parting ways with under 40 dollars each is, in my eyes, decent enough value for well-prepared and unique food.