The Davenport has opened at Christie and Davenport and this corner pub is offering extremely memorable fare. Torontonicity was invited to a complimentary sampling of the menu a few days ago and it did not disappoint. I haven’t been out to Meghan Markle’s former hood for a while so I was curious to check this restaurant out.
The Davenport is under the helm of restaurateurs Mark Bacci, Suresh Singh and Riyaz Somani, owners of popular Toronto Italian restaurants Annabelle Pasta Bar and Frankie’s Italian. If carbs are not your thing, this neighbourhood pub is decidedly un-Italian.
After arriving at this airy, but unpretentious local, we chose a table in the front section to enjoy the breeze wafting through the windows. Our server gave us her take on Executive Chef Brandyn Koester’s menu and recommended the Bang Bang Burger, $16. This is one mutha of a burger! It features a fried chicken topped with a house-made ground chuck beef cheeseburger enclosed in a fresh bun. My dining partner took the dare and opted for the three-decker sandwich. I was tempted by the Crispy Cauliflower Sandwich, $12, but ultimately chose the Fried Chicken Sandwich, $12. We split two sides: Black Kale with Creamy Caesar Salad, $14, and Two Potato Fries with Chili Mayo, $5.
Although we did not order alcohol, we noticed the blackboard posting wine by the glass (5 oz.) ranging from $11-$15.
We started with the Black Kale with Creamy Caesar Salad, which was topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, croutons and radish. I love me a good Caesar Salad, but this Black Kale Caesar Salad was the bomb! The kale had obviously been massaged as it was soft and very palatable. You wouldn’t think that replacing romaine lettuce with black kale would make all the difference in the world, but it does. I don’t always find black kale at my local grocery store, but when it’s there, I always buy it as its flavour is superior to regular kale.
We then dug into the Two Potato Fries, which were crispy, not too thick and served hot. Did I say no carbs at this non-Italian pub? Oops! These carb heavy fries were addictively good and I can’t recall having better fries recently. The accompanying chili mayo was spicy, but not mouth-searingly hot.
My Fried Chicken Sandwich featured a chicken breast dipped in buttermilk and coated with a crunchy coating. The chicken was moist and the batter was crispy and not greasy. Delicious!
The Bang Bang Sandwich featured a chicken breast prepared the same way as in the Fried Chicken Sandwich, topped with a cheeseburger and presented in a fresh brioche bun. Our server informed us that The Davenport’s burgers are prepared from ground chuck beef to give them a rich flavour. My dining partner loved her Bang Bang Burger. I had a bite of her burger and it was juicy and flavourful and the cheddar cheese was deliciously gooey. So you’ll definitely want to swing by on game nights and enjoy a burger at The Davenport.
The Davenport has taken over the BOB Coffee location, but it continues to operate the artisan coffee bar within the restaurant so you’ll be able to get your coffee to go until 3 p.m. every day.
We can honestly say that we loved everything we had during our lunch. For an unpretentious pub, The Davenport’s food is superb.
The Davenport Pub, 440 Christie Street
Lori, thanks so much for inviting me to share in what turned out to be a sumptuous feast at The Davenport last Sunday! It was one of the best meals I’ve had in a while. Everything was fresh, flavourful and a feast for the eyes and stomach. I enjoyed the clean, peaceful ambience of this small neighbourhood pub. It is tastefully decorated and is a perfect getaway for a relaxed get together. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this local pub: your (as always!) gracious company and the wonderful food were the highlight of my day. The view of the park across the street was an added bonus to this enjoyable meal. I would definitely return to The Davenport!
Thank you for sharing this. Sounds like lovely place to visit and have a dinner. I absolutely love the food. I would love to visit this place one day.
The food at The Davenport was so good. I love the kale Caesar salad and the fried chicken sandwich! Cheers, Lori
OMG! This Bang Bang Burger looks really delicious. Your post made me hungry. I think my husband would love the fried chicken sandwich. Will definitely visit this place if we have the chance.
My friend had the Bang Bang Burger and loved it! You have to be really hungry as it’s a very large sandwich! Cheers, Lori
That burger is calling my name! Pregnancy cravings!! But seriously this looks amazing!
I know…that burger is something else…and really delicious! Cheers, Lori
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