Laura Serra
From Saturday's Globe and Mail Last updated on Friday, Mar. 13, 2009 10:14AM EDT
Strange Love
587 College St., Toronto
416-588-7625
Naming a bar after Stanley Kubrick's satire on nuclear annihilation may seem like a strange choice, but we've checked it out - there aren't any mentally unstable generals or delusional commanders on staff.
Situated across from popular Italian eatery Café Diplomatico, the latest College Street addition operates as the laid-back baby sister in a flashy group of nightclubs with less hardwood, fewer suits and much less use of the almighty guest-list clipboard.
"We're trying to get the atmosphere and energy that you feel when you walk into a nightclub, but without the attitude at the bar or from the doorman," co-owner Quintin Vallozzi says.
With two distinctive areas in the long and narrow space, you can sit at the expansive marble-top bar in the front of the venue or, for something more secluded, tuck away in a dimly lit bottle-service booth in the back room.
In addition to the standard weekend rush, the bar hosts a bustling industry night on Tuesdays - something Vallozzi and fellow bar buddies insisted they revive.
To spice up Wednesday nights, expect the crowd-pleasing DJs from the Mod Club to spin their Motown and British pop classics every week.
The Kubrick
1.5 ounces of Jack Daniels
0.5 ounces of Grand Marnier
A splash of lime juice
Shake and serve over ice in a short glass.
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