Laura Serra
From Saturday's Globe and Mail Published on Saturday, May. 31, 2008 12:00AM EDT Last updated on Friday, Mar. 13, 2009 12:01PM EDT
BAR 244
244 Adelaide St. W, Toronto
416-599-2442
For Shakespeare's Juliet, a name didn't hold much weight ("What's in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet"), but for Bar 244 owner Chris White, the name says it all.
"I want it to be very clear that we're not a nightclub, we're not a pub: We're a bar," White says.
Even though the lower level will operate as a "mini-nightclub" with a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights, White is looking to add some flavour to the otherwise mainstream entertainment district by offering retro and disco nights mixed in with regular classic rock and Top 40 playlists.
Hopping on the tapas train, former Politica Resto Bar chef Adam Calzonetti cooks up some gourmet-style pub grub in sharing sizes that are sans the grease and less than $10 each.
To balance the tavern feel of the New York-style mahogany bar, the furnishings are modern with standard black bar tables and steel-grey stools and, despite the televisions in the main dining area, White kept the count down to three to avoid being dubbed a sports bar.
Check out the 3-4-5 drink specials: $3 rail drinks, $4 for Heineken and Corona and $5 martinis (that is not a typo).
Bar 244 is open Wednesday through Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m.
Sour Nutty Russian Martini
1/2 ounce Frangelico
1 ounce vodka
Splash of lime juice
Toss in shaker with ice. Garnish with a cherry and lime twist
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