Elephant & Castle — Restaurant in Toronto

If I could give a 0 star I would. I visited elephant & castle on Friday night for a friends birthday - we had just come from an escape room and were looking forward to having dinner and few drinks to kick off the night. After taking our orders the server took 45+ minutes to bring our drinks and they brought out only water first. After 15 more minutes of nobody taking our food order my husband had to go and find someone to ask because we were starving - only then would they take our order. They would not bring any other drinks we asked for, so many of us were going to the bar to get drinks where we were refused. After over an hour the server came to our table whispering to me that he didn’t feel comfortable serving us drinks before we “got food into us”? I assume because we were talking and laughing he thought we were drunk? We felt extremely judged and irritated that the server had wasted so much of our time - if he felt uncomfortable he should’ve told us immediately and we would’ve left. After getting our food we wanted to leave and we were given the bill with an automatic 18% gratuity - we were forced to tip for terrible service. The owner (I assume) came to our table and forced us to pay with the tip or threatened to call the police. He said he trusted his server in not wanting to serve us - why didn’t he assess the situation himself earlier? We were there for over 2 hours and got 1 drink with terrible and slow service. Don’t come here unless you want to have your night ruined and time wasted. Sad to hear this is a “family...

My wife and I had our pre-theater dinner here last evening, our first visit. The restaurant is beautifully done in a very traditional fashon. We had an order of Baja fish tacos with pickle chips and they were absolutely delicious. The pickle chips appetizer arrived just after our entrée and our waiter was very apologetic. Life happens, did not hinder a good time. The tacos were divine, two bites in I think how the fish got suddenly very crunchy until I realized there were pieces of plastic in the tacho. Flagged our waiter down and let them know. Another waiter came around the corner as well and they were both more appalled than I was and went to see what happened and to get me a new meal. They said there was potentially plastic in the batch of tacos they had made and threw the whole thing out. Had a new plate with extra stuffed tacos within 5 min. After we finished, our waiter returned asking if we'd like dessert which I was genuinely too full to think about till she said it was on the house, I can't say no to free food. The cheesecake was wonderful. Our waiter returned with the bill. I flip it over and found they had compensated my entrée, the pickle chip price was halved, and free dessert as you know. Very appreciative of the gesture. I would have gladly paid for the meal as it did not disappoint! The staff dealt with the complications during a very packed dinner service professionally and promptly. As we were leaving I wished I had tipped more. Highly recommend and we will be back when we're in the area. Thank you...

A True British Gem in the Heart of Toronto! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stepping into the Elephant and Castle on King Street West is like taking a delightful trip across the Atlantic without the jet lag. From the moment you walk through the door, you're enveloped in that warm, inviting atmosphere that only a proper British pub can provide. The decor is spot-on, with dark wood, cozy nooks, and just the right amount of quirky British memorabilia to make you feel right at home. It’s the perfect escape from the bustle of downtown Toronto. But it's not just the ambiance that shines; the food is truly exceptional. Their fish and chips are, without a doubt, some of the best I've had outside of the UK – crispy, flaky fish and perfectly cooked chips. And don't even get me started on the shepherd's pie; it's pure comfort food perfection, rich and flavorful. They also have a fantastic selection of beers on tap, including some excellent British ales, which truly completes the authentic experience. It's refreshing to find such genuine pub fare in the city. The staff are consistently friendly, attentive, and genuinely seem to enjoy what they do, adding to the overall welcoming vibe. Whether you're looking for a quick pint after work, a hearty meal with friends before a show at the Princess of Wales Theatre, or just a cozy spot to relax, the Elephant and Castle delivers every single time. It's a consistently excellent establishment that I highly recommend to anyone craving a taste of Britain in Toronto. I'll be back...