Her Father's Cider Bar + Kitchen — Restaurant in Toronto

This used to be one of my favourite places to eat and drink. As a Celiac my options for eating out are pretty slim, but Her Fathers Cider Bar was always somewhere I could count on for great food and drinks. This all changed in my last visit about 2 weeks ago. Im not sure if its under new management or maybe it was just an off night, but its not the same place from 6+ years ago. For starters the drink menu is pathetic compared to what it used to be. They did not have 100+ options like the website says. I believe the drinks menu had about 20 cider options (+/-), some in bottles and some on tap. I didnt care, i usually try whatever the waiter recommends on tap, but my wife's go to cider was no longer on the menu.

Next, we ordered our drinks and got 2 taster flights. They were great and really enjoyed what we picked, but about half way through my drinks my wife noticed 2 of my glasses were dirty. I was grossed out, and wish i had left right then because the food was mediocre. There was dried lipstick/lip gloss that i could see when i put them up to the window. The server didnt come around for a while so I flagged down who I assumed was the manager. He was very apologetic and got me two new drinks, however my stomach turned and I lost my appetite.

The food was mediocre for what they charge and in comparison to years past. i believe they charged $20+ for 5 tiger shrimps. They werent anything special, average sized and asian flavors. We really liked the Brussel Sprouts, but thought the fried chicken and steak weren't anything special.

The server who attended us didnt come around often for us to order more food or drinks. They came by once to order drinks, once for food and finally I flagged them down for the check and she brought the machine. She seemed new to her job so i gave her the benefit of the doubt, hopefully shes improved.

When we left, we questioned if we would ever go back. We have been to this place easily over 30 times over the years. We live not to far and it used to be a great night guaranteed. We used to bring friends and have events hosted in their back room. But i can no longer recommend the place. I really hope they can turn it around and i will give them another chance, but im going to take a break for a while.

To the owner/manager: Improve service or make sure new hires are better trained. Quality control - 2 dirty glasses is unacceptable, it got passed the bartender and an experienced waiter who delivered them to our table Drinks - shouldnt be cutting the cider menu at a cider bar by 70%, its what your known for... Food - Tapas style food im sure is easier to put out of the kitchen, but the portions are small for what your charging and the flavours leave much...

WHAT TO TRY?!?

The grain bowl and the Eggs Benedict were very tasty! I especially liked the eggs Benedict because the Thuet English muffin they made tasted really good! I didn’t try the duck hash but that would be the other option I would recommend since it’s not a brunch option you find a lot at other restaurants!

I really think this restaurant is a hidden gem. The place looks very cozy and I liked the classy look with the velvet blue sofas and the cute chairs. They specialize in ciders on tap so this makes this restobar very unique. I would come back for the dinner if I have a chance!

I also really liked the grain bowl too. I liked the color combination and hence the presentation of the bowl. Like Early bird, the bowl had quinoa mixed with mushrooms sitting on top a spread of hemp. Add to that, the crunch of fresh spinach leaves and walnut bits, topped with two poached eggs! Great for those who are looking for a vegetarian option and something light to start your morning.

The Thuet English muffin tastes like a tea biscuit but it’s not as thick as a tea biscuit. I liked that it was crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Whether you choose the vegetarian option or the trout option, they’re both good options to go with if you like eggs Benedict. The eggs are soft poach eggs with a little bit runny on the inside, just perfect!

If you like apple ciders, but don’t want alcohol in the morning, try their warm apple cider. Plenty of apple flavor on a cold morning, this drink will warm you up!

You might wonder where her fathers cider comes from. It comes with the history of the restaurant spot the owner picked. When he ripped out the carpet, he found out that the restaurant spot had a history associated with the name her father.

LAST TIP?!

For brunch, they take reservations!! That’s a plus on its own. You can also host parties here for an intimate experience with your friends and family up to 80 guests. Take advantage of their apple fennel ketchup, made in house, different from the...

I booked the back room at Her Father's Cider Bar for my birthday celebration and everything was absolutely amazing. The food, drink selection, ambiance, hospitality and overall experience- everything exceeded my expectations!

I worked closely with their manager Josh to coordinate the timing, capacity, budget, food and dietary restrictions for my group. He was extremely flexible to work with and ensured that everyone in my group had a meal that they could eat (we had a couple vegetarians/vegans). Even though we only corresponded through email, he was extremely quick with getting back to me and answering all our my questions - no matter how big or small they were. Having him as a contact made me extremely comfortable and less stressed with the planning since he clearly knows his stuff when it comes to special events and planning!

The server who helped take care of my group was extremely attentive while also easygoing and flexible. She was patient despite our group being so large and split into two, and I greatly appreciated her attention to detail when it came to catering to my vegan guests and latecomers.

I had the chicken & waffles and it was the perfect size. Their apple butter and apple ketchup are both amazing and accompanied the food perfectly. I would love to come back to try other brunch items as everyone else's food looked really good as well! I also can't wait to visit again to try their dinner menu and I know for sure that this is going to be a lovely date night location going forward!

Thank you everyone at Her Father's for your amazing hospitality...