Long Branch Social House — Restaurant in Toronto

Wyck Recommends: Long Branch Social House

Where the Boomers Bring the Heat (and the Hits)

Intro Scene It was a Tuesday night and karaoke was in full swing. Not the shy, tipsy kind. No, this was an institution. A woman in a red hat belted out “Me and Bobby McGee” like it was Woodstock '69. I wasn’t sure if I was crashing a retirement party or being adopted into a local cult, but I didn’t dare leave. The drinks were flowing, the disco ball was spinning, and the energy? Weirdly electric.

What Was Ordered We split a bottle of wine—it was half-price, which made it taste even better. A few other drinks made their way to the table too; we were bar hopping and this was our mid-evening detour, but it easily could’ve been the final stop. The table next to us was tearing through nachos and wings, which smelled dangerously good. My friend, deep into her wine, suddenly demanded crazy bread with cheese like it was a religious experience. We didn’t even have crazy bread on the table. She just summoned it spiritually. Next time, we’re ordering food and praying there’s a Little Caesars nearby.

Service Commentary Staff were casual, quick, and unbothered in the best way. They know their crowd and move accordingly—no fluff, no showmanship, just cold drinks and knowing smirks. The host running karaoke was a total legend, giving dad-joke energy with the timing of a seasoned comic.

Vibe Check High energy, older crowd, not a phone in sight. People were actually living in the moment. The kind of place where you could come alone and still end up at a table full of new best friends or bad influences. Either works.

The Space Itself Exposed beams, vintage chandeliers, a literal disco ball, and red velvet curtains. It’s got the polish of a well-kept theatre and the soul of a dive. The whole place gives off old cinema energy—like something dramatic and messy might happen at any moment, and you’d want to watch it with popcorn.

About the Neighborhood Smack in the middle of Long Branch, steps from the GO station and right near Lake Shore. There’s surprisingly solid parking all around—street spots and lots that don’t feel like urban warfare. Bonus trivia: in 1887, this neighborhood had a luxury resort hotel with electricity, speaking tubes for in-room communication, and direct phone lines to Toronto. People used to arrive by steamer just to kick it lakeside. Now they show up for karaoke and vodka sodas. Feels right.

Hits & Misses Hits: the karaoke host, the hilarious crowd, the charm of a space that feels both nostalgic and alive Misses: food’s probably fine but not the reason to go. If you hate noise or joy, skip it.

Final Verdict Long Branch Social House is like stepping into a parallel Toronto where everyone’s a character and nobody’s pretending. It’s unfiltered, unexpected, and way more fun than it has any right to be. Go on karaoke night if you want to feel something—anything.

Rating (out of 5) 3.6 / 5

Perfect For

Escaping downtown cool kids Unironically screaming Fleetwood...

Went on a Sunday afternoon around 4 pm. Staff were all super friendly and had good suggestions. There was a live band playing while we there and it had a really positive atmosphere. The lighting is a little dim and the table lights could be a bit brighter but it fit the mood of the restaurant.

For two of us, we ordered three starters which was honestly enough for us after having a decently large lunch at 12. We also ordered a Shirley temple and a ginger ale.

The first starter was the LB Flatbread which was probably our favourite. I would rate it a 9.5/10 in terms of flavour and texture. The caramelized onions provide a great enhancer for the duck confit, and the arugula and drop peppers balance out the richness of it. My only critique is that more drop peppers could help balance it out a bit more, especially as they have a beautiful flavour.

The second was the beef cheek poutine which had fantastic, rich, comfort food flavour. The meat was so soft and the poutine had a good ratio of gravy to cheese to fries, making sure it was consistently moist and not dry. It was a little rich on its own in my opinion and could do with a few more light flavours, but considering the general expected flavour profiles, it hit the mark. 8/10

The third was the tuna tartare was fresh and the wasabi cream had a great flavour profile. I found the cream a little too abundant and that it could have done with more lotus chips so there’s more variety in texture and it can help soak up the cream so you can enjoy all of it. 7/10

For dessert we managed to polish off a pineapple upside down cake together. It was so incredibly soft, and there was a good amount of solid pineapple slice in it. The caramel and ice cream provided a lovely balance and it was a great way to finish the meal.

Overall, great experience and looking forward to coming back again to...

We visited for Mother's Day to enjoy an evening of dining and an ABBA tribute show.

The show was excellent; however, we were very disappointed with the seating. Although we reserved and paid extra for a dining area table weeks in advance for an early 4:30 PM time slot, we were seated in a booth facing away from the stage. When we requested a table with a proper view, we were informed that all were booked, despite many tables being empty at the time.

Although the dining area was full, there was only one server for the entire floor, leading to long wait times. It took half an hour after being seated before anyone approached us.

The biggest disappointment was the food. The meal lacked flavour and was significantly overpriced. The tofu tacos were especially underwhelming - $20 for three tiny, unfolded rounds of tortilla with just plain tofu and sauce. At that price, I expected something far more flavourful, substantial, and better presented.

While the venue itself has a great ambiance and the live performances add entertainment, the poor seating, slow service, and lackluster food make it difficult to justify the cost. If you're visiting for a show, I'd recommend double-checking your seating and lowering expectations...