Noonan's — Restaurant in Toronto

Ah, Noonan's Irish Pub on the Danforth in Toronto, where the leprechauns must have hidden the pot of gold in the kitchen because the food was pure treasure! My girlfriend and I recently had the pleasure of dining there, and let me tell you, it was an experience worth writing about.

We started with the calamari, and it was so tender and crispy that I briefly considered using it as an impromptu stress ball. Paired with a Chardonnay that must have been kissed by the Irish rain, it was like a match made in culinary heaven. The calamari was so good that I wouldn't be surprised if it had its own fan club.

But wait, the real star of the show was the chicken pizza. It was as if Italy and Ireland had a delicious lovechild right there in Noonan's kitchen. The chicken was juicy, the cheese was melty, and the crust had just the right amount of crispiness. I'm pretty sure I heard angels singing as I took my first bite. And what better way to wash it all down than with a classic Guinness? It's like a pint of liquid Irish history in your hand.

As for the ambiance, Noonan's had that cozy Irish pub feel down to a tee. It felt like we'd been transported straight to the Emerald Isle, minus the rain. Although, I hear they have that covered too if you want the full Irish experience!

In conclusion, if you find yourself on the Danforth in Toronto and you're craving a taste of Ireland with a side of laughter, Noonan's is the place to be. Just make sure you ask for Jane, and don't forget to try the chicken pizza – it's the stuff of legends....

Cute pub, with a nice snug and another private room. Loved the live music (fiddles), but the atmosphere was bland and not welcoming.

The place was half-empty and there was only one server and one bartender... The arrival of our two-person party was not acknowledged by either, and we stood awkwardly in the doorway waiting to be seated. After a few minutes, we opted to seat ourselves, only to discover that the bench/banquette seats were uncomfortably shallow.

Strangely, the server was leaving the pub by the front door and returning with food prepared in the kitchen of the next door resto. As the doorway is not large, anyone exiting the pub could prevent the server from reentering with the (rapidly-cooling) food... It's a bizarre set-up.

After 10 minutes, we hadn't been served or even acknowledged, so we went straight to the restaurant next door, which greeted us warmly and fed us well.

Overall, a disappointing experience that I do...

Despite the fact that their wall seating is made to literally keep you on your feet (even my most petite friend could barely fit a full cheek on it) and their food being underwhelming and over priced, I've had a couple good nights here. That being said, some friends of mine were recently kicked out for dancing together - two guys who are straight-leaning bi. This was on a night with live music, and one of their mothers was even there - so they weren't over doing it. Hopefully this was a one off, or a problem employee, but it's something to consider when giving them your business. There are a LOT of bars on the Danforth that I would recommend over this one, homophobia aside. Spite rating = 1 star, objective rating = 2 or 3 stars depending on the night. Have you heard...