Esplanade Bier Market

Too trendy and way too expensive

First off, we went to the new one at the new don Mills center but I am sure all 3 have the same menu and selections. After reading all the reviews, it kind of scared me off because I am not one to eat at a place just because it's the place to go too. There were 5 of us and the service was very good. I was not expecting that but I must say the girl did a great job keeping our glasses and tummies full. The big problem I have with this place is the cheapest entree was a $24 hamburger. They call it a T-bone burger made with kobe beef. A decent burger but was kind of bland in taste and they hardly give you any fries. For $24, they should fill that plate regardless if you can eat it or not. Instead they put the fries in this trendy little stainless steel cup. We ordered 2 of these. As for starters, we had no chopice but to order 2 poutines at $14 each! They hardly gave any poutine at all, maybe a hand full in each. Tasty, but way over priced! The girls had this chicken flatbread which was reasonably priced at around $14 but came with no sides. It was tasty. The drink menu was pretty big although the beer is focussed on more of the Euro beers than than anywhere else. A few that I wanted to try were not available. Overall, we had very good service and a good time but I cannot and will not go back and pay that kind of money for a burger just to say I went there where all the cool sports cars are parked outside. If you like trendy, go to the Bier Markt, if you like excellent food at a good price, go somewhere else.

Fondue

I love beer and I love a long list of options recited to me by memory... there seem to be so many negative reviews about the Bier Markt but... it's a pub, really, and a spacious, respectable one with Great Beer at that. I was at the Esplanade location last Friday afternoon around 4pm with my husband and some friends and we had a fantastic time drinking pints of Steigl, Erdinger weissbrau, Jupiler, and sharing fondue--wish there was a ski hill nearby. I've been here often, mainly for the beer, but last Friday the atmosphere was great, really quiet and just right for a late lunch. I wish the decor was a little cozier inside.

Worst experience in customer service

After having a nice meal, we were told we had to vacate our table and move to the bar. At the bar as we were trying to order a drink, an older couple felt we were in their space and started yelling and demanding with extreme use of profanity that we get out of their area and do we know who they are. I asked both the waitstaff and the manager to help my friends and I out. Especially as the waitress witnessed that we did not provoke them in anyway. The waitress simply suggested moving and said that there was nothing she could do. The Manager also said there was nothing he could do. A couple of girls are verbally attacked at a bar and there is nothing they can do? I find that extremely upsetting. I will never go back.

Stopped by 2 weeks ago with colleagues at 6:30pm on a Thursday. We were told to seat ourselves, as we were only there for appetizers and drinks. When our server finally arrived 20 minutes later, we were informed that he would require us to vacate the table by 8pm. We helped him out by vacating immediately and going next-door to enjoy ourselves at Scotland Yard. Here's a tip: If there are time constraints on the seating arrangements, you should specify this at the front door before asking your customers to seat themselves.

Great experience. Wait staff were very friendly and knowledgeble. The salmon was excellent, our apps were great. the selection of beer could not be better. Must go back soon. Only negative aspect was the very large percentage of smokers on dining outside on the patio. I pity the addiction but the reality now is that the outside fresh air dining experience is reserved for those that smoke. Had to go inside for desert...we were surrounded by smokers and it was not as pleasant as it should have been.

this is a pompus pretentious pub,,,,,not a restaurant at all,,,,,,the service was terrible food overcooked....had 2 glasses of wine and one glass came with free lipstick on the lip....go figure the bartender didnt see it. the waiter brought food to us asked if everything was OK then somseone else came up ...assumeing was the manager who wanted to interupt our meal and conversation to see what we thought of the place,,,,i told him to leave as we were trying to enjoy eachothers company....he got really offended by being told to leave us alone....i would neer go back nor recommend the restaurant to anyone else

It seems that the busier restaurants tends to...

It seems that the busier restaurants tends to have the most rude servers. This place was brutal, I had visited before and the service was okay, but my most recent visit was disgusting. I was there with two older diners and arrived at 9:00PM, I was asked what we were there for and I said a mixture of appetizers and entrees, she led us to the bar side. At which point one of my dinner companions looked at me and said it was much too loud for her. I asked the host for a quieter area and she stated that they had a full service dining room but it is only for those having entrees. I looked at her, slightly stunned and said 'yes we may all be having entrees or a mixture of appetizers' and she once again said the dining room is reserved for people eating entrees. Now I think a meal is a meal, whether you are enjoying a soup and a salad or 2 appetizers as an entree etc. I realize she was trying to imply that we should not sit there if we do not spend the equivalent of an entree, which is just plain tacky...but this place specializes in tacky service. In the end we ordered a whole lot of food that was a mixture of both. However, servers continually walked by without acknowledging us, so after 10 minutes (a real ten minutes, not exaggerating) I was so thirty I got up and I found a server and he apologized and sent someone over. To sum up this play by play we all ordered beers and water. I finished my water and it was never offered to be filled, our food check was way too late in the game. I asked a bus person who cleared my empty water glass for more water and never saw him again, my server brought me one (after I went and found him) and then never filled it. Basically, the food was okay, the service was garbage. I would not go back there or take future out of town guests there. Unless they like being ignored and thirsty!

was brutal would never return again

I had my 30th birthday at the Bier Market last night.I had over 35 people throughout the night and it is not a big place so you would think they would do their best to make us happy. I started having problems before we arrived when I was comfirming reservations and was told I had to sign a contract. When we got there they had not set up enough place settings. Then the operations manager was extremely rude. When it came time to pay. He was bringing things up that i was never told. I have never heard at any bar/resturant that a bill (if not paid all by cash) had to be on one credit card. They should be doing all they can to accomodate that many people. I would never go back there. YOur 30th birthday should flow and be enjoyable. We were supposed to stay there all night and after dinner we all went somewhere else because there was no way we were giving that bar anymore money. With that many people not one of us will go back and everyone that we know we will ensure will never return. That is a bad taste to putin someone's mouth when you are a new bar on that strip.

The appetizer was brie & lobster fondue was...

The appetizer was brie & lobster fondue was yummy. But the the main course was beef fondue, which was just a few sticks on skewers, potatoes, mushrooms and more random vegetable. The service was not that great as it was hard to get a hold of the server and the place wasn't packed either.

Went for drinks and snacks with a friend around...

Went for drinks and snacks with a friend around 11PM on a Thursday night. The hostess asked if we came for dinner or just drinks and appetizers; we responded with the latter. She directed us to the bar area and said we could sit anywhere we like. We walked around the bar area and there was no place to sit (even for the two of us). I returned to the hostess and asked her if it would be alright if we sat in the dining area as there was no place to sit in the bar area. The dining area had perhaps 4 tables occupied, and over 20 tables unoccupied. She responded, "The dining area is for our full dinner guests only" I was shocked that this establishment would prefer I spend my money elsewhere than to have me sit at one of there many available tables on a relatively slow night. I have been to the Bier Markt once before where the same rule applied and enjoyed several $10+ beers. Is this markup not sufficient for me to occupy an empty table on my return visit? I have never been refused a table at a restaurant before, especially one that is at perhaps 20% capacity. Toronto has thousands of restaurants who are very happy for your business. My advice to others is to avoid this place.

We stopped in without a reservation on a Saturday...

We stopped in without a reservation on a Saturday night. They were able to get us a table after about 45 minutes or so, which was fine because we just stood around the bar and had a few drinks. The bartender was very entertaining. After dinner we stayed for dancing and listened to the band. We had an awesome time, music was good, food was great and the atmosphere was comfortable. Wasn't a whole lot of little teenyboppers running around. I would definately go back again.

You must make reservations at this place if you...

You must make reservations at this place if you intend on going for dinner. I would have liked to sit on the patio, however, at 6pm on a Wednesday, it was already full. The bar area is large and tends to get very noisy after 9pm. The service was excellent and our server was very knowledgeable about the beers and recommended a few to go with our meal which was most enjoyable. The Cheese Fondue was excellent and was served with fresh bread, tomatoes and gherkins. The Free-Range Chicken was tasty, although a little dry. The Fresh Fish special happen to be a stew and my boyfriend doesn't like shrimp or mussels and they brought him the stew minus the shrimp and mussels and he enjoyed it immensely. To finish, we had the Belgian Chocolate Fondue which was amazing!! So good! The beer was fantastic throughout...we had 5 of the samplers (comes with 5 different beers) and one full pint of Steigl. The food was good, the experience was very enjoyable although not an everyday affair considering the meal came to $220 for 2 people.

Go there to sample various beers of the world and...

Go there to sample various beers of the world and speciality beers, great selection. Eating? Well, the three sausage halves appetizer combo....wow, never, ever had three sausage halves taste so completely flavourless. Thank god it cost like $9.00! I can get WAY better sausages for $1.99 at the grocery store and that's a pack of six. The main was good/better, but very small for the price....my wife felt the same way about hers. Stick to going for drinks.