This Bar is on Fire

Judging by social media excitement, The Carbon Bar might as well be the only restaurant in Toronto.

The city’s newest hotspot comes to us from a team behind the culinary favourite, Nota Bene. The Carbon Bar’s substantial space was once home to a discotheque, a TV station, and a media giant’s studio, and its décor reflect all of them. Its southern barbeque-heavy menu is just as fun. The Queso de Cabeza ($13) starter has suckling pig served on a bed of pork ‘n’ beans, and the side of TCB Slaw ($4) is sprinkled with crunchy corn nuts. The exquisite Oak-Fired Octopus ($21), with sausage and lobster gumbo, made us regret choosing to split the main dish, and also replenished our love of the underappreciated okra. More surprises come with the dessert: Who knew Goat’s Milk Ice Cream ($3) would be such a revelation? Don’t leave without tasting one of The Carbon Bar’s masterful cocktails, such as the delightful The Volstead ($14), a gin and Amaro Montenegro concoction made into a refreshing delight with an addition of cucumber and agave. 

So good, we can’t help Tweeting about it. —Anya Georgijevic

99 Queen St. E., Toronto, 416-947-7000, www.thecarbonbar.ca