The Emmet Ray

Food was actually quite good.
The atmosphere was very flat considering there was live music.
Obnoxious service. I wasn't drinking as it was a dry January do I can remember the interactions perfectly. There was a Scottish server that was rude, tense, and extremely hostile. Simply not good enough.

Great atmosphere, good menu, reasonable price for Belgian beers in Toronto and nice staff!

I love Jazz bars and havent been to one since Covid. I was very happy to take a friend who shared the same love for Jazz. Decided to check out Emmet as I had never been and I wasnt in the mood for the downtown scene and parking.

We had a great time. The service was par excellence. The food, WOW! So very tasty and very homey. The staff were also on point. Ill definately be back just for the food)

One of the best hidden gems in Toronto. Amazing whiskey selection, new kitchen menu is great, and still doing live music after all these years. I've been here at least a couple times a year for over a decade (sometimes a lot more frequently) and have some great memories, especially since they are open when most other spots aren't.

We went here because of all the good reviews but I should have paid closer attention. We went to the Friday night show and the entire band was too under the influence to perform. The drinks were also substandard.

Probably my favorite bar in Toronto. Mike the bartender is great. Live jazz every night. Great whiskey selection. Good food. A bar with a soul!

Great atmosphere, food, and cocktails.
Enormous selection of whiskey's!
Which made me visit in the first place.
Would highly recommend!

Amazing staff! I teased them about food order delay & all of us had a laugh. But they took stuff off my tab & even gave a discount, all without asking. This is very rare these days! Best is I spoke with 3 staff members & all were very friendly & polite & my Reuben sandwich was very good. I will go again.

Loved it went on Robbie Burns night and had a fantastic time thx Kip the food was delicious service was five star definitely would go again

Local and cozy bar/lounge. The atmosphere is relax and friendly. Food and drink taste great, host is friendly and the price is reasonable. Highly reccomended

Wonderfully friendly and great music. Brought my two boys here and we had a great time as an introduction to live music. Plus I loved the burgers! Thanks

Food was average. But the service and jazz was great. Our server, a Scottish lad made the evening a ton of fun. He Recommended many great whiskey and scotch options that we loved. Whiskey menu was impressive. Prices fair. Will return.

I visited here to get inspirations for my writing. I ordered double Irish whisky and it was such a nice time to enjoy the drink with lovely jazz music. I think I'll be loyal in the bar.

Great experience if you're a jazz music lover. If not, plenty other places to quench your thirst.

The staff are friendly. The drinks are good. Food not so much. We had wings and fries. Both were below mediocre and didn't feel fresh.

Good place for sitting down, listening to music and having your drink. Otherwise, not a good public gathering as you won't be able to talk to your friends. That is after 8pm or whenever the show starts.

Overall, there's nothing special about this place.

My second or third time out. Very cozy. Food is outstanding. Great drink choices, including quite the selection of whiskey. All staff, from everyone in the kitchen to wait and bar staff, are super nice and go out of their way to take care of you. This venue is an hour away for me, by transit, but we'll worth it.

Service was excellent and the live music fit the restaurant very well! There isn't a huge variety of food here, but what they offer is well prepared and presented. I would recommend this place for a casual date, a small get-together with friends, or for a solid solo experience to just try a new place out.

I visited this restaurant tonight. Had a beer and an Emmet burger. Staff were friendly.beer was nice. The burger was tasting very weird. I'm not a picky guy but there was something very wrong about the sauce. It was tasting and smelling like bleach or a chemical vinegar. I couldn't take more than a bite and had to ask the restaurant to change the bun.

Amazing cozy bar. Wonderful staff and frequently has awesome live music! Love this place will keep coming back over and over!

The servers were extremely nice! Live music here all the time. The drinks were fantastic but I ordered some poutine and it took around 35 to 40 minutes to arrive. Now, they did say the kitchen was backed up, so I wasn't upset, but when I got the poutine, it was DRENCHED in gravy. I'm talking gravy soup with cheese and a couple of fries, really nasty. I couldn't finish it. It gets BUSY on the weekends, so you need to make a reservation if there's a show you want to see. Great venue, but I didn't have the best time here. The music made my night for sure! But super nice service!

I have to echo what other 5 star reviews said. This is truly a hidden gem. Had a great time last night and absolutely loved the atmosphere. Service was great even though they were busy and food was good, too! My picky son enjoyed his burger.
Thank you and we will come back for sure!

GREAT music and atmosphere! Excellent selection of whisky and cocktails. Service was excellent. Food was a great selection of standard fare with inspired flair. Highly recommend

Our waiter was terrible. He walked away in the middle of us taking orders so we didn’t even get to order food. The table beside us wanted to get food too but left because they wouldn’t get their order taken either. We got our beers at least but there was literally no head on the beer, very flat. We came a little bit late so there was no live music, and unfortunately the music on the stereos were non existent. The only good thing was there was no wait, but now I understand why there wasn’t a line to get in.

If you ask a stranger, it’s a jazz bar. But ask even a semi-regular, and they’ll tell you the Emmet Ray is so much more than that.

The venue is deliberately designed to feel like a lounge room. The best way to experience it is by relaxing into one of their many comfy chairs with a glass of your favourite drink, ready to see something spectacular. A dedicated local community guarantees this harmonious attitude, making it feel more like a great café than a stuffy club. They might operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, but even if you’re standing in the wings, you’ll be able to hear and see everything.

It was my first time to visit and I came across this hidden gem while searching for a live jazz venue, my call was answered by Tom who’s knowledgeable and has a welcoming voice that calls you in, he was the one who also met us at the door when we arrived, the reservation is made through an email sent to Andrew who was not available during our visit but he responded immediately to my reservation request email with detailed explanations on everything we need.

We were served by Jane and Mike, both are a true reflection of high ethics and understand the art of customer service, they both checked on us several times and did everything they can to make sure we are having a wonderful experience.

The live band is a bomb, the music they composed and the way they play their instruments must be seen as no words will describe it fairly.

We ordered their signature salad, tomato soup and their Emmet Burger with fries, a unique flavours that no way I can express in writing.

They charge $10 per person to support the local band which I personally find reasonable and fair however I suggest they waive it in the future for kids.

Their washroom is located in the basement and it was super clean and tidy.

Overall, this is a place that must be seen and visited and it is an icon here not only in Toronto or Ontario but in Canada.

Thanks Emmet Ray team, keep the hard work going on.

Great music and atmosphere! Drinks were great, and food was exactly as expected, definitely a step up from pub food. I had the absolute pleasure of seeing the Julia D’ascanio Sextet and they blew me and everyone else in the room away. Such a great spot for live music. Staff was super friendly and charming!

Lovely atmosphere, great staff - you can really tell they care about their customers! Strongly recommended visiting this spot for live music

Awesome customer service. Great band on Saturday night. Very chill environment. Delicious eats to try out while swaying in your seats. Andrew was very pleasant in answering my questions and setting up my reso. Tom was phenomenal at informing my fiance of the various whiskeys he set up for the whiskey flight tasting. Recommended supporting this local business. They definitely give off a family vibe of working together to give their customers a fun filled night.

Great food and kind staff, got a Hot Club de France and it was good (not as spicy as I thought but I have a high spice tolerance)

Great jazz band. They’ve figured out how to have a live band without blowing everyone’s ears out. Very nice and attentive service!

It has a cozy pub feel to it. Live music was super nice. Basic pub menu you can’t go wrong with the food you choose.

An excellent facet of the community. Where else are you finding top notch live jazz EVERY night? Im so pleased to have a space like it.

You can sometimes listen to live opera here!
The place has personality and everyone is really nice!

I came with my friends from Kitchener, waited 2 hours for food, also server guy so rude, he brought me a wrong salad, when I told him didn’t order this, he blame me, and he was tooo agrasive, even didn’t poligize, finally he told me if you don’t want, I don’t care, music is awesome but not recommend order food specially from rude server, I’m not sure again will I go or recommend to my friends,

I have no idea who’d give this place 5 stars reviews. Went there last night with my husband and we were very disappointed with the service, drinks and music overall as their speakers not working properly. Not recommend

Ordered from the delivery menu during lockdown. What a great way to support a local venue and help out a musician at the same time. Plus, it was nicely packed and delicious!

If you are looking for a great meal with great entertainment, check out The Emmet Ray. For only $20 you can have a delicious dinner delivered to you anywhere in Toronto plus stream a show by the featured artist you want to support. Your order even provides a $5 donation to local artists. We ordered the Steak and Vegetable Vindaloo Curry and savoured every bite. Wow! Next time, we're eager to try the special Lasagna Dinner and Show. Give it a try.

A wonderful little bar! A mix of classy and casual, with a wide selection of whiskeys. Live music frequently (in non-covid times) makes for a very pleasant atmosphere!

Great atmosphere. Menu is extensive with all whiskeys around the world.including bourbon Irish whiskey with fair prices️

Really nice character to the place. A local whisky watering hole for artists, creative types and other locals, with live music boasting this cities musical talent.

One of the first five indoor venues post covid to have ppe and protective equipment in order to facilitate shows- really on top on their game!

The foods great, but I'm bias as the ex chef. The owner is one of the most amazing guys you could ever meet and work for. It's a live venue jazz bar. Covid has hit those venues hardest, and that's in the toronto music scene that's already been struggling in the best of times. They're open for bottle service and take out food options, at super cheap prices.like way cheaper than the old menu. The staff are like family and some of the best in the biz. Treat yourself to a great experience and some tasty treats. If there were 10 stars to give I would.

Had a great evening listening to Arile Shetzen Group while having dinner. We had drinks I had a pint ok arkell best bitters a friend had a canadian whiskey flight. I had the Ray burger which was juicy & flavorful & a large portion of fries. The special was roast duck with veg & potatoes. Well to our surprise it was 1/2 a duck & was cooked to perfection tender & juicy we all tried some. Service was great my friends were impressed with the whiskey selection one of the best they have seen.

Fun and low key venue with a relaxing and inviting atmosphere to enjoy a drink, listen to live music and grab a bite to eat. Very friendly and personable staff. Definitely worth checking out if you are out drinking on College St.

Love the casual atmosphere. Fantastic whiskey selection and a carefully limited beer selection. Music is the part that weaves all together. Favorite local spot.

Favourite local watering hole to go to drink all the Bourbons. Staff know their stuff, just tell them the flavour palate you like and they will match you with a Bourbon. Also the halloumi nachos are a must.

We decided to go to the Emmet Ray - number 1 because it has so many great reviews but also because their whiskey list was unreal! A few of us whiskey drinkers at work decided to see if they could help us out by doing up some one off whiskey flights and they accommodated us so well! Tom was our bartender and was so knowledgeable with the whiskeys bringing us the whiskey one by one explaining the origin and going through the different flavours as well. We felt so looked after and the whiskeys were all incredibly tasty! Their was even live Jazz playing which just added to the mood! Such a nice spot will definitely be returning! The food was awesome as well they had specials on beer and food as well!

This place ended up being one of the few places open the day of the snow storm. Owner was welcoming. Laid back atmosphere. Great drink menu. Good food. Live band. Would definitely recommend as a hang out spot

Great place for a wee drap of single malt - they have a huge selection (and Irish whisky too). They also have a decent list of craft brew on tap. The setting is cozy and informal. In the back they also feature live music, stand-up and other performance most nights. It's a welcome local gathering place with very friendly and knowledgeable bar staff.

Place was so so.went to a charity dinner PWC for Indigenous Day & instead of turkey he gave us all tofu turkey. My daughter had her heart set on it so she return hers. We kept ours. But whoa it was a let down. But if you like a cosy out of the way Jazz bar it's worth it.

Nice live music setup. Extensive drink selection. Didn't try the food so can't comment. Service was friendly and good.

This is the fourth time to the Emmet Ray, I have never been disappointed with the music, service or food. The selection of whiskey bourbon and scotch is exceptional.
Thank you to the staff and musicians of the Emmet Ray.

I always enjoy my hang at the Emmet. Live music adds to the fun. Service is great, and I am always made to feel welcome here.

Had a nice lounge area with a local game that the regulars were nice enough to show us how to play. Drinks were good and the bartender was nice

Good variety of liquor, cocktail and even Frülii beer!
Live music with the solo female act was good with classic tunes, at the back of the bar.
Chill space.
Service at the bar was terrible. Bartender was curt and abrupt. Hope he was just having a bad day.

The drinks, food and jazz were exceptional, and the bartender recommended the Communist's Daughter, which turned out to be the most fun I've ever had in TO in the afternoon. BELIEVE, and try whatever whisky he recommends!

Have been for two whisky tastings hosted by Andrew and have loved both. He's extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Staff are just as pleasant. Great cozy little spot for a date or drinks with friends. Highly recommend!

Awesome somewhat "hidden" music spot with a focus on jazz. Over any given week the format can vary from smooth feel good jams to complex flex tunes. Always a treat.

Great place. Has an old world charm about it. We were a group of 8 (including 2 kids) and they staff was really accommodating. Their menu is great and also had plenty of vegetarian options. The food is great and live music is perfect. The sound is not too loud that it will interfere your conversations but also not too soft that you won’t be able to experience it. It’s just perfect. Overall we had a great experience and I will definitely recommend this place to everyone who wants to have a nice cozy evening in the heart of Toronto.

Great place go test out some whiskeys. They also have different kinds of games nights. I've been there for a whiskey tasting, which was a lot of fun. Great price and you got to try 4 different whiskeys with a food pairing. Great place to go with some friends. Highly suggest.

Fun games nights on Tuesdays. And very reasonably priced beer! Would definitely go back. Haven't been to any jazz nights, but they have a lot of them.