If you're looking for some good beer, decent eats, spotty service and just the right amount of sleaze, this is your joint right here. I must admit that there are plenty of great restaurants in the St. Lawrence Market area that I could (and should) be visiting, but my friends and I have instead made this one of our preferred destinations. For a Cara-owned operation, this Bier Markt is on the spectrum of what I like to call a "premium dive bar". The location itself is solid, just a couple minutes walk from Union and nestled in-between a mix of high and low end joints like a Keg, a Tilted Kilt and a bunch of one-off bistros. Come in here and you'll certainly be entertained by the... flora and fauna. I'm still trying to figure out if the waitresses are trying to compete with some of these other establishments after hours or this is really what their dress code is, because they rock some of the tightest clothing I've ever seen. You certainly won't be at a loss for entertainment if the conversation isn't up to snuff. The food is forgettable, by and large. I showed up here for birthday drinks with friends and we settled on apps (onion rings and fries). I understand there are build-it-yourself charcuterie boards you can buy, but based on what I ordered the last time I was here last time (the fish and chips) and this experience, the overall result is just ho-hum. The onion rings in particular were extremely greasy and I found myself giving up and not wanting to clog my arteries any further after a couple bites. I also ended up going for a Cider Mojito (which was referred to in the past as a "Swedish Mojito", if one of the bar's past menus is anything to go by), which had Sommersby, strawberry coulis and mint. You can always tell when a restaurant's specialty drinks are up to snuff if they can make a good mojito - and this one delivered. The only quibble I have is that it was very clear that they pulled out frozen fruit to put in this -- not so much a problem if you're not planning to consume said fruit, but it was for me. The biggest problem, and the one that's most mentioned, is the service. Some of the wonkiest variations in attentiveness I've seen in a while. One table away, a waitress attempted to cram 9(!) people into a 4-person booth, with three of them standing awkwardly in the aisle as servers rushed by until someone finally told them there was another table available. Our server was a woman who was clearly up to her limit and sporting an attitude, yet she oscillated from passive-aggressiveness to somehow remembering my drink order an hour after I called it in, and it wasn't even that busy. Another waitress brought me a Diet Pepsi (hey, shut up, I'm trying to diet) and laughed at me behind my back! What's up with that? Maybe she should check out her own butterface before she makes a crack at a customer who tipped her well last time. There's some good stuff to like here. Bier Markt's a solid spot to hang out with friends and there could be some good menu items, but a decent neighborhood bar is about all it is. read more

Super clean, super nice staff, and one of the best selections in Toronto. The patio isn't half bad, either. Like any place that boasts such a selection as Bier Markt, you're bound to pick a few items that they'll be out of. Thankfully the servers here are knowledgeable enough to recommend something else. And kudos to Mr. Server for recommending my wife's new favorite beer, Fruli. read more

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I know better than to blindly go to a new spot, but well, my phone was all but dead so not yelp to guide me before dinner. We were a party of 6 women seated at a high top type table with no backs despite their being open booths and other style table around. Fine, we could've asked, but absolutely always a big uncomfortable to eat dinner at one of these style tables. I ordered the poutine to started and it was my favorite part of dinner. It seemed to have cheese curds on top of the gravy fries and was absolute heaven in my mouth but with a lot more guilt. I then order what was a chicken schnitzel. It's a German style restaurant so I was hoping this would be good and better than the pizza I saw. I was left feeling a little meh for my flattened chicken that was fried. The restaurant was a bit expensive and left me just hoping for something more or better yet something entirely different. Lesson learned: I must always have phone charged to ensure I can check yelp first in the future! read more

The atmosphere and service at this restaurant are both lovely. Starting with the greeter we were met with such a friendly welcome. The food and drinks were delicious and so reasonably priced. The only reason for four instead of five stars is that there were absolutely no gluten free menu options. The online menu showed some GF beer choices but when we tried to order one they said they don't carry it. When reviewing the dietary menu online there were absolutely zero gluten free food options from the whole menu (even nachos weren't listed as GF??). With some better options to cater to those with food allergies this place would be perfect! read more

This is more like 3.6 stars, but I rounded up because if they lowered their prices a bit it'd be fine. Bier Markt has a bunch of Belgian and French foods such as moules and poutine and steak frites. They also offer fondue and the like. Two people in my party had the burger which they said was good. My sister had the steak frites, which she wolfed down (and this is a skinny 12 year old girl, not some large guy) and my dad had this Flander's Pie or something like that. Think a fancy chicken pot pie. I myself had the Markt Poutine, which is poutine with grilled chicken thrown in the mix. It was very gravy-covered, very cheesy and very tasty. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The biggest selling point of Bier Markt is their vast beer selection, with more well known brands like Guinness as well as stranger brands like Old Speckled Hen. If you love good beer you won't be disappointed. If you prefer crappy stuff like Bud Light then you'll have to look elsewhere for your alcohol-tinged water fix (unless they just hid it really well). Service was friendly, and the outdoor patio was clean and nice. Inside the decor was cool, but a tad too dark for my tastes. As stated at the start of the review, this place is just a bit too overpriced. If they slashed the prices of the meals then it would be great, but it's hard to justify paying 12 dollars for some fries and chicken covered in gravy and cheese curds. read more

Bier Markt - Mmmm, poutine and Guinness! - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We had to sit a t the bar inside to wait for a table on the patio. It was a gorgeous day to sit outside and have a cold one. I did't mind the wait but it sure was dark and dingy in there. Loved the peeing boy fountain at the entrance. Tres a propos! We had a Honkers Ale by Goose Island Beer Co. from the encyclopaedia of beer menu. Our knowledgeable server helped with the selection. Much appreciated. We had panko crusted pork schnitzel in a Leffe Brune Abbey demi glaze and topped with a colourful dollop of lingonberry jam, and the 72 hour short rib also glazed with Brune Abbey Ale falling off the bone delish. Generous portions! Go there hungry. read more

Bier Markt - 72-hour short rib with Brune Abbey Ale glaze on a roasted cauliflower puree with carrots, asparagus and caramelized turnips. - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Very disappointing in every aspect. Starting with it taking a considerable amount of time to get service. Ordered drinks and that took longer than it should. Two of us ordered fish and chips. Overdone and an incredibly small amount of fries. When do you ever have too few fries? No salt and pepper on the table. Amazing how long it took to get the get a waiters attention to get some. Indifferent service and for the first time ever remember only tipped 10% which was a guilt tip since it was truly 10% more than deserved. So many choices of good places to eat or drink in the city find a place that deserves your money. read more

I use to come here all the time for dinner/ dancing. Came tonight and the service was horrible. I had to go ask the hostess to get our server to greet us because we had waited 15 mins and no service. We tried the menu and its not as good as the original. Onion rings were extremely greasy and gross. The slider was good . They didn't have my raspberry mojito that I would have normally got before they changed the menu. The atmosphere is just very different than before the Reno. I think they are focussing more on restaurant than a pub. Sadly, I think our bier markt days on the esplanade have come to an end. :(:(:( read more

Terrible food, smells bad. Dark and dreary interior. I would never go or recommend this business to anyone, it was gross

Biggest burger I ever saw. Candied bacon and smoked Gouda were a hit. Pro tip: don't sit by the railings. Lots of people begging for drinks and money. Preeminent food critic Dean Maltby make the classic mistake of adding poutine to his burger. Eyes are bigger than his belly. PS. He also ordered a litre of beer and tried to get his wife to finish it. "That's too much beer." he said. read more

Bier Markt - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

If you didn't know beer before, you will after a visit here. The staff are very knowledgeable so do not hesitate to ask about their extensive drink options and find that perfect pairing for your meal or taste preference. I had the pleasure of trying out a delightful peach cider, but even that could not hold a candle to the schnitzel. You must order schnitzel when you're here, it'll be served to you with amazing fingerlings and a bit of macaroni salad - it will leave you feeling hearty indeed! read more

Bier Markt - Gotta love schnitzel - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Newly renovated place and it looks beautiful. Would have wanted to give it a 4 but it was at best a 3.5 due to the food. Staff was supper friendly but disorganized had three different waitresses asking if we had being helped. I ordered the Mussels Provençal for starter and the Schnitzel with spatzle, potatoes and lemon caper sauce. The mussels were dry and lacked flavour and the pork schnitzel was well seasoned but a little dry. The lemon caper sauce was great and made up for the rest of the dish. The atmosphere is great ,the beer selections a 5 star and the prices are reasonable. To make this a 4 more attention needs to be placed on the food! read more

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Nothing to write home about. The service was slow. Our fries never came. Avoid the scallop ceviche. It was absolutely swimming in a mayo dressing. According to the waitress this was 'standard' but I've never had ceviche so thoroughly drenched in sauce. The salmon pastrami was fine, but would've been nice to have known it would come covered in mustard (not indicated on the menu). In all, subpar. The pub next door, Scotland Yard, has way better food and prices. read more

Excellent beer selection. Horrible fondue, if you tried a real fondue, never coming here, you will be dissapointed. read more

Bier Markt - This is called fondue, but it is disgusting; dense cheese, embarrasing. However, beer is excellent :-) - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I can't figure this restaurant out. They do a lot of things right like provide an amazing array of artisanal (but pricey!) beers on draft and luxe cheeses in their fondue but much of that goes wasted on the douchey guys drinking Heineken in bottles and the skanky girls in skimpy outfits who're on air diets. Normally, I'm not too affected by the other diners at a restaurant but they're so egregiously obnoxious at Bier Markt, you can't help but notice them like the stench of feces in a crowded airplane cabin. Our Yelp group came here for the excessively and unnecessarily umlauted Fondüe Feastivül[1]. Each portion of fondue ($17-19) was enough to fill a tea cup; sufficient for two people max, not 3-4 as we were told pre-event. They come in impressive cast iron pots which ought to keep the cheese warm but the fondue arrived cold and the teensy tea light candles they provided did little to raise their temperature. The accompanying dipping ingredients did not do justice to the cheese mixture either; stale cubes of baguette, risotto cakes that tasted suspiciously fishy, ice-cold asparagus pieces so thin they looked like green ropes of licorice which kept slipping through the tines of the fondue fork. It was as disappointing as finding out on your honeymoon night that your partner is impotent and he forgot the Viagra. To make matters worse, the service was spotty and pompous. Requests for water went ignored, our dessert fondue arrived before they cleared our cheese fondue. And when I politely asked one waitress if they could replace our cheese-riddled plates and forks so we could enjoy the final course, her response: "Only if you say please." Huh? OK, PLEASE do your job properly and PLEASE drop the shitty attitude. Please and thank you. As it turned out the chocolate fondue again arrived cold and the caramel fondue was so sweet I felt a toothache come on at first bite. Not worth their $15- and $16-price tags, especially considering the pitifully under-ripe winter strawberries they came with. (They also forgot to light our votives for the burners.) Fondue is meant to be a cozy, communal meal that brings people together but with Bier Markt's weird dance-club vibe, unpleasantry of the staff, and clientele that's cheesier than the emmental and raclette fondue, I couldn't wait to bolt from the premises and take a shower to wipe off the layer of slime that had accumülated on me. Ügh. ====================================== [1] Add to the list of things that my eyes roll real hard http://www.yelp.ca/topic/toronto-my-eyes-roll-real-hard-when-people read more

Came here with the girls for dinner and a fun night out. Service was super slow.. We ordered a few drinks and the server completely forgot to put the order in. We waited for 30 minutes before we could flag her down again and asked her about where the drinks were. We ended up just telling her to cancel the drinks and bring the bill. That ended up taking ANOTHER 20 minutes. We asked her to split the bill 3 ways evenly, and somehow we all ended up paying drastically different amounts (not sure if she bothered doing the math at all). Anyways, wouldn't recommend unless you're just looking to kill a LOT of time. read more

The Bier Markt is what my wise old pappy used to call a "horse of many feathers." Sometimes it's a gastropub with decent eats and an impressive selection of beer, and sometimes it's a lifesized whack-a-mole of douche-baggery (i.e., a club), filled to the brim with well-lubricated MBAs and girls wearing invisa-skirts. It's for this latter aspect that I write this review. I'll to my best to appreciate this place as Friday Night Bar qua Friday Night Bar. Compared to club district this place is like the Royal Ontario Museum on the first day of an Egyptian uncrating: downright civilized. The bouncers here aren't tweaking meatheads on power-trips, the line actually MOVES based on capacity (as patrons left, new people got in), and the clientele aren't really the greasy, over-dressed, roofie-or-be-roofied, gel-slathered assholes that are crawling all over Richmond Street on a typical Friday night. You won't ever feel like you're going to get shot at the BierMarkt and that's a good thing. The downsides of this place betray my old-fogeyism more than anything else. BM is packed and impossible to navigate, pretty damn loud (especially near the stage if there is a live band), the floors are sticky, and it smells like beer in here (duh right?). Five years ago (OK fine, ten) these could have been selling points for me. Now they are annoyances, but minor ones at that. That night, I never had to wait long to get a drink (OK fine, I was parked at the bar), and that's probably my #1 pet peeve about these places. When we were booted at 2am, they weren't dicks about it. So yeah, good times. I'd avoid showing up at 11:00pm on a Friday like I did, as there is a long wait ahead of you. But it's not a vanity line, and once you do get in, you will actually be able to get a drink. Trust me, you may need it. Obligatory Title Pun: A dare you to find a LAGGER line up OR: This place is HOPPING! Menu Readability: I just look at the handles on the taps. Need to mention: They have LOTS of beer on tap and good ones too. Don't be a douche and order a cocktail. Seriously. What this place teaches me about myself: I don't have a "pappy" and no he didn't say that. But still, I miss him dearly, as fictional as he is. read more

As we approached, a mob of Toronto Blue Jay fans marched toward us under a single voice of, "Blueeee Jays" repeatedly. Gulp. Any apprehension we had was warranted because as San Diego Padre fans and in "enemy" territory we had every reason to think twice. Fortunately, we weren't wearing anything friar-like. No blue. No brown. No yellow. This ain't the 80s. Then just like that, they all rolled as a unified blue mob into Bier Markt. We followed in with them and instantly felt welcomed. For those that are familiar, the closest comparison would be Yard House in the States with the many, many taps of beer. Similarly, Bier Markt does better because it focuses on being a beerpub (A Taste OF EUROPE!) than trying to be a restaurant with beer as an after thought. But of course, they do serve food also. We unfortunately didn't try the food as were intent on and not disappointed in pickling our livers with the fast and friendly bartend service. Interestingly, the entire staff all wear the French classic black Lacoste polo shirts. The crocodile logo is unmistakeable. Dig it. read more

As far as chains go, this place is probably top of the heap. There are several Bier Markt locations in Tornoto, but the Esplanade seems to be the largest. It even has a Goose Island microbrewery inside with its own small bar. Outside seating is available along the long strip of restaurants. Staff was very friendly. Food was average. A safe bet. read more

This place is really not what it used to be. I went here last Saturday for a friends birthday and was seriously unimpressed with every single element of the evening. The line up was RIDICULOUS! Despite arriving at 10:00, we were still made to wait for 45 minutes. Fourty-freaking-five MINUTES! If it hadn't been my friends birthday, there is no way I would have waited that long - it is NOT worth it and there are much better places in this city to spend your Saturday night where you will not be made to wait for eons. Once we finally got in, we entered the massive line up for coat check. Thankfully, by this point, we were total pros at standing in hopelessly long unmoving queues. By the time we got to the front of the line, we were informed that coat check was full, but that we could try again in 15 minutes. Wonderful. By that point, I felt exhausted, deflated and, most of all, annoyed. Time for booze (oooo, so that's how they make their money - piss you off so badly that you NEED a drink the second they allow you to get your hands on one...well played...)! Decided that I deserved a double with the evening I was having - when I finally made it through the sea of people across the sticky floor (movie theatres have NOTHING on this place) I was rewarded by having to pay $15 for my drink. Hooray! You better believe I switched to beer after that. The music was DATED - if I walked into the Bier Markt last year, I swear I would have been listening to the same crap. Even though I wasn't a fan of what they were playing, the band was pretty decent. The verdict for the Bier Markt? Don't do it. Do yourself a huge favour, and go ANYWHERE else. read more

Bier Markt on the Esplanade is a great restaurant for a guy who thinks he's ballin' to take a girl who doesn't know better. I can see how the facade might impress some, but let me break it down for you: The beer list is great. Mammoth. I don't drink beer that much so I'll let the other reviewers speak to this, but I'm thinking if you love beer, this might be a good place to drink... at least for a few post-work pints. The food is decent-ish, but the price is whack. Way too expensive for what you get. We did Summerlicious here, so for a $35 3 course meal, I was more than happy, but I wouldn't have been if I'd paid regular price. I got the T-Bone Burger, house salad, and lemon tart. Burger was good, the fries were yummy, but you can get better for cheaper. House salad was a house salad. Lemon tart was bangin'! I agree with most of the other reviewers regarding the crowd. It wasn't an unpleasant experience, but not really my scene. And I was there on a Thursday eve... I can imagine how it goes into super-douche mode on weekends. Our server was really nice/attentive, the manager stopped by to see how things were, and they were accomodating when we were a little late due to stupid Jays traffic and an absence of available cabs. They did, however, remind me 37 times that we only had the table 'til 7:30 (our reso was at 5:30). read more

If good looking, professional eye candy is yourthing, the Bier Market is your place. If ear-splitting pop tunes from the 80's isn't your thing, then Bier Market is not your place. I met a large group for dinner and were told we'd have to vacate the table we had at 7pm. That would've been okay if we hadn't made the reservation until 9. Anyway. I had an Edinger, which was a delicious German pale ale, and the tomato and goat cheese flat bread for dinner. It had a ton of goat cheese on it -- too much if you ask me -- but was decent. For dessert, we shared their special of little donuts stuffed with granny smith apples. Those were fantastic! Our waitress was totally scatterbrained; she made some people pay for their drinks when she served them and others with their bill. Then, she told two of us that "for the life of her, she couldn't get our bills to separate" and then charged me for the beer I'd already paid for and didn't charge me for the flatbread. Surely she's used to handling large parties here because there were about five of them just around us! Overall, this was a decent place to try some good beer. Next time, I'll just have to remember to bring my noise-canceling earphones. read more

Anyone that gives this place five stars really needs to get out more. Where the Bier Market on King is a "little" classier, this beer garden turned nightclub is really nothing special. Especially when it is serving as the latter. Bonus star for the nice patio, and the massive selection of fun beers. I've never had a meal here that was particularly interesting, and it is often filled with rowdy sports fans that use the green P across the road to park at when visiting the ACC. Minus a star for the fact that the entire place SMELLS like old beer. For Beer tastings on a nice patio, its a great choice. Especially if you have non-Torontonians visiting and they want an apricot flavored beer after trekking through the St.Lawrence market or something like that. You likely need the server to help you find something you will like unless you are WELL versed in Beer. I was disappointed in the "thick-heavy-dark-beer" selections that I sampled. Avoid at all costs any Friday/Saturday night or any time there is a sporting event unless you like nightclubs, leaf fans or any combination of the two because then you'll feel right at home. **Edit: I counted my Plus and Minus Stars incorrectly. Two Stars. ** read more

My first experience of this place was on a Saturday night where there was some long ass queue to get in and resulted in us drinking more at another pub before coming back when there was not queue. That night they had a live band playing and it was very busy and very loud, I think this is a normal Saturday night thing. There is no dress code or general expectations coming here on any day so the crowd was a mix, including your backwards baseball cap douches so totally not my cup of tea. More recently came here on a Saturday evening and actually got a seat (temporarily) and was able to sample the beers and menu. I went with the Market Poutine and got the "SAY WHAT" when I asked for it without cheese but it still tasted great and went superbly with the awesome Leffe white beer I ordered. The beers are a rip off but I guess that's how it works here but the selection is awesome, went through some hoppy beers which my friend ordered but the good thing about this place is the service is great, knowledgeable and this is maintained even when it started to get busy. Random conversations randomly occur and the only downer is the smell of stale beer when walking into the joint. This reminds me very much of my favourite beer house in Estonia except without the Bavarian music, which I would prefer much more than the live bands they have up. read more

I went to the Bier Markt last week because of their ads promoting the "Fondue Festival". Eager to finally try some fondue here in Toronto, I went there with great expectations, but they were definitely not fulfilled. First of all, upon reading previous reviews here, I assumed they would harass us because of how we were dressing, but that was absolutely not the case. There were no bouncers at the time we went in (7:30pm) and when we entered we saw a lot of people dressed more casually than us - I went with regular shirt, pants and shoes and saw many people wearing t-shirts and sneakers with no problems. The service was by far the best part. Although there were some longer-than-normal waits, the waitress was very nice and friendly. Now, the food. Let me start with the greatest disappointment of the night: the fondue. We ordered the Brie, Lobster & Pastis Fondue. They sent us a pot filled with a pink cream and a little white cube in the center. That's weird, I thought... I had cheese fondue before and never was the cheese pink. Probably it's because they mixed it with the lobster cream. I tried and, not only I could not taste the cheese, the mixture was cold. They've chosen to heat the pot with a freaking candle instead of an alcohol burner. After 10 minutes trying to wait until the thing was hot, I decided to start eating it anyway. It was like a fancy mayo, nothing like fondue. After 10 more minutes I found out that the little white cube was the cheese! That's new. A cheese fondue with 1 tablespoon of actual cheese. I wanted to try other fondues but after this screwup I decided to order the "Surf & Turf" fondue. This one was actually good, the lobster and the meat were tasty - but absolutely not worth the $49 that they cost. The chocolate fondue at the end was actually the best food of the night, in terms of value. $15 was a good price for a good chocolate fondue. The fruit was fresh and the chocolate was delicious. However, the overall feeling of that night was of a big trainwreck. "OK" food for out-of-this-world prices. I really wanted to give the other stuff a try, but the $125 that they ripped us off may have caused a permanent trauma. read more

This place is most definitely a Dr. Jekly and Mr. Hyde type of place... It all depends on what you're looking for and what time of day/night you show up. If you frequent clubs than go to this place Friday or Saturday night. They have great beer, sweaty bodies and live music. If you like up-scale dining and great food, then come on a Wednesday or Thursday evening after 7pm. If you want to hang out with the barman and try lots of free samples of all sorts of interesting beers, then go for lunch on Sunday. (Show up as soon as they open) The after work crowd (4pm to 7pm) is always a pleasant time too for both beer, appys, and dining. I've been many many times to this place and yes, some of the menu prices are outrageous, but the beer list will always keep me coming back. read more

Had lunch here yesterday and ordered the special. Beef brisket sandwich with a side of fries for $16. It was good but was too small for the price I paid. A buddy ordered a diet soda and he said that it was not refillable. And at $2.50 a glass, they even have the nerve to fill it up with 3/4 of ice. Seriously?!?!?!? Will not be back read more

I've been here a few times but most recently came here for diner. This time we tried the Steak Flammekueches Cones off of their spring menu which are basically marinated flank wraped in a naan-style bread with cilantro, mole, pickled onions, and pumpkin seeds, and T-Bone burger. We asked our waitress about the beef used in the burger and she confirmed that it was real Kobe, and not mixed with any other beef. She even offered to show us the box to prove it was real. The burger was nothing to write home about though. It was char grilled too much for my liking, dry, and not juicy and flavorful like I was hoping it would be. The cook did a real disservice to the meat. The Cones were ok and were at least better than the burger. The service was really good and made up for the food. We had a really nice, charming waitress and if it weren't for the service I would have probably rated this place a 2 or 3. read more

I've experienced the Bier Markt a few times and let me tell you, it isn't a place to come for good beer. They have beer...a lot of it, but most is macro and pseudo-micro beer. There are some craft beers, but not many considering the vast beer menu. My latest visit was on a Saturday night and the line up was very long and inside was packed full. This appears to be a good place to come get drunk and dance to live music, so the naming of the place escapes me. read more

I was very disappointed with my short experience at The Bier Markt. My friends and I visited on a Saturday night. It was admittedly very busy inside, but after having our ID checked, we were unsure of what to do. There is a front desk and there were two people behind it who definitely saw us; I believe one was probably working coat check and the other the host desk. They were talking, which is fine, but they did not acknowledge us even after we made eye contact with them. And we looked at them BECAUSE we didn't know if we were just supposed to go in. I'm sure we looked confused because we did not know whether we could seat ourselves or if the host needed to seat us so they could get us a server. Usually there are signs that indicate one or the other, but not here. We walked inside but couldn't figure out if we were supposed to simply sit down and wait, or to order somewhere??? Even now I'm still confused. We tracked someone down inside and they told us we had to order from the bar. We finally decided to move over to the less busy Goose Island side, which seems to be just an extension of The Bier Markt. I understand busy restaurants are sometimes hard to work in but the people at the front really could have been more helpful. Horrible service. read more

The first time I went to the Bier Markt, I was a little nervous. Since returning to Canada after six months in Belgium, I was unable to find any good French-Belgian and Flemish food. The moment I first walked in and saw Mannequin-Pis, I was home. The Bier Markt served my favourite beer, Leffe Brun, and had many more amazing European beers available. The atmosphere was relaxed and I liked the Esplanade location. It was secluded from heavy traffic which is a bonus. Food I've had there include the flat bread, mussels and fries. Love the flat bread. It was delish! The mussels were great. The only thing that would help make it more authentic is that fries should be automatically served with the mussels. Moreso adding to the awesomeness that is the Bier Markt is it's great staff. The few times I've been there, I had really great service. If you want a chills night, with good European food, and great beer, go to the Bier Markt. Until I can find another Belgian style restaurant, you'll see me there. read more

Free entry, live bands, and double digit % alcohol beer, what more can you ask for? As I start to age, I'm detesting the clubbing scene and looking for somewhat happening but laid back place, I'm finding myself more and more often at Bier Market. Definitely get here before 1030pm if you want to avoid long lines. For some reason they start holding up the line even when the place isn't packed, also you get a lot of line hoppers or people holding a spot in line for like 20 people, it can get pretty frustrating. For extra good times, order some 10%+ beers, Delirium and a German one which I can't spell nor pronounce (starts with a K). I like how liberal this place is, some semi-quiet space at the front for people to stand and chat, the mosh pit dancing area for people who want to get down and an easy access washroom path so you're not wading through a crowd like most clubs. read more

I gotta say...I'm not really a big fan of this place to go to party. It's kinda douchey. But if you're looking for a dinner, it's awesome. The schnitzel is unbelievable and on Thursday's they have a beef rib special that will blow your mind. Order it with the freshest, cleanest pint of Stiegl you'll find in the city. The charcuterie plate also kicks ass. read more

Bier Markt - Delicious beef ribs! Thursday only. - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Lots of choices for beer, this is great happy hour and patio place. However, if you're expecting dinner here, be prepared to pay $$$ Popular food choices include mussel at $21/lb and a $19 cobb salad. You can also get entrees for $30+ or flatbreads (good enough for one person really for $15 on average). beet and wine cost about $8 per glass/pint. We got a flight of 6 cheeses for $20. It was okay, brie, rochfort + a couple harder cheeses like emmental. Comes with toasted bread and a fruit compote I really like the $9 Praline Trio. A chocolate truffle, some cheese cake melt in your mouth cake and a chocolate praline swirl. read more

Beautiful patio partly in the shade on a hot day. Fantastic selection of beer and cider. The big problem was with the mussels. I ordered a large portion of Thai green curry-style mussels. At first they seemed okay. The broth was tasty, although the coconut milk had split a little bit. The mussels were nice and plump. After the first few, I counted no fewer than 10 of the mussels that were either completely shut or impossible to open, which suggests they were already dead before they were cooked, i.e. a health hazard. I called over our server to send them back. She apologized profusely, let me take the fries and baguette off the platter, and offered me either replacement mussels or another dish. I ordered a replacement set, or so I thought. After about 15 minutes, she came back and apologized again and said the mussels were taken off the bill. She was empty-handed. I thought maybe I had been unclear that I wanted a replacement dish, but my friend echoed my confusion when he asked me, "Where's the new order of mussels you asked for?" By that time, I was already full on the excellent fries and cider; so I just let it go. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. My friend's mussels à la provençale were excellent; he had no problems whatsoever. At the end of the meal, the bad mussels were indeed taken off the bill. Our server was very apologetic, but even perfect service - much less the extra mis-step of not replacing the order - could not excuse the complete miss of serving 10+ unsafe mussels. To me, this is the same as getting a plate of raw, bloody chicken. You can't let such a dish leave the kitchen. I won't be coming back. read more

Have you ever had the feeling of being confronted by so much selection that you feel as if your brain just my overload and go into the pc blue screen mode? I call this the first time Costco effect, and it's what can happen on one of your first visits to the bier market. Without an experienced friend OR a kick ass tour guide (waiter) the esplanade experience can make one want to go cross eyed. Luckily for a first timer friend the other night she lucked out and had the best of both worlds. Meeting for dinner and drinks in the city recently we decided to venture to this drafty location (gratuitous beer pun). As per the usual in my experience the restaurant was like that of a bee hive: noisy and bustling with activity (even at 8pm on a Tuesday). Despite the crowds we were seated swiftly and presented with THE MENUS. I capitalize that because there are two (for those whom have never visited) 1 for food and the other (a coil bound notebook) for the beer list - GREAT MERCIFUL CRAFT (beer). I noticed my friend about to overload and shut down just as our waiter came to her rescue. He introduced himself and took us on a verbal journey of explaining the menu, venue, beer specials and their relevant food pairing suggestions, so eloquent and well rehearsed I felt as if I was listening to a presidential inauguration speech. During the magic that was his Beerly spoken word he described the two beer specials with such accuracy and beauty that my friend and I immediately ordered 1 each. For myself I had the "toffee flavored with mild hints of coffee" Leffe. And my friend enjoyed the Hertog Jan pilsner which "tastes like Heineken without the skunky after taste". Upon taking a first sip of my own brew I was shocked at how smooth this beer was and with no after taste. So much so that my sip lasted about 2/3s of the way down my glass (oops). Once I resurfaces from my deep pint exploration we decided to order some food. We decided on the cheese Fondue (served with apples, bread , and potato) to share as an appetizer. Following we each decided on the Belgian chopped salad (hers with chicken mine with salmon). The fondue arrived shortly with all that was promised and the molten formage was ohhh sooo oohhhhyy goooeyyy that all conversation ceased as we dunked in time after time. It was a good thing that our server warned us about the extreme temperature of the clay fondue pot as there were one or two times where I felt inclined to pick it up and drink straight from it. Not classy I'm aware but YOLO. Ha ha ha. Following the beer and cheese I was satisfied and could have left a happy boy but alas the salads were still to come. I say alas because although they were very creative in their presentation and ingredient selection I did feel like this salad lacked any sort of oomph. In fact if it wasn't for the very well (albeit small) cooked piece of salmon this salad may have been a complete failure. However, salad aside this was over all a remarkable dining experience. Our server was top shelf and his attention to detail and service was expert. When the bill came we expected it to be high (especially when the salads cost $19 a piece). But we didn't mind and I made sure out waiter was tipped handsomely. I'm eager to return to the bier market to begin making my way through their beer menu until I am sloshed to the PINT of no return ** YOLO = you only live once (for those not up to current pop lingo) lol ** LOL = laughing out loud (ha ha sorry) read more

Headed down here on a Friday night. The overall atmosphere is awesome-there is a stage and live band playing cover songs! I liked the fact that there are places to sit where you can enjoy your food, but there is also an open area in front of the stage where you can dance. I am not a big beer drinker, but anyone can tell you that the selection is extensive. We tried a strawberry flavoured beer named FRULI (made with real strawberries!), and would recommend it for all the ladies that aren't huge beer fans like me. Our waitress was very helpful, and really seemed to know her stuff. The beer prices are decent - 28 oz will cost you around $7 As for the food: ordered the poutine. It was good because there was meat in it, but the blue cheese I was not a big fan of. Also ordered a slice of chocolate cake-FANTASTIC!!! The only negative about the place: may be hard to find a space to sit for a large group of people, and it is very LOUD! Difficult to have a conversation with anyone not sitting or standing right next to you. The Bier Markt is definitely a great place to check out! read more

While nothing about this place is horrible, I'm simply nonplussed by this place. Maybe it is just my luck, but every time I order, they just happen to be out of the first pick or two. there are much better beer places out there......Cest What, Cafe Volo, and Beer Bistro come to mind. Kind of large and impersonal, but at the same token, if you are a bit early - you can get a large group in here and still sit together. Clientele...well maybe it's just me, but they seem like every person I've spent my life avoiding. Food: expensive and ok. The fries are good. But fries are good everywhere.. read more

Oh Canada. You are hilarious. You and your state sanctioned beer stores. Alas, I was taken here by my dear friends, who are Canadian. I loved the vast selection of beer, the oodles of good and delicious food (oysters in Toronto? why yes...yes they are good). Oh Mac and Cheese, you are good. Oh beer. Anyway, I like your bier. read more

Been here many times, and it always gives me very mixed feelings. In some ways each night out there is a battle between great beer and all the really poor aspects. The good: - Great beer list - Really great beer list The poor: - Staff are generally not knowledgeable or interested in your order - I've many times been given wrong information, been poorly served (e.g. no glasswear provided for a strong, darker beer with foil covering), or not served at all (waiting 15 minutes at the bar to get an order in) - Atmosphere completely contrasts with the drinks menu - feels/sounds much more like a downscale meat market than somewhere to appreciate the variety of beer on the menu - Bouncers are, in general, giant jerks I might add that my poor impressions aren't based on one bad night out - I have been here numerous times, although rarely go anymore. Bottom line is that if you're going out with a large group and want a club-like atmosphere, it could be good. If you're looking for somewhere to try a lot of beers and have a conversation, stay away and go to BeerBistro, Volo, C'est What or Smokeless Joe's instead. read more