I can't say I'd ever heard of The Piston before a couple of weeks ago, but when I got notice that one of my favorite local acts (Dawson Gamble! He's great!) was going to be performing there, I immediately purchased a very reasonably-priced ticket to his show. I arrived a little bit after doors opened, and to my surprise, the headliner was taking tickets. It was a very pleasant way to be greeted, that's for sure. The venue itself is very small and intimate, which I loved, and I was also thrilled to discover that there's seating available on both sides of the floor. I quickly grabbed a seat near the front, saved my spot with my hoodie, and then made my way back to the bar to grab a drink. The drinks are very reasonably priced, and the bartender was super nice and helpful. By the time the show started a little while later, I was really comfortable and enjoying my adult beverage. As a music venue, The Piston also excels; the music came through loud and clear, and I felt like you had a good view no matter where you happened to be. It was a really, really fun night, and I look forward to catching other acts at The Piston soon. read more

I wouldn't recommend this place if you're looking for somewhere cool. Horrible music and DJs.

I was here this past Saturday for a 30th birthday party. The atmosphere was incredibly fun, the bartenders were lovely, and the gentleman watching the door was super friendly and even got us a round of shots when he heard it was my friend's birthday. The music was great (90's dance party), and it was overall a very fun time. HOWEVER. The only reason I am not giving this place 5 stars is because of the LOVELY lady at the door/taking cover money... I have never met a door person who was so beyond rude and disrespectful as this lady. At one point she literally said the phrase "did you hear the words that I just said?", when I questioned her on something. I drove two hours to get to this event and after spending 20 minutes finding parking, to be met with such a rude and patronizing woman at the door was honestly enough for me to almost leave and never go back. read more

This little place just opened recently next to Long & McQuade on Bloor, just west of Ossington. It doesn't look like much from the outside. No big flashy sign, just a big blue light above the door, and a curious chalkboard stand (see picture I added). Reminded me a bit of The Violet Hour in Chicago. Inside however, there is a stunning environment. Exposed original brick walls, a shiny diamond checkerboard floor, high ceilings, and eclectic rescued elements (old wooden doors, stained glass windows, etc) have been craftily brought together into a cozy and intriguing setting for a bar & music venue. The front room is full of comfy raised booths and tables with candles, with one long main bar running the length. They have Steam Whistle (pilsner) & Amsterdam Big Wheel (amber ale) on tap, and one of the owners told me they'd be expanding their selection shortly, as they had just opened. I had a fabulous single malt Irish whiskey, that was recommended, called Connemara. As a scotch drinker, I was surprised at how peaty and sweet it tasted. Notes of vanilla, perhaps. My companions stuck to the classics - G&Ts and rye & Cokes. The owners offered us some delicious shots, one with tequila and cassis, and were welcoming, friendly and genuinely happy to have us there. Much of the interior work was done DIY, by the owners, and you could see how proud they were of the place. It almost felt steam-punk at times, but very polished. The back room is the crown jewel of The Piston. Robed in golden velvet curtains, it boasts an incredible sound-system, beautiful stage, lighting rig, and another bar accented by rescued punched-tin ceiling tiles, with remnants of paint still intact. One of the people I was with immediately commented about how great it would be to throw her birthday party there in a few weeks. On Fridays, we were told that one of the owners spins 60's, 70's, & 80's in the back room, and there will soon be some great live music, which is reassuring as many of Toronto's best venues seem to be disappearing in recent times. The sound of this room is really something special, and I'm sure the word will soon get out, especially being so close to one of the top music stores in the city. As we were headed out, we were told that they would soon be starting to serve brunch (or as they called it, "blunch"). I'll be sure to update my review once I've tried it. In the meantime, check this place out. Dimly lit and discreet, it's great for a romantic rendezvous or just catching up with old friends. read more

The Piston - a black sign with a question mark on it - Music Venues Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Some friends & I chose The Piston as a place to get together and catch up, and we're glad we did. Loved the atmosphere, and the friendly attentive bartender made sure we never ran dry. We didn't make it into the back room that night, but we will be back to check it out. The Piston is a great addition to the neighbourhood! read more

The Piston - people sitting at a bar - Music Venues Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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While the jury is out on how consistent it is, I just finished one the best barbeque meals I have ever eaten. Along with me is a harsh barbeque critic who says the same. I came here a year ago and the taste experience was lackluster but one year later this place is killer! We shared the platter and found ourselves gushing over and over again... AND I get to go dancing to Beam Me Up's disco party in the back, what is not to love? read more

The Piston - The Pistons Barbeque. Take this one very seriously. - Music Venues Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This was actually a nice surprise. We went to see a band (The Tang) on December 21st. The rail drinks were a nice range, and the beer list was good. Staff were attentive and funny and I would say it's a inexpensive place that is larger than it looks and is friendly to local bands. read more

Came here for some BBQ before their Saturday Soul Night. The tunes were amazing! Coupled with the cool laser lights and the dry ice? I was in Boogie Wonderland. The food was ok. Had the brisket, which was tender and moist, but they served it in a really dumb plate. First of all it was way too small for the food that was on it, so half of it ended up on the table. Also, the plate had raised edges like a bowl that made it impossible to cut the brisket without the plate wobbling back and forth. Server was snarky, but I don't blame him as my friend is super indecisive and a huge time waster when she orders. But he was fast with the drinks and service, so he snarkiness was more entertaining than off putting. I'd come back. read more

Honestly just an all around bad place. The idea of a disco bar is so fun but they always have long lines and never let people in even when the place is empty. Don't waste your time read more

I step up to the tiny bar at the back between performers. A burly man with dreadlocks says the bartender will 'be right back' and offers to pour me a glass of water in the meantime. I oblige and thank him. When the bartender returns he nods in my direction signally my move and I casually shoot out a 'What do ya got?' He replies completely deadpan 'Everything. What do YOU got?' A little surprised to see my playfulness so haughtily slammed I growled back, 'Money.' And no tip. Piston, I know you're new so maybe you haven't learned that you won't attract return patronage by behaving like a sour teenager. You earn tips with smiles and hotties, not sour sausages. I was at the Piston for an under-attended NXNE show(putting my Yelp hookup wristband to good use). I was a fan of the former Concord cafe(on the rare occasion when it was open) but I haven't found the gumption to enter the Piston when it's stuffed to the gils with local hipsters. I like breathing room. The blue light over the door is slightly pretentious and more than a little Dundas/Ossington stripy since it renders itself invisible to non-locals. But it's a non-offensive façade so I really can't complain much. It's definitely more appealing than the XXX shop that just opened up next to Freedom Clothing Collective. The Piston needs a website with a menu listed and an attitude adjustment. Other than that it's a nice place that supports local artists and a welcome improvement in the neighbourhood. read more

I don't tend to write negative reviews about any establishments, but the Piston made such a bad impression on me (and my friends) that I couldn't NOT. I was there with a handful of people for a friend's birthday get-together on a Saturday night. We all stayed in the front room, while there was a band playing in the back. The front was packed, I'm sure over capacity, although I don't know how they control the flow from the front to the back. All the small booths were full, and a few people deep at the bar by 1ish. This caused rowdy customers to be extremely pushy, no one having any regard for fellow patrons. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to drinks, a cheap bottle of beer will do just fine. So I ordered a Budweiser, which I was told "no" to; when I asked what beers they had in bottles, I was motioned towards the massive bar wall. There was no one else waiting for a drink, yet the bartender was rude and made absolutely no effort to tell me what they had to offer. My friend that I was ordering a beer for had been before, and told me just to order a 50. That was my only option really - the other beers they had were Corona, Stella, Keiths, and Heineken if I remember correctly (from FINALLY finding the bottles on display). Unimpressed. And, visibly, so was the bartender. For my second drink I ordered a pint of Steamwhistle. This is only after waiting at the bar for a moment, then the previous bartender seeing that I was back for another drink, then actually walking out from behind the bar so he didn't have to serve me. I had tipped him well for my first drink and there was no reason whatsoever not to serve me. Luckily the second bartender was perfectly fine. Even the clientele had a snotty air of privilege, looked like they were all trying too hard, and just came off ridiculous and rude. Possibly the worst part: the washrooms. There is one stall. Totally unacceptable, extremely awkward, and a horrible design. read more

Strangely nestled smack dab in between a store for musical instruments and a store selling hardcore pornography.... the Piston offers a wonderful space with elements that appeal to BOTH of these crowds while also offering surprisingly good food. Having one of the best music rooms in the city clearly appeals to the musician type. The sightlines are clean, the sound is great and the vibe is stellar. The combination of cute-ish hipsters and great selection of free-flowing alcohol most likely would appeal to the raincoat crowd, as the bar seems to be a sure-fire way to cure loneliness. People are friendly and the attitude is quite relaxed..... although perhaps not to the point where you can take off your pants and start making orgasm noises. All in all, a wonderful spot in the middle of Toronto's best neighborhood. read more

Great stop on the way home and for the fact that New Order is playing off the Tecnics at the front of the bar is fantastic. I understand the food I good. Can't vouch, but if their culinary eye is astute as their tequila list, we're good! read more

This is basically my Cheers. Good stuff going on almost every night from electro to local bands. Best night I think is Shindig, the all vinyl R&B night, last Friday of the month. Good people, excellent dancing. Be prepared to get sweaty and have way too much fun. read more

A super fun spot with nice pub seating if you can get a spot! The night I was there, the dancefloor was insanely packed, like a mosh pit. The tunes were great (80s night). Service was friendly and reasonably quick. I'd definitely hit this spot up again. read more

The ONLY REASON I even WENT HERE was because Cold Tea was having a big birthday party and was of course way over capacity and why would I wait in line for someone's birthday party when I don't EVEN KNOW who they are?? So after waiting in line for 2 hours we SPLIT and took a cabby up and over to the Piston. My mind was racing praying that I was dressed appropriately and, to my immense relief, everyone else was wearing bold glasses too. I think the highlight of the night was meeting a personal hero of mine: the guy who directed the Batman in Toronto video that went viral. That was actually the night it hit one million views so when I met him all he kept saying was "one million views, one MILLION VIEWS" and then he wandered off into some dark tunnel. We went to the back room where some old wrinkly guy was DJing on legit vinyl and it was straight up Brendan Canning from BSS. I was of course the only one who recognized him amongst my friendies. He spun Talking Heads, that's where the two stars comes from. A person bumped into me and then tried to fight me then a buncha tall girls got between us so I could sneak out the back and run home. That was a close one! read more

VIBE Fun, cool casual vibe. There's no sign here but a sandwich board. Kind of reminds me of Wrongbar in that the exterior is all black, It's right near Ossington Station but you have to know where you're going. There's a different event happening all of the time but on this night, it was funk music. It was quite good. It was also quite bustling here on this night. Wish they had more hooks for coats and bags but I digress. I also like the booths and tables about. The layout works. Fun late 20s/30s crowd. I DRANK Two gin and tonics. They must have known I was on a bad date earlier that night because these ones were STRONG. I think this is a bartender's bar or where the industry goes to get their drink on. On the second drink, I asked for a GT and they gave me a Heineken (Whaaa?) but he made up for it by giving me an overpouring strong GT. I'm feeling the hangover, that's for sure. OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK Get off your pistol to move your booty here. This would be a good first date place during a weeknight. And it's a great way to get over a bad date! I will say going to a bar solo in Toronto can be quite intimidating but this place makes it worthwhile. read more

Checked out this quaint little spot on a Wednesday night and was pleased to see a great little BBQ menu. I went with the pulled pork which was $12 and came with 2 sides. I picked the baked beans and coleslaw. The plate was a generous portion of pulled pork, a warm ace bakery bun, homemade beans and slaw. Everything was beyond DELICIOUS and I was so impressed at how good the pork was. I would come back just for that meal, mmmm! read more

Went to the Piston last night (Saturday night) to meet up with some friends. Arrived around 11:45. It was really, really crowded. It's one of those bars which is long and narrow, which means that there is a major bottleneck right along the bar, which is almost impossible to get through. It was Ska night, which isn't my kind of music anymore. It was when I was 16, but I've kind of moved on in the last 2 decades. I guess some people still like that kind of thing, which is cool. The saving grace was that we were able to snafu one of the tables right up at the front of the restaurant. Eventually they did end up mixing up the music a little bit. It seems like a cool place, but not ideal if you like to talk to the people you're with. Pretty typical bar I would say. read more

Came here last Wednesday, and the music wasn't very good. It's not that I don't love 90's/millenium wayback playback nights (AllSaints are my girls, and Nelly's right, it IS getting hot in here!) It's just that they played a lot of songs I feel should have stayed in that decade, and their transitions between songs were awkward. Somehow I still had a good time--there's fun in the bones of this place, I think they could play Top 40 and still be A-OK. read more

The Piston. Went on a Monday night, after a show at Comedy Bar (down the street). We arrived around 9pm bar was pretty empty, was with a party of six and found a comfy table in the back room. Booze is reasonably priced, they have a very well stocked bar including not your average bottles including a new favourite of me Victoria Gin. Music was very good, mix of current indie-rock and 80s brit-pop including the Smiths, New Order and Morrissey. Would like to check it out again, maybe on a busier night. read more

The Piston is an oasis of relaxed cool on an otherwise bleak stretch of Bloor St. On two visits, one solo at the bar and one with my (much) better half and our bundle of joy, I found the staff friendly and the food excellent. Well-dressed burger comes with excellent spicy home fries - a step up from the crappy frozen fries served by many similar establishments. Pierogies are nicely browned on the outside and tasty (though must they come swimming in butter?). Wish there was a wider selection of beers on tap, but Amsterdam Big Wheel does the job for me quite nicely. Staff and patrons were super-accommodating to our sleeping wonder-bundle -- definitely a welcome trait in a neighbourhood bar. We'll be back. read more

Checked out this place on a whim, was a friends bday and was going to attend the location just for drinks but had been told the food was something to check out. Went there a hour early and enjoyed the pulled pork with waffles and coleslaw. The portions were quite generous and the food was superb for the price point. The whole menu was BBQ themed which was great !! There was a party there ahead of us so we did wait for our dish, though we were in no rush since we were continuing to drink there with friends after dinner. The owner/ manager was quite polite as all the staff were. Was a warm and quaint spot to go, later they had an event in the back which was bumping. Good music, good scene !! I would suggest this location to anyone !!! read more

Nice way to wind down the day with friends, suds, and bbq. Great little pub, have not yet been disappointed in anything yet, and I've tried everything on their menu. I hear there is brunch as well, but I'm often not in the area during those times but if I ever am, this is where I'll be going. I'm just hoping they'll bring more taps some day . . . read more

Brunch is good, but too expensive. $18 for the brisket Benny and there was barely any brisket on there. Pretty disappointed. Dinner menu is great, though. read more

Brit Pop Night was a *smashing* success. Please invest in shatterproof glasses - my friends cannot be trusted.

pretty cool spot, we went to catch a local band, food looked good but we didn't eat so can't comment. Service is not very good, one bartender who was pretty much non existent and uninterested. The bands play in a back room which is totally unattended, if you want a drink or would like your previous drink(s) cleared you better do it yourself. Over all, cool place but won't be rushing back. read more

Friday nights have the most incredible DJs playing Funk, Soul, Ska, Reggae and early rhythm & Blues all on 7" 45 RPM records. The Sound system is incredible and The food is too! The Piston is my favorite new hang out in Toronto! read more

Possibly the worst bar in the area. The bartender acts like he's working a club on Richmond Street and the music is a bland mash of bad early 90s house and lounge. I haven't made it to the back room yet, but they do have good bands playing, so I'm hoping that the back room is a bit less cheesy than the front. The front seems to be full of neighbourhood boys predrinking before heading down to the club district, bleh. Save your money and go to 3Speed instead. read more

The bartender was rude and snippy when taking the orders. He had a poor attitude and wouldn't take my order. Will not be returning due to the poor service and unpleasant people. read more

Best new brunch place . Went to Long & McQuade Saturday morning and saw that The Piston is now serving brunch. I couldn't decide what to get so I ordered the Piston Platter. A fantastic decision. It came with a little bit of everything on the menu. The pulled pork Benny did not disappoint and the Belgium waffle was so good I'm going next weekend just to have it again. Also, they hired new staff and the service was terrific. The waitress was super sweet and attentive and no problem answering all my question and refilling water and coffee (I was more than just a little hung over). I was told they smoke the pulled pork in house and use an authentic waffle iron and recipe from Belgium and from the taste of it I believe it. I predict that once everyone knows about The Piston brunch, it will be on Toronto's top ten brunch spots. read more

Wow where do I start???? 1st. The bartenders act like idiots when you order food it's like they don't want to service you at all like are you that pathetic that can't take the time to ask us if we want any food?? 2nd. The food is HORRIBLE! listen I could rant on this just take my advice food is not they're top priority. 3rd. I don't understand why you have two rooms if you only service one of them?? like if you sit in the other room when no band is on because all the seats in the front are taken wouldn't it occur to you that you would send someone in the other room to take orders??????? 4th. WHERE THE HELL IS GORDAN RAMSEY WHEN WE NEED HIM!?!?!?!?! read more

Went on a Good Friday, so fully expected the place to be ultra empty. The front room was 80% full, the back room was quite empty. The sound system was great, and the venue was very good as well. There was only one bathroom (unisex style), so depending on the evening, it may be a LONG line up. They accept cards, but there's a condition of buying two drinks minimum in order to use the card. It looked to be a cool place, looking forward to visiting again on a more happening night. read more

Went on a Friday night for funk night with a live sax player. Good crowd, friendly door staff, and fun dance floor. Will probably go again and check out some of their other nights! read more

Food was ok. Host/owner seemed completely nonchalant about serving drinks or food. Waited about 45 minutes for 7 bland chicken wings. Machine defaulted to 20% tip. Nice try. read more

So we decided to head to The Piston's 80's dance party on Sat. The place was dead and no big deal cause there were 8 of us and we were just looking to dance. The music was AWFUL!!! we approached both dj's and they said it's to early? To early for what fun 80's dance music. We were their only people there so maybe they could have TRIED to make us happy?? Also we all felt the drinks were completely watered down. To say the least we were rather disappointed likely to return, but likely to tell all our friends. Remember this is a viral world:( read more

The Piston took over where the Concord Cafe left off. Aside from making the place look great they put in a great audio system in the back room and treated it for sound, turning this nondescript spot into a great little venue not unlike the back room of the Cameron. One of the owners is a terrific chef and the menu is some of the best BBQ in TO, from the ribs to the brisket to sides of slaw, beans and potato salad. They always have one vegetarian dish on the list and if there's one weakness it's that these days - the "tofu scramble" or whatever it is - is merely good, not great. Food prices are a bit steep ($13 to $21 per plate) though this is real food, not bar food. The staff are friendly, the bar is well-stocked (nice selection of tequila), the music is great, and it's hopping on weekends. read more

My new favourite weekend brunch spot! The pulled pork Benny wins every time. Very friendly staff and chill atmosphere.

Super good pulled pork sandwich. Very friendly staff, for sure going back for more amazing barbecue!

I'm a fan of this place. For two years, this place went unnoticed by myself & my spouse (we live very close by). I'm not sure if it was the previous signage or what - but we noticed it nearly a year ago and it's a great dinner spot for friends or a very casual date night. We've had all of the meats & sides, and it tastes all very homemade and legit to me (and I've gone down to Louisiana...and I've cooked more than a few pork shoulders...I looooove my BBQ). read more