Since we’re not all lucky enough to own cottages in Haliburton or Parry Sound, when the opportunity knocks to visit friends up North who do, we hit the road faster than you can say Muskoka chair…
Now the farthest we have to travel to get our out-of-town fill is Leslieville. With the opening of The Ceili Cottage, owner Patrick McMurray (of Starfish fame) had us at the quaint white exterior.
The décor had us feeling like we’d stepped into an authentic Irish pub (with its exposed beams, Church pews and tables made of thick slabs of wood), and the food was just as good. There is a Weekly Roast Dinner ($6 - $18), though we opted for the Buried Treasure (macaroni and cheese with sausage, $8) and local greens with heather honey vinaigrette ($6). We also sampled the Ontario Berkshire country ham with hot (really, really hot) mustard ($14) and the delicious Onion soup with cider and aged cheddar ($8).
And if the comfort food and 20 beers on tap don’t reel you in, try nightly events like music sessions on Tuesdays and the shucker club on Thursdays (Patrick is, after all, a champion Oyster shucker).
We’re pretty sure that all the money we’ll be saving on gas will be finding its way back to this cottage.
The Ceili Cottage
www.ceilicottage.com
1301 Queen St. E. (at Leslie St.)
416-406-1301
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