The Dakota Tavern: New Spiritual Home? - update

Word of mouth travels quickly along the the Ossington corridor and the new kid (2 weeks and counting...) is developing quite a buzz. After hearing recommendations from staff and regulars at The Communist's Daughter and Sweaty Betty's, moseyed up to the corner of Ossington & Dundas W to check out The Dakota Tavern.

Oh how glad we did... "A labour of love" was the term used a couple of times by the co-owner and very hospitable bartenderess. A fine eye to detail is evident, and we had great fun listening to their trials and tribulations battling the legacy of orange and baby blue colour schemes left behind by the previous Trinidadian-Portugese club owners.

This new interior reminded Sheena of some of the classic hotel tavern bars out on the Prairies, the kind of dark-wooded-dim-lighted obscure gem you'd find on the wrong side of the tracks in the town where your mother grew up. It looks perfectly authentic and I never would have guessed it hadn't been down here for fifty years.

Initial music lineup (check out the "Listings" tab on their site) looks like a hoot. The perenially precious Petunia will likely draw Sheena out on Monday night. If only I knew what time the tunes started....

Looked like an excellent beer selection, both bottled and on tap. Didn't query the wine list. That'll be for next time. Kitchen is scheduled to get into full swing in January, but they're offering a hot meal special every night for now.

And then it was time to go for a pee. As Sheena walked through the doors, past the sink, something caught her eye. Did a double take and realized that this place could be a keeper.

Yep. There were free Tampax on the sink counter. Sheena wept.

Update! Went to the Petunia gig on Monday night and The Imp took some absolutely lovely pictures...