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Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: North ParkMon-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
yessssssss, good beer and good food! it was my first time here last night and they have three dollar beer mondays, that's freakin unheard of?!?! tried the palm ale i believe, i'm totes magotes blanking right now, and it was good. i also shared a spicy jalapeno burger with a friend and boy did they deliver! as she said, "this is quality meat!" gotta love it when you can tell it's not frozen patties and i love that they delivered on spicy! i like spicy, so when something says spicy, i expect some bite. now from the first look of things, it did have a bit too many jalapenos for my taste (it looked like shaq grabbed a handful and placed it on top of the cheese), but it was just right, the jack pepper cheese and jalapeno mayo was the perfect touch. i also like that they used butter lettuce, not much of a difference from regular lettuce, but a nice twist on a burger. their chips were also a nice treat, very salty and peppery. so good that my friend even ordered a side of chips b.c the ones that came with the burger wasn't enough.
smo fo life!!!*
*it's been declared that super morbidly obese is an actual term of use for those who weigh about 1000 lbs, yes people can weight up to or around half a ton!
Another excellent Beer-lover's bar in San Diego! Toronado's got a great selection of beers that are constantly rotating and a great food menu to boot. Everyone that works here is really friendly, helpful and great at recommending a beer if you're not sure what you want - that list up top CAN be a little intimidating if you don't know your beers. And for us commitment-phobes, they're willing to let you try just about anything you want before you commit to a decision.
Wish they had a couple more Pale Ales to choose from - but they do a great job of representing the local brew-houses around town.
Clientele's cool. Haven't really encountered any hipsters or douche-bags here - just mellow folk who love beer. Always got sports on TV and there's a great smoking patio out back. Toronado can get a little crowded on the weekends - but if you go here during the week, you're good to go.
It's a mite small, there's very few places to sit, but the beer is great.
It's more of a beer snob kind of place, all sorts of exotic beers. But that's not a bad thing necessarily. Bartender was friendly, waitstaff was friendly, doorman was friendly.
Too packed (even on a Wednesday night) and it seems a bit ironic: its a place for beer snobs except its loud and packed so almost everyone is standing like a frat party.
I like to sip my fine beer at a table, able to hear the person right next to me. Maybe that's the snob in me.
The girl:guy ratio is as you expect, fairly skewed with guys.
Don't think that is too much to ask for:: an ability to chat and some seating. Maybe it's too small a space, but maybe that's how the owners want it.
The Yelp-sponsored description of 3 stars says it perfectly: A-OK.
On my way to the bathroom at this too-bright, too-clean, and too-loud bar was a merchandise display featuring t shirts which stated: "Too Bright, Too Clean, Too Loud". I wouldn't exactly shout that on the rooftop if I owned this establishment, but whatever.
Yes, Toronado features an excellent beer selection, arguably one of the best in San Diego. And I appreciate that. I'm also into the special glasses provided for each beer - presentation can be everything.
What I don't appreciate is being kicked out at 11:45 PM on a Friday night by a hurried man with a mop. I'm also not into the cafeteria feel of the wooden benches and bright fluorescents. With the superb bar offerings of the surrounding areas, the only reason I could argue going to Toronado would be convenience - or laziness.
In conclusion, yeah sure I'll go here again. But only if I wanna call it an early night.
I don't know my liquor, I'm a light weight. One and done doesn't even apply to me....maybe "1/3 and I'm a turd" applies better. Sorry, turd was the only word that popped into my mind when I was trying to rhyme.
Anyways, I came here because my cravings for Mac & Cheese reemerged and it needed to be satiated in some way shape or form. I took my beer loving man here because I heard the selection was extensive and impressive. When we sat down in this small, but cozy and laid back atmosphere, he seemed pleased with the selections available. I wanted to get Hofbrauhaus since I had that at the Munich Oktoberfest and found it drinkable compared to a lot of the other beers I've attempted to drink in my life. It didn't seem like it was available so we settled on the Blonde for me. It was alright and like I said I was here for other cravings, not the beer.
The Mac & Cheese was pretty good, but Urban Solace is inifinitely better and it should be since its an actual restaurant, not a bar. Nevertheless, Toronado did its job satisfying me and it seems like it did for my man as well. Kudos!
Nothing gets me more excited than a great beer place, except for a great beer place with a half door, a midget school table, tiny chair, and 50+ beers on tap.
Decent price for premium beer. 2 will get you tipsy, 3 pretty drunk. They close semi-early, which makes the crowd seem less douche-baggy. Good people watching. Overall a fun time.
In all fairness, I've gone here once and it might be a different story for me had it not been a busy Friday. Guy at the door was VERY nice, but our issue was we could not get a beer. Bartender wouldn't look at us. Not once. And even if we had gotten a beer, there was nowhere really to go sit. Not a fan of the cramped scene. Again, I'll likely give it another go down the road but not anytime soon.
I came on a random Monday night just to check it out and lucked out! This place has a great $3 happy hour from ??-10pm on Mondays and EVERY BEER ON TAP is $3. That sounds just ok until you see some of the beers on tap. They have Chimay for $3. It's not a tiny cup and it's not imitation stuff. The stuff costs like $10 for a bottle at the stores so it's a fricking awesome deal.
It's pretty crowded though and the crowd is obviously people who are on a major budget since they are cramming in for $3 beers and right at 10:01 when the happy hour is over, the place clears out.
I didn't get to try the food but I was told it's pretty good. I could make this a Monday night place if I drank more. I've cut down a lot lately (yea me!). But I could see myself coming here after work on Mondays for a glass of Chimay each week.
Nathan Explosion once said, "I need a hundred beers, exactly, exactly a hundred, thank you."
For some reason this makes me think of Monday at Toronado. Mondays bring possibly the best beer deals on the planet. 3 dollars for beer.
When I say beer, I ain't talking PBRs. Toronado has beer form all over the California, the US of A, Belgium, Germany and other parts of the world I never been to.
They have beers from my favorite Wheat Beer Brewery, G. Schneider & Sohn. So delicious and complex spiciness unfurling. Damn, I'm getting thirsty.
Tornado also exposed me to a style of beer called Flander's Red. These sour ales ales are quite interesting with dark fruits and balsamic vinegary tastes.
It should also be mentioned that I think anytime I am in there a Mastodon song plays.
So why 4 stars only? While the beers are served in the proper glasses, they are not served at the right temperatures. Often I am finding the temp way too cold for the quality and style of certain beers served. Maybe they have no control over the temperatures, but really wish that some of these awesome Belgians on tap would be served cool, so my mouth would taste all the loveliness.
See you tonight.
I had an opportunity to visit the original Toronado in San Francisco a few years ago. With its great beer selection and cool atmosphere, I felt that it lived up to its reputation as one of the best bars in the world. Just a few months later, I was pleased to find out that they were opening up a second location, this time in North Park. I've been here a few times, and I'm pleased to say that it lives up to its name. It's still only been around for about a year and a half, so it still doesn't have that "lived-in" feel of the original Toronado. But everything else about it is great.
They have dozens of taps featuring a ever-changing selection of California's finest, some great Belgian ales, and plenty of other fine brews. And if that ain't enough, they have a vast array of bottled beers too. Needless to say, they always have plenty of good, interesting beers for you to try out; no Bud Light here (but last weekend, they did have Green Flash's Fizzy Yellow Beer on tap).
It's a nice place to get a bite to eat, as well. Not long after opening, they started serving a variety of grilled sausages, which are pretty damn good. And since then, they've expanded to a full menu of sandwiches, appetizers, and other great stuff. They make some of the best mac & cheese I've ever had, second only to Stone's Mac & Beer Cheese.
In addition to the food and beer, you also get a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere and great, knowledgeable service, all of which has quickly made this place an integral part of San Diego's beer scene.
A few years ago, Toronado would've handily been handily in my four-star range, and knocking on five. But by now, North Park now has so many good brewpubs that I left a little underwhelmed.
First, the good: While the number of taps is not quite the killer app it once was, they do supplement the draft choices with a ton of unusual-to-rare bottled choices. New taps obviously move in and out with regularity, at the moment there's several unusual German imports mixed with larger craft brands. The prices are competitive with the
other near-30th pubs.
I went with the Oktober combination of sausage (there are usually about ten kinds on any given day) and German beer; to cut through the hop fog, they smartly dress up the grilled sausages on buns with roasted peppers and onions, as well as supply ample premium mustard. Decent link, somewhere in the neighborhood of the more famous local sausage spot down the street. For $7, the grilled sausages are solid bar grub.
Then there's the atmosphere. I like that (before dark, at least) it's a leisurely spot, with the board games and the seats you can linger in. It gets crowded quickly for prime HH days, and that's where the spell begins to break for me. One of the complaints about Toronado is it's "too clean." That's not exactly the word I would use, but it has its heart in the right place. The new fixtures, the store-fresh brewery signs; it feels like bit like the set for a sitcom hang-out spot. While I certainly give them kudos for apparently keeping a stock of the official glass for everything possibly on tap, it borders on corporate cross-promotion.
On the metaphorical range of pub atmosphere, with one end being, say, Hamiltons and the other being the Yard House, Toronado is a lot closer toward being the latter. It's made esoteric beer safe for the hip. Whether this is praise or criticism is up to you.
Parking on the street is pretty scarce after dark, if headed over I'd either walk or park in the public structure a couple blocks down 30th.
Oh North Park, how you have become such a dump...at least on the main strip of University. However, if you meander along the side streets, you will run into cute pizzerias, vegan hot dogs, sushi, and Toronado's.
First, let me tell you about my beer personality before I delve further. I love Belgian beer and I am a sucker for IPA's. Therefore, Toronado's may be where I go when I die(if they let me in).
Located on 30th street across the way from the Auto Zone, Toronado's is a darkly lit European beer bar that boasts over 60 beers on tap and enough bottled beers(of many sizes) to feed all of the homeless people in the area.
We started going there and getting a couple of beers, tasting the new things that we haven't tried and enjoying the tried and true favorites like Stone IPA and Pliny the Elder.
Then one evening, we tried the Cuvee, a Belgian sour made from cherries. IF you like pickles, pickle juice, tart vinegary flavors, this is right up your alley.
Our every now and then venture turned into a weekly frolicking of ordering one of the newly posted beers and getting bottles of Belgians recommended by the bartender Eric(who is a great tender by the way).
A couple of notes on beers that I recommend:
Young's Chocolate Stout is really really good, but you have to ask if the keg is new or not. I find that bottom of the keg beer tastes more like a deep Guiness rather than a chocolate stout.
The Cuvee is the best sour on tap, but it is expensive. If you have a small wallet, then get the La Folie. Not as great, but it is on par with the Cuvee.
Always pick an IPA that you haven;t had..I am never disappointed.
The Food:
I have only eaten here twice. The first time, we got the hot turkey sausage which was so-so. Not bed, just not great....but they are not really here for the food awards, are they?
The second time we attempted the Bechamel Mac and Cheese. This is a wonderful dish and pairs with many of the beers nicely.
Overall, this place has a spot in my heart(and liver) for serving the best beers in San Diego.
It's a decent beer bar, I just wish it were more accessible. I parked at Vons and walked over there, although I don't recommend that unless you don't plan to stay that long.
Lots of great beers on tap; on Monday, beers are $3.00 each (no tax) so feel free to go crazy. Staff is warm and friendly. I also had a spicy jalapeño burger ($9), which was better than what I expected for a bar. Don't come here if you're planning to watch Monday Night Football...there's only one TV. Other than that, you'll find a mixed crowd to keep you company.
It's not a bad place to kick it after work.
I gotta say the atmosphere in this place is a little sterile.
It's got about as much soul as Denny's.
And when the yuppies discovered this place and started flocking,
a little part of me died. They should be banned from putting money in the jukebox.
That being said,
this place is a shining example of a 5 star beer selection.
The first time I walked into this place I jizzed my pants.
If I could make love to a selection of taps,
these would be the ones smothered in Astroglide.
The service was excellent and they knew their stuff.
The food was surprisingly good, 5 stars for the food alone.
Beer: the cornerstone and capstone of society.
Arguably responsible for humanity's ability to develop technology and build civilization, beer can be traced back as early as 3500-3100 BC. The Sumerians honored their goddess of brewing with a poetic rendition of a beer recipe. Beer is featured in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Why did the Pilgrims land at Plymouth? That's right, they were out of beer.
I could wax indefinitely on the history and virtues of beer, but this is a review, not a dissertation, so I'll just say that if a person cannot understand how the beer at Toronado is itself the event and is sufficient in and of itself--even without mood lighting, a dance floor, theme nights, or games, and even with bad acoustics--then I view him with pity and a little disdain.
People who respect beer deserve places to pay homage. Toronado is one such place. Toronado is kind of like beer church. I have always had decent-to-good service, even on Monday nights when I've asked for a suggestion or a description. If you've experienced otherwise, perhaps the bartenders are sensing that you only worship on Monday nights (the equivalent to only attending mass on Christmas Eve and Easter). Or perhaps you are a beer-blasphemer? Or worse: a beer-atheist! Okay, maybe I'm taking this analogy a little too far. But you get what I'm saying. The point is, I've had pretty good service, and maybe that's because I'm properly respectful of beer.
And with $3 drafts on Mondays and a solid menu (I recommend the bratwurst, a burger, or the mac & cheese if you need leftovers to scramble into your eggs the next morning), the beer god is returning the love.
Love Love Love this bar.
So sad that I can no longer drink beer (unless its gluten free).
Their selection and atmosphere is great. They even have board games. The servers are highly knowledgable on their beers and can recommend where to find them outside of the bar.
Not sure on the bar food but looked decent.
Sometimes the place can have a pugent smell, but its worth it.
Great beer selection. Great service. Great bar food. This is a good place to drink beer and socialize in a casual setting. They have one TV ... I wish they had a few more.
Hm. Not sure I'm loving it like so many other reviewers. I will say, however, that if you like hoppy beers this place is your Graceland, enjoy your new favorite bar.
As I am a equal-opportunity beer drinker, however, I found the menu a bit limiting. From my quick experience I would say the (very extensive, by the way) tap menu breaks down to about 50% hoppy, 30% sour, 20% porters, wheats, whatever else. This was my first experience with sour beer, which is really gaining popularity by the way, supposedly especially in Southern California. Knowing nothing about it and having nothing to compare it to I still say that after a few sips it grew on me and I quite enjoyed it. If you want to try sour beer I would definitely recommend this place. Otherwise if you want a cool beer joint, I'd recommend Blind Lady Ale House.
Anyway, here's a few quick bulletpoints for you to help you make your decision:
- Ordering is chaotic. We couldn't find menus but the menu is written at the back of the bar, then you have to flag down a bartender, but you don't know that being your first time, so you kind of stand around confused until a bartender eventually tells you what you're supposed to do. Then you yell your order across a bunch of people sitting at the bar and hope they get it right (I'll end the suspense..they didn't)
- Mixed up orders: it is loud, you yell your order over the bar... somehow "Smoked Mac and Cheese" sounded like "Barbeque Bacon Cheese Burger with a side of potato salad"
- Mediocre food: Sorry, but I wasn't very impressed. The burgers (grass-fed by the way, so an extra star for that) were very dry and overcooked. If you want a super tasty, juicy, grass-fed burger, go to Burger Lounge. The quesadilla was barely filled with cheese and was totally boring. The Smoked Mac and Cheese looked and tasted suspiciously like Barbecue Bacon Cheese Burger (see above bulletpoint, "Mixed up Orders")
Let me start off by saying I'm really not a beer drinker so I can't vouch for the selection of beers offered here - though it seems to be pretty decent and the friends I was with dug it... I can tell you the Toronado Burger with blue cheese is pretty darn good. The atmosphere is dark and the vibe laid back so it makes for a good spot to just hang with friends. There is one TV towards the front so if watching the game is on your agenda you may need to grow eyes in the back of your head or ignore your friends. (if they're really your friends they won't mind...) If you're a beer drinker I'd say Toronado is worth a visit.
Some great beers, but no way of knowing what you are ordering. They have a huge list of beers you've never heard of, but might enjoy if you could just find a style you like.
Slightly better vibe than the other beer bar in the area, Hamilton's, but still a fair number of beer snobs.
Once upon a time a tornado and Coronado Island had intercourse resulting in their offspring--Toronado. Growing up the lad would constantly fight with his parents and when papa Tornado left southern California for the Midwest, Toronado was so devastated he left Coronado Island and started drinking heavily in North Park. He eventually got his act together, and took his love for North Park and alcoholic beverages to new heights by opening a watering hole and naming it after himself. I had long been familiar with the legend of young Toronado but only recently did I check it out.
I came on a Monday evening. I'm assuming it was one of their busiest nights due to pints being only 3 bones a pop. It was pretty packed. By the time I left at 7pm there were people waiting for a place to sit down. I can see why. It is a pretty solid after work bar.
The first thing I noticed was that this place was like the Baskin Robbins of beers only it has more than 31 flavors. I had a delicious German hef recommended by the bartender. She was extremely nice but certainly not the best service I've ever had. The pour was extra foamy and I had to eat about 6 inches of froth before I could actually taste the beer. No biggie, good things are worth waiting for. When I finally got down to the beer it was pretty strong. I had about 3 of them and started feeling like a Toy Story character (Buzzed Lightyear)
After coating my stomach with a couple of these babies, I started craving some grub. Normally, I would have gone carnivorous, but I was in a weird mood and went with the mac and cheese. It took awhile to track down the bartender to order but when it finally came out I was very satisfied. The mac was cheesier than the intro that I wrote to this review! After mackin I had another lighter style hef as an after dinner beer, and started to get the feeling as if I might go to infinity and beyond in terms of drunkenness, but I calmed myself and asked for the check.
All in all, I would say that I certainly enjoyed Toronado. He may be the runaway entrepreneur son of Coronado Island and a tornado, but he sure knows good craft beers and mac n cheese. One day children will read about his journeys into bar ownership. (insert boos here)
At this point in time, every alcoholic and beer connoisseur in North Park knows of Toronado's $3 beer special from 6-10 PM on Mondays. This is truly a mind-blowingly sick special that makes Westvleteren monks weep with joy. By 7 PM every Monday the house is packed and even the smoking patio out back is filled with people.
There's always about fortyish beers or so on tap ranging from dopplebocks to gueuze to saisons. The selection is astounding, and the bartenders will offer samples as well when they're not overloaded with customers. The bartenders here are very knowledgeable and can describe the subtleties between similar beers when quizzed about it, but don't expect them to be too friendly.
Who decided where the taps were located at Toronado? It makes no sense for all the taps to be totally clustered together at one end of the bar. It's quite a trip to walk back and forth between the end of the bar closest to the entrance all the way back to the taps to fulfill an order of 4 beers. The bartenders here must get a good workout on their shift.
Also, this place gets ridiculously packed and loud on Monday nights nowadays. Forget about having a civil discussion here.
Despite Toronado's shortcomings though, two words that make every trip worthwhile for our hero: Allagash Curieux.
PROS:
- Awesome $3 beer special on Mondays 6-10 PM.
- Great selection of good beers. Nothing too boring or widely distributed on tap.
- They have a huge variety of glassware for each type of beer and it's matched specifically for each one.
CONS:
- Wild lineups at the bar that go every which way when it's packed.
- The loud level of conversation really drowns out the music playing from the jukebox.
- The beer list can be fairly overwhelming and not informative enough for anyone who hasn't committed http://beeradvocate.com's entire database to memory. Only the name and price of each beer is displayed. Perhaps adding the style of beer, ABV, and country of origin would be helpful.
I WISH I loved this place because their menu is clearly the best in town. So many beers and they are so cheap on Mondays.
But, I actually dread going here. It's absolutely too loud. If the music wasn't blaring I could enjoy a drink with my friends. But I can't hear a word they're saying. I'm 23. I'm not some stuffy grandma here. It's simply too loud for even their young patrons.
Also, the fact that they require a $10 tab on your credit card. I enjoy only one of 2 drinks but at $3 a pop (I would have to buy at least 3 drinks), I won't be able to go here unless I'm leaving a little bit drunk. Not the kind night out I'm looking for on a Monday.
I'm rating Toronado this way in hopes that they'll take this to heart, turn the music down so that I can enjoy my friends, and maybe reconsider the card minimum. Unless those things change, I won't be going back here again.
I am what you might refer to as a serious craft beer enthusiast. Hence, Toronado has quickly come to top my list as a favorite hangout in San Diego. The quantity and diversity of their taps is unrivaled. The food is delightful (I'd especially recommend the smoked mac 'n cheese). The bar itself has a great ambiance and I love the crowds that inhabit this place.
I'm refraining from adding my fifth star because of the noise level. This place has become a regular haunt, but especially on Monday nights, Toronado has become the new tradition for my friends and I. Mondays are $3 draft night, which brings swarms of beer-loving San Diegans out of the woodworks and into this bar. The crowd aside, the biggest issue truly is the noise level. I would so much prefer to enjoy some laughs with friends while sipping delicious beer to sipping delicious beer while yelling to my friends in vain attempts to be heard over the din of the music.
Don't get me wrong, Toronado has a great jukebox ... I just wish I could heard it at about a quarter the decibal-level of what they play it at.
Delicious beer + great conversation = a great time
Delicious beer + music that is way too loud = headache
Pluses:
Great selection of beer at decent prices.
Tasty food using fine ingredients like Bread and Cie bread.
Service: Employees were moving fast and knew how to pour properly. Also, they had amusing old timey facial hair.
Minuses:
Terrible Parking. Yes, it is beyond their control.
Service Issue: Though when I asked for water, the bartender mumbled something the second time I ordered it. I would have bought some botttled water had I known what their policy is.in addition to the 3 drinks I ordered and the 3 drinks I ordered for my party previously.
I like how Blind Lady Ale House had pitchers of water and glasses.
Big Issue:
OPPRESSIVE NOISE! Maybe I would have heard the bartender if it wasn't so loud in there. Their shirts say "too loud, too bad," but methinks they protest too much. Too expensive to fix right now? Maybe, but when they have the funds they need INSULATION, panels, rugs, ????? Research it and fix it. It is a concrete echo chamber in there. It was as loud as live music. We had to yell at each other all night. My wife wanted to bolt from the noise.
If the noise was fixed it would rate higher.
I'll be back, but during a slow time.
Toronado is a great hang out spot. They have a solid selection of beer, decent food and a clean, comfortable environment to hang out in - seriously you'll come here with a few good friends and hours will sneak by before you know it because you're probably having such a great time. The jukebox is a nice touch too.
I've been to the Toronado location in SF, and if you come here expecting the same kind of place, you might be a little disappointed. The character of the place is a little different. Not bad, but different. This place is not very big, and while I've never come on a really busy night I'm not sure it would really be an ideal place to be on a crowded night... but I thought I'd throw in my thoughts on that based on what I have experienced there.
If you're looking for a nice spot to relax, have a few beers with some friends in a friendly environment, then this is the place. If you are looking for a little more of a "party environment" then you are probably better off at a place like Hamilton's.
This place deserves another sparkly star, in my opinion. It's been some time since I last encountered Toronado, but I was right on 30th, with some Senor Mango's in hand. It was too easy, man.
I'm updating for a few reasons:
1. Smoked Mac n' Cheese in a three cheese sauce. It's pretty freakin' delicious and it filled me right up.
2. Chutes & Ladders! (and other games) A bar that has board games is an automatic win! To top this off, they added picnic tables to their patio. Much better than those crappy round plastic tables.
3. Last, but certainly not least, their hardcore beer lovin'. I started with a Hop 15 IPA. The bartender said that if I liked IPAs they had Alesmith Summer Yulesmith on cask. Automatic yes and so worth it. Ended the night with a Trigger Hoppy. You can't go wrong with beer here. Ever.
So, I waited to review this place because I wasn't sure how I felt about it.
The first time I went in…
Read more »
I love this place when it's not crowded, but for some odd reason, I always tend to make a complete ass of myself every time that I come here. I don't often make an ass of myself in public, or at least I don't feel as if I do, but I always have to allow months to go by before returning because I feel so embarrassed by my behavior.
Sorry, this is supposed to be a review about Toronado, not talking about myself. See, making an ass of myself just by talking about the place!
I don't know much about beer, but I know I like it, and Toronado has beer that I like. Plus the bartenders are so kind to offer suggestions without looking at me like I'm a clueless moron. Thanks for that.
The food is FANTASTIC. Dude... just thinking about it makes me want to jog on over there for a bit o potato salad. I guess it's been about 4 months since I've been there so maybe no one remembers me being a complete ass. Cross fingers.
It's a bit easier to get through your Mondays when you have a couple of Toronado's $3 beers to look forward to. I love this place! It's small and unpretentious. They have a huge selection of great beers on tap (my favorite has to be St. Bernardus, but they have a great bavarian hefeweizen too), including a chocolate stout! On tap! Get outta here...
The atmosphere and crowd here are great and the bartenders are very helpful and attentive. There's a jukebox and a table full of board games if conversation is running low. They pay good attention to detail here, even every drink coaster features a different beer.
North Park has quite a few gems, and this is definitely one of them. Not so sure about the food, though. As soon as I started writing this review I saw the "vegan" classification, although I was pretty sure I saw some sort of sausage on the menu. All I can say is that I've never seen anyone in this bar eating. My guess is stick to beer.
Fuzzy review :
The beer selection ROCKS. It's the only place I found that has my favorite beer... Delirium Tremens. The place is different and I was a little buzzed when I went in. The bar tender(s) we had were very nice and they served us samples of what they thought we would enjoy based on what we drink.
We even got a free shot of something that reminded me of chives.
Haven't had the food yet, but the atmosphere is DIFFERENT in a very good way.
Well since the increase in popularity of this establishment on Monday night I have since stopped going. It has become too crowded to be worth the $3 beers. The ambiance is not for me. Way too loud in there. It is one thing to be in a loud bar but to have to yell at someone to have a conversation blows. They need to work on the acoustics in that place. Also never let the jukebox stop playing. For if you do the bartenders will take it over and you will have metal blasting your ears out. Its not that I don't appreciate metal but it has its time and place and a already crowded bar does not need it turned up to 11.
The food that I have had was very tasty.
Well last night was the first adventure to Toronado which I have been hearing so much about from my… Read more »
YO Toronado Keep Up The Good Work....
it took us forever to try this place out but im really glad we did. sausage is yummy, fish is great, Berry flavored beer is amazing and service is not bad all in all pretty good .. . .
Dangerous!
This is another one of those places I was hesitant to review because everything possible has already been said, but after having yet another great experience I had to. So it is now proven to be impossible for me to leave this place sober!! Too many beers to try and not enough alcohol tolerance to help me out! I usually have a Duchess but lately I have been exploring and the Oatmeal Stout I had last time was freaking delicious! So if you like beer and you can hold better than I can, head on over there! The food is pretty tasty too...
I first heard about Tornado on some program my dad and I were watching about the North Park area (Sorry, I forget the name of the program...Was preoccupied and not paying a whole lot of attention). I recently had a MRI over at UCSD, and while we were up there, we decided to check this place out.
I should start this out by saying that I don't really drink. I may take a sip of a friend's/relative's drink here or there, but I just don't really have the taste for alcohol. So while I did get a chance to try one of their many offerings, I can't go too deep into detail about their overall selection.
While the food is definitely not in the spotlight here, the dishes we ordered were pretty solid. I got a burger and chips, and my parents got tacos. The tacos weren't quite what they expected (You couldn't really pick them up and eat them), but the presentation was pretty nice (Great colors) and there were no complaints about the flavors. My burger was surprisingly good. Very good flavor and very juicy.
While I simply ordered a coke, I did get a chance to try the Affligem - Blonde. Despite my general dislike of beer, I actually found this one to be pretty tasty. The flavor wasn't too strong, and there was a very nice citrus ring to it. The aftertaste was mildly bitter and not strong either. Would definitely recommend it to anyone that's a light drinker (like myself), or who enjoys pretty mild/light beers.
Beer Geeks Heaven on Earth, featuring 50 taps and countless bottles of barley-hops nectar.
I'm there a lot and for good reason - excellent beers. The staff truly knows what pours from the taps and offers good advice for the unsure.
People have commented numerous times on the acoustics and sure it can get loud, but you can venture out back and chill if you need too.
If you're a Bud, Miller or Coors drinker - simply walk out the front and turn right and enter the dive bar next door.
The toughest thing is deciding on what to drink - so many good beers - so little time.
Food is served all day and is surprisingly good. When they opened it was just sausage sandwiches and a side or two. Now they feature well prepared dishes from Mac and Smoked Cheese to Tri-tip tacos, burgers and even a salad or two.
Monday evenings are getting crazy due to $3 pints of everything on tap. Yes that includes the Belgium nectar Kwak. Be ready to bump elbows trying to get a beer during this popular and rather hectic night.
One idea that another Yelper has mentioned is perhaps have a board or place that illustrates what the ABV is of the beers, this can help people make a selection - similar to the beer board at the Blind Lady Ale House.
I've received very good service from Jay, and that little sweetheart Brandy.
Been to Toronados twice now. It doesn't have that party bar feel. It's a little more reserved than that. Sometimes I'll take a nice quiet bar though. Bartenders are very knowledgeable about the craft brew here. My Favorites: Meardsous 8, Pure Hopiness, and Damnation. My first trip I had the burger here and it was delicious! If you like great beer and great food give Toronados a try. Oh they also have a nice selection of board games to play.
I used to love Toronado for what they brought to North Park but since North Park is worthless now and there are so many great beer bars around I am over Toronado. Between other customers yelling at me for being to loud, the apathetic bartenders and the mediocre food I'm done. I don't expect the bartenders to be super friendly or anything but a little enthusiasm for beer would help. They're all very knowledgeable but I've never seen them excited about a beer. One time I ordered seared ahi and got breaded and fried ahi but didn't bother telling the bartender because I knew he wouldn't care. I guess they"re just trying to be like the original Toronado so good luck to them. I'll take Blind Lady, Small Bar and Live Wire
50 beers on tap and tons of fancy bottled beers I haven't even looked at yet. The selection is… Read more »
I've been here twice now and both times have been awesome. I am a beer nut so I am a bit biased. However, this place does it right with a great selection on draft and in the bottle. I think they should turn the beer list into a dart board so I could decide faster.
I had some grub both times and it was excellent. I love the seating situation, it can be a bit frustrating if its busy but the seat yourself bar feel encourages strangers to sit together. Imagine that, meeting new people over a great beer! Now thats five stars!
This bar is pretty damn fun. I'm not a hard-core beer drinker, but I tried 4 different brews and loved each one. Belgian White = super tasty. The crowd was fun and eclectic, I chatted with two "blokes" from London, a wine-broker from NYC, a po-dunk cowboy and some hipster chicks. Love it. The food looked really good, I didn't try anything (liquid diet) but the British guys got sausage sandwiches with potatoes (bangers and mash???) and loved them. How could you not have a great time here on a Monday night with $3 beers?
Oh, and great selection in the jukebox! Love that!
I went here last week someone told me that they have all kinds of imported beers, so I tried the Lindemans Peche Lambic and oh yes, I will drink a glass of this one. Peche Lambic a strong peach notes with a lingering sweetness, crisp and very refreshing. I loved it very delicious.
Place was packed to the gills, really loud and everyone seems to be enjoying their half price happy hour beer and grilled sausages with potato salad on the side. Great beer selection.
Peche Lambic and price = excellent
Grilled turkey sausage = was okay too much bun (won't order again)
Potato salad = good
Service = excellent and very friendly staff
Overall 4 stars = Absolutely will go back again!
Neighborhood: South Park
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: North Park
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: North Park
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: North Park
Category: Bars
San Diego, CA
Category: Pubs
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