A visit to the Boar's Head Pub brings that song from Cheers "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" a little closer to home.
With a large selection of micro-brewed beers on tap, an enticing traditional English pub menu, and friendly staff to serve you, an hour can easily become an enjoyable afternoon or evening out.
While in Stratford to see a play. we dropped in to the Boar's Head Pub. I had been there twice before, and thought my husband would like it too. Since we had had a late lunch we decided to have drinks before the play, and come back afterwards for something to eat.
About 6:30 pm, we ordered draft (a Strongbow for me, and Coors Light for my husband) and then switched to whiskey. I had an Irish coffee (needed the caffeine before the play) and my husband had a rye and coke.
After the play, around 11 pm, we returned. The place was rockin', with a live band and some people who had clearly spent the last 4 hours drinking! It got rather loud, but the music was good.
I had Strongbow, and my husband stuck to rye and coke. The wings were very good -- big, meaty, lightly breaded, and with the right sauce. My husband had honey garlic, and I had hot (the server said it was Frank's Red Hot sauce, which was what I was looking for). There were 7 wings in a one-pound order, with a few carrots and celery sticks and dip, for $8.95 .I would definitely come back for the wings.
The servers were very friendly and attentive during both visits. There were 2 servers who regularly stopped by to check on us, and who made us feel very welcome -- one of them recognized us when we returned, and warned us about the drunks who would be dancing when the band returned from break (she was right!).
As far as pubs go, this one is great -- good food, lively atmosphere, good choice of draft, and great location on one of Stratford's main streets.
The Boar's Head is within easy walking distance of the Tom Patterson Theatre, and slightly farther to the Avon and Studio Theatres.Read more
I highly recommend Rene's for anyone who enjoys fine dining but doesn't want to experience "sticker shock" when the cheque arrives.
While I enjoy fine food, I don't tend to enjoy "upscale" restaurants. The staff are usually haughty, the portions wouldn't satisfy a hummingbird, and I'm supposed to be impressed just because they artistically drizzled some raspberry sauce along the side of the plate.
Rene's Bistro was a very pleasant surprise! While the menu choices were creative and the food delicious, the atmosphere was bustling and friendly. If felt more like a neighborhood cafe, and there were obviously both a lot of locals and tourists there.
Best of all: no sticker shock.Read more