Allen’s

Service was good. I ordered the pizza for $ 16 and I’ll be honest with you, it isn’t even worth $ 10. It was small, super salty and it tasted like frozen box pizza. Do not recommend the pizza. Very disappointing. I heard the lamb was really good though.

Allen’s has potential but falls flat on its face. Sure, the staff are friendly, décor is nice, and the patio is amazing. But the food on the other hand leaves much to be desired.
I’m not saying it’s bad. But the burgers are far from the best in the city, and many other entries on the menu are average. The burgers are actually too tall and narrow. Resulting in a messy hand and frustrating meal. Fries and other sides are extra, which pads the cost of your meal.
The desserts I tried were mediocre and not even worth the time.
In all, paying $ 20+ for a simple main should at least net you some flavour. Instead you get a mediocre, overpriced, let down.

I recently visited Allen’s for one of their infamous burgers and I truly do wish that I could have rated it a bit higher. The service was amazing, the beer and wine list extensive, the ambiance spot on, and although we weren’t fortunate enough to see the back patio-​I have seen pics and it looks amazing. However the burger was a bit steep in terms of price-​point for the quantity… and I know that there are many that will argue that it’s quality over quantity, and I agree to an extent, but I just didn’t see how the 13.95 $ for a stand-​alone burger is justifiable, it would have to be exceptional. Was it good… yes. But would I pay 13.95 $ for it again, probably not. With that said, this review is based solely on my burger experience and nothing more. Will I go back to Allen’s– absolutely. I think that they are definitely worthy of another visit, and this time I will try and time it for patio season!

Been going to Allen’s for longer than I can remember. Love the back patio in summer! Pretty much the best restaurant burger you can get without the insane price. Also one of my favourite brunch spots on the Danforth.

Allen’s is a fantastic pub! It also has a great outdoor area in the back, which i have yet to use. The food is excellent. The service outstanding! Can’t wait to go back. The owner, John Maxwell, who also owns Dora Keogh’s next door is a great guy. Very accommodating and helpful. After a session next door, over to Allen’s for dinner is a great way to spend an evening!
Forgot to add, it’s also completely wheelchair accessible with an accessible washroom too!

Allen’s is an institution on Danforth I keep forgetting about. The backyard patio with a giant tree is surprisingly as spacious as the vintage toned cinematic, well aged feels-​like-​imma-​in-​a-​1940s-​tavern insides. It’s a pub with a bit of an upscale casual bent to it, at least when it comes to the grub it serves, where it aims to deliver a gourmet food experience instead of mere usual pub fare.
Maybe it’s a bit over-​the top that there’s a thesis statement on the quality of their ingredients on some of the many items on their hefty menu. Maybe it’s a way of saying we’re no college dive bar; it’s a place you can bring a date, have a family lunch or run a small casual meeting at – the mature sense of the business is palpable. On that sense the service is generally great and accommodating; the prices a notch above affordable though.
They got pizzas and fish and chips and such. The decent burgers are small but tall A.F. And they got an insanely extensive beer list that spans several chalkboards.
But yeah, the popular patio. More like a big-​ass homey backyard of a relative’s place and you’re expecting steaks fresh off the grill.
{TTC: Broadview subway station; it’s pretty much adjacent to the Danforth Music Hall}

I love this place. It’s been around a long time, and all I can say is that I hope to God I age as well as this restaurant. To keep a place as fresh and relevant and busy 30 years on as Allen’s is the feat of a great restauranteur. John Maxwell is the real deal.
The service is excellent: professional and friendly. The staff is consistently wonderful. The kitchen is extremely capable, the menu is varied and interesting, and the food is very well prepared. The décor is classic and comfortable; everything is clean and well maintained. In winter, it’s cozy and comfortable inside. In summer the patio is unbeatable: that back-​of-​the-​restaurant oasis under a canopy of trees that Toronto does so well, and Allen’s does much better than most.
I make the pilgrimage whenever I’m in Toronto and always look forward to my next visit. Well worth it.

I’ll start off by saying that I’ve been to Allen’s on several occasions and I’ve had some tasty food coupled with good service. But this time was not the same.
I went there with a friend last night to enjoy their lovely patio for a cold drink on a hot night. It was very busy when we arrived around 9:45 and I asked the hostess (older woman) if there was room on the patio, she replied that there was and walked us out to a table that was sandwiched between two other full tables. As she was placing the menus down we were sure to ask «We’re just here for a drink, is that ok?» We wanted to sure it was ok to just have a drink on the patio without ordering food. Her response was «Well you’re here now» which we both took as a snarky response with the tone she used. None the less we decided to stay. My friend excused herself to go to the ladies room and I read the menu. When my friend came back she said, let’s move over there where there is little more space. The waiter came by just as were moving and politely moved the menus over along with us. We had not yet ordered. We sat down and reviewed the menu and the hostess sat two gentlemen next to us at a table for four (no one else joined them). When she was done she came around to our table leaned in and said «next time, before you move ask for permission.» My friend just nodded and said thank you. The hostess then repeated herself and my friend nodded again and said «thank you.» I give my friend credit for keeping her cool; I wanted to walk out for being spoken to so rudely, not once but twice! Keep in mind that I’m aware that customers are sometimes seated based on staff or areas that are closed, but as far as I could see none of this applied. We also moved to table for 2 making sure not to take up a spot for a larger party… AND we had not ordered anything yet. BTW — the waiter that eventually served us was very prompt and courteous.
A hostess should be your first impression when you arrive at any restaurant or business and should not speak rudely to customers in a tone that implies you are a small child who has acted out of line. Allen’s has been around for a long time and has a good reputation but if they want to maintain that standing, perhaps they need to rethink placing this person on their front line. If she is one of the owners or part of the family that owns this establishment then she needs to work in area that doesn’t require her to interact with the customers. Needless to say, I won’t be going back.

Allen’s has a beautiful patio located at the back of the restaurant which is spacious and covered by a mature tree. This is my favourite part of the restaurant as it is the perfect place for a date or gathering of friends. There are also families that come together from the community to have a meal together and that tells me that this is a local gem.
They also have delicious burgers which are made in house and can be served rare or medium rare. They have a great selection of beers and wine which are reasonably priced. They also have many other entrees on the menu. I have yet to try them but looking at tables around us, the burger seemed very popular. Service is prompt and friendly. A great place to grab a pint and a burger!

I’m so torn with Allens. On one hand they do have a good bar with knowledgeable bartenders, complete with an extensive beer and wine list. But on the other hand it seems like they are trying to be a snooty upscale restaurant. The food is good and sometimes very good but they are not giving it away by any means. They have a great patio out back which is worth checking out.
My biggest issue with Allens is the vibe. The staff are either pretentious or disinterested and this seems to start right from the hostess (older lady) who I suspect is an owner. The place just doesn’t have a good vibe in my opinion.
This is a good pub (?) and worth checking out so you can decide for yourself.

Great beer selection, amazing burgers! Nice British-​style atmosphere and a large patio for the summer times. I love their steak month and the frites are decent. What else could you ask for?

Interesting New York Irish steak house in the middle of the Danforth. Its quite the ambiance, especially on St Patrick’s Day. I had the burger here, which was quite nice and not too greasy. The prices are a bit steep though.
The Atmosphere and service is quite nice and apparently they have one of the best selections of Scotch in the whole city.

I was surprised to see servers in white dress shirts and black ties, having gotten a very pub-​y feel from Allen’s website and their frontage. When you crack open the menu, you’re hit with some very high-​end looking entrees (specials), but at very high-​end prices… which made me a bit nervous about what the burgers — which I was excited about — would cost. Surprise! The burgers are all right in the $ 15-​range, what I consider a standard non-​fastfood burger price.
We picked up the Goat Cheese Dip with Garlic Toast to start — while the dip was fantastic and the bread was great, they really didn’t give you enough bread to fully enjoy the dip. But that’s pretty nitpicky.
I’d say the burger itself lived up to its reputation. I got the one with goat cheese — it came with a chunk of goat cheese the size of the burger patty itself, crisp lettuce, pickles, fresh-​looking tomatoes, and this potent horseradish mustard that I loved. Plus, since they prep all their own beef, you have the option of how you want your burger cooked. I ordered mine medium and it was perfect — juicy and flavourful.
Despite the awesome burger, the REAL thing that will bring me back is the patio in the back. The décor gives it a really cool vibe, and you get a decent amount of sun into the evening. I also REALLY appreciate that it’s not overcrowded. Even with all the tables full, you’re not shoulder-​to-​shoulder with every other customer.
Our service was slow, but as I mentioned, they were completely full. We weren’t in a hurry, our server was really nice, and everything came out perfect, so it didn’t particularly bother me.

I have been here many times, so I am surprised I had not reviewed Allen’s before.
In warm weather the patio is gorgeous and when they grill on the patio it makes the experience that much better but it can get cramped and the chairs are tiny fold up style, not the most comfortable, but I guess that is their way of keeping patrons from staying too long.
Almost every time I go, I order the burger. There are so few places that will serve you a rare to medium-​rare burger, but Allen’s can because they grind their own beef. If you order your burgers well done then you might not appreciate what is special about these burgers.
My pet peeve is that the only mustard they offer is Dijon, and I am a fan of old fashioned yellow, so I either bring my own or go without. The onion is cut thick but suits the burger and the pickle is quite sour, so have a nibble before putting it on your burger in case you don’t like it.
On my last visit, I ordered fries, which cost extra, and they are not the best — very thick cut and not crispy enough, but my greater issue was that I had to ask for ketchup, and mid meal the waitress took it away to give to another table!!! The place was almost empty, being 10 pm on a Sunday night… Does that mean they only have ONE bottle of ketchup? And it’s ED Smith not Heinz?
I had to ask for the bottle of ketchup back — awkward!
I’m not a beer drinker but my friends and hubby tell me they have an impressive list of beers here.
The ketchup hoarding waitress was not the friendliest, but service was prompt.
If the weather ever gets warmer, we will be back for the patio.

We’ve been to Allen’s quite a few times and I’ve got to say the burgers are really, really good. It’s the staff that are super arrogant, rude and quite simple couldn’t give a crap if you come back or not. They give off the impression like it’s a privilege to eat there and have a «take it or leave it» attitude.
My understanding is that restaurants are built on great customer service and repeat business. I guess I’ll «leave it» and while they won’t go bankrupt because I won’t go their again, there will be point where people just stop coming back.
Maybe they should be grateful for the fact that they have repeat customers… for now.

I’ve only been once but my impression was that this is a great place to grab a drink, especially a beer, on this side of the Danforth. Note that they don’t stay open until typical closing time. (2am)
Also note, as I’ve found with a date, that you probably won’t get in on a busy Friday night without any reservation. They will send you next door which is a fine substitute.
The feel in Allen’s is…“old timey” and upscale-​ish. I seem to recall checkered table cloths. It was easy to imagine it as a scene for gangsters doing a deal in the 40s.
I am unsure if this would work for a pubcrawl unless you had just a few people in your group.
It also seemed to be a place for the late 30s+, and well into the 50s, crowd. I think there were TVs – really not sure if this is the best place to watch a game or not. It did have a «local» feel to it as a place that mostly locals go.
Prices seemed fair – $ 33 for 2 pints and 2 glasses of wine.
Service was totally fine. We were left alone but never without liquid in our glasses.
Am really curious to try the food.
Very recommended if you are on this side of the Don!

Everything here is made from scratch– I’ve been coming for their burger for years. Can’t go wrong with that decision! Their a little on the pricey side especially for their side (ie mixed baby greens with nothing but dressing for $ 8). Yet I will continue to go back when I’m in the area for a hamburger!

I came here on a recommendation from a friend about the burgers.
I came with my boyfriend, brother and sister-​in-​law. We sat on the patio in the back, which was huge, decorate nicely with greenery, and even had a BBQ going, which looked and smelt delicious. Even though there were plenty of things on the menu I’d like to try, I opted for the burger based on my friend’s recommendation.
The burger was quite tasty. Not the best I’d ever had, but good. It was dressed well, but everything kept falling off! lol I ordered a side salad, but what came was a handful of «spring mix» that you buy at any grocery store. I was really disappointed since I paid extra for the side «salad». I had a few of my boyfriend’s fries, which was way under-​cooked.
While the patio was nice and the service was decent, it’s unlikely that I would come back here because the food is widely overpriced for what you get.

We dropped by for a quick pint after dinner at Pizzeria Libretto (see other review). We had hoped to go to Dora Keogh’s next door but it was closed, so settled on Allen’s instead.
The décor is old world Irish pub with a hint of New York. There is lots of seating, either in booths, at the bar, in dining area or the huge patio out back. We settled on the bar and ordered two pints. My Mil Street Organic was flat and the bartender quickly changed it for a King Brewery Lager instead, which was much better.
The crowd here is definitely older than Dora Keogh’s, and it’s a lot quieter which can be a good thing if you’re looking for a quiet pint. It was a Sunday night and wasn’t so busy, so we finished our pints and paid up. Perhaps we caught them on an off night but I wouldn’t rush back for the atmosphere or Irish ‘craic’ as there simply wasn’t any.
A solid three stars for sure — decent but nothing that would blow your socks off.

One of the best burgers I’ve had at a bar in Toronto. Allen’s and Dora Keogh’s next door are both owned by the same family and both pubs are winners in my book.
You’ll probably want reservations to eat in the dining room here, which is dressed up similar to cookie cutter NYC Irish pubs — blue checkered tablecloth, bar in the front, patio in the back. There are also a few seats out front next to Danforth Music Hall. Casual and busy on the weekends.
We sat at the bar and enjoyed wonderful pints of Guiness, but also split an amazing burger with Irish/​Canadian bacon, melted cheese and Carmelized onions. It was really, really good. Don’t hesitate if you’re on the fence. The chips were large and fried nicely. I doused mine in vinegar and salt. The rest of the menu is kind of upscale — filets, lamb, seafood… but it all looked lovely and judging by the crowds, tastes pretty good too. I like this neighborhood on the east side of the city. Urban but not business-​like. Check out Allen’s if you’re out this way and enjoy Guinness and burgers.

J’ai fréquenté cet établissement avec un grand ami pendant plus de vingt ans. Depuis que mon ami n’est plus, je n’y retourne guère mais les temps passés sont d’excellents souvenirs. Nous avons toujours été bien reçus par le propriétaire lui-​même, John Maxwell, toujours souriant et amical. Si vous aimez le pub irlandais style New-​York, c’est bien ici qu’il faut aller: vous aurez le choix entre des bières classiques et les whiskys les plus raffinés.
Le restaurant quant à lui est plutôt onéreux, mais toujours occupé ! Je n’ai eu l’occasion d’y manger que deux fois en 20 ans, mais chaque occasion fut parfaitement agréable. N’oubliez pas de commander les «blackened potatoes», une salade de pommes de terre chaude particulièrement relevée.