The Gem

Staff can be very rude. There is often a large dog walking around the restaurant. My friend ate the chicken wings and got food poisoning. The food quality overall is not great. ok for a late night drink. not much more than that though.

The stars are for authenticity.
You need balls, ovaries, and way too much experience to proudly stand like a recognized dive bar in this area.
Ppl. I follow on Unilocal were here before, and they gave kinky cool reviews. So, I knew I wanted to experience it on my own flesh.
I loved it: the details on their decoration spoke by themselves.
We people can leave messages, pictures, tickets, or whatever we feel meaningful inside the glass of the tables (TTC tickets, parents pics, group’s hang out’s… you name it, and put it…)
The crew is cosmopolitan. In my point of view: They don’t care who you are… Have fun!!!
Enjoy.
Thank you Unilocal,because you show me «The Gem» and I think it’s awesome.

Let’s begin… the lighting, décor, and atmosphere is absolutely incredible. I walked in and immediately felt relaxed, chill, and warm. There’s a lot going on, and some tables have I. D cards, poems, drawings, business cards, it’s all so delicious when in a cozy corner listening to Johnny cash or Marvin Gaye and sipping a delicious cocktail or beer.
I did not eat here so I cannot comment on it.
I think if you are looking for a warm, inviting night away from downtown Toronto than you should Def check It out.
Also had great service, contrary to what others posted and it was busy the night I was there.
A true Gem in the city… see what I did there… oh I’m amazing… ha

The Gem is currently my local watering hole.
Too bad.
The food is mediocre.
Pabst is the only beer that is fresh.
The tables are entertaining, lots of random pictures, IDs, bussiness cards.
Look, if you wanted a beer but didn’t make in time to the LCBO you can choose to go here. But if you walked just further down to bloor or further north to St. Clair you would find more choices and better food choices.
The vibe is great when it isn’t way too crowded, it should be crowded enough that you don’t smell that smell.
Sorry, Gem.

the NACHOS are 5 stars
This little corner joint has tons of potential. What’s unfortunate is the lack of quality service. To be fair, I’ve only ever gone once… I was very turned off after my first and only experience.
My date and I walked in to find one party of 4 people seated in the back area, and a bartender/​server who was reading something off his phone. We stood in the entry way waiting to be greeted, before finally just deciding to eat ourselves. It was cold, and so we chose to sit a few tables away from the door, at a table for 4. I did not think this would be an issue…
When we were finally brought menus, our server awkwardly told us that if the bar began to fill up, that he’d have to ask us to move to a table for 2. I can understand why he might feel the need to tell us this… however it was 6pm and the place was pretty dead. We assured him we wouldn’t stay long (a little turned off by his demeanour)
We only stayed as long as we did because it took forever to get our drink and food orders in! This is a small place, definitely small enough to have one person serving and bar tending. Whatever was on this man’s phone took total priority over customer service.
Before finishing up, I heard the bar tender once again tell a patron that if the place filled up, she would have to move her seat. She seemed just as perplexed as we were (kind of looking around like… «OK, but don’t hold your breath about this place getting that busy»). I think he just lacked a certain tact and table side manner.

Went here with a group of couples and treated like we were not welcome. The food was average, the service was terrible and the place is rundown!
This is nothing more than a glorified local watering hole.
I wouldn’t be back if someone else was picking up the tab!

Have been to this place on a couple of occasions now, and I gotta admit as a local dive bar, it is tops in my books! The eclectic design, the jukebox full of good tunes, surely staff and some pretty decent prices on booze. Basically checks the boxes on all the important points.
A must-​do when you visit the gem is bring something with you: a ticket stub, a business card, expired TTC card, something, and add it to the growing collection of mementos left by patrons over the years. Don’t have something, then doodle something inappropriate on a piece of paper or cocktail napkin and add that to the tables instead… don’t worry — everyone’s doing it!
The gaff here IMO is the service, I think they might be under staffed, because on both occasions that I’ve visited the first round comes out… eventually, and then you’ll be hard-​pressed to catch a servers attention to order another round (or pay your tab) pretty much from then on… save for actually walking to the bar to flag someone down. Pro-​Tip: to overcome the service issue, I’d recommend ordering a large volume of beer or booze upfront (2 doubles, a pitcher, a tray of shots… or all of the above).
Decent spot and I’d come back

I thoroughly enjoyed our quick stop at The Gem when I was in town for miss Evelyn’s awesome Unilocal events. There’s something magical about this place. It could be the random mannequins and other somewhat creepy, somewhat whimsical décor, the awesome music, or the hole in the wall vibe, but I’m pretty sure part of it is the bean dip.
Quite small, and definitely charming, I think this would be a wonderful place for a first (for 20^th) date. The business cards and photos shoved under the tabletops make for excellent conversation, and the incense in the bathroom remind me of summers gone by. I devoured their nachos (…and bean dip), and thought the other offerings looked pretty tasty too. This is definitely a great late night munchies spot, and I can’t wait to pop by on my next visit to T.O.

Hmmm… I don’t like moldy potatoes with my eggs!
Great neighbourhood location. Decent pub and nice service. The food is just Okay at best but often disappointing. I do go on occasion because of the convenience but I can’t recommend it above utilitarian.
On the plus side, it has a kinda funky vibe !

I like The Gem. Definitely not trek across town to get there kind of like, but it’s in my neighbourhood and it does just fine. On tap selection is pretty limited, but they have lots in bottles and cans. Food is decent, and some vegetarian and limited vegan options too. The servers are always very nice.

Consistently bad food. Unfortunate because it is such a nice, warm feeling pub. Decent drinks and service.

Cool place, gd food but o man the waitress had some attitude. Probably won’t go back because the unfriendly services.

It is no secret I am a huge fan of their bean dip. I’ll pretty much tell anyone who will listen: get whatever you want from the menu… and ask for some bean dip. Just this past Monday I enjoyed their quesadillas… with a side of bean dip.
They have a great raspberry wheat ale on draft, and their mixed cocktails are below-​average price for Toronto. And Lest We Forget the lovely literature that lies beneath the glass tops of their tables — I love reading business cards and ticket stubs from days gone by. Who doesn’t?
Their old vinyl collection that that they play every evening will warm even the coldest heart. Basically, if you haven’t already, please visit my friend Gem. She is truly outrageous.
PEPPER’S PISSED: Some lovely jerk is making their life difficult, and currently their patio is closed. I hate when this happens to neighbourhood bars. I’m certain The Gem’s patio (which really isn’t a romping affair) was there before you paid waaaaay too much for your semi-​detached stucco house. The Gem adds value of your crap-​box, it doesn’t diminish its worth.

If not for the terrible service, The Gem would be a gem. Really. Great selection of craft beers, reasonably priced drinks, and good bar food including some delicious smoked wings. The kitschy décor could make for interesting conversation if you’re bored and the lighting is just right. BUT, the servers are far too busy talking to one another and their friends to even notice that you’re there. How does one go about placing an order here? If you motion at the server, she will be offended and pretend not to see you. If you walk over to talk to her, she will be too busy chatting with her co-​worker to addresses you. Finally, when you get the bill and place your card on the tray, you will not know that you need to walk up to the bar to use the machine unless you ask why its taking so long for them to swipe your card. What happened to customer service? Why are the (angry hipster) servers SO rude?! The Gem needs to step up its game and live up to its name.
Consumer Advocacy!

I like the Gem. Very nice people. Cold beer. Strange, weed-​enclosed patio.
I don’t love the bathrooms, but I live within walking distance so I can usually hold it.
If you are very lucky, and see a listing for any band playing here, they are likely very good.

Oh wow.
This is going to be the Hubster and my new, go-​to spot. It’s a short bus ride away for us, and about a 30 – 40 minute walk home. Service is friendly, and they carry Strongbow (not the night I was there, though). They have a jukebox and also play some pretty neat records. The crowd is sort of hipster 30s, with no rowdies.
My only issue is that I wish their kitchen was open later, but that’s more my problem, not their’s.
It’s a small space, keep that in mind if you’re with a crowd!

Love the Gem. It’s a home away from home. Atmosphere is great, food is decent and cheap (my favourite order: nachos with pulled pork. Not listed on the menu, but so good), small but good revolving selection of beers on tap, larger selection of everything in bottles or tallboys. Staff are friendly. Jukebox is awesome. Eddy is the best!
Just adding an update because I noticed another person complaining about «rude hipster servers.» I have never experienced rude hipster servers in the 5 years I’ve been going there, up to including the night before last. Maybe that’s because we are exceptionally charming people, and they give as good as they get!

Love the vibe and décor and juke box at the Gem and especially love the fact that it’s in a neighbourhood generally devoid of good establishments.
But…I have to say that the heavily-​tattooed bartender/​manager/​proprietor has to be one of the most unfriendly service personnel in all of Toronto. He micromanages every aspect of this place like a prison guard. Don’t stand next to tables! Don’t play too much music on the juke box! Don’t dare ask him what the beer selection is. Remember the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld? I think he works at the Gem now.
I wish so badly that this place was more friendly and welcoming. Disappointing.

My local haunt for my entire life — affordable beer (though the owner tends to put weird flavoured beers or PBR on tap a little too often!), the best nachos in Toronto (the bean dip: PERFECTION.), and the coolest vibe. I come here two or three times a week, usually just for a beer or two, to sit with my friends and read all the great things people have left under the glass of the tables. I love the rockabilly vibe, and that it manages to be a total hipster hangout without always being full of hipsters. Eddie (the owner) has great taste in music, so there’s always something nice (usually actual records) playing. Just don’t touch the jukebox. It’s purely for show these days.
Straddles the line between «place to go for a quiet beer» and «place to go to get totally drunk» perfectly. I do both, all the time.
Every once in a while they’ll have a new server who doesn’t quite get that they don’t have to be aloof, or you’ll get something not great coming out of the kitchen (the most likely culprit: stale bread on your sandwich), but the great times absolutely make up for it. And hey, if there’s something wrong with your food, they’re usually more than happy to make the whole thing again for you.
Also: Unilocal says it is moderately priced, but that seems a bit unfair — sandwiches and a lot of other food is under 11 bucks — its just the big dishes, the carbonara (which is amazing, by the way), Gembalaya, etc. that are priced a bit higher.

I’ve always heard of the Gem but never had a chance to check it out. And the crazy thing is that it’s right around the corner from where I live, but I never think to go north to Davenport for anything.
Finally checked it out for a bit last night and it didn’t look like anything I had pictured. I thought maybe it would be a relatively bland décor but it’s very bright and tacky — in a good way. Lots of rock-​a-​billy type stuff on the walls and behind the bar. On the tables they have what appears to be lost articles left behind. I saw things like passport photos, student ID cards, personal notes, ticket stubs, etc.
The pint I ordered was warm, so that wasn’t very good. Still, knowing this place is so close to my house gives me hope it will slowly become my new local.