I’m not really into sports, but I’m a big fan of all the food that goes along with spots. Think nachos, burgers, and other delicious bar eats.
Enter, Real Sports Bar, a mecca for sports fans, but also food fans! I had been here a couple of times in the past for non-sporting events, and had tried some of their food. (Shout out to the amazing Buffalo Chicken Pizza that I devoured!)
I was invited to try their brand new menu that will be launching this week!
The menu has been the same since they opened 5 years ago. They went from 121 menu items, to 85. The goal is to make the menu more intentional, says Chef Matthew Sullivan.
Each dish stands on it’s own, and ingredients have been brought in specifically for dishes. Prep cooks can focus on specific dish items, like the pineapple salsa is only created for the pork chop, and it’s not around because other dishes use the same condiment. They are able to focus on quality and consistency.
We started with the Literally Popcorn Chicken, which is actually made with popcorn! Tender chicken breast bites are fried and dusted with popcorn and topped with a sweet, hot chili sauce. I literally couldn’t stop eating these! I think this was my favourite dish.
The Spinach Ricotta Dip is served cold and is made with mascarpone, stracciatella and ricotta from the Cheese Boutique. This is all mixed with a spinach pesto, and is topped with blistered Roma tomatoes, onions, Tabasco sauce, and olive oil. Dip perfection!
If you’re a vegetarian, this Buffalo Cauliflower is probably the closest you’ll ever get to buffalo fried chicken. It’s delicious! Cauliflower is pickled in hot sauce with buttermilk. It’s then fried and topped with homemade buffalo sauce, blue cheese and coleslaw. It’s a fun and unexpected way to enjoy cauliflower.
Next is the Asian Noodle Salad, served cold. Grilled chicken, pickled veggies are piled onto a bed of vermicelli noodles, drizzled with oyster soy sauce.
A (slightly) lighter meal can be found in the Lettuce Wraps. Buttermilk fried chicken tenders tossed in hosin sauce are served up with scallion and ginger sauce pickled veggies and lettuce to build your own wraps.
Other dishes included:
CDN Burger with grade AAA Canadian beef, gravy, cheese curds and an onion ring.
Hat Trick Turkey Meatballs with spaghetti in a manchego cream sauce with italian style meatballs & fresh lemon.
Hawaii 5-0 Porkchop: double cut pork chop served on bacon fried rice with pineapple & blue cheese salsa
Of course, we can’t forget the bar! Real Sports serves up classic cocktails, crafts beers and wines. I was taught how to make their signature Real Sports Caesar, with Smirnoff vodka, Tabasco, Worcestershire and a steak spice rim.
I was very impressed with the high quality of food, and the love and care that Chef Matthew Sullivan put into this new menu! I can’t wait to go back. With this brand new menu packed with delicious dishes, even non sports fans will be won over!
Real Sports Bar & Grill, 15 York St, Toronto
No Comments