My journey to find the ultimate Raptors bar in Toronto found me traveling to Bloor West to check out a new place called Homestand.
A couple of buddies who had read the previous reviews suggested that I was being too soft when it came to grading the bars. Maybe they’re right. Or maybe they’re heartless bastards. Either way, in the spirit of the season I decided to turn over the duties for this latest instalment. A bunch of us went to watch the Raptors-Warriors game and at the end of the night I asked five friends/Raptors fans to evaluate the experience.
Four guys and a girl took part in the review. They ranged in age from early thirties to early forties and all had jobs in different industries. The one common thread was their love for the Raptors.
When it came time to share their opinions most of them were drunk from a night of bar fun. A couple were drunk on power. Here’s what they came up with:
Bar: Homestand
Address: 834 Bloor West
Criteria: Atmosphere
The bar itself is small. There are four big screens and three of them had the Raptors game on the night we were there. The sound was up in the bar but it was pretty low for part of the game. There’s some cool, unique Toronto sports art hanging throughout the bar.
Here’s what the panel thought:
Female Raptors Fan
Atmosphere Grade: B
It’s interesting that they chose to paint the entire bar including the bathrooms blue like the Blue Jays. Also, if you’re going to give me a bench to sit on you need to give me a comfortable bench.
Male Raptors Fan 1
Atmosphere Grade: Solid C
It smelt like varnish. They’re new though. And the bartender told me their goal is to be a great sports bar.
Male Raptors Fan 2
Atmosphere Grade: C
If I’ve got to turn my head to watch the game I’m not watching the game.
Male Raptors Fan 3
Atmosphere Grade: C-
It was like being in someone’s basement
Male Raptors Fan 4
Atmosphere Grade: C+
To be fair it feels like a different type of bar that’s attempting to be converted into a sports bar and they haven’t been successful yet. Sight lines are a problem. I think the tables are a problem.
Overall Average: C
Overall average is found by dropping the high and low grade and averaging the remaining three
Criteria: Drinks
It’s a new bar so the beer selection isn’t too significant yet but they’ve got the basics covered. Local beers like Steamwhistle are on tap and there’s a decent selection of tall boys.
Female Raptors Fan
Drink Grade: C
The pints felt smaller than normal.
Male Raptors Fan 1
Drink Grade: C
They weren’t regular pint glasses. And the bartender fu*ked up three pours for me.
Male Raptors Fan 2
Drink Grade: C-
I didn’t notice much of a selection.
Male Raptors Fan 3
Drinks Grade: C
Ok selection but the beer I was drinking wasn’t pouring good.
Male Raptors Fan 4
Drinks Grade: C+
Not a real pint glass and a poor pour.
Overall Average: C
Criteria: Food
A good selection of bar food including Fried Chicken Sliders, Crispy Bourbon BBQ Ribs, Fried Mac and Cheese, Fish Tacos and more. You can check out the full menu here.
Female Raptors Fan
Food Grade: Solid B
The ketchup was a bit spicy
Male Raptor Fan 1
Food Grade: B+
I had the fried chicken sliders and they were fantastic. I had the mac and cheese and that was great. The ketchup was not too spicy. This bar is gonna be good. They’re new.
Male Raptor Fan 2
Food Grade: A
I had the chicken sliders. They were amazing.
Male Raptor Fan 3
Grade: NA
I didn’t eat
Male Raptors Fan 4
Food Grade: A
I had a slider and it was really good.
Overall Average: A
Criteria: Clientele
As mentioned, Homestand is a small space but it had a decent amount of people there for the game. Everyone in the place was a Raptors fan and watching the screens. There were some loud cheers at the appropriate times. Good stuff.
Female Raptors Fan
Clientele Grade: B+
I liked the diversity.
Male Raptors Fan 1
Clientele Grade: B
Overall it was an A but there was a shady character at the bar that knew me from when I was a magician. He’s a weird man. He does magic for a living.
Male Raptor Fan 2
Clientele Grade: Incomplete
I didn’t notice anyone.
Male Raptor Fan 3
Clientele Grade: B-
There were only three girls there.
Male Raptor Fan 4
Clientele Grade: B –
There was an awkward transition as the Leafs game ended and the Raptors game started the Leaf fans had all the good seats and wouldn’t move.
Overall Average: B
Criteria: Staff
There was one bartender and someone in the kitchen working the night of the Warriors game. With the bar being small it worked out. They’d probably have an extra server working if it was a playoff game or special event but one wasn’t needed while we were there.
One point of interest is that apparently the bartender wasn’t aware of the Raptors game when the first people from the group arrived.
Female Raptors Fan
Staff Grade: C
A for effort but C for an actual grade. You should be better prepared for a 10:30 game between the Raptors and Golden State. They were closing the kitchen when we got there.
Male Raptors Fan 1
Staff Grade: B+
He was clearly high off his ass and I respect that.
Male Raptors Fan 2
Staff Grade: A
I’ll give a C for effort because they should have known about the game but A for actual service because when I ordered my food came within five minutes.
Male Raptors Fan 3
Staff Grade: B
They were more laid back. It was more of a ‘get your own drink at the bar’ feel than someone waiting on tables. I don’t mind that.
Male Raptors Fan 4
Staff Grade: B
They did well for what they had. They had one person on staff tonight. When I asked at 10:15 if he was going to show the Raptors game he didn’t know there was a game.
Overall Average: B
Criteria: Bathrooms
There are two separate bathrooms located downstairs.
Female Raptor Fan
Bathroom Grade: A
The bathrooms were fine.
Male Raptor Fan 1
Bathroom Grade: A+
I rolled a spliff on the back of the toilet and the toilet was super clean.
Male Raptors Fan 2
Bathroom Grade: C
There was a tall guy and the ceiling was really low. I felt bad for him.
Male Raptor Fan 3
Bathroom Grade: B
The ratio of women to men bathrooms is a bit off. There needs to be more urinals.
Male Raptors Fan 4
Bathroom Grade: C
The ceilings are really low
Overall Average: B
Criteria: Price
Female Raptors Fan
Price Grade: NA
I didn’t pay
Male Raptors Fan 1
Price Grade: B+
I didn’t spend a lot of money. The beers are normal prices. All the food was under $10
Male Raptors Fan 2
Price Grade: B-
You put everything else in context you’ve got to go with the C+ You’ve got to look at the big picture. I guess with the food it’s a B-
Male Raptors Fan 3
Price Grade: A-
Everything was really well priced, especially the food. I didn’t order any but I saw the menu and everything was under $10.
Male Raptors Fan 4
Price Grade: B+
Really well priced for a Toronto bar
Overall Average: B+
Overall Grade
Female Raptors Fan
Overall Grade: B+
There’s room for improvement and I’m excited to come back.
Male Raptors Fan 1
Overall Grade: B+
It’s brand new. It has so much potential.
Male Raptors Fan 2
Overall Grade: D+
The only thing you’ve got to get right at a sports bar is the seating and viewing. You just need to be able to watch the game and they got that wrong. But I’m a repeat customer because I will come back and see how they’re doing.
Male Raptors Fan 3
Overall Grade: C-
Feels like you’re at someone’s house and they don’t care if you order drinks or not. They don’t care what’s on the TV.
Male Raptors Fan 4
Overall Grade: C+
It’s not totally successful if its intention was to be a sports bar. It did not successfully cater to my needs as a sports fan specifically seating and viewing. I’d like to sit comfortable and see the game and those two things were not accomplished. I think they’re nailing the food. Everything else is solvable. Bad food is hard to fix. All they need to do is shuffle the tables around and they’ll be good.
Overall Average: B
B seems like a fair grade. It’s a new bar and has a few things to work out but they’re minor. The food is well worth going for. Once they figure out the sight lines situation, Homestand should be a destination for Raptors fans in the Bloor West area.
