Midfield Wine Bar & Tavern

Great date night spot! The atmosphere is warm, dark and cozy.
The food was delicious. We ordered a smoked fish (forget which fish but a fish nonetheless) crustini which was delicious. I definitely recommend the vegetarian Shepard’s pie — it was super tasty, creative and unlike anything else I’ve tasted! Fish and chips was good (thick homemade fries) but you’re better off ordering something unique.
Service was great. Friendly. Wine list was extensive. All in all about $ 100 for 2 entres, 1 app and one of the cheaper bottles of wine.

Came here on a whim on the way to the airport for a quick bite of brunch on the way out of town. My friend and I were originally destined for The Federal, but their outrageously long line sent us right next door to Midfield.
Food was very good — my friend had the poached spicy eggs and I had the butternut squash frittata. Both were delicious and worthy of dipping our toasted bread into the sauces. The potato waffle was also a nice touch!
Service was attentive and some of the best I’ve had for a brunch service. Server knew exactly when to refill my cup of coffee, which happened to be often that particular morning.

Nice late brunch. Had the eggs tostada it was bursting with flavour, very fresh and good portion size. Nice glass of wine too though I would have like our server to tell us about the mimosa brunch special which we later overheard her tell another table…
I’ll be back again for snacks or dinner.
Decent wine list.

Super friendly staff — they are tight like a family it seems. Fun place less expensive than many on dundas west. Fancy enough yet still slightly grungy.
We had only wine and apps. The Camas syrah was a fair drink, typical syrah and at $ 40 or so a bottle only moderately overpriced ;)
The apps were fun. Cauliflower, frites and arepas. Half pinchos half tapas I’d call it.
The mains look amazing but we had already eaten so we could not partake.
Lovely decent sized patio combined with a Brooklyn like half gentrified interior make for a lovely ambiance. They could fit parties of 10 but book ahead the place seats at max 40 inside probably fewer and maybe 25 or so outside.
You will enjoy this spot I suspect. Worth the trip west! If you’re east and worth the trip east if you’re west!

Met up with some friends here for brunch on a Saturday around 11:30/12. We decided to sit outside because it was a beautiful/​sunny day. The service was good and the food was really good. I liked the combinations that I’d never heard before. For example, The potato waffles were crunch and mmmmm mmmm good.

I found myself leaving disappointed with what was an otherwise ok place.
I am a huge fan of gourmet pubs in Toronto like the Queen and Beaver and House on Parliament, who have locked down the balance between refined and casual, and pricing that gives you great, unique food that is worth all the money. It is a treat to go to places like that. I think this wine bar was trying to be that, but wasn’t quite.
It left an uncomfortable gap between what the place was supposed to be and what we actually got.
The food items are good, and presented on pretty plates, but portions are small, and leave a gap in your belly. Pan Seared Flat Iron Steak was done well – tender and good flavour. You just might be left hungry after eating the few slices. It’s priced to make you wonder about ordering another: $ 15. Apps seem affordable, but there were so many burnt, charred unusable pieces of the toast that came with the cheese plate that was meant to DIY your own hors d’oeuvres type thing. My fingers actually turned black fishing around for the few edible pieces of bread and my tongue numbed to the monotonous tartness of the one variety of aged cheese offered on the cheese plate. Who knows, maybe it was the end of the night and supplies were low.
This just doesn’t happen at a place with gourmet fare.
Another reviewer wrote that the manager actually confronted his/​her group about expecting a larger tip – at least 15% after tax, instead of 15% before tax. There was nothing ostensible or class-​less like that in our case, but there was a sense of… being side-​eyed when the pre-​tax 15% wasn’t what was expected. Restaurants need to start building in service fees or, they need to pay their staff more. So stressful, everyone leaves feeling badly. As well, our group had a common bill and when it was my turn, the waitress asked me about my stuff, I told her exactly what my portion was with tax, then, she inexplicably rounded it up. Why? Dunno.
Maybe this establishment has self-​styled itself on being slightly higher end and expects people to catch on to that. A successful manifestation of this wouldn’t be so… fraught. That just confuses the 20-​somethings who are used to the relaxed bars in the neighbourhood.

It is a very nice hang out. A solid 3 and a half. A good place to have a few drinks and some food. Food is excellent, but the size is too small for me. I had to keep ordering. The pork belly was really melted in my mouth. The deep fried rabbit was very tender. It is a gem in that hood.

Excellent smoked trout and a very helpful bartender/​waitress who helped me navigate a well-​curated wine list — not as long as some (it’s the Hobbit, not the Silmarillion).
Nearly everything was both by the glass and bottle. Meanwhile, smaller portions focus things on tastes rather than sustenance.
Atmosphere is quiet /​conversational and the décor a low-​key & dark-​wood minimalism.

I think I have found my favorite place in Toronto! The second I walked in my first thought was –I am literally in heaven. The ambiance is perfect. Cozy and warmly lit with décor that sits comfortably in between classic and rustic, and trendy. The whole atmosphere of people was great as well, everything from a man sitting alone at a table with the newspaper and a glass of wine, to a table full of middle aged women catching up over several bottles. It seemed like the kind of place anyone could feel comfortable in. The wine and food list is brought over on a clipboard, and you can find additional items like beers, whiskeys, and the cheese selection written in chalk on the walls. The wine list was the perfect size to give you a good selection but not overwhelm you and it also covered a good array of old and new world (though definitely leaning towards old). There were also an additional 2 ‘new’ and 2 ‘last chance’ wines written on the walls. All were available by the glass and bottle and weren’t marked up insanely like I expected. My boyfriend and I worked our way through pretty much the entire red list and we both thought they were mostly all spectacular. There was definitely something for every taste, and some really interesting choices. We also had a cheese plate, which was far better than I expected. The amounts of cheese were very generous and it came with some delicious jellies– apricot and blueberry, some crushed hazelnuts, thinly sliced apple, and little crunchy cracker like toasts. It was the perfect accompaniment to the wines. The service was a big stand out as well. The woman serving us was incredibly helpful and made us feel very comfortable and well taken care of. She happily offered to bring me a taste of a couple wines I was deciding between, and did a great job of picking out a wine for my boyfriend even with his very vague descriptions of the type of wines he enjoys. She also suggested some wines to me I would’ve skipped over otherwise that I ended up thoroughly enjoying. We wanted to sit a bit longer after paying our bill, and she ended up bringing us over some complimentary amaro, which I enjoyed a lot more than any other amaro’s I’ve had in the past (must track the bottle down!). Service was definitely ⁶⁄₅ stars! The only downside of the place is that the food is very mediocre, it’s definitely an afterthought, which is fine by me. It is a wine bar not a restaurant after all. In the future I’ll know to stick to the cheese boards. (charcuterie boards looked good as well if you’re a meat eater). In fact I liked it so much there– I think I’ll go back tonight!

BOTTOM LINE: The staff’s mathematical deficits and sense of entitlement for tips soured an otherwise fun night.
I considered whether rating them a 1-​star was too harsh given how well everything else went, but I really can’t see myself coming back. After ordering dinner and 2 bottles of wine, my DCs and I settled the bill and left the customary 15% tip. To our surprise, the manager confronted us on our «meager» tip without even asking us about how our night was or if we were dissatisfied with anything. Turns out, the manager felt entitled that tips should be based on AFTER-​tax cost even though HST is, obviously, not part of any service or product they provide. Ridiculous, entitled and poor form. NEXT!

This neighbourhood is changing so fast its hard to keep up!
Midfield is a great addition to this neighbourhood. Its a quaint sized place with a really nice, relaxed vibe. It’s a great place to grab some wine with friends, have a nice date or, as I have witnessed others doing, just have a nice glass of wine by yourself at the bar. Something for everyone.
Staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the wines and help you make good choices.
For food they offer small plates with a good mix of veg and non veg times, that are decently priced, reasonably sized and most importantly taste good.
I saw someone else say *cash only* but they now accept credit/​debit.

Great atmosphere, crowd, and wine. I’ve been twice — the first time we didn’t get wine, the second time with three friends and we partook in the enjoyment and exploration of the wine list.
The guy who was serving was really nice and helpful. He let my friend taste some she wasn’t sure about so she could find one that was right for her. I had two whites and both were wins.
The crowd was great — mature, conversational, everyone having a good time but notsuper loud and infringing on the good times of others. You could dress up a bit to go there, but you also wouldn’t feel weird if you were wearing jeans.
The wine is $ 8+ a glass, but it is def a wine bar. They have some nibbles, but they’re more just a small snack allowing you to refocus on the wine.
A great place to go on a date or with friends. I would definitely go again!

Quelle belle trouvaille! Accueilli en français par Christopher, l’un des propriétaires, qui a pris le temps pour me faire une dégustation! Un vrai bar à vin au centre-​ville dans un quartier avec plein de caractère. Choix varié et abordable avec une table très appétissante!

This establishment has my full attention. Wine bar and close to home? Check and check! I love wine. I love the snobbiness of wine. I also like cheese and wine. Midfield wins on all fronts. The owners are delightful, knowledgeable and interested in pleasing you as the customer. They serve many wines by the glass and they will let you taste a number on your way to finding the right glass.
Crowd is not the roaring Ossington bunch but a more mature, conversational bunch. The warm wood tones of the small but cozy main room feels European and timeless. It can get loud when packed but never loses the feel of being an intimate space where you can hear your friends.
Food is something they’re still working on it seems. When they first opened there was the rumour they were looking for the right chef. Whether or not that’s the case, they’ve always offered delicious cheese /​charcuterie plates and sometimes oysters on the half shell as well. Which is generally more than enough for me. If I’m going for dinner, I choose somewhere with a larger offering but I don’t mind if the MIdfield never expands their food menu. I think it’s just about perfect as is.
Great for a first date, business meeting, group of friends/​colleagues, parents…
I wish nothing but success for this tavern and hope it remains the sincere, intimate space it has been since it opened.
**TIP: cash only. But there’s a bank machine across the street.

The first thing I noticed when I walked into this place was the smell: a combination of feet, cheese, and cleaning products. Not good! It was relatively empty for a Saturday night but that could have just been the rain. Our server handed us a drink menu to share between 5 people! What?! So we asked for another one. Some of us ordered cocktails which were delicious BUT they did not come with straws and when we asked for some, we were told that the place does not carry straws. How can a restaurant that serves icy cocktails in tall glasses not have straws? Finally, after acclimating to the unpleasant smell and settling on several rounds of drinks, we received the bill which was stated: $ 40. But we had like a million drinks! So being the honest people that we are, we inquired and the server admitted that he incorrectly tallied the total which was actually $ 115. To top it all off, this place is CASH ONLY. You are a wine bar that serves food and you are cash only? Sorry, that will not fly. The one good thing about this spot was the DJ who also plays at Union near the Gladstone. Also, to be fair, the drinks were very good — they just weren’t drinkable without a straw! I hope this place gets their stuff together. It’s a really nice spot in a great location.

When I went back, they remembered me! (In a good way!) They are also extremely knowledgeable about their wines and food. I love it.

VIBE
We took a bet to see what the bar was previously: my wine companion won because it used to be a Portuguese sports bar. You can kind of tell because the floors haven’t been changed. And yeah, it’s a bit dark and dim in here but I kind of like the non-​chalance about it. I also like the display of the wine bottles in cages and the chalk boards everywhere.
We were lucky to be at the back and have one of the chalkboards in front of us but I’d suggest to have menus because it’s hard (and somewhat awkward) to be looking at the top of the room for your wine.
The owners are on it and are very friendly and cool. They also know their stuff.
At around 9:30−10 on a Saturday night, it wasn’t terribly busy. Then a group of a few people who were having birthday parties and the hovering over our table for our two chairs started. It was a bit annoying and we’re lucky we got there when it wasn’t busy. But when it was, it was a buzzy, fun vibe. That said, people were in their own groups. This doesn’t seem like a place where you can talk to your neighbour.
WE DRANK
There are no flights here (which I really hope they incorporate in the future) but the glasses are very generous and range from $ 11 to $ 14.
We were offered to split our glasses. First up was The Beajoulis Villages 2008/​Domaines des Nuglies ($ 11). I liked the smoothness of it. Wine partner felt it wasn’t punchy enough.
The Tempranillo Monastrell Red 2008 ($ 11) from Bilogia, Valencia offered that robust flavour punch we were looking for. It was sassy! I highly recommend.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
I am really digging this stretch of Dundas West (you have This End Up, The Federal Reserve and the Midfield all pretty much beside each other). I would come here on a quieter night like a Thursday if you don’t want to feel boxed in. Almost a full goal! If you want «frou frou» and «ambiance,» go to Cocktail Bar or Crush. That said, there needs to be more places like this in the city.

Good food, good wine, good people.
For both food and drink, the menu is listed on chalkboards. I appreciate this because the menu changes regularly and you know what you are getting is fresh.
The charcuterie and cheese are delicious and very generously portioned.
I recommend trying the featured wines, as have had good luck with those.
The owners are really nice and friendly and make you feel comfortable. Recommend.

I guess my first question to the people of Midfield is: what are you trying to sell me? Because I’m not buying it.
My friend and I were very excited to try a new place. We both love wine so the prospect of adding another place to the rotation was exciting.
Look, I’m not a snob. I ate at Mexitacos beforehand so it was not like I was expecting some highballer evening.
That being said… Midfield really disappointed and fell short on the décor and ambience department. Which is a shame because the wine is great and the people who run it seem nice enough.
Personally, I think going to have a drink should be an experience (see Cocktail Bar). I mean this is wine afterall. And when you open a place, you have the responsibility to your customers to tick all those boxes: service, décor, and food/​drink. Otherwise, don’t bother. There are some nice elements like the wine cabinet at the back and the wine shelves at the bar. And then it gets confusing. It doesn’t seem like the owners hired/​consulted anybody for design. Were those tables inherited from the previous owners because they don’t make sense. The light fixtures are nice and would provide warmth if it were not for the bright traffic lights streaming in through the massive BARRED windows! I could not tell you how distracting it was to keep looking at my friend’s bar shadowed face. Ok, I get that we’re on busy Dundas… but do I really need to feel like I’m in the middle of it? It is anything but warm here… which is what I wanted and expected.
And be prepared to get up and walk around or crane your neck. Wine lists are posted in 2 different corners of the room and along a column in the middle.
Pricepoints are pretty standard around $ 9, $ 12, and $ 14 a glass. A nice thing is how everything is available by the glass so if there’s something you’re really interested in, you don’t have to buy a bottle before you try it. My friend had a beautiful Reisling from New Zealand and I had the spicy Verduno. To be fair, if it were only based on the wine, I’d probably give it 4 stars but as I mentioned before, this experience falls short as a whole. And actually that pisses me off because I really wanted to like it.
I don’t doubt that Midfield will do well. Because it does have really lovely wine and maybe that’s all that matters. For me, if I’m to shell out $ 14 a glass, I expect more. So I guess I’ll keep looking for some other cozy place to drink my wine.

Do you love wine, but find Toronto’s many frou frou wine bars so unappealing that you’re almost turned off by the words «wine bar» themselves? Well, that’s the case for this twenty-​something wino and I don’t think that I’m alone in feeling this way. While wine is often my drink of choice to order at restaurants with meals and to bring to parties, I would hardly consider going to a wine bar for a casual drink (or five). That’s really a shame, ’cause as I learned from my recent visit to Midfield, a wine bar doesn’t have to be stuffy at all!
I was recently introduced to Midfield as «the new wine bar on Dundas» by a friend as we walked in search of a bar to sit down and chat at. Co-​owners Giuseppe and Christopher were incredibly friendly and guided us in figuring out the overhead wine list with a sampling that was to help us decide on a wine that we really should have had the foresight of ordering a bottle or two of (versus by the uncountable glasses).
When we arrived at about 10pm on the crisp weekday evening, it was nice and quiet, but not too empty. By closing time, we were the last two people barely standing. The bill even came with our names thoughtfully handwritten on it. I look forward to coming back for more fine hospitality and to try other bottled offerings as well as some of Midfield’s nibbles.