The Hole In the Toad Pub & Eatery

I used to go to the toad for birthdays and for drinks and dinner (for about 17 years). They used to have great food and friendly staff. Back in the early 2000’s their toad in the hole was well worth the wait. Now it’s bisquick mix and a sausage instead of yorkshire pudding and quality bangers and home made gravy. I liked thier new whiskey bar. Now some of the bar tenders are incredibly rude and the food is terrible. I ordered a beer that had a winning label on it and I tried to enter it in my phone right away and it said the prize was already claimed… I bought the beer, I should get the prize. Another time I had chicken fingers FULL of long blond hairs. When I brought them up to the bar the bartender gave me a really hard time and even tried to insinuate that I put the hairs into the fingers. They were baked into the breading and my hair is not blond. He said, «what do you want me to do about it?» Really rudely. This was the third time I’d sent back food because of really gross food prep in a year (different staff each time) I haven’t been back and I won’t be. It’s sad how far this pub has fallen.

Nice place in Osborne to hangout with friends. Beers are cheaper which is a plus, went there twice once for a birthday party and one to just hangout would recommend this place to hangout at. However the mens washrooms doesn’t have doors and is near the back door, so in winter there is a cold draft.

Stumbled upon this place wandering Osborne Village and they were closed for a private party, yet still let us come in for a drink! Friendly crowd, and a lively atmosphere; makes you feel you’ve walked into a scene from an authentic English pub. Best part were the random conversations with the friendly patrons that happened on the patio… gotta love being in ‘friendly Manitoba’!

Their service was slow. But live the crowd there, very friendly and easygoing. It’s a nice place to meet new people or hang out with your friends. But too busy on Saturdays love The band playing on Tuesday night

Nothing spectacular. Place to get drunk.
Seemed to me that the crowd was all under 25, so loud and rowdy.
Lot’s of girls going into the bathroom stalls together… and I don’t think its to help each other pee.

I found myself at the Toad on a Saturday afternoon ordering my first Little Scrapper pint. I thoroughly enjoyed the Scapper, but did find the bartender a little rude. The Toad seems a little divey to me and a bit run down. I remember the table feeling sticky underneath and there was a large hole in upholstery of my chair that looks like it’s older than I am.
I guess this is the pub everyone comes to hang out at during the weekends, but I kind of found it a little scary. Me thinks they need a renovation.
Fortunately I had wonderful company; thus, my mind was taken off the grime all over the place.

Went here before lunch on a Sunday. As expected from a pub at that time service was going to be slow along with the food (as it does need to defrost).
We ordered the Dusty Toad with house salad. It was a thick burger with their own twist, as expected from any decent pub. If you can’t get a good overpriced burger from a pub, i can’t really say much for the rest of their food.
Anyway it had fried onion rings and mushrooms which were great. Though it had some jalapenos which I didn’t like too much (forgot to ask them to remove it). It took quite a long time to make about 30 minutes I think.
I may still go back, though it does look dingy.

The Hole in the Toad is a hole in the wall bar — you know, the ones with character. The character — the toad — came with an accent! I would assume it is a British pub, as it has the British menu, but our bartender/​server was from Scotland, and we adored him! I had the fish and chips. Very classic battered fish and hand cut fries. The tarter served with it was good, but I also enjoyed the vinegar that sat on the table. My BF had the burger, which was really superb. Different, but really had good flavor. The bar had a good selection of beer and was refinished recently. The floral chairs should be the next to go. However, it was a jolly great place for lunch — even though we were the only ones eating there.

How many hours and conversations with different people have I had at the toad? Who knows.
It’s my general meet-​up or end-​up spot when enjoying a night out in Winnipeg.
Great bartenders, good beer prices, interesting folk. Although many awkward run-​ins with vague high school people I know but don’t.
«Hi Denise, how have you been?!»
«Good, how are you» (Racking my brain for name…)
«I’m great what do you do now? What school do you go to?»
«I’m a bum who dropped out of University and moved away»
«Oh… ok see ya around.»
I’ve never had the food here, or really seen anyone eating food here for that matter. But, I’ve seen the kitchen and it smells good.
–1 star for no freakin’ seats ever.