Duke's Refresher Riverside in Toronto
709 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1, Canada
About
Duke's Refresher serves up over 40 glorious beers on tap, mouth-watering dishes, fun weekly events, and a staff like no other in the city. At Duke's, the music's loud, the conversation can get out of hand and you'll be treated like a regular the minute you walk in the door - because if you're not already one, we're thinking you will be soon. Life's too short to drink basic beer. Step it up and come to Duke's.
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Went in and got Mac and cheese balls, the meat lovers pizza and the truffle sliders split among three of us. Staff were perfectly friendly and food arrived in good time. The decor was not to my taste, very busy and distracting. The seating upstairs was pretty uncomfortable and mismatched. The music was also very loud. So we moved downstairs. The food was pretty awful. The meat lovers pizza was extremely greasy, with cheese that looked pretty poor quality. The amount of meat on the meat lovers was disappointing- pepperoni and tiny bits of sausage. The texture of the dough was good! More like garlic bread than typical pizza dough. The truffle sliders had onions that were charred instead of caramelized- so there was no sweetness to them. They were very dry. At best a bite tasted like nothing and at worst like cardboard. The Mac and cheese bites were the least appetizing - the Mac and cheese was soggy in the middle in a very unpleasant way. After the grease of the previous two portions I couldn’t finish my ball. My stomach was churning when we left and I needed a tums to calm it down.
We went specifically for the festive Christmas dive bar. The food and drinks are good & for the type of establishment, they are well priced. Our servers were great. Huge downside was the music .. not sure how they want to market and lure people in for a Christmas dive bar but play no Christmas music, or any basic top 40s - we don’t even know how to classify the music that was played, some form of heavy metal or rock? Music is very important to us for the ambience.
Such a great addition to this area! Friendly staff, good food, and lots of TVs. The burgers were well above the quality of a typical sports bar. Drinks are a little pricier than other bars around, but it's worth it for the quality of food. The only improvement could be the washroom situation, where there was not a pleasant smell in the basement - but this was not an issue on other visits. Overall, this is still 5 stars and is going to be a new staple. Looking forward to many more visits.
Duke's (Yonge/Gerrard) was our first date spot, so it was only fitting that we had our wedding rehearsal dinner here a few weeks ago! Thank you Dave and his team for the great service, awesome food, and cozy atmosphere. We especially appreciated having the whole upstairs area all to ourselves. It had ample space and seating, making it easy for our party of ~18-20 to eat and mingle. And are you kidding me with the Mean Girls reserved sign?! As someone that quotes that movie on the daily, that was truly *chef's kiss*👌. We've got nothing but love for Duke's, and can't wait to spend future date nights at this new spot. :)
We were really excited to try this place since it’s walking distance from our place, and they had a half-price pizza promotion! The atmosphere was great—really good vibes—and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. We ordered drinks, calamari, and two pizzas. The drinks and calamari arrived in a reasonable time, but the pizzas took about 45 minutes. We were hoping they’d be worth the wait, but unfortunately, the pizza dough was tough, stale, and overcooked. My friend even said his teeth hurt after a few bites. Not the best start to the long weekend. Edit: Dave (their General manager) invited us back for a second chance. It was a complete turnaround from our bad experience. We all had a great time! Compared to last time where we only started eating an hour in. We were already done eating after an hour because the food was really good! That steak and Mushroom poutine was definitely the star of the show. Second chances matter! We will definitely be back!
The place has a good collection of curious items, which is fun to see. The service was very good. We went on Sunday close to the end of brunch time, so they offer both menus, what was amazing. The food was ok.
Casual family dinner on the rooftop patio. Excellent service and food. Server was well informed and gave great advice when we were deciding between certain dishes. All of our meals arrived hot and at the same time. We shared the calamari and Oklahoma sliders as our appetizers. Our mains were margherita pizza, Caesar salad, the woody burger with sweet potato fries and the jalapeño popper dip.
Came here for a large gathering and I love the vibes of this place! They have a nice event space upstairs that I feel could comfortably host about 35-40 ppl (not sit-down) in a casual mingling type of cocktail event. There was interesting retro decor and the server was very nice. I only had a few items of finger food and one mixed drink, they were not bad. I felt perhaps the drink was a bit diluted since it was supposed to have 4 different alcohol, but i could only faintly taste the alcohol. Nevertheless, i like the vibes of this place and it’s a nice place to chill.
Updated: After a discussion with Dukes were now more familiar with the concept theyre aiming for- which is a more adult atmosphere- so no one underage after 9. I have not been to another Dukes to know that this is their concept. So now that both I and the staff are fully updated, we know to visit before then. My opinion is its probably a tad too early. Weve figured out what they do well (wings/fries/Chicken sandos/Burgers) and what needs a bit of help..so we know what to and what not to get. That said, we enjoy it for a casual night out. I will agree, as noted by others, the wings are a tad pricey. Makes more sense to get the 2lbs vs the 1lb (portions do seem small). Theyll need a few things to draw the night time crowd in in this sleepy neck of the woods...hopefully they figure it out and get there. Kid-friendliness: Not family friendly after 9pm.
Went a few times now, and the staff are always very friendly. Yousuf served us the other day and took awesome care of us, very attentive and good recs. Being a bar, pizza was surprisingly better than expected. Highly recommend the Dukes!
All the chicken sandwiches are amazing.
They ran out of Guinness
We went there on a Friday evening and took advantage of their pizza promotion. The food was good, coming from a pub kitchen. The service was nice and friendly. There were lots of families with little kids.
Food was better than expected. Great vibes for the Christmas season! Tons of variety for drinks. Our server, Yousef, had great recommendations. We forgot to provide our free pizza voucher this time but, that s all the more reason go again.
Great spot. Service and staff were very nice. Music was also excellent. Fun scene.
No premier league? Hard pass. Went to catch a game, had to wait too long for a supervisor to get the TVs going. Only for us both to find out that the corporation behind Duke s decided to save money and not get a subscription to show the games. Kind of embarrassing the staff thought they could show the game, if they knew up front I would have happily went to another bar, however ended up wasting time and missing a chunk of the game. Can t blame the staff though, I too would have expected Duke s to be able to show premier league games, especially since it portrays itself as sports bar of sorts. At the end of the day, it s a decent corporate bar. Good drink specials. But big miss on not using that corporate budget to get a subscription to show some premier league games. What a shame.
We recently celebrated our daughters 25th birthday at Dukes Refresher - Riverside, and it was nothing short of exceptional. The upper level, adorned with a festive holiday theme and twinkling lights, created an enchanting ambiance that set the perfect tone for the evening, truly adding a magical touch to the celebration. The evening started on a high note with delicious apps and perfectly crafted cocktails. The service, however, stole the show. Dave and his team Yusuf, Sarah, and Phil (apologies if we ve misspelled any names) went above and beyond to ensure our group had an unforgettable experience. Every request was met with a genuine smile, and their attentiveness never wavered. From the seamless coordination to the warm hospitality, it was evident that the staff truly cared about making our event special. Everyone in our party left raving about the incredible food, drinks, and service. A big thank you to Dukes Refresher for hosting such a memorable celebration we couldnt be happier! Highly recommend for any special occasion or simply a great night out. Mary and Pat
The brunch here is fire! The home fries are maybe the best I ve ever had.
Everything is so perfect
I was in on the weekend and the bar was freezing which led to me wearing my winter jacket for the duration of my stay. Washroom didn t have hand soap available either Music selection and drinks were good.
Came here with a group of 10ish people, great service and all the food was excellent. I had the nashville hot chicken and it was excellent. Tasted similair to true nashville style chicken that ive only found in nashville itself. Would / will be eating that again.
Advertise a happy hour special but then charge full price. Have been several times. Disappointed they don t try to honour that and build a local following. That would help them build a strong base. But they have missed that and many other local venues offer a better vibe and service. Check out all the other good spots that are steps away.
Stopped in last night for impropu margs and nachos ! Had the best time ! A friend and I were staying at the hotel across the street and felt like late night food before calling it for the day. Though we were hoping for pizza (they were sold out) we had amazing nachos, tasty margs, a fun atmosphere, and great service! A really welcome end to our eve ! If we lived in town, wed be back !
Great service from Yousef! Cool retro decor and vibes
Come here pretty frequently as it is so close, the food is solid pub food with a couple stand out dishes. (chicken fingers are quite good here) The vibe is very nice with good music and a great atmosphere, servers always seem friendly and I have not had one bad experience so far with the service. The prices for some of the dishes (not all) is a little bit high in my opinion but you wont find much cheaper within Toronto as everything is a little pricey around the city. Drink selection is good with a solid amount of beers on tap, they also do trivia night and live music some nights so you always can get something different depending on the day. they have tons of seating with an outdoor patio that is very nice, they also have some couch seating that is very nice for a casual drink with friends. A good place to hangout with friends for a quick drink and or sit down and have a good meal. 9/10 a great addition to the neighborhood.
Nice looking bar but you go and you sit, and no one comes to you. Was not busy at all, maybe one table was occupied and 5-6 at the bar. We sat at side tables near the bar, watched the server just chat with colleagues, tried to wave him down, waited 10 mins then left as there are many alternatives around.
Much needed bar on Queen E, lots of space, good food and great vibe.
Really enjoyed our visit to the new space. Great looking - most importantly great customer (enthusiastic) service and food/drinks! Decided to give the new space a visit over a few other choices glad we did!
Went in for Trivia on Tuesday at 7pm. Had a great time. The host, Dave, was charming and funny as always. Fun staff all around. Venue has a ton of natural light and funky decor, lots to take in while you enjoy a craft beer. Food was delicious. The chicken is always great there, but the Mac & cheese balls were what surprised us the most. A definite recommend!
Bless her heart, but our server just did not care.
Their Espresso Martinis are really good!
Truffle fries are so efffingggg good. 10\10 recommend
Absolutely one of the worst places to grab a drink in Toronto. They dont want to play any sports. The prices are insane and the staff have zero clue what hospitality even means. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME. I never post negative reviews, but this place sucks.
Had high hopes. Good service. Fun decor. Expensive. Bland food. Tiny portions.
Great burger. So much character, a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Fantastic & accomodating service from Aarnay!
Excellent food. Took our small kids and they were super understanding. Loved the vibe - Superman and 90s/2000s music videos were playing. Music was a little loud, but quieter upstairs and on the patio.
Good food, good service, and the atmosphere is definitely a lot more chill than at the other Duke s, which I really like. Went to trivia on Tuesday and I ll definitely be back. We were inside because of trivia, but the patio looks really nice so I ll definitely have to try that out sometime.
Great atmosphere, great cocktail prices, and great calamari
TRIVIA REVIEW: The trivia started late and the questions were on the easier side. It s nice to have the last place team pick out a topic for the next game. This place is kind of expensive.
Amazing food and service. Yousef and Sarah are the best!!
My friend and I stopped by there on Saturday before our concert at the Opera House, because the show was pushed from 8pm to 10pm. We walked to the lights at Jarvis, thinking about going across the street to the first pub we really saw. As soon as we got the the corner, we saw Dukes and knew we have to go in. Those couches at the front. Perfect. 6 7 Then we met Cyrus (I hope Im spelling his name right). He was one of is not the best bartenders I have ever had. His amazingly positive attitude, knowledge of the menu and attentiveness, is literally unmatched.l, no Yeah, the place was awesome, but I would literally come back, just to see him again. Thanks for an amazing first experience there. Hope to see you all again soon.mf
Good location, sliders are great! 5 bucks during happy hour. I ll be back!
Glad to have a new spot in the neighbourhood. Place has great vibes and good pub food.
Awesome spot, super cool vibe inside. Good music, good food, great place to watch a game. Lots of drink deals and happy hour as well. Super friendly staff. Great for the neighbourhood!
I m sad to share this negative of a review, but I want to be honest. When I saw there was a new restaurant opening up in the neighbourhood, I was excited. When I heard Duke s was opening this week I knew I wanted to try it out ASAP so I did. Unfortunately, this first experience was not good and dampened my mood immediately. I know it s early days, but there s already a location in St. Lawrence Market so you think they would know a bit better. Here are my issues currently: - Have someone at the door to greet customers when they come in and get them menus. When I came in I was told just to sit somewhere and it took me 10-15 minutes to be seen by my server and given menus. - Have more attentive staff. My server was nice and all, but it seemed like no one had any idea what drinks were what at the bar and being brought only one drink and meal to the table at a time doesn t seem efficient. We also got asked if we would like to order food and when we said Yes the server just walked away. It also took me over 10 minutes after ordering my drink to receive that drink and I just watched it sitting on the bar while the server sat on the iPad. They seem inexperienced and too busy staring at their iPads to have interactions and check on customers. - The food was also just okay. For the prices, I felt like my meal was on par with fast food. I m not expecting a Michelin Star restaurant experience, but with the competition in the neighbourhood it definitely should be better. Overall, it wasn t the experience I was hoping it would be and I think there should have been more preparation for the opening (e.g. soft opening, more training and planning, etc.) because it seems like a logistic mess in its current state. I saw numerous people come in and leave after not being acknowledged for too long. There s a lot of competition around and some improvements definitely need to be made if they want to thrive. I hate being negative so I will say I do like the atmosphere with the interior design and the staff did seem friendly enough so that s a plus. It has promise and I ll visit again I m sure, just not for many months.
Great atmosphere, attentive service and one hell of a GM. Dave(GM) and his crew have seriously done it. Highly recommend their wings and poutine.
Amazing spot
Great vibe and love the decor.
Great time, space and food. Been twice this week with a 4 year old. Very family friendly!!
Vegetarian options: Not really Kid-friendliness: No kids menu Food : 4/5 |
Went to Dukes for the first time. Pour a decent Guinness. The chicken tenders are $20 before tax for 5 pieces. Pretty steep if you ask me. Beers are all $10, and casamigos tequila sodas are $15 each. The price point blew me out of the water here and the only time I think it s worth showing up is happy hour. The food was fine but heavily breaded. I will be returning only if they expand their specials menu or if it s happy hour. It was $100 for me to watch the jays game for 90 minutes. Won t be making that mistake again!
First time here and it didn t disappoint. Great service. Great place to watch the game. Great renegade chicken sandwich. Very happy it s open in the neighbourhood!!
We were excited to have Duke s open in the neighbourhood and went last night for dinner and to watch the Jays game. Similar to other reviews, the food is very overpriced and not good. Wings were $23 - six wings came and they were honestly gross. So deep fried that the meat was hard and tasteless, we each had one and left the rest. We also got the quesadillas which were unnecessarily greasy but fine, but also not worth $21 (with chicken), the serving was very small. There are so many fantastic, delicious and well priced restaurants in the neighbourhood, this just isn t it.
A great new addition to the area! I stopped in for Tuesday trivia and loved the chill but fun vibe created by Dave and the team. Cyrus on the bar was wonderful, the food was great, and service was quick. Will definitely be back with friends for weekend brunch on the patio :)
