As the Blue Jays approach a nail-biting phase on their journey at the World Series, some Toronto restaurants are seeing their tables fill up with cheering fans that are bringing in the energy despite dropping temperatures.
Toronto is still vibrating with excitement as the Jays advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016.
Read More
On Wednesday, the team is set to have their highly-awaited Game 3 against the Seattle Mariners; and with their scoreboard marking 2-0 against the Toronto team, this could be a decisive moment for its World Series journey.
With many fans now looking for a chance to cheer on the team and share their excitement and tension with other baseball lovers, Toronto restaurants screening the games have been seeing an increase in patrons and energy on site.
Cameron Sokalski, General Manager at Score on Queen, a sports bar at 298 Queen St. W., tells Now Toronto that with temperatures dropping in October, it is common for restaurants to see a slowdown in business. But with the Jays hitting the field and fans looking for a watch party, this year not even the cold is keeping them away from tables.
“We’ve got TVs on the patio, and even on the cold nights, people are out there watching. So, it’s nice to keep people excited about something in this transitional time of the season,” he said.
According to him, besides full tables, the fans have also been bringing in the energy to the venue, dressing up, chanting and interacting with each other.
“Everybody’s really excited. A lot of blue, a lot of jerseys. We always have the sound on for the game, so it’s really loud here. A lot of TVs, so we got people screaming at the TVs for good and bad reasons.”
The energy is similar at another local restaurant, St. Louis Bar & Grill at 313 Bremner Blvd., where server and bartender Leeann Shields says tables fill up with loud and excited fans hours before games even begin.
“The whole patio goes from empty to full in about 20 minutes because we always have a long lineup. [If] the game is at eight o’clock, by four o’clock, there is a huge wait list,” she said.
“It’s just this great energy. We always put the volume super, super loud. Obviously, the game is on every channel. And then we also have the music outside as well on the patio, so people that walk by can hear the game, so that’s pretty cool as well… I’m loving the vibe so far,” she added.
Shields says she has seen fans from Toronto as well as some from all over the world joining in to watch the games, including visitors from Scotland and the Philippines.
Similarly, Steam Whistle Brewing Vice President of Marketing Catherine Oppedisano says the brewery on 255 Bremner Blvd. has also been filled with patrons from across the country and all over the city, who she feels really adds to the community vibes.
“There is a buzz in the city, all month long our building is filled with jerseys and gear. We are seeing both locals and fans from across the country come together here at the Roundhouse. There’s a real sense of community. People are proud of the team and the city and we feel really lucky to be a part of that shared excitement, we are right next door to the action!” she said.
DEALS AND PERKS
With the Jays moving up for a chance to enter the World Series, many local restaurants are offering a place to join game watch parties, as well as some game-day deals and discounts.
Read More
Sokalski says that Score on Queen doesn’t have any Jays-specific deals up, but says that the restaurant already offers its standard daily specials, happy hour and late-night deals, which are worth the visit.
The restaurant is also taking reservations for larger tables to accommodate fans.
“We have 18 TVs inside and six TVs outside, so it’s hard to find a place where you can get that kind of viewing, and places that’ll offer the value and quality of service to be kind of branded all together,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shields, who says St. Louis has some of the best happy hour deals in the city, with beer, wine, mixed drinks, snacks and sliders going for $4 before 5 p.m. and after 9 p.m.
The restaurant has also installed an island at the centre of the venue, where customers who have joined the waitlist can wait for a table while ordering drinks and watching the game.
“The vibes are good, everything’s on the TV always, our food comes out fast, we have sufficient staff. We have a really good thing going here,” she said.
Meanwhile, at Steam Whistle, fans can enjoy five-dollar pints during the first inning of the game, which they hope could be an extra incentive to have fans join the party.
“There’s nothing quite like watching a game surrounded by fellow fans, the energy is contagious! Every big hit feels amplified when you are in a crowd that’s living and breathing the same excitement,” Oppedisano said.
“Not to mention, having fresh local beer on tap and food hot off the grill makes it a pretty unbeatable game day setup.”
