The World Cup only rolls around every four years, but when it does, multiculti Hogtown goes soccer-mad. Here’s where to experience the beautiful game in all its glory on home turf while scarfing the national dish and necking the local tipple whenever somebody – anybody! – scores a goal.
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9:45 am MEXICO vs SOUTH AFRICA
There’s always a party at El Jacal (1056 Bloor West, at Havelock, 416-244-4447. eljacalito.ca), but especially so during the World Cup. Starting Friday, when Mexico meets host South Africa for the opening match, Antonio Romero and chef/wife Luz Adriana’s terrific Mexican cantina fires up its three plasma sets and a fourth projection screen to catch every game of the month-long soccer tournament, even the early-morning matches.
“Well, maybe not if it’s North Korea or the Ivory Coast,” says Romero. “But Chile or Paraguay, no problem.”
CBC broadcasts the games live at 7:15 am, 9:45 am and 2:15 pm, and runs repeats 24/7 on its sister Bold net. And since the city is allowing restos and bars to serve booze from 10 am, the festivities start early. Really early.
“Whenever Mexico wins, we’re going to have a really special celebration,” Romero adds. “We’ll show the game again at 7 pm, then have live Mexican music, prizes and discount food till 11.”
EAT: Pozole, the hangover-curing hominy ‘n’ pork soup dressed with iceberg lettuce, Spanish onion, red radish and sliced avocado, then splashed with eye-opening hot sauce.
DRINK: Cheladas – Dos Equis and lime juice served margarita-style in chilled glasses rimmed with salt and pepper.
2:15 pm FRANCE vs URUGUAY
Cheer on the much-maligned 98 champs, who take on the Uruguayan underdogs, at Marcel’s St Tropez cafe and upstairs Zazou Lounge (315 King West, at John, 416-591-8600, marcels.com). Don’t mention the Ireland qualifier.
EAT: Moules aux epinards, a dozen and a half mussels steamed in white wine and spinach, sided with frites and sopped up with flaky French bread.
DRINK: Magnums of Krug champagne if they win, but French Kiss martinis – 2 ounces of vodka spiked with Grand Marnier – come the inevitable.
7:15 am KOREA vs GREECE
Koreatown’s only 24-hour Seoul food resto, the Owl of Minerva/Boo Ung Ee (700 Bloor West, at Clinton, 416-538-3030), may be a modest mom-‘n’-pop operation, but its spicy, substantial payloads cause major meltdowns.
EAT: Gamjatang, a surefire hangover cure of super-tender sections of pork spine and waxy potato slow-stewed goulash-style in chili-charged broth over rice noodles, dressed with diced scallion and fiery kimchee.
DRINK: Bottles of Soju, the saccharine vodka-like 45-proof rotgut the menu claims is the equal of five beers!
There are far fancier tavernas on the boulevard of broken plates, but only Zorba’s (681 Danforth, at Pape, 416-406-1212) sticks close to its Old World roots. Greektown doesn’t get much more down to earth.
EAT: A none-more-traditional Greek village salad tossed with crumbled feta, followed by textbook spanakopita.
DRINK: $4 shots of ouzo!
9:45 am ARGENTINA vs NIGERIA
Feel the spirit of the Pampas at Sky Ranch (2473 Dufferin, at Castlefield, 416-787-0491), a 100-seat family resto with roots in both Italy and the Argentine.
EAT: Grilled gaucho-style steak ‘n’ eggs with spicy chimichurri sauce.
DRINK: Glasses of Trapiche, the fruity Argentinian Malbec.
You can’t get any more authentic than a strip mall in Brampton. That’s where you’ll find MJ’s BBQ and Suya (361 Parkhurst Sq, unit 5, at Steeles East, 905-494-1003, mjsbbqandsuya.com), a superb Nigerian take-away known for its incendiary African ‘cue.
EAT: Skewers of suya, grilled kebab-like strips of beef, chicken, goat or fish rubbed with ground peanuts and chilies, served with raw onion and jollof rice.
DRINK: Emu, non-alcoholic palm juice. (Bring your own rum.)
2:15 pm ENGLAND vs UNITED STATES
A year-round haven for UK soccer fans, Jamieson Kerr’s Queen & Beaver (35 Elm, at Yonge, 647-347-2712, queenandbeaverpub.ca) gastro pub shifts into a full-on footie frenzy come the Cup, its first ever. Two floors, four large-screen TVs and proper English breakfasts will keep the crowds sorted.
EAT: Fish and chips, a humongous slab of ale-battered haddock, sided with lemon-thyme tartar sauce, chunky hand-cut chips and house-made ketchup.
DRINK: Jugs of Pimm’s #1 Cup, ice-chilled gin mixed with fruity lemonade.
9:45 am SERBIA vs GHANA
Who knew that south Etobicoke is the local Serbian Jersey Shore and that two-storey dance palace Zam (1340 the Queensway, 416-252-0170, zam.ca) is its Club Karma?
EAT: Colossal mixed grill platters – billed as “for two (serves four)” – of meat, meat and more meat.
DRINK: Shots of Slivovitz, the Balkan plum brandy.
2:15 pm GERMANY vs AUSTRALIA
A Swabian social club and 450-seat banquet hall, the Blue Danube (1686 Ellesmere, at McCowan, 416-290-6186, bluedanube.ca) throws one of the biggest World Cup bashes around. Lederhosen and Teutonic headgear optional.
EAT: Bismarck herring followed by Holstein schnitzel und strudel, fur der kinder bratwurst.
DRINK: Hacker Weissbier with Jagermeister chasers.
7:15 am NETHERLANDS vs DENMARK
Not only is this multi-level Yorkville sports bar the headquarters for Australian and Kiwi supporters, but Hemingways (142 Cumberland, at Avenue, 416-968-2828, hemingways.to) is also the de facto hang of the Dutch. No one knows why.
EAT: Eggs Benedict with hollandaise sauce.
DRINK: Any of 24 beers on tap but Danish Carlsberg.
2:15 pm ITALY vs PARAGUAY
Cafe Diplomatico (594 College, at Clinton, 416-534-4637, diplomatico.ca) has been synonymous with the Cup since back in the days when the matches were on radio. This time round, they’ll be showing the games on 10 large-screen TVs on the awning-covered patio and two even larger sets indoors.
EAT: Old-school pizzas topped with Italian sausage, mozzarella, green pepper, mushrooms and don’t-hold-the-anchovies.
DRINK: On tap, pints of Amstel-brewed Cafe Dip lager or imported Birra Dolomiti, the Pedavena pilsner.
7:15 am SLOVAKIA vs NEW ZEALAND
Though it now bills itself as a “fine food emporium,” the Prague (638 Queen West, at Palmerston, 416-504-5787, theprague.ca) will always be a Mitteleuropean deli at heart. The decor might be swankier, but the grub’s as rib-sticking as ever.
EAT: Halusky, spaetzle-like potato dumplings laced with sheep’s cheese, sauerkraut and spec.
DRINK: Golden Pheasant beer, a Slovakian pilsener.
9:45 am PORTUGAL vs IVORY COAST
Since long before Kensington was a hipster’s paradise, Amadeu’s (184 Augusta, at Denison Square, 416-591-1245) has been the true heart of the old Market. Where else does the artsy aristocracy rub shoulders with Azorean fishmongers and a rogues’ gallery of local colour, other than Harbour 60 of course?
EAT: Grilled Atlantic sardines sided with fried Lisboan potatoes and lupini beans, the latter more for throwing at the TV in disgust at the Swedish referee’s calls than eating.
DRINK: Sagres, the Portuguese lager.
2:15 pm BRAZIL vs NORTH KOREA
Now that both Brazilian Star and Cervejaria are shuttered, Rio 40 (1256 St. Clair West, at Boon, 416-654-6363, rio40restaurant.com) on the Corso Italia flies the flag for South American soccer.
EAT: Picanha, grilled Brazilian-style rump steak sided with rice pilaf, frozen fries and farofa.
DRINK: Caipirinhas, chilled cocktails of lime, sugar and fermented cachaca sugarcane.
9:45 am SPAIN vs SWITZERLAND
Sure, there’ll be countless Spanish-speaking spots where you can watch Spain play ball, but only cavernous Plaza Flamingo (423 College, at Bathurst, 416-603-8884, plazaflamingo.com) serves the grub. Huge projection TV, too.
EAT: From the exceptional daily $8.99 buffet, all-you-can-eat paella.
DRINK: Bottomless pitchers of sangria.
