The corned beef served at the “Corned Beef House” at Adelaide and John Streets is arguably the best in town. Although the meat is from Montreal, I have never experienced a sandwich of this calibre in that city. The corned beef in New York and Miami is excellent, but it does not compare with the Toronto version served at this eatery. It is how the restaurant prepares the meat after it arrives in the kitchen that makes all the difference. I find it superb!
I began enjoying the food at the Corned Beef House in 1999, when it was located in an old 1870s house at the corner of Adelaide and Widmer Streets. Many a cold winter day I entered the cozy premises and sat at a table gazing out through the steam-up windows at the snow blowing across the roadway. The sandwich warmed my stomach as well as my soul. In summer, I sat in the back patio of the restaurant, under the shade of the mature trees, and wolfed down a thick sandwich. The restaurant has since relocated to the northeast corner of John and Adelaide Streets, in the building where the Avalon Restaurant was located.
The picture above is only a SMALL size sandwich, which I find very filling. However, a larger size is available, as well as one that is colossal. The meat is flavourful and moist, the always bread fresh. It is served with a dill pickle.
Believe it or not, this is the small size sandwich.
The Corned Beef House at its original location at Widmer and Adelaide Streets.
Water colour in the entranceway of the Corned Beef House that depicts the restaurant on its former site.
Cozy interior of the eatery, now located at the northeast corner of Adelaide and John Streets, and the sign outside it.
To view posts about other eating experiences in Toronto:
The outdoor wood-burning pizza oven on Tuesdays at Spadina and King Street.
Gusto restaurant on Portland north of King Street.
Weslodge on King Street, west of Spadina Avenue
Rectory Cafe on Ward’s Island
For other posts about happenings in Toronto and its history, follow the links:
The new Toronto aquarium, scheduled to open in the summer of 2013
Construction at Clarence Square on the east side of Spadina, north of Front Street.
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/09/04/up-date-on-construction-at-clarence-square-on-spadina-avenue/
The northwest corner of Queen and Spadina where a McDonald’s is located.
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/08/27/mcdonalds-at-queen-and-spadina-on-an-historic-site/
The history of the site of the Dragon City Mall on the southwest corner of Spadina and Dundas Streets.
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/08/25/torontos-heritage-the-southwest-corner-of-queen-and-spadina/
The historic home now occupied by Paul Magder Furs
The 1890s church of St. Margaret’s Anglican on Spadina south of Queen street. The church is now hidden from view by a modern addition across the front of it.
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/07/25/vanished-church-on-torontos-spadina-ave-is-rediscovered/
The iconic Balfour Building at Spadina and Adelaide Streets
House on Spadina south of Dundas Street – today it is difficult to believe that it was once a prestigious residential building
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/07/04/torontos-architectural-gems-is-this-one-a-joke/
The vanished underground men’s washroom from the early nineteenth century, located in the middle of the street at Queen and Spadina.
The site of the Consumers’ Glass Building at 239-241 Spadina, south of Dundas Street. It is presently under restoration.
To view the Home Page for this blog: https://tayloronhistory.com/