Posted by Jessica McLaughlin in pubs and bars, restaurant review on May 13, 2007 at 2:22 pm

Cadillac Lounge
1296 Queen Street West
416-536-7717
Lunch or dinner for two with beer, tax and tip: $40

It’s hard to miss Cadillac Lounge if you’re out walking along the Queen West strip of Parkdale, unless of course you find half a car mounted to the front of a building to be the norm. The inside of the small bar is packed with cozy leopard print/grandma’s best plastic-covered sofas, and rock and roll memorabilia is screwed onto the wall, but I usually walk right through there and straight back to the patio (part of it is even heated and open in the winter). The patio is huge and the Cadillac theme continues with a massive painting of a pink Caddy on one wall and a few Caddy-style seats scattered around. But mostly it’s your average patio, with beer banners and beer umbrellas and beer coasters – you get the idea.

When I lived in Parkdale, Cadillac Lounge was a regular haunt of mine, so when I decided to review it, I mentally prepared myself to be as objective as possible. And as I was reminiscing about the many, many meals I’ve enjoyed there (under the influence of a few too many beers or not), one thing came to mind: the place is remarkably consistent.

Over the years, I’ve mostly eaten Cadillac’s Club ($8.95), Cadillac Burger ($8.95), Cadillac Style Calamari ($9.95) or Yukon Gold Fries ($3.95) and they are always the same solid dish. It’s pub food at its best. I’ve never had the nachos there, but one of the girls I was with has the Veggie Nachos ($8.95) pretty much every time and she always enjoys them.

But Friday night when I was soaking up the last couple hours of the setting Parkdale sun, I threw caution to the wind and tried a new meal – Goat Cheese Pepper Wrap ($8.95). The Caddy isn’t big on presentation (not that I’m really looking for that from this place), so it appeared kind of blah on the plate. But it turned out to be exactly the right thing to pair with my cold glass of beer. The wrap was soft and easy to eat, even though it looked a little sloppy, and it wasn’t at all soggy – which can be an unfortunate consequence with so many wet ingredients in a sandwich. And the fries are among the best anywhere.

It’s almost a crime to get a meal at Cadillac Lounge and not get fries. They’re made with Yukon Gold potatoes and served with a Chipotle Aioli. That aioli is the kind of stuff midnight cravings are made of. I always feel just a little bit sad when I don’t order the fries – they’re really that good.

Okay, so you get the point, I’m a big fan of Cadillac Lounge. They’ve got a good selection of beer on tap and by the bottle. The food is consistent and as good as it gets for decent-priced pub-style dining. What else can you ask for? It’s not worth a trip from Scarborough or anything, but if you live anywhere remotely close, get your butt to Parkdale.