WVRST

Toronto sometimes seems like an endless sprawl of ever changing restaurants. It can be tough for those who live outside the city to keep informed about the places that are currently trending downtown, let alone make it out to any of them.  I try my damnedest to stay in the loop, but sometimes it takes months for me to make it to TO to head to a hot spot.  Sunday gave us a great opportunity to head to WVRST, self described as a "sausage hall and other wonders".  Inspired by German beer halls, WVRST features the staple communal tables and is modernized by 'order at the counter' style service and loft like decor.

Take a walk up to the cashier in the far corner of the building to place your order.  The menu is strikingly simple, in essence one has three choices; sausage, fries, sausage and fries.  Tough choice, I know, but please don't feel limited!  They have 16 varieties of sausage to choose from, including game meat, vegetarian and heritage breed pork. All of the meat options are gluten free.  They serve your choice of sausage in one of two styles; on a bun (with 2 free condiments!) or 'currywurst' (over a slab of rough bread with curry sauce).  Even the fries have options, select regular or duck fat fried, then plain or dirty.  Dirty fries come smothered in fried peppers, caramelized onions and WVRST special sauce, while regular come with a complementary side of dip (of which there are over 10 types).  For those of you keeping track, that's actually 165 menu items based on combinations of sausage servings, fry servings and sausage and fry servings alone, yet to mention the toppings and dips!  All the sausages are made in house, meticulously seasoned and cooked to doneness, not dryness.  My rabbit sausage was juicy and a touch spicy, the duck and foie gras juicy and aggressively foie flavored, and the Tamworth pig well seasoned if lacking a little bit of fat.  The duck fat fries are exceptionally tasty, and stay crispy well beyond the length of time it takes you to finish your sausage.

WVRST also features a beer list that will make even connoisseurs happy.   Rare and large bottle formats from Cantillon, Hopfenstark, La Trou du Diable, Panil and Bruton.  Draft offerings from all the popular Ontario craft breweries, German staples, and more exclusive goodies like Bellwoods, House Ales, Dieu du Ciel and Urthel.  We thoroughly enjoyed rare 100% Organic Geueze from Cantillon, and Hopfenstark Saison Station 7, but excuse my brief notes, it's hard to eat and record these things.

Cantillion 100% Organic Geueze 

350 mL bottle. Aromas of chamomile, lemon zest, fresh cut grass and yeasty brett funk. Bone dry with plenty of sourness and a distinct barnyard aftertaste with a touch of hops. Complex and well built.

Hopfenstark Saison Station 7
750 mL bottle. Pours golden with a thin white cap. Aromas of herb, tea, earthy minerality and yeasty spice. Mild and well balanced with old world hop bitterness. Medium bodied with full carbonation.

A great place to stop for a quick bite to eat, or an interesting destination for an afternoon of beer sampling!

Dinner for three with rare beer, draft cider and tip $130.

WVRST
wvrst.com
609 King St. W
Toronto