If high-energy sports bars aren’t really your thing, make your way to The Dock Ellis — a low-key sports bar located in the heart of Little Portugal, just west of Ossington and Dundas. Dock Ellis is named after the infamous baseball pitcher from the Pittsburgh Pirates who wore curlers in his hair and pitched an incredible no-hitter game while high on acid. Here you’ll find sports savvy fans that appreciate craft beer and sophisticated pub snacks in an unpretentious environment.
The Dock Ellis is a great sports bar to visit every night of the week and you can catch a game and try some impressive new takes on bar food, without being in a cliché sports bar setting. The menu is eclectic and features some refreshing twists on old pub classics like wonton nachos, marinated wings, and Dock Ellis’s signature fried chicken. Make sure to try the wings because they’re not only huge but served dry with an assortment of seasonings and dips. You can wash your meal down with one of the eight Ontario craft beers and ciders on draught or a cocktail, which will most likely be poured and served with loving care by a friendly, tattooed bartender.
If you don’t plan on watching whatever game is on, you can chat with other patrons at one of the large communal tables or check out the gaming options in the back of the bar. You can try your hand at foosball, pool, shuffleboard, and a maddeningly impossible pinball game that will most likely eat your money. If you come on a Friday or Saturday night and decide to stick around once the game ends, you can escape the sports crowd and make your way downstairs where you’ll find a huge party room with a full bar that’s conveniently located next to the washrooms.
