The Dora Keough - She's A Beauty!

Another one of my favourites, probably in my top five. And yes, I am partial to a pint of Guinness as you know so this, like McCarthys and McVeighs, is an Irish pub. Keep coming around if that's not your cup of tea though. I can't think of another one I'd go to after those three so we'll be moving a little farther afield from now on.

Again this is an east end place, right on the Danforth, just east of Broadview on the south side.

The Dora is a beauty, literally. In my mind, three things set this one apart.

1./ Not a TV to be found. Music is kept low. There's no distraction from the task at hand - talking. You walk into this pub on a Friday or Saturday night and there is a roar of conversation that greets you.

2./The setting. A front room. A snug with a private window to the long bar. A working stone fireplace in the corner. The small copper tables and stools scattered about. The dim lighting. Maybe I'm an oddball but I love the look of this place. She's gorgeous.

3./ The beer. There are better places of course but the Dora does pretty well with 13 on tap plus Strongbow Cider. You've got your staple Irish pints - Guinness (a good one), Kilkenny and Harp. You have Fullers London Porter, Kronenberg 1664, Erdinger Weissbreu and another German that escapes me right now. You have two house beers - DK Lager and a DK Light. You have your standard Keiths. And you have three locals - Steamwhistle, Tankhouse and Durham ESB. That's right - a locally brewed bitter. I'll take a stout any time but I've been to England twice now and I'll take a bitter when I can as well. And a locally brewed one? Get serious!

Worth a look right there, no?

Anyhow, the Dora also has what they call their Guinness Sessions Thursdays and Sundays. My first experience of it, I was having a pint when the place started getting crowded, especially where we were sitting. Next thing you know everyone around us is whipping out their fiddles and pipes and all that jazz. A lot of fun. I was in Kilkenny Ireland five years ago and we had the same type of experience. Anyhow if you like the aye diddle aye its worth a look. If not, stay away Thursday nights and Sunday late in the afternoon.

In the evenings, especially late in the week and on weekends, it gets pretty busy. This may be the most popular pub on the Danforth. I enjoy it even when it is busy but if you like your quiet then go right after work. You can read a book and have your pint then.

Oh and there's no wait staff - you better get up to that bar or you'll be waiting a while for that pint.