Weslodge, a recent addition to the King West restaurant strip, is the work of club kings Charles Khabouth and Hanif Harji. Known individually for their fervid approach to décor — La Société’s hand-tiled floor comes to mind — the pair paid no less heed to this latest project. Done up to the nines in taxidermy and tufted banquettes, this is the sort of place where one can spy on suits shrugging off the workday and clutches of single ladies sipping on classic libations.
The cocktail menu is devoted to prohibition-era beverages, including the tobacco Manhattan ($18) and the barrel-aged Negroni ($14). We, however, opted for the Streetcar ($15). A nod to the Sidecar, this cocktail features Calvados apple brandy and Amaro Montenegro along with lemon juice, house-made orange-spiced simple syrup and a dash of lemon oil. Bartender Elan Marks serves each cocktail in antique, crystal-cut glassware, transporting the imbiber into a rollicking past.
Weslodge Saloon, 480 King St. W., 416-274-8766
