Ann Kim, Peter Jensen and Jed Smith are at it again. The talented team from Donna’s, a neighbourhood favourite for tasty fare and great wine, have come together once more to open a new tapas-style bar, The Golden Peacock.
Officially opened on Nov. 22, the inspiration for the design of the bar is a combination of the name itself, and a nod to the previous Portuguese sports bar that occupied the space before. Inside, you’ll find floor-length, shimmering gold curtains and plenty of peacock-inspired decor, like colourful ornamental vases and statues. The walls are painted deep navy and mustard yellow, and one accent wall features an array of gold peacock feathers.
The menu is mainly designed for drinking and is loosely inspired by European bars where there are small bites to go with your drinks. So, while you won’t find hearty mains like steak frites or fish and chips, you can expect to see light bites that are perfect for nibbling on in good company, like marinated lupini beans, toasted fava beans, Portuguese cheese, grilled octopus, grilled beef hearts with a green chilli sauce, French fries, and breaded mushrooms. There’s even dessert — the Banana-Split Dog, served with ice cream and peanuts and drizzled in chocolate and strawberry.
For those who are looking for a quick dinner, there are two burger options: The Peacock Burger, served with lettuce, pickles, onions and tomato; or the vegetarian Eggplant Burger served on a muffuletta bun with onion, lettuce, tomato and mayo.
“We’re aiming to keep the menu the same for the most part to create a local and reliable bar for the neighbourhood,” says Smith. “We also serve food until close, so as to offer a tasty food option for other restaurants in the city that are closing up later.”
Looking to quench your thirst? Bar Manager Sophie Weinstein is the sole creator of a wide list of signature house cocktails, like a pisco sour, however, she’s also able to whip up any cocktail you fancy. The Golden Peacock also has a concise list of wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Golden Peacock is located at 2102 Dundas St. W. and is open Sunday to Thursday from 5 p.m. until 12 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m.