Allen's

What is Allen's? Located at 143 Danforth Avenue in Riverdale, steps from Broadview station, Allen's is a storied Irish-American saloon and neighborhood institution founded by John Maxwell in 1987. The interior features rich woodwork, vintage lighting, a classic mahogany bar, and green-and-white checkered table coverings, while the rear unfolds into a sprawling, willow-shaded backyard garden where steaks and burgers sizzle over a live charcoal grill in warm weather.

Allen's Menu & What to Order The kitchen operates with farm-to-table transparency, sourcing naturally raised Ontario meats and noting the breed and feed of every cut. The definitive order is the in-house ground Limousin beef burger, butchered on-site and griddled to a true medium-rare, alongside comfort staples like Guinness-braised Dublin lamb shank and lager-battered halibut and chips. Wash it down with a draft from the 140-bottle beer list or explore an encyclopedic back bar featuring over 340 whiskies and extensive Ontario VQA wines.

Know Before You Go Indoor dining reservations can be made directly online or by phone, but the coveted garden patio is strictly first-come, first-served. Summer evenings fill up fast, so plan for an early arrival or opt for a weeknight supper under the trees. Broadview subway station is less than a two-minute walk away, making transit far simpler than hunting for street parking along the Danforth.