What's the vibe?
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There's something a little unexpected about Macho Radio Bar. With a bumpin' patio out front and a row of vintage arcade games parked in back, Macho is every bit as fun as the 1978 Village People earworm it evokes. So what, exactly, is it doing on Fort York Boulevard, smack in the middle of City Place? According to Chef Guillermo Hebertson, the choice of location is all about supply and demand. Until Macho showed up, the neighbourhood was in short supply of real food options—you know, the kind where everything is actually made from scratch—and the locals demanded something with more of a Queen West vibe. Macho Radio Bar delivers, and then some. A mixed soundtrack of 90s pop, classic rock and some funky hits is a welcome departure from the city's usual soundtrack of nothin'-but-Drizzy; the appeal is pretty universal, so the crowd is a mixed bag. Expect suits, families, girls toasting nothing in particular with tequila, and everything in between.
What to drink?
In a word: tequila. The cocktail list is made for sharing, with an impressive selection of drinks available by the pitcher. If you go this route, opt for the Paloma. It's a crowd-pleasing concoction of grapefruit and lime, fresh and balanced enough to convert a former grapefruit-phobe. If you'd rather really taste the tequila, opt for the classic Tommy's Margarita, which comes complete with a serious hit of salt. More of a whisky buff? Try the Mezcal Old Fashioned; made with tequila's close cousin, it's smoky and just a touch sweet. Or if rum's more your thing, try the El Diablo. It's another long tequila drink, like the Paloma, but this one's made with ginger beer—kind of like a Mexican Dark and Stormy. There's also a solid list of sipping tequila if you're more hardcore, or the usual beer and wine if you're less...
What to eat?
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The menu is focused on small plates—the better to share with your cocktail pitchers, of course. For a restaurant in the Tex Mex genre, it's especially notable that vegetarians can cobble together a pretty solid meal. The calamari appetizer is a feat of culinary engineering: the batter's crunchy, not soggy, and you can actually taste the delicate squid. The mini tostadas with ceviche and avocado are fine dining calibre, a steal at $9. (If you're feeling less refined, go for the cheese bites—they're textbook drinking food, to be gobbled with a lot of beers and no shame.) Taco Tuesdays mean three for $10; be sure to order the pork belly, one of Chef Guillermo's faves. On the lighter side, he'd recommend the Santa Fe salad, but we loved the Verde Fresca. It's got kale and quinoa—just bear with us—and a lip-smacking hibiscus dressing we'd drink by the gallon. Whatever you order, expect a lot of fresh lime, cilantro and red chili for garnish.
Dinner and drinks for two: around $85
92 Fort York Boulevard; 416 623 2323, machoradiobar.com
