the rex

to celebrate december, the three purples went to the Rex for some smooth jazz and burger. you can seat yourself wherever you like (it will be difficult to find a table on busy nights). the general atmosphere was casual and comfortable but the seats were not. the arrangement of tables and the stage felt a bit awkward with terrible sight lines to the stage if you are not sitting directly in front of the stage. we sat in one of the booths. the view was not too bad and we were distant enough that we didn't have to shout to talk to one another. but then again, one of the reasons for going to places like the rex is to enjoy the live music, which they have all year around.excellent!

the general crowd on a thursday evening was averaged at mid to late 30s (if not 40s) with few older couples. cute. i suddenly had the thought that this is one of the places i can visit at any time at any age. my ears are not accustomed to jazz just yet, though occasional jazz here and there is pleasing. i am developing a strong taste for the deep sound of the contrabass. alex goodman quintet had nailed that. it soothes me. and of course cold beer had heightened the effect after a long day of work.

the menu is comprised of simple pub-grub with basic soup&salad, sandwiches, chicken wings (or jazz fingers) and burgers. the food is reasonably priced and so were the beer. they had okay selection of beer on tab and we ordered a pint of richards red each.

since we heard good things about the burgers here, ros and mimi ordered King Burgers ($8.75). it was served on a lightly toasted focaccia bun with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles. the burger was overwhelming to bite down (unless you got hippo-sized mouth) as it was quite big. the bun kept sliding off the lettuce. the patty was thick and well seasoned. you can add sautéed mushrooms, bacon or cheese at extra cost. this truly felt like a traditional burger.

i ordered the daily special, Chicken Caesar Wrap ($8.25). the portion was generous and the chicken was very crispy. the sauce was just the right amount as some caesar wraps can have too much which will just make the pita soggy and overpower the flavour. i wished though it had more romains. i was surprised to find croûtons stuck in there too (i guess it makes it real chicken caesar salad in a wrap). both dishes came with plenty of fries. they were not greasy nor crispy. they were more like elongated homefries but thick. the fries can be substituted for sweet potato fries, onion rings or side salad at extra cost.

overall, the place was giving off a good vibe and the wait staff were very friendly and quick. there are no covers for the 6:30 shows but you should be expected to pay cover for 9:30 shows, especially on the weekends (price varies on the show). the rex is one of its kind for playing jazz all year around and provide a great venue for local and international jazz artists. going to the rex definitely made me appreciate jazz (or just good music) and tempted me to bring out my jazz fingers. if you are in a mood to chat, skip this place but if you want to entertain your ears with some good live music, the rex is the place to be.


the Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar
194 Queen Street West (at the corner of st. patrick)
416.598.2475
www.therex.ca

posted by rin