HERE COMES the wings. The best in South Etobicoke, says the smiling barkeep and customers.
Retired former Campbell Soup employee Jim O’Brien is one of many chicken wing lovers who have been returning for many years to their favourite Maple Leaf House Grill & Lounge to enjoy a tasty meal.
“I’ve been coming here for wings for more than 10 years,” said O’Brien, who retired from the soup company after 23 years. “I think the wings here is just as good, or better than other places.”
MAPLE LEAF House Grill owner Dave Cole. He loves the customers, and wings. Photos by Tom Godfrey.
He said working at Campbell was the best job he has had and then more than 500 employees worked at the now gone Birmingham Street plant making soup for all of Canada.
Mimico resident Mark Potter said has been stopping by the Maple Leaf House Grill just about every week or two for the last 14 years to get his fill of wings.
“They are big and juicy,” Potter explained. “There is only two places that I go for wings and this is one of them.”
He said the large wings are always fresh, spicy “and go well with beer and the hockey game.”
The sports bar is busy for the many televised hockey games, baseball playoffs and football.
CUSTOMERS come from miles around and further just for the wings.
Sports fan and former New Toronto resident Dave Cole has owned the pub for the last 14 years. He managed to survive the challenges from COVID due to support from the community.
“Business is coming back slowly,” Cole said. “People come back here regularly for the wings, which are large ‘jumbo roasters’ that are never frozen.”
He believes regulars love his wings because they are locally sourced and are eaten in a week.
“Our wings are obtained from local farmers and are never frozen,” Cole said. “Our wings are not purchased overseas and brought here.”
The pub makes its own sauces from natural ingredients and customers know they are getting real chicken wings.
“Our wings are fresh and that’s why they are the best,” he vowed. “People come from all over Ontario for our wings.”
He has many customers from Mississauga and some from Barrie, who formerly lived in the area and stop by for a meal when in the area.
While there one customer had arrived early and eagerly waited for a fast-selling Philly Cheese Steak that is only available on Fridays.
Cole will be bringing back live bands this month and reminds customers that his huge covered patio remains open all winter. A large private banquet hall that holds about 100 is available for rental.
The Maple Leaf House Grill is located at 2749 Lake Shore Blvd. W., near First Street, and can be reached at 416-255-2558. You can visit them at www.mapleleafhouse.ca or e-mail mapleleafhouse@live.com