Comedy Bar

I attended the “All Stars” comedy show expecting a high-quality, engaging experience featuring seasoned comedians. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the most disappointing shows I’ve ever seen. The majority of the material relied heavily on crude and repetitive sexual themes, with very little originality. Rather than feeling sharp or relevant, the humor felt outdated and disconnected, almost as if the performers struggled to connect with the audience at all. Comedy is, of course, subjective, but this particular style felt stuck in the past and lacked the creativity and intelligence I associate with great stand-up today. Overall, the experience was confusing and genuinely unpleasant, especially given how strongly it was promoted as a standout, “all-stars” event. I left feeling disappointed and would not recommend this show to those looking for clever, modern, or audience-aware comedy.

I love this place. The best are the Awkward Adam shows they have pretty often…. Best new and established comics, and the host is hilarious (Adam). I went to one of them this week- the staff were amazing, the bar is fun vibes and the show (Awkward Adam) was packed on a literal snow day. So fun. Worth the terrifying uber there!!

I’ve been here AT LEAST 5 times and I’ve never had a bad experience! The staff are all amazing, prices are fair, and obviously the entertainment is great. Such cozy, chill vibes every single time. I’m always bringing friends to tag along with me and they’ve all said the same! Keep it up, guys!

Sunday night 9pm timeslot / show is a disappointment. Four or 5 comedians and a 20 person crowd. They call it “new material” but I call it amateur hour. The MC and comics engage with the audience to humiliate people if they don’t laugh. At one point it felt like a Michael-Richards was about to go down. Anyway… Hello? $30 a ticket to be verbally abused by insecure amateurs who are not even funny?! I don’t think everyone was getting paid. They should make the “new material show” free, or half price! at least get some positive audience energy. The single comedian who was *not* reading from his phone is the one pictured.

Great venue to see comedy every day of the year! There's usually 3-8 shows a night here. I usually check out the great improv acts here. I just wish they had food options rather than snacks, but it's still a great place!

Definitely a busy establishment. The the bar setting was okay they say on the website that they have snacks and so on yet they only have popcorn. When it was time to go into the room to watch the comedy show the room was quite small. And I found that we were seated I don't know if it was based on regulars or people who go there a lot who got to sit in the front but I ended sitting in the middle. Also I found the way that the seating was it was quite difficult to move back and forth if needed to use the washroom. When it came to the comedians I honestly didn't find them as funny as I thought they would be. I found that out of four of those that I seen maybe about two of them were funny. I also felt like the host really weren't that funny as well. Will I ever go there again? Possibly guess to make sure it was just that show and not the whole establishment. Either way I would like to say that I had an okay time and will attend again to make sure it wasn't continuous situation where comedians weren't funny and maybe find another show where the comedians are

Visited the comedy club for the first time. I did like that there were seats in the waiting area where you can grab drinks and snacks( chips, chocolate bars, and candy) with your friends or family. It was different. They didn't serve food because they didn't have a kitchen, but you were able to bring in food from the outside. So we brought in burgers from banquet burgers across the street. The server at the clear was friendly and polite. The seating area on the main room was a bit tight. Especially if you have winter coats or jackets. The seats were small. But over all the show was good. We went for the 7pm secrets show.

What a Gem of a place. The talent is pouring out of here! Whether its stand-up comedy or Improv, I think Comedy Bar has the best talent coming out of Toronto. Monster Island with Andy Assaf, Comedy After Dark with Tamara Shevon, Noor Hadidi & Friends, Kulture Shock Comedy with Oussama Tabbara and so much more. Location is awesome, and the staff are so nice and welcoming. It clearly reflects the owner's approach in running a comedy club. I am never disappointed in going to Comedy Bar (or Comedy Bar Danforth).

This place is awesome! We came for their Friday 7pm theatersports and had a great time. Kimchi from Kim's Convenience was there with one of the improv teams which was a very pleasant surprise. You can make a request so that you sit with your group. There was some nice audience interactions too which I really appreciate. Overall great experience!

You can bring your own food into this place, which I love, first of all. Second is that the shows are great, especially for the price! This was such a great way to spend an evening; they also have ample bar space where you can spend time before and/or after a show. I will definitely be making my way back here for a good laugh and a great night in the future.

Spontaneously booked tickets for their "The Pro Show" and I had so much fun! It was my first comedy show ever and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The line up was so funny and they worked well with the crowd. The service was amazing - the drinks we ordered during the show came extremely quickly. Definitely a great first experience at a comedy show and will be recommending it to others!

Honestly was nervous I wouldn't find anyone funny. Will be back, the vibe was great. $100 for the night and a cute date, including tickets and some rounds of drinks. Smoke and jokes set was very good. Can't wait to return soon.

Been to many shows but the pre pride show was so funny and fun definitely can't wait to go back.

It took 25 minutes to receive my order from the QR code at the table. The service was very slow not sure if there was enough staff to accommodate. There was only a handful of customers for the 11pm show and the Comedians complained anout it and didnt actuall have material . After the black joke and responding from their own question told the Black man to "f--- off". Im guessing it was ok but he neglected to explain the response ..... so it just looked like disrespectful to others. Totally NOT cool. The ambiance was great! The door person was extemely cold and rude but only to some/selected patrons..... never seen anything like this in my 60 yrs.--appalling and pathetic.

I was quite impressed with Comedy Bar. Came for the Sunday Night Live which is a local rendition of Saturday Night Live. The skits were humourous and easy to follow. The acoustics were excellent as you can hear the actors voices from any spot in the room. Staff were super friendly... from the ticket booth to the bartenders, they were great to interact with. The seating arrangement is a bit difficult to navigate. We sat behind the bar rails, which was great to rest our drinks on, but people sitting directly in front of you end up blocking some of your view. Overall, this is a good place to catch a comedy show with a group of friends.

This is a great venue to catch a local comedy show! The staff are so friendly and helpful, and the prices are pretty great.

I ended up going to the Sunday Night Live. Sketch comedy is not my type of comedy but I thought some lines were decent. It is a good venue and I enjoyed the music the band was playing. However, it was played really really loud.

Guys, this is THE alternative comedy venue in Toronto. For those familiar with the NYC comedy scene, this is our Upright Citizens Brigade. Yuk Yuks gets the best in stand-up... Second City is all sketch, improv and revue... But Comedy Bar is that delicious mix of all of the above (and more) with many relative unknown talents and some major known talents making up an eclectic schedule of comedic mishmashery. Two mini theatres...a mainstage and cabaret...multiple nightly shows, a bar with a decent beer selection...et voila. If you're a comedy fan in Toronto, this place is on regular rotation.

Went to the Comedy Bar as part of a Yelp event and had tickets to see Sunday Night Live. The venue is located in the basement but has a really nice and intimate decor to it. The lobby and bar area is really big with lots of seating and space to hang around and chill while waiting for your show to start. They have a fully equipped bar and some snack (chips, chocolate, candy) no kitchen, but they tell you that you are allowed to go outside and get food and bring it back to eat to the venue to eat which is really cool and nice of them. My ticket was for the Sunday Night Live show that they put on, which is their version of Saturday Night Live. The company was made up of about 11-13 different actors and they put in a bunch of different sketches using different props. The show was about an hour long and had some great, good and ok sketches. They also had some live music which I found to be too loud for such a small venue area.

Too many shows that are just meh at best. They always seem to have problems with the sound. Good prices at the bar. Be careful what shows you buy tickets for.

I came here for a show while visiting Toronto for the first time and I really enjoyed it. The bar staff was really friendly and the drinks were much more reasonably priced than I expected. Like everyone else has said in their reviews, the actual stage space is pretty small. It's set up with two tables to a row, with three chairs at each and a narrow aisle in between. If you want to get a front row seat, definitely show up early. The show I saw was pretty packed and people were lining up 30 mins in advance, but since this was my first time here I'm not sure if that's the norm. The bar area is bigger and there are plenty of tables around the room. It's kind of split into two sections, with the bar somewhat in the middle. They had a TV (maybe two, I don't exactly remember) on one side with sports on. Overall I really enjoyed Comedy Bar and would definitely recommend stopping in for some good standup. One of the locals I chatted with said it's a pretty well known venue for comedy, so I'm sure you'll get a good show!

Weekend trip to Toronto with my mom. We attended the Sunday Night Funny is the New Normal Show and enjoyed it. Would recommend if you are in the area and looking for things to do.

Went here with my girlfriend on a Friday night. Overall: For the price it is worth it, a good cheap way to have some fun outside the house. Service/Ordering: (4 stars) We ordered tickets online, so when we got there we just had to show the receipt (on the phone is fine) and we given the real tickets. The tickets online are a bit cheaper ($8 instead of $10) than at the door, but the main reason to get them is that the show usually sell out. At least that is what I was told. The show we went to, was about 3/4 full. Show (4 stars): The show we chose was Forever Jung. It was 6 stand up comics that do their bit, then get analyzed by a in-house therapist. The stand up comics were varying in quality. The performers were: Dena Jackson - (5 stars) - definitely the best performer of the night. She really got into the roll she was portraying. John Mostyn (4.5 stars) - the opening comic, talked about him being Scottish and how he was trying to become part of Canadian society. Jen Sakato (4 stars) - Talked about her previous relationships, and her half white, half Japanese family. Marc Hallworth - (3 stars) Kept having the same joke over and over again, with a very slightly different twist. Jess Salomon (4 star) - Talked about her trying to support minorities, fighting the power. Anasimone George (1 star) - did not find her funny, talked about her being brown, and interactions with a white boyfriend. (But was more telling stories, then jokes/funny) Food and Drinks: (2.5 stars) We did not want to get any food as we wanted to eat out after, but we got a few beers. Each beer was $7. They accept credit cards and cash. The server at the bar, served the waitress cutting line instead of the customers waiting in line. At least use a separate area to server the waitresses, do not but in front of customers.

My friends and I had a great time here! We saw the show "Love is Everywhere" at 8pm on a Sunday night. We got to the venue early to sit down at the bar for drinks, which were pretty reasonably priced ($9 for an IPA, $7 for a vodka soda). The show itself was in a room that was smaller than the bar area, but everyone was able to fit in just fine. There were 3 or 4 acts (everyone was great!), and after each of comedian did their set, the host interviewed them on an "assignment" that they were given throughout the week, which all had to do with maintaining mental health. I thought this was a really sweet, uplifting, and unique addition to the show. The smaller size of the venue made it feel intimate without feeling too cramped. At just $10 for an hour and half show, I'd recommend it for sure!

This place is an institution in Toronto! So many different shows and performers every single night!

Learned of this place off of Groupon. Pretty good deal. $20 for two general admissions with $20 worth of food. Got the chicken sandwich and perogies. The perogies were very delicious and filling as well. I watched Helder Brum and friends in the cabaret room. It was very tiny but the way it was set up was very intimate and it felt like you were a part of something fun, not just an audience member at a show. There was only one booth at the very back with a table so we had to eat our food out of take out containers on our laps. That part could have been better but it wasn't a huge problem for us. Our favourite part was the lamb chops puppet show! Hilarious and very entertaining. The comedians that were featured that night (Dec 19) were all pretty funny. Got some good laughs out of us. The music performances were nice and soothing. I didn't quite get the humor in the storytelling portion. It was more awkward than funny for me but maybe that's what they were going for. Overall, I enjoyed it and would consider returning without the Groupon deal. Their food was very reasonably priced. Want to go back for the perogies :)

A solid 4.5 for this place. Let me start off by saying the customer service here is phenomenal. I bought a Groupon and stupidly left it until December to use. Of course things got busy and unfortunately it expired. I contacted one of the owners (James), to ask him how I go about using the purchase price of the Groupon ($20) since it had expired. He quickly wrote me back offering me a chance to use the entire Groupon (which had a value of $40) as long as it was within a reasonable amount of time from expiry because he'd rather we come and have fun. Impressive. He recommended the Catch 23 show since we were newcomers. A great suggestion, but I will get to that later. We decided not to eat here (kind of regretting that now after seeing the food). The menu looks pretty good with a variety of pub fare - nachos, wings, wraps, sandwiches, salads, Mac and cheese, shepards's pie etc. You can eat in the bar before the show, or actually bring the food in to the theatre as well. Be careful if you're eating something that requires utensils though because there are only a couple of tables, most of the seats are typical fold out chairs in rows. The food look really tasty and with large portions. Getting to the show that we saw, Catch 23 is an improv show with 3 teams performing 4 skits each. There is audience participation as they vote on the quality of the scenes and a winner is crowned (or belted in this case - you'll get it when you see the show) at the end. The show was absolutely hilarious and was a great recommendation. Looking at the calendar of events, This place has a wide variety of shows - both improv and stand up - on two different stages, every night of the week. Ticket prices vary, but none of them were expensive. This place is very easy to get too as well, right on the subway line at Ossington station. The half star is removed because it was hard to find a seat in the bar when we first got there. That being said, when we left our show and the people for the next show were coming in, I could see why they wouldn't want much seating because se the place was packed. In the theatre itself, I found that the seating was kind of tight. And like I mentioned, not many seats if you had food that would be hard to eat on your lap. In conclusion, I would highly recommend coming to this place over and over again. A cheap, HILARIOUS way to start off the night, or even stay for both shows and make a whole night of it. I will be back, 100%

Been here a few times without much advanced planning. Easy for a fun (aka funny) night out without effort. They have several timeslots with different themes and styles and priced accordingly. Usually the comedians are good. I prefer standup over skits. Drinks can be bought at their bar, self serve. Would be cool if they offered table service for food too. That would make them five stars in my books.

After having a great first experience at the Comedy Bar, I decided to come back and check out a different show, ManTown. I'd love to give a clear description of the premise, but to honest, I have no idea what's so manly about ManTown. The most that I can say is that it's an improv show. This time around my experience was much different than the first. The show started with plenty of excitement as the emcee came rushing in with pump-up music blasting and lights dazzling. Sadly, that was pretty much the height of the fun times. Put simply, the show just wasn't that funny. Similarly to the BeerProv show, ManTown featured a wide selection of different comics, including my favourite from the BeerProv, Rob Norman. At this point the Comedy Bar is at a 50% success rate since this is the second time that I've been, therefore I'll refrain from making general conclusions. That being said, when discussing the show later with my friends, we all agreed that mid way through the show we individually and independently considered suggesting that we leave. Fingers crossed for a better showing the next time around.

The comedy was great however I wouldn't go back if the guy at front who was working on Dec 2 2021 was working. This guy was so rude, I've never seen someone on such a power trip! He ruined my entire experience and night. Honestly, I know it sounds crazy to not go back because of some irrelevant guy working at the front, but he was that bad. The worst guy!!!! If you're reading this: I hope your life is filled with people who treat you just like how you treat others! Also, I never write reviews but this experience will honestly sit with me for a long time.

Visited the Comedy Bar last Saturday as I was looking for something different to do. For $12 I was able to see four stand-up performers including their headliner who apparently starred in a movie with that quite famous guy who host the Oscars (?). All the acts were pretty good and the venue not bad at all. There is a bar you can grab drinks before you head into the stage area-grab a couple or you will need to get up during the show to get a refill. Overall not a bad night, I can't be too hard on any of the performers as they have a tough job trying to make us laugh and overall they were good! I would recommend this to anyone looking for something different to do than the normal Saturday bar-hopping escapde.

I came here for a Jewish comedy show last night and it was a really good crowd. Some of the comedians were really funny and the atmosphere was nice. It was unfortunate that everyone could not get a seat. Everyone had paid for their ticket, so I expected us all to have seats but this wasn't the case. Many people were standing. The bar seemed okay. It was a nice cozy bar featuring rich deep wood along the walls and tables I believe. We didn't stay to drink here as the lounge area was packed but I would definitely come back to try their regular comedy shows.

Came for the funny, it delivered! Comedy Bar is a 2 room comedy club that usually offers a few different shows each night. The one thing that makes this place a bit of a wild card is that there is little consistency in knowing what to expect. Whereas a lot of comedy clubs have an early show and late show the same night with the same comedians, Comedy Bar has 7pm, 9pm, and 11pm show start times but each show will be completely different acts. The main room recently added tables to every other row, so you don't actually have to hold your drink the whole time anymore. The bar menu is decent with a few draught and tall boy craft beer options to choose from. It's good having a decent spot in the west end for some laughs, so this place gets 4 stars!

Comedy Bar is a gift to the Bloorcourt neighborhood. With comedy shows of all different flavors - improv, stand up, sketch, and more - there's a little something for everyone here at Comedy Bar. The business has been "unofficially" open since the late spring, but only had its official opening in November 2008. But in the short time it has been open, Comedy Bar has already managed to wriggle its way into the hearts of comedians, comedy lovers and reviewers alike. With a full stage and versatile performance area that can go from cabaret style to straight seating to open space for dance or Rock Band parties, groups have flocked to book their shows here. Even while renovations were still going on, the bar had shows nearly every night of the week. Now that the kitchen is open and the bar stocked, it is set to be a great venue for the long haul. The kitchen hasn't been open long enough for me to get a full sample of the menu, but I can tell you that it is both ambitious and impressive, and nowhere near your usual "pub grub" type offerings. The staff at the bar are all friendly and funny to boot. Be sure to ask for the bar's signature drink, the Sexy Hangout. Not only are troupes performing nightly, but some of the city's best festivals such as the Fringe Festival, the Toronto Improv Festival and the Toronto Sketch Festival all call Comedy Bar home for performances.

Comedy Bar is one of those places I just can't get sick of. I've been here numerous times now and have had a great time every time. The comedians are super funny and talented (especially when they involve the audience) and the employees are friendly. The funniest show I've seen here was the Undiscovered show with headliner Peter Johansson, he was such a natural. The bad: The venue is super crammed as many others are saying so be sure to come early to get a good spot. I wish this place would learn something from Absolute Comedy when it comes to their seating environment! Seats are mehhhh, not too comfortable. The bar also gets super crammed before a show so it can be a bit difficult to get a drink. They never (or seldom?) have drink specials which makes me sad. Tip: Groupon occasionally has $20 coupons for 2 tickets and $20 worth of food. Check to see if they have it before you go!

For only a $5 cover this is a fabulous deal to see new upcoming talent. The downside is that you must get into the small venue first to get a decent seat. Our seats were at the back of the very small and narrow room. Right next to the door to the bar area and holy mackerel you can not hear a thing other than the bar. One of the comedians that watched a portion of the show from the back turned up the mic when he went up to perform but to be honest that was not any better. It is not worth visiting there if you are sitting in the last 3 rows. If you can push your way up to the front then it is well worth the $5!

This place is legitimately a diamond in the rough for me. My fiancee's cousin is in a comedy troupe that performs here regularly and I love it to bits (the troupe and the bar). Near Bloor and Ossington this bar offers a lot in its' charm and variety of entertainment. I've had the Baked Mac and Cheese and the make a mean Gin and Tonic. It's a great way to wind down before having a laugh or two with some of the shows that they run regularly.

This is definitely a divey type comedy bar. Pros -tickets are cheap -on Bloor street so easily accessible by subway -There are 2-4 shows everyday so no matter what time you arrive, you should be able to see a show Cons: -small venue -wine seemed watered down -the seating is all just basic chairs and you have nowhere to put your drink (i.e. no cup holders). In terms of the comics, I guess it depends on the night. We saw a show on Saturday night and there was about 5 comics. I found 4 of them funny, but the headliner didn't impress me much. Verdict: It's okay. Something to do if you can't find anything better.

I rarely go out, and this would be why. Sunday Night Live is proof that sketch comedy is incredibly hard to pull off. They gave it a good go and some of the acting was dope but I think I laughed twice all night. The pub itself seems fine - great beer but sickly nachos with old, watery salsa, and eh? Did you say something? Sorry, my ears will be blown out for a few days because of the the talented but outrageously high volumed house band.

First time going to the Comedy Bar to see the Notorious show and I must say that I was very impressed! Notorious is a hip hop improv comedy show and throughout the show, the comedians ( I believe they called themselves the MobiCocks? ... can't remember clearly) were so funny and creative.

Great programming, great food - a great venue for comedians whether rookie or celebrity. Can't wait to try the new menu - those perogies last menu were fab. The bathroom graffiti is hilarious as well.

Comedy Bar is one of those neighbourhood gems that makes Bloorcourt such a charming and dynamic place to live. Simultaneously, it's one of Canada's best indie comedy clubs and hosts unbelievable star-powered events. I've seen some great local comics here, and events like Catch-23 Improv and Gilmore Girlprov are delightful and affordable. The pro-am night is great. The stuff happening in the Cabaret space is always weird and wonderful. I've also seen some crazy things here. There was the night that Greg Proops captivated us for what seemed like hours - how does that man just keep talking? What must the inside of his head be like? There was the semi-secret Eddie Izzard show, where he tested out his new material on a riveted crowd. Then there was the time we went to a taping of The Nerdist podcast during JFL42 at the Princess Elizabeth Theatre, and Chris Hardwick & co. were dying to leave their own podcast because they'd heard that Louie CK was doing a spontaneous show at Comedy Bar. Legendary. I like comedy, but I'm not a scene insider and I don't know anyone who works or performs at Comedy Bar personally. It's just one of those places that always makes me feel like I'm part of something great. The staff is attentive. The beer selection and the menu are solid pub comfort food. Blanche de Chambly on tap! Go to C-Bar. Laugh your head off. Buy a beer. Support it forever.

I get drunk here and they let me play Night Moves by Bob Seger whenever I'm there. The staff is the absolute best for that reason. The owner tells long stories sometimes. He's the sort guy who wears hats. One time I saw a dog inside.

Came here on a Friday night w some girlfriends.... The evening and first show started off a bit slow... But soon we were all rolling on the floor, crying from laughter! The second show was particularly amazing, and they asked for audience participation during intermission by writing things on paper for them to use. $10 for a night of entertainment and laughs is a steal! Plus, the drinks were well priced. Some of the best improv I've seen :) Will definitely be back!!!

Went to Sunday Night Live for the first time the night before Vicotria Day. Arrived late, and had to stand in the back trying to peak over the heads of long-torsoed women in tall bar chairs, but having a pint in hand--a decently priced $6 Sleeman, if I remember correctly--put me at ease. The show was very funny, the cast was energetic, the bartender was friendly, the crowd was positive, and there were good tunes on after the show to encourage toe-tapping shoulder-shifting mingling. It was a solid 4-Star experience-- what more could I ask for? That's when someone announced to the packed bar to head out for fireworks, and the bartender offered to watch everyone's drink. SERIOUSLY? Everyone crowded outside onto the tiny side street with a sense of occasion and cameraderie, and a MASSIVELY IMPRESSIVE (and probably illegal--but even the popo let these things slide on holidays) fireworks display erupted just feet from our noses. Hands were clapped, whoops were hollered, and a wicked time was had by all. Oh ya, and they handed out coupons to come back for another Sunday Night Live show FO FREE. See ya there?

A simple but great comedy club. I was here for JFL42 recently, it's a really intimate space for a show. There's 2 spaces for the show the "main space" and the cabaret space with a smaller capacity. I've never been in the cabaret space, but the main space is incredibly intimate with capacity for about 100 people. In the very back there's tables if you were to order food. In the front there's multiple rows of seats, and a slightly elevated stage. Comedy Bar is simple and do book some great up and coming comedians and the occasional big name. I'd definitely come back!

This place has potential but unfortunately the clientele render the shows it completely unwatchable. Every time I go large groups of inebriated guests endlessly interrupt the show. Unfortunately this place is more bar than comedy so they let it carry on.

Went here for a surprise 2 Kids 1 Hall dress rehearsal show. I won't critique the show itself, which was pretty damn funny, if still very much a rehearsal, but I will say that the venue was great. Hidden away just down the street from 'the New York Gentleman's Club' (how much do you want to hang out there with Tony and Pussy et al?) this nondescript club has the air of being a real comedy gem; the kind of place where lots of Toronto comics paid their dues. Is that even true? Comedy aficionados will be able to speak to it more than I - but if *felt* that way. Ticket booth was on the left hand side after descending the stairs and ahead is a spacious bar with another sitting/mingling area off to the right. Beer was fairly priced and if you showed up Sunday-Thursday pitchers were crazy inexpensive (for a comedy club). Pitchers of Amsterdam mind, so guaranteed hangover, but pitchers of beer nonetheless. The venue turns over between each show, or at least did the night we were there, so a door beside the ticket booth opens up and everyone pours out into the bar. This means that if you come for a show, you can come for just that show without watching an hour of crummy opening acts and still get good seats. The actual show space is small but cozy - lending itself well to making you feel comfortable laughing really hard and getting engaged with the show. All in all a great experience. A bit outside of my regular bubble, but maybe that's part of the charm. I'd definitely advise people to check it out.

I just really don't like the set up of this venue at all. Upon entering it was kind of confusing to figure out which room had the comedy taking place, it's set up as a series of smaller rooms. Once we found the correct room, it was quite disappointing. It's a very small room and not a lot of seating, with lots of the tables having bad visibility of the small stage at the front. It was also absolutely freezing inside, I kept my winter coat on the entire time. The show we saw wasn't particularly funny, but it was a special event and it was free, so I don't think it is a reflection of the regular line up at Comedy Bar.

We had a fantastic time here. I liked the setup... it looks like a normal bar, then you go through some doors and BAM. Comedy club. The atmosphere is relaxed, the service friendly and the drinks prices on par with any other place (nice to not get hosed at a performance venue) We saw a Friday night improv show ($10 at the door - cheaper than a movie!) which was a ton of fun, despite the fact that I'm really not a huge fan of improv. Seating was comfortable enough and the audience section was dark, which I appreciate, since I get self conscious about not laughing enough, or laughing too much. We'll definitely be back. This is a great place to check out during the terrible winter months of Toronto.

I don't like the set-up of the showrooms here. When you walk in the building, there's the box office, a small bar where you can order food, and a couple tables where you can eat or just hang out before/after the show. They also have a few video game machines. Don't expect anything fancy. There are two rooms here: the Mainstage and the Cabaret. I have seen shows in both rooms. The Mainstage room can fit over 100 people but it's pretty small and cramped. Most chairs are the foldable type and they are very close together. There is little leg room and little elbow room. I saw a show here on a Monday night and it wasn't too busy, maybe a quarter full, so I got to spread my legs. Had it been packed, I would've been very uncomfortable. The floor isn't graded so if you get stuck behind a big person you're gonna have a bad time. The Cabaret room is smaller than the Mainstage room. It holds about 30-40 people. Seating is a mix of lone chairs, chairs with tables, and couches. It is less cramped than the Mainstage room. I went here on a Saturday night and it was almost full. Some things I didn't like included the fact that the doors to this room were glass, so if you're sitting near them or facing them, it can be tempting to look out into the lobby/bar area. Also, the room wasn't sound-proofed all that well so the noise from the lobby/bar area was somewhat distracting. I don't know how well the Mainstage room is sound-proofed since I didn't go there on a busy night. The floor isn't graded in the Cabaret room either but that isn't as much of a problem since the seating is more mixed and the sightlines are better. Their website has pictures of both rooms so you can see for yourself. There is no waiter service during the shows in either room. If you want something to eat or drink, you either have to order it before the show and bring it in with you or you have to get up during the show and leave the showroom to get it yourself. This is the only comedy club I've been to in Toronto without waiter service. In both rooms, most of the seats do not have an accompanying table so you'd have to hold your food/drink in your hand or in your lap or put it on the seat next to you if there's no one there. The comedy itself (in both rooms) was below-average but a few acts were good. I know comedy shows can be hit or miss but even on a good night, I would still have serious issues with the layout of the rooms which would prevent me from fully enjoying myself. The staff were friendly and the pre-show atmosphere around the bar was okay. The shows I saw were Jokebox Live and Momics. Both ran for about 1.5 hours. Sometimes the shows sell out early depending on the day of week and what show it is. I was not happy with this place.

VIBE I came here with a friend on a Friday night who knew a few of the performers here. That said, I can see how first-timers to this place can get confused about where to go. We dropped in during show time and since the box office was closed, we decided to sneak into the main show. Prior to the sneak-in, we decided to go to the right side of the basement and sit and chat. There's a mix of couches and tables. There's a transparent window dividing the smaller room, which is a bit awkward (for me anyways). Another smaller show was to start and we went into the room but wanted to sit at the back of the room where there was a couch. I didn't feel like sitting in an upright chair. The camera man for the show decides to put his big ass bag on the couch, refused to move it so we could sit there and told us we had to sit near the front so he could film the backs of our heads to show that there was actually an audience for the show. Needless to say, it was a bit off-putting. That's when we snuck into the other show. THE SHOW AND WHAT WE DRANK We saw the Rap Battles and if you get a few of the good regulars, it's great! Each of the performers have a character and rap/battle in that character. I highly recommend MC IMDB and MC PHD. These guys have a lot of skill and wit that is very entertaining. The show was PACKED. My scene: standing on my tippy toes at the back of the theatre and glimpse through gaps of the audience. Again, we didn't pay, so I was fine with it. If I paid $10 I'd be a bit pissed but this show is worth the money. The bar scene afterwards was very friendly and chatty. It's a cool place to mingle with other locals. The bartender was great to us but again, my friend knew her. We got served right away and had Southern Comfort shots (very tasty, by the way). Then it was the regular Heineken. OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK Setup is a bit of a joke (cue symbols). I recommend the Rap Battles but go early on a Friday night so you can get a decent seat. I'd recommend getting a drink at the Piston thereafter, if with friends.

This is no Yuk Yuks. No Second City either. You may have guessed it... not all that funny, and kind of grungy for my taste. A note for all the deal buyers out there: this place is often on deal for $20. Not worth it. Not even worth $10. I came here with some colleagues from work. The ticket for the comedy show was $8. The guys bought beer. I got myself a Vodka Cran. Regular drinks, nothing fancy here. The place itself is super dive. And I was surprised at the crowd it brought in on a Friday night. I wouldn't be a second timer. We walked into a dark room with a dinky stage set up for the comedy acts. The chairs weren't comfortable either. The acts were apparently selection from the Toronto Comedy Fest. Well, 1 out of the 5 we saw brought out 2 laughs out of me. Some of the guys I was with guffawed at the other ones - but guys will laugh at anything. One act, in particular, was a whole new level of crass. A girl ran around the audience seating throwing panties at people. My colleague ended up with 2 pink panties... out of which one was kid's underwear. I wish we'd gone to Yuk Yuks instead. Never coming back.

Came by for Sunday Night Live. Talented cast and pretty decent material considering they do this thing once a week. Happy at the length of the show. Clocked in at under 1.5 hours. That's a nice chunk of time for whatever the paltry ticket price was ($8?). Was every sketch funny? No, of course not. But the team worked well together, the passion was there, and I appreciated the show. Would come back again.

Note: I give this 3 and a half stars. As a pretty inexperienced comedy club guy, I went into Comedy Bar for their Wednesday night festivities unsure of what to expect. What kind of humour would be thrown at me? Will the audience be forced into participating? Would there be dwarves, vegetables used in inappropriate ways, full-frontal nudity, and 2 guys in a horse costume? I was pleasantly surprised, but it definitely had its pitfalls for a filthy noob like me. First off, when you first arrive, it's pretty confusing to get your bearings. In fact, I'm pretty sure I found Bobby Fischer and Jimmy Hoffa before I found the stage.I went downstairs to the bar area, and (shockingly) the ticket booth is empty. To your right is a lounge-type area with a couple of couches and arcades. Next to that and on the far-left are hallways, presumably leading to the staff areas. So I plunked my ass down at the bar and had a drink, which was surprisingly cheap! I asked the bartender what the deal was to see a show, and he explained to go down the left hallway, and that's it. Well, my drink and I went down the hallway, which branches into 3 directions, one left, one right, and one straight and up the stairs. Thanks, barkeep! Luckily, a couple of girls went into the theater area on the left, and I followed. After that, things were great. You pay the girl 10 dollars inside, and watch the show. The seats were not unlike your typical pub seats: uncomfortable prison-sex posterior probes. Small complaint, but hey, if you shift around long enough, people will assume you either have 'roids, or you're trying to do drugs rectally, and that's just not cool. Up with hope, down with butt-dope! The show itself was phenomenal! Both the Wednesday night scheduled show, and the free improv session that followed were quality comedy shows, and I laughed pretty hard throughout. For 10 bucks, you can't go wrong! I could see this place becoming pretty insane on a Friday or Saturday night, as even on Wednesday, the lone bartender seemed pretty overwhelmed, and it was practically a full house that night. Judging by how the people were acting, I got the impression this was a really tight-knit community, and a lot of them were there to support their family/friends. I didn't sample the food that night, and points got knocked off because of a confusing layout (I mean, come on, a sign with the word "STAGE" and an arrow won't kill you) and anal penetrating chairs, but I otherwise loved the place, and I can't wait to return!

This place I am a fan of. It's close to where I live. Fun thing to do on any night of the week. I like all kinds of comedy. There was a crazy lady laughing veyr loud at everything which was funny in itself. I recommend checking this place out on a Friday when they do more of the Improv (Catch 23) but I would also want to check it out on other days to see the things they have to offer.

Checked out Comedy Bar for the first time last Monday night. Rob Delaney was in town for TIFF and scheduled two shows (Sunday and Monday night), at $10 it was a steal. Plus super talented, insanely funny Kathleen Phillps (from Toronto) opened the show. The venue is much smaller than I anticipated, down a short flight of stairs you enter into a small foyer with a box office. This opens up into a bar with a small side room with a bunch of tables to sit at. Drinks are very reasonable ($5 for pint), service was great (even though the place was packed). To the left of the bar is a doorway into the theatre, a long narrow space with a small aisle down the centre and a small stage at the front. What more do you need in a Comedy Club? A great night out.