The Old Toad

We love The Old Toad! We live several hours away, but anytime we find ourselves near Rochester we try to finagle a way to eat dinner here. It reminds us so much of living in Europe... It has that old world charm, and the ambiance just takes us back. The food is great. Not an extensive menu but everything on it is amazing. The beer selection is great as well. Some good European imports, some craft beers and a couple domestics for those who choose to partake.

Great vibe and nice staff. There isn't a ton of drinks but they have great options. The food took a while; I think they're understaffed because the place is up for sale. Fantastic shepherds pie (has salt in it so watch out if you have high blood pressure)

Absolutely horrible. Service was bad, then I ordered Fish & Chips. Basically if there's anything a British Pub should be good at...it's this dish. After a 45min wait, no mention that she was sorry for the wait, it comes out. Small portion, mid temp on the 7 fries ( Chips ) and the fish was pathetic. Soggy and painfully cooked. Not even fully cooked. They had 45 mins!??! I took it to go and threw it away. Old Toad I'm embarrassed for you. I went there to support local restaurants, what a disaster.

Myself and two of our staff came here on a chance night when visiting Rochester. The staff was excellent (we got served by Nina). It was also a coincidence (or not) that this pub is also the official Arsenal pub for Rochester Gooners. Amazing experience and if ever back in Rochester, will come back again.

I haven't been here in over 30 years it was a slow Thursday night, but was able to talk to Kevin and learn a little about the history of the origins of the place. A nostalgic quiet night with a Newcastle Brown.

A satisfying and scrumptious meal. Very filling British cuisine with some German Oktiberfest mixed in. Burger was delectable. Staff were helpful and friendly. Nice place for a meal out or a pint at the pub.

Caroline is nothing short of a Rockstar! More places need someone like her. On Tuesday nights they do a "quiz/trivia" night. The guy who does it is positively terrible. Do yourself a favor and don't go! Good food, great drinks, great atmosphere.

Haven't been here for 5+ years and felt great to be back. Had fish and chips with a pint. Oh my days, it was delicious. Thank you!

scotch egg was ok. fish and chips exceptional, toad in the hole very good and chicken korma was delicious --great service! recommendation--steam clean seating...not reflective of the quality of food being served. Definitely recommend having dinner here!!!!

Low key, friendly atmosphere to grab a pint or two. Excellent chips (aka French fries) with small selection of sandwiches, fish and chips, and shepherds pie. Great place to chill.

Went there on Saturday May 11 food was very good service was exceptional and the ambiance is dated but I guess it's in line with the old English pub.

I have never been to Britain but I could imagine that this is what a traditional pub would resemble. Has lots of dark wood and old pictures. Has both booths and tables, and a very small bar. It also has a couple outdoor tables. The Meatless fried chicken sandwich was PHENOMENAL, we have tried a couple at other places which were good but now that Ive had this one, they dont compare!! This sandwich will make us a regular customer. We also tried the Drunken cheddar soup which was very good. For beer we had a local made Ithaca draft. They only had 8 beers on tap, but shelves of different whiskey.. The staff were all very sweet girls and were constantly asking if everything was okay. *Would love to see a couple more vegetarian/vegan options.

This was a pleasant treat that almost didn't happen. We got there about 7:30 and there were so few people in the tavern we almost thought they were closed. The reviews we good on Yelp so we went on in. We had a few beers and ordered the fish and chips. The food was really good! Like so good that even the next day my wife was still remarking on how tasty it was (and she isn't too into food so this really says a lot about how much she liked it). After a fee more beers we met a couple locals and between them and the bartender, Kevin, we pretty much planned out the rest of our time in Rochester. Really really friendly people who pulled out their phones to help us find a few places and were just so pleasant to meet. Get by the Old Toad and enjoy the great food and friend people! And give me a follow on Instagram @CheatDay_SA and let's talk about food!

Food is okay (fish of fish and chips is excellent, however), beer selection is solid, but come for the warm service and fun environment, particularly on trivia Tuesdays. Staff's a little disorganized -- a little bit inefficient and chasing their tail -- but your patience will pay off.

This place is so unique and gives the genuine feeling of being transported to a local British Pub. Many of staff are brits and even the pub furniture/ bar etc were shipped over from a Old Pub across the pond. If you're call Britt and feeling home sick a visit here we'll do ya good. ****They even serve a full English breakfast with black pudding! Recommended- Yorkshire Pudding Shepherds Pie Scotch Egg Fish chips!

Best karaoke in town! Loved Me and my wife Chrissie had a real blast singing our hearts out with the staff

This pub has an old time feel to it. The place is filled with wooden booths and the bar has that classic wooden look to it. The waitstaff is friendly and you'll probably get one with an accent which adds a nice touch to the experience. For apps we tried the scotch egg. This was my first time having a scotch egg and it was delicious! The outside's breading is crunchy and I love the rich flavors from the sausage. I didn't need the dipping sauce it came with, but the sauce does have a nice creamy taste. I would definitely order this again next time. For entrees I had the old toad burger and my boyfriend had the shepherd's pie. The burger was piled pretty tall, I could barely fit everything in one bite. I love how well cooked the meat was (I requested medium rare) and how juicy it was too. Even with the bacon and onion ring I liked that I could still taste the meat. The only thing lacking was the taste of the stilton, I didn't get much of it. But nevertheless a very good burger. The fries that came with it were a bit lacking. The potatoes were dry, but I didn't care much because the burger was so good. My boyfriend's shepherd pie was disappointing for me. It tasted like nothing. I felt like there was more mash potatoes in there than actual meat. The roasted veggies that came with it though was really good. They were perfectly caramelized, yummies!! We also both got drinks. I got a merlot and my bf got a scotch that I've forgotten the name of. My merlot was disappointing. It tasted really strange........I was starting to think it was wine gone bad. They gave me a lot of it too, like 3/4 of the wine glass! I did like my boyfriend's pick though! The scotch was not too smokey and had a very nice lingering taste. It's pretty expensive for what you get, but I think it's worth it! Overall it's a pretty good experience, because I really loved the scotch egg :)

I will always be a fan of the Old Toad. We came here for dessert and I just really like their speciality desserts of the week. This week was the Triple Sec chocolate mousse and it was really delicious. We didn't taste much of the liquor but it was so great nonetheless. My husband really wanted to try their scotch egg and he really liked it to the point that he was thinking of making it at home by himself. We bumped into some friends, one who was from England and she was having their roast dinner, she said "it reminded her of home". Thanks Old Toad for keeping up the experience.

First time here! Loaded fries were so good! But we waited forever at the end of our meal to get the check and be told the card machine was not working, so we'd have to wait. Every time our waitress passed, she'd say "just a little longer." Then eventually told us we could run up the street to an ATM. It was about an hour after we finished eating where we just sat and hoped they'd communicate something to us. It gave off like weird small town bar vibes, where everyone in there is a regular. Probably somewhere we wouldn't go back to, but was worth a try!

Came here yeaaaars ago for a small gathering with family, the staff was great and the food and drinks were all good too. Great selection for alcohol as well. Recommend :)

We came for the fish and chips and we were not disappointed. It was a pretty quiet Friday night and too nice to sit inside so we grabbed one of their four sidewalk tables. Despite this being the Old Toad I did not order a beer but one of their very reasonably priced Moscow Mules - only $5! We order the fish and chips and it was very good - perfectly fried. Crispy yet tender even the chips - nothing soggy or greasy here. Our server did a good job running between us and his inside tables given they were having some computer issue. I will return again for a proper meal of fish and chips.

Hubs and I have been meaning to stop by for awhile now and I'm so glad we did! Delicious comfort food in every way-perfect for a cool fall evening. Though the place could use a good scrub down, the food did not disappoint! We started with the Cumberland Sausage roll which was flavorful and flakey. Then I had the red and stout pie and hubs had the Yorkshire dinner. They don't look like much all smothered in gravy but man was it tasty. Authentic, reasonably priced, great food, good service. It's no surprise why this place has lasted so long when all the other places in the general vicinity change over every couple of years. We will definitely be back and will be bringing the in-laws!

I've been here twice on Monday night for dinner and trivia. Both times have been pleasant. As far as food goes, I would recommend the beer battered fish and chips or the yorkshire dinner. Both were yummy and simply oh so British. Just a note, the yorkshire dinner is the deconstructed version of the beef and stout pie. I did venture out and try the scotch egg, but it was too heavy for me. I'd recommend to those with strong stomach and heart capacities.

The Shepherd's Pie was a winner a million times over. What a dish. The beer, ridiculous. And the service, second to none. Caroline is an amazing server! The best!!!

I really enjoy The Old Toad for its laid-back atmosphere and extensive Scotch menu. The food menu is smaller and is nothing fancy, but it's exactly what you'd expect from a British pub. I'm a fan of the chips and dips (chicken fingers and fries), which is what I ordered when I visited tonight. It's inexpensive and tastes great. I also tried the Drunken Cheddar soup for the first time. It was thinner than I was expecting (I was thinking of a really thick, cheesy soup) but had great cheddar flavor and veggies mixed in. The service was a bit slow on this particular night; it seemed like everyone who was waiting for food was waiting for a while. Although it took a bit longer than I would prefer for us to get our food, the staff is always friendly and attentive. I'm giving this place four stars instead of three because it's the best place to get Scotch (or any other type of alcohol, really). I love how relaxed and no-fuss the vibe is, and I always enjoy my time here. It's a great place to catch up with friends without too much noise or any nonsense!

(Vegan review) Open late and was close to our hotel. I had the vegan burger and a beer. It was good but it's like this place is allergic to vegetables or anything green in general. It was good, but it's not like I am going to think about this burger the next time someone mentions Rochester, ya know what I mean. If it had a green (even cooked spinach) it would have been a lot better. I left in a gross food coma.

Cheese soup was not very warm. I had to ask for the best that was supposed to be with it and it was two little slices of bread. The Shepherds Pie was very good and came out hot, it just ~40 minutes to get out to us. Nice atmosphere and warm on a chilly night.

Fish and chips on a Wednesday? You can at the Toad! I've been coming here for years and it's always great. Today's order is a takeaway: 4 meals, each with something little changed for the picky eaters in my family. The bartender was attentive and careful, having me double check the order before she sent it to the kitchen. My mom's boyfriend is English, and super excited about the Shepard's pie. We're eating fish and chips, which are always solid, and my boyfriend's going with a chickpea burger. I've tried multiple times to duplicate it at home, but NOTHING comes close; this is my favorite veggie burger in Rochester! The bar is always clean. The people are always friendly. The beer and whiskey choices are some of the best in the city. Keep an eye out for their special events; they're worth attending for sure.

BEST FRIES IN TOWN. try with curry mayo tho peeps!! Also mushy peas sounds gross but are so yummy, don't knock it till you try it!

Beer Battered Fish Fry with Chips & Mushy Peas was decent. I'm used to Panko Crusted any more - not as greasy (not that this had a lot.) Chips - are they baked instead of deep fried? Mushy Peas had some "tooth". Salt or Pepper in the six-pack carton with the Heinz Malt, Ketchup, Lea & Perrin, Arizona Gunslinger Jalapeño Pepper Sauce. Sticky Pudding hot brown sugar caramel soaked bread like Pudding. Nice flavour in the British tradition.

a nice old English Pub, filthy and mossy in all the right places. try the fish & chips, reputed to be best in the city. My impression? quite good, but not quite a stand out. I liked the condition of the place and the grumpy barmaid. But under current conditions, minus a lively Friday night crowd I found it wanting.

I've been here a few times now, mostly for food and once for trivia. Old Toad has this cozy pub vibe and most, if not all the staff, are actually British. The food is very heavy and hearty. I always feel somewhat lethargic after eating here. The beer and whiskey selection are great. I've been here for pub trivia (Mondays at 9:30pm), and enjoyed it. The questions are very difficult (lowest score that night was 2 and highest score was 14), and there are quite a few about sports, history, and UK-themed events. I think they get their own staff to read off the questions, so depending on who you get, it could vary a lot... when I went, the trivia host wasn't the most enthusiastic person. A bit of energy would have been nice! Prizes for both the highest and lowest scores.

WOW I LOVE THIS PLACE! I've been trying to come here for a few years now. I got the fish and chips! Obviously a staple. It was so so so good. Really just loving everything about it! My cousin got grilled cheese! She said it was something! Amazing! Fire! Exciting! Ranting and raving for days!! Go here!

Bodingtons on tap. That's sign of a Real English pub. Great service and a solid Shepard's pie. Nice selection of local Beers to accompany the standards. Great bartender seals the deal.

I heard a lot about the Old Toad so I was looking forward to having dinner there but left a bit disappointed. It has a limited menu, which is fine, but the food was mediocre and the service was poor. They weren't busy so I don't know why. Also, I know it's an English Pub but the beer was warm.

Does this place even need reviewing? It's a Rochester-staple, and it's consistency of good service, authentic British comfort food, and varying beer selection are renowned in this city. But for any of you out-of-towners, I'll share some more deets! What? British Pub downtown, a welcomed alternative to the over-crowded, fist-pumping bars full of sloppy under-dressed youths. It's cozy, it's warm, it's casual. It's usually not crowded unless you come on St Patrick's Day or a Trivia night (Monday's). It's the kind of place you wish you could walk to from your home to meet friends for a pint and food conversation. It's a true pub. Service? Excellent and served with a smile and a British accent. Most of the staff is working here on a work-exchange type program. I'm unsure of the exact details, but it adds a depth of authenticity to the place! Food? Delicious, comforting, British pub fare. It's always good, and hot. Some of my favorites: Chips & Dips (try the hot sauce... it's not Buffalo sauce, and it's not actually hot. It's a joy mixed with the blue cheese), Cheddar Ale Soup, Cheesy Garlic Baguette, Sheppard's Pie. The steak pie looks amazing, as does the burger. And I've heard rave reviews of their daily-curry. Are you getting an idea of how good this place smells? Spirits? Pints, pints, pints. Their beer menu is my favorite beer menu in the city because it has a wide variety, and detailed descriptions. There's a huge draft list, as well as a special Cask list. They also have a bottle list, and some wines and spirits as well. I've had some of the best and unique beers of my life here. Untapped-users can have a party! Fun stuff? Darts! British Darts...is there a special name for that? They also have an array of games you can get for your table to play in exchange for your license for the time. Cards Against Humanity, checkers, dominos, and more Im sure. And finally.... TRIVIA. I used to be a Monday-night trivia regular until my confidence was so completely shattered by the difficult questions. This Trivia is for PRO's. Serious stuff. But it's fun with a large group- multi-generational groups seem to have the most success!

I am surprised I did not check in here.. I was her in May for a old school English Tea and Bake off. We had tea.. it was not loose it was a tea bag, the finger sandwiches were ok at best and we got mini quiches they were tasty. Also scones and of course we got to try the Cakes for the bake off. It was the first time they did it but it got kind of cramped in the room. If they did it again I would be interested to try it again but... the plus is the staff is ENGLISH FROM ENGLAND. Ok... the end

I ordered the special, three tacos with elk, alligator, and camel. Each taco was paired with its own beer. They were incredible, and each beer was paired perfectly with each taco. I would fully recommend venturing outside your comfort zone to try this delicious meal!

The Toad is exactly what it says it is, and cozier! They have, and keep building, a wonderful craft beer selection. I daydream about their french fries with malted vinegar more than a normal spring season. Of course, sometimes things run a bit slower than other restaurants in the area, but it's always worth any extra waiting time. But the best part of this place is the staff who make you feel like you're always at home. If you come back more than once, someone will remember you and ask how you've been - just that local camaraderie we all appreciate. I've met a large handful of the bartenders and waitresses here (but probably not all!) and they are the backbone of this place and the reason I love it! Just a really incredible team of people on hand right now

Came here with my son (24) and his roommate (Wolfie, 30) on a recent visit to Rochester to see their new apartment and to assemble some furniture for the boys. My son recently made a film about skeletons and I got a chance to see that too. While visiting, Wolfie mentioned a guy they had met at a Stepwise event had raved about the food at this place, so we decided to check it out. Rochester's Realty Racket is in a bad situation when the only apartment they could find has one bedroom. Still, it must be nice to live like college kids and share a room. Wolfie keeps kosher, so he ate at home (eggs, fruit, bread) and we ate at the restaurant. My son is usual a hound with the ladies but is putting on a good impression for Wolfie and keeping himself to the group tonight. I have to confess to getting a little tipsy with the regulars and engaging in heated debate about the Indiana Jones franchise, which led to the battery on my phone dying on me but the staff were gracious enough to charge my Samsung Galaxy S3 behind the bar. I had the vegetarian pie. My son had a basket of fries. Wolfie (kosher) had a nice glass of Sprite. Didn't spot Bushmills (good!) so my son and I drank a couple beers. 4 stars.

The Old Toad is a Rochester staple, and generally a great place to take friends from out of town. The Toad is a replica of an British Pub complete with British food and servers on work study from England. I have been to the Toad many times over the past ten years and have always been impressed by the beer selection and the menu. On my most recent visit we asked for the food menu and got a super abbreviated menu that had only two vegetarian options. In the past I had been impressed by the number of house made vegetarian options (Bangers and Mash and Shepard's pie among other things). On this visit not only were there far less vegetarian options there were far fewer choices in general! We ordered the veggie pie- which they were out of so we ended up with salad and fries. The beer and whiskey selection remains on point. We had mixed drinks from the cocktail menu- one old fashioned and one drink that involved gin, grapefruit juice and double IPA. Both were very good. The draft beer was not pouring properly, like- more than half head and way to much CO2, so while we are generally draft beer fans that was a no go during this visit. I went with the cask "Cookies and Milk Stout" freshly released from Rohrbach and it was excellent. My partner had cans of Peak Organic "The Juice" IPA which was also very good. My sense during this visit was that a lot has changed at the Old Toad recently, and not necessarily for the better. I am always worried when I see a newly abbreviated menu and management not addressing concerns like the tap lines running incorrectly. I'd love to see some improvements and a more robust menu in the future.

I heard from a few people that the veggie burger here was the best in the city, so my beautiful wife and I stopped in for lunch. We did it wrong. But first, the burger. There's curry, pineapple bits, and a spicy yogurt-like topping. It's a tasty combo for sure, but it gets a little lost in the gigantic bun. The fries, er... "chips," I mean, are perfect. Seasoned well, peel on, and crispy. The portion was dainty, but enough for lunch. We both thought that $13 was a bit much for this plate, but we were both full and happy. The decor is decidedly old fashioned. It reminded me of when we cleaned out my great aunt's house after she kicked it. Musty, old, dated, worn. I kinda liked it, I found it quirky. My wife thought it was a little gross, and we both thought it was freezing in there. However, then it occurred to us that we were doing it wrong. This isn't a place meant to be enjoyed in full daylight, it's a bar, er... "pub." The beer list is extensive. This is a place meant to be enjoyed at night, with drinking. So yeah, we did it a little wrong, so I won't beat them up about the temp or the stains and stuff, because you wouldn't notice at night with a comfortable buzz on. I will be hitting this place up for beers and snacks, maybe during a soccer match. If you're curious about the burger, I say it's worth a shot, tasty but overpriced. For the same price you could get the veg burger at Edibles, which I like a lot more.

The food was fantastic. I had the fish and chips and garden peas which all were wonderful. My husband had the meat pie which was great. We shared the sticky toffee pudding which was amazing. Chris our server was wonderful. We will totally come back again for food!!!

If you want good British food and beer this is it. The bar is literally from Great Britain and they only hire British people. Most are students from across the pond. It's awesome. It's looks cool in there and everything tastes awesome. A go to!

If you have an Old car, get it Toad away and replace it with a new one. Speaking of replacing things... I think they should replace this entire menu and their concept of British food. They may be British - I don't know. But they're having a laugh, here. It's not just that it isn't authentic. Nothing on this menu tastes remotely English nor is anything made the English way. So that aspect of it is a fail. But I wouldn't care if it was good. However, it's not good - it tastes awful. The pies taste of alcohol (no matter what you may think, in England, they really don't). The chips are just American french fries. The Bangers and Mash are American Sausages and American Mash. None of this is remotely English. To add insult to injury, the prices are astronomically high, like, unthinkably high. You'll pay more than $10 for any given nom here, and they're all going to be both unauthentic, and bad. People will say "well that's because English food is bad." No, it's because this isn't English food. English food is good when it's made well. This is neither English, nor made well. It's really just a place to cash in on drunk people. If it were judged purely as a pub it'd score a 3 or 4, but with these rip off prices for awful and unauthentic food, a 2 is very generous. Meg is right. "Food so bad, they have to be TRYING to make it bad." Well said.

We arrived at 9:50pm and the waiter explained that if we hurried we could order from the regular menu - at 10pm it switches to a late night menu (Fish and chips still available). My husband quickly ordered a Boddington's beer so he could sup and choose dinner! He and my son both got the fish and chips, and I, the chickpea burger with chutney. The fish and chips were great - rivaled those in Britain. The accompanying mushy peas did not seem quite like marrowfat peas - more like garden peas that had been mushed - so they were sweeter than you would expect. I was not so thrilled by the chickpea burger - it was stodgy, and the vegan bun I asked for (small up-charge) had a very chewy crust - so it was a bit of a pasty mouthful experience. Like a previous reviewer, I would have liked some fresh veg/salad with it to cut the heaviness. The chutney was flavorful. My husband and son would love to come back to try the other British fare, like the Shepherd's pie (with lamb!). The beer was very good, and there is a wide selection. The waiter was excellent - running all the tables alone. Great spot for a late night bite and beers.

I am so glad that I finally got to try the Old toad, unfortunately not on the trivia night! Let me just start by saying that it was really hard to focus when our waitress "Georgie" was explaining about the ongoing list of the "draft beers" with a british accent and the words coming out of her mouth sounded more like a lullaby to me than anything else!!!! ( that is officially weird) The place is genuinely charming and definitely has a british character into it. Had I gone there only for the drinks, I would have given them no less than five stars. But the downside is definitely the food and it was bad enough for me to dock even two stars! But turns out I have been enchanted by the Toads and am giving them a solid four. They have a stellar menu for drinks and our waitress was very knowledgable and helped each one of us choose something. I ended up ordering a Hefeweizen and it was amazing! I also loved the coffee-infused stout! The food though was consistently bad!!! From shepherd's pie to the Yorkshire pudding and fish n chips, I didn't like any of them. The exemplary service of the staff, the vibe of the place as a whole and the beers made up for what it lacked in food. I will definitely be going back just for the drinks and probably the trivia night.

Everything was delicious! You must order their sticky toffee pudding!!! It was so good that I went back the next day to order it again!

The fresh and delicious food, atmosphere, authenticity in ambiance, hospitality of the British staff, variety of fare for vegetarians, comfortable seating, consistent quality of their well-known and loved dishes, and the alternating specials make this place one of the finest establishments in Rochester, NY. I ordered the vegetarian Shepard's pie with 'chips' (potato wedges), and mashed peas. It all arrived much sooner than I expected, and it was all fresh, hot, and very delicious. Their prices are reasonable; their service and quality of food is superb for the price. They also have a bar which serves fine Brit ales. I don't drink, so I can't comment on it; but if I did, I'd do it right here, where the waitstaff are friendly, polite, and engaging.

I liked the ambiance and loved their lamb Shepherd's pie!

So, the place is a bit outdated in terms of decor, but it has tons of redeeming qualities. For one, you get a free meal on your birthday as long as you show your ID to prove it (and purchase at least one entree). That was amazing to go and get two meals for the price of one. Also, we ordered a beer flight and got 5 for $10 which is super cheap, but it almost seemed like the waitress just made that price up. But I'm not complaining! I ordered fish and chips and the fish I don't think was seasoned at all, and I could have done with more chips. So to be honest, it's nothing special but really great if you want to go on your birthday and get a free meal (and possibly cheap beer flight!)

I absolutely LOVE this place. The staff is attentive and friendly, the food is amazing... they even have vegetarian options! So rare. This has quickly become my "home bar." Everyone feels like family here. I recommend this place to everyone of all ages.

This is my regular pub, I go there every Sunday and Monday night to play trivia....so perhaps it is unfair to rank it so high. On the other hand, considering I go there at least twice a week, it would be lying to rank it otherwise! That being said, the place does have some imperfections....it is meant to. Every year they get students from the UK to work as servers for the year, so the major part of the staff is interns! The quality of service definitely varies by the year, and I've been going there for over 15 years....sometimes it is excellent, other times it can be embarrassingly bad. They usually have one (sometimes more) server that is an American with more experience, and one of the managers is the son of the owner (the owners are often there as well). It has an excellent selection of beer (which I don't like myself) and scotch (which I do like), and other spirits. Food is served, including English, Indian (the English love Indian food) and local. There are bar games, there is trivia twice a week, and often there is an excellent opportunity for conversation with people from other countries (not just the staff).

The beer selection is great! But honestly I have never been overly impressed with their food. It's subpar bar food. We got cheese fries, and half the shredded cheese ( from a bag) wasn't melted. the only highlight was the scotch egg, the only thing I have consistently enjoyed here.

I wish I was more fluent in British slang because it would make writing this a lot easier. I guess I'll just have to refer to a British slang website I recently found for guidance. This might seem like Mad Libs gone horribly wrong, but here goes... The Old Toad is an ace pub that I've been coming to since I was at university. A mate of mine was on the pull one night and starting chatting up a fit totty who was working here a little while back. They got to talking and he, at some point, asked her for a shag. I'm sure he thought it was quite brill when he was finally able to see her fanny and roger her. They eventually got married. Any road... I recently fell arse over tit for the fish and chips here when the missus and I were trying to relive the "British Nights" we used to have at the Druid, an Irish pub in Cambridge, Mass (we couldn't locate a British pub). We would go there at least once a month to get a little squiffy and eat a stonking great fish and chips that was served in newspaper. It was the bees knees. The fish and chips at the Old Toad isn't served in paper, but it's just as corking. We were chuffed to bits when we tasted it for the first time! They cover a stonker of a cod fillet with a thin, crispy layer of batter, chuck some freshly cut chips and peas next to it, serve it with a bottle of malt vinegar and, bob's your uncle, you've got a smashing British favorite. The Old Toad also has a scrummy Shepard's Pie and the Guinness Braised Lamb Shank is pukka as well. With one of the most extensive beer and whiskey selections in Rochester, you can get bladdered to your heart's desire. The cheeky British staff is always hunky dory and never beastly, unless of course, you act like a wanker and make them cheesed off. For a bloody good time at a pub whose grub is the mutt's nuts, don't fanny around, run here for a good nosh up. I'm zonked. Cheers! (I hope I didn't cock up too badly)

It's shocking to write, considering how long I've lived in Rochester, but I went to Old Toad for the first time last week. I have been missing out on a treasure among some of the crazy East End clubs. Who doesn't want a friendly server with an English accent waiting on you? Plus, the beer selection is great. Lots of options to choose from - light to dark to bold flavored, and a regularly rotating Guest Beer list is a plus. They successfully achieved the authentic English pub vibe. Next time I visit (which will be very soon!) I'll try some of the food. I hear the Shepard's Pie and the Bangers and Mash are some fan faves.

Finally made it to the Old Toad for food after a Fringe Festival show the other night. The show ran 6:30-7:30 and we decided to wait until after to eat. British comfort food and beer won us over. Get ready for a strong accent from your server - most of them are students from England. I have to say it's really cute and adds to the authentic British experience. They have a great beer selection and everyone at my table found something they liked. I went with the Victory Red Thunder, a red ale aged in wine barrels. It offered some coffee and chocolate notes but also oak, fruitiness, and a high alcohol content (8.5%). My friend and I split the classic Bangers and Mash, which I had never had before. I'm so glad we chose this dish. The sausage was very tender and the casing was thin (I hate when it's hard to chew). At first it looks like there is too much gravy on the dish but you can easily soak it up with the sausage and potatoes. The peas, which I thought might be frozen, actually had a nice pop with eat bite. The atmosphere is casual and friendly. Dim lighting, exposed wood, close seating. I've never been to England but I hope it's like this over there.

My favorite pub in the city. Used to live across the street from the pub, so this review is long overdue. First off, the ambience is unbeatable. The only pub that plays real rock and roll (yes, from the 70s) and that too at a volume that doesn't make it difficult for people to have a conversation without having to scream at the top of their voices. The service is slightly on the laid back side but that's probably how they roll in the Queen's backyard! Also personally, I have always enjoyed my conversations with the bar tenders when they are not busy working their rear ends off. Besides, the Irish car bombs are the best I've had anywhere. Trivia nights are especially fun and people take it rather seriously, so if you want to take a shot at it, expect nothing less than Jeopardy. Again, I've had great conversations with regular patrons on trivia nights which is why you are much less likely to be bored in this pub if you are going all by yourself. As far as the food menu, the Scotch eggs cannot be missed neither can the baguettes. They have some traditional north Indian stuff on the menu that everyone raves and rants about but I always stick to the roast beef sandwich which in my opinion, is the best thing on the menu. They have the longest liquor and beer menu among in the area, so come thirsty. You will quite simply, be spoilt for choice. To keep my already lengthy review from spiraling out of control, I think the Old Toad is best described as a classy pub with a laid back vibe that instantly puts you at ease and hope to God they keep it that way.