Groundbreaking Toronto restaurant and bar is permanently closing

A restaurant in Toronto that was one of the first cider houses in the city is closing. 

For the past 9 years, Her Father’s Cider has been a Harbord Village staple, whether just to grab a casual drink from their diverse array of both local and international cider offerings or for a complete meal ordered off their no-fail menu.

The restaurant, which specializes in elevated comfort food, from their widely adored crispy brussels sprouts to bacon-wrapped scallops, was founded in 2016 by Josh Mott, who was somewhat born for the role, as his own parents run their own cidery.

Somewhere between a fine dining experience and an unbuttoned local pub, Her Father’s Cider proved to be not only a staple for the neighbourhood’s residents, but for another surprising demographic.

While not a strictly gluten free restaurant, a large majority of the menu items on offer just so happen to be free from the common allergen, which, paired with a remarkably exceptional staff base, has also made the spot a haven for plenty of celiac and gluten-free diners.

“Everything was delicious, great service and very accommodating of the dietary restrictions,” one Reddit user writes in a review about the restaurant. “If you have someone who has celiac in your life or just wants to avoid gluten without feeling like the dish has been altered too much this is a great choice.”

Nothing great lasts forever, though, and this is unfortunately proving to be the case with Her Father’s Cider, as Josh took to Instagram earlier this month to announce the impending closure of the restaurant.

“Since we first opened in 2016, we’ve had the privilege of sharing countless meals, drinks, and memories with all of you—our wonderful staff, and our incredible community from Harbord Village and beyond,” Josh writes in the caption of the post.

“Your support, laughter, and love have made these years truly unforgettable.”

The restaurant is set to close its doors for good on Sunday, Jan. 19, and there’s no word yet on what Josh’s next move will be. One thing is for sure, though — if whatever he creates next is anything like Her Father’s Cider, it’ll be absolute magic.

At the time of publication, Her Father’s Cider has not responded to my request for additional comment on their decision to close the restaurant.

Her Father’s Cider is located at 119 Harbord.