Odd Fellows
On the Castor Design site, Castor principal and Odd Fellows co-owner Brian Richer is quoted saying, by way of introduction, “Above and beyond plebian comfort objections, the structural dynamic analysis must utilize and be functionally interwoven with the philosophy of commonality and standardization.”
This has nothing to do with Odd Fellows, the newly opened bar, café and restaurant at the corner of Queen and Shaw that measures a mere four metres across.
“It’s our he-man woman-haters club,” says Richer, sitting at one of 26 NON rubber chairs by Komplot Design that surround an extra-long communal table — dominate feature that fills a large portion of the narrow space. A limestone stool carved to look like a beaver-chewed stump, which hangs from the ceiling by a chain, is behind him. A Fireorb fireplace hangs off to the side, a hybrid of cottage stove and high-design coolness. “Actually, maybe that should be the he-man woman-lovers club.”
In fact, that website archi-speak has little to do with Castor as a whole, except as an example of its irreverence. The firm is well known for some of its more distinctive products, including a pendant light built out of spent florescent bulbs – a variant of which hangs over the communal table --- and a cedar-paneled sauna that’s housed in a shipping container. A better synopsis of the firm and their new bar appears on their website in large type under the gobbledegook: “Castor makes **it look good.” That is, if your idea of good is a cross between Guy Maddin and Larry Clark, with a side of Stompin’ Tom Connors, or, rustic Canadiana wackiness crossed with some ribaldry and just a hint of yokelism.
Kei Ng is the chef and owner of the Malaysian restaurant that previously occupied the corner location, and he’s now the other principal in Castor Design. At Odd Fellows, Ng is taking a similar approach to the food. “It’s simple,” he says, describing stews made in pressure cookers, with no fancy garnishes and “nothing piled up high.” Though there are elements of Malaysian seasoning, Richer is quick to warn, “Don’t say ‘fusion’. It’s called eatin’ food.”
House drinks include the Crud-cutter and the Seat Cover, served from a bar made of what looks like rough-cut grey wooden planks made of cast aluminum, under a chandelier built from a cluster of 3,000 or so hollowed-out, strung-together reclaimed light bulbs. The thin-coat plaster over drywall looks plain bordering on drab during the day, but like the place itself, the walls offer up their charms slowly. If you hang around long enough, you’ll see it become highly reflective at night; longer still, and you’ll notice it’s silken to the touch. By Bert Archer
This article was first published in Designlines, fall 2008.
Odd Fellows
936 Queen St W (Map It)
416 627 4128
DINNER: MON-WED 7-11, THU-SAT 7-12, BRUNCH SAT & SUN 11-3
Neighbourhood:
Also listed under:
You may also like:
Terroni Adelaide
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
The Comrade
Bar_One