The J Arthur shines amidst the bustling bar scene in Leslieville.

Located in the same area as establishments like The Vatican Gift Shop and Poor Romeo, The J Arthur brings a pub experience to Gerrones, making it a welcome addition to the area. 

The bar is owned by a trio: Eric Jordan, Will Johnston, and Nicola Rapko. Together, they also own The John and the unique premium dive bar called Jo-Jo.

Co-owner Will Johnston says the neighborhood draws a substantial clientele of individuals working in the bar scene.

While they were hanging out at Leslieville bars, Johnston and his partners got the scoop on the area from fellow bar owners, who said this lively strip was itching for a pub.

The J Arthur offers a laid-back and down-to-earth ambiance. They play eclectic, upbeat music that perfectly complements the visual atmosphere.

And the place is bursting with entertaining visuals – every bit of wall space is adorned with amusing posters or artwork. With so much happening in the decor, you can keep coming back and discover something new each and every time.

They've got some cool stuff for interactive fun, too, like pinball machines, a Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and a TV playing trivia.

It's also definitely a go-to spot for beer lovers, sticking to that classic pub vibe. They've got a wide array of Ontario craft beers to choose from.

But even if beer isn't your thing, the atmosphere and food menu here make it a place well worth a visit (and the friendly staff will always make sure you've got a tasty beverage in hand).

You can easily strike up a chat with the bartender here, too, who will help you discover a drink that suits your taste.

For instance, they whipped us up this fantastic cocktail that tasted just like cherry cola.

Another mixed drink they made for us put a fun spin on a classic Old Fashioned. It was a well-crafted concoction with a touch of frothiness and a subtle, smoky flavour complemented by a hint of citrus zest.

The food menu includes tasty pub fare, like sandwiches, hot dogs, wings, and fries. They've also got a pretty extensive vegan menu and a few hearty mains like mac and cheese, meat pie, and sausages, with their chef, Meg Banks, making sure to use fresh, top-notch ingredients.

Take their Sweet Potato Fries ($9), for example. Served with a chipotle aioli, these are made from scratch and are never frozen, and let me tell you, they're some of the crispiest sweet potato fries I've ever had the pleasure of devouring.

We tried the Fresh Rolls ($9) from the vegan menu, which were accompanied with a sweet soy dipping sauce. These are loaded with pickled carrot and daikon, lettuce, cucumber, pineapple salsa, and cilantro, all neatly bundled up in rice paper. 

The outside has a satisfying chewiness, while the inside packs a delightful crunch.

Also from their vegan menu, the Vermicelli Noodle Salad ($14) was like a salad version of the Fresh Rolls. This salad's got cooked vermicelli noodles, pickled carrot and daikon, pineapple salsa, cucumber, lettuce, and cilantro, offering a great medley of flavors and textures.

Plus, it's all drizzled with a sweet soy and sesame dressing. 

A pub classic, we had to dig into a pound of The J Arthur's Buffalo Wings ($17). They come with carrots, celery, and your choice of blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce.

You can absolutely taste the quality here, with the meat sourced straight from a vendor in St. Lawrence Market.

The Dirty D hot dog ($14) was tasty, but the toasted bun made it a bit challenging to eat. It came topped with bacon bits, cheese, crispy onions, and yellow mustard, served alongside crispy fries.

If you're looking for a deal, check out "Weiner Wednesdays," when you can snag any of their hot dogs for just $10. 

Drawing from Chef Meg's Australian background, the Crikey! Burger ($22) features a kangaroo patty. The kangaroo meat has a bit of a beef-like taste, but is chewier and has a unique aftertaste.

Topped with pickled beets, bacon jam, arugula, crispy onions, and lemon garlic aioli, this burger is a flavour combo worth trying.

The J Arthur is located at 1044 Gerrard Street East.