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Vintage Toronto Ads: Perogies Galore!

20100126pierogi.jpg
Source: The Toronto Sun, September 13, 1977.

Over the past few days, Torontoist readers have shared their thoughts about prorogation and construction on Roncesvalles Avenue. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for today’s ad to fall into our lap, as it’s relevant to both hot topics: the tasty perogies served up at prorogation protests across the country and an eatery that once graced the torn-up street.
The Sir Nicholas Tavern began serving Polish specialties in the late 1960s. When asked about the name, owner Nicholas Sacharewicz noted, “I deserve to be a sir. It’s about time.” Among the notable figures that paid homage were Pierre Trudeau, singer Bobby Vinton, and Pope John Paul II. Most reviews, such as the following from a 1977 edition of the Globe and Mail, felt the honourific was deserved:

Deluxe Polish cooking is alive and well at Sir Nicholas. The décor is, to be polite, exuberant, fully of statuary and coats of arms and candles born aloft by cherubim. There are wonderful spicy dishes like sauerkraut soup, pickled wild mushrooms from Poland, cabbage rolls, broiled sausages and, of course, melt-in-the-mouth pierogi.

The site of Sir Nicholas is currently occupied by Tinto Coffee House.
Additional material from the December 7, 1977 edition of the Globe and Mail; and the August 14, 1981 and October 18, 1982 editions of the Toronto Star.

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  • http://undefined MariaPD

    When did Pope John Paul II go?

  • http://apptheta.com Cbab

    I went for the pierogi, but I stayed for the gaiety.

  • David Toronto

    I remember that I took a friend there about
    20 years ago and she remembered the hunters’
    stew very fondly.

  • Jamie Bradburn

    Before he became Pope—one article in the Star indicated he went to the Sir Nicholas for a party in 1969 (on the same trip, the future pontiff also dropped by a former classmate’s house for tea and cookies).

  • http://undefined Vincent Clement

    I remember going there for special occasion dinners as a child.

  • http://undefined dawnd

    So, where does one go NOW for a good pierogy dinner? i’ve been searching for a while now. Thanks.

  • http://undefined wanderoo

    Thanks Torontoist. The Sir Nicholas has been closed for years and now I want to have dinner there. Tonight.
    I guess Cafe Polonez will have to do.

  • Jamie Bradburn

    For anyone wishing to recreate a meal from the St. Nicholas, I found their recipe for bigos.