where jess ate

Whenever people are looking for a fun alternative to a bar, I often recommend SPiN (@SPiN_Toronto), a ping pong venue located on King West. Chuckle if you must but one visit will change your mind.

I’ve been here many times and even if you’re not a ping pong superstar, it’s a lot of fun. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and shed some layers – it can get intense!

SPiN has 12 ping pong tables in the space and while memberships are available, they aren’t required to participate in the fun. If you want to reserve a table in advance, it’ll cost $60 per hour. But if you’re not going during prime time and don’t mind taking a chance, I’d recommend walking in – the rates are $20/hour before 5pm and $30/hour after 5pm.

And despite what you might think, this 12,000 sq ft ping pong club isn’t simply about ping pong. With two bars and a large menu of fun comfort food, SPiN is a great place to grab drinks, food and let loose! They’re open late every night – till 1am Sunday to Wednesday and 2am Thursday to Saturday.

Last week, I attended a media preview for their new winter menu created by Chef Jon Lovett (@iamjonlovett). Here’s a look at what we tried:

 iPunch – smashed blackberries drowned in a Margarita bowl, Tequila Tromba + pomegranate + blackberries + agave ($54.50 for a punch bowl)

BFF – Ciroc peach + elderberry + bubbles ($12.40)

Gin Blossom – Tanqueray + St Germain + Lemon ($12.40)

Oysters – with hot sauce “caviar”, lemon & horseradish (3 for $8/6 for $15)

Devilled Eggs – Free Run hen’s eggs, beet root & chives (6 for $9)

Fried Pickles – compressed cucumbers, dill & SPiN sauce ($8)

Veggies – vegetable terrine, flatbreads, pickled things & salads ($12)

Meats – house charcuterie, flatbreads, pickled things & mustards ($12)

Pretzels – original recipe, “everything” spice & warm cheese (9 for $9)

Cured Trout – Whiskey cured steelhead trout, endive, radish & granny smith ($12)

Drumsticks – King Capon chicken, chili BBQ & pickled slaw (3 for $12)

Lamb Chops – Forsythe lamb, Perth bacon, caramelized carrot & Nutella “snow” (3 for $18)

Chicken & Waffles – roasted King Capon chicken, “Stuffing” waffles, pumpkin & cranberry (1/2 chicken for $19)

Crab Cake Sandwich – Atlantic Rock crab salad, Asian pickles & Hellman’s ($12)

Banana Pudding – banana mousse, candied rice puffs & pistachio ($8)

Milk & Cookies – chocolate chip cookies & bourbon-milk punch ($8)

Winter Shortcake – fruit preserves, buttermilk biscuit & cream ($8)

Daily Sundae – homemade seasonal ice cream & tasty treats ($8)

With an extensive menu, there’s definitely something to suit everyone’s taste at SPiN. Highlights for me included the fried pickles, pretzels, drumsticks and crab cake sandwich.

I’m not a big fan of pretzels but I’ll be damned. These fresh bite-sized pretzels were incredible – warm and fluffy with just the right amount of salt. They tasted great even on their own without the cheese dipping sauce.

The giant King Capon drumsticks, which is their take on Korean fried chicken, was another fun dish. The chicken was well-fried and was covered in a generous coating of chili BBQ sauce.

When the crab cake sandwich first arrived, I was a little skeptical of the black bun, which was coloured with squid ink. The crab cake was well fried and had a moist interior. With the pickled veggies and dollop of mayo, it was pretty darn tasty!

Like I said, SPiN is more than just ping pong. If you’re looking for a fun night out, check ’em out!

*This was a complimentary meal. The opinions in the post are my own.*