news Vintage Toronto Ads: Perogies Galore!



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.