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Lakeview Lunch Enters the Deadpool

Posted by Tim / August 12, 2008

29 Comments

Lakeview LunchThe Lakeview Lunch may be finally closed for good. The iconic diner on Dundas West which has seemingly hosted more film shoots than satisfied customers had its doors locked last week and the building is now up for sale.

All indications are the landlord is looking to move on to other projects, having not received rent from yet another tenant. The Termination Notice to Tenant is pictured below.

Stopping by to take these photo today I met a woman who was scoping out the premises. She's looking to open a Korean/Japanese restaurant in the neighbourhood and was asking me my impressions about the location.

It could be a good time to get in. While I think it would be a missed opportunity to not try to revitalize the Lakeview Lunch name, the location is sure to be a winner over the next few years as Ossington gets maxed out and new spots open up on Dundas.

Already things are starting to move in that direction as the owner of Sweatty Betty's is in the process of opening up a new, smaller bar on Dundas, just west of Communist Daughter.

Lakeview Lunch Notice

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Corina / August 12, 2008 at 05:30 pm
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Whoa I'm shocked! Lakeview has been around forever... nice service in the early a.m. too.
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Anon / August 12, 2008 at 06:51 pm
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I had the first comment on your previous review ("poor quality food, served with a scowl") and so I'm pleased to see this place close. Again.

Please please please don't try to put another diner there. (And I love diners!) And please please please don't try to revitalize the Lakeview Lunch name, which only stands for bad food. HINT: that's why this last reopening failed - everyone knows that Lakeview Lunch is a crappy place to eat. Burn it down, do something different. It's a poor layout for a single restaurant anyway. Should probably be reseparated into two separate locations.

A Korean place would be great. The closest good Korean is San on Queen St.
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Sean Galbraith / August 12, 2008 at 07:46 pm
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Every time I'd been there, the food was mediocre and the service was slow. I can't say I'm surprised, though it is unfortunate for those who have lost their jobs.
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Phil / August 12, 2008 at 07:51 pm
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Lakeview Lunch changed hands a couple years ago. I remember reading a longish article about the history of the place, probably in the Toronto Star. I have high hopes it'll will be reincarnated as the Lakeview Lunch again, hopefully with better food and service.
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Nolan / August 12, 2008 at 07:52 pm
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I'm always surprised to hear people giving Lakeview Lunch such lousy reviews. I went there a few times in the past 6 months and have had some really good meals. They have delicious mango milkshakes, good quesadillas, and tasty veggie burgers. I'm sad to see it close!
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Komo / August 12, 2008 at 08:48 pm
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I am heartbroken. The food may not have been fantastic, but the place was so charming that it didn't matter. Though I agree about its split layout. At least there are still a number of other great Toronto diners
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jamesmallon / August 12, 2008 at 08:52 pm
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Korean, please! This town doesn't need another crappy sushi place!
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Teena in Toronto / August 12, 2008 at 09:09 pm
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Lakeview Lunch has so much potential. But the food wasn't very good and the service was worse. I ordered a rum and coke there the last time I was there and the waitress didn't even know what rum was!
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Matt / August 12, 2008 at 09:45 pm
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Man. I feel like I burned five years of my life at the Lakeview. So many Toronto Omelettes....
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Tanja / August 12, 2008 at 11:09 pm
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The place is too gorgeous to waste. I wish I had the cash to buy it. Better service and a real space for live music and it could be so amazing. Breaks my heart.
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matt v / August 12, 2008 at 11:20 pm
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y'know, the food here was kind of horrible. it was dirty and it smelled like a ball bag. maybe if they cleaned once in a while it wouldnt have gone under. the beans served with brunch were a nice touch, though it still didnt make up for the stank.
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Vern / August 13, 2008 at 03:35 am
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pfft. Lakeview Lunch. What I want to know is what happened to the diner I actually like...the Stem?? "Closed for Renovations" since June 30 but it seems kind of suspicious. I walk past it almost every day and it sure doesn't look like any renovations are happening. Anyone know the story?
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laurel / August 13, 2008 at 08:31 am
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i'm so upset!!! i loved this place! their veggie burger was wicked!
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Laura / August 13, 2008 at 09:38 am
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Whoever said that we don't need another crappy sushi place should actually try some Korean food before sounding like an ignorant bigot.
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James / August 13, 2008 at 09:44 am
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Last time I was in there it was humble but delicious, the service was good, and Neil Young was crooning away on the stereo. The Lakeview had style.
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Laura / August 13, 2008 at 09:49 am
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It seems to be on sale for $89k only. Sounds like a fantastic opportunity for a new trendy pub or hangout...
MLS?: C1339723
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O. Terry / August 13, 2008 at 10:24 am
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A few years ago thge place wasn't bad but it seemed that every time the owners changed it got worse. Maybe the service was bad because the owners, like a lot of restaurant owners, were too cheap to hire enough staff. But even if the food was okay what really turned me off is that they played the music so loud when it was really busy at brunch which created a very unpleasent experience. I liked it at night sometimes when it was quieter.
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Jeremy WIlson / August 13, 2008 at 10:27 am
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The $89K is for the business, not the building.
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Go Toronto Card / August 13, 2008 at 10:46 am
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Well all good things must come to an end sometimes. Maybe something really good will take its place and keep the torch going.
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Gloria / August 13, 2008 at 12:09 pm
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What a gorgeous building. Somebody save it!
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oliver / August 13, 2008 at 12:13 pm
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chances are that if a sushi place opens, it wont be good. it is a rarity in this town. korean? no thanks. close enough to korea town. i live in the neighborhood and i must say - there arent so many good places to eat for under $12 a plate. i would be happy to see some good Greek or Mediterranean food happening. Or the owners of Banjara could run that place well.
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Teena in Toronto / August 13, 2008 at 02:17 pm
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It would be a great spot for a pub!
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Rip / August 16, 2008 at 05:30 pm
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I think it will only take the right people to bring the Lakeview Lunch back to it's potential. When the food and service were good it was a line-up to get a table. that's still possible. I bet if the right people get in there, with a fresh new take on what the Lakeview "is" you'll see a great place to eat in a great neigbourhood.
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inthahood / September 5, 2008 at 07:11 pm
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Something's going on now... The 'for lease' sign is gone and the windows have brown paper on them.
The iconic sign is still up...
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inthahood / September 7, 2008 at 07:25 pm
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Apparently the 'new' lakeview lunch is opening.
Signs up for help wanted.
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checkitout / October 25, 2008 at 07:44 pm
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http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=810378
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Duwop / November 24, 2008 at 11:03 am
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Obviously ANON has a cracked skull!

like there aren't enough sushi/ Korean places around...And I bet most are run by Koreans or Chinese.

We need more places like these, such a beautiful restaurant. It needs to be preserved as a diner. I'm tired of ethnic restaurants plastering over good 1920's bricks so it can look like some cheesy Mediterranean building (Danforth).

We need more authentic diners!

Too bad the owners always seem brainless/ and unimaginative.
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Michael / December 7, 2008 at 12:20 pm
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Just came home from 'trying' to have brunch at the new Lakeview. Renovations look nice, but overall the experience was a nightmare. Waited forever for a server to take our order; when our breakfasts finally arrived neither were right so we sent them back. The same breakfasts reemerged five minutes later corrections (sort of) made, but with everything shuffled so we wouldn't notice it was the same food, just cold now. We sent the cold food back paid for our coffee and left.

Mistakes will be made, but they should corrected properly. Shuffling the food is the worst offense; they knew it wasn't right, and tried to hide it.

For a restaurant I previously thought had nowhere to go but up, The New Lakeview has found a new low.
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sarah replying to a comment from Anon / March 11, 2009 at 12:24 pm
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How dare you suggest burning it down?!?!? That is just the kind of crappy attitude that destroys history and culture to make way for all that is new and character-less! The Lakeview Lunch is one of few shining examples of Art-Deco beauty and should be preserved in all it's historic beauty. Shame on you!!
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