Edward Levesque's Kitchen in Leslieville, so i've heard many times through the brunch grapevine, is an east end staple for the city's beloved weekend meal. This spot has caught my eye on many a best brunch list, but being a west-ender I don't often venture as far as the other side of the Don Valley for my Saturday eggs. Having become very familiar with what the west end has to offer in terms of brunch, my friend and I decide it's about time we head to Leslieville to see what the east side has to offer.
The small storefront, aside from being bright orange, doesn't look like much from the exterior, but as soon as we enter the restaurant we feel immediately welcomed. From the street we walk directly into the open kitchen where we're greeted by various cooks who all offer us a friendly hello as our server guides us to the dining room in the back. The room is fairly small and cozy, and though there is a quiet buzz of soft music and brunch diners, this space somehow seems a little more reserved, even elegant, compared to the usual bustling, noisy brunch found in some of my favourite weekend haunts.
Our sociable server is quick to bring us two cups of bottomless coffee (2.50) and walk us through the specials. The weekend menu at Edward Levesque's offers the same sandwiches, salads and all-day breakfasts available throughout the week, as well as a selection of various enticing sweet and savoury dishes offered only on the weekend. Though many of the all-day items catch my eye, it only seems right to order from the weekend-only menu.
After much deliberation, we finally come to a decision, the first of which is an appetizer of four mini chive biscuits ($3.50). The savoury biscuits arrive warm with some soft butter for spreading, just what we need to hold us over 'til the mains arrive.
Today's omelette special (top photo) is roasted tomatoes with herbed ricotta cheese ($12), and when our server informs us he just enjoyed this dish himself, we're sold. The giant, fluffy omelette comes sided with some whole grain toast and a generous heap of unexciting greens, but the omelette itself makes up for the lacklustre side. The sweet roasted tomatoes and herbed ricotta make an appetizing omelette filling, and the omelette itself is very well prepared.
We also order the poached eggs with Italian sausage, corn bread, home fries and chilli sauce ($14). When the generous bowl containing all of these items lands in front of my dining companion, I immediately experience dish envy. Thankfully after a couple bites of the omelette, my friend pronounces this her favourite of the two, and we happily swap.
Moist, mildly spicy cornbread comes topped with (albeit slightly overcooked) poached eggs, accompanied by excellent herbed home fries and a sweet sauce of tomatoes, herbs and spices that brings the dish together; the final touch is one Italian sausage gracing the top of this delicious mess. Though runnier eggs would have perfected the dish, this, to me, is an excellent example of what a brunch meal should look like.
Though already feeling full, when the scent of today's roasted cauliflower soup ($5) wafts over from the next table, we decide to try a bowl as well. The pureed cauliflower flavoured with warm spices (cinnamon, we wonder?), is topped with two cheese and chive sprinkled crostini, a lovely soup for a gloomy fall day.
An appealingly diverse brunch menu and a welcoming atmosphere make it clear why Edward Levesque's Kitchen is considered a neighbourhood favourite, and our satisfying meal leaves us feeling that our foray to the east was worth the journey.
Photos by Taralyn Marshall
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DO NOT EAT HERE!
The owner snapped at me 3 times for asking to substitute homefries for salad. (I even offered to pay more!).
worst service ever. This place will eventually go under due to service. The waitresses seem so sweet for the first while and after a few months they get bitchy like him.
I heard great things about this place, finally decided to give it a try and I found this place to be totally overrated.
The food was 'okay' at best. The place was a sauna in the summer time and I would have to agree with the above poster, the service was HORRIBLE.
For 15-20 a person I could think of many other places in the neighbourhood that would be worth going to, such as OKOK or Stratengers (both up the street from Edward Levesque's)
Food was good - service was terrible. What was worse than an hour's wait for a sandwich was the overwhelming sense of apathy about the wait coming from the staff.
Would not return.
Delightful classy restaurant. Exquisite food, prompt friendly service. The strawberry lemonade is perfectly refreshing and if you linger long enough over the fabulous desserts you can watch the streetcar gliding by.
I agree with the first two posts. I have personal experience with Edward Levesque myself. And have found him to be rude and ignorant and miserable. I have lived in the area for 2 years and have never seen him smile. EVER!!! The staff looks miserable and look like they want to be anywhere but there. I have never eaten there but am afraid too because of the lack of character and personality.
I went to Edward Levesque for the first time yesterday and it will be the last time. We went for brunch and waiting for a table was the best part of the experience. My girlfriend ordered a banana smoothie and when it arrived, it was warm.
We waited for an hour for our food and it was average at best. Another friend had the french toast and there was next to no ricotta filling inside. The fruit salad was warm and inedible. The kitchen forgot to make the side order of bacon even though we reminded our server on 2 occasions.
The table behind us waited an hour and they only ordered soup.
The food was average at best.
I feel sorry for the servers as the kitchen was really slow in getting the orders out and they were taking the brunt of the complaints.
The best brunch in Leslieville?!?!?! I'm not quite sure how this resto gets so much positive hype from the critics. I have to agree with all the naysayers (which seem to out-weigh the lovers... 1 post so far) above. I've been to Edward Levesque's twice. The first time, to see if it lives up to the hype. The second time, to give it another chance. Both visits, the service was terrible (rude, forgetful & painfully slow)& the food wasn't anything special. Definitely wouldn't recommend it. & no plans on going back either when there are so many other fabulous brunch options in Toronto.
I agree with most posters here. The food was VERY average at best. The service was terrible- that Edward was rude. And when we wanted separate bills they just averaged the bill and added waay too much tip - "so that'll be easier for us to pay" - WTF? I'll tip whatever the hell I want and with the crappy food and service - no tip was justified.
this place gave me food poisoning on new years eve....the food seemed decent at the time which is the kicker....you are better off to give up eating completely...do not eat here, your bowels will thank you
Wow. I'm really surprised to see the negative comments. I took my mum here recently and both of us loved it. The menu is way more interesting than most spots, the service was good and the prices are reasonable. We didn't even mind waiting more than 20 minutes to get in. Brunch here on weekends usually means a line-up (as they don't take reservations) and given that people continue to line-up I suspect that, on average, most people really like the place.
Contrary to earlier reviews, Edward Levesque's Kitchen doesn't get the long brunch line-ups it once did. Clearly folks are catching on to the average food and horrible service because the place was empty on a Saturday at 11AM.
My poached eggs were very overcooked, my companion's omelette was fine but unimpressive and the waitstaff ignored us for large portions of the meal. What a waste of weekend brunch.
We had 1 p.m. reservations for Winterlicious last Sunday and arrived on time to be greeted with a lineup out the door and no staff to greet us. Nobody acknowledged us (or anyone else in line) after waiting for at least 10 minutes. We eventually left as the line wasn't moving and we weren't pleased about not being told what was going on.
I went to eat at Edward Levesque's Kitchen last night for the first time and really enjoyed it. The menu features lots of vegetarian choices and organic meats, which pleased both my partner and myself. Food was very good, with fresh off-the-farm veggies. I found the prices to be quite fair for the amount and quality of food that we were served. And contrarily to many comments here, the service was fine, partly done by Edward Levesque himself who DOES smile.
Great brunch. Good service. Yeah the owner's a bit of a crank. who cares?? ever been to Schwartz's in Montreal or ANY restaurant in NYC? Go to Krlsey's if you want some fake love.
I take exception to the remark by poster 'bill' about New York restaurants. I'm a New Yorker and I like NY restaurants. Yes, some mid-price busy places- especially when they cater to the business crowd- can be cranky (however, that is of course, a gross generalization), but will respond when spoken to. Canadians are more reserved and will not fight back and thus, rude hosts, cooks and owners will get away with inexcusable behaviour, but in New York, we bite back. Then the rude host, chef, etc usually laughs and you become their favourite customer. This technique, however, doesn't translate to Toronto, unfortunately, and that makes me miss the banter and the camaraderie in New York.
The worst places are the downtown delis, but it helps if you're a fresh-faced Jewish girl- you just have to suffer getting your face pinched- hard.
Rachel, you completely missed and backed up my point at the same time. Obviously I'm a big fan of the New York attitude, a generalization as it is. It's what can make many dining experiences memorable. That and great food.
Tim,
I was being tongue-in-cheek, too; I liked your review. I just thought I would explain why you felt that rudeness was not a problem. I believe people should stand up against tyranny everywhere.
I went and I liked it. Very friendly staff and good food, slightly on the pricey side. One issue with my Full Monty breakfast. Whenever I get baked beans with my breakfast I prefer it if they are in their own ramekin. The dining room had a nice atmoshpere as well.
The dichotomy at EL's is incredible. I ate dinner there, and would NEVER return. Aside from the usual complaints about the service, staff, and unwillingness of EL to substitute items, the food was expensive and mediocre. That said, I have never eaten brekkie there, and cannot comment - some of our neighbours really like EL's breakfast, while others make the same complaints about service and attitude. The key to a restaurant's success is CONSISTENCY, something Levesque has failed to learn. He may have a following of semi-regulars, but ank anyone who has had a bad experience there if they'd go back: the answer is "no."
I'm beginning to think that someone's on the take at blogto or that the owners voted for themselves multiple times. The ratio of negative to positive reviews for the restos on this "top 10 list" tells the real story.
Frankly, I'd rather go to frigging Golden Griddle than go somewhere where customers are treated like an inconvenience and the food is only just passable. It's times like this that I thank God for the internet. Thanks for the honest reviews, all.
Ok. First of all, this place has a sign outside that says "Steak Chick Peas & Alcohol". Like WTF is that? So during our first visit we ordered the "Steak, Chick Peas & Alcohol" and the staff were'nt impressed. While the breakfast was good, the service was a bit edgy and short. Edward came to our table personally to claim his tab and he was pretty rude.
DO NOT EAT THERE!
I usually don't bother writing bad feedbacks because I don't want to hurt somebody else's business, but I have been working at Edward Levesque's Kitchen and he is the most dishonest and impolite person that i ever worked for... first of all, he takes a big chunk of the tips that we make to himself, he cheats on payrolls, forces us to eat (eggs only) every shift (because if we don't we still get charged for the meal anyway) and he fired me while i was on vacation for saying that i was asking for too much time off (it was my birthday week-end and i asked him a month in advance!) and he almost didn't pay me my tips (200$) when i came back pretending that he sent the money (in cash) via mail...
This guys is mean and inconsiderate and i really do not believe that he deserves to stay in business... also seriously i dont know why the fuss about it because the food isn't even that good...
I had brunch here this past Sunday and thought it was pretty good. I thought my waffle was delish and my boyfriend seemed to like his pancakes and commented on how fresh his OJ tasted.
We didn't have any problems with our server, he was nice and our food came pretty quickly. It was 11pm on Easter Sunday and was almost dead when we walked in. Started to pick up by the time we were done though.
I thought the atmosphere was really cute and would eat there again. I'm surprised at all the bad reviews.
One comment... you cannot choose how you want your eggs cooked, really you are a restaurant and you cannot make an over easy egg.
Eddie, it looks like Gordy needs to shake you up a bit - your mind must be as scrambled as the eggs you try to pawn off on the locals, le petite restaurateur!
this place is soooo overrated. any brunch on the block is better. I don't get the buzz on this place at all.
I'm afraid I must agree. I've gone to Edward Levesque a few times in the years we've lived in Leslieville, and each time I wondered why I went back. Decent food, but by the time it arrived it was either too warm or too cool. Our servers were pleasant enough, and the slowness is probably not their fault, but one can find better service (and food that's better, or at least as good) elsewhere in Leslieville.
I went here last year with my boyfriend. We heard great things about it but were totally disappointed. The food was below average. My boyfriend ordered a chick pot pie. He could only get one bite in. It was gross. I ordered eggs and they were disgusting. There were only a handful of people in the restaurant yet the service was super slow and the server was rude. We didn't feel comfortable at all. We won't go back - ever.
Ate there once. Took four of us for dinner: $350. Will NEVER eat there again. Terrible, rude service, and you kinow what? The food is bland and tastless.
All that money wasted that coulf have been spent at The Roy. Bloody shame.
@bill,
"Yeah the owner's a bit of a crank. who cares??"
Bill, the owner is a mantal case, not a "crank." I am surprised no one mentioned his Gestapo tactics on "no cell phones!!!" He is also a mediocre cook. Ironically, EL is right across the street from another rotten spot, Ceili Cottage, known also for its lousy service and horrid manager, the one who yells at people to leave the patio! I guess the two dumps share information on how to alienate customers.
Well I'm sold.
I've had lunch here twice. The first time was last years Winterlicious and it was one of the best Winterlicious meals I've ever had - so many different choices to choose from and so many interesting dishes. The second time for lunch was also very good. The staff was pleasant. No problems at all.
If you want a good brunch in leslieville go to toast, lady marmalade or leslie jones. Edward levesque ranks somewhere between stratengers lounge and queens bar & grill
Yes, Leslie Jones rocks! I would rank EL's sowhere between a hot dog seller pushing three-day-old weenies, and a frozen dinner from No Frills, however.
i love my hometown of Toronto, but New York is friendlier and more outgoing than this chilly city any day of the week.
oh, and I totally don't get why anyone would go to Ed Levesque. We went there for Winterlicious last year and were distinctly underwhelmed by the food, and annoyed by the passive/aggressive service. It has simply never occurred to us to ever return.
I'm going to preface my comments by saying that I do not work at EL, nor do I hold any sort of personal allegiance.
I love to eat. I believe I am a discerning customer. I believe that I know when food, service, or both, are lousy.
I have never had a bad experience at this restaurant.
Cooking on the breakfast line is tough work and sometimes dishes can go foul -- even with the best intentions (and/or talent). If this happens, I'll send a dish back. Eggs overdone? Send them back!
I've sent food back at EL but I've never had a bad experience as a result of it. If you aren't an asshole your service should be friendly and prompt.
What's with the over-sharpened / over-processed pictures? This food does not look very appetizing....
"If you aren't an asshole your service should be friendly and prompt" is one of the most incredibly naive social comments I have ever read.
@surprised,
Whatm exactly, qualifies as being an "a-hole"? In Edward's eyes, it seems pretty much all customers are a-holes, even if you make minute requests to the food, spices, how it is prepared, etc.
The problem with Edward is that he is naive, and doesn't realize that there is a LOT to choose from in the area, places where the service and food are 100 per cent better! Examples: Gio Rana's, Leslie Jones, Lil Baci, Fare Bistro... the list goes on and on.
Perhaps you've gone to EL and, by the Grace of God, hit paydirt every time. Even friends of mine who were dedicated to this place, who went every single weekend for brunch, don't patronize the place anymore. Customers can only take so much BS before they say "Enough!" and go elsewhere... like OKOK, for example.
Hahahaha. I like to go to places where not only do I not have to send it back but it also tastes good that's why I've been once and never again to EL. Send it back?not only does that sound like owner blaming the victim but it's also not a great sales pitch. I agree cooking in a kitchen is tough there are too many places that do it with out everything going foul to be bothered with a place like this.
It bums me out that there is no good brunch places on the east end. This place is would be great if it were in niagara falls, but toronto can (and does) do much better.
We once tried to go this restaurant a few years ago. I think it might have been for an early dinner (around 5-5:30pm?) likely on the weekend.
As we stepped in the doorway, we were asked if we had a reservation (we did not), and the person who "greeted" us muttered some kind of lame excuse about how we needed one. The restaurant was EMPTY at the time.
We had our kid with us who must have been 5-6 at the time. This is a VERY well-behaved child who does not disrupt the enjoyment of others when we go out. It was early, there wasn't anyone else there, what was the big deal?
Needless to say, despite any good food reviews I've heard, we've simply boycotted the place.
I've also heard from at least one other family that EL welcomes childless patrons but frowns on them once they have children!
there are so many amazing brunch places in the east end. ed levesque is not one of them to be sure but I'd say the best brunches in the city are in the eastend
I was a big fan of this place for a few years until i got completely horrible service on several occasions. I gave it a few tries because I had worked in the bar/restaurant industry and knew places had their 'off' days.
One time the waitress took our order and disappeared. She was all peaches and cream at the beginning. We had to ask the Busser for everything and then ended up asking him for the bill. As soon as we put our money on the table, Ker-plow!, she reappeared! Like friggin' Doug Henning.
Another time me and a friend ordered the same thing. Mine was ok-ish, his was luke-warm. the service was bad and mostly non-existent. He ended up getting food poisoning that day which lasted for 2 weeks afterwards.
I will agree with Lyor66; i knew a waitress that worked there and she mentioned that he asked all the staff how much they made in tips and if he felt they made too much, he would take some.
Im surprised this place has lasted as long as it did.
The owner is so rude and the service was terrible we left and went to ok ok glad we left never to go back.
SHUT THE PLACE DOWN!!!!!! IT'S AN EMBARASSMENT.
The problem with ELK is Ed Levesque! He used to be the SURLY waiter at Bonhour Brioche (about 10 years ago) before he opened up his own place (because nobody wants to work with him...sadly, others have to work with him).
His reputation preceeds him: NASTY/RUDE/SURLY. Some people shouldn't be in the front lines! He's right up there with Matt who owns Mercury Espresso also on Queen East but in the opposite direction.
For those of you who had a positive dining experience at ELK, consider yourselves lucky! Now go buy a lottery ticket.
Before we moved we had brunch here about once a month. Never had a problem. Never had a bad meal. Don't listen to the review comments here. Except of course the reviewer! This place is very good and the double smoked bacon is incredible! I couldn't care less if the owner is a little grumpy. Bottom line:Lineups don't lie.
A while back I called to ask if the meat was organic and ended up speaking to either a manager or the owner and I got an extremely rude response that was part "no" and part defending the family honour as if I insulted his first born child. It's like he couldn't believe I even asked that. How could common folk like myself even have the audacity to inquire and have preferences about what they prefer to eat? How is this guy still in business? Complete jerk. Needless to say, I didn't even go in.
Anyone who works at Levesque's needs to read this about owners taking tips from their staff -- they are trying to change the legislation so owners can no longer rip off their waitresses and waiters.
Good!
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/christina_blizzard/2010/11/04/15973636.html