Like Mitzi's Café and Mitzi's Sister, Mitzi's on College, the newest brunch spot in the Mitzi empire, overflows with the hip, the hungry, and the hung-over. Opening on Saturday, it has arrived just in time to pour hollandaise all over a perceived gap in the College/Ossington brunch scene (the diners next to me were bemoaning the lack of a good brunch in this 'hood, forgetting perhaps, that the Dakota Tavern is but a short walk away).
Since Mitzi's College opening had been delayed, I called ahead to confirm it was running and learned that the queue of excited diners stretched down the block. That was enough for my sweetheart and I to delay our trip until 3:30, when most serious Sunday brunchers have already dragged their morning-after smells and heavy bellies back home to bed.
It was a good strategy. By the time we arrived, the queue was a distant memory and only confusion among wait staff could delay our meal any longer. Some caveats: it was Mitzi's on College's second day in operation, and by all accounts it had been a doozy. If service in the future falters like it did on our trip, then only lazy hung-over locals too tired to walk for food will save the restaurant. For now, I'll just trust that Mitzi's needs to sling a few more oatmeal pancakes before they get their groove on. 
I'll also hope that they get some hairnets for their kitchen staff, because my delicious poached egg on sweet potato mash with aged cheddar sauce and sautéed leeks would have been a lot more appealing without the lone human hair nestled beneath my toast. For the record, I didn't mention it to staff: although I don't think hair on my breakfast is cool (especially when said breakfast breaks the $10 mark), I had waited awhile for this meal, and was eager to get on with it. And I'm glad I did, because, for the most part, it was really tasty. Poached eggs were perfectly executed, with whites as firm as the yolks were runny. Nestled atop a blazing orange scoop of sweet potato mash and smothered in a tangy aged-cheddar sauce, they gained delicate crunch from a sprinkle of crispy sautéed leeks. They were everything poached egg treats should be, and warm and tasty enough to add heat and flavour to my cold home fries.
My sweetheart's oatmeal pancake, the Mitzi empire's signature brunch dish, was the winner at our table. Both hearty and fluffy, it rode the fine line between healthy and decadent. Served with blueberries, creamy Pernod custard and a side of whipped cream, it's easy to see why this tasty treat has become the hallmark of a Mitzi's breakfast.
Mitzi's on College is a bit too far from my home and a bit too pricey to ever become a regular brunch option for me, and it's unlikely I'll be returning anytime soon. But one thing is certain: Mitzi's pancakes have earned a permanent place in my breakfast fantasies.
Poached eggs, sweet potato mash, home fries, fruit and toast: $13.75
Oatmeal buttermilk pancake: $13.95
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Went for lunch yesterday, and I have to agree, the eggs are perfectly poached. My friend also said the French toast was some of the best he's ever had.
Mitzi's does fill somewhat of a brunch gap; the Dakota is lovely, but not very veggie-friendly.
The Dakota is also teaming with noisey children on saturday afternoons for some reason, i thought it was a bar...
I've been a couple of times already and have had no service issues and two delicious meals (the poached eggs you had and also the pesto club sandwich). I would suggest not doing reviews in the first week of a restaurant's operation. Also, traditional restaurant reviews usually involve more than one visit to the restaurant. I know this is meant to be more informal, but when it's someone's business or livelihood you're affecting, you need to think of the ethics behind what you're doing.
I disagree. I think a restaurant review within the first week is not only perfectly viable, but normal. Do you only want to read glowing reviews? I thought the above was totally fair, and I for one am glad that the hair got mentioned - it is totally unacceptable no matter what stage your restaurant is at or how much you pay for your food.
It seems to me that blogto is more about reporting and revealing Toronto's bountiful new and upcoming things than taking the time (and having the budget) to visit a restaurant 3 or 4 times - especially a place of Mitzi's echelon. I appreciate their consumer-perspective. If you want more in-depth reviews of greater gastronomical value, skip a blog and read Joanne Kates.
We went last Sunday and were told a table would be 30 minutes. It was over an hour. And our brunch took another hour more to arrive. And we also managed to get a lucky hair.
Having said all that it was day 2. The food was very good and the patio was really pleasant (well shaded, nice plant boxes, not too much traffic). We'll give it a couple of weeks, try to avoid the rush and go again.
I wish them luck, for sure. But they really really need to work out the hairy food thing cos that just don't fly. Not sure I'm convinced about the brunch-gap thing. There's Boom on College, the Gayley and the Lula Cafe on Dundas, Levack Block on Ossington. The Dip does a decent breakfast (the potatoes are kind of Tater-Totty but the pancetta is to die for). You can get a classic greasy-spoon kinda brek at The Black Knight. At College and Bathurst there's Maggie's and Sneaky Dee's. Pantry has a good breakfast sandwich thing and fab coffee. Caldense Bakery and Nova Era Bakery have good pastries and coffee.
I think there are a reasonable number of options in the general area, actually.
@Katy, the only place on your list that offers Mitzi's calibre eats is Pantry, and it's not the same kind of sit down brunch.
Apart from Swan, now that Mimi's is long gone, Mitzi's is probably the only other place to get the density that a good brunch demands.
We were really excited for this location of Mitzi's to open right at the bottom of our street. We tried it out on the weekend and although the food was really enjoyable (french toast and pancakes), the prices are absurd. $14 for brunch is too high. I was expecting an exciting little neighbourhood joint for coffees and breakfast... but we won't be going back anytime soon, regardless of the good food. Most people aren't willing to drop $25 (after coffee, bacon, tip, ect) on a plate of eggs or pancakes. Hopefully the owners will realize that this kind thing isn't realistic for the younger people who live in the area.
While it may have been the single best pancake I have ever had, waiting just about an hour for a $14 single pancake is a little unreasonable in my mind, no matter how busy they are...
Aside from that, what's with the lack of air circulation? Thank goodness we haven't been hit with any sort of real summer yet, because if it were any hotter inside the poached eggs my friend had would have been hard boiled by the time they made it to the table... invest in a fan, at $14 a pancake they should be able to afford a couple.
service was very good. everyone was very friendly and on the ball. the club sandwich was very very delicious.
prices are high but if you treat yourself to brunch once in a while, who cares.
i will return.
I have worked as a chef for 10 years and can not for the life of me understand why people make such a fuss over a strand of hair. If I could put out 2000 plates of food in a week and have only a few go out with hair on them I am happy. I am far more worried about things you can't see like salmonella. Bacteria and pathogens that will kill you, hair wont.
And yes, reviewing a restaurant after only one visit is amateurish at best.
So let me get this straight you reviewed a restaurant on its second day, near closing, when they had been extremely busy, and printed said review. Looks like the cafe staff aren't the only ones dropping the ball.
no, it is not normal or viable. Any reviewer worth their salt waits until an establishment works out the kinks, then goes back to assure consistency and fairness.
i'm all for people reviewing new or existing restaurants ... but come on .. they had only been open for a day when this reviewer went for a visit ... i don't usually comment on these blogs but i have to say i was a bit surprised that anyone would write a review based on a new restaurants second day .. i don't know the protocol when it comes to reviewing but it seems to me it only makes sense to wait a week or two so they can figure things out! That being said, my partner and i live close to Mitzi's on College and were very excited that something worth going to was opening in our 'hood. We went opening weekend and had a great experience .. the food was top notch ... and the service was really friendly ..
i do think it took a bit too long to get our food .. but who cares! it was their first weekend.
we've been back several times and have enjoyed every meal. The service is far better then most brunch places .. and should be for the price we've payed for our meals. I know it seems like a lot for most people .. but where are you going to get poached eggs on eggplant and saffron yogurt?? not many .. all in all my partner and i (who have lived in this 'hood for 10 years) are happy something decent has opened...
the servers and owners keep telling me that they are planning on opening for dinner soon ..
can't wait ...
This place is garbage. Food is bland, overpriced for what it is, and if you can't make eggs properly or prepare proper toast you shouldn't open a 'brunch' place. The servers are clueless as well. The only redeeming thing was that at least the coffee was hot. Terrible layout of restaurant whoever designed the place, terrible art, terrible 'empire', need i say more?
Best brunch place on college, Boom, or everything else OTHER than Mitzi's on college. Absolute waste.
boom is NOT great in anyway. not sure if it is a chain, but it has the same vibes as Cora's for sure. it's decent at best.
mitzi's however is pretty good. my partner had the pestoclub and I had eggs. What baffled me was our bill afterwards. After breakfast, coffees, tax & tip it was over $40. It took over an hour for us to get our food and they were actually OUT of a lot of things.
we will absolutely not return.
Wtf is wrong with blogTo?
This "review" is completely worthless.
CAN YOU PEOPLE NOT WAIT UNTIL A JOINT HAS BEEN OPEN FOR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE WRITING A REVIEW?
AND VISIT THE JOINT AT LEAST TWICE?
YOU CONTINUE TO BE VERY DISRESPECTFUL OF PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS THAT THEY HAVE POURED EVERYTHING INTO.
IF YOU OPEN A RESTAURANT WHY NOT PREP YOUR STAFF AND STOCK YOUR PRODUCTS ACCORDINGLY?
Simple logic suggests that if you aren't ready to serve food then hold out.
If the City of Toronto came in for a surprise inspection, would you cry and say "BUT IT'S our SECOND DAY?". Yeah, that's not going to fly.
loved loved loved mitzi's! i have been there a handful of times and have enjoyed all of my experiences. the proscuitto/asparagus omelette were delicious! i definitely recommend this joint.
I was quite surprised at some of the negative reviews, but I realize everybody has their own experiences, so I know it's pretty much your own perceptions that matter. I guess they've changed the prices because for two of us the bill was $25 and that included two freshly squeezed juices and a side order,in addition to our breakfast specials. And I agree about their poached eggs- absolutely amazing- done perfectly and so fresh, they actually tasted free range, though unfortunately, they were not. It would be nice to have them; I would be willing to pay more for free run eggs. Also, the oatmeal pancake was to die for. Compare that to $36 at OverEasy, where you also get charged $2 extra for multi grain toast and the owner wanders around with a very surly expression on his face, barking at the servers! And while their eggs and pancakes are standardly fine, they're nowhere near Mitzi's calibre.
In addition, our servers (we had one server waiting on us and another who helped her out) were both absolutely adorable, charming and efficient. Very friendly, too. Mitzi's is not in my neighbourhood, either, but we will definitely come back. The layout may have been rather long and narrow, but the chairs and booths were very comfortable and it had a very nice ambiance. It was a little warm in there and I do hope they will have some kind of air circulation on hotter days. But those are petty little quibbles, compared to the lovely food, service and atmosphere. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
Such a cute little neighborhood spot!
Loved the ambiance, so homey and cozy, and the staff was very friendly.
The food was great, so fresh, tasty, and arranged beautifully. Not the largest portions in the world, but really, really good and down-to-earth food. Everything seems like it is made solely for you. We had the Maple Latte (heaven in your mouth), an omelette special with pork and leeks (tender and tasty), and the homemade granola (outstanding, extremely crunchy, full of seeds, and not too sweet at all) with fresh yogurt and fruits.
Very happy this place opened up in my 'hood. Food (especially the pesto club) was fantastic. Service was also excellent. Prices are a bit steep.
$45 for two juice two brunch + tip
for ordinary brunch
sorry I would rather goto lady mamalade
So i have been twice and i must say i was very happy to have a brunch place open so close to home, BUT to my disappointment nothing, NOTHING about Mitzi's was even close to enjoyable. The service was horrible (i had dreams about how horrible the service was...i don't know why maybe because it was so close to home)and the food wasn't even great. Both times i went i was horribly disappointed, and the prices are absurd. I have made it my mission to pass the word of the horrible service and sub-par food to my friends and family. Aunties and uncles is way better and well worth the wait.