Restaurants
Cora's
For those who've discovered brunch at Cora's, the weekend will never quite be the same. Now, a quintessential Sunday brunch involves waiting in long line with other hungry strangers - sometimes in the bitter cold - but amazingly, no one's complaining.
Naturally, this can only mean one thing: It's that good.
Cora's, at Wellington St West & Blue Jay's Way, is Toronto's link to a Montreal-based franchise -- where Mme Cora really exists. They've earned the devotion of patiently waiting fans by offering outstanding brunch that is deverse, affordably priced and an impressive mix of hearty traditional fare and modern health-conscious options... on the same dish! *gasp*
I went over to Cora's, late one Saturday morning. With a party of 5 (not the easiest to seat) we waited only 15-20 minutes tops before we were seated.
Flipping through the menu is a not a task suitable for the chronically indecisive. There is so much to choose from on this colourful catalogue menu. Omelet or eggs benny? Waffle or cinnamon french toast? Buckwheat crepes or the over-the-top Cora's special?
Here's what we went with:
1990's Harvest - Pictured at the top, this one is ideal for those who can't choose between sweet or salty. A large cinnamon-raisin brioche dipped in french toast batter with an egg and bacon on one side and an absolute mountain of fresh fruit on the other. While it wasn't my dish, I stole plenty of it. $9.85
Cora's Special - Two eggs, bacon strips, ham, sausage and a crepe... served alongside toast (and jam), real potatoes (better than hash browns!) and fresh fruit. All for $8.45.
Eggs Benedict with Swiss & Asparagus - Two poached eggs on an english muffin, covered with Hollandaise sauce served with roasted potatoes and a heap of artfully sliced fresh fruit.
Also available with 2 other incarnations: ham or brie + mushrooms. All $11.25
Rosemary's Sunday - Picturesque pile-up of a pair of eggs, bacon and two delicious real blueberry crepes. Like Cora's Special, this comes with fresh fruit and roasted potatoes on the side. $8.25
Washing those down were a few bottomless cups of coffee ($1.75), a Fruit Cocktail and a Banana Mango Smoothie (pictured here) - both $3.25.
As pleased as I was with the dish before me, every time the waiter walked by, I set my sights on something else. And while there's no way I could manage to eat another plateful, that's is of course what next time is for... which is what makes deciding easy.
Cora's is certainly going to be around a long while, so go ahead and try the special. You can always come back for more next week.
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Cora's - 277 Wellington St West
(at at Blue Jays Way)
(416) 598-2672
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Great review.
That morning we wanted to go to Easy Breakfast. While I'm really not a huge fan of the mexican influenced dishes, I like the place and it's WAY closer to me.
But once the party gets up to 5 people, there was no way Easy Breakfast was going to host us. Last time I went there with 4 (really the max you can do with the couple booths they have on the side) and we waited over half an hour. Imagine if they had to wait to combine tables for 5 or more.
I think the only other reasonable alternative for a big group is <a href="http://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2006/05/daybreak_for_all_day_breakfast_then_some/";>Daybreak</a> (formerly Eggstacy), at Church & Carlton... but we'd done that last time. ;)
Great photos, Tanja! This is what the food photos should look like for all the other food reviews. ;) Sorry, it really had to be said.
let me tell you about the food there.
1) its never cooked properly
2) the food is never actually what you order the kitchen has a tendency to substitute.
3) the poor staff is treated like slave labour. working 10+ hour shifts with no breaks for meals or even to go to the toilet
4) never leave a tip on credit card because it doesnt get to the servers.