Restaurants
The Lakeview
When the iconic Lakeview Lunch closed earlier this year, I wasn't the only one who was disappointed. Sure, the service was lousy and the food was worse but there was still something sad about a 1930's era diner shutting down just as Dundas West was showing new signs of life.
Then the National Post reported in September that the three guys who own the Chelsea Room had taken it over, planned to restore it and turn it into a 24 hour diner. It took months of work and no doubt the removal of unsightly grease from long-ignored places but finally the Lakeview Lunch has re-opened except this time under a new name - The Lakeview.
Meeting some friends at The Lakeview a few nights ago the first thing I notice is that my beloved neon sign is no longer out front. I asked Fadi Hakim, one of The Lakeview's new owners, why they decided to change it and he told me it wasn't a decision made lightly.
When they took over the restaurant they found a bunch of boxes that unearthed some of the site's history. The restaurant was actually founded in 1932 and called the Lakeview Restaurant. The name was changed in 1947 at which time the sign was also erected christening it the Lakeview Lunch. Unfortunately, sixty plus years of Toronto winters had not been kind to the sign. The paint was peeling, the neon was broken and they were advised by an insurance inspector that it was a safety hazard due to its weight.
So, they took it down and replaced it with a sign about the same size but white, light and modern. Inside The Lakeview, they've also made some much-needed changes. The whole space has been restored and updated and has more charm than it ever did. There is soft light throughout, a red glow from the front window, comfy diner booths, and found objects from the basement (like the thermometer and exit signs) have been scattered throughout.
But how's the food?
The good news is that The Lakeview has a new menu. Actually, it's a temporary late night menu as they plan to unveil an updated version - including a brunch menu - in mid January. A copy is embedded below.
It took us all a while to read the whole thing. There are hamburgers, sandwiches, apps like poutine and Nachos Tom Cruise, hot plates like streak frites and meatloaf and a number of 24 hour breakfast options. There are also plenty of drinks including a number of beers on tap, fortified coffee, dessert wine, smoothies and milkshakes.
Starting with drinks most of us grabbed a pint ($5.65) but two of my friends decided to try their milkshakes. At $4.75 they were a bit on the small side but both reported back that they tasted pretty good.
The menu is also not without its sense of humour. Hand Shakes are offered free-of-charge as is Toronto Tap Water, billed by The Lakeview as the best no-calorie drink in the world.
Unlike the Lakeview Lunch of the past, service was friendly and generally efficient. All our meals arrived at the same time and except for a missing order of onion rings they were all correct.
Two at our table ordered the burgers with onion rings (or at least once the service snafu was sorted out). A clear winner, the onion rings were big and crispy with that nice golden hue that makes everyone else at the table regret not ordering the same thing. The standard burger ($8) came topped with lettuce, tomato and red onions and was well cooked and filling. The Majestic ($10.50) also hit the spot with its strips of bacon, sharp cheddar and mozzarella.
Our vegetarian friend opted for the soup of the day ($4.50) - a nicely balanced butternut squash - and small salad ($5.25). The latter came dressed with grilled vegetables on top of organic greens mixed with toasted sesame seeds and a honey balsamic vinaigrette. She gave them the thumbs up and devoured them both.
Elsewhere there were the bourbon honey chipotle chicken wings ($8 for a pound) served with standard blue cheese dip, celery and baby carrots. It was noted that they were tasty enough but wouldn't make the list of the best chicken wings in the city.
A better choice might have been the mushroom sandwich ($8.75). Wedged between pieces of multigrain triangle masking for focaccia, the mushrooms were nicely sauteed in garlic and paired with melted gruyere and ancho chili garlic mayo.
I indulged in the traditional ale battered fish and chips ($14), but perhaps indulge isn't the appropriate verb for the occasion. While the fish was ok, I found the batter less the exciting - a bit too thick and boring - and the fries not much better than the ones I once panned at The Cadillac. Ketchup helped and was used liberally.
So, overall, the food was a bit hit and miss but I'd go back. There's no doubt that the new The Lakeview is a big improvement over its predecessor and with 24 hour service now available it's likely to become the go to spot after any late night carousing on Ossington. But beyond the 3am eats I definitely plan to return in the new year to see what's in store for brunch.
The owner also told me they plan to build a 30 seat patio in the Spring.
The current late-night menu:
Discussion
56 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
However, what's with EVERY restaurant calling Fries "Frites" now?
"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."
I really like what they did with the place. They seem to have completely re-touched all of the original mahogany, replaced the ties (painstakingly, check the details when you're in there), and everything just seems so much cleaner and better. The staff was great, friendly, I actually can't think of a single complaint. No wait, the washroom is a bit tight. But what are you gonna do?
Definitely a new favourite spot in Toronto, and I love that I can end up there after a heavy night of drinking. Nice to have the old (new and better) place back!
The pathetic thing was that the owners of the restaurant were basically sitting at the next table and and were completely oblivious to the very serious problems in their kitchen.
I was a fan of the old Lakeview until the food and the service made it intolerable and I had really high hopes for this new incarnation but it seems like the some of the same problems persist. At least the service is much improved and the restaurant restoration looks great.
Won't be going back.
Both spud and sweet potato fries carry the heart of this dish, which was completely new for me. Generous toppings of peameal bacon, sauteed mushrooms, feta and this nice oniony crispy bits were able to cover every bite.
The cheese curds did lack some squeek though, so they may be considered fresh by Toronto's standards, we former quebecers consider cheese curds fresh only to the point of requiring refridgeration (first 24hrs), which usually no one has choice because it has to be trucked here from eastern Ontario.
The $9 Lakeview Poutine (should) comes with sweet potato fries, regular fries, gravy, CHEESE CURDS (VERY important), mushrooms and strips of pealmeal bacon, or something.
So when this huge basket finally arrived, to my dismay it was COVERED in a thick, slightly solid looking gravy with nary a cheese curd or cheese-like substance on it. In it? Nope, digging around only turned up the mushrooms and bacon as promised.
So I sent it back and asked for the cheese curds to be added. It came back with maybe 5 or 6 mini curds! Actually they weren't even large enough to be considered curds. Anyhow.
Lakeview Lunch - YOU FAILED THE POUTINE TEST!
BUT - good prices on decent bottles of wine. That's a good thing.
P.S. Serving sizes are smaller too but maybe that's OK ...
The Lakeview is too new and geographically surrounded by alternatives to treat it's patrons like that. Please get on the ball - there is such potential here.
When it comes to gravy it is so simple to make a delicious gravy out of homemade stock. Why are they using powder gravy pouches to make it? Come on guys.
As for the burger, it was over cooked and almost tasted like old meat.
Don't waste your time or your money at this poorly managed joke with surly staff.
just read about their conditional pass due to a significant problem with pest control.
will never be eating there again. avoid at all costs.
miss the old lakeview very much.
Hard to consider returning.
GO LAKEVIEW
Service was slow and the food was AWFUL.
Avoid if you can. There are better establishments in that neighbourhood.
The Lakeview Diner is one of my favourite places in Toronto. Everything I've had is absolutely delicious and I've been there multiple times. The sweet potatoe fries are a must, the burgers are amazing (I can only attest to the veggie burger), grilled cheese is delicious, and the milkshakes and desserts are great too.
Where else can you go for great food, 24 hours a day? The staff is friendly, I've never had a bad experience. Sure if they're busy the server may be occasionally a little slow, but what do you expect? In general, I've received food quickly, gotten refills on drinks, and thought each staff member had a pleasant demeanor. I know I would never be able to be that jovial while serving customers in the middle of the night.
I just moved to the area and wanted to like this place...
Last I checked, this was a place that thrived for the simple fact that it was centred amongst numerous drinking establishments rendering their patrons hungry, to avoid nausea, further embarrassment and belligerence by getting some food in their bellies.
I am sympathetic to the serving industry for the offensive and unacceptable actions of a drunk group, but I think it is unreasonable to treat potential customers with such condescension and arbitrary decision making. News flash---she's drunk and maybe wants to sober up. I sure hope you don't turn away the random guy who fully intends to get behind the wheel after drinking and just really wanted to put something in his stomach before heading out to be a dangerous douche bag driving drunk.
The only fault I found with this place was that they had no pulled pork at 6 pm on a weekday, but the amazing chicken sandwich I had instead more than made up for it. And hey, there's nothing wrong with $4 caesars!
So we had a very poor experience at The Lakeview. Unfortunately the kitchen was badly run that evening. The waitress, while pleasant, was obviously inexperienced as she should have rejected the meals provided by the kitchen. Having worked in a very professional establishment I am familiar with the way things should be done.
I fully believe all of the negative reviews. The positive reviews all look like well written reviews by the owners, friends, and retarded alcoholics (who state they are alcoholics before going on about how great it is). A friend suggested we go here for breakfast, so I searched for some reviews; thankfully, this page will save me a large amount of money.
She's a giant hipster too, so I can't really tell if she just has no taste, or if she's fucking with me. After working at a diner that actually served top notch food at reasonable prices, I can't stand shitty places like this that serve $4 meals for a $15 price tag.
Fam went there last weekend and had two substantial brekkies, two caesars, an oj, side of sausage and got out for about $30 tax + generous tip.
The disco breakfast is the bomb and has always helped with serious hangovers. Me and my boyfriend go whenever we wake up past the deadline for other brunch spots (3ish). The hostess deserves a lot of credit for handling the crowds and making sure everyone is happy while waiting, she busts serious ass.