Okay Okay Diner

1128 Queen Street East
Phone: 416.461.2988

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Posted by Tim
May 19, 2008

Currently 3.44/5
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Rating: 3.4/5 (16 votes cast)

My favourite pancake has a home and it's at 1128 Queen Street East. Hot off the grill and topped with fresh whipped butter, the big fluffy wonders at Okay Okay Diner give any flapjack operation a serious run for their money.

With a side of maple syrup and infused with either bananas or blueberries, the pancakes are among the star attractions at this popular Leslieville hang-out which oozes character from its plush red banquets to retro TVs each tuned to a different (inaudible) channel.

Settling in for a late brunch on Sunday, we start off with some fresh orange juice ($2.50) and a bottomless cup of fair trade Sumatran coffee. The coffee is strong, deeply aromatic and delicious and by the third refill we're re-thinking plans for a post-meal top up at Tango Palace down the street.

The menu features brunch only on weekends but a range of more typical diner fare (onion rings, sandwiches) during the week. For this meal I'm feeling like a bit of a mix and mash and order a series of sides including hash browns, a blueberry pancake and two poached eggs ($1 each).

The aforementioned pancakes are amazing - thick and fluffy with a melt in your mouth consistency. The eggs perfectly poached. The only disappointment are the hash browns. For some reason, the kitchen opts for what looks like the frozen patties one would find in the freezer aisle of No Frills. It's an odd choice considering that home made hash browns are what most diners (and brunch spots in general) do so well.

Across the table, the Eggs Brunhilde are also a big hit. Poached eggs, asparagus, and smoked salmon on hash brown patties, topped with a homemade horseradish Hollandaise sauce and served with a slice of watermelon. The eggs are perfectly cooked, the aparagus thick and fresh, and the sauce infused with a subtle yet distinct horseradish twist.

The only request for next time would be to substitute the hash browns for a thick piece of toast which would be a better option to soak up the yolk.

Photos by me and Jerrold

Reader Reviews and Comments

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Amazing little place!

Great service, great food, great prices! When you go here, you feel right at home!

Posted by: keven at February 21, 2008 11:56 AM

impossibly large portion of crazy-fluffy buttermilk pancakes. not sure whether to eat them or sleep on them. and the bacon was so good that i'm ordering some direct. beyond okay.

Posted by: mark at March 2, 2008 8:41 PM

Melt in your MOUSE consistency??

Posted by: krystyn at May 19, 2008 11:31 AM

Oops. Um, mouth. Fixed.

Posted by: Tim at May 19, 2008 11:41 AM

We call that a Freudian (Dumpling House) slip.

Posted by: Jerrold at May 19, 2008 12:18 PM

I wish people would stop misusing the pronoun "myself". It should be "Photos by ME and Jerrold". Don't be afraid to use the word ME, people. 'Myself' is almost never the right pronoun to choose!

Having said that, I'm eager to try out Okay Okay!

Posted by: clarissa at May 19, 2008 1:18 PM

I usually found Okay Okay a little over-priced for the quality and amount of food. That being said, the eye candy of the hot bearded muscly waiter serving the food and a week's worth of fantasy was always incentive to go...

Posted by: Alex Fayle

at May 19, 2008 4:41 PM

For the price I was disappointed with okay2. But I haven't tried the pancakes yet. personally I'm a fan of the greasy spoon breakfast at Stratengers across the street. Less pretentious, good value and no wait time.

Posted by: badur at May 19, 2008 7:39 PM

Hmmm...How exactly is Okay Okay pretentious? It's such a friendly, easy-going diner vibe.

Posted by: Tim at May 19, 2008 7:41 PM

Great place, awesome staff, one of my favorite neighborhood spots! Do not suggest sitting at the bar if your tall...lol

Posted by: dawn at May 29, 2008 1:31 PM

Hi Iam one of the new kids on the block (one of the parters at OKAY OKAY)just wanted to thank everyone who posted a blog
I will be reading it often so that I can get your feedback.
p.s. WE LOVE ARE NEW AREA ,THE PEOPLE HERE ARE FANTASTIC THANK YOU GUYS !

Posted by: Riccardo at June 1, 2008 9:05 PM

It's interesting the ways we have come in the Toronto area. From donut shops when I was a kid and teen to $8 cups of coffee (and individuals don't even blink an eye at the prices, in respect to coffee.) I live in the area and was envisioning entrepreneurial plans (mental plans after peeking the original diner booths behind the old boarded up
newspapers) when Tony's was snapped up) and turned into okay okay.

I agree that it's over priced, for what should be basic food at times. But I'm happy that it wasn't gutted but was left as a diner. Other diners in the area have been leveled and turned into chi chi dining spots. There used to be a slew of these from Broadview and into the beaches, probably the largest that were left in Toronto, where a regular man on the street went to get a cheap meal. The diners stuck around due to the depression of the are for most of late 70's, 80's and 90's.

For the man/woman on the street (poorer people in the area), restaurants like these takes basic foods and tack a few dollars to the price by adding a few fancy ingredients, that's where the "pretentious" comes in. But it seems that's how food is being marketed theses days.

Poorer people in the area are already complaining because most of the restaurants that have open up or are opening up are catering to upper scale professionals...and many from out of the area.

Posted by: Paul at June 4, 2008 2:57 PM

OKOK Was Fantastic - the waiter made it totally 'HUMM' and the food was magnificent, the total atmosphere was perfect - warm, friendly and welcoming once you've been in a couple of times. However, since the recent management change thinks went down hill on the food side. The new paint job, seat outside, new sign, and even some plants are all a great idea and worth the investment. However, the only thing that keeps people coming back again and again, is...... Good Food & Good Service. although the food is technically the same (no change on the menu) the quality stinks in comparison to the old OKOK. the eggs are greasy, the Huevos come in a slightly burnt shell, the pancakes are not the same at all. There appears to be no care in the kitchen, the attitude seems to have changed along with the ownership. QUALITY keeps people coming back, sadly the new owners don't realise this or think that a 'churn & burn' attitude in the kitchen is enough! It's not, as you will see from the notable lack of regular locals.

There is no substitute for QUALITY, Many would have crawled over broken glass to have brunch at OKOK, now it's more of a take it or leave it place - much to my disappointment! please make improvements....

Posted by: snoop309 at August 4, 2008 9:02 AM

Hi Paul I'am sorry if your visit with us was not up to par,It is a honor to serve our customers/friends best as we can . Although we have been here since Febuary we strive to improve daily . If there is anything that I have to argue with u with is the Quality of food , we purchase produce , meats and just about all are menu Items daily .Hope you can come in and give us another try , please let me know who you are so that, we can have a coffee and chat. Thank you for the feedback I'll let my partners and staff know about your concerns.

Posted by: Riccardo at August 15, 2008 6:37 PM

Sorry Not Paul...snoop309

Posted by: Riccardo at August 15, 2008 6:45 PM