Okay Okay Diner
1128 Queen Street East
Phone: 416.461.2988
 Profile |
 Map |
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
Comments (22)
Amazing little place!
Great service, great food, great prices! When you go here, you feel right at home!
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.
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!
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...
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.
Great place, awesome staff, one of my favorite neighborhood spots! Do not suggest sitting at the bar if your tall...lol
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 !
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.
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....
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.
I sat on the half empty patio of this place for 45 minutes, waiting for my order to be taken...it never was, so I went to Stratengers and was eating within 15 more. Thumbs down.
I had heard so many things about OkOk. When my sister and I were making Saturday Brunch plans a few weeks back with some friends I eagerly suggested we try OkOk. I am still apologizing for that decision. My Coffee mug has a lipstick stain, that wasn't mine, the waitress was running around and was unfriendly and stressed out. The restaurant was definitely under staffed. She brought 1 glass of water for a table of 4. The meal itself was just awful. Greasy and unappetizing. My poached eggs tasted like vinegar. We all felt ill after the meal. We had to walk off the sick feeling. I hadn't realized there had been a change in ownership. Obviously this has made a difference. I remember seeing lines out the door of OkOk. I will not go back!
I moved right into this area in the Spring from just a few blocks west at Broadview and Queen. OkOk is my fave spot in my hood, and it's literally within a 2 minutes walk...beautiful! I never used to be able to get my friends to come to the east end for anything, but since I've moved I think we hit up OkOk almost every single weekend. And now one my friends just moved down the street and is just as addicted to the neighbourhood and the diner as I am. I love the atmosphere and hope it never changes and Jennifer and Stacey rock!
I recommend the French Toast, it's the best I've ever eaten, the fruit with the cinnamon stuff on top mmmmmmmmm. And I also am an avid fan of a side of bacon with everything, even if it comes with Bacon. Jennifer smirks everytime, cause she knows it's coming :)
I wish people would stop correcting people's grammar in online food reviews and such. Do you take a big red crayon and circle your 'puter screen each and every time you see one? LOL!
i haven't a review for this place since i have yet to try it out, but after reading the first sentence, i gotta ask....
have you tried the pancakes at Bar One on queen west yet?
Mmmmmm... if pancakes are what you love, please do try. :)
Been here twice now. Great sunsoaking patio that catches the morning rays but food can be a bit hit and miss. Waited for quite a while to get the food on the table and service could be friendlier - though the many coffe refills helped. Nice vibe and great potential so hoping this place can kick it up a gear and give the many other strong brunch options a run for their money...
Used to be a big fan of OK OK under old management, but was less than impressed with the cooking as of last year. Gave it another chance today - gummy undercooked french toast will not bring me back to their patio again. Technically everything is the same as before, but the cooking really has fallen from grace.
RSS