Restaurants
The Wexford Restaurant
The Wexford Restaurant has been a Scarborough institution for over 50 years. Located near Warden and Lawrence, this family-operated eatery claims to have cracked over 720 million eggs and juiced over 2 billion oranges. And it shows. With an interior that looks like it belongs in a '70s rec room, you can almost smell the smoke stains on the walls.
Each menu contains the 'legacy' of the restaurant, the brothers who started it, and a sizeable story boasting their egg purchasing power. But no one comes to the Wexford for any sort of prestige. People travel (some in a time machine it appears) from all over to slop up their greasy spoon atmosphere and drink orange juice by the litre ($10.95).
While they are open for lunch and dinner, breakfast is the main meal here, offered all day for those who like their eggs for dinner. And if you like beer with your eggs, they are licensed, but don't expect any fancy cocktails or premium lagers. Domestic reigns supreme here, so embrace your surroundings and grab a Canadian.
Hot food choices are wide-ranging, and old school throwbacks like baby beef liver or corned beef on rye supplement the dinner menu, but we were sticking to breakfast.
Service is typical diner-style. Most waitresses seem to have worked here all along--they never miss a beat, calling each customer by the obligatory honey/darling moniker, and regulars by their first name--and are swift and sweet in their service.
The celebrated 'Our Famous Breakfast' ($13.95) consisting of three eggs, four pieces of peameal bacon, an ample portion of home fries, and two slices of toast was a pretty standard plate with no frills. Or garnish. Or colour. As far as assembling a meal most of us could do blindfolded and without any special ability, it was nevertheless pretty tasty. Eggs were cooked to a proper over-easy, toast had no burnt corners, and the home fries were salty and satisfying, although a little raw in the middle of some of the bigger chunks.
Cheese, green bell peppers, onions, and diced ham speckled the Western Omelette ($13.50). Also served with a substantial side of home fries and buttered toast, the omelette was massive, and took up half the plate. While whipping up an omelette isn't rocket science, it was delicious comfort food done well.
If cereal is more your thing, the Wexford offers Raisin Bran, Corn Flakes, or Rice Krispies at a choke-worthy $5.25. At least it comes with milk in a plastic cup.
Wheat pancakes ($7.50 off the kids menu) come two to a portion, with a side of bacon rashers. The buttery sweet pancakes were almost comically large, especially since it was supposed to be a child's portion. Fluffy in the outer ridges, but somewhat dense and cakey in the middle, they were not my favourite flapjacks.
Saying the prices here are steep is an understatement. I was charged $2.15 for a coffee, which is pricey but not unheard of, until you factor in that there are no free refills. I spent $6.45 total for watery coffee. I'm not sure what's more bitter; the coffee, or the taste in my mouth after getting the bill. Aside from that, if you know what to expect, you can get a decent meal without being gouged. Drink the free water, and share a portion with an extra side.
It should be noted the above prices reflect their holiday menu, which inflates the prices by about 15%. According to staff, the owner passes on the increased price of labour on statutory holidays to the customers. Classy!
The Wexford Restaurant is not wheelchair accessible.
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This place has character, no fake, plastic people here.
Love this place.
Had Breakfast, bacon & eggs, coffee, juice while my girlfriend had an egg white veggie omlette, green tea, OJ.
We will be back.
They've got some serious problems with their math as well:
820 million eggs equal 44,931 eggs per day for 50 years. At 3 eggs per customer (high estimate), that equals 14,977 customers per day!
3.3 billion oranges squeezed is even more ridiculous. That's a whopping 180,822 oranges per day! At 3 oranges per 6 oz glass of orange juice, that's 60,273 customers having a glass of orange juice per day!
Peameal bacon and eggs, this is the standard in this city, since 1955! Atmosphere is like Cheers, everybody talks to everyone. I will always visit The Wexford. Imitators can not reproduce this classic.
Always leave feeling full and happy.
What else can I ask for in a breakfast place.
I have only had the breakfast its average as is the service.
Its greasy breakfast and not rocket science. However, everyone thinks their food is the bestg, wake up! I just don't go there because I am not in the area and it is too expensive. We all vote with our dollars and they do not get my vote. If your comment regarding having family working for the owner, that might explain the high costs because he is paying his family higher salaries than market value. They must own the building otherwise they could not afford the rent because if the landlord saw their menu he would jack their rent upon lease renewal.
Thanks for saving me and my family a small fortune!
I gave up on them a while ago.
back in the early 1950's.The Kirk family started it, and still run it. The family always worked hard, were a part of the community, and prospered. I can recall Mrs K serving serving take out via the back door laneway of the restaurant,mostly to truckers, police , etc....WAY BEFORE the era of the drive through. The Kirks now own that plaza, another plaza, and an industrial plaza to the south. All through honest hard work!
Tony is, and always was, a supporter of the community.
I have to agree that prices are rather steep, but it is my belief that the restaurant is only kept open to honour the memory, history, and hard work of the family founder. This kind of restaurant isn't the gold mine of the past.
The generous portions are fresh, best Peameal bacon in the city.
Love the fresh squeezed OJ and the friendly staff.
I usually order the breakfast, never disappoints.
Coffee is good, service is excellent.
Just a great place to chill for all day breakfast.
Always good food, fast and friendly service
Ample portions, fresh squeezed OJ and free refills of coffee.
Great atmosphere, never disappoints.
Great for large groups