15 Killer Brunch Spots on Queen East
Queen East is known for many things (vintage furniture finds, some great cafes and tasty burgers), but right at the top of the list is brunch. Yep, this part of town takes brunch with the seriousness it deserves. On a Sunday morning there are enough eggs benedict, buttermilk pancakes and peameal bacon being plated here to warrant the construction of a small hospital.
The action starts just past the bridge (the one that crosses the DVP) and extends through the neighbourhoods of Riverside and Leslieville all the way to Coxwell. At some spots lineups form early (better get there by 10am) but part of the fun (cold, blistery Canadian winters aside) is sharing tips with fellow would-be-diners about what to order and what to avoid.
By my count, there are at least 15 places I could quite happily spend every weekend morning. Here's a snapshot of each:
Ed Levesque Kitchen
The Sun raves about the brunch here, and judging by the regular weekend lineups so does everyone else. Waffles, banana pancakes, latkes, french toast, omelettes and some killer sides like chipotle corn bread make this one of the most interesting and extensive brunch menus in town. More...
Okay Okay Diner
For an authentic diner vibe it's tough to beat Okay Okay. Under new management since early this year the place has just kept on humming with some of the fluffiest pancakes in Toronto, great, bottomless cups of coffee and, in warmer weather, a side patio to watch all the baby strollers go by. More...
Bonjour Brioche
With a little less seating available than some other options on this list, a wait for a table at this Degrassi street destination is almost guaranteed. Smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, omelettes and lunchy stuff like a peameal bacon sandwich dot the menu. But don't leave without ordering a hot out of the oven brioche or chocolate croissant. More...
Table 17
The new kid on the strip, Table 17 is one of those rare spots that does brunch as well as they do dinner. Go for the traditional Spanish tortilla, pain dore (french toast with whipped cream and berries) or sides of Cumbrae bangers and potato rosti. More...
Toast Restaurant
Formerly Hello Toast, this brunch fave plays up its name with autographed toasters scattered throughout like the one at the top of this page signed by Clive Owen. On the menu is eggs florentine, cranberry cream cheese french toast and freshly squeezed OJ. More...
Barrio
Barrio has some seriously good Huevos Rancheros ($9) that come with baked beans, fried eggs and toasted cornbread. There's also eggs benedict, waffles, buttermilk pancakes, chicken schnitzel, granola and salt cod fritters. More...
Pulp Kitchen
For non-carnivores, Pulp Kitchen lets brunchers start the day with shots of wheatgrass, smoothies, granola rated as one of the city's best by Toronto Life; and a whole whack of faux meat options like bangers and mash. More...
Le Cafe Vert
Try to score the window seat and order some of the best gluten free pancakes and waffles in Toronto. Cafe Vert is a small space with a lot of heart. Their health conscious menu mixes in plenty of organic ingredients. More...
Joy Bistro
Joy Bistro is all about the benedict. There's the regular kind but also all the off-shoots like eggs florentine, benentine, norwegian, norwentine and teddy (peameal bacon, spinach, red onions and tomato). But if hollandaise doesn't satisfy, there's always steak and eggs or dutch oven pancakes. More...
The Tulip
On the far reaches of Leslieville, just before the Beaches, The Tulip has been filling stomachs with their all day breakfast since 1929. There's no definable brunch menu, but breakfast and lunchy stuff rules the day here from buttermilk pancakes to corned beef sandwiches. More...
Pop Bistro
In summer months the "hidden" back patio is the main attraction here. But year round the kitchen holds their own with a hearty portion of steak and eggs, eggs benedict paired with a croissant and a Spanish omelette. More...
The Citizen
The Citizen is too cool to do brunch so they do Lupper. This Sundays only meal (from 11am-3pm) features pancakes, french toast, ceasar salad with double smoked bacon and a poached egg, braised beef short ribs, oatmeal, risotto, quiche and mimosas. More...
Prohibition
Prohibition might be better known for its "Apres Ski" happy hour, but come weekends they cook up brunchy things like a farmers breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, peameal, hash browns and toast), a breakfast burrito and fresh fruit. More...
Leslie Jones
Leslie Jones is definitely on the lunchier side of the brunch spectrum with only a few egg dishes to satisfy the traditionalist. But for late arrivers there are salads and sandwiches including the oh-so-popular jerk pulled pork. The damage? Most menu items start at around $12. More...
Comments (13)
This is a great post. As a resident of Leslieville for the past 6 years I am so happy to see these restaurants popping up.
I wasn't impressed with Ed Levesque really, ate there once had horrible service and it was extremely hot in there. The food was ok.
OKOK - used to eat there all the time until it changed. It used to be wicked and worth the line-up, over time it's kinda dwindling in my opinion. The last time I took a friend there the service was horrible and the food was so-so.
My personal fav is Leslie Jones. Excellent service, wonderful atmosphere and the food I could eat everyday.
The Tulip - MMMMMMMMMMMMM is all I can say. Everything I've eaten there was delicious.
Toast I will say the same thing about OKOK - used to eat there regularly until I noticed it was all blackberry owners that ate there. haha It took me 25 minutes to get my bill and the service was ok.
I really have to echo the Ed Levesque poor service experience... now I have so so many alternatives!
i know it's not exactly 'brunch' but Jim's Best Western deserves mention on or being one of the old-skool breakfast joints on this strip of queen east (or in this case: queen eats) cheap and cheerful and as the name suggest home to the best toasted western in the city.
Oh, you forgot the Sunshine Grill in the Beach! But the Tulip is awesome for any meal. Great list.
Cafe Vert is *awesome* I don't know if it's on their brunch menu, but the Pad Thai is the best I've ever had*.
* not a Pad Thai expert, but still.
re: Edward Levesque
Due to the layout of the place you're standing beside the open kitchen while you wait in line. That's cool, except when the head chef is not treating the visibly overworked serving staff well. He seemed to be a volcano about to erupt, so i guess it was good that he was working in front of a line of hungry patrons.
It was an awkward situation to witness, and having worked in the industry it made me upset. We decided to stay for this legendary brunch. The food was okay, not anything GREAT. In spite of how the serving staff were being treated they treated us well. We won't go back because of the way they were treated.
On the other hand I LOVE Joy & Bonjour Brioche. Though I have never had the patience to sit through a weekend line-up. I enjoyed PK, though I really like eggs for breakfast.
maybe someone at Levesque's has been reading this, because I had a great experience there today. sure, there was a bit of a line (there are lineups in at least half of these mentioned) but I didn't sweat myself to death, the chipotle cornbread slays, the service was courteous, and the chef greeted and thanked us on the way out. just sayin'.
Edward Levesque as number 1? that's funny. The food is mediocre, the menu is boring. Toast was number 1 until Lady Marmalade popped up. this list needs to be updated. To put Leslie Jones at 14? clearly this is a joke. Ed Levesque, Okay (the name says it all) and bonjour brioche (a place that doesnt even have a grill)? I gotta say from this point forth I will question every restaurant review I read on this site.
For anyone who likes above average food. 1) Lady Marmalade 2) Toast 3) Leslie Jones
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