The Best Brunch in Toronto

Posted by Tim
Filed in Best of Toronto
February 21, 2008

Brunch Toronto
Is there a more controversial topic than the best place for brunch in Toronto? Um, yeah. Let's not lose perspective here. But still, brunching in Toronto is a serious weekend pastime and we all have our favourite hidden gems, or line-up-out-the-door destinations that we swear serve the best eggs benny, french toast or home fries in the city.

In narrowing our list of nominees for the Best Brunch in Toronto to just ten favourites, I know we've snubbed a lot of worthy candidates. I'm not even going to attempt to list them here. For more brunch ideas simply lookup the Category Brunch in our Restaurants section. I'm also acutely aware that only two of our finalists are north of Dundas - a sure recipe for finger pointing about something to do with a downtown or Queen Street bias.

But at the end of the day our list of the ten best restaurants for brunch in Toronto came down to the votes and nominations submitted by the readers of this site. In what was a highly competitive battle, Lippincott stalwart (and Sook Yin Lee fave) Aunties and Uncles came out on top. Any why not? With waffles and pancakes that good and the portions and prices to match what's not to love?

Aunties and Uncles

This Annex favourite makes incredibly fluffy pancakes, french toast and eggs. Get there early to avoid the lineups. More...

Le Petit Dejeuner

Where to start? Apple pancakes,expertly poached eggs, omelettes, and waffles so authentic the owner opened Goed Eten in Kensington Market to handle the overflow. More...

Mitzi's Cafe and Gallery

Located in the middle of a residential neighbourhood on Sorauren, Mitzi's is the low key cousin to Parkdale's Mitzi's Sister. More...

Swan Restaurant

Featuring diner style brunching on West Queen West, Swan is one of the few restaurants that can pull off brunch and dinner with equal success. More...

Easy Breakfast

The huevos divorciados are the star at this Parkdale/Roncy brunch spot. Spelt and lactose free substitutions available upon request. More...

Grapefruit Moon

A cozy, eclectic spot on Bathurst, Grapefruit Moon cooks up a variety of healthy brunch classics. The summer draws crowds to the side patio. More...

Saving Grace

Saving Grace is a hugely popular neighbourhood brunch hangout on Dundas West. Feist is known to be a fan. More...

Bonjour Brioche

An institution in Riverside, Bonjour Brioche still packs 'em in on weekends for their French influenced menu and killer baguettes. More...

Edward Levesque Kitchen

Home of the all day breakfast, Edward Levesque has won over Leslieville with its inventive omelettes, frittatas and scrambles. More...

Okay Okay

Okay Okay is a neighbourhood favourite for it's classic diner, greasy spoon vibe and expertly prepared eggs and buttermilk pancakes. More...

Reader Reviews and Comments

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I won't make it through the rest of the morning until I make a brunch comment. As a near professional bruncher, I've never understood what the big deal is with Saving Grace. Especially when Musa, which is wonderful if not a little pricey since the menu expansion, is right down the street. If it helps, Don McKellar, Ron Hawkins and Chris Murphy are regulars at Musa.

Wait a tic; Feist brunches at SG, Chris Murphy at Musa. Do you think they had to split custody of their favorite Dundas West Brunch locations when they broke up?

Posted by: Danielle at February 21, 2008 10:41 AM

Ok... Grapefruit Moon is not a lot more than a cutesy name... the food isn't spectacular, but living down the street, I know the bohemian crowd loves the name. I think it's outrages that Noon wasn't mentioned - just north of grapefruit moon, bathurst and dupont. Also, Insomnia at Bathurst and Bloor as well as The Rebel House around Rosedale station on yonge is fantastic for brunch - best ceasar in the city.

Posted by: Sean at February 21, 2008 11:02 AM

Avenue Open Kitchen - 7 Camden Street - one block south of Richmond off Spadina Avenue. It's been a fave of mine for years...

Posted by: Ian at February 21, 2008 11:05 AM

Neither of my faves is here, but I'm not about to name names as it's already tough enough to get in to them.

One place that does deserve a little more traffic is the organic brunch at the Old Nick on the Danforth, don't be put off by the horrible fake pub ambiance, the food is good.

Posted by: Chester Pape at February 21, 2008 11:55 AM

hello Universal Grill on Dupont!

Posted by: Mark at February 21, 2008 12:35 PM

I don't get the big deal with Saving Grace either. It's overpriced.

Posted by: Sarah at February 21, 2008 2:00 PM

I've always loved the brunch at Dr. Generosity's on Bloor Street West - fabulous food, and ok prices, too.

Posted by: Nico at February 21, 2008 2:13 PM

It's dirty and it's tacky, but Johnny G's on Parliament and Carleton has a good cheap unpretentious brunch. Friendly service too.

Posted by: Tripper at February 21, 2008 2:30 PM

Big Mamma's Boy, also on Parliament, does a fabulous organic gluten-free brunch. A bit pricey and service can be slow but the food is delicious.

Posted by: Tripper at February 21, 2008 2:32 PM

My girlfriends and I love WISH on Charles. The food has always been delicious - and always tastes great being washed down by a breakfast martini!

Posted by: TS at February 21, 2008 4:23 PM

La Palette on Augusta, south of College has great food, but the service-while friendly-can be so slow or overwhelmed that you need loads of patience with those delicious crepes...

Posted by: Laura at February 21, 2008 4:58 PM

ps - another vote for Musa! I think it's my new favourite.

Posted by: Laura at February 21, 2008 4:59 PM

Just had brunch at Dr.Generosity on the weekend - it was fantastic, and I was more than impressed with the service, as well as how family-friendly they are (which is so difficult to find in the city it seems)

Posted by: Racheal at February 21, 2008 4:59 PM

None of my favs are there but it's nice to have some new places to try out.

Posted by: Teena at February 21, 2008 9:53 PM

you guys must be really rich, spending so much on brunch, which is basically eggs and flour..

Posted by: jack at February 21, 2008 9:55 PM

I agree with Sean above. Grapefruit Moon does an awesome lunch/dinner, but brunch is less than inspired. Noon's mix and match menu is an amazing value.

Best brunch overall though has to go to Fire on the Eastside.

Posted by: Darlene at February 21, 2008 11:23 PM

Another vote here for La Palette.. delicious and inventive French numbers that you cannot go wrong with. I'll keep going until I've tried everything on the menu and then just start over again. Incredible beer list too for a nice post brunch drink.

Posted by: Kyle at February 22, 2008 12:36 AM

Yes jack, sometimes I feel silly paying for something like brunch, but that's why I try to order something that actually might take me more than five minutes to prepare. You won't see me getting french toast.

Posted by: Eric at February 22, 2008 2:04 AM

The best brunch in the city by far is Paupers Pub on Bloor.

Posted by: John at February 22, 2008 9:32 AM

Another #1 for Aunties and Uncles... I just don't get it. I went once and thought it was ok, not sure what all the fuss is about though. Went a second time just to see again, again it was ok. Went a third time because I was meeting friends who wanted to go... again, ok.

Of the others on the list, been to Grapefruit Moon (thought it was a bit of a dive), Easy - which has a fantastic Huevos and Saving Grace, where I 100% disagree with the above posters. Everytime I've gone I have had something completely different, and every time it's been awesome. Best Brunch I've ever had in the city.

Posted by: Andrew Noonan at February 22, 2008 7:00 PM

What about Le Select on Wellington? It serves up amazing brunch with one of the best ambiances the city has to offer

Posted by: JC at February 23, 2008 7:17 PM

B on Ronci

Posted by: Ariel at March 24, 2008 3:52 PM

Yasi's enviro/art friendly diner on Wallace Ave -west of Lansdowne.

Posted by: Dina at April 2, 2008 1:10 PM

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