The Best Eggs Benedict in Toronto
Finding the best eggs benedict in the city of Toronto has been something of a five-year obsession of mine. Cradled in my first post-grad years, when I started ordering benny after benny at dives and premier eating establishments across town, my quest has subsequently spawned a year-end list, a whole blog about it, and more than a few angry conversations with my mother who is, naturally, quite convinced that I am on a one-way road to a coronary.
She might be right: if you're looking for cardiac-friendly, diet-conscious eating, eggs benedict is not top of the list. Drizzled in the golden goo we call hollandaise (made of butter, eggs and a prayer), built atop slabs of sweaty Canadian bacon, and faithfully consisting of no less than two yolky eggs, a benedict is both a trip to the emergency room waiting to happen, and a perfect way to carve a Sunday morning brunch into a memorable, sinful indulgence.
I maintain that the best eggs benedict I ever had in this city was at the Sharkey's in Bloor West Village, circa 2004. I have not been back since to guage whether this was a one-time occurrance or a genuine culinary phenomenon, but in the meantime our blogTO readers have spoken and created a path of distinction among the available bennies in Toronto.
There's a lot to explore here, but pace yourself. While I would certainly be interested in talking to the person who can chow down on the greatest number of these in a single weekend, I would not want to meet that person's mother.
Le Petit Dejeuner
Le Petit Dejeuner gets name-checked in just about every conversation I've ever had about eggs benedict, with anyone taking an interest in the subject in this city. The menu varies the standard benny with alternative Eggs Benjamin (smoked salmon), Veronique (onions and peppers), and the ubiquitous veggie Florentine. More...
BOOM Breakfast
A whole section of the menu called "Benny Sent Me" puts paid any concerns about BOOM's dedication to the benny art. Now serving salmon, chicken, spinach or peameal variations on the classic at any of their three locations in the city (St. Clair, Eglinton, or Little Italy). More...
Swan
Trout and breakfast are not two words I commonly put together, but at Swan, smoked trout does indeed take the place of the usual salmon alternative on the benny. Offered up by this retro Queen West favourite, that's definitely not something you see anywhere else. More...
Dr. Generosity
Deep in Bloor West, Dr. G's Eggs Benny appears Monday to Friday on the weekday lunch menu. A few other benedict variations coming out to play on the weekend for brunch. Eggs Dostoyefsky does the usual salmon swap-out under a different name (Benjamin, Noreweigian and Blackstone are other popular handles for the salmon alternative). More...
Brassaii
Eggs benedict looks lonely, huddled in the middle of an oversize Brassaii plate, but the hollandaise lives on the creamier side of the butter/citrus debate (my preference). At $12 I would call the meal pricey for what you get, but it offers a solid start to any morning. More...
Three's Company
Three's Company was my standing brunch spot for the past couple of years, when I lived at Pape and Danforth, and I miss it terribly now that I've moved out of the 'hood. In addition to a fine benny, the entire weekend brunch menu is a poem to breakfastly awesomeness, and the staff are wonderful. More...
Disgraceland
Disgraceland's aptly-named Heart Attack Benny makes this place king among the Ossingtonian stomping grounds, and that particular meal ($13 taxes in, cash only) is a monument to heart-stopping decadence, for anyone who wants to eat a meal and then be unable to walk for several hours. More...
Le Select Bistro
Le Select pairs its benedict's hollandaise sauce with hollandaise's old running mate, the asparagus. It also does that thing that all the trendy places are trying these days - tossing the traditional English muffin in favour of an open-faced croissant. Yum. More...
Fire on the East Side
A personal favourite, Fire on the East side's benny makes use of God's greatest substance (pulled pork) in place of the usual peameal, and the result is utter sinful divinity. More...
The Tulip
Take it from one who knows - the next time you have a hangover, get thee to the Tulip and order their brassy, classy benedict. Problem solved. More...
The Drake
Don't let the Drake's holier-than-thou attitude get you down! The eggs benedict is a fetching take on the stable classic, and if you can stand the noise, the free wi-fi could keep you enjoying your table seating for most of a lazy morning. More...
Czehoski
This spot does the croissant thing too, but the real hidden delight of Czehoski's benedict is in the complete absence of a ham element at all - you'll choose between salmon, spinach, or best of all, brie. Putting brie to egg and hollandaise ain't for the faint-hearted, but if it's rich you're after, you'll find no richer. Delicious. More...
Joy Bistro
Joy indeed, as benny after benny adorns Joy Bistro's brunch menu, including an actual Eggs Joy. Try the Eggs Teddy (peameal, spinach, roasted tomatoes, grilled onion) for a pricey, but worth it, treat. More...
Comments (36)
I completely vouch for Boom - I've been going to the St. Clair location for a while, and it's consistently fantastic, and at great prices.
I used to frequent Cora's and Insomnia quite often, but the food and service quality has sharply declined in the last few years since I've been there.
Great article but you left off the best eggs benny of all - the benny's cousin at Yasi's Place. I can't start my weekend without it!
Oh what a GREAT article. mmmm. I can't wait til sunday brunch.
What about Maggies on College?!!?!
The Old York has a solid Benny. They've also got one they call the Eggs Roddy with a red pepper salsa instead of Hollandaise Sauce which gives the illusion of being healthy despite the peameal bacon.
I came here to say that the Benny's Cousin at Yasi's Place is my favourite, but someone beat me to it.
Awesome article! I just recently discovered eggs benedict & i keep craving it! thanks so much for the list - i am definitely going to check some of those places out.
Matt, you are a brilliant man - totally agree with Petit Dejeuner.
I'm in need of a brunch now.
Thanks Kate! Yeah it was all I could do to keep myself to running to Petit Dejeuner last weekend when I was writing the post...
The Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe on COllege and Beatrice offers up a really good Eggs Benny for only $6.99. It's waaaay better than the flavour-lacking hollandaise at the Cornerstone Pub down the street.
I want to like Petit Dejuner but both my partner and I got awfully sick when we last went there. I have been since and survived, but I'm still mad at it.
While I understand lots of people love Boom (based on the consistent lines out the door), why they go (and wait and wait) is beyond me. I suggest going a few doors east to Il Gusto. No lines, superior coffee and a nicer atmosphere--especially when the patio is open.
Also, Cafe la Gaffe on Baldwin has a decent benny and other dishes: http://www.cafelagaffe.com/
And no mention of Insomnia? A lil pricey but definitely melt in your mouth goodness. Instant tastular satisfaction. Yes, I made up a word.
Thanks for the huge comment. Proudly serving bennies and friends.Now the breakfast. Benedict is now served all day till 10 in the evening from tuesday to saturday!!! That along other lunch like priced menu items. Once again, thanks to you blogto.
To andrea, sorry you didnt feel well. I do apologize if something didnt sit well. We do our best to serve every body well but like all we make a mistake sometimes.
sorry agan,
johan
Yasi's Place should totally be included on this list. They add such a great twist to the Hollandaise and the bacon is so good it's unreal.
Best eggs benedict I've had in Toronto are at the Freshwood Grill on Baldwin St. in Kensington Market - especially the pancetta and goat cheese.
hello everyone,
i am on the search for the best eggs benny in canada. toronto is a huge battle ground and i am glad so much attention has been paid and reviews written. you can join the facebook group if you like and vouch for your favorites where ever they maybe. i don't think i could spend enough time in TO to try all these places but i certainly will try
The Bus Terminal at Danforth/Cowell has one of the best Benny breakfast plates in the city, I strongly recommend checking it out.
what about frans?? topped with grated cheese, and fake holondaise!!
or milestones? they have a few bennys too!!
boom has the best one consistently
That's funny, I was just at Milestone's yesterday. Their benny ain't bad but we tend to steer away from the chains here at blogTO, also hence: no Fran's. But I will say that a Fran's breakfast is the first thing my father ate after I was born. :)
So, originally viewing BlogTO as a great source of information, my friends and I decided to take the "15 Benny Challenge". Hence, we are going to each of your bests starting with #1 La Petit Dejuener. The benny verdict: OK. The service, friendly, yet slow, disorganized, and uncaring. I might have enjoyed the Benny more had all 5 of us not been served cold breakfast...not, "oh no, this isn't piping hot!" cold but "Who just pulled this out of the refridgerator?" cold! Nevermind, they remade it, which is disheartening to us social conscious people who grew up wondering about 'the starving people is China" and if they truly would want the left-over brusslesprouts. It also sucked that I ordered a soft drink, not once, but twice, never recievied either time, and then had it charged on my bill. Bottom line, 14 to go, but my vote is at this time still going to Insomnia, hands down
i'm an eggs benny freek.....love them..have had them all over canada and the USA.....i think the best in toronto is at the house on parliament...it comes with a chutney that is amazing.......
After our small diner changed hands, my toronto friend and I were on the hunt for a new place to dine and enjoy eggs benny. After trying some of the trendy places downtown, I tripped upon this site and saw Le Petit Dejeuner recommended. It is located very close to the condo, so we went. I am so thankful that we now have a place to hang out on Sunday morning to enjoy a descent cup of coffee and back to enjoying a fantastice eggs benedict. The service was wonderful, friendly, quick, the food was amazing and there was very little wait, with just the 2 of us, we got in pretty quickly. Looking forward to another trip back to Toronto in January to dining once again at Le Petit Dejeuner.
No no no, wait a minute. I've been on this hunt now for two years. Not five, like the author, but I do have an educated suggestion.
Mitzi's Sister
Try it, and tell me it's not the best: Creamy, eggs to perfection, and just the right amount of lemon.
Enjoy!
This is just about my favourite breakfast item ever, and I was wondering if you have any suggestions on where I may find what you consider the best eggs benedict in toronto.
Thanks!
I second Dave's vote for By the Way Cafe with it's delicious eggs bene and big bowls of cafe au lait!!! best
I’ll be visiting NY soon and want the best Eggs Benedict the city has to offer. I don’t care about price. I don’t care about ambiance. I don’t care about anything but the Benedict. I prefer the classic with ham/Canadian bacon. What I really care about is the hollandaise; needs to be rich and powerful. With that having been said, if there is a truly extraordinary variation
[url=http://www.trailsweepers.com/]Ativan Prices[/url]
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other drugs and let them know of any conditions you may have.
RSS