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 »

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 »