Weary-eyed diners were shocked at the news this February that late-night Toronto institution, The Lakeview Restaurant, would be closing its doors for good.

The establishment — which has fed hungry diners at Dundas and Ossington since 1932 — later revealed that it would instead undergo a transformation and reopen its doors with a new menu and vibe on April 13.

Toronto's historic 24-hour restaurant announces new plans and reopening date https://t.co/HLnhRZcOxI #Toronto

— blogTO (@blogTO) April 12, 2023

That date has since come and passed, and in just a few days of operation, the revamped Lakeview has been met with a torrent of negative reviews criticizing everything from the new menu to the food prices, and even the loss of the diner-like charm that defined the popular joint for decades.

"The original Lakeview Restaurant was a staple in my life, from childhood to late nights after a night out, and like so many, I was thrilled to see it reopen," reads one review.

"I came in for a cocktail on opening night to see that the diner classics were replaced by more upscale fare, closer to what's seen in the trendier west-end restaurants (which I do love)! I came back today for lunch to give the food menu a go, and unfortunately, was quite disappointed."

The reviewer acknowledges that, while nostalgia played a role in their disappointment, they "expected the food to still be delicious despite the sadness, because of who the new owners were," but the diner was left disappointed by the experience, saying, "I was just double sad at the end of my meal."

A few of the reviews take issue with the venerable diner holding onto its former branding despite changing everything patrons knew and loved about the place.

Others comment on bills in the $40-$50 range per person since the reopening and the loss of a comparatively affordable place to grab a bite to eat.

Restaurateurs often take time to respond to such negative reviews and win back disappointed customers, but the tsunami of underwhelmed comments has been met with deafening silence from The Lakeview's management.

As of writing, 12 of the restaurant's 25 Google reviews are rated as one-star experiences, along with another pair of two-star reviews. Nearly half of the reviews during the first five days of operation come from disappointed patrons, a not-so-great sign for the new-look Lakeview.