Dad's Breakfast and Coffee deals in classic breakfast sandwiches, satisfying slushies and corny one-liners.

Located on Dundas West, this casual takeout spot is the brain child of Phil Akkawi and Paul Jackson, two longtime bartenders with a similar sense of humour.

Though Phil has no children of his own, he has a strong connection to the concept of fatherhood. While working at the Libertine, the bar staff would often call him "Dad", due to his gruff demeanor and habit of giving unsolicited advice.

"After a while, I sort of leaned into it," Phil explains. "I was Dad."

This persona would become the basis of his new business. Paul claims that the restaurant was built on "good vibes and bad jokes", with a retro aesthetic to tie it all together.

Though seating is practically non-existent, the space still gives off a comfortable and welcoming vibe, reminiscent of mid '90s fast food joints.

The floor is covered with a huge mosaic, which reads "good morning". Phil tells us that the tiles took a long time to install, as many of them had to be resized in order to fit the mosaic.

To the left of the mosaic, you’ll find a rack of t-shirts and tchotchkes, as well as a "dad joke dispenser".For just two dollars, you can turn the crank, earning yourself a collectible pin, as well as a groanworthy dad joke. Paul likened these prizes to fortune cookies, with humour instead of wisdom.By sheer coincidence, the restaurant's grand opening happened to fall on Father's Day 2025. Phil explains that the date was actually chosen because it was his father's birthday.

Since opening, Dad's has been a constant hub of activity. Though mornings are obviously the busiest time of day, customers continue to line up well into the afternoon. As a result, the owners have become well-acquainted with many of their neighbours.

"And dogs," Paul adds with a smile. "We see a lot of dogs around here."

Dad's serves simple, hearty breakfast sandwiches, inspired by meals from across the country.

Giuseppe Sansone, a former chef at Pizzeria Badiali, is the mastermind behind the menu. Under his guidance, Paul and Phil were able to create a menu that highlights the best aspects of breakfast while also offering a few surprises.

Coffee slushies come in two sizes: standard ($6) and Dad size ($8). Both variations deliver a satisfying blend of strong coffee and crushed ice. Dad's '48 ($14) is the restaurant's signature sandwich.

Taking its name from Phil's father's birth year, this dish is everything you could possibly want in a breakfast sandwich: fluffy eggs, crispy hashbrowns and cheddar cheese, as well as your choice of bacon or sausage.

Summer Dad ($13) is a lighter option, filled with eggs, zucchini, pesto and whipped lemon ricotta.

Though I was initially skeptical of this sandwich, due to its lack of meat, its zesty flavour quickly won me over.Dad's Vacation ($13) is Tex Mex inspired sandwich, made with black beans, crushed tortilla chips, pico de gallo and cilantro crema.Ferdi's Dad ($15) is a limited-time feature sandwich, made in collaboration with Ferdi's Foods.

Taking its cues from Vietnamese banh mi, this sandwich features a variety of Asian inspired ingredients, including miso chili sausage, hoisin mayo, panko-crusted egg and coleslaw made from carrots, cucumbers and coriander.

Phil explains that these limited-time sandwiches will not only give the team a chance to work with other restaurants, but also provide them with a means of supporting local charities: a portion of the proceeds from these sandwiches will be donated to the Breakfast Club of Canada, in order to help kids in need.

Dad's Breakfast and Coffee is located at 1473 Dundas Street West.