Ramona's Kitchen Leslieville is serving Toronto patrons souped-up breakfast staples from a spot on Queen St. E.

Opened in October 2025, Ramona's Kitchen is the fourth restaurant to bear the name. The others — located in Thornhill, Richmond Hill and Leaside, respectively — are owned and operated by the same team.

Owner Carlo Carducci explains that he and his wife — the eponymous Ramona Kouladji — were inspired to start their business by their family and friends, who would often come to their house for brunch: "At the time, we couldn't find a proper brunch spot nearby, so we decided to create one ourselves."

The restaurant's humble origins are reflected in its decor, most of which would look right at home in a cozy cottage or rustic roadhouse.Wooden tables line the restaurant's brick walls, while bulbs in glass bottles hang from the ceiling. A small lunch counter looks out onto Queen Street.Ramona's Kitchen specializes in inventive brunch dishes, inspired by Ramona and Carlo's home cooking.

Mango Breeze by Ramona ($9.25) is a thick, creamy smoothie made from mango and pineapple puree. Its tangy, tropical flavour was just what I needed to start my day.

The Blue Matcha Lavender Latte ($6.65) is a brightly coloured latte, decorated with vibrant purple petals.The Pistachio Latte ($7.99) is slightly more muted in appearance, but makes up for it with a strong, slightly earthy flavour, enhanced by a crushed pistachio rim.The Avocado Brie Omelette ($23.99) is a satisfying three-egg omelette, filled with spinach, brie cheese and freshly sliced avocado.

The meal is served with a side of mixed greens — garnished with cherry tomatoes, balsamic glaze and parmesan cheese — as well as whole wheat toast and Ramona's famous tri-colour home fries.The Burger Benny ($23.99) combines a conventional hamburger with a classic breakfast dish: namely, the eggs Benedict.

Two juicy three-ounce burger patties are sandwiched between two soft brioche buns. A poached egg rests on top, covered in parsley, hollandaise sauce and spicy Havarti cheese.

The burger also comes with your choice of ham or chorizo sausage, further mimicking the eggs Benedict. Mixed greens and home fries are served on the side.Banana Bread French Toast ($23.99) is a decadent dish, consisting of chocolate-infused banana bread, topped with walnuts, sliced bananas, chocolate sauce and icing sugar.

Though I was initially afraid that the toppings would overwhelm the toast, I was pleasantly surprised by the dish's flavour.

Instead of drowning out the taste of the banana bread, the chocolate syrup and sliced fruit help to amplify the bread's natural sweetness. The walnuts, meanwhile, added some much-needed crunch.Of course, if you'd rather stick to something a little less elaborate, fear not: Chocolate Chip Cookies ($3) are baked fresh daily and can be found on the restaurant's front counter. Be sure to grab one before the end of your meal!Ramona's Kitchen Leslieville is located at 913 Queen St. E.