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Verveine The
decor is soothing (soft lighting and linens), the food high-end
comfort: smoked salmon with truffled scrambled eggs, poached eggs on
croissant .
Verveine
Lakeview Lunch Slide
into a booth – part of the old-style diner decor – and choose from a
menu that focuses on eggs and burger classics. Good milkshakes. 1132 Dundas St W 416 535 2828
Lakeview Lunch
Courtyard Café This
elegant restaurant in the venerable Windsor Arms Hotel has for decades
been a city favorite for a romantic Sunday brunch. The traditional-style
buffet includes salmon, made-to-order omelets, roasts, and desserts. 18 St Thomas St 416 921 2921
Courtyard Café
Bonjour Brioche This
bakery cum café is popular with locals, so arrive early to get a seat.
Brioches and croissants (in several flavors) are baked on the premises
and melt-in-your-mouth fresh. Sandwiches on chewy baguettes are
excellent. 812 Queen St E 416 406 1250
Fruit tart, Bonjour Brioche
Gallery Grill The neo-Gothic splendor of the University of Toronto’s
Hart House sets the tone of refined tradition, and the menu adds
sparkle to the sedate surroundings. Fine sandwiches, soups, and an
extensive selection of wines by the glass. 7 Hart House Circle 416 978 2445 Closed Sat
Pink Pearl The Chinese tradition of selecting dim sum
items such as shrimp and pork dumplings, stuffed noodles, sticky rice,
and barbecue pork buns from passing carts turns brunch into a festive
occasion at this Yorkville restaurant. 120 Avenue Rd 416 966 3631
Dooney’s This
Annex institution hops on the weekends, when locals line up for tasty
omelets, blueberry pancakes, “samnscram” – scrambled eggs with smoked
salmon and scallions – and strong lattes. Some patrons, local writers
among them, hold down tables for hours, immersed in the neighborly
atmosphere. 511 Bloor St W 416 536 3293
Xacutti Cardamom
scented butter milk biscuits and Bombay scrambled eggs spice up brunch
at this Little Italy standby. Cool your tastebuds with a free shooter of
the daily smoothie. The weekend brunch menu is also great, though it
veers away from Indian food. Reservations are recommended for dinner. 503 College St 416 393 3957
Aunties and Uncles A
charmingly eclectic place. Arrive early, before the crowds scoop up all
the Belgian waffles. Soups, salads, omelets, and sandwiches are
excellent, the juice freshly squeezed. 74 Lippincott St 416 324 1375
Swan A
Formica-topped counter and reclaimed diner booths lend this bustling
spot a 1950s feel, but the food is decidedly contemporary. Eggs are
scrambled with smoked oysters and pancetta, sautéed spinach accompanies
trout eggs benny. Excellent Americano coffee, but alas, no free refills. 892 Queen St W 416 532 0452
Counter seating at Swan
Top 10 Best Snacks
Chinese Buns Steamed dough filled with savory meat, vegetables, or sweet coconut and red bean paste. Eat piping hot. Souvlaki Grilled chunks of marinated lamb, beef, pork, or chicken smothered in garlicky Greek tzaziki sauce and often wrapped in pita bread. Falafel Deep-fried chickpea balls in pita pockets stuffed with tahini sauce, onion, and tomato – a Lebanese specialty. Bubble Tea An Asian concoction of sweet, flavored cold tea, milk, and tapioca pearls. Gelato More refreshing and lighter than ice cream, Italian ices come in an assortment of flavors, from lemon to caramel. Corn on the Cob Little India street vendors prepare grilled corn glazed with lemon juice and spices. Hot Dogs Ubiquitous
outdoor carts grill hot dogs, veggie dogs, and sausages. Polish sausage
is a favorite, piled high with all the fixings – pickles, sauerkraut,
and hot mustard. Jamaican Roti Soft flat bread encase a variety of fillings, from curried goat or chicken to spinach and squash. Hot sauce is optional. Churrasco Chicken Spiked with tangy Portuguese piri piri sauce, then barbecued to perfection; served on a bun or with roasted spuds. Roasted Chestnuts Sidewalk vendors sell steaming-hot smoky-flavored chestnuts in summer and fall.
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