Overall: 7.5 out of 10

There is a ton of potential to this place. They have a great location, but they don’t maximize it. They need to get themselves a good renovation expert in there to give them some tips to be more focused on the clientele they are trying to attract and to get some better curb appeal to draw the people in.

Once they’ve got the décor part worked out they need a great breakfast chef to add more flavour and pizzazz to their dishes. The menu is good, the execution needs work.

Stratengers

Some Facts:

They’ve been around since 1989. If you go in the summer before 11am don’t expect the sun to hit the patio. They have nice patio off of Queen but the sun turns up after 11am. This is a restaurant bar that admittedly has a hard time keeping up with the rush due to its small kitchen.

Food: 6 out of 10

The food was just okay. I ordered the Super Special with the eggs over hard. But they were runny. With breakfast when eggs are involved and made to order the restaurant has to get it right. That was a big draw back. The rest of the food was cooked fairly well but not spectacular and not especially nice tasting – fairly bland.

Service: 9 out of 10

We were served by one of the owners – Darim. He was charming and the sort of guy you want to root for. He actually made the food taste better. I liked him so much I sort of let that sway my judgement on the food. Unfortunately, the food was still too bland and he couldn’t save it.

Décor: 7 out of 10

The place has an odd set-up. Their sign is off-putting because it looks out of place. And as you approach it the way they’ve got things set up it’s so dark at the front that you can’t tell the place is open. Once inside it’s a bit of a mish mash. The first half of the restaurant is sort of cramped; then as you follow through you go through a sliding door and enter the nicest part of the restaurant with high ceilings and a very Latin-flavoured theme. This part is very nice, but the layout makes you feel like you are in the kitchen of the forward most part of the restaurant.

Value: 8 out of 10

You get your moneys worth. Since they’re also a bar they have a wider variety of drinks which is nice. I got to order a pineapple juice which they had because they use it for mix.

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Overall: 7.5 out of 10

Chew Chew’s offers a good value diner breakfast. The restaurant is clean and bright, the food is tasty and the service was good.

Chew Chew’s Diner

Some Facts:

The diner opened up at the end of 2007; it has a great mural painted on its east side. If you stop by definitely take a moment to check it out.

Food: 8 out of 10

The food looked good, but it wasn’t great. I had the eggs over easy with bacon and hash browns. The eggs were done to my liking, the bacon was very fatty and the potatoes weren’t cooked all the way through. The Belgian waffle looked amazing with whipped cream and strawberries, but when I enquired the review was that it looked a little better than it tasted.

Service: 7 out of 10

Our server was sufficient; to be quite frank I don’t even remember her at all. Which on one hand is good because I have nothing to complain about, but on the other hand it means she added very little to the dining experience.

Décor: 8 out of 10

This is a new restaurant that is very clean and bright. It is designed like the inside of a train and is quite cute. I think the newness takes away from the potential character of this place.

Value: 7 out of 10

Our meal was around $55 for 3 people, we did get some extra sides, but the meals were a little pricey for what we received.

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Overall: 9.5 out of 10

The food was simply amazing. This is a gem of restaurant. It’s unfortunate that from the outside it doesn’t scream breakfast spot, because it is simply fantastic. If you don’t live in this neibourhood go out of your way to eat here; it’s worth the trip.

The Ben Wicks

Some Facts:

This pub is named after its owner – Ben Wicks. He died in 2000 from cancer. Ben Wicks, (October 1, 1926–September 10, 2000) was a British-born Canadian cartoonist, illustrator, journalist and author.

Food: 10 out of 10

The presentation and taste were beautifully executed. They offer a very nice breakfast. I had the “Ben’s Breakfast” – two rowe’s farms eggs with bacon or sausage, homefries and multi-grain toast. It was simply excellent. The eggs were made exactly the way I ordered and the rest of the food was very tasty.

My wife ordered the cinnamon-vanilla french toast which comprises thick-cut egg bread with banana-rum-raison compote and real maple syrup. She told me it decadent. The presentation even had my mouth watering as I was peeking over a bit while getting ready to dive into my meal.

Service: 10 out of 10

Our server was great. He was prompt, attentive and courteous. Above all he was ready to please us in any way we needed. And like most great waiters he an uncanny way of knowing just when we needed him but didn’t hover over us to make us feel uncomfortable.

Décor: 9 out of 10

They’ve just recently re-decorated the dining area of the pub. It’s very nice. The area is airy with a nice simple classy feel to it.

Value: 9 out of 10

They serve a full meal. It is certainly filling but at the same time you’re not stuffed by the amount.

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Overall: 9 out of 10

If you’re looking for a good breakfast, in a nice place with friendly staff you should definitely check out this pub.

Murphy’s Law Irish Pub

Some Facts:

This traditional Irish pub offers an upper and lower patio perfect for a summer brunch. .

Food: 9 out of 10

The food was excellent. I had the Weekend Breakfast that is served with eggs, hash browns, toast and your choice of bacon, farmer’s sausage or Peameal bacon. I had my eggs over easy and the farmer’s sausage. My eggs were cooked to perfection, the sausage was plump and juicy and the hash browns were crispy. The only downfall to me was the hash browns because they were deep-fried while I prefer real potatoes.

Service: 9 out of 10

Our waitress was very attentive and pleasant. She made us feel at home and made sure that we had everything that we needed.

Décor: 9 out of 10

This is your typical pub; however, you’ll find it very bright and airy during the day. The tables and chairs are roomy and there are a few different areas for seating which gives you the choice of more cozy tables.

Value: 9 out of 10

The value for this meal was very good. You definitely get what you pay for and you aren’t left feeling hungry at the end of the meal.

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Overall: 9.25 out of 10

Very very good. This place specializes in breakfast and that’s not just what they say, it’s what they do. They don’t miss a step here. The only problem they have is their location. It’s a bit out of the way but make sure to check it out – you’ll enjoy it.

Breakfast Grill

Some Facts:

They specialize in lunch and all day breakfast.

Food: 9 out of 10

The waffle breakfast was excellent. It comes with 2 strips of bacon, 2 sausages, waffles and home fries. Everything was very tasty. My wife had the three eggs with sausage which also comes with toast. The eggs were made to perfection.

Service: 10 out of 10

Our waitress was excellent. She seemed to know when we needed her. She took our orders was back again before we knew it filling up coffees. She had the old time diner feel of familiarity mixed with charm. Even if the food wasn’t good I’d come back just to deal with her again.

Décor: 9 out of 10

Things are simple here. But it works. You don’t feel cramped. The furniture is nice and makes you feel nice and cozy.

Value: 9 out of 10

Very good. They give you enough good to satisfy but not feel stuffed. The meals range from $4.49 to $11.99

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Overall: 2.75 out of 10

The name of this place should be Worst Breakfast. The only reason I ate the food that I was served was because I was starving. It may be cheap, but that doesn’t make it good.

Best Breakfast

Some Facts:

The breakfast special is $4.50 for a typical breakfast before 11am; after 11am add $1.00.

Food: 1 out of 10

The potatoes were gray and old, the eggs were mediocre and the bacon was crispy yet tasteless. There really isn’t anything good to say about the food other than if you are starving, it won’t make you sick.

Service: 6 out of 10

The waitresses were polite and efficient, but non-descript.

Décor: 3 out of 10

I expected to see cockroaches crawl out from under the table, but despite the peeling paint and gray pallor, the restaurant is clean.

Value: 1 out of 10

While cheap at $4.50 a plate, the food is not worth the price.

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Overall: 5.5 out of 10

There was an incredibly strong odor emanating from the basement. Apparently it was the cleaning product. It was so bad my wife had to leave the restaurant before the waitress brought out the bill.

They don’t’ seem to handle the big rush very well. On the day we went the place was a mad house. The place was hopping with people. (That’s probably more based on location rather than the quality of the place.) And the staff was running around completely disorganized.

Johnny G’s

Some Facts:

This place has a family feel to it and serves homemade burgers. Toronto Life says that the burgers are “billed as “Toronto’s best,” which include such creative options as the swiss-and-sauerkraut-loaded rueben, and the Alexander, topped with cream cheese and cucumber…”

Food: 6 out of 10

I had the big breakfast which was 3 eggs, bacon or sausage, home fries and toast. I had the bacon with a side of sausage. There were two main issues with this food – not very tasty and nothing big about it.

Service: 5 out of 10

We had 3 of the staff deal with us. Our main waitress (the one who took our order) was okay but we could never find her to help us with things that were missing. The wrong bread was brought out and it took about 10 minutes for the right bread order to be served. They had a waitress walking around filling up coffee. She was so abrupt that we would have been better off with less coffee. And then the bus boy was so lazy yet keen to get stuff off the table that he would lean over patrons to get things and ordered us to give him a few plates.

Saying that the service was lacking would be kind. The staff’s only saving grace is that you could see that they are good hearted. They just don’t seem like the sort of people who should be running a restaurant. They need professional hel

Décor: 7 out of 10

The décor is okay. They’ve done a reasonable job here and it’s some eclectic charm. Unfortunately the best part of the restaurant’s design is the sign on the outside of the door. Whoever designed the outside should have been hired to do the interior.

Value: 9 out of 10

Disappointing. That’s how it felt. The price makes you think you’re getting a great deal. But only two strips of bacon were served with what they called the Big Breakfast. When I order something called the Big Breakfast I want to have a hard time seeing the plate.

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Overall: 9.25 out of 10

Not a lot to write home about for this restaurant, the food was mediocre, the décor faded, and the service did not meet our standards.

Pear Tree

Some Facts:

The Pear Tree offers brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 4pm.

Food: 6 out of 10

We were given free blueberry muffins at the beginning of the meal. They were very tasty and were still warm. The term ‘muffin’ is used loosely as they were muffin-ish in taste; however, they appeared to be baked as a whole square pain. I had the eggs Benedict. The poached eggs were excellent, but the hollandaise and pea meal bacon weren’t that flavourful. My breakfast companions ordered the TTC breakfast that comes with two eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage. The eggs were not cooked to order and although it sounds like you’re getting a lot of food you only get one slice of bacon and one sausage cut in half. The bacon was over-cooked and the sausage lacked flavour.

Service: 6 out of 10

Our waiter was new and seemed awkward when carrying trays of drinks etc. It is his job to make sure the kitchen cooks the eggs to order, but the eggs were wrong for both of my breakfast companions. He also did not offer refills on the coffee until after the meal was completed.

Décor: 6 out of 10

When this restaurant was new I’m sure it was quite aesthetically pleasing; now the hand-painted wall and ceiling look old and worn. There are rips in the fabric of the benches and chairs as well as chips out of the wall. The interior has definitely seen better days.

Value: 6 out of 10

The free muffins were a nice touch. You get what you pay for, a sufficient amount of mediocre food.

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Overall: 6 out of 10

My recommendation is not to go unless you’re planning on having breakfast and then drinking enough beer to get at least tipsy. If that’s the case then by the time you leave you won’t care about the horribly bad service and the lengthy wait to get your food served.

Mathematically they get a 6 out of 10 but really as a breakfast place they deserve a 4.

Irish Embassy Pub & Grill

Some Facts:

Probably the best Irish pub in the downtown core of Toronto.

Food: 7 out of 10

It was difficult to really judge the food since it was served cold. I had the Homemade Pancakes (apple cinnamon served with maple syrup and choice of streaky bacon or sausage), the presentation was pretty good but there was not enough syrup made available or whipped cream. Further, pancakes never go down as nicely when they are not nice and hot.

My wife had the Irish Breakfast (eggs, Irish style pork sausages, back bacon, black pudding, grilled tomato, baked beans, home fries & toast), she said it was good but most of the meal was cold so again that is a big turnoff.

Service: 2 out of 10

This is possibly the worst service I’ve had for breakfast in Toronto. It took about 20 minutes for the waitress to show up at our table after we seated ourselves. Then she seemed ambivalent to be taking our order. That was only the beginning. It took at least 45 minutes for the food to come and I had ordered the special of that day and my wife’s meal was pretty straight forward.

Once the food arrived it was cold so I asked that the pancakes be heated. Before agreeing to return them to be heated the server who brought them out wanted to argue with me that they were warm. Then the pancakes returned 10 minutes later to be only lukewarm.

Décor: 8 out of 10

It’s a nice spot. They’ve spent a lot of time and money making sure that the place is very nice – and it is. They have booths as well as bar type tables with stools. The atmosphere is good and they have a lot of TV’s to make sure that you don’t miss any sporting events.

Value: 7 out of 10

The value is okay. It would be nice to get a bit more food. They don’t seem well versed in the breakfast concept – folks go out to have a good time and typically over eat a bit more on a weekend breakfast on purpose, that’s part of the deal.

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Overall: 8.5 out of 10

The food was excellent as was the service. If you are in the area and looking for breakfast, this is definitely a place to check out.

Cranberries Bar & Grill

Some Facts:

Cranberries opens Saturdays & Sundays at 9am to serve breakfast.

Food: 8 out of 10

I had the pancakes with fresh fruit and a side of sausage. The pancakes were very good, light and fluffy. The fresh fruit was good, but not necessary as it did not really add anything to the presentation or to the pancakes. The sausages were well-cooked and very good.

Service: 9 out of 10

Our waitress was very warm, and efficient. She neither added to nor took away from the experience.

Décor: 8 out of 10

The furniture and décor was simple if a little worn out; it was a typical pub.

Value: 9 out of 10

For the price of the meal, you get a nice sized serving. Not too big, not too small.

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