Rating: NNNNN
L’Espresso Bar Mercurio
321 Bloor W, at St George, 416-585-2233. The streamlined sibling of nearby Bar Mercurio, this budget-minded bistro on the ground floor of U of T’s Woodsworth College specializes in an all-day card of panini, salads and traditional egg breakfasts. Swellegant digs, a great view of the passing street scene and a lovely tree-shaded terrace. Best: on house-baked baguette, panini piled with shaved roast pork, smoked salmon with capers or breaded veal in herbed tomato sauce at brunch, free-range omelettes like the Calabrese with artichoke, sopressata and Asiago sided with salad, grilled baguette and fries properly poached eggs Benedict with buttery hollandaise and Black Forest ham, served with fruit salad and house-baked scones and strawberry preserves. Complete meals for $25 per person, including all taxes, tip and a glass of wine. Average main $10. Open Monday to Friday 7 am to 11 pm or close brunch Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Licensed. Access: barrier-free. Rating: NNNN
Rushton
740 St Clair W, at Rushton, 416-658-7874. The Drake comes to St. Clair. Once a corner grocery, this 40-seat spinoff of Ferro has been recast as an art deco bistro complete with Frank Lloyd Wright-style flagstone accents, French doors that open to the street and a large summer patio. Best: seasonal soups like purée of sweet celeriac with poached pear and crumbled Roquefort mains like ale-battered halibut paired with first-rate chunky fries the sizable 10-ounce house burger, an Alberta sirloin patty topped with red onion chiffonade sided with sweet potato frites à la carte sides like retro mac ’n’ cheese steamed organic edamame with Cajun salt to finish, flourless chocolate cake with crème fraîche. Complete dinners for $45 per person (lunches $25), including all taxes, tip and a glass of wine. Average main $20/$12. Open for lunch Monday to Saturday from 11:30 am, dinner nightly from 5 pm. Bar till close. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms on same floor. Rating: NNN
