If you’re looking to kick-start your Pride with something a little more exotic than eggs Benedict, here’s your chance to check out the new and rather ostentatious Osteria dei Ganzi (504 Jarvis, at Dundonald, 647-348-6520, ganzi.ca, @ganzitoronto) in the old Gooderham mansion.
The historic pile’s 200-seat patio is easily the village’s loveliest, and chef Guerrino Staropoli’s Italian brunch carte – old-school cannelloni with fried banana peppers and garlicky lentil ragu ($12), thin-crusted pizzas dressed with fresh cherry tomatoes, anchovies and almonds ($13) – won’t scare away the locals.
The swellegant Ganzi’s even more palatable when management turns off the cranium-crashing thud of nightclub house and slaps on the more apropos rat-pack Dino and Frank.
Speaking of swanky cocktail lounges, Byzantium (499 Church, at Wellesley, 416-922-3859, byz.ca, @ByzonChurch) offers its annual Pride brunch Sunday (June 29).
Executive chef Jerome Rivest promises the likes of guacamole-topped turkey burgers ($15 with frites or greens) and summery niçoise salads topped with grilled tiger shrimp. And, yes, they take reservations, but only for the 11 am seating.
If you’ve been up all night sweatin’ to the oldies at Fly, boogie on over to Fire on the East Side (6 Gloucester, at Yonge, 416-960-3473, fireontheeastside.ca, @FireEastSide) next door for brunch Saturday, Sunday and holiday Monday from 10 am. Expect the likes of house-smoked tofu hash ($14) and pulled pork poutine with a side of Donna Summer.
Don’t tell anyone, but Renda Abdo’s Smith (553 Church, at Dundonald, 416-926-2501, 553church.com) has a terrific little patio hidden away in the alleyway round back where brunch kicks off at the ungodly hour of 9 am both Saturday and Sunday. We’re partial to the Middle Eastern fattoush salad ($12) washed down with a bottle of Cava and a quart of freshly squeezed orange juice ($42).
Over in Leslieville, the ever-irascible Edward Levesque (1290 Queen East, at Hastings, 416-465-3600, edwardlevesque.ca, @Edwards1290) celebrates Pride with brunch Saturday and Sunday from 9 am and Monday from 10 am. The festivities extend that far east?
“Not really,” says Levesque. “It’s all mommies with yoga mats and baby carriages these days.”
