Ratings:
Critic’s pick
NNNNN Brunchalicious
NNNN Eggs ‘traordinary
NNN Quiche me quick
Prices:
$ Under $15 per person (minus alcohol)
$$ $15 to $20 per person (minus alcohol)
$$$ Over $20 per person (minus alcohol)
Patio
Gallery Grill
7 Hart House Circle, at Wellesley, 416-978-2445. Once a private U of T faculty club, the restaurant in Hart House’s Great Hall still feels exclusive, all soaring Gothic revival stonework, Mission-style furniture and coat-of-arms china. Veteran chef Suzanne Baby’s seasonally shifting card reflects local bounty at its best. Best: to begin, cheesy gougères with house-made apricot preserves warm potato blinis topped with fried quail eggs and sided with fresh fig salad innovative mains like crisped lamb belly paired with rapini, charred onions and salsa verde artichoke, enoki ‘n’ Brie frittata with house greens and toasted brioche to finish, lemon soufflé tart with wild Ontario rhubarb to drink, grapefruit spritzers. Open Sunday 11 am to 2 pm. Reservations required. Licensed. Access: barrier-free. Rating: NNNNN $$$
Also in the area…
L’Espresso Bar Mercurio
321 Bloor W, at St George, 416-585-2233. The streamlined offshoot of Bar Mercurio kitty-corner across the street, this budget-minded bistro on the ground floor of U of T’s Woodsworth College specializes in a short all-day card of panini, salads and traditional egg breakfasts. Open Monday to Friday 7 am to noon, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations accepted. Licensed. Access: barrier-free. $$
