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
Bluegrass Brunch @ The Dakota Tavern
249 Ossington, at Dundas W, 416-850-4579. This west-side basement saloon may be better known as a rootsy live music venue, but every Sunday morning it’s home to one of the rockin’-est brunches in town. For $12, the happening honky-tonk dishes up substantial all-you-can-eat platters at communal tables to the obligato of live bluegrass. Best: to start, orange and grapefruit juices good coffee-shop joe obligatory fruit salad perfectly fluffy scrambled eggs strewn with fresh tomato unusually meaty bacon crisply griddled home fries unlimited stacks o’ flapjacks with maple syrup friendly if slightly sketchy service (hey, it’s Sunday morning!). Open Sunday 11 am to 3 pm. Licensed. Access: 15 steps at door, washrooms on same floor. Rating: NNN $
Musa
847 Dundas W, at Euclid, 416-368-8484. Amy Fleischman’s long-running café delivers contemporary takes on Greek and Turkish mezes in a sunny room that’s always jammed to the rafters. Best: Bubble And Squeek, scrambled eggs tossed with veggies and three cheeses (Asiago, chèvre and Swiss) over English muffins sided with bacon or sausage and home fries savoury chicken and mushroom crepes layered with béchamel and sided with house-made salsa New York-style grilled challah sandwiches layered with smoked salmon, chèvre, capers, red onion and fried eggs $5 hair-of-the-dog pints. Open Saturday and Sunday 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms on same floor. Rating: NNNN $$
Saving Grace
907 Dundas W, at Bellwoods, 416-703-7368. Monica Miller’s intentionally anonymous café is always bedlam on weekends. Regulars know to disregard the printed menu and go for the chalkboard specials. Best: devilishly textured corn cakes accompanied by chili-fired mango chutney and greens dressed with sun-dried tomato vinaigrette waffle du jour with real maple syrup, or very plain scrambled eggs with pumpernickel toast and oven-roasted home fries French toast with caramelized bananas in maple syrup. Open Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 3 pm. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms upstairs. Rating: NNNN $$
Also in the area…
Gayley’s
1424 Dundas W, at Gladstone, 416-538-3443. Rarely crowded, the relaxed room (if it were any more laid-back it’d be horizontal) always has stacks of newspapers to read, and its competent kitchen whips up a respectable all-day breakfast that goes for only $5.95. Open Monday to Saturday 7 am to 6 pm, Sunday 8 am to 4 pm. Cash only. Unlicensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms on same floor. $
Get Real
135 Ossington, at Argyle, 416-532-4564. In a small converted row house in downtown’s newest gentrified nabe, this stylish all-veggie café is a healthy alternative to the coke ‘n’ cocktail scene. Open Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations accepted. Unlicensed. Access: barrier-free, small washroom on same floor. $$
Lula Cafe @ Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas W, at Brock, 416-588-0307. A riot of clashing tropical turquoise and pink, this small cantina in the popular Latin concert club opens to the cacophony of the street. As expected, chef Derek Crinson’s morning menu also reflects the club’s island aesthetic. Bonus: salsa lessons! Open Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 3 pm. Licensed. Access: barrier-free (café only). $
