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Drake's Corner Café + Bistro
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Canadian (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
1150 Queen St WToronto, ON M6J 1J3
Neighbourhoods: West Queen West, Beaconsfield Village
(416) 531-5042
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 8 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 8 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
32 reviews for Drake's Corner Café + Bistro
Review Highlights
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"...my DC and I shared a plate of those famous blueberry scones." In 4 reviews -
"Try the patio upstairs in the summertime." In 9 reviews -
"...is great, especially the eggs benedict and the breakfast..." In 2 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Heather G.
Toronto, ON
4/26/2012
Brunch here on the weekend is great! Food and drinks are delicious and the service is always friendly. They even take reservations! The side patio on a warm day or the lounge by the front window are my favourite places to sit. I find the bistro to be cramped, especially during peak times.
To drink I recommend the rich, spicy and refreshing Drake Caesar. It's thick and lush and a meal on its own. The coffee here is surprisingly delicious as well. A nice foamy cappuccino always hits the spot for me.
My favourite things to eat on the menu are the eggs benedict and the chicken and waffles. Everyone knows that eggs benedict is only as good as it's hollandaise sauce and the Drake doesn't disappoint. The hollandaise adds to the richness of the runny yolk and balances the toasted english muffin and salty smoked pork loin. It's a classic done right.
Chicken and waffles is another scrumptious brunch option. The sweet jam and maple syrup work so well with the savory waffle and crispy seasoned chicken. The Niagara cherry jam really sets this dish apart from other variations I've tried elsewhere. I agree that the sweet and savory combination sounds a bit odd, but I assure you that it totally works and you'll come back to order it again and again. -
Review from Noah G.
4/15/2012
I had a small dinner at the bar in the dining space of the Drake Hotel in my first night in Toronto on business. The space was cool and stylish, and I guess the food did too. I had the steak tartar, hemp chop salad and the giant roasted scallops. Everything looked great, with cleanly executed rustic preparation. The food, sadly was superficial. Flavor balance, and the amount of fats used particularly, lacked the touch needed to pull the dishes off so that the hemp salad was oily and flat and the scallops were overwhelmed by their cloying buttery sauce. The steak tartar was good as it when but the accompanying bread was both burned and over buttered/oiled. It wasn't the worst food I could have eaten but if I go back to the Drake, I will stick with drinks.
On a service note, the waiter was attentive and polite. The woman at the front desk was the opposite. -
Review from Corey D.
5/20/2012
Check it! This is easily one of the most vibrant breakfast experiences I've ever had. Vibrant? Yeah, I said it. Expansive windows, vibrant colours and shiny metals make this place an instant "wake-me-up," offereing a fresh feel in a histroic setting. Service was spot on during a recent brekkie trip... our server was full of awesome suggestions for eats, and a loose leaf tea rec that packed some mad flavor. As for the food, super simple - egg whites scambled, toast, avocado, tomato and a small salad, but super delicious. I can't remember an avocado tasting this creamy good, and here's a quick idea of you want to make the perfect bite: Slice up that tomato to fit your toast, shmear some avocado as you would cream cheeese, load the bad boy up with some egg and you are good to go! A wifi situation makes it easy to work, and even though they have limited seating at tables, they weren't quick to rush me or my bud Chad G during a recent laptop sesh. I dig the vibe, the staff, the wifi, pretty much every single bit about the place!
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Review from C Z.
Toronto, ON
5/12/2012
Why did you change your chicken and waffles from white meat to dark meat (with some gross skin/fat)?!!! You've lost a loyal customer. I ate there almost every weekend.
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Review from Denise S.
7/10/2011
Intense yoga followed by brunch on Queen West is my weekend ritual and I've been working my way through all the various brunch spots on this strip. This week, I decided to try the Drake Corner Cafe. The side patio is lovely on a sunny day with lots of umbrellas for those who prefer the shade. We arrived at 11:30 and were seated right away.
I started with some fresh mango juice - refreshing and sugary sweet. Then my DC and I shared a plate of those famous blueberry scones. Believe the hype. They were divine -- everything a scone should be: warm, soft, a bit of crispness on the outside, granulated sugar sprinkled on top, dense but not dough-y, and triangular. The 4 mini scones were served with strawberry jam, butter, and clotted cream. It felt like going for high tea. I also had the yogurt and homemade granola with honey and fruit to round out the meal. The yogurt was plain yogurt (I would've preferred vanilla), but the granola was surprisingly crisp and flavourful with a variety of nuts.
Service was smooth and swift, no complaints. I would come back to try the rest of the menu. The breakfast burrito, especially, sounds really good. I was also intrigued by the make-your-own mimosas and caesars on the menu.Listed in: Patio Season!, Brunch
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Review from Dimitrios D.
7/26/2011
Good burger and tasty (though inauthentic) Greek salad.
The waiter was a bit of a buffoon and decided to card me when I ordered wine though never carded my equally young looking girlfriend who ordered before me.
Alpha male much? -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011
After dark or afternoon, Drake always comes through. Toronto Life calls it a "hidden gem" for brunch, perhaps because it isn't the first place that comes to mind?
I love Drake's brunch on many levels, starting with the fact they take reservations - a rarity for great Toronto brunch spots. Once there, service is always pleasant and whether you're seated in the cafe or the bistro, it's laidback.
I spent this beautiful Sunday morning with the chicest twosome I know - trust, there isn't another couple in Toronto that is more in vogue than these two. The three of us had a nice catch-up over a shared plate of Toronto's famed warm blueberry scones:
Flaky + sweet
Simply sunhsine on a plate
Us ladies had Benedicts - Drake's traditional with pork loin, and their Caleb with smoked salmon:
The arugula ("rocket") was a nice touch.
The lone man had the Lumberjack:
Three eggs, sausage (or bacon), home fries, toast and buttermilk pancakes. That's a mouthful...
This Sunday morning, no rain was falling; just a lovely day for three friends, brunch, and a stroll down Queen Street. Parfait, j'aime ma vie. -
Review from Andrea S.
Toronto, ON
7/7/2011
Met up with a few friends for a mid-week drink on the patio...
- This is definitely a nice, shaded patio to spend time on & the comfy booth benches are nice for a protracted evening.
- The white wine sangria is a lovely peach colour and has a nice not-too-sweet flavour. The only confusion with this was the reasoning behind the "soapy" tasting cherries - I am sure they have been soaked in something with good intentions, but their flavour was not a pleasant finish to my drink.
- For munching, I tried the red rice maki -it was a yummy, if over-priced, snack. Friends tried the fries and the tomato alphabet soup and were quite pleased.
Overall, I would go back in the evening at the request of a hipster friend but it would not be my first choice for a patio or culinary experience. -
Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
Came by today at around noon for brunch. Waited for about 20 minutes for a table for two (would've been quicker if we had opted to sit outside on the patio).
We started with the warm scone share plate which came with cream and preserves for $8. The menu indicated that they were "Toronto's best blueberry scones" according to the Toronto Star. I must say, they are absolutely right! These were some of the most amazing scones I've ever had. They were nice and crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. The share plate came with 4 small scones and came with a vanilla cream, butter and preserves. This is highly recommended!
I also ordered the eggs benedict - 2 poached eggs, smoked pork loin, toasted english muffin, hollandaise + hand cut French fries ($12.75). The hollandaise had a very strong lemony flavour which I didn't enjoy at all since I'm not a huge fan of lemon. But, my boyfriend loved it. So, it really depends how you feel about lemon. Other than that, the eggs were perfectly poached and the smoked pork loin was nice. I also really enjoyed the fries which were nice and crispy.
My boyfriend ordered the Smoked brisket hash - fried eggs + chipotle cream ($14). The dish didn't look very appetizing, but hey, it's a hash. The eggs were cooked nicely but the meat was on the tough and dry side. Flavour-wise, the hash was decent, but not memorable.
As for the service, I found it to be a bit slow (I think they may have been short-staffed since it's the long weekend). It took us a pretty long time to get our coffee ($2.95 each) and it also took a while for us to flag someone down to get our bill.
Final thoughts? I'd come back to pick up some scones, but the rest of the food wasn't very memorable. -
Review from Jane K.
10/21/2009
Incredible service, delectable food and free WiFi. Do you really need anything more? I spent several hours here each day I was visiting Toronto since I was staying in the attached Drake hotel. The first time I settled in, I'd just been told it would be 4 hours before I could enter my hotel room and armed with little more than my laptop I prepared for the long wait. Despite my hogging a table for 3 plus hours and ordering little more than a latte, the waiters and waitresses were downright jolly. They never bothered me and simply made themselves available if needed.
Beyond the service the food is excellent. I had an incredible bagel with cream cheese & lox that had an amazing mixed lettuce, capers and paper thin slices of red onion sandwiching perfect slices of smoked salmon. The lattes are potent and the caesar I sprung for (when in Canada!) was well done...though I'm not quite used to that clamato aftertaste.
The pain of an 11am room check out time is certainly eased by it's existence and I do believe it's the cafe all others should hope one day to be. -
Review from Kevin L.
6/20/2010
Big open windows letting in the warm slanting afternoon sunlight, crisp witbier from one of my favorite breweries, and an undeniably solid salad. Add some free wi-fi and a date with my e-mail inbox and you have the makings of a charming, comfortable, and capable café.
This is the first time I've tried Unibroue's Blanche de Chambly - I'm a fan! Now I just need to figure out where to find it retail near me at home... having had their Noir de Chambly in Boston about a year ago, I had a hunch that the lighter style would be right up my alley. Who would have guessed the Québécois knew how to brew?
My sashimi salad had plenty of generous cuts of fish, and it wouldn't have surprised me if each leaf of crunchy lettuce on the plate had been hand-selected for perfection; not a single leaf was wilted or soggy. Sometimes, it's the simple things that make all the difference. -
Review from Miriam W.
7/29/2009
Four words to ecstasy: Milk Chocolate Passionfruit Pudding.
I could go on about how luscious and dreamy this pot of heaven was; sweet and tart with a thickness unlike any pudding I've had. Honestly though, describing this pudding's ethereal qualities is sort of like trying to explain to someone what kissing feels like.
Some things are better left to experience. -
Review from Kat F.
Updated - 7/29/2009 2 photos
The arugula and radish salad I had today was a touch uninspired (c'mon, throw in some pumpkin seeds or other crunchies to mix it up) but the crostini and cream cheese on the side livened up the mood a little.
It was the bite of Miriam W's milk chocolate and pomegranate pot de creme that sent me into a tantalizing tizzy the likes of which I haven't experienced since first biting into Terroni's flourless chocolate cake. It was just so good that one bite was enough to slap a grin on my face. I can't imagine how blissed out I'd be after eating an entire ramekin's worth!Listed in: List Of Things For New Yorkers…, Grill 'Em! Toronto's Best…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/10/2009
Let's talk about the breakfast sandwich I had at The Drake Cafe today. Like seriously, let's hash it… Read more »
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Review from Angela H.
4/23/2009
Alright - first of all, I had no idea The Drake has been a hotel since 1890! It since has been remodeled several times, and is now a beautiful bohemian boutique hotel in the Queen West artsy district of Toronto. In recent years they've opened the Corner Café, which is what I am reviewing for you today.
The café is always bustling with people, no matter what time of day it is. Compared to the actual Drake restaurant, there isn't that much seating in the cafe (hence why it's always so packed). The price is fair, for a delicious lunch and strong coffee. At night, the café also turns into a bistro - I guess a hotel lobby bar, more or less.
I ordered their hamburger and fries, and it was perfect! Seriously, ridiculously amazing! Apparently their brunch is great too - but I wasn't about to eat a hamburger AND brunch in one go. Gimme a break! Their scones are also baked daily by pastry chef David Chow, and were voted the best in Toronto by the Toronto Star (I would like to eat several of these one day too)
I've only eaten here once, but I will definitely be back! -
Review from Tong J.
We went to the Drake Cafe for brunch this weekend, having been there twice before. Reservations are pretty much a must after 11:00, unless you're prepared to wait. Service is great considering how busy they get and staff are hip and friendly.
Now for the food. Fried chicken and waffles are ok, traditional 3 egg breakfast is just that...traditional. They used to serve a dynamite jalapeno cheddar biscuit which is no longer on the menu, much to our dismay.
Overall, the food is average but what makes the Drake for dining is the large bustling patio and secluded, funky Sky Yard. -
Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
12/26/2009
A number of advantages to this almost hipster style diner cafe tucked in the corner.
Very good service...things taken in the right order, efficient, accommodating and polite.
Food...excellent breakfast options including a surprisingly delicious fried chicken and waffles, really delicious blueberry scones with mascarpone cheese, butter and jam. The soft and sexy scrambled eggs with mushrooms was also solid. The coffee could use a little work but otherwise a comfy dining location.
I'll be visiting again if I'm around the area.Listed in: My Toronto Favourites
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Review from Wendy H.
Toronto, ON
1/25/2010
I wanna like this place a pantload, but both times I've come away feeling underwhelmed by my meal. Both times I've gleefully perused the menu (dinner and brunch), dewy sparkles of drool forming as I made a decision. Both times the written descriptions were much more delicious than the end product.
First let me say that the drinks and the atmosphere are excellent. I love having a nice sit here and ordering one caesar too many at 11am ($5 Caesars?! I'M ALL IN). I bet this joint is bangin' in the summertime. Also the scones. The scones are definitely worth devouring.
And now back to the food. Meh meh meh. My brunch was better (scrambled eggs with a really nice accompanying salad, and I'm feelin the ricotta-topped toast), but overall I'm not racing back for more. The fish & chips were lackluster, but I shoulda known not to order them when not two days earlier I was eating fish & chips fresh off the boat in Nova Scotia. Yuh, I'm a total fish snob, so there.
All whining beside, the drinks/atmosphere/scones are worth returning for. I'll give the menu another go-round as well - I'm not hating, I'm just not raving! -
Review from Joanne W.
8/9/2010
After a long trek to the Drake Hotel from Eaton Centre (traffic was horrible), my two friends and I finaly make it there. It was the three of us, and we got seated in about 10 minutes after sitting on a little couch to determine what kind of food we wanted to have that night.
We ordered the following:
1) BC SMOKED OYSTERS: with some grilled bread and radish, this was an interesting meal. I usually don't eat oysters, but it was absolutely decliious. I was a little bit confused about why they gave us canned BC smoked oysters - I still can't tell if they actually just took it out of the can or it was just presentation. Nonetheless, it was a greally great appetizer to start.
2) FRIED SESAME SQUID: with kimchi!? and charred scallion aioli. The calamari was a bit disappointing, I wasn't very impressed. Adding kimchi to the dish threw it off (and not only that... the kimchi wasn't that good). The aioli sauce was really good though - but I wouldn't really recommend this dish.
3) BEEF CARPACCIO: tenderloin, flatbread, and arugula. This was my favourite appetizer to start off with. The mix of the truffle oil with the flatbread and the tenderloin was just absolutely amazing. Definite commendrecommend.
4) CRAB SPAGHETTI SUCCOTASH: my friend ordered this; we don't know how it was; but I guess she had no complaints.. So I guess it was good.
5) TUNA TATAKI: my friend and I shared this (we went to Taste of Danforth prior to this; so sharing three apps and then this was REALLY filling). Lightly seared with ginger, sesame, etc. -- It was actually really good! I would recommend this in future instances.
Service wasn't bad either - the people were friendly and what not. I initially found our waitress to be slightly annoyed of us probably because we were taking forever to order; but as time passed by, she grew on me.
Great place to hang out with some people on a Friday evening after work. -
Review from A P.
Toronto, ON
4/7/2010
I couldve spent my drake gift card on impressing ladies in the underground getting them hammed but i took the smarter route and spent the plastic on meeself at the upstairs cafe.
go here on a good weather day, the patio is awesome and even the inside is fairly open. the host of glutton for punishment was eating at the table next to mine (dope show!) ordered the drake burger. talk about damnnn juicy. really simple w bacon and (first time trying) Russian sauce. fries were also really good. staff is always sparkly and you can grab little eats to go.
don't be inimidated by all the patrons with big sunglasses and egos, this place is definitely the spot for a lunch date on queen w. -
Review from Jeff S.
North York, ON
4/16/2011
Coming on a weekend for brunch is pretty key here. The menu gets stepped up many notches, and is at the (relatively) affordable end of brunch in the neighbourhood. There isn't really anything on the brunch menu that you can go wrong with, though the drip coffee tends to be hit or miss.
The weekday lunch menu is decent in a reliable way, but the evening menu is decidedly meh. It kind of just feels like the lunch menu without the breakfast items and more expensive. That said, it's a good hangout option at any time of day, especially when the side patio opens up. -
Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
5/9/2010
Kind of a beautiful place to end up for a weekend brunch. I've come here a few times and love the ambience every time. The narrow room has a nice kitchen crossed with bistro feel. and the patio is nice when the sun comes directly upon it.
the breakfasts are tasty but not spectacular in value or quality. But definitely worth an a-ok rating.
The pastries are beautiful and made in-house. The scone is supposed to be really good- I tend to hate scones but my dining partner said they were a "taste-explosion".
The croissant, also made in-house was less than spectacular. Not buttery or flakey ENOUGH to get a good rating from me. I also tend to hate croissants unless they are perfect (i.e. Brassai- or next-to-perfect- Carousel bakery @ St. Lawrence).
Great place but I, personally, am not charmed by it. -
Review from Martin W.
7/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place has a wicked patio and is filled with beautiful, hip people. That's about all it has, though. The food presentation is excellent but totally underwhelming in taste and overpriced. A burger here is $17 bucks and tastes pretty average. The burger down the street at Queen Star is bigger, tastier, and 5 bucks. Other items on the menu are similarly meh and pricey, but it is a pretty cool hangout spot, which I think is what you are paying for.
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Review from Richie S.
1/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
I like this place.
Friendly staff, perfect brunch food with the option of booze. I had the burrito with avocado and it was day-lish-yeu. Tried a bite of the buttermilk pancakes and cheddar biscuits too. Fantastical. -
Review from Dan M.
Toronto, ON
7/25/2011
Overpriced, esp. given the relatively low grade food, piss-poor service from a deaf waitress, as in literally deaf. No excuse for poor service. Wish I could expunge what I did waste money on.
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Review from A C.
Scarborough, ON
7/17/2011
This place has a decent reputation and that was why we came here for a summerlicious lunch with two friends on July 12, 2011.
What a disappointment! The service was fine but the food was horrendous, to the point that I felt it was the worst summerlicious/winterlicious experience I ever had.
We started out with the "steakhouse" salad. We weren't expecting any meat with the salad but here's what we got - a bunch of uncut green onion, a quartered green pepper, a stick of original length celery (with leaves) and carrot, a halved turnip and radish that looked unwashed. We did get two little cups of dips but it was obvious there was very little care in the food preparation.
The main entree wa a piece of soggy fried chicken dumped on a bed of mashed potatoes. It neither looked or tasted good. KFC is much better.
Desert was nothing to write home about either.
I wonder if we were just unlucky. -
Review from Mia P.
7/5/2011
Went there twice and had great experiences. The sandwiches and soups were very good. They are friendly and to sit outside in the summer of Toronto is such a pleasure!
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Review from André C.
Toronto, ON
8/1/2010
Love the place. Been there many times with the wife and kids for sunday brunches. Food is great, especially the eggs benedict and the breakfast burrito. Also the waffles are great. Pretty decent coffee as well. All in all a real favourite in Toronto. The live music is also great.
If anything they could maybe do a couple of updates to the menu. Couple of the items are pretty plain. Especially the eggs and bacon. Its just that at a place like this you expect a bit more creativity even with stuff like that. -
Review from Ella R.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2011
I come here quite often it seems like a hotspot for out of towners I usually get good service but it depends on who you get! But the vibe and decor is good.. The coffee good and scones.... Goood!!! Try the patio upstairs in the summertime!
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Review from Q R.
7/18/2010
AMAZING cheddar biscuit breakfast sandwich and I will most definitely come back for the food...but the service was lacking just a little bit. It was between breakfast and lunch shifts so maybe they were a little short-staffed? We had to walk into the bar area a couple of times to ask for more water/our check/silverware but the food was just so amazing it negated the lack of attention from our waiter. Highly recommended for the atmosphere, cheddar biscuits (that they bake themselves each day) and fresh fruit salad.
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Review from Peter R.
Richmond Hill, ON
8/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
Very crowded with interesting looking people. The foods is very good and so is the service. Great place to people watch.
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Review from Lauren C.
Scarborough, ON
5/19/2011
you the you the best. you the you the best. best I ever had, best I ever had.
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Review from Rich T.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2010
While I've never had dinner on the cafe side before, I think I'll go back. Was hoping to drop by for dinner in the main dining area but it was overtaken by a post holiday party. That forced us onto the cafe side. I like The Drake even though I feel really uncool every time I go there with all the retro bohemians and their strategic piercings and tattoos. The cafe is basic --- a bit cramped. The dining chairs are more utility than comfort but the atmosphere is relaxed and casual --- just how I like it. Had the beef brisket + sides (3 sides come for a special price of around 20 bucks). Brisket was HUGE! Cooked homestyle but very flavourful. Get a side of Mac 'N Cheese and fries and you're all set for the night. With 1/2 litre of Red it cost about $60 tip in --- pretty good deal I'll say. Side benefit...cute artsy female types. +ives: relaxed dining, solid comfort food -ive: chairs, they're rock solid.
