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Hot House Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Cafes Italian, Cafes [Edit]
35 Church StToronto, ON M5E 1T3
Neighbourhoods: St. Lawrence, Downtown Core
(416) 366-7800
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 11 pm
Fri 11 am - 1 am
Sat 10 am - 1 am
Sun 9:30 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
58 reviews for Hot House Cafe
Review Highlights
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"Plus we enjoyed the live jazz as well." In 6 reviews -
"...made waffles and amazing amazing cakes to choose from." In 3 reviews -
"I can visualize the buffet right now." In 17 reviews
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58 reviews in English
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Review from Rob C.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2012
I know I came here in the past like 10 or more years ago and sampled their normal day fare. I remember thinking it was tasty and different, keeping in mind I had just came from a town of 6000 people and was still wary of sushi ;)
A friend wanted to try their Sunday buffet brunch for $19.95 and so I opted to join her. I can't stress this enough. If you have a group of 4 or more make reservations. You'll have to call in beforehand to do so. When we arrived they were quoting wait times of 30-40 minutes yet my and my brunch date only had to wait 5 minutes before we were quickly whisked to our table.
The diversity was what caught or attention first. And everything tasted great. Coffee was good and remarkably we had some amazing servers who even in the midst of some brutal waves of hungry patrons did their best to give us a memorably pleasant dining experience. There have been notes in other reviews that refills for coffee and water were hard to come by but with the amount of people crowding in to the restaurant I think they did a commendable job of it and and delay was expected.
Definitely worth a visit. -
Review from Farhan H.
Oakville, ON
5/4/2012
Had a group of 20 people here last night. We had worked with Hot House to have a custom menu, 3-course meal prepared. There were many options which was great. Here's a quick outline of our evening:
1. Got there at 6:00 pm, left at 9:00 pm - too much time between courses, main course took very long to come, but understandable, it was a big group.
2. During service, sour cream was dropped on the floor that went all over some of our guests bags and coats - very apologetic and cleaned up.
3. One of the main courses (the Salmon) came completely raw on the inside, everyone else's was fine, it was just this one - again, very apologetic, gave the individual discounts for next time, etc etc.
4. Large portions, I personally had the steak, which was ok, the chocolate cake afterwards was great, should have ordered a glass of milk with it!
All in all, interesting night, not sure of this is a typical night, but that was our experience. I will be going back at least two more times, and my group is expected there another 6 times over the next month, will continue to post if the experience gets better or worse. -
Review from Yvonne T.
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hot House Cafe is somewhat of a landmark in the St. Lawrence Market. For those of us without lavish corporate expense accounts - this is one of the places to go to grab a bite to eat.
It has quite the buzz for its brunch buffet, and a huge patio in the summer time. The restaurant itself is quite spacious inside as well.
I came here with co-workers as one of them was leaving the company. We were a bit pressed for time and informed our server of such. He was quick to take our orders, but everything slowed right down after that. The wait for the food seemed long and I think that our respective definition of "time-constrained" was like the North and South Pole. But the theory I came up with is this: If you're not a regular here, don't expect stellar service.
We did manage to get a spot right next to the windows which was a nice second to sitting outside, but it was too cold.
The decor is nothing fancy. The menu is quite extensive, but like the decor - nothing fancy.
I opted for the Fruitti di Mar pizza ($14.95 + $1.50 for multigrain crust) which had shrimp and scallops atop a bed of pesto sauce with red peppers and Asiago. It was quite a yummy pizza, though I could not ignore the oily-ness of the filling. I could probably swim a lap or two in it! I know pizzas are not healthy, and yes they're oily - but this was overly so.
My coworkers ordered the Gnocchi ($10.95 for a small) and a Warm Chicken Salad ($11.95). The salad was a generous portion and the gnocchi looked creamy and delicious.
I would probably eat here again, though definitely not if I want to grab a quick bite to eat. The service here is pretty lacklustre but the food is pretty good. -
Review from Joie T.
It's "Reunion Time"! It's interesting how certain people draw you to certain places! The girls from work and I use to go here on lunch runs. We always order the cheese cappelletti and pizzas. But that was a few years ago. Now I'm back in town and it's catchup time with the girls on a late Saturday morning at 11!
By this time, I have already eaten brekky, but who says I can't have a SECOND brekky? =P ... I ordered the Eggs Benedict Florentine; two poached eggs on top of mini muffins topped with creamy spinach and oozing with hollandaise sauce, with a side of your choice (home fries or fresh fruit). Delish! Good portion size, decent price ($11.95 w/o tax or tip), filling and tasty and really hit the spot!
Tip: You can get gluten-free alternatives for $1.50 extra. I didn't try it, but my friend ordered the pizza and got it gluten free, which she seemed to have enjoyed.
This was my first Saturday here. If you come on Saturdays, service is impeccable! The waiter was always poking around the corner, almost eagerly filling up our coffee and water! And we when asked for the bill, it almost magically appeared in our hands.
I've also been here for dinner and SUNDAY Brunch. Dinner was Meh. But BRUNCH BUFFET on Sundays is GRRRRRRREAT! It's $19.95 per person, plus tax. (no drinks included). Reservations are highly recommended. There are 4 buffet stations ( Hot food / Salad & Cheese & Fruit / Omlette / and Dessert). The ambiance on Sundays is lively, as the air is filled with a live band!
Warning: if you do not have reservations for Sunday's brunch, waiting time is nasty (or is that ME cuz I hate waiting for food when I'm hungry?). But it is absolutely worth the wait! For the quality & selection of food, it is almost a steal!
Great for groups, big or small.
Food: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Interior: 3/5
Cleanliness: 5/5 -
Review from Shradha A.
5/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
GREAT pizza. Enjoyed the patio dining. Slow service but friendly. Good menu!
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Review from Edwin A.
3/9/2012
I did the brunch buffet here a week ago. This place is adjacent to the Flat Iron building in St. Lawrence.
I was surprised by the capacity of this place. It's huge. The waiting area was packed on a Sunday at 1pm.
Food
There's plenty of selection in their brunch buffet but the quality of the food is very disappointing. I struggle to find anything decent tasting and I really question if the chef / kitchen staff is actually tasting the food that's being served - it's really bad.
After sampling a cross section of the foods at the end I was making my own croissant sandwiches with the meats and cheeses and getting the omelette station guys to cook up some spinach on the side.
The live jazz is the place's savings grace.
Food is 1 star, but add another 1 star because of the band. -
Review from Kristyn P.
Toronto, ON
3/14/2012
I went here for Valentine's Day and I know the food is great and filling and somewhat pricey but I knew I'd get my money's worth.
ONLY thing is is that the waiter kept coming by and asking us for our order and I felt rushed and uncomfortable: people have to give you some time especially when your spending time with your significant other. Please and thank you =) -
Review from Juliana H.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2012
I'm sorry, but the signage for this restaurant immediately makes me not want to go here. Having lived close by for many years, I have never once been tempted despite the fact that it often seems quite busy and a few people have told me the food's pretty decent.
Having said that, yesterday I finally looked past my revulsion. I met my family here for lunch mainly because we had plans to go to the Market and the Front St. Winners after. Although it was a Saturday at one o'clock, prime lunch time in my opinion, the Hot House was very empty. First the signage and now this... two bad signs. We were shown to a table in a windowed alcove which made for good people and dog watching. Good thing too because the service was so slow! Our server was very pleasant, but it seemed like an eternity to get our food.
I had the smoked salmon plate. It was a generous portion and although I will acknowledge it's pretty hard to mess up something as simple as smoked salmon, cream cheese, and pumpernickle bread, it was good. Other dishes ordered at the table included the eggs Benny, the lamb burger, and the french toast. The first two were enjoyed but the french toast was a fail. Honestly, when that dish arrived, I though, glad I didn't order that! Apparently, it tasted as bad as it looked.
Overall, it was better than I expected in regards to the food, but I see no reason to return here. -
Review from Tara Z.
2/9/2012
I'd come here for dinner years ago and I wasn't very impressed, but my friends insisted the brunch was worth it--and wow, it really is. Every time you think you're done with the buffet you realize there's another table that you haven't even seen yet!
There's a great selection, from traditional breakfast foods like French toast and eggs (there's an omelette bar!) to things like shepherd's pie and baked pasta. The place is busy, which means service isn't that prompt (drink refills took a while, as did plate clearing). It's a good place for a large party, as evidenced by all the extended family groups in the place, but I probably wouldn't go back unless someone else really wanted to go there. -
Review from Sara-Yan Y.
North York, ON
2/6/2012
5 of us went here for our New Year's Eve dinner. It was a last minute decision as our previous reservation at another restaurant did not work out as planned. We were set with Italian and there weren't many openings for the time slot we wanted. I was skeptical after seeing the restaurant's logo in a picture but its opentable page stated that it has a "smart casual" dress code as opposed to "casual" in all the other restaurants. I wanted to dress up a little for New Year's Eve so I picked this restaurant over the other ones. Well, it didn't take long until I realized the restaurant does not reinforce such a dress code and nobody felt the need to dress up a little at this restaurant (must be that sign at the front). Everyone else wore t-shirts and such, and our group looked over dressed even though we only wore casual business-like attire. ._.;
The food was alright. Nothing special, but at least there isn't anything we can complain about. Our waiter was friendly and kind of cool :D but the lighting inside is really dim for a restaurant.
We finished our meal and left without any complains but neither were there anything to rave about. It is an okay restaurant, but we will probably not go back. -
Review from Justine H.
Toronto, ON
12/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Restaurant: Hot House Cafe
Cuisine: Italian
Location: St Lawrence Market
Address: 35 Church St
Price Range: $15-25
1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very Good 5: Excellent
Food: 3
Service: 3
Ambiance: 2
Overall: 3
Extra information:
*Famous for brunch on Saturday & Sunday
*Live Jazz
Hot House Cafe is located near St Lawrence Market and is famous for their brunch buffet on weekends. I've passed by this place so many times on weekends everytime I went grocery shopping to Metro which is right next door. I went in October so the weather was warmer back then, you can dine inside the restaurant or sit out in the patio (during summer).
Brunch buffet is $19.99 so it's def not cheap...but...who can pass up on Breakfast Buffet? I can't! Hot House Cafe was on my list for awhile and when my friend (tiny one who eats twice her size) was visiting me from Vancouver, so I decided to check it out with her.
Their buffet station consists of hot food, cheese & fruit station, pasty & bread station, cake station, meat station as well as omelette station.
There were about 20 different types of bread varying from rolls, banana bread, baguettes and croissants. At the meat station, they were serving turkey, roast beef and ham as well as cold salmon on the side
Omelette station consistently had long lineups throughout the meal because they make it for you on the spot. Few of the choices that could be added to the omelettes were ham, green onions, cheese, fresh tomatoes and grilled onions.
Hot food station had about 10~15 types of dishes starting from your regular scrambled eggs, sausages, lasagna, bbq chicken, bacon, potato hash and mussels.
It is a buffet so I can't comment on everything that I've tried, but few of the dishes that stood out to me (got seconds of) were:
*Omelette: surprisingly done very well, it will depend on what you add but I added onions, bacon, cheese and mushrooms
*French toast: drenched in walnut and raisin syrup, it was delicious with the real whipped cream on the side
*BBQ chicken: it was well marinated and cooked throughly. there was some smokiness to the sauce which i enjoyed
*Lasagna: very cheesy and it tasted very home-made. It was so comforting!
Mussels: the mussels were small in size but the soup was really good (tomato based)
*Caramel cheesecake: good consistency and I liked how it wasn't too sweet
The service was excellent at the Hot House. Our waitress was super friendly and refilled our water consistently. I went back one more time with my family after the first visit and I made the mistake of going without a reservation. MAKE SURE TO CALL FOR RESERVATION!!! I had to wait for an hour and 40 minutes....and it was not fun.
Summary: Overall, I would say the food is quite average for buffet style restaurant. I just wish omelette station didn't take so long, and would like a hot crepe or waffle station. Food is refilled constantly which keeps it fresh and never empty, which is important for buffet restaurants. Nothing impressed me out of the standard, but I left full and happy. Would I go back? maybe in few months! -
Review from David D.
Markham, ON
10/2/2011
After hearing all the rave and reviews about the brunch buffet at Hot House, it was one of my top choices to try on a Sunday afternoon. Walking in 1:30pm without a reservation on a cold and rainy day, we expected a slow crowd, but man was I mistaken. The host informed us that the expected wait time was 1hr, but she offered 2 seats at the bar which we graciously took. Why not? You're hardly going to be sitting down for long anyways!
As we made our way towards the buffet, we were greeted with a wide variety of warm pastries, bread, and fresh fruits. Followed by hot waffles made on the spot, with choices of maple syrup, chocolate or strawberries with whipped cream to accompany. The meat station consisted of smoked ham and roast beef.
The highlight was the omelette station, with 5-6 toppings to choose from, cooked on the spot to your liking. About a 5-10 mins wait time but well worth it!
The hot stations of the day consisted of sheppards pie, BBQ chicken, lasagna, chipotle steamed mussels, capelletti, stir fried noodles, rice pilaf. Of course, you'll have the usual scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages.
The dessert section was heaven for cake lovers. There were 6 cakes to choose from and all looked so delicious, but I was only able to try 2 slices. They consisted of red velvet, chocolate bananas, white chocolate, chocolate truffle, cheesecake, strawberry mouse. Oh, so good!
Service was quick and friendly. Dishes always cleared by the time I returned, water consistantly refilled. Live jazz music in the background.
But it's definitely pricey ($19.99) for brunch fare. But worth the trip if you're a huge brunch fan.
Note: As noted, make reservations before going! -
Review from Asheley R.
Halifax, NS
12/7/2011
It's gettin' hot in here. so take off... nah.
But that's what I thought of when my friends told me we were going to The Hot House. The inside was quite nice with huge gigantic tables for large parties-- a mega bonus. The staff was super nice, our waitress was kind enough to take several rounds of photos. She was also rather generous in bringing the 3 bottles of wine we ordered throughout the evening.
There were pretty pleased faces across the table during the entire evening. We all pretty much opted for a pizza of some kind. I got the PIzza Capicolla with capicolla, fontina, and ricotta. The capicolla was amazing tasting! I could've just eaten that. I also nibbled on the waikiki- great caramelized onions and the Il Diavolo- super spicy. I can't complain, it wasn't outstanding but it was certainly good enough.
I'd love to go back and try a pasta dish. Although it is fairly pricey but comparable to other Italian joints in the neighbourhood.
I want more capricolla. de-freakin-lish
Sidenote: I didn't really have enough time to explore The Hot House, but the washrooms were off the hook!Listed in: Pretty Penny
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Review from Sara K. P.
Toronto, ON
7/17/2011
Hate to say it but the words buffet and fine dining rarely ever co-exist for me . Sure the Hot House has a live band playing pedestrian jazz and the charming clientele is mainly of the cane & personal mobility scooter variety, sporting the scent of Vick's vapo rub and what of the little brats who bud in front of you in line and get their icky little hands all over the serving ladles/dishes if not on the food itself.
Despite my best efforts to distance myself from the perils of Hot House we ended up coming here today for an impromptu Brunch with the in-laws.
I found Hot House waaay overpriced and my frugal Father-in-Law was understandably miffed that the meals for the four of us that consisted of unremarkable if not slightly better than cafeteria fare, plus a pitcher of spring water, a club soda & 2 coffees came to be over $100!!! I realize we could eat all we wanted (which we didn't) but really it wasn't anything THAT spectacular.
* Mentionable tip: Try not to park on King BEFORE 1pm on a Sunday like we did! We got nailed with a $60 ticket...not a good brunch day at all.... :( -
Review from Richard L.
North York, ON
2/26/2012
I've been to the Hot House at least 10 times over the past few years, as it's close to the office. Every time someone suggests going to the Hot House, I cringe.
I've tried their burgers, lasanga, spaghetti, carbonera, just about everything on theiir lunch menu.
You can't say their food is bad. However, regardless of what you order, everything tastes the same. Full of garlic and overly salted. The pasta (which is what they are known for) is way too heavy; the sauce overly rich. And you feel as though you've put on 5 pounds for food that wasn't that good.
We sometimes term this restaurant the 'gas house' - always a bad feeling of indigestion afterwards, and it's every time. Regardless of what I order, I feel sick afterwards.
The servers are extremely professional and well-trained, but unfortunately you can't eat service! The portions are large, but the prices are to match. -
Review from Steph L.
5/12/2011
Insanely popular for their brunch on Sundays, Hot House serves up a delicious buffet with live Jazz.!
It's a madhouse, so you'll want to make a reservation.
The first time you see the buffet... it seems huge!
Station after station with pastries, breads, spreads, waffles, bacon, sausages, yogurt, prime rib, seafood, salads, fruit, desserts.... all that is considered brunchy fare ($19).
Everything looks marvelous and you can't wait to take a bite out of everything!
The second time up, you grab some of the items your really liked and anything "new" that you missed.
Third time up... now you're just trying to get the best bang for your buck.
You don't really want to eat it...but you put what you can in your mouth and chew...slowly.
I'm not usually a buffet type of gal but I do love live music and brunch.
If you are in the St. Lawrence market area and want to stuff your face, Hot House is a fun and glutenous way to start your day! -
Review from Ellie A.
5/29/2011
The Hot House confused me. Is it a casual diner or upscale restaurant? Is it Italian? A pizza/burger joint? Corporate or family-style? I honestly couldn't tell. The font on the menu looked romantic date-night while the light wooden chairs looked like a sunday brunch place. Such odd decor.
Food is decent here. My husband and I shared a late-night, post-theatre bite of pizza and it was really good. Spinach infused with truffle oil and wild mushrooms. Can't complain about that. But service was inattentive and slow - strange given that the place was half empty.
Do I recommend this place? I guess. I enjoyed the food, although my summary of the place comes down to the word, "Meh".
Vegetarian score: 7.5/10. Decent veggie options - mostly pizza and pasta. But it all seems yummy and not entirely cliche. (And my husband informs me that he loves their chocolate cake. Then again, he loves any chocolate cake.) -
Review from R Y.
Toronto, ON
8/14/2011
Stumbled onto this place b/c the brunch place we wanted to go had a 30 min wait. Glad we went because we were all presently surprised. I had heard about their famous Sunday brunch buffet and it definitely didn't disappoint. The variety was great (cold salmon, roast beef & ham carvery, omelet station, tons of cold and hot pasta dishes and amazing desserts) and the quality is IMO above par for buffets.
We sat in the patio because we didn't have a reservation, which I subsequently learned is must for this place (I see why). But it was perfect because it allowed us to enjoy the beautiful neighborhood.
Will definitely go back!! FYI the price is $19.95 per person. -
Review from Susan C.
Toronto, ON
7/27/2011
My friend and I decided to go to St Lawrence Market on a Monday...when the market was closed. We didn't know until we got there. But, the surrounding stores were still open. We were starving and this restaurant stood out to us.
They have a good selection on their menu, but I feel like it doesn't stand out. I tried one of their pasta dishes and it was really tiny for the price of 15 dollars. The pasta was not outstanding, but it was still tasty.
This restaurant is huge on the inside and outside. It also has a pretty view of church street in the St Lawrence Market (: -
Review from Genevieve L.
Ottawa, ON
2/20/2011
I went here for lunch with my co-workers. I ordered the lasagna. It was pretty good, but I found it too salty. The bread that they give you in the beginning is very good. For dessert, we got a slice of tiramisu to share because we were celebrating a birthday. It was quite good. Nothing too special.
The service was friendly and fairly quick. Can't complain much there.
Overall, for the price it was decent, but I found the food salty.
Would I go back? It wouldn't really be my choice, but I wouldn't be against it either. -
Review from Robin D.
2/5/2011
okay! Ordered from the very cheap $15 Winterlicious lunch menu.
Nice sit-down place with cheap Winterlicious menu. Overall happy with the order except the tiramisu, which is their unique sweet variation.
I enjoyed the crabcakes and gnocchi, but would have been happy with the meatball spaghetti and even the pizza as entre!!! (pizza is quite large++) -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
3/29/2011 5 photos
I love this place! It's huge!
I've been here for both Summerlicious and Winterlicious, and I loved the food. Everything was delicious and the portions were huge! I always end up packing half of my entree home.
Service was a little slow, but nothing too terrible.Listed in: 'licious Restaurant Reviews
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Review from Tee Jay R.
Toronto, ON
5/15/2011
Quite pleased with my experience here the other day. I think it is excellent value; I've paid more at other places and gotten far less.
The space is large, tasteful, and has a nice open flow. We were a pair, but there were a number of larger groups and I'd be happy taking a bunch of friends here. The waiters are polite, competent, and well dressed. Overall, it feels dramatically more refined than other places at a similar affordable price point. The eggs florentine were delicious. The egg was perfectly poached with a core of hot yolk surrounded by a nice orange partially firm layer. The hollandaise was light and served in just the right amount, with a few strands of chive on top. The truffled spinach was delicious, not soaked in truffle essence. Home fries were hot, lightly sautéed in olive oil with some roasted red pepper, a welcome change from the standard greasy variety you get at most brunch places that treat the sides as a throwaway. -
Review from Imran N.
3/26/2011
It's all about the sunday brunch. During the week, i'm not too impressed (except they do groups well), but the sunday brunch is something i crave every so often.
This is not mind blowing food. But the brunch has something for everyone and the sheer size of the place gives it this 'bring your extended family here while they're visiting for a wedding feel' to it. It's cheap at $17.99 per head and it also has live jazz music playing while you eat.
It's a buffet style brunch which a medley of different options like cold shrimp salads, mussels, jerk chicken, cold salmon, etc. The highlights in my mind are the prime rib roast carvery, and the freshly made egg station.
Then there is my aboslute favourite - the dessert station where you can have freshly made waffles and amazing amazing cakes to choose from.
The dessert is one of the reasons i like going.
It's extremely busy, so you want to plan this sunday brunch and make a reservation. Don't even think about going without one.Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from Cheri D.
9/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
When i used to work in the area, my coworkers and I would come here every few months for someone's 'birthday lunch'. I always liked it for lunch.
I recently went to Hot House for the infamous Sunday Jazz Brunch Buffet. Wow! It's super busy on a Sunday! We arrived quite early, in between 10 and 10:30 and didn't have a problem finding a table for two inside near the windows. But there was lots of space on their great big patio as well and i would have gladly sat out there as well. It's farther from the food, but it was a gorgeous morning.
I started my brunch with a chocolate croissant and some fruit. The croissant was really good! Super fresh and buttery with yummy chocolate meltiness inside. I went back for another. Second round was a waffle and some bacon. Mmmmmm..... baaaaacon.... I had more than the 3 or 4 slices of bacon that you usually get with a standard breakie. That in itself is worth it in my books :) In fact, third round i went back for more bacon. Had some roast potatoes and some cheese and... i forget, there was so much food! But we did spend a good couple hours there and casually sipped our teas and coffees in between plate fulls. Plus we enjoyed the live jazz as well. It was a delightful Sunday! There was quite a line-up at the omlette station so i would assume that's a popular item. I don't like omlettes myself so i skipped that. But they will make them to order for you with whatever you fancy.
The price is quite steep but there is tons of food, and if you take your time, enjoy the company and the music, it's worth it for a nice Sunday brunch. -
Review from Joanne W.
Updated - 12/2/2010
After my reservation got messed up at Vagabondo for my friend's farewell party, the 8 of us ended up at Hot House Café that evening. I was glad that they were able to seat us in less than 20 minutes (considering that it was 7:30 PM on a Saturday).
My friends and I had an amazing time that night. Service was amazing once again. My drink was questionable - I wasn't very pleased with the Berry Sparkler. Next time, I'm opting for something else.
I had the penne alia sambuca. It was fairly good and quite filling! I couldn't even finish it because it was a huge portion.
After a night that I thought was going to be a disaster (damn you Vagabondo), my friends had an amazing time at Hot House Café. I would definitely suggest this place for large groups.Listed in: OMNOMNOM italian cuisine
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/11/2010
My friends and I enjoyed the great food at Hot House Cafe last summer on the patio. The pasta and… Read more »
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Review from T B.
Toronto, ON
2/14/2011
I was invited on a girl's weekend brunch.
I really enjoyed my time here, the music was nice and soft and the wait staff were really nice and attentive.
Food was definitely excellent, though I wish they would have had more "breakfast options"
It has more pastas and potato based dishes regardless they were excellent.
I would definitely come again. Well priced for what you get.
Nice area too :) -
Review from Yolanda L.
2/21/2011
Boyfriend and I were looking for a lunch spot but it just snowed the night before and it was freezing so we picked the closest place we could find that wasn't Spring Rolls (we did Spring Rolls 2 days in a row lol) and Hot House it was.
It looks very chainy because of the large huge restaurant and the large menu but the food was decent. The service was awesome as always and the portions just right. What I've noticed from eating in Canada is that their portions are significantly smaller than the portions here in the US which probably explains why everyone in the US is disgustingly obese.
Boyfriend and I had the pizza da parma which wasn't much of a pizza at all, the crust was super thin (I opted for multigrain) and topped with a bit of cheese and on it were thin slices of proscuitto and arugula. It was realy light and yummy. My boyfriend ordered the tortelloni which was really tortellini stuffed with cheese and truffles in a leek tomato sauce. It didn't come in a lunch portion but the waitress was able to get a lunch portion made for us. Like I said, great service.
All in all it a good spot with very reasonable prices. -
Review from Tammy H.
East York, ON
1/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my goto place for a decent after work meal with my hon.
The food is tasty and they have one of the best summer patio's in the area.
There is lots of space here so it's not usually hard to get a table.
I recommend the mussels, calamari and penne ala sambuca and if you're thirsty they make a lovely sangria!
On a side note I would recommend ordering off the menu rather than having their weekend buffet. -
Review from Dave O.
Toronto, ON
11/17/2009
Brunch was good, and had an enormous variety of items, but the things that were wrong on this Sunday afternoon were the basics. The eggs were poor quality and the bacon was deep-fried and deep-fried *way* too long. If there are two items at brunch to get right, I would think eggs and bacon are the ones.
That said, the desserts were amazing, and the cappelletti and cannelloni were great, the roast beef was exactly how I like it, nice and red.
I am not a huge fan of buffet, as I just overeat and at the same time, rarely eat enough to cover the cost of the meal.
The Hot House is strangely laid out and even with a Jazz band playing (a scorching 25 minute rendition of Caravan) the place felt corporate and bland.
If you are looking for a good buffet, then you might have a hard time beating the selection here, but for the money, you can get full elsewhere, and with better food. -
Review from Rosie S.
8/21/2009
I am a fan. What can I say? It's not the BEST food, nor the BEST atmosphere in the city, but we often end up back here! The location is really convenient and the food is good, as are the prices.
It's big enough that you can usually get a table/make a reservation on a holiday but small enough that it feels full and popular. Sometimes it DOES affect service, but I would say more often than not the service is good here.
This is a great place for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. The menu is large and the specials always offer a great range of new choices. They usually offer a seasonal menu insert as well, which always uses the freshest seasonal ingredients.
They just introduced a new menu at the end of July... but there's a lot of the same stuff on it. I was happy to see my favourite wild mushroom bruschetta and shrimp appetizers were both still on the menu.
I'll go through this one meal by meal...
BREAKFAST/BRUNCH: YUM!!! Like Kat, I have no idea why, but they are only open for brunch on Sundays, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's a HUGE buffet with everything you can think of, and it's all great. There's an omelet station and sooo many options. Plus, live jazz! And it's all for only $18.95 - not bad!
LUNCH: A great place to meet for workplace birthday lunches, lunch with clients, etc.
DINNER: They shine here for sure. One of my favourite places to eat pre-theatre downtown, it's a perfect stop before a St. Lawrence Centre/Bluma Appel Theatre, Sony Centre, LKTYP, ACC, etc. show. Their pizzas are very yummy, but really they do everything well.
OTHER: Pretty good for cocktails & apps, but keep in mind there's no bar to sit at if you're going there for drinks. If you like girly cocktails, try the "Berry Sparkler": Smirnoff Citrus, Grand Marnier, crushed Blackberries, Pomegranate Blueberry Juice
and lemon-lime soda... mmmm!
The summer patio is DELIGHTFUL! This is just the weather for it too!Listed in: Donnie & Rosie Dates!, Business Lunches
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2008
There was a year in my life when I frequented the Hot House every month, mainly to bring my friends together for the Sunday jazz brunch. It's a buffet of grand proportions, with every generic brunch item you could ever want, with the freshly made waffles, strawberry stew, and homemade whipped cream being my table of choice. I was always unable to move after a feast at this place, only because I'd wanted to get my value for the $15 that it cost at the time.
This is another one of those places that pleases corporate lunch parties; the menu is standard and tries to please everyone. Because of this, the flavours are kind of middle of the road. I can say without hesitation that the pasta and gnocchi dishes are not my bag. The one meat entrée I've had -- the Supreme of Chicken -- actually wasn't too bad, but I could think of a better way of spending $21.
Overall, a bit overpriced for what you get, and I will never go back, but I still do dream of those waffles...Listed in: Morning eats
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Review from Aeryn L.
Toronto, ON
11/18/2009
Hot House is a place I would go to again if I was in the area, but will probably not be a place that I'd actively go downtown for, unless it was the designated meeting place.
Their wait-staff is friendly, the tables, chairs and floor seemed clean, the food was fresh and appetizing, and the live band wasn't so loud to make it impossible to listen to your table-mates.
Shamefully, I did not have the cappelletti; though I was told, by those in the know, that it was The Best. My plate was already full by the time I got to this dish, and even though I had every intention of trying it on the Second Round, I didn't score a second plate of brunch.
Yes, as a lover of all things buffet, this was truly disheartening.
I made the buffet-for-beginners' mistake of piling up on rice; and delicious as it is, that starch will end you. And this is why I couldn't go for that second plate. My bad.
The food I had tried was good though. The vegetables were crisp, and cold. The pasta salads seemed fresh, and the hot dishes were just on the cusp of lukewarm, which is about all you can ask for in a buffet styled meal.
For dessert, there aren't a lot of cakes that I can eat (with that finicky intolerance to all purpose flour), so even the assortment of sliced cake was tempting, I had their crumbly apple crumble instead. The apples themselves did taste fresh, which is obviously a good thing; as there's nothing worse than *knowing* you're eating canned apples for dessert.
We didn't see any ice cream, which thinking of it now, is usually a staple for buffets; even sushi buffets know this rule, with their limited selection of Green Tea, Red Bean or Mango ice cream desserts. But somehow Hot House had missed the day in class that covered "Iced Desserts: Creams, Milks, and Alternatives" (Chapter 4 of Buffet Staples for Beginners.)
Word of wise though: even though whip cream kinda looks like vanilla ice cream in the most basic sense, and tastes just a sweet (if not sweeter), whip cream on top of apple crumble does not a yummy dessert make. -
Review from Areej H.
Mississauga, ON
2/7/2012
This review is solely based on their Sunday Brunch. This has to be the best brunch in town. Fresh, hot, steaming food. Everything from salmon to pasta to mussels. BBQ chicken thigh, omlete station, lasagna, pilaf. Coffee is excellent. I love coming here especially during the summer. Desserts are amazing, but often I don't have room for it. Strongly reccomend making reservations if you are planning on coming here for the brunch.
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Review from Gaelan D.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2010
Came here for brunch. They serve a quality brunch, but it's not noteworthy. If you simply want brunch, you won't go wrong here.
I'm not a fan of the jazz they have going, but on-site live music is something I'm picky about and I suspect most people rather like it. In any case, I found it a bit difficult to have a conversation.
The staff were polite and courteous.
The food was good, but again it was neither spectacular nor unique. I was a bit mislead when told I'd find good brunch here, as there was both breakfast food (omelettes made -- to order -- in front of you, fruits, waffles, breads, scones, sausage and bacon, etc...) as well as proper dinner selections like lasagna, roast beef, fish, a variety of green and non-green salads, barbeque chicken, and so on. I have no complaints about the food, and if you want a good bunch place, choosing here is very much guaranteed satisfaction.
My major disappointment is that I wasn't receptive to the mood, but that's not for lack of their trying. Again, if you are one for soft jazz, you'll love it here.
As an aside, their raspberry lemonade is particular ace. -
Review from Sarah B.
Toronto, ON
2/27/2011
Fabulous!
Went there last night for a birthday with over 20 people. We had reservations and they were fantastic. Very accommodating with bringing in an outside cake.
Service was incredible and the food was fantastic. -
Review from ld f.
9/6/2011
I liked the gnocchi quite a bit and the lemonade was really good. Three stars for the slow staff and their is no atmosphere. A family restaurant if that's what you are into. The apple dessert was nice, but otherwise it was average overall.
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Review from Chris P.
6/29/2009 2 photos
My wife and I hit this place for lunch and it was great. Our server was very friendly and the food was great. We had a late lunch so I missed out on the pasta special but the server let me sub in any pasta on the menu, now that's just good customer service. The soup of the day was a carrot, pear, and ginger which was superb, and this is coming from someone who doesn't like ginger.
The restaurant is big as is the patio so they can easily accommodate larger groups.
Overall just a great experience. -
Review from Julianna B.
Toronto, ON
4/21/2009
My husband and I hit the Hot House instead of getting room service at our downtown hotel during our in-town getaway. Yes, it's a gigantic place, and it does feel a bit suburban - but a really nice suburb! The service was a bit hit-and-miss, with my mimosa never appearing, but I suppose it's not that strange for a buffet.
Everything I had was delicious, my husband adored his to-order omelette, and the selection was mind-boggling. Not a hip joint, but a nice place to take your parents or a girlfriend for a low-key splurge. -
Review from Chantal m.
Scarborough, ON
4/6/2010
I come here for one thing...the gnocchi. It is so dammnnn gooodddd!!! Little pillowy balls of heaven, mixed with a gorgonzola cream sauce, mushrooms and pancetta. How could anyone NOT like this, cmon! I haven't ever had anything else there, but on several occassions my mom has had the crab cakes, and jambalaya and another friend the cheese capaletti, all have received very good reviews.
N.B. For all you vegetarians out there, they also make a vegetarian style gnocchi minus the pancetta.
Also this is from the dinner menu, have never been for any other meals.
