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Insomnia Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Mediterranean Breakfast & Brunch, Mediterranean [Edit]
563 Bloor St WToronto, ON M5S 1Y6
Neighbourhood: The Annex
(416) 588-3907
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat-Sun 9 am - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
68 reviews for Insomnia Cafe
Review Highlights
"Heaven on Earth ($10.50."
(in 5 reviews)
"The pancakes and french toast are also highly praised..."
(in 7 reviews)
"...our meeting on a couple of couches in the back, which was..."
(in 10 reviews)
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68 reviews in English
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Review from Wendy Erica L.
North York, ON
1/29/2012
The atmosphere was definitely warm and friendly. I loved the decor. However, the only flaw is that it was a tad too dark for my eyes and a bit too noisy. My boyfriend and I had a hard time talking over other people. The set up was a bit crowded, if you were to go, make reservations near the windows! The server was sweetest. She served water fast and asked us how we were enjoying our meal.
The chicken linguine was superb. Extra cheese could be added (I may have added too much for myself, don't add too much!) My boyfriend had the baked mac&cheese. It was not as good as the linguine, not suggested! It was a tad plane.
All in all, loved it! Maybe come here sometime when it's not too busy. -
Review from Ashley P.
Toronto, ON
1/31/2012
I've been here quite a few times and enjoyed my experience. On Thursday nights, they have a deal on martinis. I absolutely LOVE their martinis -- especially their Candy Apple martini -- it's delicious!
I can't say that I've tried their dinner menu, but I've come here one Sunday morning for brunch. There was a huge line up, took about 15-20 minutes to get a table for 4. I was thinking that this must be the place to go to in the Annex for brunch because of the big line up. However, the food was just OK... nothing special. Everything was kind of sloppy, like they were rushing in the kitchen to get food out. We ordered the pancakes, which are oven baked and take 30 minutes. The waitress was trying to steer us away from ordering those and opt for something else. Why put those on the menu then??? The pancakes were not very good. They were SUPER thick and heavy. Tasted like a giant muffin. The eggs benedict was just meh. The waffles were probably the best thing there, but not good enough for me to come running back to order them.
I've come here at night for dessert and drinks. The drinks are amazing and the dessert was just OK.
Verdict: Come here for drinks, maybe skip out on the food. -
Review from Vikas S.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2012
I was in the Annex last week with a friend and we decided to drop in for a quick dinner at Insomnia.
The atmosphere was really nice and our server was really good. Both my friend and I had been in there before for drinks.
We ordered a Greek Salad to share, she ordered grilled Calamari (without the spicy sauce) and I ordered the Red Vegetarian Curry.
All three items we ordered were an embarrassment to the culinary community in our city.
The Greek Salad (and we weren't expecting much) came without Cucumbers.
Seriously?
We sent it back and it came with Cucumbers.
As far as Greek Salads go, it was mediocre at best. I am not quite sure why people make Greek Salads with Lettuce, especially Romaine ... and this wasn't detailed on the menu.
Instead of nice chunks of Feta, it was served with Feta Dressing.
That's just lazy.
My friend's Calamari was rubbery and tasteless ... while she asked that the spicy sauce not be put on, there was no effort to enhance the flavour of food.
The Calamari was sent back.
I have had Red Curry many times ... and it is usually made with Coconut Milk and a Spicy Red Curry, creating a nice, rich broth.
This was dry and grainy ... almost devoid of any real Curry flavour.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that we had an awesome server, who was friendly, kind and very accommodating - she got a great tip!
So, my message to Insomnia ... keep up the great work in hiring your front of house staff ... and overhaul your kitchen. -
Review from Kent P.
1/13/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This is becoming my go-to spot for a not shitty breakfast.
Great Caesars, they open early at 9AM (amazing), and friendly service. I often get the Huevos Rancheros with a fried egg. Coffee is made with cinnamon so it always tastes good.
Lisa is our favorite staff member there. -
Review from Iskwe I.
12/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love this spot! They have delicious food, great wine, $3 vodka drinks on Wednesdays (I think that's the day), and the service is always wonderful!!
The ambiance is chill, with a DJ in the evenings that always seems to play the song I forgot I had loved back in the day.
Overall, a great date spot!
Only thing is they don't take debit, just credit. -
Review from Chris P.
10/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
About 2 years ago when I worked in the Annex I must have walked past Insomnia several times a day. I always thought it looked like a funky place that I'd like to try out, however it took the Yelp July Elite Event which was held here to actually get me inside. After the event I kept telling myself I'd find a reason to return.
Then a friend of mine who rarely ever comes into the big scary city of TO (he's a suburbanite) asked me to pick a place to grab a few drinks that was on the subway line and wasn't a gay bar. We ended up at Insomnia.
The service here was amazing. Our server was so attentive and nice. She was clearly busy as the place was nearly full however she was so effcient and smiled through everything.. When I ordered the house red she suggested I try a different red instead telling me it was a bolder flavor and sweeter. I knew this was an upsell, however I went with the suggestion and it was indeed a very yummy wine.
Insomnia also gives off such a cozy and intimate atmosphere. To me, this is the perfect place to drink and talk for hours.Listed in: 1 Review A Day For Every Day…
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Review from joyce k.
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a very cozy restaurant with a full bar, not what you would expect from the outside. We came here with a party of 15 people and the staff was really nice and accomodating. I personally didn't order any food but everyone did and it looked very good! Nice portion sizes, fresh food, lots of flavor - not your typical bar grub. All my friends liked it.
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Review from Vivian W.
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been going to Insomnia Cafe since 2004! When I first starting to come here, I only come at night...usually for cocktails and cakes with a few girl friends. I love their chocolate cake! It's a very rich and dense chocolate cake. If you are craving for chocolate, this will be heaven! But I recommend sharing.
Around 2007/2008, a friend who lives in the neighbourhood introduced me to their brunch, since then, this has became my favourite brunch place in Toronto.
There are nothing that I don't like on their menu.
Coffee - free re-fill (standard) and tastes really good!
all breakfasts come with fresh mixed green and home fries. Their mixed green is always fresh! You will not find a piece that's yellow-ish , and I've been there more than 10 times! Their home fries are also my favourite. They fried the potatoes, and baked with their homemade bbq sauce before serving. If you don't feel like benedicts, you can try "The Traditional" with the sausage. They serve hot dog stand type of sausages. It's really good! They also have a gluten free menu and I had it once, it's an awesome alternative too!
On the sweet side, I will choose their citrus french toast with maple syrup.
One thing I really don't like is that they don't take reservation from 10am -2pm, so it's really hard to come with a big group of people during peak time. -
Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Quick Note: This Review is more like a 4.5 than a just a 4. However as you already know, Yelp does not do half points.
Alright, let's get cracking! I have been coming to this place for at least 12 years and during the Summer back in '06, this was one of 'Mauricio's Certified Watering Holes.' Which I haven't had many of... although, I guess you might get diverging answers whether you were to ask my friends about it or my liver. Either way I digress, this place is a lot of fun, specifically if you come at night.
If you are looking for a chilled-beat-DJ'ed, slick and well alcohol stocked lounge in the Annex, then without a doubt Insomnia is the place to go. If you have a hot date, and you want to take her (or him) to a place that gives the impression you are in the know, then you can't go wrong taking them here. However, if your date is during the day or early, early evening, then avoid Insomnia like the crippling chronic condition it is named after.
During the day, Insomnia has a very cold and bare feel to it. The furniture is modern, unfortunately the wooden tables really seem washed out in this decor-combo but not as much as the floor which bares the weathered battle scars of servicing customers day in and day out for over a decade. The exposed brick walls lack personality in sunlight even as the lonely looking art (from some unknown artists) try their best to decorate but are more likely just hoping to be noticed by an art lover and be purchased out of this generally empty place. As during the day, Insomnia feels more like a pretentious cave-like café than a lounge.
The menu is your typical Mediterranean/Fusion standard with some Humus/Salads/Calamari/Pizza/Pasta dishes. Honestly, I barely eat here as their selection although reasonably priced does not inspire me to order anything. Their brunch however brings quite a crowd each and every weekend with line-ups forming up outside at around 11:00ish. I have gone for their brunch a few times and although it was better than expected, it can get quite loud so it does not serve well for a quiet or romantic experience.
Quick note: As with most places in the Annex, their bathroom is located in the basement so it is not handicapped friendly
Now where Insomnia really does shine is in its night-life. Their bar is well stocked and up to a few years ago it was one of the few lounges that carried a decent selection of say, grappa or different price points for vodka and single or blended scotches. Reasonable martini and wine lists and some good selections of beers and ciders both on tap and bottled. Plus a few liquors you normally do not find in your average lounge like Tequila Rose or Amarula.
The actual bar is lit from above by white Christmas lights creating a very vague simile of a night sky. There are tea-lights everywhere, giving the locale a sensual vibe which the shiny wooden accents from the furniture accentuate even further. In this light, the exposed brick walls exude a sophisticated loft aesthetic excellent for socializing and mingling. Insomnia is a like a chameleon.
I sometimes used to come here after a party for a nightcap and I generally and easily made friends seating at the bar.
The staff was and is always friendly and if you have large groups the back has couches which can fit about 10 people. Although as I said before, Insomnia is more of date/small group (4 max.) locale as it might be too loud for a group of 10 to hear each other or to mingle properly.
This is a great place for a small group of friends to spend a Friday/Saturday night or to bring a date for a few drinks and some fun conversation.
Fun Fact: Whether they are ripping them off or trying to benefit by jumping on the mental condition bandwagon, guess what the Bar & Grill across the street from Insomnia is called? Ready for it?
Amnesia! ...Very subtle.Listed in: My Reviews
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Review from Tara E.
9/5/2011 7 Check-ins Here
I went to Insomnia TWICE this weekend. OK, it was a long weekend, but STILL!
Insomnia is my go-to brunch place. Might have something to do with the fact that it's walking distance from my abode. Might have something to do with the summer berry pancake, or those delicious potatoes, or it might have to do with the fact that whenever I bring somone here they are always impressed.
Brought a friend who was in town from Ottawa on Saturday. We arrived early, (10am) and had our choice of seats. I ordered The Traditional, she had one of the benny's, and our meal was delivered within minutes. Special shout out to Kristine our server, who was friendly and fantastic!
Monday I shuffled (somewhat hungover) with two of my gentlemen friends in town from Calgary. Now we arrived at 11:30, had to wait a fair amount of time in line, and our order and our meal took a long time (we were obviously there during a rush time). That being said the male server was still really friendly, and we had our coffee and tea and cucumber water (much needed) to occupy us while we drolled over everyone's food.
Every time I leave insomnia people I bring enjoy it. That's worth a lot. I have a reputation to uphold! And then I'm home in 10 minutes. That's worth a lot too!
I've never been here for dinner, but I would definetly recommend this place for brunch!Listed in: T.O. Brunching
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Review from Julia L.
Toronto, ON
10/10/2011
I came here with a group of 6 girlfriends for a friend's birthday brunch on a Sunday morning. Note that they don't seat groups until everyone has arrived, so tell all your perpetually late friends that you're meeting 15 minutes earlier than you actually are ;)
We ordered a round of mimosas for the table and to eat I ordered the Huevos Rancheros, eggs over-hard. I cleaned my plate. I'm normally not a big potato person, but those saucy homefries are delish! Portions are generous and prices are so reasonable, around $10 give or take a few dollars for everything on the brunch menu. Everyone else around the table seemed to enjoy their meals, and there were rave reviews about the pancakes. (FYI, the pancakes are oven-baked and take 30 minutes, but from what I hear they are so worth the wait.)
Service was super friendly and attentive. I love that they have decanters of chilled water with slices of lemon on the table. I love that we all got a free round of birthday shots for the table at the end of our meal (I don't know what the shots were, but they were so good. I could have downed 10 of them in a row.) I love the obvious thought and care they put into everyone's dining experience here.
I had so much fun at Insomnia. At one point I actually stopped to say, "I am having so much fun!" I would definitely come back here for brunch. You should go, too! -
Review from Elaine K.
8/17/2011
I came here for an informal business meeting. We had our meeting on a couple of couches in the back, which was perfectly comfy and reasonably quiet. There's also free wifi, which is an absolute requirement for us. Our server was very patient with us, as we were there for a couple of hours, only ordering a couple of half-beers here and there. Big spenders we were not.
After the meeting, we had some eats. I had the avocado chicken sandwich with a side salad (sans cheese). It was absolutely delicious. I'm usually iffy about ordering chicken in restaurants, since they tend to overcook it, but the chicken breast was perfectly cooked.
It gets a bit dark later in the night for meetings (which may not be a problem now that i have a new laptop), but I definitely think I'll meet some of our cooler clients there again.Listed in: Giving you the business
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Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here for some appetizers and it was really standard. I was in the mood for some mediterranean style dips (humus, etc) and they had an assorted plate on the menu so we got it. It just wasn't very good. I would have had better food if I'd bought the dips at the store.
We sat at the bar and the server was really nice and friendly and made a decent martini off their low-priced martini menu. I guess I should have just stuck to the drink and gotten food down the street at Metro Supermarket to bring home. Next time! -
Review from Sergey S.
7/17/2011
Certain places just feel right. Insomnia is one of them. And if we'll dive into some logical reasoning, it simply satisfies all the basic criteria, hence gets a solid approval overall.
Like, location? Bloor and Bathurst, readily accessible by streetcars and subway. Not the most scenic corner of the city, but not an ugly one either. Easy to find and easy to reach.
Food? Restaurant level. Kitchen work is absolutely wonderful, not a single miss! I am picky about the food quality, and Insomnia is a excellent choice, right on.
Service? Lightning-fast, polite and friendly. Those guys appear out of nothing when you need them, and disappear when you don't. They also don't forget to smile and take care of the stuff on your table without delay.
What else may be expected from a cafe - a place where we are supposed to meet someone for a more or less serious one-on-one chat? I guess Insomnia does everything just about right, and can be a sample for the rest of its peers.
Absolutely recommended. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
Must. Support. Favourite. Local. Restaurant.
After my previous review, I got a very kind message from the owner apologizing for the mixup and in return gave me a some gift certificates! I think this is an incredible gesture by the owner and much appreciated. We still haven't used that Groupon, but I have been back already once.
Brunch is always well priced and good food. No, they do not take reservations (unless at 10am or 2:30pm) but you can call ahead to put your name down for a table 30 mins before you want to arrive (highly recommended!)
This was also one of the only places that was open and serving brunch on Monday of a long weekend. How thoughtful!!
For the 4 of us, we got there and the next available table was ours. A round of mimosa for everyone at $7 each. And the meal was around $10-12 a person!
Excellent eggs benedict, I can never pass it up.
The servers are friendly and smiley.Listed in: Gluten Free and Substitute…, Great for Groups!, My Fail Safes, In the Annex.Yorkville area, Brunch places I want to go…
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/27/2011
I would have given the place a 4 star but some poor communication, I had to minus 1.
Brunch today… Read more »
Comment from Daniel Q. of Insomnia Cafe 3/28/2011
Hi Laura, Thank you for joining us for brunch and on all… More » -
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
3.5 stars
It was not the food that drawn me into Insomnia Cafe... it was their daily drink specials.
I was suppose to meet up with my yelp friend to have a quick bite before watching Yelp's Hot Doc Superhero. And since I was down at the Annex early and need a place to hang and Insomnia Cafe ended up to be an excellent choice.
Nice and Friendly service. Cheap Creemore Pint for $4 on Monday (different everyday of the week). Nice and classy decoration. I felt really comfortable having a pre dinner drink at the bar area waiting for my friend to show up.
From now on, I know where to park myself aside from the Green Beanery next door... And Insomnia Cafe even have Free WIFI access... hmmmm Am I going to make Insomnia my Yelp's office?? Drinking beer and uploading photos??Listed in: Places I Would Go For A Drink…, A Day in The Annex!
Comment from Daniel Q. of Insomnia Cafe 5/3/2011
Thank you Jennifer! Insomnia would love to be your office.… More » -
Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
5/3/2011
I only stopped in here for a beer. I didn't try any of the food, so I'll have to stop in again for that.
*** APPEARANCE ***
The layout is that of a typical bar with the bar at the front and seats around everywhere else. The look is trendy and modern.
*** SERVICE ***
The service is quick and the servers are very friendly. Sitting at the bar, I was talking about Vietnamese food. The waitress mentioned that she is Vietnamese and she recommended some restaurants. I thought it was nice to have this kind of interaction with the waitress.
*** PRICE ***
There was a special on Creemore.
Pint of Creemore: $4
*** SLEEP ***
Insomnia is a cool bar to have a drink with friends. Even if you come alone, the servers are friendly enough to talk to you. The atmosphere is relaxed, but hip and still says that you're in a bar. I must return here for a taste of their food.Listed in: Noise 'n Poison
Comment from Daniel Q. of Insomnia Cafe 5/3/2011
Nice to have you visit us Rafi! Damara is one of the best… More » -
Review from Amit K.
Toronto, ON
7/16/2011
Have been to Insomnia a few times now and have never been disappointed. Whether it's dropping in for a late night drink, for a cup of cinnamon flavored coffee, or for one of the best Brunches in the city - I always leave satisfied and ready to recommend this place to friends!
The interior decor is also a plus at Insomnia. It's pleasant on the eyes and very inviting as they post up artwork from local artists and rotate the pieces on a monthly basis. It's almost a guarantee that you will talk about the artwork during your meal! The back end of the cafe is my favorite - comfy seating and a great set of sofa's that make you never want to get up and leave.
But what about the food? I've only had brunch here - but boy was it fantastic. I know some people that look forward to weekends just so that they can come to Insomnia for their brunch. Eggs are great and the potato's have a unique flavor to them that makes you come back for more. -
Review from Kelly K.
Toronto, ON
4/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
After a less-than-stellar experience (we had to ask three times over the course of 45 minutes to order) at Insomnia saw me writing a one line quick tip about never returning, the restaurant's owner contacted me through Yelp to see what he could do about changing my mind. Daniel was super sincere, offering his apologies for poor service which shouldn't have happened, and asked would I like to come back for a repeat visit with a credit placed on my bill.
Inviting a few of my friends, we went back this past Saturday night to give it another go. The difference was night and day! While I'm sure the message was sent that we were to be well taken care of (and boy were we ever!), from what I could see ALL of the tables around us were receiving the same great level of service. Roberta was fantastic, offering suggestions on what to eat and drink (Black Forest Martini? Ok!), and even though a few of my guests arrived later then the rest of us, we all received our orders promptly and at the same time -- and we all loved what we'd ordered. She definitely made sure we all had a memorable experience.
What impressed me the most was how quickly Insomnia responded to my Yelp comment, practically bending over backwards to win back my favour and show us how a visit to their restaurant should be. I think that in this day and age, it's vital that companies respond to social media sites such as Yelp, and think that Insomnia should be commended on being so on the ball.
Once again, thanks to Daniel and his staff for offering us the opportunity to give you another chance. I'll be back for sure!Comment from Daniel Q. of Insomnia Cafe 5/3/2011
Roberta said you guys were great. Thanks for giving us… More » -
Review from Nita L.
Toronto, ON
8/17/2011
Checked out Insomnia this past Sun for brunch. Heard good things from fellow Yelpers, so perhaps my expectations were too high...
My meal (eggs Isabelle) would've been good had it been warmer than the temp in the room! Hollandaise sauce on my poached eggs was meh. Potatoes were good, but a bit overly drenched in BBQ sauce. Service was lacking in attentiveness and friendliness. Atmosphere was almost too loud for conversation.
Overall, I'm less than impressed and not sure if I'd come back! -
Review from Aaron P.
8/13/2011
We came here after sushi on bloor took an hour wait and snakes and lattes didn't have any seats and were we lucky to find a place like this. The service was excellent, the ambiance was great and the overall environment of the place was great.
First thing's first is that this is NOT the best dinner place at all. We came here for dinner, and we ordered the 8 ounce burger, the eggplant pizza, and bruschetta. The burger I had was nice and juicy and came with a salad and fries ( which weren't crispy! grrr) but had a nice sort of homemade garlicy mayo. The bruschetta was quite nice albeit a bit standard and the pizza had a soft crust but tons of eggplant and really cheesy. Again, standard if not a bit below average bar food.
However, the best part of this place is how it looks and feels. The server we had was really nice and very helpful helping us decide which martinis to get and which shots to take, and I must say there is a HUGE selection of drinks. The instant you walk into this place you will notice the gigantic wall of alcohol they have. They even have Jager on tap (how awesome is that?). The martinis are quite pricey at $8.5 but there is such a wide selection of them it is insane. The lighting of the place is a bit dark but it is quite fitting for a bar sort of lounge.
This place is a very good example of a lounge-bar sort of restaurant. It isn't a very good place to eat but the food is very cheap (under $10) which explains the average food quality. However, it is not about the food it is about the drinks and the environment which this place absolutely nails. Definitely check this place out with friends if you are looking for a place to hang back, drink and relax. Think of it like a lounge/cafe with bar food and tons of alcohol without the bar-like atmosphere. -
Review from Mariko M.
6/25/2011
Came here tonight with my friend. Another friend raved about Insomnia so we decided to finally check it out.
Never having been to this establishment, I decided to make a reservation. I made a reservation at midnight and by noon the next day, our reservation was confirmed. Being able to do all of this on-line is always a bonus in my books.
Our server was great. She was very friendly and professional. I found the pricing to be reasonable; I won't have to file for bankruptcy if I choose to be a 'regular' of this joint.
Food was good. They have daily specials which is always nice.
Would love to check out their brunch.
Until then, I would easily give this place 3.75-4.00 stars. -
Review from Linda M.
3/24/2011
Ah brunch, how I love thee. I'm on a bit of a crusade to try as many brunch places in the city as possible. I don't know why, but I've just always loved going out for breakfast, ever since I was a kid and we would go to Golden Griddle for their buffet. But now I've moved on to bigger and better things!! Well, probably not bigger...in fact usually the restaurants are much smaller than Golden Griddle...but definitely better!
A few weeks ago my brunch-companion and I hit up Insomnia. I'm the type that doesn't like waiting in lines - I would rather show up earlier and be "less cool" and get in right away than to show up later and wait around for an hour while my stomach yells at me. Unfortunately, when we made the decision to show up at 9:30, we did so without consultation with the website. I have since realized that not all brunch places open as early as they do in the smaller cities. This one in particular doesn't open until 10. But that's fine, and was no fault of theirs! We killed some time at the Green Beanery next door.
Once we were in and seated, I was able to appreciate the space - I really enjoyed the atmosphere, with a candle on every table. It made going out for breakfast feel even more luxurious. My co-bruncher ordered the Eggs Florentine, while I decided to try the Heaven on Earth - with a name like that, how could I order anything else? Basically it's a cream cheese and berry sandwich, with French toast as the bread.
Our meals came fairly quickly, no complaints there. The food itself though, I'd give 3 stars. Not the best I've had, to be honest. The eggs Florentine was really good, according to my friend, but the potatoes that so many Yelpers have loved just had too much sauce. By the end, she was trying to scrape it off. Not a great sign. As for my French toast, I was a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the cream cheese. I had no preconceptions that this was going to be a light and healthy meal...but I wouldn't have been surprised to learn that there was a whole tub used on just my order! The French toast itself was great, and the berries were fresh, but I was seriously overloaded with cream cheese.
All in all, nice décor, good service, and decent food - but I'll keep looking.Comment from Daniel Q. of Insomnia Cafe 3/28/2011
Thank you for your review Linda. Just a quick note that you… More » -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2011 1 photo
I've only been a couple of times and my experiences have been on both ends of the spectrum.
My first visit was terrible and given the circumstances of that visit I'd probably have never come back if it hadn't been for a friend's birthday held here a few weeks later. On the second visit our server Lisa was awesome and we had a bunch of tables all to ourselves.
I've had the grilled cheese sandwich and possibly a burger and they were both okay. The beer list is slightly better than average with the likes of Cobblestone Stout and Krombacher offerings. Prices range from $5-$7 a pint.
The urinals are unbelievably close together (see my picture). Seriously, who designed this? You have more privacy using the sink.
My choice for pre-Lee's shows is still invariably Victory but I'll happily come back to Insomnia if something is going down. -
Review from Trevor D.
Toronto, ON
10/13/2011
I've been here a few times now and the food... Oh the food.are you going for an interesting breakfast place? Cause they've got you with their array of different pancake and waffle options.
Just got out of a great dinner, I went with the chicken sandy -SO GOOD - fries and salad for a side, crunchy fries not too deep fried and seasoned really well. Above average bar food.
Thursday $4.00 Steamwhisle night.
Other than breakfast, every time I've been to InsomniaI've been given free mini martini shots with the bill, and you will too.
Great atmosphere to meet up with friends and family! -
Review from Karen A.
Toronto, ON
6/26/2011
Insomnia is one of the places that I hesitate to review because I fear it getting too crowded.
This is one of the first places we went for brunch in Toronto and years later it remains one of our favorite. We've brought friends and family here but also love to go on our own and sit in the couches in the back.
While the place is not that large the service for groups is great and they are super welcoming to small children.
I always order the eggs manami (benedict on a gluten-free rice patty) and their saucy potatoes are my favorite in the city. The pancakes and french toast are also highly praised-- though not my style since I'm more into savory meals.
I've also had a few martinis here followed by an aged canadian cheddar sandwich, which were just as good as I expected based on my brunch experiences. -
Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
5/31/2011 4 photos
This visit was actually my second attempt here. The first time, we made the mistake of coming here right at noon with a group of 6 people. Of course, we were in for a long wait, so we ended up elsewhere.
On this visit, we came at 11am, with a group of four and were seated immediately in the back. We were seated in a cozy corner on couches, where we ate off of a coffee table.
For my meal, I ordered the Eggs Isabelle - Two poached eggs with house made hollandaise, fresh tomatoes and avocado spread, served with homefries and baby greens ($10). I typically go for an eggs benny when going out for brunch and this visit was no different. Unfortunately, I regretted this order after taking my first bite. The hollandaise was extremely bland so the whole dish was lacking flavour. I wouldn't recommend this dish. However, the homefries were amazing! Hands-down, some of the best homefries I've ever had. It was smothered in a special saue, without them being soggy. Delish!
My boyfriend went with The Traditional - 2 eggs any style, peameal bacon or sausage, served with homefries, baby greens and toast ($10). It came with two pieces of thick toast and the entire dish was nothing special. It was just a standard breakfast. But again, the homefries were to die for!
My friend ordered the Heaven on Earth - Wild berries, cream cheese and honey sandwiched between lightly tanned french toast, dusted with powdered sugar, served with a side of pure Canadian maple syrup ($10.50). I had a couple bites of this and I really enjoyed it.
We also ordered the Chocolate Banana Pancakes - Fluffy pancakes with chocolate chunks and bananas served with a side of pure canadian maple syrup ($10) to share. Since our server asked us if we wanted the pancakes for dessert, we expected them to come after our meals. However, after waiting a long time for our food, we realized they were probably waiting for the pancakes. Sure enough, everything we had ordered came at once. We dove into the pancakes immediately since we wanted to try them while they were still hot. These pancakes were definitely not the light, fluffy kind. They were dense and tasted more like a cake. Overall the pancake was just decent for me. I think I would've preferred the apple cinnamon.
Overall, I was a little disappointed. I loved the homefries, but for the most part, I wasn't too impressed with the dishes, although I do feel they do their sweet dishes better than their savoury dishes.
If only all brunch restaurants did their homefries this well... -
Review from Dishan W.
11/13/2010
I'm a big fan of Insomnia, for the longest time (before I had been there) I always assumed it would not be right up my alley but having visited it on a few occasions in recent times, I have come to enjoy their great drink selection and their surprisingly good food options.
I assumed a place concentrating on drinks would not be a location I would come for with the primary focus being food but insomnia has turned in to a place where I come to expect good food along with their good drinks. I guess it's true to its word when proclaiming to be a "restaurant and bar".
Their prices are not dirt cheap or anything but definitely worth for the product you get and quantities are a good size as well. It can get a little crowded and their seating arrangement are not super comfortable with a large group (but on the plus side they do have the ability to accommodate a large group).
Their staff are always friendly and their manager Adam (I think) is ever present and very friendly himself, he also likes to integrate the place with location based social media and every time we've checked in using foursquare he's given us 15% off the entire bill! But I'm not sure if that's something he does as a rule.Listed in: A Bloor Street Pub Crawl
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Review from Tamar A.
9/17/2010 1 photo
So let's talk brunch. I love it, you love it, the whole goddamn world loves it. Why? Why, it's the perfect social and gastrointestinal pairing! It lets you sleep in. It rouses you tenderly. It brings sleepy and hungover friends together to stuff platefuls of decadence down their gullets, expecting nothing in return except the rest of your day, which will be spent in comatose splendor. If the ethos of a Saturday morning could be personified by a meal, brunch twould it be.
Brunch does, however, have one glaring flaw, a question that is inevitably a consistent source of panic in our sleepy souls, and most brunch establishments sure as Shinola don't help:
SWEET OR SAVORY?!
It's not like you can go wrong settling on one side of the fence or another. Eggs Charlotte, laden with smoked salmon and gooey-but-not-gross hollandaise over perfectly runny poached eggs, and accompanied by crisp, bbq'ed cuts of potato (home fries, I suppose, in some magical alternate universe)? Chocolate-chip-banana pancakes which are essentially served in its own baking pan, to give you a sense of the dense, cakey texture? Tasty huevos rancheros that a waitress once actually offered to refund my friend of it didn't "rock her world" (no refund necessary)? All are bomb-diggity, all the time.
HOWEVER. Insomnia has also ventured to solve our weary dilemma, and it is the aptly named "Heaven on Earth". Two thick slabs of French toast, barely containing savory cream cheese dotted with strawberries and blueberries, and accompanied by a small, divine cup of real maple syrup. Angels weep. That's all I'll say.
Also, the waitstaff is uniformly attractive, the music is uniformly enjoyable, the white lights are uniformly classy, and you can sneak a Now into the bathrooms and read Savage Love while you do your business. Now that's brunch done right.Listed in: Hogtown's Highlights, Good morning, Starshine
Comment from Daniel Q. of Insomnia Cafe 3/28/2011
Tamar A. Thank you for the nice words. It's nice to see our… More » -
Review from Erin K.
Toronto, ON
9/14/2010 1 photo
Insomnia's been around forever and it's still going strong! Rec this place for lunch
Tried:
Eggs Charlotte ($11.50)
Insomnia's hollandaise sauce has a bit of a cheesy flavour. It adds a bright colour and if you like a bit of cheese, then you'll probably prefer Insomnia's hollandaise over some other breakfast joints. The eggs were well poached - not as perfectly as Hoof Cafe's but still nice and runny and the side of greens was good to nosh on between bites.
Eggs Manami ($10)
Ordered off of their "Brunch Features" menu, the Eggs Manami had wonderful curried rice patties. This is a delicious alternative to English muffins, and I recommend this over their regular Eggs Benny.!
Home Fries
Their home fries are great! The potatoes are freshly tossed in a bbq-y sauce, and they're not at all soggy. These were quickly snarfed and definitely worth adding to your order if they don't come with it anyways.
French Toast
Heaven on Earth ($10.50)
Yummy - It was crispy and filling with a generous amount of fruit. The cream cheese was good, but I would've enjoyed it just as much without. I'm not so sure that the strawberries were wild as advertised, but they were fresh! This was great drenched in maple syrup.
Baked Pancakes ($10)
So these aren't so much pancakes as cakes-baked-in-a-pan. They are huge and are made to order and from scratch. They are very thick and dense, and take at least 20 minutes upon ordering to arrive. We were definitely stuffed after polishing these off!
Chocolate Banana Pancakes & Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
While good, I don't think I'd order it for myself but as a post-breakfast treat to share with a larger group.
Overall, Insomnia is a bright cheery breakfast joint in the Annex. I recommend it if you're looking for a tasty brunch at a great value. Their pleasant service, bright dining and bar areas, and great brunch options make it a great choice. Definitely a step up from other local breakfast joints that I've tried with respect to service, atmosphere and quality of food. Get the home fries and their egg dishes are quite tasty.
I've also been there for dinner. If you go, you *must* try their Climax Cake. It's as good as the name suggests ;). Flourless chocolate torte, wonderfully dense and rich - I would return just for that dessert alone! Their pizzas are also quite good and named after Toronto neighbourhoods - I tried their Annex pizza. Their Mediterranean Platter and fries with aioli are decent appetizers to share with the table - but the pizza would be better.
Erin
http://cookiesandtomat.../ -
Review from Shawn P.
Toronto, ON
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Brunch was awesome! Home fries were coated with delicious BBQ sauce. Eggs were poached perfectly. Coffee was great. Plus, they are very social media savvy--Foursquare, Facebook, and/or Yelp check-ins are encouraged and even rewarded. :-)
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Review from Charlotte S.
Toronto, ON
11/29/2010
After October's CIBC Run for the Cure, my friends and I headed here for some well-deserved post-running brunch.
My friends had been before, while it was my first time.
As always, I was stunned by the price of fresh-squeezed orange juice and opted for water or ginger ale instead.
The atmosphere is a bit crazy. It's a busy brunch place and you may have to line up, as with most brunch places in the city, it seems.
The menu is extensive with lots of savoury and lots of sweet options and the pricing is what you'd expect for the Annex and for brunch foods.
I ordered the eggs Florentine. There was at least an entire bunch of spinach on it. That's both good and bad. Good, because spinach is good for you and bad because it took away from the tastes of the hollandaise sauce, etc. However, the eggs themselves were delicious.
One interesting thing I noted were the home fries. They were large, real potatoes but were absolutely drenched in this house made barbecue sauce. To Insomnia's credit, they tell you that on the menu (although they don't mention that you won't be able to see the potatoes for the amount of sauce they use) but I guess I didn't know what I was getting myself into. And I'm a person who loves them some condiments. This was just overkill.
At the end of the day, the service was good (by brunch terms, so relatively good), the prices were normal and the potatoes......well, saucy. -
Review from Graeham M.
Toronto, ON
12/26/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Great location, great atmosphere and decent food, yet the service was a tad on the slow side and the pricing a bit steep. I can normally forgive slow service when a restaurant is packed but on this day nary a soul in sight. I wish that I could state with certainty that Insomnia will be a favourite haunt for months to come, as I live within spitting distance of its front doors, yet after my first visit this remains to be seen.
On the plus side. The home fries that accompanied my breakfast were incredible. They were real chunks of potato goodness slathered in house made BBQ sauce and perfectly cooked. My roommate recommended them highly and I must say that they more than lived up to any expectations I may have had.
I will concede that it may have been an off day at Insomnia, and although the prices was a bit high, they weren't astronomical and the food was definitely on the right side of the bell curve, so it will definitely warrant a future visit. -
Review from KL M.
Toronto, ON
10/14/2010
Let me preface this by saying I've only been here once, and on this once occasion I was not very impressed. The pizza, lauded by fellow Yelpers, was not all that, and even resembled some kind of (albeit, less greasy) deep dish Pizza Hut personal pan pizza.
However, I've heard the brunch is very good, and for that gave it an extra star in good faith. -
Review from Brianne K.
Toronto, ON
3/9/2011
I wish that I could break my rating out by "meals" because I had drastically different experiences with dinner vs. brunch.
Dinner = 3/4
Brunch = 1
Let's start with dinner!
A girlfriend and I went with zero preconceived notions other than some random heresay of goodness. It boiled down to location for us. Who wants to venture off of the subway line in Canadian winter? We were met with some pretty serious enthusiasm from a bubbly server. I could see some people being put off by her but she grew on me. The atmosphere was cozy and cool without being pretentious. They have a great drink menu and the server was able to recommend drinks that would pair with our meal selections. As a vegetarian my options were a bit limited but overall the menu sounded great. Several glasses of wine later we both agreed that we would happily return for soiree in the future.
Brunch
After the dinner experience I thought that brunch was likely to be off the hook. Unfortunately our experience was quite the opposite. Please expect a line up. Not a deterrant for brunch in the T.dot but good to know on those mornings that you wake up ravenous! Once you do get a table do not expect any deep conversation. The background noise was so loud that I found myself yelling at my significant other. I already struggle with a mumbling habit so this is an absolute no go for me. At first glance the menu looked great but again a bit limited for my people (the vegetarians). I opted for the a blt type sandwhich sans "b". In order to spice it up a little I added cheese and avocado. I was able to order a soy mocha which is a nice touch. Unfortunately it was weak to the point of being undrinkable.
Food arrives, excitement grows! We're starving and it looks great. Don't judge a book by its cover. The food was pretty tasteless and incredibly unfulfilling. The only oomph to the meal was the homefries which are interesting after the first bite...offensive two bites later. It appears that they are trying to distinguish themselves with something different but it ends up being potatoes drenched in cheap bbq sauce.
Biggest disappointment of all? It ain't cheap! The bill was close to the same as a dinner the night before.
I'm open to trying out Insomnia again for drinks but will never be back for breakfast. not with all of the other amazing restaurants in the city. -
Review from Nicole H.
Toronto, ON
9/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
I dropped into Insomnia late-ish on a Saturday evening to have some drinks with friends. I was expecting just a bar, but it is also a restaurant- however they don't pressure you to order food if you're just there for drinks, which is nice.
Atmosphere is decent - because it's a bar/restaurant there's a nice bit of chatter going on (&the music isn't too loud) so you can enjoy your time with friends. Servers are very helpful and quite attentive.
I went in with the aim of getting a mojito, and much to my (happy) surprise they had a special on pitchers - great for our small group to share. It certainly wasn't the best or most authentic tasting mojito i'd ever had, but it still tasted okay and did the job for a reasonable price. They seem to have a pretty good rotation of drink offers, and not just for weekends.
Good to keep in mind as a late-night alternative to places that don't have seating, or if you want somewhere a little nicer/cosier than Future's (for example). -
Review from Joy S.
Woodbridge, ON
Updated - 8/12/2010 2 photos
Very impressed..
Was walking down Bloor st in the Annex and a couple of hotties were handing out flyers to promote the bar!
Posting a pic of it.. they have specials everyday of the week. ;)3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/6/2010
It was pouring outside lastnight and nothing to do.
It was 1am and my friend and I stumbled down the… Read more »
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Review from Becca G.
Toronto, ON
9/16/2009
Though I live in the Annex, I don't eat in the area very often, however Insomnia is one exception. My sister and I enjoy going here for brunch and dinner, as both menus have some simple but tasty items.
As is the case with many Annex restaurants, Insomnia caters to the university crowd with it's loungey decor: A few couches, chairs and low tables in the back, a couple high tables with bar chairs and then your basic seating and a bar. Art by local painters, photographers, mixed media peeps adorn the walls and are available for purchase. Swirly tube lights are suspended on the ceiling. The restaurant features different "themed DJ nights" every night at 10 PM but before that, your typical indie and alternative bands can be heard through the speakers- Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand, The Dears, pretty much anything I listened to when I was in grade 11. Which is good. It makes me happy and nostalgic.
Now down to the food. I find the prices quite reasonable for what you get. My faves are the Spinach salad ($9) which comes with sundried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and a raspberry vinaigrette.
The grilled chicken or vegetable sandwich (both $9, all bread is baked fresh from Cobs) are great, and come with baby greens, fries and their delicious aioli for dippin'. One suggestion for the veggie sandwich is to ask for the vegetables to be warmed up, as they usually come cool.
Cool!
I've never tried the pizzas, but their names are just adorable. Depending on the topping, each pizza has a complementary name that's a different Toronto neighbourhood, such as the Danforth- tomato sauce, roasted garlic, grilled chicken, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers and feta cheese, or the Little Italy- olive oil, roasted garlic, prosciutto and asiago cheese. Pizzas are $14-$15.
For dessert I recommend the Climax Cake, which is a flour-less cake, so it's a bit on the heavy side, paired with a cup of their delicious hint-of-cinnamon coffee.
Omigoodness there's still brunch! I'll be quick, so here are my top choices:
The Traditional ($10)
The General's Special ($11) (Both of these have eggs/come with eggs, which I don't like, so these are usually my sister's choices)
The PLT ($10) Like a BLT but with peameal bacon! Even better!
Huevos Racheros ($10) I've actually never had it but it sounds really good. I'll keep it in mind for next time!
Note: Their homefries are not your typical potatoes or tater-tots, they come with this type of red barbequey sauce. Not my favourite, but my sister loves them. If you order a side sausage, it's a full-sized sausage on a plate. Hence why they are $3.50.
And if you have room for dessert, how about another slice of that Climax Cake? Mmmmm!
Daily drink specials.
Free wifi. -
Review from kasha v.
Toronto, ON
11/24/2009
I have been attending brunch services at Insomnia for almost a decade now. Some things have changed, like, when they used to give you individual bottles of water instead of a carafe (yeah, it was weird and I'm glad it didn't last) and the art on the walls always rotates (sometimes, thankfully) but it's the consistency that counts.
Eggs Charlotte. Your typical Eggs Benny with smoked salmon instead of ham, and my god, do I love it. And they always toast my english muffin extra-well, just as I ask them. Sometimes when I am really itching for that fuzzy-toothed-feeling, I get the Eggs Florentine, and they've added another variation of the Eggs Benedict format that includes avocado spread, but really it's about the Charlotte for me.
Yes, the "home fries" are not your usual dry little nuggets but rather saucy big cubes of crispy potatoes that are not to some people's tastes, but shore do fit mine.
I haven't had one of the classic baked-in-the-oven pancakes in *years* but that's mainly because I'm starved for salmon, but an order of the chocolate-banana one (yes, one - one large, fluffy, sectioned pancake) would feed me for days. Sweet-loving friends have also enjoyed the "Heaven on Earth" - french toast with berries and cream cheese.
It really does take fate and gods on your side to pick an ideal time to come, but I like the near-end-of-brunch time, as the friendly staff let me sit and drink as many coffee refills as me and my brunch date can stand, with nary a "get-out-of-here" laser death glare.Listed in: Bruncheroos
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Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
10/22/2008
i don't know if I'd go to Insomnia for just a regular night out, but it sure is a rad spot to go for a drink before a show at Lee's Palace.
They have a lot of martini specials and the staff are very friendly.
It's also a really good spot for a decent weekend brunch.
They have overstuffed chairs and everything, so you can really get amongst the weekend sloth of it.
