- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Lola's Kitchen
Category: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
634 Church StreetToronto, ON M4Y 2G3
Neighbourhoods: Church-Wellesley Village, Downtown Core
(416) 966-3991
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 3 pm
Thu-Fri 11 am - 9 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 4 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
51 reviews for Lola's Kitchen
Review Highlights
-
"the yum: cheesecake stuffed french toast." In 10 reviews -
"Order the sexy potatoes which comes with sweet potato and..." In 9 reviews -
"The salsa poached eggs were wicked, wicked good." In 4 reviews
Loading...
51 reviews in English
-
Review from Leslie C.
Toronto, ON
4/11/2012
This place is really cute and comfortable.
I had the butternut squash soup, which was one of the best versions of that soup I've tried. I also ordered a "petite" chef's salad, which was GIGANTIC... I can't imagine what the full size one would have looked like. The polenta croutons were cooked well and everything tasted really fresh and healthy, but in a good way. I felt a little more virtuous after eating here. My friend had the frittata of the day, which looked amazing, and she gave it a thumbs-up.
My only gripe is that the location of the washrooms is a little weird. They're upstairs and I kind of felt like I was sneaking around someone's house... which I guess makes sense. It was a really nice washroom though! Actually, I really liked the decor in general. I'd definitely eat here again. -
Review from Cheryl Y.
Montréal, QC
5/12/2012
When I first read the reviews on Lola's Kitchen, I was like YES I HAVE TO GO. Little did I know that reviews lie, and this is not the most epic breakfast place I have ever been to. In fact, I kind of thought it was a waste of money. Here's why:
1. The restaurant is loud and the tables are so close together, it feels extremely crowded.
2. The waiter spilled coffee and milk all over, and it took so long to get a coffee refill.
3. Can someone explain to me why a restaurant would serve grilled cheese on cold bread?
4. The sausages were so burnt and there was so much spice in it, I don't know who the chef was, but he/she definitely has no taste buds.
It's only redeeming quality: potatoes were good. -
Review from Catherine J.
Markham, ON
4/11/2012
Lola's Kitchen now pops up on my internal message board when someone asks me: Do you know any great places to have brunch? Yes!
What's not to love?
Great food:
-Their menu offers fresh and multi-faceted brunch fare that is both simple and creative. There are a dozen possibilities with vegetarian and healthy options so you don't need to envision your arteries clogging. I ordered the frittata with a side salad and sampled my bud's eggs benny on whole wheat organic biscuits. The frittata came perfectly firm with lots of veggies and mushrooms inside, with a hearty sprinkling of warm goat cheese and garnish greens. The eggs benny were warm and firmly poached, resting on delicious brown biscuits.
I love me some Cora's but I will take Lola's over them any day when it comes to options for my eggs. But that's not all that makes this place great...
Great service:
-We had a big group of ten and they accommodated our size and multiple orders with ease. Our server was attentive and not only friendly but humourous.
Great ambiance and interior art
-It's located in an old house with fifteen foot ceilings and gorgeously large windows, perfect for letting in the brunchey-morning light. Unpretentious but artsy, there is real art for sale on the walls and colourful murals in the main rooms and in the washrooms upstairs. Right now the art is nicely modern bold colour silhouette images (via silkscreen, I'd wager)
Great location:
-Close to Bloor subway and a pleasant 15 minute walk from Wellesly through the Village.
Definitely one of my fave brunch places right now. -
Review from Denise S.
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great brunch spot with a nice patio out front and lots of seating (I don't like the thought of waiting in line/waking up at the crack of dawn to get a table at places like Bonjour Brioche or Aunties & Uncles). I made a reservation, but you probably don't need one if you show up before noon. The vibe is laid-back and eclectic. You can come here with anyone - on a weekend you'll see an even mix of groups of friends, couples, families, and people alone. Servers are friendly and easygoing. They have specials every day so be sure to check the board! Otherwise, the brunch menu is pretty standard with your typical omelettes, eggs benny, and sweet options like stuffed french toast. I went with an egg white frittata which was loaded with veggies and really yummy! While you are waiting for your meal, they bring out mini rice krispy squares that are gooey and freshly made -- a nice touch!
Listed in: Brunch
-
Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
3/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
A great brunch spot if you can get a table.
I came with friends on Sunday and it was packed. You can make a reservation but you have to wait a while before you can sit down. The staff are really friendly and we enjoyed a great service.
The food plates are a decent portion. I ordered the Croque Lola which is similar to a Croque Monsieur sandwich and I was thinking of ordering a side of bacon. I ended not doing that and that was a good idea because by the end of the my plate I was FULL!
Their brunch menu is pretty extensive but it can accommodate any diet. While none specifically say "vegan", our server told us that they make any dish vegan. Just let them know. This was great as two of my friends are vegan.
Lola's a place I'd definitely return to! -
Review from A.J. S.
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
I took a pretty large group of people into this place. I have to say I loved the place! The food was excellent, and the service was great. I asked for Eggs Benny with a slice of tomato instead of bacon and they made it for me. The hollandaise was tasty without being overtly rich, the eggs were cooked to perfection, the soup it came with was a butternut squash soup which was absolutely fabulous! I would totally recommend this place to anyone looking for an awesome brunch place in downtown Toronto.
-
Review from Kat S.
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Friday coworker lunch, party of 6. We only reserved for 4, but they were flexible and had a table for 6 in no time.
I had the butternut squash soup (which is INCREDIBLY SPICY) and the gluten free fried chicken.
The soup was incredible. Huge portion, and the sweetness of the squash was immediately answered with a raging spice that I have NEVER experienced before in my life. I don't normally seek out anything spicy, but this really made quite an impression on me. I will be back.
The gluten free fried chicken was pretty disappointing. It was cornmeal (i think) dredged like how you'd fry a catfish in Oklahoma. Kind of gritty and not what I was anticipating. Nonetheless the soup really won me over and the onion-y mashed potatoes were bangin'. I took the chicks home for the dog, and called it a day.
I will be back. Oh yes, I will be back.
(they did not add gratuity for a party of 6 and yes, they split the bill, 6 fucking ways. WOW. Thats amazing customer service.) -
Review from Celeste L.
4/22/2012
I cam with friends for Sunday brunch and enjoyed the 'eggs freddy' which included spinach-hollandaise sauce, smoked bacon with a side of soup, salad or fries. For $1 extra you can have a mix of half fries-half salad. My drink of choice was the pomegranate-green tea iced tea. The flavors were not as robust as I would have liked. I have had better eggs benedict. But the ambiance was perfect.
-
Review from Joanne W.
My girl friends and I had another one of our monthly brunch outings again. This time, we chose Lola's Kitchen because 1) it has local, sustainable foods, 2) it has vegan/vegetarian choices, and 3) the cheesecake stuffed french toast.
We were there on a Saturday morning at 11:30 AM - surprisingly not too packed, but as the the meal passed on, there were quite a lot of people.
I had ordered myself the following: pear + ginger iced tea, Eggs Rancheros, and a petite cheesecake stuffed french toast to share.
The pear and ginger iced tea was a slightly disappointment. It was fairly watered down.
However, the Eggs Rancheros was a win. With scrambled eggs, black beans, guacamole, tomatillo pico de gallo, and cheese in a hard tortilla shell - I was drooling. Different from the other rancheros that I had previously at O&B and Smith, but I absolutely loved it. The soup of the day was a butternut squash with a bit of chili. The spicy kick to it just made it to die for.
Lastly, what we were all waiting for: the challah French toast with cheesecake. Perhaps a lot of people were raving about it, that I had high expectations. I found the French toast to be slightly on the dry side, and there just wasn't enough cheesecake! Furthermore, the compote that we had was cherry. It was a bit on the sour side, so it didn't seem like it matched well with the French toast.
All in all, it was a pretty good meal considering the main entree I had was delicious. Service was awesome as well, and the place has a great ambiance.
Will definitely come back here again. -
Review from Stacey S.
2/28/2012
Came for the cheesecake-stuffed french toast, but was more wowed by the fritata - spinach and mushroom and sun blush tomato and the most delicious soft goat cheese, in generous clumps on top. Oh. My. God. AMAZING!
Service was also super. Atmosphere was lovely and lively. Mmmmmmmmm.... -
Review from Janelle W.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2012
Brunch is a tricky meal--most patrons I think are looking to try something new, but that still adheres to certain conventions of the meal (eggs, potatoes, etc.), a balance that needs less consideration at lunch or dinner. Lola's strikes the perfect balance: you leave filled with quality comfort breakfast food and a sense that you got something new you couldn't have ordered at a breakfast chain.
The bf got the cheesecake stuffed French toast and it was as delicious as you'd hope without it feeling as enormously heavy as you'd maybe fear. I got the tofu eggs rancheros, which were perfect and just the right amount of heat for the first meal of the day. The ambience is cosy and trendy, the service never left us wanting, and the other menu times looked tempting enough to guarantee another visit. -
Review from Danielle F.
Toronto, ON
1/25/2012
Lovely Lola's!
I've been wanting to try this place pre-name change and I'm so glad I finally got around to it. Lola's is in a beautiful space with good food and better service. Everything is casual enough but executed to T. You never feel like you're left in the lurch as everything is explained wonderfully. Very cute coffee service.
We ordered the stuffed french toast, small size, as a starter. It was just the right thing because our table of three all wanted to try it, but no one wanted to commit to a full plate of something sounding so sweet. This stuffed version had a lemon vanilla cheesecake stuffing with strawberries all over. It was kinda perfect. I could taste a bit of the eggyness on the fluffy bread which cut through the sweetness of the toppings and filling. We all got a fair share and I'm glad I can say I tried it.
I got the frittata with Lola's potatoes on the side for my breakfast main. I wish I was able to pick more sides though! At least two? Or maybe it could just come with toast. Anywho! This came with heaps of goats cheese and arugula atop a frittata of mushrooms, caramelized onions and marinated tomatoes. I was so glad that it was a personal, fresh frittata and not just a slice from something. The eggs were very well executed, no complaints there. Good thing I stuck with the potatoes to get that brunch feel. They were so good and also unique with the marsala spices. There was much more sweet potato than normal potato which was a pleasant surprise.
A very cute and delicious spot! Can't wait to come back for brunch OR lunch! -
Review from Kat K.
10/6/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Lola's Commissary, I need to revisit with the "Brunch" club to experience the service.
3 words - Cheesecake French Toast; which is pretty good.
But I've been getting take out from Lola, since I work a quick hop and a skip from there.
I have to say Lola's sandwiches & wraps are top-notch too, I've had her triple Decker with chicken, bacon, guac and oven-roasted tomatoes; as well as her BLT wrap, which was with bacon and oven-roasted tomatoes.
They're packed with flavour and come with either a soup, salad, roasted potatoes or fries.. get their "roasted" potatoes which are dressed with a Marsala spice and is a mix of sweet potatoes and regular potatoes.
Now i can't stand sweet potatoes, but the way Lola does them.. could possibly convert me.Listed in: 30 days of Yelping
-
Review from waeza s.
Toronto, ON
1/4/2012
Lola's kitchen was a fun experience... I went with a friend for sunday brunch and had the Croque Lola. It was yummy and tasted healthy, but not in the bland grainy kinda way. Lola's potatoes, one of the sides, reminded me of something that my aunt makes and added a nice kick to the meal. I also had the butternut squash soup which turned out to be quite spicy, likely from the green hot pepper oil that was drizzled onto the soup.
Lola's is very homey, and not only because it is set in an old victorian house. Our server lived up to this homey image and was very friendly and welcoming. We sat in the back room right by the large graffiti artwork, which, if you looked at carefully had several quirky quotes and pieces of writing scattered throughout. Making out what was written was fun and made our time even more enjoyable. -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
9/5/2011 5 photos
I've been dying to pay Lola's Commissary a visit to try their famous Cheesecake stuffed French Toast for a long, long time. The restaurant is very cute with a quirky, welcoming charm. It had that kind of eclectic, artistic décor that I would want in my dream house in the future.
Now onto the food:
Stuffed grilled cheese: I always had a deep love for the humble grilled cheese, and a stuffed one was even more appealing! You would think that a stuffed grilled cheese would be infinitely more decadent than a normal one. Surprisingly, the result was not as greasy and buttery as I'd imagined it to be. In fact, I'd say that the cheese was not the star of the sandwich, but only a complementary element. In contrast, the greens definitely stood out, giving the sandwich a refreshing crunch. Nevertheless, the flavours of the stuffing worked well together and I still enjoyed the sandwich, despite it not being a greasy, buttery grilled cheese.
Lola's potatoes: a mix of diced regular potatoes and sweet potatoes. I thought that the spice mix was quite tasty and went well particularly with the sweet potatoes. On a side note, Lola's potatoes used to be called sexy potatoes, and I thought that name was a lot more quirky and appealing.
Lola's stuffed French toast: challah French toast stuffed with homemade vanilla cheesecake topped with wild blueberry compote. It was good, don't get me wrong, but it was definitely not the extraordinarily decadent monster that I had expected. The cheesecake layer was rather thin, and I also wasn't entirely fond of the prominent citrus taste in the cheesecake itself.
All in all, I was pretty satisfied with the meal, although I wished that the stuffed French toast was more decadent.Listed in: Brunch Extravaganza
-
Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
10/7/2011 7 photos
After reading about their cheesecake stuffed french toast, I knew I had to make a visit to Lola's.
Lola's specializes in lunch and brunch so they're only open until 3pm everyday. I had some trouble deciding what to order but once the server informed us that one of the day's specials was an eggs benny on top of a grilled cheese, I was sold. I love eggs benny and I love grilled cheese, so this was an easy choice. This Grilled Cheese Eggs Benny came with poached eggs and spinach covered with hollandaise all on top of a Challah-bread grilled cheese sandwich.
The grilled cheese itself was amazing. The cheese blend was perfect and the sandwich wasn't too greasy - I hate it when restaurants serve up a soggy pile of grease. As for the eggs benny portion of the dish, the eggs were perfectly poached and the hollandaise, while good, wasn't great. I should have just gone with the plain grilled cheese instead.
Most of their dishes are served with your choice of soup, salad, frites or Lola's Potatoes. I went with Lola's Potatoes, thinking they must be good if they're named after the restaurant. It consisted of mostly sweet potatoes with some regular potatoes thrown into the mix and contained a blend of Indian spices (garam masala). I wasn't a huge fan of them as I prefer my potatoes crispier.
Now, onto what we came for: Lola's Stuffed French Toast - Challah French toast stuffed with homemade vanilla cheesecake topped with a seasonal fruit compote ($12). Today's seasonal fruit compote was nectarine, which was surprisingly nice. It was actually my favourite part of the dish. I found the French toast to be a tad on the dry side, but the compote certainly helped. The cheesecake filling was decent but I would've preferred it to be a creamier filling. Overall, I thought it was good...but I expected it to be a lot better since it sounded so epic. -
Review from Emily C.
2/4/2012
Showed up for brunch on a weekend right when it opened. Service was quick, friendly, frequent refills on my coffee. I had the special? Some sort of a wrap with pulled-pork and guacamole ... yummmmm! By the time we left, the place was PACKED with a hefty line up. nothing else much to note other than it was delicious and will be back again!
-
Review from Tara E.
11/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A nice brunch spot that takes reservations! A little further than my usual haunts, but worth the trip.
I ordered the cheesecake stuffed french toast and a side of bacon. I made the mistake of ordering the petit version though. I had already had breakfast, and with the side of meat I thought it would be enough. It wasn't. It's a very small (but yummy) portion. Go full sized or go home. Many in the group ordered the brunch bowl, an large bowl of mostly potatoes (sweet and traditional) with mushrooms and sausage topped with egg. No one could finish it. Good thing I had the petit and was able to help out! Was less impressed with the grilled cheese with bacon. (Of course with bacon! Always with BACON!) Not fantastic. Didn't love the Lola's potatoes that was served with it either.
My only real complaint? $3 for a really small cup of tea. No offers for refills, not loose tea, not even a tea pot. The $4 lattes were quite loved, although also so small the my friend had to order two. Perhaps we are an overcaffinated bunch, but a latte should be larger than a handful. (And tea should come in pots!) -
Review from Ian C.
Toronto, ON
1/31/2012
I went for lunch, and the grilled cheese with caramelized onions and pear was really great! Very good service and reasonably priced. Will return for brunch!
-
Review from Mel C.
9/15/2011
I had to get the cheesecake stuffed French toast at Lola's. I also got the stuffed grilled cheese with chorizo sausage and caramelized onions.
The stuffed grilled cheese was tasty even though I wish there was more chorizo in it. It came with Lola's potatoes which is a mixed of potatoes and sweet potatoes. It was alright but a bit dry.
The cheesecake stuffed French toast was the real reason why I came here. There's a slice of cheesecake between two slices of French toast and on top was a generous amount of blueberry. After trying the stuffed French toast, I have to say I prefer eating the two items separately. It was a bit dry and I couldn't really solve the issue by soaking it in syrup since the cheesecake is so sweet already. It's worth trying once but I wouldn't order it again.
It's funny how I cam here for the stuffed French toast but I would actually come back here for the stuffed grilled cheese.Listed in: Failproof Restaurants
-
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
11/6/2011
A brunch restaurant that takes reservations is just what I need! Especially when friends are coming in town and you don't want to be rude, picking a good place that may require waiting in line in the chilly weather for..... say 45 minutes at minimum?
From the outside, you would never expect to venture into such a beautiful interior - full of colour, artwork, and a beautiful little chandelier hanging at the top by the front, facing the bay window. Separated by a fireplace like wall, the two sides showcases a different character - i think the back more artsy, the front more modern.
At 11, the place was pretty much full and we got our table at the very back. We were offered little rice krispy treats to start off our lovely morning. what a nice add-in!
Reading about the stuffed french toast... and being the french toast / pancake type of girl, it would be a waste to pass up on it, even though I didn't feel like something super sweet......... the compote of the day was apple/cranberry and it was convincing enough for me to stick with my decision... but petite size.
That thing sure wasn't petite, that's for sure. Two thick slices of toast, with a very thin, but reasonable slice of cheesecake, topped with a load of compote, every bite was breakfast and dessert in my mouth! Thank goodness the cheesecake was not any thicker or it would have been too heavy. the compote was a great substitute for syrup, which i absolutely love to drench in, but not needed. I also got a side salad that came in a fairly large bowl, and dressed perfectly (in my mind, it is ever so lightly, but that's my personal preference).
S got the brunch bowl, which in his mind, was just okay, although it looked like a work of art - with sweet potatoes, sauteed onions, mushrooms, sausage, and two eggs on top like a giant feast. I took a bit and thought it was very tasty!
By the time we left at 12:30, the place was jamming - loud noise, great conversation, big parties, and a line up huddled around the doorway... guess the people who don't go to queen / king scurry to Lola's.. not a bad choice. -
Review from Vivek S.
Circumstances made it difficult to dislike this brunch spot. I showed up on a GORGEOUS weekday afternoon, and found my dining companion Brock M already sitting on the patio. Lola's can be found in an old white-bricked Victorian on Church, but I didn't even step inside: their quiet patio was too GD delightful in the warm sun.
I'm not one to "fudge around" when it comes to breakfast, so I ordered the Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast. For reasons I will never understand Brock ordered a salad. Sure, sure, he might be winning the war, I certainly took this brunchy battle. The french toast is literally stuffed with soft, creamy slabs of cheesecake and drizzled with a raspberry compote. It's the type of meal a Roman emperor would eat (nay, have fed TO him) as he ordered the grisly execution of a peon. It's DECADENT. I washed it down with an unsweetened iced tea. Oye, mamacita, it was fabulous.
The menu also indicated some breakfast wraps and bennies as well as "straight up french toast"? Straight up? Zzz. Get that ish stuffed. Also: pizzas, pastas, salads and other jazz rock their regular menu. It all looked amazing.
Not sure what else there is to say about Lola. That wowie-zowie opening act will be hard to follow. I want to come back to here.
Obligatory Title Pun: It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world except for LOLA.
Menu Readability: Yeah, 'tis goed.
Need to mention: I can play Lola on guitar.
What this place teaches me about myself: I'm not the world's most masculine man, but I know what I am, and what I am is LOVER OF PATIO BRUNCHES. -
Review from Yvonne T.
Ever since my beloved Hoof Café closed down I've been on a Brunch hunt all over Toronto to find a new spot to get my kicks.
My best friend Doctor-in-Training and I love to brunch whenever he's in town (he's studying in Calgary) and so with dining companion in hand, and empty stomachs on Easter Sunday - we were ready to roll.
We arrived shortly after 10AM when doors open. I had called in advance to confirm that they were open considering it was Easter Sunday and all. We were the first ones in the restaurant, and had the restaurant to ourselves for pretty much 90% of our stay. As we were nearing the end of our meal, and people were starting to wake up, a few tables trickled in but it was in no way busy. I guess that's because all the good people were at church while we were busy stuffing our faces.
The decor is really simple, but chic at the same time. The bar is towards the entrance, and there is also a fireplace. The space is bright and airy with a loft-like feel and lots of natural lighting shining through the many windows.
The waiting staff were all very friendly. The male barista sported a bunny-eared headband which I found mildly amusing.
I ordered the Frittata (vegetarian dish) and Doctor-in-Training ordered Lola's Benny. All menu items come with your choice of soup, side salad or potatoes. I opted for the salad.
The frittata was quite savory. It was prepared with red peppers, mushrooms, caramelized onion and goat's cheese. The side salad had a nice viniagrette which was a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. Yummy!
Lola's Benny was served on polenta instead of the traditional English muffin, but my DC seemed to enjoy it. The frites were quite tasty and not too oily.
We also had more than enough cappuccinos throughout our brunch affair to ensure I had an energy high that would last me to the wee hours of the night. We ordered 3 cappuccinos each. But in my defense, the 3rd cappuccino was not my doing. I was surprised by a cappuccino upon returning from the ladies room. The first cappuccino was not up to par because the foam was very watery.
I had also come to Lola's with the intent on trying the Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast, but could not brave it alone. Thank you Doctor! The bread was eggy, though I found it to be a bit on the dry side. I would've preferred a moister brioche. The berry compote balanced out the sweetness of the cheesecake quite well. I wish I had known there was a mini version ahead of time, as we were both pretty full after our mains, but couldn't say no to our sweet tooths!
Lola's Commissary is a quaint and cozy spot to have brunch. We were undisturbed for our stay, except for the occasional checking up on how things were, and topping up our water glasses. Lola's gets bonus points because the food was served piping hot, and they use nothing but fresh ingredients. You can taste it in their food. I would probably come back if I were in the neighbourhood, but wouldn't go out of my way for my brunch fix. The menu offerings were pretty standard, nothing really impressive or out of the ordinary. They do have a nice patio in the front which would be nice in the summer.
The bill at the end of the day was $71 excluding tip.Listed in: Sate a Date, Pat-Pat-Patio, Memoirs of a Yelper, "Brunches" of Fun
-
Review from Jon O.
6/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been to Lola's twice and I have to say that I've been very impressed both times. I've sat inside and on the patio - both are a wonderful setting for brunch.
Obviously the first thing everyone has to mention is the french toast stuffed with cheesecake. I've never ordered the whole thing to myself, but I've tasted it and it's exactly as good as it sounds.
The last time I was there I had the Ancho Chicken wrap and it was delicious. I love fresh avocado with chicken and the sexy potatoes on the side complimented it well.
The service is always great and the vibe is very laid-back and welcoming. It feels like a place where you could easily become a regular. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
Wow, My friend made an interesting observation about my last review. I was here exactly one year ago to this day (may 15th) !! how weird and creepy!
I was able to make a reservation for 4 quite easily (highly recommended!) We were welcomed by friendly servers who gave us drinks and coffee. (note: they also have mimosas, but it's not on the menu).
The food has lots of variety and very substitute and veggie friendly. I got the Brunch bowl, which was new and sweet potatoes, with cheese, chorizo, onion and an egg on top. yum.
I did ask about the secret mini version of the french toast , half portion, but he said that they didn't have it on weekends. But I guess things evolve after a year. That was disappointing.
Otherwise, another go to brunch place.Listed in: Thanks Yelp!, A meal to remember (and to go…, Gluten Free and Substitute…, Brunch places I want to go…, Omnivorious Friendly Dining
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/15/2010
Yum.
We came here for brunch on a saturday afternoon. I made reservations via email, and it was… Read more »
-
-
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
5/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Came here with the Husband and Grumpy Father-in-Law for breakfast this rainy morning, and thought the food was delicious. I had the maple pecan french toast which was just the perfect sugar rush to kickstart my day. I also have to give kudos to the service; our server was quite nice and accommodating, even when faced with having to deal with Grumpy Pop before his morning coffee.
I'd definitely come back again. -
Review from Michelle A.
Toronto, ON
I was looking for a cute brunch spot near Yonge/Bloor and Yelp brought me to Lola's! It's a very cute restaurant located a block south of Bloor on Church St - very close to Yonge station. The restaurant is in an old large house, and is beautifully decorated with bright colourful paintings. It was busy around 12:30, but we had no problem getting a table for two.
The servers were all very friendly and came to ask for drink orders right away (note: they also offered soy milk for my coffee, which was nice!). Our orders were also brought out quite quickly despite being very busy.
I had the egg white fritata ($1 extra for egg whites), which comes with spinach, mushrooms, pesto and goat cheese, and a green salad. It was amazingly flavourful, and the eggs were nice and soft, not too crispy on the bottom or edges. My friend had the BLT whole wheat wrap with thin-cut french fries. We both really enjoyed our meals. The menu has a variety of breakfast foods (french toast, eggs benny) and a few lunch items, mainly wraps. My meal came to about $20 with tax and tip.
I would definitely recommend, and will likely return in the summer - they have a large front patio, which looks nice.Listed in: Very vegetarian-friendly…
-
Review from jocelyn l.
4/24/2011
Cheesecake Stuffed in Challah French Toast?
Color me Excited!
I could eat this 'breakfast' forever...I honestly didn't want this meal to end. When I finally finished the plate in front of me, I was seriously contemplating ordering another round of this Most.Amazing.French.Toast.Ever.
The only thing stopping me was the partial embarrassment of actually placing the 2nd order and, oh, yea, I had just come from a pilates class.
The host and servers were great, it wasn't that busy on a Saturday afternoon (12.30p) much to my surprise. The restaurant is housed in an adorable victorian-esque house and the space is open, bright and tastefully done.
The only thing I was dissatisfied with: the measly skinny pathetic slivers of bacon. For $3. The skinniest, most disappointing slips of bacon I've ever tasted in my life. They really need to do something about that...they were worth maybe $1, definitely not $3.
But that crazy cheesecake stuffed french toast...Phew.
I'll definitely be back before I leave the TO.Listed in: Faves in TO, Best Brunches. Ever
-
Review from Lindsey S.
Toronto, ON
1/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Even thought work right across from Lola's and I live in the area, I've only been here once.
Last week, our office was dead - thanks to the holidays a few of the guys in the office decided to take a long lunch over at Lola's. I'm glad I tagged along.
As Su mentioned, the restaurant is on the first floor of an old house with the bathrooms and a few larger rooms upstairs. I will admit that the washrooms were FREEZING, but it is an old house and you're not in there that long. I'm sure it's fine in the summer, and most days. The decor is very boho arts and crafts, and all of the items on the walls are for sale. The paint is a fresh colour and the smell of the food is every welcoming. With all of these little touches it makes the place very warm and inviting.
We were seated very quickly and the staff were super friendly. We went to lunch at 12:30 and this place was pretty packed...that said something good to me right away.
I'm used to massive portions and lack of taste, but this place has the right amount of flavour and portion size. I ordered the Ancho Chicken wrap and was pleasantly surprised. Their fries are great - order them. I will admit that their condiments are lacking - you get about a tablespoon of ketchup for a whole table....
The table water that they serve is infused with lemon and is a very nice touch to just plain table water and is less tacky then having a large lemon wedge slammed on the side of the glass.
My wrap and side was under $15 with tip and tax.
For a meal that leaves you full and that is full of flavour - hit up Lola's -
Review from Isabella L.
Toronto, ON
11/2/2010 3 photos
I chose this place for my belated birthday brunch, and I am -SO- happy I did. My parents are pretty hard to please, so even though this meal was for me, having my parents enjoy the meal was a bonus!
Let me just say this place is an art gallery inside.Various paintings are scattered on the lightly coloured beige walls. My favorite was the Bob Marley one. Oh yeah, their washrooms are spotless and nicely designed. It was also freezing...anyway..
The service was good, I mean it was a bit slow, but on a Sunday brunch, we were seated immediately. Lucky us. However, the food took a bit longer, but man, it was worth the wait.
(If you don't wanna wait long, I suggest you go at 1:30-2.)
We all ordered Eggs benedict. I personally had the 'Shroom Benny (11) which was by far one of the BEST eggs benedict dishes I've tried. These guys aren't cheap with their ingredients 'cause there was a GENEROUS portion of mushrooms. Also, the eggs were perfect and the hollandaise sauce was nice and creamy. The downside was that my salad was really bitter. Do not order a salad. Order the sexy potatoes which comes with sweet potato and yukon gold. It's delish.
I sampled the other two orders: Eggs Lola 11 (ancho chicken on tortilla) and Eggsmopolitan 14 (smoked salmon). I found the smoked salmon to be a bit too salty, but as for the Eggs Lola, it was A+. This was a really flavourful dish from the creamy avocodo to the well spiced and seasoned chicken.
My parents tried my 'Shroom benny and said in translation "It's good...wow.. they make it better than some hotels." SCOREEE.
Weekly Specials:
Monday - 'Shroom Benny 8
Tuesday - Cheesecake french toast 9
Wednesday - Hump day Pizza 9
Thursday - Any wrap with frites 9
Friday - Love me some pasta! 9
Overall: I think I'm gonna go back Tuesday to try the Cheesecake French Toast. CAN'T WAIT! -
Review from Su B.
12/7/2010
Lola's Commissary is really close to both my workplace and my home but I literally stumbled upon it just the other day. I am so glad I did and now it's going to be my default brunch option.
The restaurant is on the first floor of a house and is probably a lot of fun in the summer out on the deck. We went in on a wintery afternoon and loved the cozy interiors. We were seated right away and greeted by a very nice waitress. The place is bright and happy in a rustic yet artsy kind of way.
And the food is great too. I ordered the 'shroom benny with sexy fries (yummy side) and my DH ordered the salmon benedict with frites. I tasted both and although both were good, I LOVED the 'shroom benny.
We will definitely be back for leisurely weekend brunch. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
8/19/2010 2 Check-ins Here
This is really the nicest spot for lunch in the Y&B area. a Lunch wrap with side of potatoes, fries, or salad runs for $14 with tax and tip. A wrap doesn't sound substantial but I have never finished my entire meal. Best offerings are the crispy tofu wrap or the wild mushroom and goat cheese wrap with the salad (fennel!). There are two chicken options as well, that I can recall and pastas, salads, pizzas etc.
Glanced at the specials as I was leaving, Tuesday has an eggs Bene for $8, Thursday has a wrap and gazpacho for $8, Wed has a meat and veggie pizza for $8 each.
Wide selection of health conscious, vegan, veggie etc options and alot of high quality, inspired and simple food. beautiful decor and pleasant waitstaff, perfect for lunch with friends or business meetings. Always in and out within the hour. I have only been for lunch, not dinner or brunch but I hear everything is fabulous across the board.
I would give five stars except for one complaint. The last Two times I dined here were both Thursdays and both times I had the wrap with a side, which is $11. I later noticed that Thursday has a wrap special with a soup. I would have liked the server to mention the special when I had ordered a wrap, but she didn't either time.
Really, the highest quality food in this neighborhood for a healthy sit-down lunch. Nice patio and they take all methods of payment.Listed in: Yonge & Bloor Reviews.
-
Review from Carmen M.
This spot may very well have one of the best resto names in the city: Lola's Commissary (heretofore known as "LC"). Luckily for those Torontonians who consider brunch a sport, they also have one of the best brunches I've ever had.
Thanksbeto the TTC, it took nearly an hour to get there (!), so I had plenty of time to work up an appetite. Just north of Charles Street, LC is located in a small strip of restos and shops along Church Street. It's open, airy and inviting ( especially on days that are so cold that you almost fall down from numb legs). There are large windows that allow tons of light to stream in. I was happily greeted straight away.
The brunch menu had several choices, including mushroom risotto, nutella/banana/white chocolate chip French toast (um, yes please!), and, my choice, salsa poached eggs. They also have a "regular" menu from which to order brunch that looked equally delish. The only downfall to the specials is that they aren't served with the "sexy potatoes", which I really wanted to try, but for which I really didn't want to pay an extra $6.
Long time readers of my Yelp reviews know that when I brunch, I like to order a little "something sweet", usually in the form of a single pancake or piece of french toast. In all the places I've eaten in T.O., I've never been told that I couldn't be accommodated. Until today. I asked if they would do a single piece of French toast, or at least a half order, but was told they "don't do that here". Not a huge deal and I respect that, but how hard is it to fix just one piece of toast instead of two? Anyway.
On to the crowning glory: the eggs! The salsa poached eggs were wicked, wicked good. I nearly cried, they were so good! In fact, I haven't had "Mexican"-style eggs this good since I left Texas. Perfectly flavored, they had an appropriate amount of heat and spice. Served in a very hot bowl (!) with avocado slices, black beans, and delicious homemade tortilla chips on the side, the eggs had the perfect amount of "run" to them. The spicy tomato broth that the eggs were served in was seriously tasty.
Service was quick and attentive. My bill came to $21 with tip, which I think is a little high for a cup of tea and a poached egg, but price notwithstanding, LC is a definite must-stop spot on the TO brunch circuit. Run, don't walk, and eat there! Hurry!Listed in: The Sport of Brunch
-
Review from Cisi Z.
Toronto, ON
8/11/2010
Sunday was my second time here and I'll still be back for more.
Decor is fabulous. Seriously, a renovated mansion for your brunching pleasure? Awww, yeahhh. Plus, the bathrooms (located upstairs) are marvelous. Uhm, they smell good too! (Srsly!)
I gots zee 'Shroom Benny, baby! Poached eggs to perfection, ;). Oh, but it wouldn't have been the same without those plentiful wild mushrooms! So, so good. My friend's straight up French toast was simplistic (as implied by its namesake) but lovely. Last time I had the chance to nibble on the cheesecake stuffed French Toast which is a decadent indulgence. I'd love to get a mini one to share with another, :D.
I want to try the Eggs Lola next! So, I'll see you soon, Lola's Commissary! -
Review from Kat S.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2011
Went to Lola's for lunch a few weeks ago, and it was great! The ambiance is nice, the price point is totally reasonable and the service was decent. It did take awhile for us to get our bill, and the waitress definitely hit on the guy I was with but neither of those things are deal breakers.
Menu had a nice variety of options and as a vegetarian I found plenty of things I would have liked to eat. My chickpea salad was delicious and something I would recommend. The menu had a variety of salads, burgers/sandwiches and pizzas. If you don't like any of that...you're weird.
I've already made plans to go back for another lunch. -
Review from Neha T.
Toronto, ON
12/1/2009
We walked into a dead dining hall at 7:30 on a Wednesday night and I felt a little pang of apprehension. The decor is simple and lovely, the lighting soft, and the seasonal tapas menu makes it look like a welcome addition to the Church St. dining scene.
The menu is quite tasty-sounding but the tapas dishes look a little on the expensivo side. $8 for one ravioli? Not in this hood, darlin'. We went with the larger sharing plates and settled on a Spanish tortilla, Ponzu noodles with tofu, and frites with garlicky mayo.
The tortilla was a bit of a disappointment. It was cooked well but was somewhat tasteless. A heavier hand with the tomato topping might have helped. The Ponzu noods, however, were delicious. A bowlful of steamy tamari broth and chewy udon was perfect for that foggy autumn eve. The frites were another miss. Kinda soggy and lukewarm with nary a hint of the promised garlic-ness in the mayo.
I love the location and my mouth drools when I read their menu but I remain unconvinced. I think I'll venture out for brunch next time and indulge in some second chances. Come on, Lola's, make it work! -
Review from Allison F.
Toronto, ON
4/7/2011
I ventured to Lola's this morning with my colleagues for a farewell brunch - it was delicious! I enjoyed the "mini" stuffed french toast - the berry compote was fresh (did not taste like a defrosted version) and the cheesecake filling was divine. My colleagues all ordered the scrambled egg dish and thumbs were up around the table. I sipped on tea, but others ordered the Americano coffee and said it was great. Overall, great spot for brunch!
-
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
8/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great little lunch spot with really fresh salads and sandwiches. They have a lovely patio. A reason it's great for lunch is they move pretty quickly and don't waste your time. You can take a very civilized lunch break in a short time frame. With good food! I'll be back.
-
Review from Steph L.
2/28/2010
A nice neighborhood brunch spot!
It's a converted house, the inside is modern, very sunny and welcoming...and bigger than I thought!
They put a lot of effort into creating an interesting menu.
I ordered the cheesecake stuffed french toast which looked amazing and almost overwhelming!!! Thick slices of toast coated in egg custard, stuffed with cheesecake filling and drenched in berry compote... saucy, sweet, and decadent. It's good if you like sweets.
I have a big stomach and I only ate half of it.
Other options looked like tasty alternatives.
- Beef hash, tender beef, potatoes, eggs, garlic mayo with crispy onions.
- Breakfast poutine - it's fries, homemade gravy topped with two fried eggs and all sorts of breakfasty things!
- the Kitchen Sink which included eggs and bits, bits being a mix of sausage, cheese, etc served with toast.
That looked good. If I didn't have french toast I would have gone for the kitchen sink.
The sexy potatoes are ...cute, I don't know about sexy!
Mix of sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, I didn't have any, but they looked like a nice side but not jazzy enough.
The service was awesome and made brunch so much more enjoyable. I was hosting a brunch for a small group and needed two extra spots. They had a cancellation upstairs and asked if we wanted to be seated on the top floor so we could hear each other better.
The top floor of this venue is perfect for mid-sized group reservations (20 - 30 people).
Sparkly red chairs, a bar available (For hire in the evening) and the room showcased artwork from local artists.
They did an awesome job keeping track of the group's orders and splitting our bills. The service was spectacular and beyond my expectations.
This place isn't as crazy busy as other brunch places. It had a steady stream of customers, probably locals. The venue still had a lot of room at 11am but was packed by 1pm (We were there on a Sunday).
I'm curious about their lunch menu and will have to give it a try! -
Review from sunnee s.
Toronto, ON
5/25/2011
*3.5*
i really really wanted to fall in love w lola's . it looks so nice from the outside, with its perfect 2 leveled patio and all .
the boos; my raspberry icetea was VERY very VERY bland and watered down and the sexy potatoes (i dont think theyre called that anymore .. it just said potatoes on the menu . meh) was nothing special and def not sexy . the sweet potato pieces were really mushy .
the good: we had the grilled cheese egg benny special . grilled cheese egg benny !! imagine all the possibilities ! but to my huge disappoitnment, it was just ... okay good . why couldnt they expand a little bit more on their amazing idea of grilled cheese egg benny ?! how about some avocados ? oh oh oh !!! carmalized onions under the cheese and a little bit of avocado salas/guac on top, hiding under that poached egg ?! how amazing would that have been ?! but that's just my wishful thinking . oh oh & the poached eggs ! why were they so overpoached ? there was no runny yolk !
the yum: cheesecake stuffed french toast . but i thought this was more like a dessert . it wasnt as AMAZING as i thought it'd be but it was still pretty damn delicious . i thought it was a little bit on the dry side . you can def taste the cheesecake in it . umm .. actually .. maybe i liked it more than i think i did . my mouth just started to water as im typing this . huh .
either way, i LOVE their patio and i guess my body is telling me that i love the stuffed french toast too so i'll def be coming back to give it a second try .Listed in: i do brunch amazing
