- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Melanie's Bistro & Patisserie
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Diners Restaurants Italian Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, Italian [Edit]
1870 Danforth AveToronto, ON M4C 1J4
Neighbourhood: The Danforth
(416) 422-1870
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 9:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
13 reviews for Melanie's Bistro & Patisserie
13 reviews in English
-
Review from Angela R.
Scarborough, ON
3/18/2012
While driving down the Danforth we saw this restaurant and decided to give it a try after reading some glowing reviews.
The raving reviews were correct this place was a really great experience. The atmosphere is very cozy, the food delicious and service great.
We had the goat cheese salad to start and it was fantastic. You really can't go wrong with crispy goat cheese! Then we shared the butter chicken which was recommended and it too was delicious.
If you're on the Danforth stop by this great little place. -
Review from Tina H.
11/30/2011
Upon arrival, the place was almost empty except for a large group and a couple of tables. Not what I'm used to when going for weekend brunch in Toronto. Even so, we had to wait 30 minutes for our food because they had a large table. They're not set up to accommodate a large crowd in the kitchen (even though they have the seating for it).
We asked if we could get the fruit that came with our meal while we waited the 35 minutes for our poached eggs to arrive, and the waiter assured us he'd bring something out for us. Nope! He definitely didn't bring anything to tide our hunger over; even the fruit that is supposed to come with our meal. After about half an hour, out popped our stale-looking breakfasts on hot plates.
Once the food arrived it was quite mediocre. The cod cakes on my Newfoundland Breakfast were good but for some reason the entire meal was nauseating. Not sure if the hollandaise was off or something. My friend noticed the poached eggs were too watery.
One of the servers seemed quite inexperienced. The other was friendly and promised to bring our fruit out (and didn't). Not the best service, waitstaff or kitchen.
One of the worst brunches I've ever had. My friend and I both felt nauseous afterwards even though we had different breakfasts. Only items in common were the fruit (which seemed fine), the eggs, and the hollandaise. -
Review from Thom H.
Updated - 12/28/2011
Okay, so I got dragged back here for brunch. It was actually very good in every respect. So, I'm upping my rating of this place, but still won't be there for dinner anytime soon.
Listed in: Restaurants My Mother Would…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/24/2010
I had dinner here about a year ago, and don't think I ever will go back. The overall food and… Read more »
-
-
Review from Sheila B.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2011
We have been there on numerous occassions since it's close to home.
It was busy for brunch at noon and it's always feels good that the local family business is making it. The owner Melanie was present as always to over see the quality & service. Her husband is the chef.
Our order:
Newfoundland Eggs Bene,
**two perfectly cooked poached eggs sitting a top Cod Fish Cakes in lieu of english muffins with very lemony hollaindaise. fresh berries and fried potatoes. the fish cakes don't have enough fish taste on them (some people may like that) . I would recommend this dish to anyone. Very satisfying.
Bistro Burger with soup of the day (Potato Leek)
**the burger was too salty and the garlic was overwhelming but the soup was piping hot and would have a big bowl anytime.
One thing about Melanie's that is a bit depressing is the decor. It's not hip or modern it's upscale cafeteria. Although it was busy the ambiance was lacking. That's not going to keep us away but it's worth noting.
The service is excellent!!!
Total: $35.03 PLUS TIP...
**on a side note brunch cost my husband actually $600 since I had to visit the brand new Jeweller next door!! Jewellery For You...Lucio the owner opened in November and has some really unique pieces.. -
Review from Jeff C.
East York, ON
We are lucky to live near the Danforth as we have so many restaurants to choose from. Melanie's is one of them. The setting is very sparse and cheap but the food is good and well made. Get that pasta, it seems to be their specialty and it's always good. The chef must really know their stuff. If you can get over the lack of ambiance and enjoy the food you will have a wonder experience.
-
Review from sarah l.
12/21/2009
Ahh, Brunch. My favorite meal of the day. Melanie's was not somewhere I would brunch again.
The good:
- the eggs were perfectly soft poached. Until I started ordering poached eggs as part of my 'regular breakfast' I didn't know how difficult it is to cook eggs to a perfect soft poach. Melanie's does a nice job here.
- good quality ingredients - quality bacon and bread.
- great side of fruit. I usually hate the 'free fruit' that comes with breakfasts, but the fruit here was a very small serving of very high quality strawberry and melon that was diligently cleaned.
The bad:
- the hashbrowns are terrible. We were here mid-brunch cycle and the hashbrowns were lukewarm. They were clearly pre-prepared and came in a big scoop that looked like a serving of ice cream. It made me think that they were pre-made and kept in a big aluminum catering/prison food tray and scooped out one serving at a time.
- the ambiance here is horrible. It's boring, bland and reminded Kat F of a hotel lobby and me of a government building. It's the colour of death-tan.
- coffee sucks.
The weird-and-telling - the brunch menu had a lot of supper entrees on it like butter chicken and steak. These people are just confused and sterile.Listed in: Breakfasts
-
Review from Bob S.
Toronto, ON
9/21/2009
Melanie's is our favourite neighbourhood eatery. We recently took our Atlanta friends there and they demanded to go back again the next day. Hint: try the Newfoundland Breakfast !!
And lunch and dinner are wonderful, too. The menu is simple and straight forward and there are always interesting specials. The food rivals downtown but without the prices. Plus it's friendly with good service. A model of the chef-run restaurant. -
Review from Joe D.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 2/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place just keeps on giving. My wife and I went for her early-birthday dinner, and we were pretty much blown away. We both had specials - her, a steak smothered in blue cheese and sauteed mushrooms, me, a seafood curry stew. Both meals were delicious and done to perfection. We were also extremely impressed with the desserts we ordered (a creme brulee and a toffee-chocolate cheesecake), which I am to understand are made by Melanie herself. (It's also really nice to talk with Melanie, who makes a point of talking to all of her customers while they're at the restaurant.)
Overall, a great meal and great experience, which is making us sad we don't come here more often than we do.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/19/2009 First to Review
An incredibly popular local breakfast/brunch/lunch/di nner eclectic-menu place. Very plain decor,… Read more »
-
-
Review from Gord M.
East York, ON
5/16/2010
Herb hollandaise, in a word: wow.
I've been to Melanie's for dinner twice and really wasn't that impressed, but I did hear that their brunch was pretty killer, so I decided to give it a whirl and was thoroughly impressed.
To me, the clear winner on the menu was the Newfoundland breakfast special: pan fried cod cakes poached eggs, finished with herb hollandaise, fresh fruit, country fries and toast.
Though it looks small, and carries a heavier price tag than I was anticipating ($13), it was worth every penny and a maybe even a few extra nickels. The eggs were perfectly soft-poached (a lost art), the cod cakes incredibly smooth and flavourful and the herb hollandaise was worth the order alone.
Friendly service, a skilled kitchen and a cold pint. That's a winner in my books.Listed in: East York Beasts
-
Review from Josh A.
Toronto, ON
8/29/2010
Probably being slightly generous with a 4. I took in lunch and Brunch in at this place. Service was very good but may be slow for some. I took in the vegetarian omelette with a side of fruit, potatoes, and some tasty toast. Definately tasty. This is my 4th time to the restaurant. Haven't been in awhile but always find the food fresh, tasty, and definately not greasy. I noted a large contingent of families taking in this Brunch spot which is within walking distance of my place and hence conveniently located. I do note that it is definately pricey. Brunches are priced at around 12-13 dollars.
-
Review from Tammy H.
East York, ON
1/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Always a nice dining experience. The service and food are great and it's right in my hood.
-
Review from Howard H.
Warkworth, ON
10/4/2011
I've been to Melanie's twice now. Once with my wife and once on my own. Both times I was extremely impressed by the quality of the cooking. I had PERFECTLY done salmon, one of their specialties. It was so good I had my wife order when we went back. That time I had lamb shank that was as good as I have ever had. Coupled with excellent soup (potato and mushroom) and salad and equally wonderful desserts and coffee and a great price, it is definitely a restaurant I would return to and recommend. The service was small town friendly (I come from a small town) and when we were there the walls had some great art on them.
-
Review from David X.
East York, ON
8/14/2011
A first-time visitor I thought that the Newfoundland eggs benedict sounded wonderful. I had to leave in 55 minutes for an appointment and told the waitress. She said that the order would take 20-25 minutes. Fine. After waiting 30 minutes the table behind me was complaining about the long wait for their meal and that if it didn't come immediately, they would have to leave. Their waitress apologized sincerely and their meal came a few minutes later. Better late than never. After waiting 40 minutes, still no sign of my order. Even if the meal came that second I would have to down it, pay the bill and get to my appointment, all in 15 minutes. I complained and was told "There are no guarantees here." Clearly there was a problem in the kitchen, but one table gets a genuine apology and, for the same complaint, I get grief. Really terrible. I asked for the bill ($11 for one beer on tap and one tiny orange juice). This meal should have taken 15 minutes to prepare--20 max. Double that time and still nothing. A really disappointing experience. I wouldn't recommend Melanie's to anyone.
