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Saving Grace
Category: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
907 Dundas St WToronto, ON M6J 1V9
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Trinity Bellwoods
(416) 703-7368
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Saving Grace
Review Highlights
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"I had the savory French toast, and can recommend it highly..." In 8 reviews -
"...eggs on parmesan french toast bacon tomato jam arugala." In 2 reviews -
"...and they always have a mouthwatering list of daily specials." In 5 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Anna W.
Parkdale, Toronto, ON
5/15/2012
The vibe: Super tiny spot that looks like it could be in your cool aunt's kitchen. The sunshine pours in reflecting off the lightly painted walls. It's a feel good place to wash away your troubles and cozy up to some friendly strangers from the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.
The food: The specials are always incredible. This ain't your greasy diner. It's a well thought out creative menu with healthy options. I've never had a meal I haven't liked. Just trust them and try something new.
The drinks: The Espressado is amazing. Avocado + espresso = heaven.
My go-to meal: When I'm feeling like I want that AM sugar rush, I go for the French toast with caramelized bananas and get a side of sausage. Hubba wubba.
Secret: Come early! -
Review from Katie C.
Toronto, ON
5/24/2012
I was just recently at Saving Grace for lunch, and I enjoyed it. It's really tiny, it's really hot. But I find it cozy and cute, really bright and quirky, minimalistic. Bad things are the waiting time, because it's so tiny they can't serve that many people at a time. Also wait times for food are longer than expected (but I wouldn't go so far as saying theyre ridiculous).
Today I ordered (off the chalkboard) the Enfrijoladas (oh god, I think that's the right word!). It was a Dish of mushy-ness! Tortilla, baked beans, cheese, avacado, and sour cream, Salad on the side. *If you don't like cilantro, ask them for it without. Its all over this dish, and not mentioned in the description so I was super disappointed. It was really good and filling. Maybe a little pricey, but I enjoyed it.
My boyfriend got a hot sandwich with tapendae, avacado, tomato, arugula (I don't remember what else was on it) and it came also with a side salad. His was really small, for a guy, so I felt bad stuffing my face with Mexican mush while he had a quaint little sandwich and salad. This was $8.75 or something.
The service was friendly, not super present (had to stop a waitress for more water). But all in all a nice experience. I'd recommend it, but it wasn't anything too special.
Some things to be wary of though: When you're checking in to wait for a table, there is a sign up sheet hung on the inside of the door, put your name on it! We didn't know this, so we waited around until another girl came after us, put her name down, then was seated before us. . :( Also, there will probably be a wait. So don't come super super hugnry. It's tiny, and you might have to sit at a bar "table" looking over the other tables next to other people. Not a bad thing, just something to note!
**Only accepts cash and interac -
Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
5/4/2012 3 photos
Despite hearing about Saving Grace being very tiny, I was still shocked at how small the space was. I came on a weekday hoping to avoid the notoriously long wait but still waited half an hour for a table for 2. The place fits maybe 20 people max and the tables are only inches apart so you'll be getting cozy with your dining neighbors.
The menu at Saving Grace consists of both breakfast and lunch items including a variety of egg dishes, French toast, sandwiches and salads. The chalkboard on the wall also lists the specials of the day. Looking at the menu and the daily specials, you'd notice they have a very eclectic menu, with some Asian and Indian-inspired items.
What went in my belly:
Rajastani Eggs - scrambled with spicy red onion tomato, chickpea masala and a spicy paratha ($10): Big mistake. Way too spicy! One bite of the scramble and my mouth was on fire. None of the other components of the dish were particularly memorable. Chickpea masala was meh and the paratha was just too dry and crumbly for my liking.
Open Omelette - with caramelized pears, cambozola and bacon ($11): The omelette was well cooked and the classic combination of the pears, cheese and bacon was delicious! I'm not a huge fan of blue cheese so I'm glad the flavour of the cambozola was quite mild. The bitterness from the bit of arugula which topped the omelette was a welcome addition. Loved it all!
Spicy Italian Sausage ($3) - added this to our meal since meat was really lacking...I'd skip this unless you're really craving meat. Nothing special.
French Toast - with caramelized bananas and maple syrup ($4.50 half order/$8.75 full order): I loved the choice of bread and liked that the bread was lightly washed with egg. Amazing. One of the best french toasts I've had!
Final thoughts? While I enjoyed the french toast and open omelette I'm not sure it would be worth a 1+ hour wait on the weekend... -
Review from David M.
Toronto, ON
3/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
You won't have to wait in line on Monday at 9:30 am. My friends and I pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. Eventually, there were another few tables occupied, but the service remained attentive.
2 friends had the rajasthani eggs and enjoyed them a great deal. One advised that they were spicy enough to be a bit too much for some people.
Two of us had the French toast...my friend the savory and me the sweet. Both delicious and plentiful. The coffee was excellent and free flowing.
Definitely a garage-sale vibe here, with mismatched plates and funky decor which I enjoyed. The plywood tables and bench seating, however, was a little off-putting (and uncomfortable). Replace these with funky kitchen tables and chairs, and earn your 5th star.Listed in: Breakfast places
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Review from Dishan W.
10/31/2011 3 photos
Came in here for a late lunch, which in hindsight seems like a good idea as it was almost empty and we didn't have to deal with crowds which seems to plague this location with their very limited seating.
It reminds me of Cafe La Gaffe from Baldwin Street in regards to the food but at a better price. That was very key for me since their menu sounds amazing especially when you combine their specials list. I got myself a tapenade panini which came with a healthy serving of salad. Very tasty and completely worth every cent.
I ordered a latte and I am sorry to say that it wasn't all that great and for a brunch location to be exceptional they should have their coffee drinks completely down.
I do love their tiny location, while it is probably a hindrance during peak hours it is charming when you have it all to yourself. Service was good, the waiter kept filling my friend's coffee frequently which is always a good thing.
I highly recommend Saving Grace and I can't wait to visit it again to try out more from their menu but maybe try out another location if you want your coffee fix post meal.Listed in: 30-Day Yelp Challenge
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Review from Louis T.
12/5/2011
The Sunday Brunch at Saving Grace is worth the walk and the wait. (Which is not as bad as some are making it out to be.)
I had the savory French toast, and can recommend it highly, but I get the feeling that the menu is solid up and down. -
Review from Emily M.
12/13/2011
Come early or late OR you will be waiting for a seat. Extremely limited seating here. Be prepared to wait outside as there is no room inside to wait. Which by the way can be awkward as some people like to eerily stare in at you the entire time you are trying to eat. Other people (the normal ones) will just talk amongst themselves outside. Why are people so weird??
On to the food. Ya its good, but it's just brunch!! Definitely a step up from your greasy diner mind you, but I won't be making a special trip here or anything. If I'm in the hood this is a good option. If I'm not in the hood, there are excellent options elsewhere.
Also the uber hipster vibe totally throws me off. -
Review from Michelle D.
Toronto, ON
10/25/2011
Best brunch in Toronto!! Saving Grace requires a weekly visit...Open only till only 3pm, and usually a line-up out the door on weekends. They have a delicious regular menu and an amazing endless list of creative daily specials. The staff are really friendly and efficient, and the coffee and fresh juices are to die for!!
The Japanese Pancake is on the menu only once every three months, and it's my favorite so far.
The corn pancakes with berries (pancakes with actual pieces of corn in the batter) were today's favorite.
Off the regular menu, the french toast with gruyere is delicious as is the Angela sandwich!!
The One Love smoothie (blueberry and guava) non-dairy is a must.
Everything I've tried at Saving Grace meets my expectations - Sweet and Savory. -
Review from Lexi B.
7/24/2011
As an SF native, I was skeptical of the so-called "hipster district" of Toronto. I put on my non-ironic retro glasses, grabbed a book, and headed out to discover this little restaurant. The barren wasteland that this restaurant is situated in is odd--but I scoped it out and noticed the charmingly named coffee shop next door, Ezra's Pound. Grabbed a DELICIOUS iced coffee, and waited for my tragic table for one (FML business travel).
The specials list was ridiculous. I couldn't decide. Between pancakes, flautas, waffles, sammies & these amazing smoothies and coffee drinks (I think one was an avocado & espresso drink), I landed on the flautas.
I sat in the little ally next to the restaurant outside, which was just lovely. Sunny and happy, I sipped on my monstrous iced coffee (yup, second in the hour) and read my book. Mismatched serving containers, funky furniture, potted herbs, and a teeny tiny table.
And my food was delicious. Authentic Mexican, no way. But it was their own take on flautas. It was sweet corn and melty cheese, with a homemade sweet salsa smothered on top.
The only buzzkill was that they don't take credit cards, only 'debit' cards form Canada. I'm finding this is a trend everywhere in Canada, so best have your cash with you. Corporate card doesn't fare well here, really any Visa card doesn't.
Thanks yelpers for the suggestions and descriptions!Listed in: Party of One, Toronto
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Review from jocelyn l.
6/3/2011
Wow.
I had the BEST.Pancakes.I've.Ever.Tasted.
Ever.
These pancakes were like nothing I've ever come across.
They weren't even very much like pancakes at all...i can't really describe the texture, but they were amazing.
The Pear Pancakes were the special for the day (on the board).
It was somewhat fluffy but also dense on the inside and crisped on the outside. The pear was poached and caramelized and a huge slice of it was inserted right in the middle of each pancake. It tasted almost like a pancakey-pastry? That's the closest description i can offer.
There were 3 pancakes and i couldn't even finish them (shocking since i'm pretty much a trash can); had to pack one to go.
I also got the vietnamese iced coffee and breakfast sausages and they were good...but the pancakes were the highlight.
Service was good; my food came out really quickly, but the servers seemed really busy...service wasn't the fastest in terms of taking orders and getting the check, but my server was friendly
I can imagine that the wait would be ridic and ppl would be annoyed on the weekends...but i had the day off on Friday and only waited 5 mins during lunchtime.
*perfect*. Highly recommendListed in: Faves in TO, Best Brunches. Ever
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Review from Matthew B.
Toronto, ON
First off, if you are rating down a restarant for having a long wait, you are silly and ridiculous.
Why do you think there's a line-up of people waiting for a chance to spend their money at any given establishment? Because they are all schizophrenic masochists with too much spare time and a penchant for starving? No. My guess is that it's because said establishment is in high demand by a community of people who know what there waiting for is worth the wait. If the internet has taught us anything people, it's that 'the crowd' knows a thing or two (just look at wikipedia!). Granted there's always exceptions, but Saving Grace (IMHO) isn't one of them, and if you think it is then that's terrific, Cora's is opening up new locations all over the city- check em out!
Let me ask you this: Would you rather dine in a restaurant that has one dude sitting in the corner wearing a toque and smelling like cat pee? Or a place with a crowd of people all waiting and salivating outside of it while inside there are bodies crammed into every free inch of space, feasting, laughing and generally having an A-oK good time? It's your call. Here's a little internet life hack out there for those who are considering trying Saving Grace for the first time:
1) If you're going during peak hours on the weekend (10-3), when you get there pop your head in, turn to the left, and write your name on the list.
2) if your alone, either bring a book and head to the park for 20-30 mins (figure a 10 min wait for every 2 parties-of-2 ahead of you), OR go next door to the vinitage clothing store and browse, OR grab a delicious drip coffee from Ezra's Pound a few doors over OR don't write your name down, and go somewhere else, cause there's a 95% there will be a 20+ min wait.
3) RELAX, this isn't Denny's. There are like 15 tables in total, and probably two people in the kitchen cooking all the (delicious as hell) food, sooo either be patient or do like the Yardbirds say and, Walk On.
I'm not going to say too much about the food specifically, because every time I go I'm pleasantly surprised & impressed. Saving Grace is one of my top 5 brunch places in the city, if not #1. I've ordered off the set menu probably once or twice, but it's the daily specials that make this place shine. Every week there is a unique assortment of specials which are unanimously delicious. I guess if I have one recommendation it would be the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, for which I'm a sucker. And the side turkey sausage or Italian sausage, for the meat eaters out there. aaaaaamazing.
That's it for me, good luck in your search for the ultimate brunch experience. And please, tip your wait staff, they work their butts off and deserve it. (and no, am in no way affiliated with SG)
Cheers. -
Review from Patty H.
North York, ON
12/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
We came here on a Sunday afternoon, we were going to The Hoof first but then they told us it will be 1 hour and half wait. I checked with yelp, and Saving Grace is 2nd one down the list for Brunch in this neighbourhood.
I wasn't impressed with the space because it is small. We are a party of 4, and The Hoof was even worst for any group of people for 2 or more.
This whole area is filled with small and unique brunch places and I should have read the review more carefully when I get here.
And, yes, first of all, if you get here during weekend, put your name down on the Waiting list paper on the door, so you get your 'next-in-the-line' spot.
there is absolutely no waiting area, you go in, and the tables are right in front of you and right next to you. During winter time to go there during weekend and during peak hour (11 to 2) is a bad idea. Unless you don't mind waiting outside freezing.
We ordered poach eggs, omelette, baked eggs..etc. Each dish are around $11.50. They are good dish but I think they can really do better.
The food also took a while to get to the table , literally we are almost fainted due to low blood sugar waiting so long to get a table (over 30min).
Overall, I would give the food 'A-OK', it's unique but it's not like I would come back here again or too often due to the waiting time and small spaces. -
Review from Isabella L.
Toronto, ON
10/22/2010 4 photos
Man, I read reviews about this place and the menu sounded intriguing so I decided to try it out. And holy mother of .. the wait ... man OH man.
TO ALL THE FIRST-TIMERS: Go inside and write your name on the WAITING list. (I didn't know, which costed me 15 minutes)
On top of that, I had to wait in total 35 minutes. That's crazy, man. What's more crazy is that when I got the table after waiting that long, my cousin was stuck in trafic so I gave my table away which resulted in another 25 min wait. And that lucky bastard.... shortly after he arrived, he only had to wait 5 mins while I waited 1 hour + Let me just... alsdjf;lakjsdflkajsdfads9u3204!!!!
So yeah, on to the food.These guys definately have an impressive assortment of brunch items to choose from.
I ordered: ($11.50) "Poached eggs on parmesan french toast bacon tomato jam arugala"
Not only is the name a mouthful, but so was the dish. They ran out of tomato jam, so it was substituted with tomato chutney which was fuckin' amazing. It was sweet and with a bit of the toast and runny yolk.. The PERFECT BITE. The flavours meshed really well. Delicious! Oh yeah, forgot to mention. The bacon tasted horrible... It was really overcooked and some bites tasted like rubber! Bleh. All but the bacon was good.
Friend's order: ($11.50) Rajasthani Eggs
This was a dish FULL of different flavours. From the chickpea masala which came in a curry sauce accompanied with a roti skin to the light fluffy eggs fried with spicy red onions and tomato. I particularly favoured the chickpeas. I think one of the chef's was indian so it came out really well.
Overall, the food was good. BUT, if you're gonna come here, do NOT, I repeat do NOT come by yourself. Always bring a friend so you won't be bored as hell when you wait to get in and wait to get your food 'cause the service was pretty slow. -
Review from Thu N.
12/29/2010
I've heard about this place from two friends both raved about how good it is but how bad the lineup is! So we went over the holidays on a weekday to skip the lineup, but I guess everyone else had the same plan!! We signed up on a board and probably waited 20 min to get our table.
I absolutely love how small and cozy the place is and the big black chalkboard where the specials are written. I chose their waffle of the day (came with butter shaped as a heart), a side of their lamb sausage and tried an espressado - essentially a vietnamese coffee with avocado instead of condensed milk, not sure I'm a fan but it is comforting that my fat was "good" instead of sugar/milk in a can.
The service was awesome and even though they were busy, we got all our food quickly - I had a taste of the brie/pear baguette and the benedict of the day both were also delicious.
I'd go back to Saving Grace if there wasn't such a big line up! It's definitely a cute little place that cares about fresh stuff and giving every dish a little bit of an Indian or Middle East or Viet twist. -
Review from Jessica W.
Toronto, ON
6/11/2011
We waited over an hour for our food. We paid ~$25/head for our meal. The food was fresh and fine, but not worth the price in terms of both money and time (mostly time). I probably won't go back.
Oh, and the coffee was watery. But the juice was fresh-squeezed. -
Review from Angela H.
6/1/2009
Saving Grace is a hipster brunch spot with wonky operating hours. They are super small, and because of that, there's usually a massive wait before being seated. Typical routine: Walk in, write your name on a list and wait...and wait...and wait...but once you're in, it's worth it!
They have a pretty decent set menu, as well as the daily specials on a chalkboard - which apparently favorites like Poached Eggs have a brand new recipe every day. I ordered the White Cheddar and Avocado Sandwich. I was so starving that I didn't even really read the description of the meal. I got it, took a bite, and realized that they use raisin bread for the sandwich. So interesting, and a great idea. A sweet and savory sandwich! It was pretty great.
The tiny room is setup is almost like a cascade. There's bar seating which overlook the main level tables, which is a little awkward. We kept saying that we felt like we were on American Idol for food, and eating before the panel of judges.
I think Saving Grace is good. Just don't go when you're absolutely starving, because you'll probably die while waiting for a table. -
Review from Shannon F.
Toronto, ON
1/9/2011
Meh. I'd heard tons of great things about this place and decided to check it out this weekend with a coupleo f friends. I don't know what all of the hype is about... what made the place great was the company.
The food was alright... could have made it myself at home. One of my friends said that her food was great, just to contrast. And the service was shit. We had to ask ou server to clear off our table, after waiting about 20 minutes. I'll give her that maybe she was having an off day and that's fine that she didn't notice the plates from the last people. We also had to move three times. Here's a tip... if you want a good table, make your party one of 4 people. They'll move you to a table of 2 if you've only got 3 in your party.
Coffee. Watery. And it was a latte! My friend said that her coffee was good though.
Here's the kicker... the menu yelled at us! On the menu, at the bottom of one side, it tells us to "Please be kind to your server." On the other side, it notes that if you come into the restauant with drinks from anothe place, they'll charge you $.50! I think that the exact words were "Leave outside drinks OUTSIDE." -
Review from Marie F.
5/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
I don't know who Grace is but I hope she isn't relying on this place to save her! My friend suggested a few places to meet for lunch and for some reason this place stuck out, I wonder why? Oh I know. It has some of the most hot and cold reviews on Yelp ranging from an impressive 5 stars to a disGRACEful 1 star.
I quickly read through and based myself for some shit service but worthwhile food. Although they managed to deliver on the crap service (we waiting for 15 minutes before we got our menu) they failed to wow me with their food.
Truth be told nothing on the menu impressed me, from the get go that is a problem. Usually there are multiple items that jump out at me begging for me to try them but here I felt almost cornered into getting the Tuna Melt (If you are a vegetarian, as my friend is though, I am told the selection is rather impressive).
My melt tasted like it was missing something and the spices used were odd and distracting... I didn't even feel like I was eating Tuna. The side salad was boring, it was a chore to eat it. My steamed Hazelnut Milk was the most amazing part of my meal!
We were finished our meal and I noticed that all the waitresses were sitting above us on along the upstairs railing eating and starring at us (is this our cue to get out?) Someone walked in and they al told him they were closed. Wait what you're closed? It's 3pm on a Tuesday!
Maybe hype is the culprit here, because based on the reviews I had high expectations for this place. In any case, Grace definitely needs some saving (I am leaning more toward exorcism than a bandaid!)Listed in: Veggie Friendly places (don't…, Breakfast and Brunch
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Review from Elle G.
9/6/2010
We had Sunday Brunch for the first time at this west end spot. We were lured by pictures and reviews about the Banana French Toast and were not disappointed!!
It IS as good as the pictures depict. We also had a waffle of the day, which was Caramelized Pear and Pecan with Ginger butter. Both were wonderful and were shared, so we could savor the differences.
We looked around and saw other wonderful meals which we will have to try next time (frittata, baked eggs).
Just a few notes:
- I would recommend getting there a bit before they open to ensure you get a table. It is a small place and fills up quickly.
- btw - to those of you who wait in line to get in, it is polite to let those who have waited longer to get a table first. It is not nice to cut in.
- the waiting staff were very nice and refilled our coffee a number of times (which was very good). They give each table a bottle of water (great idea!).
- entrees range from $8-12 but they are good sized and you will go away well satisfied
- make sure you note the address and the signage is not obvious (painted on the window only) - but if you are driving it is easily missed.
- payment is cash or debit card only
We'll be back again to try something else. It was a great brunch! -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
12/23/2008 1 photo
I should've been angry with Saving Grace. Usually when I have to wait A FREAKING HOUR for food, especially when I'm stomach-growlingly hungry and must rush to work after, it taints the entire experience. I'd normally leave in a huff, face beet-red, cursing the mother that brought this so-called Grace into the foodie world.
However, something happened, and for this round, Saving Grace won in a TKO. Ding, ding, ding.
I ordered the Eggs Rajasthani, scrambled eggs with a spicy chick pea side, potatoes, and a warm chapati. I hate saying "It was worth the wait", but it certainly made me forget about that dismal hour pretty quickly. For a place that's not Indian, it does a freaking good job at making something with multiple layers of taste. Loved it.
My friend and I were so enthralled with our meals that we had to have dessert, a chewy chocolate toffee cookie. As simple as it sounds, that circle of baked dough pretty much did me in... to almost spiritual levels. Both of us just sat there in silence, wide-eyed, never wanting the treat to end. It was seriously the most perfect cookie I've ever eaten in my entire life.
So despite the horrors of waiting around for a Sunday morning breakfast, I was won over and saw the light, thanks to an Indian breakfast dish and a freaking cookie.
I'm so easy.Listed in: Morning eats
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Review from Noel D.
12/21/2009
This place seems to be impossible to get a seat at, and I'm not really sure why people go crazy for this place. I admit it's nice and quaint, but it's not amazing by any means and certainly not worth waiting more than 10 minutes for. There are certainly better (and bigger) options.
Having said that, the brunch I've had here was good. It was the summertime and everyone seemed to be happy and cheerful with the sun shining in the window on my corncakes and coffee. If someone asks me to go to Saving Grace with them then I will be there. I don't mind waiting a little bit if I am hanging out with a friend on a nice day... -
Review from Alejandro A.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2008
Everyone seems to love this place. It's often touted as a hipster hang out, and when I'm not hearing about how cool it is, I'm hearing about how good the food is. But no one thought to tell me some vital information about this little breakfast nook.
NO FRIED EGGS.
If you want to go out for a classic sunny side up, or some over easy, do not come here. They just don't do it. Once in a while you can have runny eggs if poached is a special of the day, but that's not often.
Learning this (the hard way) was a big bummer for me because the first time I went, I was really in the mood for a good ol' bacon and sunny side up eggs.
So, after being egg-blocked on this one, I got over myself and decided to order the French toast. I must say that I was impressed. They make their French toast out of a French baguette, and they'll even carmalized some brown sugar for that added flavour. Yummy food, indeed.
But no fried eggs. -
Review from Shelly M.
10/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
Nice inside cosy modern, prices are great.
The menu is diverse for brunch and lunch. Contemporary with a twist, not reaching too far, just enough to my my tummy rumble. -
Review from Carmen M.
Updated - 11/24/2009 1 photo
I hate waiting! I'd been to Saving Grace once before and had no wait. I got there at 10:30am on a recent Sunday (they open at 10am) and wasn't seated until 11:05am -- and I was a party of one!! I came very close to leaving, but after 20 minutes, you figure you've gotta be close. They just are not worried about rushing in any way. I didn't leave Saving Grace until 12:05pm, meaning it took an hour for them to serve me eggs.
The food is outstanding and which I give 5 stars -- but if you're planning to go on a weekend, prepare yourself for a long wait.Listed in: The Sport of Brunch
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/5/2009
Apparently I've had my head in the sand for two years -- how I've missed out on Saving Grace all… Read more »
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Review from Ricky Z.
Toronto, ON
8/3/2010
Years ago I had a rigid brunch tradition--Sunday mornings were almost always spent at the venerable Verveine in Leslieville. My friends would all congregate at one of their large tables and drink copious amounts of coffee and indulge in more scones than any regular-sized person should ever encounter. We came to really cherish this restaurant and our time there. Then--in a dramatic twist--Verveine closed its doors and we were left to wander the wilderness of brunchland in Toronto. (Don't get me wrong, we ate at a plethora of other brunch spots during those V-years, just not as frequently.)
The only other brunch spot that has become a tradition in my life is Saving Grace. But this recognition hasn't come without some blood sweat and tears. When I started frequenting SG, one thing was clear: amazing food/terrible service. It's not like I expect good service anywhere in Toronto, especially at brunch, but SG's service had an almost mockingly bad air about it. But the food was SO GOOD I found myself doing anything it would take to be liked by the snarly servers. I'd giggle if they glared at me, excitedly overtalk and over-engage if they happened to say one word to me, and then over tip, hoping it would melt their over-poached hearts. It worked to some degree.
Years have passed since those early days. Their food is still indescribably good, but their service has improved tenfold. I absolutely LOVE their regular team now. I still giggle lots and over-tip/over-engage, but now I do it for different reasons. Something about good food makes me slightly crazy.
Tips: try to get there right when it opens (which I think is 10 AM on the weekend), otherwise the lineups get a bit irritating
-the clientele can be among the most irritating on earth (ei. when I was there this weekend, one unruly cavewoman-like child terrorized the patrons as her parents beamed with pride--so swallow your own pride and just try to enjoy the food
-I humbly recommend the french toast and/or the Brazilian Eggs (when it's on the menu)--these are my favorites; however you can't go wrong with ANYthing -
Review from ritchie c.
Toronto, ON
4/28/2010
Long wait for a very disappointing brunch. Sure it's all hipstery with hand me down furniture, crazy hairdo'd waiters and they write on chalkboards like all the other cool kids but, this was was a joke.
Had the frittata and it was 70% uncooked broccoli. Decent coffee.
Don't remember what my gf got, but it doesn't matter. She didn't bother finishing and we went somewhere else instead.
There's so many better places just down the street. -
Review from X P.
8/22/2009
It reminds me of one of the smaller brunch places in the Los Feliz/Silverlake/Melrose area in LA. It's actually part of Little Portugal and the place appeared a bit run-down from the outside. It was remarkably popular, especially among young people.
They really took the time to make sure the food tasted good and was nicely presented. My friend ordered a quesadilla with a spicy apple sauce. It was huge and tasty. I loved my waffles with freshly cut peaches and a blueberry butter on the side. There were simply too many things to choose from! -
Review from Amy P.
Toronto, ON
6/13/2011
One of my favourite brunch spots in Toronto. Star off because it is usually SO BUSY. If I come here on a weekend, I always plan to arrive right when it opens at 10am, otherwise you will be waiting. Weekdays are a good bet, I've never had to wait. I love their lattes and they always have a mouthwatering list of daily specials.
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Review from Mandy M.
6/8/2010
Five stars for the food. It's awesome. I can't dock them stars for being so popular that you have to wait to get in. I believe it was Cliff Claven who said of a bar that wasn't Cheers, "no one goes there any more. It's too crowded."
I've always had good service, and I've been about ten times. Maybe I've just been in less of a rush than other reviewers. Who's in a rush at brunch, anyway?
Tip: unless the weather sucks, get a latte and a scone from Ella's Uncle across the street while you wait for a table. Makes the wait a pleasure. -
Review from Corinna K.
1/20/2009
Saving Grace is a tiny cafe with a long wait for a creative and filling brunch.
I went to Toronto for a weekend to visit friends and found this small brunch spot. Reminds me of Lula Cafe in Chicago. The lattes have so much foam on top that it looks like an ice cream sundae.
I'm vegan, so there wasn't much of a selection for me, but the Lebanese "pizza" was delicious and had a creative use of pomegranate seeds.
Most of the dishes were "eggy" and cheesy, but were complemented by plenty of fresh veggies. -
Review from Greg S.
1/30/2011
Terrific food in a casual, stripped down and unpretentious environment. The wait might be a bit long but it's worth every second. Don't expect overly friendly servers. They do their core function very well, so if you're the kind of person who needs food servers to fall all over you an attend to you like you're really something, then go elsewhere.
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Review from Donna C.
1/2/2011
The food here, is without a doubt, delicious. Wafting through the doors is a comforting aroma of indian-infused breakfast foods.
All the reviews that give this place anything lower than 3 stars is clearly due to the wait, the service, or the space. The wait is tough to bear, the service could be better, and certainly, the space could be bigger given its popularity. However, the space is small probably because that's all the kitchen can handle. The wait, well, that's just a factor of the small space/kitchen. The service is a bit odd... I can't blame the lack of attention on the waitresses themselves, simply because they appeared to be short handed. I saw one waitress handle the floor by herself the entire time I was there. There were maybe 3 runners, only one of which helped out with the duties of the floor (calling out names from the wait list, taking orders some of the time). They clearly need at least one more floor server.
The food... oh it's delicious and I'd say it's worth about the 35 minute wait that we had. The poached eggs with bruschetta and melted provolone was just the best and the rajasthan eggs were unique and savoury and satisfying. Coffee was decent too... only wish was for a more attentive refilling service.
Despite the wait, I am a fan of the cooking. I suppose I'm glad I ended up here as a result of the Hoof Cafe being closed for the holidays. -
Review from Daniel A.
Toronto, ON
12/4/2010
My girlfriend took me to this restaurant a few months ago, and we had one of the best brunches I have ever had. I ordered roast chicken with cornmeal waffles and a berry compote, which was delicious and filling. She had the vegan pancakes, which looked tasty too. It was nice to see that this place catered to vegans as it can be difficult for us to find good brunch spots in the city.
I took a few of my friends here after my first experience, and we similarly had delicious dishes. I ordered savoury french toast with bacon and tomato jam and a side of sausage. I also ordered one of their drink specialties called an Espressado - a soy-milk avocado smoothie with espresso. Both the meal and drink were incredible.
The restaurant changes its menu regularly and both times I went there wasn't a single thing on the menu I didn't want to try. This includes a daily selection of different sausages.
The one downside to this restaurant preventing me from giving it a 5-star review is that it is very small and therefore the waits are very long. Both times I went I had to wait for over an hour to sit - they don't take reservations. I would also recommend going with a small group (2-3 people) as there are few tables that accomodate more than this. When I went with my friends there were 5 of us and there was only 1 table that would fit all of us. My friends complained the whole time we waited until they tried the food. -
Review from Sam G.
Toronto, ON
2/27/2010
This is a review of the opening hours at Saving Grace, which I assume to be 10 am. It is now 10:14 am on Saturday morning and I can observe in my seat at Ella's Uncle that 10 people are standing outside in the wet snow. 2 of them under an umbrella. Oh! they were just allowed in.
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Review from Andrea L.
York, ON
1/10/2010
Unlike most of the previous reviewers, I've never had to wait to get a table here. It may be the type A bent of my personality and those I eat brunch with, but we always seem to be there when it opens or shortly thereafter! On the other hand, we might just be lucky. The food is always delicious and gives me ideas for things to try out at home. I will agree though that a little dash of salt would add a little more depth to the food from time to time.
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Review from Lauren T.
Toronto, ON
2/26/2010
Eating at Toronto's Saving Grace is an inspiration to any foodie. It's like the restaurant I would want to own, serving up the kind of comforting and tasty food combo's I wish I thought of!
It was my first time there at the beginning of Feb 2010... and I know I'm a little late discovering the weekend brunch at this west-end, beyond hipster hot spot. But give me a break! I've been living in Vancouver for the last 5 years so I'm still getting re-acquainted with Toronto's food gems. Sitting cozy in Saving Grace's dining room squished together with 20 others, I contemplated for nearly 20 minutes about what to eat. There's a regular permanent menu which looked delicious, but you're also tempted by a chalk board crammed with daily specials ... everything from savory to sweet. Most people complain about waiting for a table at this restaurant, but I got lucky and was seated for 3 right away. I think if you get there at 10 am when they open, or by 10:30 when I did on a Saturday you should be fine. Well I opted for the Scrambled Egg feature. Pomegranate Guac is exactly the kind of thing I wish I had done. Of course, now I'm going to make it and claim it as my own.... Shh don't tell... since it was delicious and refreshing. My mouth was dancing with flavors from the eggs melted with Monterey Jack, the black beans mashed with onion and cilantro, and the lightly herbed and salted potatoes... and all this was only complemented by an incredible Americano. I wish I could have stuffed the scrumptious muffins in my tummy too. Baked fresh was a lavender pistachio and pear hazelnut variety. Ultimately, I made a wise menu choice, but I can't get this food out of my head. A menu staple that makes me drool is the old cheddar, avocado sandwich on whole-wheat raisin bread with rosemary mayo. Yum! While I am going to experiment with creating some of these dishes myself, I'm sure I'll be lined up at Saving Grace again in no time! -
Review from Isabel R.
Toronto, ON
1/11/2010
Went to the place for the first time, and it was great. Other people complain about the wait time, but I went during the week and it was pretty empty. I had eggs Benedict that were awesome, and my friends had banana French toast that was equally as good. Decor was cute, without being overly hipster cutesy. I definitely would go again if I'm in the area, but wouldn't make a special trip. Great for a local brunch spot though!
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Review from Candice F.
9/24/2008
This place is a great neighbourhood place for breakfast
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Review from Andrew S.
Toronto, ON
8/24/2009
I love the aesthetic, the unique menu, the design, the space, the staff, i even love waiting outside and browsing apt909 next door, but at the end of the day everything I've ordered from Saving Grace has needed a pillar of salt to be palatable. I want to love it, but I can't; the food is a little too bland.
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Review from Hoai N.
11/30/2010
It gets extremely crowded on the weekends, so it's best to go on a weekday (Thu, Fri, or Mon) if you can. Every time we've come on a weekend it's been long lines out the door - which is okay, because Black Hoof cafe (our favorite brunch place) is next door - but even when we tried to go in to Saving Grace, they pretty much ignored us and we ended up leaving. However, when we came on a weekday they were really nice, and the food was among the more interesting and creative that we've had for brunch in the city, including things like a breakfast sandwich with plantain, and an avocado coffee shake (which I wouldn't order again, but it is definitely creative and I give them props for that...).
