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The Hoof Cafe - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
923 Dundas St WToronto, ON M6J 1W2
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Trinity Bellwoods
(416) 792-7511
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
75 reviews for The Hoof Cafe
Review Highlights
"I had the beef tongue grilled cheese."
(in 24 reviews)
"Brioche French Toast with Foie Gras."
(in 10 reviews)
"I had suckling pig Benny and ploughmans platter."
(in 30 reviews)
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75 reviews in English
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Review from Jeremy R.
7/13/2011
I am writing this review late, but I ate there in 2010.
This was one of the best brunch places I have ever been too.
The dishes that I had that really stood out were the donuts with lardo (cured pork fat) and the braised pork belly with maple syrup. Bbasically it was cut and cooked like really thick bacon then braised to softness with a nice sweetness.
These two dishes will standout for me for a long time to come. -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
1/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Here are your instructions, if you choose to accept them:
1. Go to the Hoof Cafe.
2. Order one of everything.
3. if you can't order one of everything, at least order these things:
-- a. the bone marrow beignets
-- b. bone marrow
-- c. pork belly pastrami
4. Enjoy them heartily, because you can now die happy.
Everything I tasted was amazing. In addition to the deliciousness above, I had the brioche french toast, and for something not topped with meat it was still amazing.
I have to really give special mention to the bone marrow. I've had it at other places where it's had a kind of mealy texture, but at the Hoof it was jelly-like, fatty, unctuous, rich, orgasmic.
My husband asked: "What did that taste like?"
I said: "LIKE GOD'S SALIVA."
I'm not kidding. The most delicious thing on the planet. ON TOAST.
One tip: It's a tiny place, so you don't really want to go with a group larger than 4. Also, go early; twenty minutes before the place opened on a Saturday morning, there was already a line-up. Did I mention it was kinda snowing? There's practically nothing I will stand outside in the cold for, but I would totally do this again for the food at the Hoof Cafe.Listed in: Toronto Favorites
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Review from Martin W.
1/29/2011
This is one of my favourite brunch joints in the city. It is a small place with excellent food, so you can imagine how busy it can get on weekends. The place opens at 10 AM but people are willing to wait outside early in the freezing cold just to get some of their deliciousness.
It seems they change up their menu, which is only visible on one chalk board in the place, from time to time. Nonetheless, I have never had anything there that I didn't love. Brunch is done similarly in this city, but The Hoof is refreshing in its uniqueness. If you like trying weird stuff like bone marrow and tongue this is your place. -
Review from Taylor O.
1/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Much of what is right in the world is on the chalkboard and on your plate at Hoof Cafe.
Fresh sausage, kraut mixed with meat and topped by benedict crushing beautiful egg orbs accompanied by delightfully perfectly crisp pork belly pastrami.
I'd recommend selling your domicile and moving in upstairs.Listed in: Carnivorous Canada
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Updated - 2/15/2011 8 photos
Dropped by The Hoof Cafe for a drink and a quick snack on Sunday evening.
The place was packed but just a short wait and we got to sit at one of the tables.
Personally I prefer sitting at the bar a lot more because I find the bartender a lot more attentive, charming and fun. then the lone waitress that has to take care of all the tables...
Duggan's Brewery #9 IPA 6.2% A.B.V. ($5)
- nice strong ale malt with a hint of citrus and caramel..
- Bitter and sweet at the same time
Suckling Pork Belly ($12)
- love the crispy salad on the side..Those are really addictive... I have to say they tasted like chips?! a little crunchy, a little crispy but definitely was vegetables
- The Pork Belly is as tender and melt in the mouth as expected.. and went well with the reduction sauce on the side....
Bone Marrow ($8)
- Fatty and Oily... and grossing my friend out.. :P
- So ended up I ate the whole order...which is not much! :P
I think Hoof Cafe is better to come for Brunch or a drink .. and if you really want to have good food and services during dinner, it is much better off to just go the Black Hoof instead.
The cafe itself did get super noisy... and I thought Chinese dim sum restaurant is noisy :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/5/2010
3.5 stars based on my dessert and cocktail experience.
I really like the feel and the set up of The… Read more »
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Review from Melanie C.
Oakville, ON
12/13/2010
What's better than buttermilk fried chicken for breakfast? Nothing. Except maybe sticking a fresh belgian waffle under it. Mmmmmm....
I've heard lots about The Hoof Cafe and took advantage of a day off from work to beat any line-ups. At 10a.m. on a Friday morning there was only one other diner in the restaurant.
Our waitress told me about the special - 3 pieces of buttermilk fried chicken on a waffle served with some saucy onions. I was sold. I briefly looked at the chalkboard menu behind me, but stuck with my first choice.
I'm extremely glad I did. I didn't think I had it in me to eat fried chicken for breakfast, and certainly not 3 pieces of it! It was perfectly crispy on the outside (delicious batter) and hot and moist on the inside. Surprisingly, it wasn't too greasy either.
The last buttermilk fried chicken I had was at The Stockyards, which I thought was pretty good. The Hoof's chicken was far better.
The food seemed to take a while considering they weren't busy at the time. But maybe I was just starving so it seemed like an eternity. It took forever to get the bill, which always frustrates me. When I want out, I want out.
Despite the slow service, I'm giving them 5 stars because I can still taste the deliciousness of the fried chicken now... Mmmmm... Oh, the waffle and saucy mixture were delcious too. (Unimportant details compared to the BEST fried chicken I've ever had.) -
Review from Kent P.
Updated - 1/15/2011
Housemade sauerkraut +spaetzle, sausage, and two fried eggs with custom HP like sauce on side?
Brunch heaven. Better than you know what.
WAY BETTER.Listed in: Brunch., You get what you pay for
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/1/2010
Went for a late Monday lunch, no line up.
Split an order of Suckling Benny, Baked Beans and Links,… Read more »
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Review from PoliPace K.
Toronto, ON
1/31/2011
Not exactly sure what the hype is all about.
My friends and I went on Sunday for a brunch..of course had to wait for about 40 min so we went to the cafe nearby. We finally got seats..bar seats right by the door.
The bone marrow beignets were different, tasty yes, very small, nothing to die for and I don't care to have them again.
I had the suckling pig benny. It was good but very plain..not much taste to it. I've had better egg benedict at this other restaurant called Toast Restaurant on Queen East for cheaper! The portion was very small too for a $14 dish! I was still hungry after.
Service was good, the waitress was attentive and the grapefruit juice was 100%.
Would I go back? Naw, it's too far, too expensive for what I get which is neither the taste nor portion. -
Review from Joanne W.
2/7/2011 3 photos
Due to the news that Hoof Cafe was closing down to become Black Hoof and Co., I just HAD to go before the 28th of February. Possibly due to the news, everybody else decided to go this weekend. It was about a 30 minute wait, so my friend and I decided to trot around Dundas West until we got called in.
We sat at the counter - which wasn't too bad. I decided to go big or go home - I got myself the brioche french toast with the foie gras. My friend got himself the suckling pig benny. We also ordered ourselves the bone marrow beignets.
The brioche french toast was amazing - however, a tad sweet for my liking with the syrup. The orange marmalade on the side worked great if you needed something not too sweet. The foie gras was absolutely amazing and definitely went well with the sweet french toast. I think if I had the french toast by itself, it would've been too sweet.
My friend ordered the eggs benny - I don't think I've ever tasted an eggs benedict THAT good before. I thoroughly enjoyed it as well.
HIGHLIGHT of Hoof Cafe: the bone marrow beignets I don't know what it was, but it was just deliciousness with raspberry jam in small portions.
It was to die for.
People: You MUST go before they change it into Black Hoof and Co. for brunch. I don't think I've ever had anything so good in my life. -
Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
11/4/2010
Finally, I feel like I'm part of the pack. I have made it to the 'Jr. Meat Haus' aka The Hoof Cafe.
My friends and I arrived at 11am and were prepared to wait in line. Not surprisingly, the restaurant was full. But the meat deities must have been on our side because at the bar were three empty seats, obviously waiting for our hinds to park on.
Everything on the menu sounded appealing. Deciding on what to eat was difficult because you want to try everything, all at once.
We did start our meal with the Bone Marrow beignets. I was looking forward to these. The beignets are small and sugar-coated, with a fruit jelly inside. They were hot from the oven and were gobbled them up instantly.
The three of us had the same idea and ordered the Suckling Pig Benny. It's one of the café's most popular dish and frankly, one of the best bennies I've eaten. Along with our plates, we each ordered a side dish.
My friend and I had the Hay Ham ($4), while my other friend had the Pork Belly Pastrami ($4). The latter got the nod of approval from our server. The two strips of pork belly are fried and drizzled with maple syrup. The dish instantly earned the title of 'best piece of fat I have ever put in my mouth'.
If you haven't gone to the Hoof Café, I'd suggest that you do so. Don't let the line-up discourage you: plan ahead, get there early, be prepared to enjoy a great food experience that you will talk about for months to come. It fully deserves the 5 stars rating.Listed in: Top 5 Best Meals
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Review from Tong J.
Snap judgement: Loved it. We went there after having dinner at the Black Hoof across the street since they only had carrot cake for dessert.
Seriously, look for Peach Fritters on the menu board. It's lip smacking good! I'm talking about perfectly fried fritters with creme fresh, sorbet, and peach jam. FYI, the best part of the dish lies on the bottom of the bowl. Make sure you scoop that baby up and smother it all over your fritters.
One last thing, don't share it with anyone!Listed in: Top Notch TO
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Review from Yvonne T.
This is Black Hoof - the finale. As the curtain draws, I know that even if I scream encore the cast has gone into hiding and will reappear playing different roles in BHCo come spring.
Think autograph is to signature dishes at the Hoof. With the exception of a few dishes such as the Ploughman's and the Granola.... I have been lucky enough to have gotten "autographed" by he plethora of stars reigning from the Tongue Grilled Cheese to the unforgettable Pork Belly Pastrami (cue Nat King Cole).
We arrived at 9:30 in anticipation of longer than normal waits...but surprisingly nabbed a spot at the bar in the first sitting. Yay!
We ordered the Bone Marrow, Pork Belly Pastrami, Spot Prawns and Grits, Hay Ham, Hoof Crepes, Tongue Grilled Cheese and Suckling Pork Benny.
The bone marrow fell short of what I expected from reading others' rave reviews. While it was an experience, I found it to be lacking in flavor of any kind but it was buttery goodness!
I have never tried grits before but I think I got the best first-hand experience...like never having been in an airplane before and flying first class the first time. It had a texture that was somewhere between a porridge and a potato puree. Very creamy! The eggs were a little overpoached for me as the egg whites were a bit rubbery in texture for my tastebuds. The BC prawns were a little smaller than what I was anticipating (as the barrista told me they were similar to tiger prawns and those are massive buggers). Nonetheless the shrimp had a certain oceanic freshness to them (albeit being a bit heavy in the salt). The sweetness of the pork belly pastrami bits which were accented with maple syrup balanced out the salty flavor of the dish.
So I can now say I have no regrets as I got to experience the Hoof Cafe during it's closing week. Until we meet again...Listed in: Splurge-Worthy, "Brunches" of Fun
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/13/2011
As some of you may be aware, the sad news that the Hoof Café will be serving its last brekkie on… Read more »
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Review from Vivienne D.
Toronto, ON
11/29/2010
All the raving reviews on Yelp fueled my curiosity so when a friend came to visit we eagerly woke up early on a Sunday morning and made the journey to The Hoof Cafe. We arrived about 10-15 minutes before they opened and there were people lining up already! GASP!
I got the eggs benny and my friend had the salmon pita. Both were heavenly! The pulled pork on the eggs benny were OH SO TENDER and the hollandaise on the poached eggs were creamy but not too overpowering. The biscuit which they laid everything on was like a salty sable shortbread with soft centres. The arugula side salad with citrusy dressing was a really nice touch to clean the palette after the creamy and tender goodness of the eggs benny.
We washed everything down with some latte, which was also amazing.
Service was fast, which was a must since the place was packed full five minutes after they opened up for the day. Decor was simple and beautiful, an elegant yet relaxing atmosphere. The staff were quite hip, friendly, and efficient.
This is perhaps one of the few things I would wake up early on Sundays for. -
Review from Viviana M.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 2/21/2011 3 photos
Dining Experience: Brunch
Specialty:Brunch, Charcuterie
Menu items: Suckling Eggs Benny, Tongue Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Brioche French Toast
Ok, not your regular brunch place, I understand. But that it should become your regular brunch place, indeed it should. Or perhaps, not so much...Hoof Cafe is so popular now in the Foodies industry, that to get a table on a weekend requires both patience and good attitude.
I learned about this exquisite brunch place through the Foodies grapevine. Many of the people who know about my passion for food thought I would be pleased with the second version of the Black Hoof, turned brunch spot. They were right.
Hoof Cafe, located in the up and coming Foodies area of Ossington and Dundas; is a place where creativity, flavour, innovation and taste join to bring Torontonians a taste of what a true brunch restaurant should be all about.
Charcuterie style dishes is what they are known for. From the same owner as the Black Hoof (right across the street), Hoof Cafe delights our morning senses with recipes and ingredients that just mix and match in one's palates like no other.
The menu, like the restaurant, is petite and contains a slick and short assortment of dishes that will for sure require further investigation with the waiter. The menu items rarely change, however they do swap from time to time a few of the dishes to introduce brand new ones.
My favourite of them all is the Suckling Eggs Benny. This is Hoof's Cafe version of your good old Eggs Benedict. Their version however, is what makes this dish special. The english muffin they use is rather tasty and not as bland as the ones you will find at a grocery store, I have yet to decipher the difference. In between the poached eggs lays the suckling pig. Each muffin is topped off with a very good amount of delicious, succulent and moist pieces of pig. The hollandaise sauce is buttery, yet not overpowering and quite fresh. You can tell they make their own sauce freshly everyday. For plating, the Suckling Eggs Benny are garnished with a piece of deep fried pig's skin and arugula leafs. Good Morning to me!
My second favourite of their menu is the Tongue Grilled Cheese. Tongue is considered a rather unique piece of "muscle" one eats from the cow. Known by many as something rare, Tongue is actually one of the most common served dishes in many countries across the globe. I like my tongue shredded, rather than served in its wholeness. This is why this grilled cheese sandwich is a hit for me. The sandwich is simple and has very few ingredients; however they all mix in very well making this an extravagant version of a regular grilled cheese sandwich. Pieces of tongue, cheese, dill and a tasty sauce is all this sandwich needs to be a hit.
Now on to my absolute favourite part and what I look forward to at the end of each visit to Hoof Cafe. Dessert. A delicious, exquisite and just perfect Brioche French Toast.
The bread used here was to my knowledge the same used in the grilled cheese. This bread is soaked in egg, honey, orange zest, butter and drizzled with thyme and peanuts. There might be a few more ingredients that I am missing, but by far the aforementioned hit my sweet spot every single time. Whether as an appie or as dessert, you can never go to Hoof and not order the Brioche French Toast. Oh, and if the toast in itself is not enough, Hoof Cafe also serves it with an addition of foie gras. Dare I say more?
Warning: Hoof Cafe does not take reservations or credit cards. Expect to wait between 20-45 mins for a table on weekend brunch peak hours. Worth the wait though.
Buen Provecho,
Viviana.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/4/2010
Loved it!! Worth the wait & the staff is friendly and conscious of the fact that you have been… Read more »
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Review from Lo-an L.
10/5/2010 1 photo
By golly, this place makes me want to turn Canadian - (not that there's anything wrong with it) "eh".
I would climb into their little kitchen and sleep there and eat off the floor if it means I get all my food from this kitchen.
We went for a visit over the weekend and thanks to yelp I discover the place that would throw my whole diet off - if I was ever on one.
I never ever ever EVER order anything sweet for breakfast, mind you. The sweet stuff (ie waffles, pancakes, and french toast) would come AFTER I have my breakfast while I'm sipping on my coffee but this place threw my eating system out of whack. I had their brioche french toast with foie gras and I wanted to get down on my knees and thank the guy (or girl) who thought to force feed the duck or goose to create such a delicacy. My very elegant french toast came with real maple syrup and you can see the fat of the foie gras blending nicely in with the syrup to create a slightly gamey sweet au jus.
The french press coffee was the PERFECT nectar to combine with this dish. A large carafe easily can fill 4 mugs. I also sample the Ploughman's (Charcuterie) plate filled with slab of salami , prosciutto & pate, an arugula salad and a side of bone (filled marrow roasted to perfection). We wanted to order their brioche beignet but 2 things happened - they were out of it which is fine because we ran out of room to store them and I might have to start stuffing my cheeks which would be very unappealing indeed.
The Hoof Cafe is a MUST try if you're looking to brunch in Toronto.Listed in: Offal..Offal..Offal...
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 2/20/2011 5 photos
Last meal ever at Hoof Cafe today before it goes to the deadpool *tear* Everyone walking out of the place was sad !!!!
Still one of the best (and fattiest) brunches I've ever had, but needs to be had at least once.
We went at 11:30 and told it was a two hour wait. After a smart decision, we got our computers and waited at the Common Mule. An hour later we got the well anticipated phone call to walk over!
Looking at the menu, it targets meat (especially pig) lovers, and may not be the best choice for non pork or meat eaters, but! you can still have something here if your company should want to go.
My only real comment is that they REALLY hiked up the price of the Brioche French Toast with Foie Gras. The french toast used to be $9 + foie gras = $14. Now it's $13 + foie grad = $27 !!! It looks the same.
On plus side is that you can now order a side of Bone Marrow for $8. Yummmm fatty goodness.
Today I had the Tongue Grilled Cheese - creamy, meaty, not to salty, fresh toasted egg bread.
My boyfriend had the prawns with cheddar baked grits. A bit on the oily side but oh so yummy.
Tips: around 1:30 this sunday, the crowd seemed to die down and lots of seats available.
IF you're looking for a brunch this wee/end COME HERE before it all closes down!Listed in: Where to take my parents to…, A meal to remember (and to go…, Brunch places I want to go…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/1/2010
Came here again while waiting for a table at the Black Hoof. Had a drink and the BONE MARROW. omg.… Read more »
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Review from Leeor J.
9/26/2010 ROTD 12/11/2010
Pretty awesome. Worthy of the hype and worth the wait. suckling benny is amazing. So are the pork belly strips. They are slightly smoky and served in a maple syrup reduction. It would be on the plate of my last meal.
Service is excellent. Staff are knowledgeable and very friendly.
Don't come here. I don't want to wait in line behind you. -
Review from Ashleigh G.
Toronto, ON
11/23/2010
Everyone said that I wouldn't enjoy this place (I avoid most meat, eating only seafood sparingly) But, there is a lot here for even vegetarians (if they can manage to ignore the pigs leg sitting over the bar)
The decor is stunning, the cheese plates are so well curated, and the cocktails are amazing. My mind was blown by the Basil Fawlty - a gin and tonic with fresh basil and a Python reference. -
Review from Eric F.
Calgary, AB
9/27/2010
Is it possible for food to be too intense?
If so, Hoof Cafe just might being serving it.
I was intrigued to see all the atypical animal parts going into their menu, so I knew I had to try this place before the end of my visit.
Bone marrow doughnuts: a pretty subtle flavour behind all the strawberry-doughnutty goodness.
Tongue grilled cheese: a TON of tongue, wow. So thinly sliced, it's delectable.
and last but not least...
Foie gras French toast: the BIGGEST piece of foie gras I've seen in my life. And I've seen my fair share of livers. And it melts like the best of them. The French toast is rich and subtly sweet. Plump blueberries and a pat of butter complete this totally extravagant dish. ($26.)
So rich, I couldn't finish it, even sharing with friends - and I seriously couldn't function for about 30 minutes after eating.
Next time, I'm trying the eggs Benedict!
Come with lots of time - we had an hour-long wait for Sunday brunch at noon, perfect for exploring the Portuguese Village beforehand. (They beckon you back via cellphone.) -
Review from Catherine F.
Guelph, ON
1/12/2011 8 photos
One of my favorite discoveries in my extremely limited knowledge of Toronto. It was totally worth the half-hour bike ride, even if we arrived sweating and puffing, and even if a garbage truck nearly backed over HG's bike.
It's been a while, but here are the things I remember:
Decor: light, airy, snug, cozy. It had an old-world feel to it, somehow, and I wanted to paint the morning light that etched the walls (even though I don't paint).
Drinks: one of the best Caesars I've ever had. Spicy, bold, tart and salty with lots of pickledy-things, and well-balanced. Somehow, I only ever crave these for brunch.
Philosophy: use the whole beast. I approve! There's a lot to be said for the efficiency of using everything you're given to work with, and so many tasty morsels that are missed by traditional wasteful New World cuisine styles.
Food. Oh. My. Gods. Started with little round strawberry doughnuts, freshly made using the rendered fat from the pig -- they arrived too hot to eat. You know how bacon makes everything better? Right. I don't typically like doughnuts. Almost a year later, I can still remember the way these tasted.
Pulled pork benedict: I'm a benedict fan, and this was hands-down the best benedict I've ever eaten. (Seriously, why hasn't this been thought of before?) Rich tender pulled pork, creamy flawless piquant Hollandaise, a fresh baby arugula salad (one of my favorite things), and crisp buttery English muffin. The whole thing together was decadent, rich but somehow not too heavy, and wildly flavorful. We ate every last morsel and wished we had room to eat it all over again.
I'm looking forward to coming back for other meals. (I'm salivating just thinking about it.) -
Review from Tammy Y.
Toronto, ON
1/6/2011
Um, yes, it's worth the hype.
Do not be deterred by the line-up. It's worth it and goes by quickly - why not pop by nearby The Communal Mule for a coffee while you're whittling time away?
Brunch here was definitely one of those experiences that was all encompassing goodness - great service, great food, and an all around glowing atmosphere of happy brunching folks (over yolks!).
Recommend: Sit at the bar, and chat with the bartenders. -
Review from Elizabeth S.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2010
This place is always billed with a Fear Factor element: tongue, bellies, brains, guts, etc. But for all the snout-to-tail fuss and fanfare, the menu is totally accessible for even a squeamish novice.
I went to this itsy-bitsy spot for brunch today, and it was as packed as everybody warned me it would be. But me+1 managed to get a table quickly and our service was spot-on. Perfectly prepared americanos, to-die-for suckling pig bennys, very good "hay ham" and stellar baked beans.
I even liked the restrooms with reclaimed stainless kitchen sinks and doors that didn't really close.
Must go back for charcuterie. -
Review from Antonia W.
Toronto, ON
3/1/2011
YES, I managed to make it out here 3 days before it closed. After all the crazy hype about it, this was near the very top of my try list. Danny W. and I ordered two plates to share: Tongue Grilled Cheese and the Scrapple.
Both of us really like tongue but had in the past only eaten it mainly in stews or soups. Not having eaten tongue in a while, the taste is pretty distinct and we enjoyed the sandwich! I like that they cut it in fine thin slices to pile onto the sandwich. The bread was really nicely toasted, crunchy. It was a good contrast to the juicy soft meat inside.
The scrapple was an interesting dish... can't quite remember what parts they mushed together to make this patty, but it was like jowl and cheek and something. Honestly, it was ground into such a paste to make the patty that I may have believed you if you said it was a bean patty. It came with a tiny salad and a sunny-side up, properly runny, just how I like it :)
I think I enjoyed the tongue sandwich more, as I didn't really care for the texture of the meat in the scrapple. Overall though, cool place to chill with a friend, the place was B U S Y even at 3pm, every seat taken. Sad that it's closed, happy I made it before the ending. Good luck to their future project. -
Review from Charmaine L.
Richmond Hill, ON
3/24/2011
It is actually more like 3.5/5. I went to hoof for brunch just over the weekend. The place was a line up outside of the restaurant before it was open! It was a very small place with around 10 small tables. It is def not suitable for big group.
We have ordered a latte($3.75) and some bone marrow jam filled beignets $5 to start with. And omg, the latte was amazing!!! This is def one of the best latte I have! The latte was strong but not bitter or acidic at all. And the beignets were quite interesting. They were like a mini version of a timbit. Eventhough it was jam filled, I guess the bone marrow have it a hint of saltiness. And the best was they served it hot!
As for my main, i have order the suckling pig Benny $14. It was pretty much eggs Benny with pull pork and a side of arugular. This dish was okay, maybe because I am never a big fan of eggs benny, but the pull pork that was stacked under the eggs def made it more tasty.
Overall my experience was not bad with this place. However I still prefer Saving Grace, a Indian fusion breakfast place (just a block over) over hoof. -
Review from ivy L.
11/2/2010
Holy crapoli! The best brunch I've ever had in my entire life.
Place is small so go early if you don't wanna wait too long. I got there at 10:30 am and had to wait 30 min. Across the street diagonally is a coffee shop with amazing espresso called the communal mule. You can grab some coffee there while you wait.
What I ordered:
Donuts with bone marrow and jam filling.
Brioche French toast with foie gras (additional $14) that was drizzled in maple syrup and plump juicy blueberries.
Suckling Benny; a suckling pulled pork with poached egg and cheddar scone. The lemony greens that came with the Benny dish also added a nice refreshing touch to the meal.
If there's one place you need to try in Toronto it's here! -
Review from Karen S.
9/28/2010
We went to Hoof Cafe as a precursor to our Black Hoof dinner experience http://www.yelp.ca/biz... while we waited for a table to be made available across the street. Since they're owned by the same people anyway, we weren't too bothered by the wait. In fact, it was a very tasty and heart-stopping start to the evening!
The selection of beers is very refreshing - my first taste of a Duggan beer! The artisianal plate made up of charcuterie and cheese came with a complimentary bowl of warm crustini that we were able to refill, which is a bonus as bread is something that is to be paid for at Black Hoof. The bone marrow was incredible and just enough for all five of us to each have one deliciously rich bite.
The service was quick and attentive. When we received the call from Black Hoof that our table was ready, we were told that we had a bit of time (10 minutes) to finish up as they'll hold the table for us.
I can't wait to come back for brunch! -
Review from G K.
Mississauga, ON
9/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
Took twenty minutes to drive here from king and bathurst because of a multitude of parades and lots of rain, we would not be deterred however, we were excited to see if all of the claims about this place being amazing were true.
THEY ARE!
We arrived at around 10:45 and were lucky to be seated almost immediately.
We ordered the french toast and eggs benny and split each. Both items were decadent. The eggs benny being perfectly balanced with the salty pork and incredible egg, hollandaise and biscuit. The french toast was savory, well cooked complimented the eggs perfectly.
Looking around at the other diners we saw some incredible dishes including the tongue grilled cheese and waffles. These are definitely on the "to try" list.
Prices are on the high side but the quality of the food makes up for it.
An excellent brunch spot, though it is tiny so expect a wait unless you are fortunate! -
Review from Vic G.
Toronto, ON
9/1/2010 3 Check-ins Here
This small cafe is a revelation and a nice change of pace from the typical brunch fare you would expect. If you've been to the Black Hoof across the street, which specializes in charcuterie, you'll have a good idea of what you'll be in for.
Two important things to mention:
i) The place is very small and does not take reservations. Be prepared to sit at the bar or have to wait a lengthy time for a table. Luckily, they will take your cell phone number and you can go visit the numerous coffee shops around the area, including Ella's Uncle, Ezra's Pound, The Tampered Press and my personal fave, Communal Mule.
ii) The highlight dish for me are the bone marrow donuts. One of the top five things to have in Toronto. Be warned that they are only served on weekends.
The service is always friendly and prompt. Coffee is served French Press-style, a trend I hope becomes more and more prevalent.
Having been there a handful of times, I would recommend the suckling pig benny, which despite the title is really similar to a ham eggs benedict you'd get elsewhere. What I am particular fond of though, if you have an appetite for it, is the french toast and foie gras. The combination of the sweet and flavourful fruit syrup with the bitterness of the foie gras works perfectly and is really a terrific mix of tastes for your palette.
However, the top reason to come here is for the bone marrow donuts, served only on the weekend. They come in a little pouch of six, with sugar sprinkled on top, served warm, with gooey deliciousness in the centre.
I will definitely be back, many, many times. -
Review from Shari M.
Toronto, ON
5/16/2010
How have I not been here prior to this day?! I mean, as a full fledged meatatarian, I am embarrassed to say I have never Black Hoof'd or Baby Hoof'd. It is a disgrace to meatatarians everywhere, and I profusely appologize.
With Adeel "Toronto truly is my home" O and Dale "as an Economist" M as my fellow meat worshippers, we endeavoured to The Hoof Cafe this fine morning when the joint opened.
We shared the bone marrow donuts, I had the suckling pig benny, and a latte.
I am not even going to attempt to write about how fabulous these items were. I feel complete silence is in order to truly capture, enjoy and digest the complexity and true awesomeness that is The Hoof Cafe.
*Silence is Golden*
Go....soon....but....get there before they open. Tight quarters. Friendly staff. Reasonable prices.
The Black Hoof is next on my list! -
Review from Cindy C.
Toronto, ON
2/13/2011
Come here for everything pig...
Haven't had breakfast here, and just reading the sad news from fellow Yelpers that there will be no more breakkie??!?!?!!? No way!
I guess my review will just be of pre-appies and drinks whilst waiting for the BLACK HOOF....
They had very interesting drinks - I had a cocktail-name-i-dont-remember - but it was bourbon deliciousness and tarty sweet, but not to sweet, shaken to perfection with egg white????? It was delicious, light and not too strong.
To share, we had the SERRANO HAM - this was the best. They had the pork leg sitting on top of the counter and then thin slices were served onto the plate. I love proscuitto-esque meat so this my idea of heaven.
We had the BBQ Pork Ribs, this was interesting - kind of like popcorn chicken packed with BBQ flavor. It was small and bite size, smeared in BBQ and cajun spices, then lightly deep-fryed. It was served with dipping mayo. I really enjoyed it, but my co-pilot did not.
We had the ARTISANAL PLATE - it had a bunch variety on it that was delicious, seemed like a small version of the Hoof Cafe Charcuterie Plate but with more jams and such. Delicious and served with bread...
Then off to the Black Hoof we went... -
Review from Dale M.
Toronto, ON
5/18/2010
Giddyup!
Having recently shared the pleasure of introducing Adeel "Everything's bigger in Texas" O. to Swiss Chalet, it was all the excuse I needed to finally hit the Hoof Café for brunch when Shari "Afraid of a little tongue" M. suggested we introduce him to something a little more exotic.
I've heard the lineups can be pretty heavy, and was not looking forward to arriving at 10AM just to get a seat. The plan was to caffeinate en route, but Saturday morning being Saturday morning brains were left behind and we had to charge up once on site. I was only mildly disappointed to learn that they serve espresso but not drip coffee. No biggie; the Americano was just fine. The place packed in pretty quickly behind us, so if you don't want to wait you'll have to suffer with the early hours.
I find myself griping regularly about the service standards at a lot of Toronto restaurants. It's always nice to see exceptions to the rule, especially since even paying high-end-casual prices doesn't seem to guarantee any sort of professionalism anymore. Service at the Hoof was top-notch - everything moved quickly and water (an essential with the kind of food we were getting into) was kept topped up. It was especially nice not to get the "do I have to?" sigh when we bombarded the poor man with questions about the menu options. This side of the experience no doubt coloured the rest of my experience, and I'm OK with that.
Try the donuts.
I had the beef tongue grilled cheese. I was too excited about my first "tongue experience" to remember what kind of cheese, but I think it was Fontana. Beef tongue is a very rich and sometimes tough cut; preparing it well requires a bit of know-how and these folks delivered. It was brine-infused and tasted as though it had been sweet-pickled, like rich pastrami. The meat was shaved thin, piled much higher than I expected, and the sandwich came topped with a couple gherkins for good measure. The cheese added a deliciously creamy note to the whole thing and for a few minutes I was in heaven.
The Hoof Café isn't cheap, but it's accessible. If you're not going for slabs of foie gras on your French toast, you'll make it out for less than you'd expect. Get your ass out of bed and go try it. -
Review from Cheuk S.
10/19/2010
Wow! Where do I even begin to write about this place? This is really one of the finer places I've been to for brunch/lunch or a meal in general. The place is located a few miles outside of Toronto so traffic/parking is a non issue. Of course a great food place is always packed so we had to wait about an hour before we could be seated since the place is really small with maybe about 30-40 customer capacity. While we waited, we went to a nearby pastry/coffee shop to have coffee and some Portuguese pastries to settle our stomachs for the moment before the real meal comes.
Anyways, after the wait was over, we sat near the window seats since we had four people. If you bring a hot chick, it's probably a lot shorter wait because you can also sit at the counter/bar area. The overall feel and atmosphere was really homely and comfortable mixed with some 70's eclectic music genre. As we stand in the waiting area, we saw thru the kitchen thru a small square window witnessing the chef at work with his utensils and ingredients with the utmost care and effort. Behind the counter/bar, there were a series of cabinets filled with ingredients in Ikea jars and drink bottles of various kinds. In addition, there was no paper menu as the 15 or so menu items are written on a black chalk board.
Of course the food was to die for as we ordered a number of dishes including the Ploughman's which is a mixed dished of various Italian meats which I think should serve as an appetizers rather than a meal in itself. Next I ordered the Sucking Pig Benny which is tender pulled pork on eggs benedict which was just simply awesome. It was topped with creamy cheese and smooth egg yolk just spilling out with flavour. It was complimented perfectly with arugula green leaves to dull the salty taste. The Add A Bone is where it's really different with a half piece of juicy soft bone marrow eaten with bread.
My friends ordered the Brioche French Toast which was also very good as the toast was crunchy with a good amount of sweet Canadian maple syrup with a touch of cinnamon dripping onto to the plate topped with crunchy sliced apple stems. The dish also came with a creamy white sauce in case you want a little variety in your every bite.
The Tongue Grilled Cheese was also extremely tasty as the meat was cooked right with good texture and thick crunchy bread that makes every bite a mouthful. You can chow that down with either a cup of their freshly brewed coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice where you can truly tastes the difference.
Overall, the experience was truly worth the wait and the waitress was extremely friendly and attentive and prompt. On top of that, the number of "easy on the eyes" chicks that frequent this place while we were there was high so definitely worth visiting just for that. Remember it's cash only so don't forget to bring some change! -
Review from Victor L.
Toronto, ON
9/29/2010
Foie Gras french toast was absolutely amazing. Foie was done very nicely, melt in your mouth goodness, on french toast which was not too sweet with some tart blueberries to cut through the richness.
Good thing I shared it because it t was just very very rich.
The suckling pig benny was also very elicious, with what looked like pulled pork between the poached eggs and the scone on the bottom.
i have yet to try the beignets but I hear they're delicious -
Review from TINA L.
Toronto, ON
1/25/2011
We went on a monday afternoon, so there was no wait.
Ordered the suckling pig benny, brioche french toast with foie gras, and the calamari sammy. Everything was delicate, balanced, beautifully presented, and reallllllllllllly delicious!
The portions are a bit small, but then again, I was also having my first meal of the day, so maybe i was more hungry than usual.
Coffee was great too! Didn't get a chance to try their cocktails, but from the other reviews, their Cesar is suppose to be really good?!
The staff is super friendly n helpful. I had asked for some business cards before I left.( Mom wanted to hand them out to friends so they can all come n enjoy this place) They ran out of it so the waiter ran across the street to The Black Hoof (sister restaurant) to get us some.
Eager to try the Black Hoof soon! -
Review from susan c.
Brunch is the most overrated meal ever. You want me to pay double-digits and wait in the cold for over an hour on a weekend for a couple of eggs and some bread? Hell, no.
But brunch at The Hoof Cafe is not the tired egg-crap I see at every coffee shop and fine diner in town. After all, it's run by the same people behind The Black Hoof[1], the current darling of the hipster food-cognoscenti in Toronto. (And if you know me at all, you already know I can't STFU about their Raw Horse Sammy.) So when they do eggs Benny, pancakes, hash, and french toast, these dishes are every bit as interesting and inspired as what you'd find at its progenitor.
Two meat-loving Yelpers, Vivek S. and Anthony R. from Massachusetts, joined me on a weekday to avoid the Saturday and Sunday rush at The Hoof Cafe. As it was, most tables were filled by 1 p.m. so we perched ourselves on the stools at the bar and peppered the friendly bartender with questions about the food while she peppered the rims of our Caesar glasses.
FOOD
Remember that old commercial where the guy smacks his forehead and says, "I could've had a V8!"? That's how I feel about the Hoof Caesar, The Hoof Cafe's rendition of the Canadian classic brunch cocktail. At $8, it's a bargain when you see how many hand-crafted ingredients go into it: Hoof Cafe's own pink-peppercorn-infused vodka, house hot sauce, and house-made Marmite syrup and pickled yellow string bean. With its bright, refreshing flavors and overall deliciousness, I could've had four more. Alas, I did not want to fall off my stool.
Grilled cheese with tongue ($14); it's funny how the cheese gets top billing in this sandwich because it's all about the tongue. Shaved paper-thin, each slice is tender and succulent. The thick buttery toast has a schmear of piquant grainy mustard on the meat side and smoky grill marks on the outside. The accompanying house-made pickle slices help cut through the richness of the meat, teasing me to go back for more of that irresistible tongue. Yes. I'm still talking about the sandwich.
A side of pork belly pastrami ($4) yielded five thick slabs of meat, alternating layers of delectable swine with sumptuous melt-in-your-mouth pig fat. I would swear off bacon if I could have this in its stead.
Pigtails and grits ($13) were served in a bowl with creamy grits on one side and a thick ragu of pigtail morsels on the other, crowned with a perfectly cooked sunnyside-up egg and scallion salad. I broke the yolk with my spoon, allowing it to anoint the rest of the dish. The thin scallion slices provided a welcome crunch and sharp contrast to the rest of the dish. With flavors that were comforting and familiar yet intriguing and haunting, this was my favorite dish of the meal.
A side of hock links ($4) had plump little sausages served with glazed baked beans and a frizzle of fried collard greens. Again, everything looked familiar but the preparation was so deft, I have a newfound appreciation for the humble baked legumes.
Now that I think about it, the dishes here are only a dollar or two more than the brunch items at every other place in town but the quality and creativity are unparalleled.
SERVICE
Hip, young servers who are knowledgeable and without a soupçon of attitude.
VIBE
An inviting interior of hipster shabby chic; as I looked around the small dining room I kept noticing new things: a chalkboard menu written in nice handwriting that is not overly neat; glass-paned cabinets that reveal liquor bottles and big canisters of infusions; a light fixture made of Mason jars.
BOTTOM LINE
Brunch at every other place: listening to music on mono mode
Brunch at The Hoof Cafe: listening to music on Dolby Digital
It's time to experience stunning quality (or whatever the fuck the Dolby slogan is).
5 stars.
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[1] See my review: http://www.yelp.ca/biz... -
Review from Tony F.
2/5/2010 ROTD 5/10/2010
This is an ode to the wonderful glorious marvelous smells and taste of meat!
Upon opening the door to this intimate diner situated in what probably was a former local convenient store was the amazing flavours that hit me between the nose and eyes. I immediately went from having a pretty cruddy day to floating on the vapours of browned, fried, broiled animal sacrifice and it made me oh so happy.
We shared the pork ribs that had this familiar but indistinguishable dry rub. Immediately I think it's Asian, but not exactly. It had a bit of kick but you could taste the cayenne and what we could only guess as 5-spice or star anise or some kind of jerk rub.
We also had the Crispy beans and Crispy Salad. How can anything crispy go wrong? As long as it's not burnt, its great. If my salad was crispy every time, I'd have salad every day. Who says you can't make friends with Salad?
I LOVE duck. Quack! All kinds of duck, and the Duck Sammy, a duck sandwich was perfectly flavoured and oh so moist and mouth watering. Fortunately/unfortunately they had mixed up our order, and was extremely late with the duck, but they took care of it and didn't bill us for it. After the experience, I was almost going to ask them to add it back on the bill because it was worth it (but I didn't).
The place was packed, and the service was great.
I'm going back next week. Enough said?Listed in: Omnomeriffic Yum! (TM), ROTD
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Review from Jennifer L.
Toronto, ON
5/14/2010
Holy crap, this place is good. I don't line up for shit, but for this place, I made the effort to wake up early, and get my ass going to be out front of the cafe before it even opened.
Vegans and vegetarians beware: notice the picture of the PIG on the sign. This is meat eaters heaven. Hi, FOIE GRAS with French toast? OH MAN, OH GOD! I also liked sucking back on that TONGUE GRILLED CHEESE sandwich. The coffee was also particularly divine. Everything on the menu is unique, flavourfull and filling.
This place gets packed very quickly, so expect a line up. Don't arrive incredibly hungry with this in mind. Even though the cafe is small, with about 6 tables and a few seats at the bar area, the atmosphere is peaceful and not rushed. I WILL BE BACK.Listed in: I Love Meat
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Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2010 ROTD 8/1/2010
MEAT!!! You've done it again!!!
I woke my fat ass up early on a Saturday morning to beat the crowd at the Hoof Cafe. Got there about 10:10am and got the last table. Phew.
I went there with a friend, who weighs in at about 90 lbs soak and wet, so naturally we thought that an app and three entrees would just the right amount of food for two lightweights. Bad estimation on our end -- there was waaaay too much food!
First, order the donuts. They're not on the menu. You get six little mini-timbits full of bone marrow and jelly goodness. A steal at $5.
The others:
1) Hoof Hash ($11) - had no idea until I read the review here that the meat in the hash was beef tongue. I am even more amazed. It was super tender and not overbearing or salty.
2) Suckling Pig Eggs Benny ($14 I think) - I hate that yellow goo that most places serve, but decided to give the hollandaise a shot at the Hoof. It was mild and not the buttery glop you get everywhere else. The pig was at the pinnacle of its sucklingness and the rinds were a nice touch.
3) French Toast with Fois Gras ($23 with fois gras, $9 without) - Clearly I'm not an animal activist because I could really taste the inhumanity in this dish. My motto is "everything tastes better with fois gras". It's no different in French toast. The combination of house made peanut butter, jelly, and honey mixed with the savory taste of fois gras was a symphony of taste in my mouth. My favorite dish!
Overall, a great alternative spot for brunch, but not quite as good as the mighty flagship restaurant across the street.
Complaints? Brunch for two came to $75+ tip. It ended up being a $45 brunch a pop. Ouch!Listed in: My Favorite Spots in the T.Dot, Communal Dining!, My ROTD's
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Review from Laura t.
Toronto, ON
1/4/2011
This place rocks. Nothing much more to say, but for your sake, i'll elaborate.
The atmosphere is awesome. Especially after dark, when it's like a little jewel box at the edge of Trinity Bellwoods Park. The service is layed back but good. Kind of like being at your hipster friends cool apartment, but I don't have any friends that can cook like this!
The food is awesome. It's the perfect place to go if you want to lounge and drink and snack for at least a couple of hours. Great wine list, with a well thought out, mostly Ontario wine selection. Awesome, innovative cocktails.
One of my favorite haunts in the city....my only complaint is BRING BACK THE MALTEASER!!!! -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 4/25/2010
Why did no one ever think of french toast with foie gras before??!!! Melt in your mouth amazing! And the freaking donuts??!!! I can't believe they didn't have them the last time I was there. This time they had them with rhubarb! Yes, bone marrow and rhubarb. So seasonal, the Hoof.
I just have to say, that plate of French toast is so decadent I am glad three of us split it. I would keel over if I ate that myself. (but I would. I so would. It's too good to leave a morsel on the plate. And I'd hate myself).
I love you Hoof Cafe!Listed in: 5 star reviews: Food and Drink, MEAT
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1/31/2010
I had brunch at Hoof Cafe and six hours later I am still full. The thing about Hoof Cafe and it's… Read more »
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