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The Lakeview
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants Canadian (New) Diners, Canadian (New) [Edit]
1132 Dundas St WToronto, ON M6J 1X2
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Little Portugal, Ossington Strip, Trinity Bellwoods
(416) 535-2828
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 5:30 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
102 reviews for The Lakeview
Review Highlights
"The sweet potato fries were perfect this time too."
(in 16 reviews)
"...which is a welcome change from most late-night places."
(in 16 reviews)
"...salads, sandwiches, burgers, all day breakfast, and they..."
(in 4 reviews)
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102 reviews in English
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Review from Kate S.
Toronto, ON
1/30/2012
Up late? Hungry? Looking for the best onion rings and desserts in town? (actually 2nd best onion rings to barbarians $$$$ on elm st)
This place is fucking fun. why? 24 hours,great look,vibe,service,crowd, space, FOOD and the DEEP FRIED MARS BAR.
I love feeling like I'm in an old diner. not old as in boring.
See you guys again soon! -
Review from Denise H.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2012
Had dinner at the Lakeview for the first time on a Friday night. We were there around 7:30pm, we were seated right away.
I ordered the standard burger and 1/2 fries, 1/2 salad. The fries were ok, but kind of cold. I'm not much of a complainer, so didn't think too much about it at the time. But, recently having a burger and fries at Hero burger made me realize, how cold the fries were. The burger seemed a bit charred, but actually tasted ok. Salad was good too. Ice cream sundae for dessert - chocolate with caramel in a short glass. I thought the menu prices were reasonable.
Waitress was pleasant and checked on us from time to time and refilled our water bottle. Nice loungy kind of place. -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
12/28/2011
VIBE
I've only ever been here after midnight, so I'm part of the drunken hungry hipster crowd sprawling out from The Dakota, Communist's Daughter et al.
But for a 24/7 joint, this is one of the classiest. I live how they mix retro with modern, which completely capitalizes on their market. Plus, you can' t go wrong with the colour of powdered blue.
I EAT
Poutine. Pulled Pork Poutine, to be more specific. It's greasy, it's gooey, it's hearty. It's everything you want when you're craving poutine after 11 p.m and can't get it anywhere else. So basically the equivalent of a bed buddy but much more satisfying because poutine doesn't shy away from commitment. It's always there for you.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Late night. Not outta sight. Yummy poutine. -
Review from Alice T.
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
3 stars during regular hours, 4 stars in comparison to other places after hours. Essentially, if it's 4am, and you're thinking 24hr McDonalds or Lakeview, I'd go with Lakeview.
I had their burger and with portobello mushroom and bacon so that was a pretty big winner right there. And despite being open 24hrs the prices were pretty reasonable and the food was prepared fresh, as far as diner food goes. I've seen some other 24hr places in the city use chips instead of fries or store bought pitas as "flatbread" pizzas to minimize kitchen staff so overall I'd say Lakeview is a good late night option. -
Review from Sophia K.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2011
Open 24 hours. $4 Caesars, $4 beers, $3 mimosas. Disco Fries. Breakfast. What more could you ask for really? The Lakeview always serves its purpose. Delicious food, cheap drinks, good service. The decor is diner appropriate, nothing to write home about, but endearing in a way!
The patio is great in the summer, and the large interior means you rarely have to wait for a table. And because 24 hour dining establishments aren't a plentiful in this city, I find myself here a lot...and always leave satisfied! Ch-ch-ch-check it out! -
Review from Jeff D.
Toronto, ON
12/15/2011 4 Check-ins Here
While dozens of restaurants across town try to achieve a nostalgic vibe via kitschy decor and booth seating, the Lakeview isn't one of them. Not that the Lakeview doesn't have both in spades, it just doesn't have to try. It's always been that way.
The Lakeview is always packed, and it probably has something to do with daily beer specials, killer $3 mimosas and $4 caesars. Post-bar, it's some of the best people-watching in the city.
The $9.50 Poutine Lakeview is a standout -- it mixes sweet potato and hand-cut fries with curds, feta, peameal, garlic-onion crunch, sautéed mushrooms and house gravy. Delish! -
Review from John P.
Pembroke, ON
12/15/2011
A victory of image over substance $68 for two good and two shitty brunches
Love the decor. The food is another matter. I went for brunch with my stepdaughters on a quiet Saturday. The place was mostly empty. Service was attentive. Our order took forever, though. When our food finally arrived, the omlettes were perfect. The eggs. Benedict and the pancakes were not. Both were cold. The eggs Benedict went back to the kitchen twice: first to be dried-out under the broiler then to be microwaved. The pancakes were replaced.
When one of us talked to the server, he actually said that eggs Benedict "are supposed to be a little cold.". Come on! No adjustment on the bill. -
Review from Sharon F.
East York, ON
12/9/2011
Dear the Lakeview: you've been hyped up so much that my review can only be taken with a grain of salt, or maybe more than a grain - the amount served in your brunch dishes...
Tons of my friends are repeat lovers of Lakeview. They rant and rave about how great each visit is, to the point that I just had to organize a huge brunch outing with lots of people so to properly sample this magical diner. Unfortunately it was a bit of a let down, and that's me being a very kind reviewer.
Our group of 6 got seated relatively fast, considering the massive brunch line-up. We got one of the dimly lit booths in the back, but realistically it comfortably seats 4. One friend just had a knee surgery so we requested to switch spots and was repeatedly promised a relocation, but it never happened. The decor of the diner is great, but it's so chaotic on Sunday mornings that it detracts from the friendliness that a diner typically exudes.
Between all of us we ordered the poutine lakeview, clubhouse stack, cornflake chicken, standard burgers (x2), disco fries, fungi town and a side of crab cakes. I had heard that mushroom gravy was used in the poutine and I love vegetable gravy, but it ended up being oversalted and especially unappetizing with thin dried up peameal. The burgers were equally mundane and I was really disappointed with the crab cake, which also presented itself dried and shriveled. The chicken turned out juicy, but we were all chugging too much water (on account of the salt) by the end of our meal to notice. Is this why its revered as a brunch spot? Electrolytes galore for the hungover mob?
I plan to return again when it's less busy, maybe on a weekday, maybe in the evening. When there are places on the west side/Ossington like Mitzi's or Levack Block around, why the hype for the Lakeview? -
Review from Robert K.
11/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It's a little silly that I haven't reviewed the Lakeview, given the number of times I've been here. On the other hand, it's a little silly that I'm bothering to review the Lakeview, given the number of totally adequate reviews that have already been written.
In a nutshell: $4 pints, open 24 hours, pulled pork poutine.
As a diner experience, it's embarrassingly inauthentic and contrived, but whatever. Cheap beer is cheap beer. I will be back again and again in the near future.
I have never played the jukebox here, which is odd. I like jukeboxes.
Also, last time I was here they had a bunch of Bollywood posters on the wall that they were selling for $500-1000. Give me a break! Vesta Lunch doesn't try to pull shit like that. -
Review from Martin W.
Last time I was here was on a Tuesday night and I was looking to get shit faced on the cheap. I was also hosting some guests from out of town who would accompany me on this journey of shitfacedness. The Lakeview suited my demands quite nicely. It was rainy and cold but still the place was jammed.
I've had the breakfast here which I thought was pretty decent (but there are other options in the area) but what I like about The Lakeview are the cheap drinks and because they are a 24-hour diner. Their mimosas and caesars are solid for four bucks a pop and dangerous when you are sitting and socializing for extended periods. Getting up is the fun part... -
Review from Daniel O.
9/18/2011 1 photo
Can't speak to the food at all.
BUT can talk about their awesome bar menu and super super super cheap booze!
I understand why the Lakeview is always packed to the rafters with students and hipster-types. You can't drink cheaper in the city.
Each day they have a different pint of beer special for $4. The afternoon I visited it was Blanche De Chamblay, my favourite wheat beer. They also have $3 mimosas, $4 well drinks (2 oz shot with mix) & $4 caesars.
How can you go wrong?
The decor is throwback diner, nice leather banquets, wood tables and framed movie posters on the wall. Service is good, our server was attentive yet casual and super nice.
A great place to meet up with friends, catch up and drink some el-cheapo hooch! -
Review from Fern H.
10/6/2011
It's been awhile since I've been back to the Lakeview. I'm pretty sure last time I was there, they weren't serving booze.
Stopped in for a quick drink and snack before a friend's show at the Dakota Tavern.
Liked the cozy booths and old time diner decor. Great looking menus that look like place mats.
I was an instant fan of their drink specials - daily pints, mimosas, caesars and soda based mixed drinks all for $4. Their draft selection wasn't anything to sneeze at either. I promptly ordered a Muskoka Dark Ale and traditional poutine ($7).
Poutine was okay, not the best but definitely passable. Service was good and quick.
The Lakeview is back on my radar for cheap drinks/snacks and 4am brunch cravings.Listed in: Dirty 30 Days of Reviews
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Review from S S.
Toronto, ON
10/22/2011
The Lakeview is another one of those places that I really want to like. Chill atmosphere, daily drink specials, 24-hr food and wifi that works. Not to mention, it is a short jaunt from my house. Alas, every time I go there things go horribly wrong.
I have had several appalling experiences here.... including food that was sent back numerous times for the same reason and being outright ignored by our server. I won't go into details for brevity's sake, but in general this place has mediocre food and poor service. I would be perfectly happy to never return, but for some reason people keep dragging me there.
Lakeview, you could be so great. Smarten up a bit, yeah? -
Review from Muhammad Miguel Ali H.
10/28/2011
The Lakeview has it going on!!!
As my YELP profile says, I'm a filmmaker and I get my work done at night - nothing pleases me more than an all night diner where I can lay out my MacBook and get some good writing done, while playing off the local energy
The Lakeview is an awesome diner for any writer! The tea and coffee are good and the food is solid
The diner has a very, 1950's, Americana-train-car feel, but it is also uniquely Canadian, with Bollywood posters everywhere and a diverse crowd dining
If you want to find Toronto's true soul, come here at 3 AM and enjoy
I will definitely be back
Love and peace all! -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
24 hours eatery... Lakeview might not serves the best poutine or has the best services or the nicest deco...
But in the middle of the night and you have some cravings for snacks for whatever reason.. or your Yelp friends just want to chill out somewhere after Elite event and want to have some more cheap booze... Lakeview is a winner!
This place was so busy on a Thursday night..... Services can be a little slow but at least they have free WIFI just ask for password.
Thanks fellow yelpers that shared a table with me let me took photos of their food and even let me try them all...........
Onion Rings
Poutine
Pulled Pork Poutine
Some sandwiches?
Fried Mars Bar
That sounded like a complete meal with appetizers, main and dessert?
I'll be back to Lakeview if I am in the area when nothing else opens...but there are so many interesting places for food in the area...Listed in: A Day in Ossington!, Places that opens 24 hours!
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Review from Emily K.
Toronto, ON
8/15/2011
What an amazing 24-hour diner right in close proximity to so many of Ossington's great bars! This place offers an abudance to choose from to feed any craving you just might be having on a late night after the bar, and they also pass as a great place to grab a morning/mid-afternoon breakfast.
I came here with a bunch of other Yelpers after a wonderful event and got sucked into their extensive menu of food. I was so impressed by all of the choices they had to offer. It also didn't hurt that they had a pretty unique cocktail menu. Having already had my fill of drinks and looking for something nice and greasy I decided to split the Lakeview poutine with a friend. This poutine offered a pretty good serving of fries including regular cut fries and sweet potato fries topped with classic cheese curds and feta cheese, a garlic onion crunch, a wild mushroom saute, peameal bacon and a succulant house gravy. It certainly hit the spot!
I would certainly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great bite to eat when in the area. I will certainly be back after this experience. -
Review from Chris M.
Toronto, ON
10/20/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The service is amazing here, as is the food. Considering the size of the menu, the consistently high food quality is impressive.
The daily $4 pint specials should be enough to get you in here. Get in there! -
Review from Alexandra S.
Toronto, ON
10/16/2011
Went for late afternoon meal. Ended up having the traditional breakfast. Simply two eggs and bacon but it was delicious. I love that they grill the fresh toast so it's soft and a little crunchy at the same time. came with plenty of salad and fried potato slices which were delicious. Atmosphere was edgy diner and the staff was very friendly.
Diner food done well! Will be back. -
Review from Vivek S.
The Lakeview is a 24-hour diner at Dundas and Ossington. They serve all day breakfast, brunch from 9-5, sandwiches, burgers and confusingly inexpensive cocktails. Though you might be tempted to sample their 2007 Flat Rock Reisling (you won't really), the smart money is behind their sub-five-buck mimosas and bloody caesars. There are even cheap pints. You can get drunk here, morning, noon, and night. Huzzah!
AND you can eat at the same time. All the food here is of the genre and quality of "hangover remedy" so you won't cater your wedding with these guys. It's passable fare. I ordered a cornflake battered chicken sandwich that once inside my gut made a beeline for my aortas. I can't remember what it tasted like so take from that what you will.
The decor is art-deco faux-but-not-exactly-faux retro hipster 24-hour diner. You know what I mean. Decent place for lunch but better for hanging with the post-bar spillover crowd.
N.B. You can barely see the lake from here.
Obligatory Title Pun: Gain some PERSPECTIVE at the Lakeview.
Menu Readability: A four-column one pager in a respectable clean typeface.
Need to mention: If there is a look precisely between JJ Abrams and Jonah Hill, our server had it. An extra star for that. (But then subtract a star forgetting the deep fried Mars bars (not that we would have eaten them anyway (perhaps that foresight deserves an extra star (let's call it even.))))
What this place teaches me about myself: Mimosas. Always. -
Review from angie c.
6/18/2011 ROTD 10/19/2011
Drunk food at it's finest. Drunk reviews at their finest.
Don't judge me, it's a long cab ride home to mom and dad's. Don't judge me.
Arrived around 2 and were quoted a wait time of around 20 minutes. I don't think it was that long. We were seated in a booth - stools at the counter were available, but I didn't trust myself.
My friend and I decided to split the classic poutine and the deep fried mac and cheese balls.
The balls were stinky and sweaty smelling and gross. I don't know what kind of cheese it was but it was funky in a most unappealing way. We do not like the Lakeviews balls at alls.
We do however enjoy the pout. I'm not one for pulled pork or sweet potatoes or chili in my poutine, give me good fries, good curds and simple gravy any day. They did, and I ate lots of it.
A girl was puking in the sink, which was unfortch, but beyond that and some nasty balls, a winning fourth-meal at The Lakeview. -
Review from Nicole H.
6/8/2011
Came in here with a friend late on a Saturday night. I love that it's open 24/7!
Our waiter was great, though I noticed some others doing things that I would not be cool with if they were serving me. (ie: nearly dropping food but catching it between their hands and bodies then repositioning it back on the plate before taking it to the table... eeek!)
The menu is solid, good variety. A bit overpriced in my opinion.
Good space, tunes, and whatnot.
The later it got though, the louder and more crowded it became filling up with drunkards clearing out from the neighbourhood bars. It was a great little place to meet and yap until then when it became so loud that I couldnt hear myself talk, let alone my friend sitting across the table. :) So we left.
Overall good place and I'm sure I will be back when in the neighbourhood.Listed in: In the City!
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Review from Kent P.
6/13/2011 5 Check-ins Here
24 hours. Almost everyone's been here.
They've got daily pints for 4 bucks, mimosas for 3, pulled pork poutines, chicken sandwiches battered in cornflakes, punny names on the menu (Fungi Town, Chili Chili Bang Bang, etc).
The day-to-day food is OK. Nothing special. The ambiance is great for the price point, and service is sometimes slower than you'd like, but always friendly.
Only thing that really sucks: the men's room. Cramped (you will likely get hit/ hit someone with the swinging door while you're at the urination basket, and it can get grimy quickly).
The most fun you'll have here is late at night with a bunch of drunk friends and I'm going to go ahead and say it has reached ESTABLISHMENT status.Listed in: DRINKNG IS FUN, ESTABLISHMENTS
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Review from Tara A.
8/31/2011
There are few places other than my bed that I like to stumble to in the middle of the night... this place happens to be one of them. Between the ambiance of establisment and the prefect greasy spoon eats, I couldn't think of a better place to get my post bar munch on.
I am a sucker for poutine so for me, the Lakeview Poutine is probably my favourite thing on the menu.
For a place that's 24 hours and is sure to see a few interesting characters, the staff there are always friendly and pleasant.
It's a definite thumbs up from this yelper! -
Review from Julie T.
Toronto, ON
7/11/2011
Ahhhh, the Lakeview. For me, it recently turned from a late night, post-drinking routine stop to a must-have breakfast joint. Open 24 hours a day, the staff are always friendly and service is prompt, although you may face a bit of a wait for breakfast if the place is overflowing (and it usually is).
Neat place with a 1930's atmosphere - they've done a great job of preserving the restaurant so it feel like a time warp, which can get trippy if you've had a few too many. The booths look original and fit 4 people max, so it's not ideal for big groups unless you don't mind being split up. There are also numerous seats at the bar and a few tables for two along the wall, as well as a great patio that overlooks the Dundas and Ossington strip.
The menu has a pretty large selection of late night/breakfast goodness, featuring soups, sandwiches, burgers, and breakfast/brunch items. Pints and Caesars are $4, mimosas $3, meaning you can basically get drunk there on the cheap about 18 hours out of the day (they are still subject to last call).
The food is more than decent, definitely better than a greasy spoon. The prices are average for Toronto, and aren't jacked up like they are in most 24-hour joints. Most of the platters come with spring mix salad and a nibble of fruit to balance out the meal. The food isn't insanely greasy either, which is a welcome change from most late-night places.
Bonus points to the staff for always kindly dealing with the drunk revelers who come through the door. It's a lot to ask at 3 a.m. but they're always cheery. -
Review from Cameron O.
Toronto, ON
6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was late, I was tired. We had tried an insanely crowded and tiny hole in the wall across the street but were unable to obtain anything that was crammed full of essential fats and calories. I didn't want to stand in a queue around the corner to hear a band I knew nothing about after stumbling off a touring musical contraption of my own. I had to drive so I was sober.
Boo
Urns.
Having gotten that out of the way, I was pleasantly surprised by the chipper mood of the waiter and his patience dealing with myself, a drummer and a girl from the previously mentioned touring musical contraption who can only speak broken english at best.
The service was prompt and the food was good enough to get me to want to come back and try some more when hopefully I won't be feeling so jaded and bitter (and impoverished) from having to cram myself into the back of a bus for yet another touring musical contraption.
I chatted briefly to a friend a day or two later about my week-end and she commented, "It sounds like you had a wonderfully hipster weekend!"
I'm not too sure about that... How many people show up at this place in a tuxedo? (yes...that's my "uniform" for most gigs.) -
Review from Stephen T.
Toronto, ON
11/20/2011
Great breakfast!
The turbo is only $5. It's prepared quickly and tastes delicious.
A great "go to" place when you fancy a quick breakfast. -
Review from Patrick M.
Toronto, ON
5/16/2011
My most recent visit to the Lakeview must have been an off day for the kitchen. Popped in with the gf and her parents (the latter eat exclusively at big chain type restaurants, Red Lobsters, and the like)...
Gf had steak and mash, which was solid -- steak cooked medium rare as requested, tender, and good.
Dad had wings and fries, which he enjoyed.
Here's where things derailed a bit: Mom had pancakes, two of which were burnt on the bottom. Still, she said they were tasty and was pleased with her meal (I suppose if you're used to eating Golden Griddle pancakes, even burnt real ones are an imporvement).
Finally, I had mac 'n' cheese w/ poutine. I ordered the poutine extra to share, but the server misunderstood and "upgraded" my side. No biggee, but I REALLY needed the side salad. Anyway.
Poutine was barely lukewarm, with undercooked (and stale) fries and cheese curds that were more like crumbled white chedder. Definitely not authentic curds, despite what the menu promised.
Mac 'n' cheese was almost identical to Kraft white cheddar mac with the slightest dusting of bread crumbs on top. Very, very disappointed in this. Very bland, overcooked, and just plain wrong. So bad, in fact, that I covered it in pepper and ketchup and just pretended I was 8 again. I then ignored the price and enjoyed some nostalgia.
And, for the record, the $4 Cobblestone Stout almost made up for everything. Can't beat that price for a pint!
Anyway, past visits to the Lakeview have been good, so I'll settle on a 3 star rating and just avoid these menu items in the future. -
Review from Aviva S.
6/24/2011
More like a 3.5 stars.
Apparently this place is famous both for its food and old-timey look as well as having been the location for several movies.
The classic poutine was absolutely delicious. Best poutine hands down in Toronto. Haven't found a place where it's better. It's so good that I actually ate it despite being a complete vegeterian.
The pear feta walnut salad was ok with the feta being good but everything else being mediocre and the pears being a little too hard. Sweet potato fries were quite good.
Their prices are a little expensive as, for example, poutine and salad comes to 18 already. For a medicore salad being included, that's a lot of money with you not being full yet.
Service is decent and I liked the touch of water in a long glass being on every table. -
Review from N.J. G.
Toronto, ON
5/7/2011
This place is worth a go! I went with a small group of friends on a weekend. We didn't have to wait long though it was full capacity from what I could tell. I started with a Mimosa which was delicious and not your regular mimosa using orange juice.
Sadly the day I went I had a really upset stomach so the only thing I ordered was sweet potato fries but they were great and much much better than their potato fries.
Food here is very well priced, large portions, good menu.
I will have to go again and update once I actually get to eat something substantial! -
Review from Sahra G.
Updated - 6/4/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Went here on Thursday night, not sure why... hungry and it was either this or Tacquitos from 7-11.
Sitting at our booth my friends and I noticed a mouse scurrying around on the floor.... when brought to the attention of our waiter he said "oh joe he's harmless" Harmless indeed.... cheque please!2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/23/2010
Oh geez Lakeview... You have actually gotten worse.
Went here on Sunday for brunch. Now go here… Read more »
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Review from Shannon F.
Toronto, ON
3/6/2011
Expect to wait. Today, my friend and I waited about 25 minutes for a seat (they fucked up and bypassed us so we had to wait a little longer... although, we ended up getting the better table anyway). And then, we waited another 25 minutes or so for our food. They were apologetic but it would have been nice for them to offer us something for waiting so long. Good customer service, y'know?
But seriously? The food is soooo amazing, it's almost worth the insane wait time. And really, if you go anywhere else in the area, you'll probably have to wait a similar amount of time anyway.
I had the Eggs Lakeview, which was delicious, and felt a little healthier than the regular Eggs Benedict (rather than Hollandaise sauce, they serve it with a "jerk yogurt"). It was pretty tasty and the mixed greens were really great... the dressing does so much amazing stuff to a salad!! And they've got sooo many delicious brunchy alcoholic drinks!
Overall, I'm giving them 4 stars because I keep going back! -
Review from Kavi G.
Toronto, ON
5/24/2011
Expect longer than usual wait times and serving times when showing up later at night. Predominantly hipster crowd and an interesting place to eat post-partying.
Great poutine--suggest ordering as an appy and sharing with the group. Large portions with decent prices. -
Review from El W.
Toronto, ON
6/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been to the Lakeview a few times now, although only after a boozy evening.
I was there on Saturday around 3 in the morning. The wait wasn't too long. Probably 5-10 minutes. I don't think we waited too long for service either. I'm not sure, I got pretty engrossed in the bottle of water they left on the table.
I had some kind of sandwich. I am pretty sure it was smoked meat, although it could have been pulled pork. The waiter also suggested half fries half salad, which I thought was weird (to suggest it, not the concept). My friend had some kind of club sandwich and got sweet potato fries (which are $3-4 extra which seems a bit excessive unless there's a sweet potato famine I'm not aware of)
I remember thinking the food was delicious, although, in that state, I tend to think everything is amazing. I just remember wolfing my sandwich down like I'd never eaten in my life, ever. Whenever I do go to the Lakeview, I tell myself I should go there sober, maybe during the daytime because the food seems pretty good and it's also pricy enough that I should enjoy/ remember it. -
Review from Rian D.
Montréal, QC
12/2/2010
The Lakeview.
For all it's hipsterness and trendiness... I do enjoy it so. It's one of my default all night breakfast place I hit up after dancing my ass off and drinking too much whiskey.
The food is drool-worthy. The servers are rad. The prices are warranted and not overly expensive. Lots of veggie options. Damn good sweet potato fries.
A few are saying portions were to small? or have gotten less? I've always gotten stuffed there, plenty satisfied and this girl can eat, so no complaints on my end for portions.
And, once in a while, if you hit them up for brunch on a weekend, they have $3 mimosas. swoon.
Also, I love the decor, vibe and attitude of the place. Oh, and patio.
That is all.
(Disclaimer: the whiskey maaay be why I rave about the food so much. But I have gone there sober and still enjoyed. wait. mimosas. k scratch that)Listed in: Vegtastic Omnomnoms, Brunchtastic, Mouthparty
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Review from Richard T.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2011
Tough to call this one. While I appreciate the heart strings the Lakeview has on its regulars, the fact remains my experience there was nothing above pat.
$4 caesars always help, but a foul smelling burger won't have me lining up again, but I'll take the blame for ordering that one during brunch (at 1pm no less)... -
Review from susan c.
7/9/2010
Caesars...$4
Mimosas...$3
Featured pints...$4
Getting drunk on $11...priceless
This 24-hour diner serves up all-day breakfast, burgers, shakes, and floats to the gaggles of hipsters who stumble in late at night from the nearby bars along Ossington. But I'd go any time of day for the aforementioned cheap and tasty drink specials. They've recently extended the deals to last all night long (all night!).
On a recent visit I had a Caesar salad (meh, bottled dressing) and a sampling of some thick hot fries (good) and a panko-crusted deep-fried Mars bar served with ice cream (surprisingly not offended by this).
The food on its own wouldn't make The Lakeview a dining destination for me but once I've over-imbibed my taste buds tend to lower their standards, the way some do when deciding who to go home with for the night.
The service was shockingly good! The tattooed waiter and French busser handled our group of 9 like champs. (We were there at 7:30 p.m.)
Next time, I'm going to try one of their milkshakes. Apparently, they bring all the boys to the yard, and their like, it's better than yours.Listed in: Liquor Up for Less
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Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
8/18/2010
I know I should like this place but I REALLY REALLY don't.
It reminds me of an indie Denny's.
I wouldn't even call this place better than Fran's. At least Fran's has tackiness to it. this place tries to be a little cool.
I hate the service here. I've been here a few times with groups of people and the servers here just seem to really hate their job when it's busy.
I'd rather have some crusty old lady at a quaint tacky diner serving me grease at 4am than go to this place where disappointment and sheer mediocrity fills every crevice of this sad little place they call at 24 hour diner. -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
7/10/2010 2 Check-ins Here
You know what's awesome? When a bartender dissuades you from ordering a drink on the menu because "it's really awful." I dig that kind of honesty. Granted, I should have known that the "Et tu, Caesar" at the Lakeview was going to be bad, considering its description: "A Traditional Caesar knocked up with Onion Soup Mix, topped with celery & chive sour cream." However, it was one of those things that sounded *so* disgusting it might be right. But the bartender came up to my table after the server had taken my order and said, "Don't. Order. That. Everyone who's ever ordered it has sent it back. The sour cream curdles at the top." AAAUUGGH. Thank you, mister bartender, from saving me from a horrid mistake!
The only shortcoming of this place is that it doesn't really suit groups larger than 6. Our party of 9 had to squeeze into two side-by-side booths, which made it a little hard to mingle.
Anyway. My husband and I split the Lakeview Poutine, which was non-traditional but still very tasty (a mix of sweet potato and regular fries, frizzled onions, bacon, sauteed mushrooms). And when I needed something cool to quench my thirst, they were quite able to oblige my request of boozing up a chocolate milkshake with Bailey's and Kahlua. (If you go back, I recommend you do the same. Deeeeeelicious!)
Great service, boozy milkshakes by request, good drink specials, bartenders who don't want to see you drink curdled sour cream, and a fun atmosphere! What more could you ask for? -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2010
Lakeview is ok. Like many other Yelpers I went here out of starvation, after an art show on Ossington ran late and nothing else was really open.
Disclaimer, I am not a huge fan of diner food - other than breakfast, so it would take alot to really thrill me. My food was ok. The fries were ok. The service was ok. The prices were ok. The atmosphere, ok. See the trend here? Kinda underwhelming. I mean, I don't know what to expect at a 24 hour diner, really. I didn't indulge, but the drink specials were very good. Pints on Sat nights are $4.
The food was all a little salty, and the entrance smelled like old beer and lime juice. But, its open and I guess that is what counts. -
Review from Spiro P.
Toronto, ON
12/11/2010
Ok, the food is not the greatest, but it is all the little extras that make up for it.
I ordered a coffee milkshake and it was really good. The waitress breweed the espresso and poured it over the chocolate ice cream before mixing it. It was amazing!
I ordered the tofu scrambler with salsa and I really didn't mind the food. I was suprised that there is alot of vegetarian options.
This place is definitely hipster central and I will go back!
