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Thompson Diner
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
550 Wellington St WToronto, ON M5V 3L8
Neighbourhood: Niagara
(416) 601-3533
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 6 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:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
69 reviews for Thompson Diner
Review Highlights
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"Best [I've ever had] ONION RINGS segway." In 13 reviews -
"...have macaroni and cheese but with pancetta and truffle oil." In 5 reviews -
"The grilled cheese was literally BURSTING with cheese." In 9 reviews
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69 reviews in English
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Review from Johnny H.
Toronto, ON
4/24/2012
Good place for pre-drinks before hitting the clubs. Or you can hit the diner after clubbing if you feel hungry.
Drinks are a bit overpriced. The foods are mediocre. It won't please the senses. Instead, they are just made for the basic form of eating - filling your tummy to feel full. That's it. Calamari, fish & chips, sandwiches and burgers were alright. I have to mention that most of their foods are either greasy, bland or unbalanced. Some flavors can be too overwhelming. The breakfast was tasty, but I was drunk when I had it. I could have given this diner 2 stars but their cocktails are pretty good.
The only purpose to this restaurant is with clubbing involved - either before or after the party. -
Review from roben h.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 4/24/2012
Since writing my first review, the Thompson Diner has switched management, or ownership... I don't know. Something switched.
I still like hitting this spot for what it is, although it should be noted that the prices have actually gone up: pancake breakfast for 2 with coffee + sparkling water amounted to over $60.00 . Sorry to say the pancakes weren't even very good... quite bad actually.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/1/2011
There's no way around it - the food here is greasy, fried, incredibly unhealthy shit.
Once you accept… Read more »
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Review from Gary S.
1/20/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Went on a Thursday just before notorious Brant Thursdays and food wasn't too bad.
You get some free pretzel sticks to start and I had chicken fingers which came with chipotle mayo. This isn't fine dining but it's a lot better then Jack Astors in terms of finger and bar food. It's open 24H so a great place to go IMO for after King W clubbing.
I was there around 7pm and it was quite dead, but service was still prompt and courteous.
All in all no complaints, decent food, price, and service, no special wow factor but you get what you expect at the very least. -
Review from Mark S.
Vaughan, ON
4/26/2012
I've never been impressed by The Counter/Thompson Diner. The food is a little extreme for my tastes. One of the waiters is too much of a diva, everyone I know who's been served by him agrees. We think he may be 'hangry' as he's super skinny and is surrounded by food. who knows.
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Review from Keziah T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 4/21/2012
Went here again last Friday with my friend, had a drink and some great apps. Spinach dip was good, onion rings were okay. I had the montreal smoked meat sandwich, a bit too salty for my taste. but i still liked it. i'd go back.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/11/2012
This is the place to be if you're really drunk at 3am after leaving the Hoxton or the bar in the… Read more »
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Review from Josefa M.
Toronto, ON
3/14/2012
Since there are already 65 reviews of this place, I don't feel like I have a tremendous amount more to contribute! I only wanted to say that I think that $17.50 for an omelette and $17.00 for the donut burger - both on the brunch menu - is way overpriced. After a late night, me and friend went to have brunch because it was one of the only places in walking distance. I was happy with everything except the bill. After tax and tip, $45.00 for brunch really soured my experience!!!
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Review from Faezah W.
12/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Staying at the Thompson, going out during the day and tired by night. Stomach grumbling, wanna eat but not move out of your seat. This 24 hr diner called The Counter is your best friend!
They bring the food up within 20-45 mins depending on what you order. I've enjoyed various items on the menu but I LOVE the onion rings, normally I hate themed but they have changed my opinion otherwise.
Things on the menu I have tried and enjoyed were : chicken salad, crab cakes. Side order of fries, onion rings, nachos, sandwhiches and few more I'm forgetting.
Don't try the veggie burger, it tasted raw and so gross. Waste of my money and time waiting for it to cook.
Mixed berry mojiitio tasted really good! So much berry action. -
Review from Vivek S.
I returned to find that The Counter is no longer and the Thompson Diner stands in its place. The difference? Not a thing. The restaurant looks, feels and definitely tastes the same as before, though I can safely say my experience was a bit better than last time.
My and my late date needed a place to grab a midnight snack and settle down with some homework. The menu items are largely unchanged; greasy diner food with a bit of an upscale twist. We decided to share the grilled cheese burger ($16) a burger squeezed between two gooey grilled cheese sandwiches. When we asked if it was shareable, our server confirmed with a vehemence that suggested that this thing was monstrously large.
It is humongo. No one person should eat it in one sitting. Even half a serving put a stranglehold on my arteries. But damn, it was tasty.
After the sandwich, we went full nerd and cracked upon our laptops. Though there isn't free Wi-Fi here, it's still a OK place to get some work done in the wee hours of then night.Listed in: Up Late In The Tee Dot
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/17/2010
It's never good to drink on an empty stomach, so I ended up here late last night doing the opposite:… Read more »
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Review from Chris H.
Toronto, ON
11/16/2011
I had read a couple negative reviews before going for dinner last Tuesday night, so I was pleasantly surprised with my experience.
The menu is great - quite a bit of variety, and some interesting items. I had the "All Canadian Burger" with fries. The portion was huge. I actually had to cut the burger in half, as to not have it make a big mess - this is a good thing. Admittedly, it was a tad greasy, and was lacking a bit of flavour, I thought, but it was overall a decent burger.
The service was fine. We had a very friendly server, who checked up on us periodically, and continued to refill our water long after the meal - no pressure to leave. It wasn't very busy, so perhaps we had better service as a result, but either way my experience was good.
Beer wasn't as over-priced as I expected - $6 for a pint of Heineken.
I might check this place out again, to try some of the odder stuff on the menu. The only annoyance from the evening was that they didn't take Interac/Debit, but there was an ATM (with $2.50 fee) in the connected Thompson Hotel. -
Review from Diane R.
Toronto, ON
11/30/2011
I've given the Counter & the Diner a try and I have to say both times I left disappointed. The prices are above "diner" and the quality is sub par. In fact, the last time I visited both myself and my dining partner received food poisoning.
Save your stomach & wallet and head elsewhere. -
Review from Anny K.
Toronto, ON
10/17/2011
Absolutely terrible everything since it has become The Thompson Diner. Pretty sure the staff while it was under The Counter name is not there anymore.
My friend and I went to the diner around 2 pm for some late lunch. The waitress was absolutely useless. Took well over 20 mins to ask for our drink orders. I had to ask 3 times for water. 3 more of our friends showed up and that was when the first friend and I finally ordered our food. At this point, I had to ask her a FOURTH time for some water. All she did was say "Oh, okay. Right back with the water." As if this was the first time we had this request. No apologies or "Oh my God! I totally forgot!"
When the food (Me - Classic breaky, over easy, bacon; Friend - Mac & Cheese w truffle oil and pancetta.) finally came it was COLD. They served the food on an iron skillet, which is supposed to retain the heat and when they come to the table, you should not be able to touch them. I was able to white knuckle the hell out of the handles. My eggs were terribly runny -- which is suspect because they went cold. Bacon was floppy. The Mac & Cheese was good ... would have been amazing if it was hot and came with the pancetta.
The rest of the group got burgers ... nothing too special from their end.
The diner was not busy at all so there was no excuse for the terrible service. The waitress seemed clueless as she messed up the bills and had to have 2 other employees help her fix the issue at the computer station ... having us wait another 10 mins. She dropped the bills off and (we knew to have our cards out and ready to pay right away) she scurried away. My other friend, fed up, decided to just approach another waitress to process the payment. The waitress, being busy just standing at the hostess table, refused to do anything about it.
Terrible terrible service. And the food was just disgusting. Considering the menu and resto vibe is the exact same as The Counter's, they must have put complete dumbasses in the kitchen and front of house. -
Review from Kiran S.
Toronto, ON
10/5/2011
This place has so many reviews! Let me add my 2 cents...
I went on a weekday evening. It was not busy, maybe 5? other people there other than us
1. Atmosphere: I was excited to check out the counter, its retro diner look at the bottom of a modern condo seemed like a cool combo. the wooden tables, soft lighting, bench seats gave it a homey feel...but there was still a cold edge to the place. It really isnt a family friendly, remind you archie's comics type of hangout. maybe the counter is trying 'too hard' to be cool...
2. Food: very, very average. I had a grilled cheese sandwich, pretty much could of made the same thing at home with my toaster and a block of cracker barrel from the metro (oh did i just give away the secret recipe used at the counter?) moving on, the fries served with my sandwich were hot and tasty, and came in the cutest lil frying basket.
3. Service: i think our waiter was on something. while we were looking at the menus (a time period of ~5minutes?) the guy came over four times 'are you ready yet?'. Yikes. To the counter's benefit, they did serve our food super fast, we waited less than 10 minutes between ordering to being served.
Overall, I thought the counter was average. Yes, it would be a cool spot to hang out at 3 in the morning..but so would just about anyplace serving warm food! It just doesnt live up to its image... -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
9/15/2011 2 photos
What do you write when there has already been a ton of reviews? Gosh
I am a huge fan of diners. I don`t care if it`s shiny and slick like this one or just plain old and just hangin on. I never expect to be blown away by the food but this location kinda makes you expect more. It is weak in that delivery.
Not the greatest food. The breakfast option I had was tasty (scrambled eggs, potatoes and sausage) but a bit overcooked.
I can`t argue on the sheer coolness of the place. However, you pay for it. Not ìnexpensive but I think worth it if you want to go to somewhere decent late, late, late at night. This is 24 hour fabulousness.
I would go back again especially because of excellent customer service. -
Review from Cameron O.
Toronto, ON
8/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I food was tasty and the service was prompt. The decore was typical for a "diner" but the prices were WAY out of line.
$6 for a tiny milkshake. (The Menu said $7.50!) For this price I was expecting it to be huge. But it came in a typical glass that you get at other greasy-spoon type places for $3.25. It was good, but in no way shape or form worth it.
The fish and chips were so over-battered the outside was crispy and delicious but getting closer to the fish it was a goupy uncooked mess. The fries were decent.
Also consumed at my table was a Montreal Smoked meat sandwich. The flavours were all excellent, but for $12.50 you would expect a boat-load of meat stuffed into the bread. But alas it was only a few slices.
They are clearly trying to take advantage of the hotel customers AND as a last resort refuge for the club district people looking to eat something while they sober up before returning to their car and go "danging driverously" in a drunken stupor all the way home.
Would I return? I might return to try a burger... But for $12.50 there are better cheaper options only a couple blocks away.
$45 for 2 meals, 1 milkshake and 1 beer? It should have been $30. We didn't get any appys!
The food deserves more stars but at these prices I won't be coming back. -
Review from Brian T.
Toronto, ON
10/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went to the Counter (since renamed the Thompson Diner) not too long ago and was frankly underwhelmed.
Where to start?
My fried chicken was decent but the beyond the decently crispy batter I felt that the chicken lacked flavour, which is a problem I would chalk up to inadequate (or non-existant) brining. The chicken was served with a buttermilk dip (which was decent), but no hot sauce (noting that it took a couple of asks to get a bottle of Tabasco). The cheddar mashed potatoes were flavourful if a little overworked.
My wife's Nicoise salad was solid but salad is arguably a table stakes kind of thing and I'm reluctant to get too excited about it.
About the best thing about this place is the aesthetic which I would call darkly modern and vaguely Asian. The waiters look super hip too with their short sleeve button-ups and funky bow-ties but unfortunately their too cool for school personas seemed to seep into their general service levels, which were indifferent at best despite the fact that there were about as many staff members as patrons in the restaurant.
In conclusion, this is probably a 2.5. I might go back if I was in the area and needed a late night meal, but other than that I was expecting a little more from the place given that it comes attached to the Thompson name. -
Review from Myrem D.
Mississauga, ON
6/2/2011 3 photos
I've heard so much about this place and last night...we decided.. why not?
It's great to know another place (besides 7west) that's open 24/7.
The decor is very nice for an all nighter sort of place. Forgive me, I have only Mississauga's Denny's to compare it to. :p
Suffice to say, this place is fun after a happy drunken night. I met up with a few friends and was pleased to see it was big group friendly.
I adore the uniforms. Bowties - WOOOT WOOT. THEY HAVE MY VOTE ANYDAY!!!
I uploaded the only 3 pictures (I wasn't capable of anything beyond eating ).
The bathrooms are nice, drunken friendly. The crowd is so so. Our server was the loveliest flamboyant boy ever!. He was just so lovely!. So courteous and catering to our needs. ^_^
order:
Med. Dip. - yumm. The bread was a bit so so but the hummus was very garlicy. This is a good sharing app.
Crab cakes - a bit over done? - I can't be sure. I had a bit and wasn't feeling it.
Fries & onion rings - SOOOO delicious. Mostly the onion rings. The fries helped me pace the deliciousness of the onion rings. Like a savoury bomb attack every consecutive 3 minutes.
Santa Fe Salad w chkn - this was delicious. Unexpectedly delicious. The avocado was cut so neatly.. i had to take a picture of it. It was fresh, light and really tasty. I highly recommend this for a lunch or light dinner option.
Chkn fingers - can't go wrong. The mayo dip was BOMB! I also used it for the onion rings. Which turned from a regular 32cc bomb into an atomic type of bomb. (I have no idea why I'm using bombs as my metaphors today)
classic poutine - the cheese was weird. It tasted different. Not a fan. There really was no "classic" here. Blaah.
Long hot dog - when your craving street meat but your friends wont let you. Delicious. Think carnival fair type of hot dog.
It was a delicious late dinner. tendered to my every craving. Sweet, salty, greasy, fatty, salad-y and fresh.
I cannot say anything bad about this place. Albeit, my taste buds were a bit biased within these hours.
All in all, good to know another 24/7 with a good menu selection for every taste bud. I will def be coming back.
xoxo
M. -
Review from Ed S.
Updated - 1/28/2012
So the fried chicken still has no flavor, the fries are now the frozen kind, and the chicken fingers also have no flavor. Not only that, but the spicy chipotle mayo wasn't spicy until I poured on the tabasco sauce. But at least the food's expensive and the late night clientele is drunker than the lunch time crowd.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2011
"Meh. I've experienced better" is a good way to put it. It's not the best, but for the prices they… Read more »
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Review from Jenna L.
Toronto, ON
8/12/2011
Put this on your list of restaurants to frequent! You will love it.
The atmosphere is amazing...not crowded, lovely booths, modern bar. The uniforms are very neat--almost cartoon like. A plaid black and white shirt, quite cute.
Our server was absolutely amazing. So friendly and helpful. My friend and I ordered a Caesar (the drink of course) and he up sold us to a double...twisted my rubber arm.
I had the turkey sandwich with brie (and added avocado as mentioned by our lovely server) and it was delicious! So fresh and very filling. The french fries that came with the meal are crispy, and extra good with ketchup!
The food took a while, as did the drinks, but definitely worth the wait. If you tell your server ahead of time that you are on a time constraint, they will make sure you are out when you need to be.
The washrooms were tucked away, a little hard to find, but very clean!
We will definitely be back here for lunch! -
Review from Maheen M.
8/17/2011
A few friends and I headed down after a night on Saturday. We got there around 2:45am and the place was packed. We waited in line for a good 15 minutes till we were seated.
My friend and I shared a strawberry milkshake and mini poutine. The milkshake was pretty good, good balance of ice cream to milk. The poutine was sub-par, and really mini. We paid $11 for our meal.
Another friend ordered their burger with onion rings, he said he has made better burgers elsewhere. His burger was $15.
The atomsphere is quite interesting, it is like a dressed up diner.
Value for food, you can get better late night eats elsewhere to more moderate pricing. -
Review from Amanda N.
Scarborough, ON
5/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I like the Counter! Chic decor, friendly wait staff. The chunky pretzel sticks on the table was a nice touch. I ordered a burger here the first time I came. It stylishly arrived on a wooden cutting board, and was delicious. The fries were ok, but nothing to write home about.
After taking a bite of my burger, I put it down on the cutting board, where it promptly rolled off the table and fell apart on the floor.
After laughing with my friend for half an hour, my heart broke a little.
Because now I had no burger.
I told our waiter what had happened, and he was awesome. He offered to make me another one, on the house. I had already eaten half of the burger, so I declined. He offered me some soup, which I accepted. It was mushroom soup with two toasted pieces of bread. Pretty good!
I've been back here since, and am always way careful with my burger.Listed in: Places I like to eat at
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Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011
A 24 hour diner in a swanky upscale hotel with a wall of vintage porcelain statues, colourful booths, marble and tile, vaulted ceilings, and flat screen televisions. I still don't know what to make of it which probably means I don't really get it. That's okay. I'm only here for the food.
Eccentricity aside, the menu is - in most ways - your typical diner fare. They have macaroni and cheese but with pancetta and truffle oil. They have fries and onion rings but served in two metal grid bowls on a wood cutting board with a fancy dipping sauce (course you only get one, extras will cost you).
Late last night my friend Minnie and I popped in for a pre-holiday Christmas feast full of fried fatty goodness and carbs five-ways.
We ate more than I'm prepared to tell you about; here are some highlights:
Buttermilk fried chicken + Cheesey mashed potatoes:
Let's congratulate this chicken for having just been added to my list of favourite dirrrtyy eats. So bad, but so good.
Let's skip the mac n cheese I've heard so much about. To those that say it's the best in the city, I would say, you're wrong. It looks good, but again, you're wrong.
The poutine is delicious. As were the fries and onion rings with garlic aioli.
In my opinion, every city can always use another 24 hour eatery, so I'm a fan. But in the end, no matter who designed it or where it is, The Counter is mostly average comfort food, only glorified. -
Review from Chris T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 6/20/2011
Keep trying to like this place but the food is so basic, poorly done, and overpriced. I could make better, myself! This is supposed to be a part of a 4 Star hotel. $12 basic deserts?
An ongoing disappointment.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/23/2011
Service is rushed, but the main disappointment is the menu and quality of food vs. its price. The… Read more »
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Review from Rian D.
Montréal, QC
2/16/2011
I have only eaten here once, it was a lunch with my work colleagues since it is located quite close to my office.
Decor had some cool retro vintagey looking bits but then was mixed with some cheesy 80's lounge patterns, it didn't feel unified. But I don't really care about decor, I care about mah belly.
The food was good. A tad on the pricey side for "diner" food, but hey the boss was paying. It didn't blow my mind however, nor was it titillating enough to entice me to return. Very limited options for vegetarians. My meat-eating coworkers enjoyed their orders but weren't mind-blasted by the food either.
And the dishes were these awkward board-like thingys that made for tonnes of sloppy spilling and made eating awkwardly difficult, especially in front of bossman.
The service, was lacking... and slow. And I'm no high-maintenance facestuffer. They weren't even busy. Granted, this was when they had just opened so perhaps, to give them the benefit of the doubt, they were still working out the kinks.
But then a server dropped mustard and ketchup all over my pants and shoes. No big deal, I reassured them it was ok and asked for a cloth... and then waited. and waited. Finally 15 minutes later I got up and asked for a cloth again. She said "oh you didn't go to the bathroom?" Um no, I asked for a cloth doofus.
No apology, no discount on the bill, no complimentary anything. Wasn't impressed.
I'd recommend Sneaky Dee's over this place. For reals.
I don't really often write negative reviews... so maybe you'll have better luck?Listed in: Meh, I've had better
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Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
If Denny's is a diner, then The Counter is it's cool, hip, city cousin: sleek, chic, and sophisticated. The interior has a modern look (dark countertops and wood surfaces) but with a nod to classic diner style (vinyl bar stools, big booths).
The food was quite good overall, but there were hits and misses. I had the buttermilk fried chicken, which I thought was terrific -- freshly fried, perfectly crisp, and the chicken was juicy. It sent shivers down my spine. Plus, there was a LOT of chicken. It is served in a little metal bucket, and they crammed a lot of chicken pieces in there. It never ended. I even had enough leftover to take home for a midnight snack. ;)
Also, instead of the cheddar mash to accompany, I substituted poutine. Lemme tell you, kids, the poutine is DELICIOUS. Generous amount of cheese curds, smooth gravy, crispy fries. Definitely some of the best poutine I've had in Toronto thus far.
OTOH, the meat on my husband's burger was overcooked and dry. The bun was nice (brioche?), but other than that, the burger was basically forgettable.
Service was pretty decent, other than a little snafu with our bill in which the server brought the wrong change. Not a huge deal, but it pays to be vigilant.
The round-the-clock hours are definitely a plus. I'm definitely coming back. -
Review from D.J. L.
1/13/2011
Listen, I'm an American. I understand how the world sees us. We're fat, we eat horrible, greasy things, and we eat a lot. I get it. Calling the fattiest, worst thing for you item on your menu "The Fat American" is a clever joke, but we're not all like that. Some of us eat healthy. It's an unfair stereotype.
The Fat American was delicious. Bacon and sausage stuffed pancakes topped with a fried egg and onion strings? *drool* I want to order one right now.
We also had onion rings and fries and they were also delicious.
I was disappointed in my drink, that's why I've given only 4 stars. I ordered a screwdriver (because it's the 1970s, apparently) and it wasn't very good. But I will definitely go back, especially since it's 24hrs and around the corner from my house. -
Review from Warren P.
Toronto, ON
1/1/2012
Today was my fifth and last time. I live close so I keep trying but never again. Every time it disappoints. Today I had a mushroom and cheese burger (simple, right?) and if there was one mushroom on it I would be amazed. Burger was burned, bun was greasy, fries were from the bottom of the barrel...oil soaked, limp and cold. IT's only redeeming quality was that it was open on New Years day and is open 24hrs...I guess if it's 3am and you're really hammered but would be OK....but even then....
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Review from Sarah H.
Toronto, ON
Went to The Counter for a late dinner on a Saturday night. Service was good, the restaurant wasn't that busy for a weekend night.
I ordered a berry mojito and the Pastrami Reuben sandwich with fries and it was a pretty big portion and the mojito was quite large too.
The menu is quite large, and I think there is something for everyone. I will def come back to eat here again...and its great that it is open 24 hours. -
Review from Dan L.
Toronto, ON
4/17/2011 3 photos
I was told this place had the best mac & cheese in the city so I was very excited to come here for the first time. I was massively let down. Might have been the hype but I just didn't think the dish lived up to what everyone had been telling me.
I went there last night again and was once again disappointed. I asked for the poutine not even realizing that there was two options Classic Poutine $5.25 or Poutine Quebecoise $8.25 (I am looking at the menu again now) and I don't my bill. Anyhow, our waiter who said he was from Montreal ASSURED me that I would love it. I didn't, I barely touched it, it was pretty bad, in fact. I am also disappointed that he didn't bother to ask me which of the 2 poutines I wanted and must have just chosen for me - in my books that's BAD SERVICE.
I am so very disappointed by this place which is in the base of a very swanky hotel I don't ever want to go there again. HOWEVER, my friend got the Fat American: Sausage & Bacon stuffed pancakes, topped with crispy battered onions & Fried Egg and while I find the name mildly offensive being an American (and not fat) it was very tasty (he couldn't finish it). The price on it was STEEP though - $15!
What I learned from this place: Just because it's high priced in a high priced location doesn't mean the food & service will actually be any good. -
Review from James K.
Toronto, ON
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Po boy good // onion rings great!
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Review from Mark H.
Toronto, ON
10/17/2010
So I guess it would be unfitting to have 24 hour greasy spoon like say, the Vesta, open among your ultra-hip, chic and modern condo buildings. Instead you get an upscale diner in a 5 star hotel that attempts to recreate a greasy spoon without sticky tables, scuzzy plates or badly worn forks and knives.
When you review the wine, beer and $12 cocktail options you realize this is a diner-style diner. And that's fine, but can your food and service keep up? Diner service is no frills and fast - here forgetful and slow. Diner food is simple but amazingly tasty using few ingredients and spices. Here they seem to use plenty of ingredients but flavours are lacking.
Fried chicken had a batter that was 3 times as thick as any I've ever eaten but it was low on taste. If you're going to use that much batter why wouldn't you season it with pepper or maybe salt.
Chicken fingers had more flavour and were a better option. Burgers looked good but between the huge buns is a simple patty that can be dressed with higher end items. I was told it tasted like any other burger except it was $12 or $13 which kind of throws off the taste.
Anyway, seems like a fine place for the upscale bar crowd that just came from nearby King West establishments, is wearing designer jeans and happily paid $8 or $9 for pints - visiting a true greasy spoon would kill the mood. -
Review from Vikas S.
Toronto, ON
1/14/2011
Honestly?
Who are we kidding.
When a high-profile, boutique hotel opens up in the neighbourhood, everyone was expecting class, good food and great service.
I went to The Counter for brunch when they first opened, and was shocked at the lack of professionalism, promptness and overall demeanour of the staff.
Pieces of the order had been forgotten.
It was a mess.
Haven't gone back - and I don't think that I will.
Oh, the food?
Mediocre. -
Review from Lola L.
3/9/2011
I've been here twice and haven't been disappointed either time.
The first time I went, I ordered the Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Cheddar Mash and it was delicious. The chicken wasn't overly greasy and the mash was creamy--just the way I like them. The service was fine, nothing to complain about. I couldn't finish the meal, so I brought the leftovers to my boyfriend, who proclaimed it "might be the best fried chicken I've had in this city."
The second time, I tried the fish and chips. The tartar sauce provided with the fish wasn't great, lacking in a certain zesty je-ne-sais-quoi, but the fish itself was quite nice: light, fluffy, and nicely cooked.
It's a bit pricey, but the atmosphere is lovely and personally I'd much rather sit in a nicely-lit, friendly atmosphere than your usual dingy old diner. -
Review from Marco V.
Toronto, ON
Turkey never had it this good.
I actually didn't even spot this place right across the street to the hot yoga studio I frequent until my cousin started joining me and suggested we try it out (lured like moths to its neon lighted signs).
Walking by the joint, I wasn't entirely sure I could trust the "24 hours" sign posted outside as fact or fiction because of how dark the place actually is. To me, the place seems like a diner out of a Tim Burton movie, complete with "beetlejuiced" black and white drab on the wait staff. Seating is ample with a good selection of booths on either end of the space, with larger U shaped booths for bigger parties.
Service was friendly, but a bit on the slower side. Though I appreciate the time taken to make a dish to order than having things dry out on hot plates. Kudos on its Ramsay approach ;)
The first time (yes, I've been back several times since), I'm thankful the waitress piped up her suggestion of ordering the turkey burger. In her own words "I honestly think it's better than the beef". At this, my cousin and I scoffed and needed to prove it to ourselves that mere poultry could outshine (let alone come close to) beef in the battle of burger.
Another upper-hand at this joint is that not only do you have a choice of meat (beef/turkey/veggie), but also a choice of signature toppings. I've had tried almost all of them, but I have to say that the best combo is probably the West Coast (spinach, jalapeno jack cheese and crisp onions) or Deep South (pulled pork and crisp onions).
The thing that blew me away after taking the first bite is how incredibly tender and juicy the turkey was. I kid you not as to how delicious this burger is and challenge you to find me a better turkey burger. And serving this up with a side of either the Mac & Cheese (w/ cured pancetta crisp & truffle oil) or their huge battered onion rings, there are few better things worthy of retoxifying my system after a good 75 minutes of hot sweaty detox.
Here's a huge PostScript - a word to the wise about not breaking what ain't broken. Do not, under any circumstance, order the beef. It's impeccably dry and quite terribly bland - even with the toppings there was little to salvage that poor performance of a patty. If you're in the market for beef - check my post about Burger's Priest -
Review from Sarah K.
Toronto, ON
12/19/2011
Went on a Sunday night, was fairly quiet and service sucked. Food was great, good milkshakes though the staff told us they had to figure out how to make them cause they weren't quite sure. Everyone I went with had burgers. Great but my friend's was missing alfalfa sprouts and mine the crispy onions that were listed on the menu description. Best onion rings I've had in my life were had here. Must try.
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Review from Michael M.
Aurora, ON
7/8/2011
A friend who works in the area suggested this place for lunch. I really enjoyed it. Nice decor, great service, diner food with a nice twist, reasonably priced for the area. $10-15 lunch without the two martinis.
It was empty for lunch and really shouldn't be.
Does that qualify it as a hidden gem?
I would definitely recommend it and I don't bother saying that for just mediocre places.
I think it fronts on Bathurst though not Wellington just south of King in the Thompson hotel. -
Review from Alvin V.
Toronto, ON
11/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
I discovered this as I was heading down to a hot yoga class (Moksha Yoga Downtown) on Friday night. From the outside, it seems like a modern looking restaurant with your typical downtown crowd (stylish, urban, potentially snooty). What made me initially question whether it was in fact a restaurant or not was a 24 Hour sign posted on the side. it is a rare sight to see a restaurant with a modern looking interior that acts as a 24 hr diner. 24 hour diners typically resemble that of Fran's Diner, Markham Station, and the list goes on and on. I'm in no way disrespecting these diners as I have frequented them on many occasions and appreciate the 24 hour accessibility.
So in this review, some things to keep in mind is that I am judging it based on it's restaurant typology (24 hour service venues) and the other general characteristics of a restaurant.
Decor:
Firstly, in comparison to other 24 hr diners out there, this "Trumps" the rest in terms of cleanliness and "modern-ness". It reminds me of the old buildings back when the floors had patterned mosaics and tiled walls. I personally love it when a restaurant presents itself as an old meets new style. I personally think that it's a welcome breath of fresh air to find a 24 hr diner that is clean. Don't get me wrong, I'm no snob and would enjoy a late night meal at Fran's any night but from time to time I'd like to mix it up.
Food/Bar:
Alongside with the decor, the food is also a bit more elaborate and not too expensive. I would definitely recommend the Turkey Burger. In my mind, it was one of the most tender burgers I've ever had! Accompanied with that was their gourmet Mac and Cheese which seems to be an ongoing menu addition to most hip joints. This Mac and Cheese definitely did not disappoint with it's cured pancetta crisp and truffle oil. They have a bar counter there so people can come after lunch for a drink.
**Best [I've ever had] ONION RINGS segway**
OH MY, these Onion rings are spectacular. It seems like they batter it with the same stuff they use for the Butter Fried Chicken or something but definitely out of this world. They're a good size and are crispy and crumbly enough to give you a constant crunch in every bite! They only gave me 3-4 pieces with my burger which totally bummed me out. Next time, I'm ordering an entire side that comes in a bucket.
**Best [I've ever had] ONION RINGS end**
Service:
The service was kind and attentive. If it wasn't for our waitress, I would have never ordered the turkey burger. I know it's important that service remains unbiased with their opinion on foods because everyone's taste is different but I value it...that's why we're all on yelp after all.
Location:
As someone who has worked in this area before, this place appeals to another niche market of consumers who have been somewhat denied until now. The bars and restaurants in this vicinity are either uber casual or uber pricey. This is a good median.
So overall, for the sole reason that it this is one of the few restaurants that are open 24 hrs, nice decor inside, and the food can be greasy enough to satisfy those late night snackers, I give this a perfect score.Listed in: Best (I've ever had) Onion…
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Review from Rj P.
11/16/2010
After a few late nights (*cough* early mornings *cough*) and lunch-hours at The Counter I can offer a fairly reliable approval of the establishment.
Diner food, done right, with a gourmet flare. Grilled cheese? Yes, but with 3 cheeses. Mac & cheese? Yes, but with crispy bacon and garlic cheese cause. Hot dog? Yes, but 12" long. Breakfast sammy? Yes, but with peameal, kaiser, swiss and egg.
You get where I am going here - The Counter offers the staple of the diner menu but with a more refined environment and approach to the recipe.
Oh, another great thing - it's open 23h per day (with breakfast served at all times). -
Review from Rob D.
5/6/2011
OK - I review this place because I love going there. I love that it is 24/7. I love that it is amidst King West and actually in the ritzy Thompson hotel, yet reasonable, chill and you don't have to be dressed to the 9s to feel very comfy there.
Foodwise - it is a basic, but good, menu. I've always liked the towering grilled chicken club. The truffle oil 4 cheese mac n cheese is a delight coming out on a hot skillet. Burgers are pretty hearty. Salmon is so so, a little dry. Salads are all big n fresh.
Go here either in the middle of a weekend night, or lounge all Sunday afternoon and catch a game on the TVs.
Love having this in the hood! -
Review from Cody M.
Windham Centre, ON
6/2/2011
This place gets 2 stars... 1 for the food, 1 for the location in the gorgeous hotel.
I cant believe what a beautiful job this did on the inside and outside of this building, bravo!
I ordered a burger and a milkshake and it took about 25 minutes to bring me the burger, which was delish! So Im waiting and waiting and the milkshake never arrives, so I ask for the bill and the waitress had the nerve to charge me for the milkshake and not even bring it to me, and when I asked about the milkshake the other serves had no idea I ordered one. If I was the manager, I would have him take this seriously with her. The waitress wasen't pretentious, but I felt that she did it on purpose 100%.
On a side note, they have these digusting rock hard bread pretzel stick thingys, they were so bad I didnt know if they were edible. -
Review from Alan W.
Toronto, ON
1/24/2011
I went here at 5am, because I couldn't sleep and needed a hearty breakfast before heading north for some snowboarding later in the morning, and Mars Diner wasn't open that morning (they are only open 24 hours on the weekends).
The restaurant is very nice inside. A sort of retro luxe diner vibe going on, with a cool mix of jazz/blues/motown music playing in the background.
Eventhough I was the only customer at the restaurant and there was a staff of dozen in attendance, the service was very spotty and unattentive.
Only the breakfast menu was available at the time I was there, which was perfectly fine and I love breakfast anytime of day or night. Being a benny lover I ordered the eggs benedict, which at $12 I thought it was very reasonable. The food arrived fast and why wouldn't it be as they were not exactly busy.
The food was presented nicely on a cast iron skillet, however the skillet was just decorative as it wasn't even hot. The wooden tray that held the skillet was warped so the whole skillet wobbled annoyingly when I dug into the food. The portion was rather small, and the benedict was extremely bland and boring, as were the roasted potatoes. The caramelized onions were the only nice component on the dish, and I tried to spread the onions over every portion of eggs and potatoes.
For being such a mediocre dish with no flavor and being a smallish portion, $12 was actually overpriced for what it is.
The coffee was good, but not $3 good. I would rather head over to Jimmy's a block away for cup of their awesome coffee for much less.
I was disappointed that my waitor was not very attentive during my meal. I had to flag one of the staff's attention to get his attention so I could get a refill of coffee. They were all chatting with each other, which is perfectly fine at this time of day and lacking any customers, but they could at least check up at my table every so often. The waitor was apologetic, but later on he simply disappeared when I wanted to get my check.
The three flat screen TVs above the bar and the cleaning lady moping the floors kept me entertained as I waited for my waitor to show up.
I eventually had to walk into the kitchen to get a staff member to get my check.
My meal came to $15, which normally is a reasonable amount for a good breakfast. But for the poor service, boring food, and measley portions it's overpriced, and I was kicking myself for leaving a $3 tip, as I should've left a 10% tip, but I didn't have any change.
