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BRUNCH: Overrated Vs Worth The Wait!

Category: Local Questions & Answers

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Photo of Wendy H.
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9/7/2010 Wendy "Wacktose Intolerant" H. says:

Torontonians seem to love lining up for brunch. I guess it's cause certain places get super trendy, and certain Torontonians love trends. So which spots are actually worth lining up for, and which spots can we assume safe to snicker at people waiting 45 mins in line? And PS: who's got some secret weekday brunch spots spots to share?

  1. Photo of Paul S.
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    9/7/2010 from Yelp for iPhone Paul "Shop first....eat later" S. says:

    The day I line up for anything that takes 45 min to get to better be the Pearly Gates.

  2. Photo of Danielle P.
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    9/7/2010 from Yelp for iPhone Danielle "simplification of anything is always sensational" P. says:

    I don't line up for anything. That said I will take a "fast pass" for a few restaurants. (aka sign my name and walk away.) Aunties and Uncles for one, and well worth a waiting of another kind, is Hot Stacks in Innisfil. I am still drooling over their banana bread French toast.

  3. Photo of Nate G.
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    9/7/2010 Nate G. says:

    Wow there's a lot of assumptions in your original post.

    I am a Torontonian and I hate lining up for brunch. I also dislike trends.  So there goes that theory.

    I would GUESS that people are loyal to places that they know are consistent and quality, and tend to be willing to wait.

    Wait, you're actually asking which are worth waiting in line, after making fun of people for waiting in line? LOL

    I was gonna suggest some but I have a better idea, why don't you go ***********BEEEEP********

  4. Photo of Kat F.
    9/7/2010 Kat "don't get me started!" F. says:

    So Nate...where do you brunch??

  5. Photo of Bijan V.
    9/7/2010 Bijan V. says:

    I find that any big city you go to people are always lining up for brunch, wether San Francisco, New York, Chicago, etc. It's all the same!

    Brunch is one meal I'll gladly wait for (as long as there's good coffee to grab while I wait) but usually if it's over an hour wait I'll find another place

  6. Photo of Amanda A.
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    9/7/2010 Amanda A. says:

    Cora's is worth lining up for less than 20 minutes.. even that is pushing it. Nowhere is worth more than an 20 minute wait in my opinion.

    Ted's in Scarborough is really good and you rarely wait more than 5 minutes for a seat, even though it is busy.

  7. Photo of Amanda A.
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    9/7/2010 Amanda A. says:

    Hey Nate... who pissed in your cheerios this morning? (I just had to, I'm sorry)

  8. Photo of Nate G.
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    9/8/2010 Nate G. says:

    Oh come on! I'm not the arse here. She could just as easily have asked "Hey what are the best brunch places in Toronto, maybe even some that are worth lining up for (I hate lining up if I don't have to but if it's worth it......)"

    Done. Answered. Boom.

    But noooo she's gotta be one of THOSE who makes sweeping generalizations about Torontonians and refuses to apply an iota of common sense to her statements and questions.

    I just called her on it. I find that annoying.

    Maybe if it typed "(I just had to, I'm sorry)" after, it would have taken the sting out... that's how that works right?

  9. Photo of Nicole H.
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    9/8/2010 Nicole "the Antipodean one" H. says:

    I don't think i've ever waited more than 15 minutes for a brunch table in Toronto. I have my set of favourite places (Calico, Fresh, Sadie's) and they usually do well to seat and serve me promptly, so I never really bother looking elsewhere!

  10. Photo of Nate G.
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    9/8/2010 Nate G. says:

    but.. but... don't you love lineups??

  11. Photo of Jennifer M.
    9/8/2010 Jennifer "associasian" M. says:

    Lady Marmalade.

  12. Photo of Chris P.
    9/8/2010 Chris "How quickly can I hit 4 digits?" P. says:

    Actually Nate you are the ass here.

  13. Photo of Chris P.
    9/8/2010 Chris "How quickly can I hit 4 digits?" P. says:

    Whoops, I wasn't done.

    For wahtever reason people love to line up.  Almost every time I go to the grocery store there is a lineup 6 people deep for one cashier while another cashier has 1 person waiting.

    Wendy didn't generalize, you are just taking what she said personally and trying to stir up shit for whatever reason.

    Now you are making sweeping generalizations about her writing style and personality.  I'll call you out on it and I won't put "I just had to, I'm sorry" because there is clearly no need to because someone obviously did piss in your corn flakes this morning.

  14. Photo of Danielle P.
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    9/8/2010 from Yelp for iPhone Danielle "simplification of anything is always sensational" P. says:

    I know Wendy personally, and while I think this is terribly unnecessary, she would be the LAST person to be truly judgmental and is undeserving o your ire Nate. Maybe what is more likely is that she was being clever and pointing out one of the more prevalent commonalities in the downtown core. So Nate maybe you should just give it a rest and tell us where you would line up for brunch.

  15. Photo of Nicole H.
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    9/8/2010 Nicole "the Antipodean one" H. says:

    @Nate Don't I love lineups? Well, i'm not a Torontonian so I don't think I can give you an answer you'll be happy with somehow.

  16. Photo of Vivek S.
    9/8/2010 Vivek "When I wake up imma be yelping" S. says:

    I'll admit it, I've waited an hour for brunch, and I'd do it again.  I don't just think it's a Torontonian thing either, Canadians seem to love to gather in a queue.

    I've waited patiently at:
    Aunties and Uncles
    Le Petit Dejeuner
    Lady Marmalade
    Bonjour Brioche

    It always seems extra worth it at the end.  Maybe it's a delayed gratification thing?  I don't know.

  17. Photo of Chris P.
    9/8/2010 Chris "How quickly can I hit 4 digits?" P. says:

    I don't mind waiting for brunch as long as I don't have to physically stand in line.  Take my name down and tell me to come back or give me one of those flashy buzzer things that pages me when my table is ready.

  18. Photo of Tony F.
    9/8/2010 Tony "tells the truth, even when I lie" F. says:

    I'm a Torontonian and I love lineups!

  19. Photo of Tony F.
    9/8/2010 Tony "tells the truth, even when I lie" F. says:

    @Nate: I think you have to switch coffee brands and stop being one of those people..

  20. Photo of Amanda A.
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    9/8/2010 Amanda A. says:

    Well, actually Nate - I was making a breakfast/brunch-related joke so my comment was pretty light hearted. I seem to have forgotten that the Yelp message boards are serious business.

  21. Photo of Danielle P.
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    9/8/2010 from Yelp for iPhone Danielle "simplification of anything is always sensational" P. says:

    Mmmm bonjour brioche is a secret love. But I enjoy the lunch portion of their brunch.

  22. Photo of Kat F.
    9/8/2010 Kat "don't get me started!" F. says:

    The longest I've waited for brunch was at Aunties & Uncles, but this was before I discovered that they have weekday brunch (NO line). And as soon as I became friends with Sarah "I don't wait in line for anything" L I started going to less popular places - I'm partial to Bus Terminal Diner and of course Lady Marmalade...but Morning Glory and Big Mamma's Boy are both pretty great, still kind of east.

  23. Photo of Thom H.
    9/9/2010 from Yelp for iPhone Thom H. says:

    I just don't get it.  Years ago, decent szchewan food required lining up.  But that was dinner.  As they say, Breakfast is not the most important meal of the day.  I can't line up for anything I could have cooked myself.

  24. Photo of Brenda S.
    9/9/2010 Brenda "the world's first insulting detective" S. says:

    I adore brunch but I can't imagine waiting that long for any brunch in Toronto. (I'll wait half an hour to be seated at the Pickle Barrel, but then they have all-day breakfast anyways.)

    If you're ever in Cambridge, Mass., go to the S&S. It's a Jewish deli dating back to 1912 and I have never had breakfast/brunch that good anywhere else. I'll wait a while to get in there.

  25. Photo of Laura C.
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    9/9/2010 Laura "Lala" C. says:

    hoof cafe

  26. Photo of susan c.
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    9/10/2010 susan "My hat is not filled with marzipan" c. says:

    @Wendy: I actually have a list called "Brunch Is Overrated: But these places are worth it." http://www.yelp.com/li...

    @Thom: ITA on "I can't line up for anything I could have cooked myself."

    @Nate: Your response was assholish and overblown, much like a hemorrhoid.

  27. Photo of Nate G.
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    9/10/2010 Nate G. says:

    oh hell.....  

    http://boards.altgn.co...

  28. Photo of Chris P.
    9/10/2010 Chris "How quickly can I hit 4 digits?" P. says:

    To answer your question Nate, we are real people.  We regularily attend events together and meet each other in real life. Yelp is not some forum where people have the total anonymity of the internet to hide behind.  Frankly, we don't put up with crap like your offensive comments and have no problems calling you out on it.

  29. Photo of Nate G.
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    9/10/2010 Nate G. says:

    Offensive comments?? I was just calling her out on her shit. I made a joke about "Why don't you go *beep*" but wasn't trying to say something offensive.  But honestly you think I'm hiding behind internet anonymity? I know a handful of people on here in real life, I live in the Annex on St.George, come swing by, I can tell you I'm not hiding behind anonymity.

    I'm just talking like I would talk in real life. Someone says something pretentious or ridiculous, I'm gonna call them on it.

    I'm not going out of my way to try and be an ass, I'm just calling it as I see it.

  30. Photo of Richie S.
    9/10/2010 from Yelp for iPhone Richie "Food Slut™" S. says:

    This is making me tired all over.

  31. Photo of Kat F.
    9/10/2010 Kat "don't get me started!" F. says:

    http://i39.tinypic.com...

    OK...so, let's go back to talking about the subject at hand: brunch that's worth the wait. Is everyone over Le Petit Dejeuner or is it still a contender for top brunch?

    Posted by a Yelp Ambassador

  32. Photo of Suzanne K.
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    9/12/2010 from Yelp for iPhone Suzanne K. says:

    Mildred's Temple Kitchen....great pancakes!

  33. Photo of a m i r p a s h a p.
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    9/13/2010 from Yelp for iPhone a m i r p a s h a "The New Guy" p. says:

    I'm gonna go with Mildred's Temple Kitchen too!
    It's gotta cool waiting area and you can get your drink/coffee from the bar and  it is worth it.
    I haven't met anyone of you guys yet! We should all go for a brunch...
    Chris and Nate can get to know each other as well :))

  34. Photo of Melanie C.
    9/13/2010 Melanie C. says:

    Just discovered Black Metal Brunch on Sundays at Graffiti's in Kensington.  Zero wait for a table and fantastic food.  Great prices and service too.

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