Brunch provides the best of both worlds — the late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch is something you can’t do without, especially after a late night out in town. Toronto has endless brunch chains catering to all tastes and budgets. So, what do you do on a lazy day off? Kick-start your day with an appetizing meal. If you are out of choices, we have rounded up the most popular spots in the city to enjoy a hearty meal.
The breakfast-and-lunch restaurant Cora has seen unprecedented growth across Canada. Initially starting in 1987 as a small diner in Montreal, it now includes over 50 franchises in Quebec and 130 across Canada. Cora Tsouflidou, a self-made businesswoman, founded the tiny 29-seat diner in Montreal that became a popular franchise currently serving over 25,000 guests weekly across the nation. Cora’s specialty is its early bird menu, which includes a selection of crepes, bacon and eggs, omelettes, oatmeal, and fresh fruit. Cora also provides vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free breakfast and lunch specials for customers with dietary restrictions.
Eggsmart has more than 45 locations across Canada, providing a classic breakfast experience at affordable prices. Eggsmart’s signature breakfast is the New York Striploin with eggs, an innovative twist on the traditional breakfast consisting of eggs and steak. You can also opt for the big breakfast, which includes four eggs served in any style of your choice with sausage, smoked bacon, slices of smoked ham, and two buttermilk pancakes. The diverse menu includes a variety of burgers, the all-time Canadian favourite poutine, burritos, classic sandwiches, and a range of beverages.
With a high guest satisfaction rating and both national and international growth, Eggspectation is rapidly expanding. With close to 30 locations across the globe and 13 in Canada, the Montreal-based franchise is not resting on its laurels. The restaurant’s diverse menu includes various choices, from freshly prepared eggs benedict to French crepes, Belgian waffles, pancakes, pasta, burgers, seafood, and steak. If you are staying home and don’t feel like going out, Eggspectation offers catering services for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can book in advance for large events and treat your guests or clients to a unique culinary selection.
Where would Canada be without Tim Hortons? The beloved Canadian coffeehouse and restaurant isn’t a quintessential brunch spot; nevertheless, it serves great breakfast and lunch. Founded in 1964 by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and business partner Jim Charade, it started as a burger restaurant. With over 4,300 locations across Canada and 13 other locations around the globe, Tim Hortons has everything from freshly prepared hot breakfast sandwiches to grilled wraps. The chain has a wide selection of hand-crafted hot and cold lattes with different flavours, including vanilla, mocha, and caramel. Its exceptionally roasted original signature coffee blend is Canada’s favourite. Other specialties include hash browns, breakfast snacks, and a tasty selection of Timbits and donuts.
The famous British sandwich and coffee shop made its Toronto debut in 2022. The GTA’s first Pret a Manger is inside the A&W at 60 John St. Keeping up with the franchise’s legacy, it serves baguette sandwiches, croissants, frittatas, and a range of tasty, sweet treats, and coffees. Its breakfast menu includes egg and cheddar or egg and bacon baguettes, as well as a selection of healthy bowls. Lunch specials include hot and cold wraps like crunchy chicken and avocado, falafel and hummus, and chicken parm.
Egg Club creates flavourful egg sandwiches on fluffy Japanese milk bread. It has several locations across the GTA, including Wellesley, Dundas, North York, and Liberty Village. Thanks to its diverse menu, Egg Club has an array of specialty egg sandwiches, such as the classic chipotle egg sandwich served with lobster, corn, lettuce, and chipotle sauce over fluffy Japanese bread called shokupan. Meat lovers can indulge in the smoked sausage patty egg sandwich with slices of thick-cut bacon and mayonnaise sauce. Other options include ham and cheese, creamy corn salsa, classic BLT, and guacamole egg club sandwiches.
Aaron Levinson | Staff Writer
