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| - I don't get the harshly negative reviews for this place! It's the kind of food and the kind of space, (with a nice patio right on Bloor) that really puts the "home" in "homestyle." It's not *stellar* but it's comforting and good quality.
The eggs benedict (of which there are a few varieties - you can get it with spinach, smoked salmon, etc.) are nicely done, as are most of the breakfast items (great French toast!)
Their standard menu is a little bit weak in its content. It offers light fare with a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern slant, including salads (the Nicoise is nice), a burger, kebabs, and platters with tabouleh, hummus and/or falafel.
Fortunately, the extensive and often rotating specials list usually has something eye-catching enough to warrant a try, especially the daily soups - most recently, I had chilled borscht with a punchy, just-picked beet flavour and soft tacos with chipotle beef, refried beans and salsa verde. The food might not knock your socks off but it is made well, simply, fairly quickly, and with good ingredients.
I am quite fond of the fries that come default with any of the sandwiches - they're of the little, curly, crisp filament type, and have a satisfying salty crunch. I'd eat a whole plate if it wouldn't probably give me a stomach ache afterward.
The service could be better - a bit rushed and inattentive - and though some people have noted that they find the prices off-putting, I certainly didn't mind paying $12 or somesuch thing for a tasty soup and sandwich with fries and a chance to kick back on their shady, comfortable patio.
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