"Do you like working here?"
"Not really"
"Seriously? You would never know."
"Then thanks, I'm doing my job well then."
Allens is not the kind of place where I can ask the waitress to join us when she's off work. It is much classier.
The good:
- Best back patio on the east side. I will fight you to defend this title.
- Best burger in Toronto, IMO. They ground the meat onsite and will cook it to order. It's a tall and stout burger, which is how burger patties should be formed.
- GREAT brunch. Kat F and I headed over here on Mother's Day at noonish, and I have to say that Allen's rivals the 'good brunch' places on Queen East (ed levesque, lady marmalade). It was slightly non-traditional for me, with the homefries being a bacon and sweet potato hash and the toast being replaced with a fresh biscuit so of course I was apprehensive but everything was perfect. The ceasars are reasonably priced and could hold their own in a 3 round bout with the burger for best item on the menu.
- Good beer list, there is always something I want on it.
The bad:
- It's too expensive. The burger is $10.25 (which is actually not listed on the menu) and it doesn't come with fries. They are an extra $6 or something equally ludicrous. When we ate here for brunch it was $50 with only one caesar. The orange juice was over $5. I've had dinner for 2 there with a couple beers and it been easily over $100.
- I find the overly professional staff off-putting. I wish they were more friendly. They all behave the same way though so it must be part of the gig.
Pro Tip:
- Park at the Loblaws at Broadview and Danforth; it's also a public pay lot. It's $3.00 flat rate on weekends and after 6.
I will definitely go to Allen's again. I always have a good time and I generally need to eat that burger once a month.