By The Way in Toronto

400 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1X5, Canada

★★★★☆
(672 reviews)
Categories: Mediterranean restaurant Breakfast restaurant Middle Eastern restaurant

About

By The Way (BTW) is a contemporary downtown bistro offering fresh and flavourful Mediterranean cuisine with an Israeli flair. The menu features a selection of perfectly grilled dishes like chicken and lamb kabobs, as well as an array of bright and colourful salads, and authentic Middle Eastern mezzes. Located at the corner of Bloor and Brunswick, BTW is proud of its strong connection to the vibrant Annex neighbourhood, where it has been a landmark since 1978. BTW is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and weekend brunch. It's within walking distance of the Bloor / Spadina subway station, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, the University of Toronto, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Royal Conservatory's Koerner Hall.

Website
bytheway.to
Address
400 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1X5, Canada
Plus Code
MH8R+9W Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
10 AM–4 PM
Tuesday
10 AM–9 PM
Wednesday
10 AM–9 PM
Thursday
10 AM–9 PM
Friday
10 AM–9 PM
Saturday
9 AM–9 PM
Sunday
9 AM–8 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating No-contact delivery Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Great tea selection
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
High chairs
Parking
Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.1
★★★★☆
672 reviews

Most Mentioned

brunch (97) patio (76) eggs benedict (25) dill sauce (15) omelette (14) bagel (12) hollandaise (9) home fries (9) shakshuka (7) brie (6)
5 stars
368
4 stars
159
3 stars
63
2 stars
41
1 stars
41
★★★★
December 11, 2024

Great service. Good food. Servers checked on me super smiles and eye contact just the right amount of time. Great view of Bloor St0reet. It was chilly seated by the opening and closing door.

★★★★★
November 29, 2024

Lovely downtown bistro. They keep their menu small, which means the kitchen is not stretched too thin trying to create dishes from 10 different cuisines. On busy nights, service can be a bit slow, but hey ...it allows more time to socialise. Food is consistently great and delicious.

★★★★★
July 31, 2024

Just enjoyed the kale halloumi salad with added tofu - plentiful, healthy and delicious, especially with the homemade hot sauce on the side. The indoor atmosphere is quite comfortable with a cute patio option. If it weren’t such a humid day, I’d have sat outside. The servers were kind and attentive.

★★★★★
July 15, 2024

Fantastic brunch spot in the heart of the Annex. There's a huge maple tree around which their covered patio is built, which adds to the charm of the dining experience. The food is fresh, the service is fast, friendly, and fun. They top up your coffee to your hearts content, and I now realize that I maybe overdid it again with my caffeine intake, but that's a me problem.

★★★
May 27, 2024

Not quite enough! True in many aspects for this place, as I dropped by with some buddies for a quick brunch. I got the lamb omelette, but I wanted more Middle Eastern spices, more juicy lamb chunks, more potatoes! The flavours are there, but lacking in punch, and there just isn’t enough to chew on. Bagel AND homefries? Skip one and give me more of the good stuff! Annoyingly close to being great, but I can only give a half-hearted recommendation.

★★★★★
February 15, 2024

Tried lunch here today for the first time. The servers (& manager) were notably friendly, attentive, and helpful. It’s not a big restaurant, but they made every effort to accommodate our large group (7) as quickly as possible. When one of our kids couldn’t find anything they liked on the menu (we thought it’d be brunch but that’s only on weekends), the kitchen kindly made up some French toast, which the little one described as “the best [they’d]ever had!” I ordered the Eggs Charlottine; it was delicious (especially the dill sauce) and also in the category of best I’ve ever had. The home fries were seasoned (a more Mediterranean flavour?) so they tasted different from what I expected, but I enjoyed them. They were out of smoothies so I would love to try one next time. Overall the food was delicious and the service great. I’ll be back.

★★
January 3, 2024

I was looking for a nice dinner place for a celebratory dinner, that has so e vegetarian and vegan options for me as well. I saw this place and its great reviews. But was terribly disappointed last night after my meal. I basically felt that being a vegan, I only need to eat raw food. Ugh. My friends liked their chicken and fish, not so much the lamb and beef. And I hated their “vegan special”! It said it has “vegan balls with cucumber, carrot, astec rice and tofu with sauce”. When I got my food, there were some chopped veggies, lot of quinoa and rice and some tofu. NO VEGAN BALL as mentioned in their “dinner special” menu. When asked about it, all I received was “sorry, the menu meant to say ‘bowl’ and not ‘ball’. And then the server left. So I basically paid $30 for raw veggies and rice. Are you kidding me?! I paid a bomb here, and all my money was basically wasted. Not going here again for sure. Vegetarian/vegan food is abysmal here! I gave two stars because the server was sweet in general. But I’m definitely quite sad about the food being wayyyy sub par for vegetarians.

★★★★
April 22, 2023

The food was wonderful, and you can tell it is all home made. I ordered the $30 steak frites and had a wonderful lunch. I wish the portions were slightly bigger as the prices are very high and i found I wasn’t full after this expensive meal. I also noticed the dishes around me were very small. It is definitely not a place for students as it is expensive and the portions aren’t huge (I am a student) but I was eager to try it. Overall, wonderful food, just pricy and small portions. Make of that what you will. :)

★★★★★
December 14, 2024

Great service. The dill hollandaise sauce is awesome!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 14, 2024

Dillon hollandaise is amazing. Food is always fresh and speedy service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 30, 2024

Very limited space without the patio. Otherwise, excellent kana shank and the house red was a very good choice. Recommend the appetizer platter. Some of the best baba ganoush and hummus Ive had in Toronto.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 30, 2024

Nice little place. Server was very personable and kind. Food was really really good had the just eggs ( egs, sausage, homefries with a bagel. And a coffee.) And recommend no matter what you have to get some hot sauce with it if you like some heat, very flavorful not just hot for the sake of hot. Would definitely come again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 30, 2024

Delicious food and friendly staff. Will return!

★★★★★
November 21, 2024

Popped in for some breakfast and vibes courtesy of server Zoe were immaculate. Totally impressed with the young lady s service intelligence and generally nice demeanour, and the food was also quite good. 10/10 recommend !

★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

First server was very accommodating then got switched to a different one that left us waiting for our bill in the cold for 20 minutes with no apology. The food was very good though.

★★
November 21, 2024

The first server was very nice but an older lady took over, because we were a party of 6 and had to do the mandatory 18% tip it felt as if she didn t even care about us. We waited 20 minutes after asking for the bill in the cold. She also was yelling at a coworker in front of us. Food was nice despite all of this.

November 21, 2024

This is to express my disappointment with an experience I had at your café on November 1st, 2024. I arrived around 10:45 a.m. and planned to stay for coffee while I await for an appointment. When I asked if I could sit and have my drink, I was told by the staff member on duty that this was not allowed because the manager doesnt allow it. I was quite surprised by this response, as I am familiar with the area and have visited your café before. I was under the impression that customers could sit and enjoy their beverages, especially given that the café was practically empty at the time. It felt unreasonable to deny a simple request to sit and have coffee, especially since I might have ordered additional items during my visit. I am unsure of the reason behind this refusal whether it was due to a misunderstanding or a policy I am not aware of but it left me feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome. I believe turning away a customer without reasonable cause may not reflect well on your establishment. An establishment may have rights to allow entry but not the right to police how much one may spend. What is that policy for?

October 21, 2024

terrible food terrible vibes.

★★★
October 21, 2024

Very average quality food, totally overpriced.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

So impressed at how real the food tasted... would definitely visit again

★★★★
October 21, 2024

Ate here and our server Dalulah or whatever was an absolute gem (should honestly quit and become a model)! She was so personable and kind! The shakshouka was also a very tasty bonus to the highest quality service I have ever received EVER.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Its really great here! The food was super yummy and they had a wide variety of things to try. I would recommend the Lox as it was very fresh. The service was also really good. It was busy near 10 but started to clear out around 11. Good for groups and brunch!

★★★
October 21, 2024

Drip coffee was not good

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Excellent food

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Came here on a Monday afternoon. Was greeted and sat right away by the server, Jessica, who was super friendly and provided amazing service. The food was also really good and fresh! I got the falafel appetizer and their fried halibut. Both were very tasty!

★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Nice place for brunch. Food was good. Service was excellent. Not sure if its just because its Toronto but cost was about 50% higher than I used to seeing in Oakville

★★★★★
September 21, 2024

The dill hollandaise on their eggs Benny was so tasty!! Service is fast and friendly, and they ve got a nice patio. Great local spot

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Wonderful breakfast and service by Wedsley! Highly recommended.

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Been coming to this place since I was a kid and Ive always had a great time. Really lovely staff and great food

★★
August 21, 2024

The food was good but the service was poor. Waitress never asked us if we wanted to order any drinks. When it came time for the bill, she added the tip herself before passing the eftpos machine and did not say anything. I think this is incredibly rude and unprofessional.

★★
July 21, 2024

Food is ok but service is horrible! They need training how to work in a restaurant and serve people. All rude and slow. I was there with four of my girlfriends and we all agreed that service was really bad. PLEASE avoid this place! - I d like manager or owner of the restaurant to check how on his staff Reply: Yes I will email you all details. By the way I just passed by your restaurant today,on Saturday, brunch time, and it s empty! Probably because of your staff who need training in Customer service

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

Great breakfast. Excellent service.

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

Atmosphere gets four stars but that s because you don t go here for the atmosphere. You go for the food!

★★
July 21, 2024

This place caught my eye for its patio looking cute. But the food wasnt great and the service was mid. For a restaurant being very dead that day, I expected to see the waitress more. I got like half a glass of water and didnt get a refill because the waitress wasnt present. My favorite part, they pour many glasses of water and have them sitting out until they give them to customers. There are other places in the area that are better

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

The food was really good and, dont remember the name of the server, was a tall girl, but the service was amazing, really recommend it!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Great service and food presentation.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Hands down the best hummus in the city! Served with fresh warm pita, its simply delectable !!

★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Came here for an early weekend breakfast. The quality and flavour of the food is fantastic and it s so lovely sitting on the patio watching the world go by on Bloor. I m not the biggest fan of their coffee, but if you re looking for a place for a casual, but nice breakfast, this is it

★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

The dill sauce on the eggs Benny is great but portions are small

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Stunning sheltered patio and the selection was exactly my taste. Lots of breakfast and brunch foods + vegetarian stuff. I had the brie and mushroom omelette but Im definitely going back to try the other dishes. Definitely recommend! Vegetarian options: Plenty of egg-based dishes like omelettes.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Everything was amazing

★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

The fries and other sides were excellent the steak left a little to be desired. The back patio was excellent.

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

Went here a couple months ago, my server Julie, was amazing, surprised she didn t own the bar she cared so much. It was so busy that night and she was by herself and doing everything from sitting people and checking them out. Overall great food, great bar will come bac

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

I love the food of this place! I always come back :) I love the patio they have, it s perfect for sunny days :) Food

May 21, 2024

When my friends and I decided to visit this restaurant for brunch to celebrate a special occasion, we were met with extremely rude behavior from the staff. My friends were asked to leave after only 10 minutes, and when I arrived and explained that they were waiting for me, the staff insisted that no one was there and told me to leave as well. The waiters behavior was unacceptable and ruined our day. I would not recommend this place to anyone!

April 21, 2024

Terrible food, terrible service, fake cuisine

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

My fiance and I picked this spot at the last minute and to zero regret at that. We were immediately greeted warmly and seated by staff to our own choosing. Our server Dahlia, was phenomenal as she promptly accommodated our choice to sit beside each other instead of across even turning the table lengthwise to give us more space. The food was amazing, and the drinks were even better and at a very fair price. Would definitely recommend.

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Tha goat

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Great little spot in the Annex.

★★★
March 21, 2024

Had a savory brunch here this morning but one of the staff was continually berating and correcting one server and aggressively training a new server. This is a small restaurant and the lead server s tone and continual comments completely interrupted conversation and destroyed any pleasant ambiance.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Wonderful food and atmosphere, with excellent service. Cute little outside space (undercover with heaters in winter!). The staff were wonderful

★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Food was OK, service was very good, although the prices are a bit too high. Coffee was 4 dollars and their wine special for happy hour is 12 dollars for 6 oz. I know inflation is bad but this seems crazy.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

jess is a badass and an excellent server. coffee was spot on, eggs cooked perfectly. my first time here and i ll def be back

★★★★★
February 21, 2024

Excellent food and service! I had gone yesterday, Jan. 30, and I had a great time! The vegan dish of stuffed eggplant with couscous was delicious and budget friendly for vegan options. My friend had a fish dish with potatoes and a lovely sauce. Service was really nice as well! Vegetarian options: Vegetarian and Vegan Options Avaliable!

★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

Leor (sp?) Was extraordinary with his help to me and my busted knee. as I went down the steep stairs to the washroom and he ensured that I got back up safely. Kindness at BY THE WAY restaurant. The many diners appeared happy. Hugs and blessings ISH John ISH Ishmael Food Secure Communities Raised Box outdoor gardens, Brampton ON.

★★★★★
February 21, 2024

I have never had a bad meal at By The Way Cafe, starting in 1995. I recall Brie a la shum, the pumpkin ravioli, jerk chicken, shakshuka and steak sandwiches all being delicious and reasonably priced. It s an Annex institution for a reason.

Local Guide
February 21, 2024

Went for brunch with my girls and the service was so slow. Felt like we waited for an hour for our food and then when the food came it was so dry and not worth the wait. I was very disappointed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Great service. Breakfast was delicious and the heated patio was warm and cozy. Thank you. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Brunch with a friend who has dietary restrictions and this place still delivered a great meal for them. Enjoyed sitting on the covered, heated outdoor patio in December. Cute little corner restaurant with lovely staff and nice ambiance. Now I understand why its always so busy!

★★★★
January 21, 2024

Fresh delish food. Slightly overpriced for what you get. Im not sure why I had to pay extra to substitute fries for salad with my sandwich. A bit loud and hard to chat. Overall, yummy and unique though.

★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Very fast friendly service, and healthy smoothies

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

A cozy spot with delicious food and good service! My husband and I came here with another couple and loved our experience! The food is fenomenal! We shared hummas and our main dishes were the kufta and the chicken skewer dishes which come with rice and salad. The meat was tender and packed with flavour and the hummas was very good. The other couple we were dining with got their pasta special and their salmon special and they were also very happy with their meals! Will definitely come back, maybe for brunch to try something else :)

December 21, 2023

i regretted my purchase of a steak sandwich here. i paid $22 for the worst fries of my entire life (EXTREMELY overfried), and instead of a ciabatta bun i had my steak served me in some pita.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Took my daughter Crandice here after a stressful yet fulfilling day of gaslighting old people. She told me she was in the mood for some eggs Benedict so we stopped into By The Way. The meal was great. The eggs were cooked perfectly, the service was homey, and the dill hollandaise was a really nice touch. The price was also pretty reasonable for what we got. We will be back, and definitely recommend this spot after a long day of manipulating old folk.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Ok for breakfast

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Came here with a friend during the summer for brunch. Great service, great food, great atmosphere!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I went here on Tuesday night. I ordered my regular shrimp pasta. The sauce was amazing, the chef had made the sauce heavenly.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

My wife and I have gone here for Valentines day for several years and every time we go we have such a wonderful time. They put rose petals on the tables and the ambiance is so romantic and classy. Food and service is always great as well. Highly recommend!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Amazing food, perfect atmosphere, lovely staff, fantastic music. Highly recommend. Dietary restrictions: Celiac friendly

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

This restaurant has another eras feel. And you just have to sit down, take your time and enjoy your meal. Home made, great service.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Walked past on a sunny winter day and the yellow canopy covered patio caught my eye. Went in for brunch with a friend and were so pleasantly surprised. Stayed very warm in the patio (had our coats off!) and has a lovely time. Portions could have been a bit bigger for the price, but overall very delicious and reasonable.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Not the cheapest spot in the Annex but what they specialize in they do extremely well. Brunch is always great especially if youre looking for lox or some eggs benedict. Those of you just looking for basic grill fare (i.e. pancakes, eggs, bacon, and some hash browns) may find better value at other spots in the neighbourhood. Bring a sweater in the winter.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Eggs Benedict with their dill sauce is crazy good!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Yumm tasty food!

★★
December 21, 2023

I ordered the $30 flat iron steak with herbed butter in a medium rare. It was not only cold when it arrived (the veggies were steaming hot) but the butter was served on top in thick cold slices??? Who eats butter in chunks. And it couldn t melt on cold steak. Mistakes happen so I ve never given a bad review before. But this time I had to because when I told the server it was cold she said it has to rest after cooking . I said you might as feel a slice of meat yourself to see, because I m not eating it and I showed her that even mashing the butter didn t start any melting. So she took it away and made great pains to tell me I would get a fresh steak cooked. But 15 minutes later, the same steak arrived. I know because it was a flat iron steak has a pointed end, which was missing because I had eaten it already for further evidence, the red middle was now pooched out on every slice instead of even with the brown. It was nuked. AND THEY PUT MORE COLD SLICES OF BUTTER!!!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Had the BEST brunch in years here today. Amazing service, food, table. Highly recommended.

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Small portions for the amount of money.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

This place is amazing, the food is delicious, great atmosphere and the staff very friendly! We went for breakfast during our trip to Toronto and liked it so much that we came back for lunch 2 days later! Try the tiramisu

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

The food was fantastic with perfect size, love the ambience. don t forget to try their bagel ! Parking: For parking you should park in municipality parking and not to far maybe 2 blocks from the location

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Came in for weekend brunch. Cozy restaurant in a nice lively stretch on Bloor. I liked the menu and will be back but for now I ll say the avocado toast needs to get real or be taken off the menu, >$25 and barely had any avocado in it :(

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The best Eggs Benny. Ive been coming here for over 20 years, and since moving from Toronto, I literally fly across the country to have it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

We had their steak, which was really good. one of them came a bit under but not a big deal, probably would have been an easy fix. Food was really tasty and our server was great Feels like a mix between home-cooked meets restaurant. I would recommend for a chill night out. Side note: it is NOT wheelchair accessible.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

We went for lunch. Little pricey but worth it. The food is SO good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

BTW it s A M A Z I N G!! Food: Is so delicious I keep going back and trying different things and haven t been disappointed yet! One thing is better than the next. FYI: One best fries I had

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Busy little place! Amazing food, good service and the prices are just right.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The patio area was nice and was shady. However, food and service were not good. Mediocre at best. We came for brunch but portions were VERY little. My plate was barely filled for a meal that costs $17 (eggs benedict). I was hungry and still left hungry after eating. It wasn t just us. We looked around and other people s plates were barely filled as well. The waitress was very unwelcoming upon us coming in and aggressively raised her voice at us to wait. It was a nice warm day so I was in the mood for cold drinks. I ordered an iced latte and was given a hot latte, which I was very disappointed about among other things. Considering there are SO many alternative brunch options in the Annex, I will give this place one star. It just fell short in so many ways. I feel scammed.

December 21, 2023

Two of us paid more than $70 for brunch in cash, by the way the food tasted mediocre, and the service was worst.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food is decent here. They have a patio which is good for summer. I ordered the steak and chicken. They both came with grilled veggies and potatoes. I like the food but not the cocktail. I ordered the classic Cosmopolitan and it was too sweet. I don t recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great breakfast options and very friendly service. Nice outside space for fresh air lovers. Food was full of flavour. Highly recommend shaksuka with sausage.

★★★
December 21, 2023

The quality of the food is subpar and the prices are high for what they serve. Nothing tasted fresh. I got the Jerusalem. The poached eggs and the Israeli salad were watery. My friend s shakahuka tasted like canned tomato sauce. Service was friendly but very slow. Location is great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

By the Way café has been around for a dogs age. Great place for having brunch; meeting friends; and people watching.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Very cute little restaurant with a LOVELY patio in the annex The food was excellent, would highly recommend the kebabs as that s what they do best! If you go on a weekday evening in the summer there are often buskers playing live music on the corner, which makes the patio experience even better Drinks are overpriced for sure, but I suppose that s just Toronto patios for you!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Nice little spot. The western omelette was just okay. Came with a bagel and breakfast potatoes. The porched Charlatan was a lot better

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Food was meh

December 21, 2023

Everything was fine until the waitress (old Asian one) started to be openly rude to me regarding tiping. I didn t find the service satisfying so I didn t want to leave the tips, yet she told me twice, that You are supposed to tip in a very agressive tone. I eventually left my change to her because I didn t want to hear this attitude but I m am definitely disappointed and will never come back. And I don t recommend coming back unless you want to be treated like a trash.

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

I always walked past this place and it always was busy so thought it would be good. Unfortunately it was not great. It was extremely overpriced and underwhelming. I got avocado toasted with poached egg and it was soggy and tasteless): it also had an egg shell in it, and i ate an egg shell! Maybe they were just having a bad day but i likely wont be back. The server was nice but we felt abandoned as we waited forever for our bill (like maybe 20 minutes after asking for it) anyways it was ok overall 2 stars and wont be back!): loved the patio tho and it is such a cute restaurant!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

I passed by here many times and finally had a chance to try it. Its a great little spot, food is ok, staff is friendly

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Just a right amt. of casual but relaxed atmosphere, with attentive & courteous service!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Lovely place for a tasty meal before a spectacular concert event!

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Our server essentially ghosted us upon my obvious disappointment that the restaurants Jerusalem Eggs are not actually that. They are just eggs served with a deconstructed Greek-style salad and dry bagel. Flavours are fine, but in truth you could easily make this at home and I was annoyed that I ordered based on my past experience of what Jerusalem Eggs actually are. Limited interactions with the server after this and the ones we had were unfriendly and short. The funny thing is, I have been a server/bartender for years. This is not how I would treat any customer - especially if they seemed upset by their order. In addition to this, had she made some effort, she would have recieved a sizeable tip and left us feeling happy and wanting to come back. Based on the service alone from our server I would never go back here. I would also have to say the menu was way overpriced for what we were served. On saying that, it is a cute atmosphere and the host was incredibly friendly and welcoming.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great location, nice service, good food. I would suggest some lime on the tabbouleh and virgin olive oil on the hummus - essentials! All the best!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Excellent little neighborhood restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good environment and tasty brunch!!!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

#Brunch #Toronto . Support local

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good Fresh Food! Loved the mez platter Food

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

This was insane, my friends and I got here at 10:50 we ordered eggs, a sandwich and french toast. Over 40min later our food had still yet to arrive, I understand that it was busy but Ive never been for breakfast/brunch that took this long. It was nearly noon and we were talking about leaving because of how long it took. Our server was absent the whole time and when my food arrived it was cold as though it had just been sitting around. Avoid this place unless you want to wait until noon for your cold and average food. Vegetarian options: Plenty of vegan options

★★★★
December 21, 2023

The atmosphere was too great 5/5. I did really love it. We picked 2 dishes from the poachers and they were good enough. Huge portion to me. Price seems affordable to the meal. I also got the calamari (had an eyelash inside but not a big deal). However, the squid was a little bit stinking. The service was okayy. Neither good nor bad.

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Overall good. Just waitress forgter herself to chat with other guests, meanwhile we on the next table waited quite many minutes to order.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great brunch/lunch. And staff was really friendly!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great restaurant. Quiet, food is exceptional. Went there for my parents anniversary for brunch. Would definitely recommend and come back.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Fabulous food , friendly service, love it

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Try the fried calamari and frites.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Stumbled upon this place on a Friday during brunch and wasnt disappointed! Definitely recommend their salad and brunch specials as well as their coffees and desserts. Great service even on a busy day.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food was good but bad service. Also, there were a lot of wasps outside which made us move from tables to others 3 times.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great patio!!!! Great service!!! Mexican coffee!!!!! Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free friendly Food

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Overpriced. Ive never had a waffle in my life that literally just came with maple syrup on the side. Cost $18! Fruit, ice cream or whipped cream all cost extra. It was nothing special too. I could make this at home and it would cost me $8-10. Server was nice and patio is cool.

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Server, food and atmosphere were great. Loved how spacious the patio was. However, I felt everything was a little overpriced for what you got. My avocado toast with a poached egg was $22 and it wasnt even tones of food! My friend got an ultra sad looking waffles with no fruits or whipped cream or anything...simply a waffle and maple syrup...$18! It was comical how sad it looked. I also ordered an orange juice...I was told that it was freshly squeezed but it was a light yellow colour...honestly tasted like PC orange juice and it was $5! Overall, decent spot but not for the price.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food was great. The service was excellent..The waitress was very funny

★★★
December 21, 2023

If they stop serving the slow cooked brisket this will go back to 5 stars :) there Hollandaise is unlike any others and is so delicious, the perfect Match for the spinach and salmon benny. Make sure to try the shakshuka

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Stumbled upon this gem! Loved the ceiling art and unique seating. Caleb made the most delicious Chai latte. Must check out! Will definitely be visiting again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Always happy with the meals here- fresh mezze, kebabs and other things I ve had. Service is prompt and friendly. Heaters for the outside patio are strong. Bathrooms are dungeon- like and musty-smelling but clean- no choice in Toronto downtown so I don t blame them. A favourite in the area.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

This place has a very particular policy about seating. I arrived noonish on a Sunday, no reservations. They seated me on the heated patio even though there were several empty tables inside. I was waiting for friends who were driving in from out of town. In the first 5 minutes that I was seated, 2 employees came to me to ask how long it would take for my party to arrive. I counted 10 empty tables on the patio. When my friends arrived, one of them was too cold to sit on the patio, so we asked to go indoors. Even though there were many empty tables, the server told us no tables were available.... We ended up leaving the place. The employees did nothing to make us feel welcomed. They need to realize that customers are out during the weekend relaxing after a hard week of work. The manager was going on about needing to maximize on tables when most of the tables were empty. I do not recommend this place. Too bad, it used to be a great place.... Been going there since the days when it was the Lickin Chicken! Awful service and awful vibe.

December 21, 2023

Extremely expensive, and very unpleasant food. For the love of god dont get the dill sauce, theyll just a dump a litre of rancid tasting mayonnaise on everything. I asked if Dill Sauce was mayonnaise. The waitress said no. I ordered a dish with it; lo and behold, mayonnaise. The worst Eggs Benedict Ive ever had- though technically not an Eggs Benedict as its smothered in cheap rapeseed oil- Im not even sure they make it themselves. Cold, greasy, mayonnaise. Also, very, very expensive! Their burger- which is 20 dollars- doesnt come with cheese or bacon. If you want them, itll be 28 dollars- 4 dollars each! 28 DOLLARS FOR A BURGER. Do yourself a favour. Go anywhere else nearby. Give this place a miss.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

The pita bread there is amazing - I ordered more to go home. The smoothies are unique and soooo good. Loved the halloumi salad.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Service, price and atmosphere are always 5 stars. Eggs benny dill sauce, I could bathe in it

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Amazing food, good drinks, great atmosphere Good veggie options and starters - the halloumi bowl and cauliflower are perfect

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great food, ambience and hostess

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Friendly relaxed service. Following all the protocols.

December 21, 2022

Disappointing experience

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

By The Way is always great. The food is fresh and delicious and their brunch never disappoints. I had the avocado toast with a side of their legendary dill sauce on the side (seriously, they should bottle and sell this, its insanely good). Service is always friendly and this place is just so cheerful and homey. Youve gotta check it out!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Stopped by there for lunch recently. Had an excellent prosciutto sandwich. Good service, good ambiance.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Very quick and friendly service, and absolutely delicious brunch! The dill sauce on their eggs benedict was absolutely incredible

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Fantastic brunch options! The eggs Benedict and the waffles are amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Always a good meal in a relaxed setting.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Really nice brunch place. The food is amazing and so so tasty. I had the eggs Benedict with Pea meal and it was so delicious. Also their tiramisu is authentic and really well done. Its a really cute place and they sat us on mothers day with no reservation!

★★★
December 21, 2022

Decent service, mediocre and overpriced food. $3 upcharge to substitute home fries with a side of salad. Zero salad options on the brunch menu, very bread and meat heavy. Benedicts aren t Benedicts, since no hollandaise. Home fries are soft, not crispy. $20 for a regular egg breakfast that isn t any better than sunset grill. No shade on the patio, lots of baking sun. I would never make a point to select this place, will only return if that s where others wish to go.

★★
December 21, 2022

Popped in here as lovely patio area and good reviews. Pretty disappointing lunch - overpriced. Husbands chicken pitta with fries meal was super cold. Service was fine, the waiter was attentive

December 21, 2022

Shakshuka was very disappointing. More like 1-2 eggs in tomato sauce rather than a quality Shakshuka.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Nice neighborhood spot. Food is good to excellent. Well prepared and seasoned, if fairly standard. Highly recommended. Food

December 21, 2022

The patio drew us in, but the food ruined the experience. We had the cauliflower appetizer and it was soft and mushy, all you tasted was tahini and nothing else. Seafood linguini was just as disappointing with overcooked noodles that you couldnt spool on a fork and mussels that still had sand in them. Lamb skewers were also overcooked. The only thing enjoyable was the side salad...

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Good food, ok staff, nice location. The patio is a bit run down for the prices. The staff is not very friendly. The food is good though.

★★★
December 21, 2022

the first time i went the food was amazing, but both times the drinks were way too strong like they were made incorrectly, basically undrinkable. the vegan burger was basically a falafel and totally fell apart when i fell apart when i picked it up. all the other things i ve tried were amazing but the drinks were a serious issue.

★★★
December 21, 2022

Ive been here a couple times now; the service is friendly and attentive. The food is incredible, but both times Ive been here the drinks were ridiculously strong. You cant enjoy them, it tastes like straight booze.

December 21, 2022

Omg. The portions are so small for the money you pay So sad

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

A good brunch place that has a Middle Eastern influence with several healthy options to choose from. They offer a Brunch special menu and and a regular menu and a Smoothie menu. The food offers good portions and a pleasant ambience with alcoholic coffees also available. Portion sizes are adequate but not overly large but the quality is good. A good try if you are in the neighbourhood!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

This place was great! Though the space is smaller and quaint, the staff were great about accommodating our large group last minute, and the food was amazing and healthy (though the portions were slightly on the smaller side). With the clean, homey atmosphere and the efficient, friendly service, I left feeling really good and I plan to visit again!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Food is great and excellent customer service! They actually care about their customers! Love the Vegan platter and the raspberry chocolate cake!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Thank you so much By The Way! The food was fantastic and the service impeccable. Neiland and Amir were so responsive and accommodating to us and our company dinner. Don was a lovely server, and made sure we were all catered to. The event turned out even better than we could have imagined. We will definitely be working with this team again.

December 21, 2022

Walked into this restaurant on Sunday for brunch and asked for a table for two. We stood in the doorway for 15 mins simply because we asked not to be seated at the only two seater table in the sun. This wouldnt have been a problem except for the fact that there were FIVE four seater tables that were completely open and the servers refused to seat us there. The worst part was that we were the only people waiting for a table for 15 mins. There was no line or other groups waiting to be seated. I love to support local, but I will not support bad and ignorant service.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Enjoyed my brunch on the patio here. Service was prompt and super friendly and my eggs Benedict were delicious, will be dreaming about that dill hollandaise. Would ve preferred a more fried home fry, this was more boiled and then pan fried, but that s personal preference. Would definitely come back to try some of their other Benedicts and brunch items.

★★
December 21, 2022

Got the shakshouka and payed 20 dollars for a pile of soupy garbage it was so horrible I had to take a picture

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Excellent brunch and lovely staff

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Meh. Wasn t anything special! Had gluten free options and was able to switch out the bagel for gluten free toast.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Love this place, food was amazing, prosecco amazing. Extra clean and cozy, will definitely come again

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Very good service. Love the patio. Fairly priced

December 21, 2022

We had to wait for over an hour to get our food; the staff was very rude when the food finally arrived, they forgot one dish. I asked to speak with the manager, but unfortunately, he did not seem to care. I will NOT go back to this place!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

I go here several times a week and I always love the food. The specials change often and keep it fresh. The borscht was 20/10, ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Went here for breakfast with my wife and step daughter. By the way, is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. Cup of coffee 4$. Really!

December 21, 2022

Expensive, bad service and not clean - NOT RECOMMENDED!

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Went there for brunch with friends today. I found the avocado toast with fries blunt. The dill sauce was ok. My friends did not like their omelettes much, either. The Cranberry scone was a small cookie which contained exacrly 1 Cranberry - for a bold $6 (yes six!). Service was good, patio was quite nice. Overall, we found the quality mediocre and the prices over the top. The avocado toast, e.g., clocked in at $20 (before tax and tip).

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great patio.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

We ve been coming to our fave neighborhood restaurant twice a month for lunch or dinner. Always attentive service by Maria or Wensley and delicious food from the small but mighty kitchen. We ve enjoyed calamari, chicken and lamb kebabs, salads and daily fish specials. They are accommodating in switching sides that we like from their menu to make the meal enjoyable. Good selection of draft beer and wine by the glass.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Excellent quality food and service! Will definitely come back and I highly recommend this restaurant!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Delicious Salmon Egg Benedit. Space was clean and relatively quiet dispite being packed indoors and for a Sunday 10am. Coffee refills was a joy. Will definately come back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Solid brunch, great menu, amazing staff, beautiful location.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Went here for a brunch and ordered the shaksuka (me) and breakfast meal (my friend). The food was great and the server was super friendly. This is definitely one of the best brunch in the Korean Town.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great service and tasty fresh food. Good portions and reasonably priced

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Stumbled across this brunch spot while in the Annex, and it ended up being a great spot to have brunch. Large outdoor heated patio. The food was tasty, especially the potatoes. Would recommend as a place to check out. Annette served us and was lovely. Would go back. Large selection of smoothies and veggie options.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great food. Good service. Great location

December 21, 2022

20 bucks for plain waffles