Starving Artist in Toronto

833 Runnymede Rd, Toronto, ON M6N 3V8, Canada

★★★★★
(456 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant

About

Open for Dine In

Website
starvingartist.ca
Address
833 Runnymede Rd, Toronto, ON M6N 3V8, Canada
Plus Code
MG98+WQ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
9 AM–6 PM
Monday
9 AM–4 PM
Tuesday
9 AM–4 PM
Wednesday
9 AM–4 PM
Thursday
9 AM–4 PM
Friday
9 AM–4 PM
Saturday
9 AM–6 PM

Services

Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Coffee
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dessert
Amenities
Toilets Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Family friendly Groups
Payments
Credit cards NFC mobile payments
Children
Good for kids
Parking
Free parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.5
★★★★★
456 reviews

Most Mentioned

potato waffles (44) brunch (38) eggs benedict (19) latte (10) potato salad (9) avocado (8) ATM (6) poached eggs (6) waffle sandwich (5) waffle iron (5)
5 stars
340
4 stars
53
3 stars
21
2 stars
16
1 stars
26
★★★★★
December 7, 2024

Starving Artist is my go-to spot for brunch, and they never disappoint! Consistency is key, and they nail it every time. Their customer service is always great—warm, welcoming, and attentive, which makes every visit even better. I absolutely love their vanilla almond latte iced—it’s my must-have drink—and I always order the B Benny when I visit. This time, my partner tried the chicken and waffles, and he really enjoyed his plate too. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I’ll always keep coming back; this place is truly a gem!

★★★★★
October 7, 2024

I would like an option of bottom less coffee. Everything is delicious, a big menu with also sweet options! Perfect spot for a date, a family meeting or solo brunch! I love the decor and the service.

★★★★★
July 25, 2024

The service was great, we were a group of 7 walked in and taken care of immediately. We thought for sure we’d have to wait quite some time for our food and were extremely pleasantly surprised we did not wait long at all. All 7 of us order two meals, one to eat in and one to take with us. I’m absolutely blown away with how delicious the food was and the portions were huge! Highly recommended!

★★★★★
June 29, 2024

Great food! That's number one! Eggs benny was amazing! Staff friendly, loads of parking, definitely a place to re-vist. One of the best breakfast places I've tried in years. Strawberry cheesecake milkshake was absolutely gorgeous. Recommend everybody to try. You won't regret it. I rarely write reviews. Place needs to stand out a lot for me to write anything about it.

★★★★★
October 22, 2023

Great food (the potato waffles were just *chef’s kiss*), great service (kept close eye on what we needed and when we needed them, e.g., timing of my coffee), great ambience (cool interior, good choice of background songs) — great experience overall. Unless you’re opposed to potatoes for whatever reason, the potato waffle here is a must try! Also, with inflation and all, we found the prices here totally reasonable too.

★★★★★
August 8, 2023

This place has such a great vibe with food and coffee to match! The two woman servers who are always there (don’t know their names — sorry!) are excellent. The prices are totally reasonable. And the fruit salad is very notably NOT just cantaloupe and melon. I normally do either the B Benny or the Fully Loaded (amazing, and potato waffles are a must), but tried the Smoked Salmon Waffle Toast today and was blown away. I bring all my out-of-town guests here for a guaranteed home run.

★★★★★
July 24, 2023

Excellent waffles! The waffles here are as good as advertised, and with the variety of toppings there’s something for everyone. The staff are friendly and very responsive, our server Sandra was great. My friend and I came in on a Thursday when it wasn’t very busy, but we could tell the staff are well equipped for the weekend rush. I’ll definitely be returning to try one of their sweet waffles!

★★
May 28, 2023

Great service but did not enjoy their potato waffles at all. The menu does not clearly show which have potato waffles and which are regular waffles so be careful or check with the server. Their potato salad was average but their vanilla milkshake was very good. The servers were very sweet but wish they highlighted that the dishes we were ordering had potato waffles.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2024

Always great service and lively atmosphere. But not so busy that you have to wait more than 10min for a table. I would highly recommend the B Benny on potato waffles and vegetarians will find it is easy to sub bacon for avocado in most menu items :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 16, 2024

I feel so lucky to have this place in the neighbourhood! Amazing waffles and a great atmosphere.

★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Starving Artist is a great spot for brunch with unique waffle dishes and creative menu options. The vibe is fun, and the food is tasty, though portions can be on the smaller side. Overall, a good choice for a casual meal with friends!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Amazing atmosphere amazing service & amazing breakfast/ brunch spot first time going

★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Food wasnt as great as I remember at Starving Artist. The eggs had no flavour and the cheese tasted like plastic. Waffles seemed slightly undercooked.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Wonderful food. Great service!

★★★★
September 23, 2024

Change the potato salad back, it s painfully different in look and taste

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Absolutely delicious dishes! Highly recommend to visit and try on your own

★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

It s a nice place however I m concerned about the wide open jars of sugar not being sanitary. I almost took my licked spoon and put it in the jar. They need a shaker jar. This is not sanitary each costumer has access to contaminating for the next person

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

Love this place!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Really enjoyed our breakfast here - amazing food and vibes, excellent customer service. We will be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Great brunch spot.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Excellent food, great coffee, very friendly staff. Highly recommended. They know their waffles :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Thank you., delightful experience.

July 23, 2024

Service is faster for eat in as opposed to ordering for take out. It seems that they prioritize eat-in over take out. If you are ordering take-out, it may take longer for them to start taking your order as opposed to eating in. You may asked to stand on the side for take out orders, meanwhile the eat in customers are seated and their order is already taken and you may still be waiting to even make a order. Just to be safe, the customer to should tip for takeout orders because waiters/waitress may depend on tips to make a living. It may not be ok to not tip for a takeout order. A tip must be made for staff to be happy and to survive, be motivated, or get ahead.

★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Great breakfast spot. Never had to wait in line here (I do tend to be there between 9-10). Waffles are tasty but if youre expecting the best waffle ever ....its just a great waffle with lots of options to dress it up

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Amazing breakfast place! Well worth the wait if theres a line (which there will be on Sat. and Sunday). Very friendly service, good prices and delicious food (everything is on waffles!). Parking: Parking shared with other businesses, often busy. Kid-friendliness: Many options for kids.

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

First time visiting and can t wait to comeback! I tried the Eggs Benedict on potato waffle and it was delicious! Highly recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Great dining experience The dishes are plentiful!!

July 23, 2024

Let me tell you how I went these just now and the service was the worst ever and I m a usual from 2020-2023 I moved to Niagara so haven t bin back in a while but I was in the gta and I could tell ALOT has change!I honestly hope this reaches the owner eyes cause hiring Indians for your business was the worst thing you ve ever done!. They don t know customer service and the lady there point to the table and tell me go sit there then she turn around and never addressed me about the menu, when I asked she was like it s on the table! I said I m on a meeting on my phone can I have a paper menu then she gave me it then walked off! Offered no drink and never came back !!! I had to tell the chef what I wanted for my order! Then they tell they prep the egg so I couldn t get egg whites! Two minutes later I m watching the chef crack the eggs!!!!!!! By the way the lady told me she prep the eggs in a mixture! So here the food comes! Only the omelette with nothing else on the plate no fruits or salad(was mind blowing) cause I don t remember service or food being this horrible! Then I left and wanted to pay my bill was 30 dollars cause I added avocado to my order and 1 waffle and bacon. I gave her 40 dollars and 50 cents cause my bill was 30.50 she gave me 9.50 LORDDDD AND SHE CANT COUNT !!! This was on July12, 2024 at 9:30am

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

There are good places to eat, great places to eat but only a few FANTASTIC places to eat. SA Remmy is one of those FANTASTIC places. Say hey to Marianna, Cela and David when you drop by. F&V

June 23, 2024

Two waitresses spent the entire time talking to each other about the parties they were going to. My group and one other table were the only ones in the restaurant for a while and it took a long time for them to come over to our table. They forgot different parts of our order and we received our drinks halfway through our meal. There was a long black hair cooked in our eggs, and no one at our table had black hair. When we informed them of this, they were not apologetic and were dismissive. Would not recommend. Maybe another location is better.

★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Food is tasty but very greasy! Service was very good.

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

Try the Bacon Avocado poached egg on waffles with a salad. Very good

★★★★
May 23, 2024

Cute place great service. Waffles were alright, not the best. Other than that, everything looked great and tasted good.

★★★★★
May 23, 2024

I would visit this place again, it was a wonderful breakfast experience with my homegirl!!

★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Service was weirdly confrontational the second we walked in. Barely had the door closed before we were being reprimanded for having it open and letting the cold air in. Got recommended dishes we specifically said we were allergic to. Got push back for not liking a drink we ordered. The only good thing this place has going for it is the quality of the waffles, specifically the non vegan ones. They should just specialize in waffles and be a waffle House instead of trying anything else. Not coming back, and I dont recommend it. Dietary restrictions: Lactose allergy. Had some options, but a bit limited. Wheelchair accessibility: None. Too narrow.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Love this place! Food was tasty and affordable. Staff was really nice.

April 23, 2024

My story goes back to the pandemic, before the pandemic we would go for waffles and the food was good, then Covid hit, so we would order our food by phone and we would pick it up cause we didn t live far well they were more concerned with the Uber orders, we found them rude on the phone so now I ve banned going there to me it was the Uber orders more important they didn t have the time to make our orders

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Hidden gem for sure in St Clair west. Love having brunch here!. The Sammy Benny with potato waffles are the best. Great price, great service and very tasty food. The portions are very good size too. They have art in the walls that you can buy which I think is a great concept to help local artists.

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

I ordered the Waffle Benny and really enjoyed it!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

We had a 20 minute wait for a table but it was totally worth it! Everything from their coffee to the meal was delicious. I had the B Benny, it came on Potato waffles, which were amazing, the eggs were cooked to perfection, and the hollandaise sauce was soooo good. The fruit salad was fresh and had 6 different kinds of fruits and a little side salad, the presentation was very pretty. Even though they were busy we did not feel rushed, the service was amazing, the waitress even offered to take a picture of the table for us, I was impressed by the level of attention. Im so happy we found Starving Artist!

Local Guide
March 23, 2024

$11 for a waffle that fits in the palm of my hand .. also heres how they packaged the whipped cream

Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Absolutely love this place

★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Waffle sandwiches, waffle desert, waffle, waffle, and waffle galore. Sweet, savory, or plain. Everything comes in two and is perfect to share in a split plate. Casual relaxed eats and vibe.

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

honestly, i ve been getting food there for years and the service never disappoints, always fresh ingredients, DELICIOUS & made with care food. Their mocha latte is actually the most delicious one i ve tried in the city, it s so soft and not too sweet. Amazing place, sweet people (always leave me hearts on my delivery boxes if i get it delivered the food tastes just as good as if i m there!!!). They always provide the best customer service and a sense of a good atmosphere. Thank you guys!

★★★★★
February 23, 2024

Amazing food and service. If you love waffles and fresh coffee this should be a fan favorite

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

What a gem! Food is sooo wholesome and flavorful, never too crowded (at least when we go) and staff are all friendly, accommodating and attentive. 100% recommend. For solos, friends, families!

Local Guide
February 23, 2024

The cashier keeps you waiting in the cold while she deals with Uber pickups. I thought it because of reservations, but they just needed to get three menus and a water jug. Bitter that I pointed it out, she proceeded to give even worse service. This is the last time I recommend this strip mall gimmick restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

They have a variety of food to eat. The food is deliousous.

★★★★★
January 23, 2024

Freshly prepared and so delicious! Kid-friendliness: Family oriented. Large portions and easily shared. Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Such a great Waffle place! Please check this place out for such a great breakfast/brunch experience! My sister and I always get a Vanilla Latte, hers with Oat milk and mine just regular. And we always get the B Benny with hers hard eggs and mine soft! Such a great place to celebrate personal goals! Check it out! Yes yes yes! Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Great breakfast joint; especially if you love waffles

★★★
December 23, 2023

The food was great! Service was extremely slooow. It took forever to get our drinks and food. Looks like they were understaffed. There was a mistake with one of our orders. There was an add-on that didnt come with the food. We didnt tell the servers because we just wanted to eat at that point. We then got charged for it, and we told the server but accepted the charge since it was just pocket change at that point. The server was unapologetic. Everything wouldve been fine if we were served quicker, but again, for whatever reason, they were understaffed

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The eggs benedict and waffles are delicious! You can t go wrong with any meal that includes waffles here.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Went there for brunch for the first time and was quite underwhelmed. The restaurant is waffle-centric, if not waffle-obsessed, which is fine as a concept; however it feels like the whole menu is just a series of different combinations of bacon/ham, eggs benedict, avocado, american cheese, potatoes, and of course waffles. I d expect a bit more creativity in marrying the waffles with other elements/ingredients/seasonings (specially considering the huge cultural diversity of the brand s hometown of Toronto) to create a broader offering within the waffle niche. In short, someone got a good idea for a restaurant but then got lazy and forgot to develop it. The coffee is good, not great. Service was good, place was clean, easy to find parking as it s in a commercial plaza.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Coffees the size of your face. Waffles .. amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Very chill vibes, pretty good food although I wish they did offer bread, but that would be against their all waffle motto. Service is exceptional and the atmosphere has a warm and welcoming feeling with all the art. I had the brunchwich with potato salad, beans and salad. Great coffee as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food was really good here eggs benny was pretty solid. Would come here again

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

this was my first time visiting this location and WOW it was amazing from service, to food to atmosphere. the place was very clean, staff was very friendly and my food was AMAZING 10/10 recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Delicious and beautiful waffles!! And tasty coffee! I come here every chance I get!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

A great place to bring the family. Food was awesome and the décor was clean. I like the Spanish music playing in the background. I little bit of a wait to order but when you go to a place that is packed they are obviously doing something right!!!! Will go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Waffle Benny is perfectly cooked.

December 23, 2023

Used to be good but has really gone downhill. Invest in better staff and polite ownership.

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

What is with the owner leaving all these toxic I hate you too dont come back responses to reviews? Arent you embarrassed with your own behaviour? Have some professionalism. I dont think this review was fair, but thank you for your input is what a respectful and professional manager replies to a one star review. You personally attack everyone who criticises your gimmicky, average brunch spot. Why dont you take your own advice and never come back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Excellent local restaurant! Great food. Great service. Reasonably priced. What more can you ask for? Ample parking & TTC accessible are also worth noting. I stick to what I like... the Hitchhiker (see photo) and usually a couple cups of Americano. We were just there on Sunday and already talking about when our next visit will be.

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

I have been a big fan of this location until today. We walked in and there were a few seats available. We waited patiently to be seated and told to have a eat at a table with no chairs. We got another chair - appreciating they are busy. We waited for service, water, coffee order anything but no one came over. We stopped a server and asked if we could get some water and she said we are busy we will get to you . My husband pointed out a few tables that came after us had been served where she then tossed her note pad down rolled her eyes and walked to get us water. I never realized I would be such an inconvenience to someone. We chose to leave and not dine there. I will not be returning g or recommending.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great portion size for the cost and tastes fabulous. You wont be disappointed having breakfast here. Its also RIGHT beside a cannabis store!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Love this place Amazing food and wonderful service. Great neighbourhood brunch spot!

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Dont bother with this place. It is not that great. The food was straight up not good. The coffee was average. There are better brunch places for the same price.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

My favourite waffles!! Love the potato waffles!! Nutella latte so delicious and the staff is so friendly :) thanks so much!! Parking: Lots of parking right in front

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

My regular breakfast spot! No one does breakfast or service like them. You leave feeling nice and full. I love that everything is waffles. Especially the potato waffles!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Good food, good vibes.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

So so delicious, fresh, well presented and clean!!! Also prices are not outrageous

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Great food and waffles! Service was great and its pretty spacious and cozy inside.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great breakfast place maybe even lunch. Large selection of waffles with a lot of sweet kinds for the sweet tooth. Savoury as well, theres one thats a potato waffle with an eggs Benedict thats amazing. Everything is super filling and they definitely do not skim on their toppings. It may be a bit pricey for waffles but the presentation alone is amazing.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Wonderful place to get breakfast. The food is delicious. Thank you to Chef Lucia and Cela for the kind service. Picture: Waffle Benny & Sammy Benny

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Amazing! The coffee, the food, the music and the price is right! If you are looking for a great breakfast spot that mixes healthy and sweet, this is the place for you. The atmosphere is amazing, homey and fun. You wont be disappointed! Enjoy and tell your friends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Its my favorite place now

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

the ambiance of the restaurant felt cozy and warm i def recommend their eggs benny with either their regular waffle or potatoe waffle. the potatoe waffle was very filling. i like how they pair it with a mixed green salad with a light vinegrette dressing. overall, it was a great breakfast

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We like to come here for brunch sometimes, and today there was a lineup of people waiting to be seated at 12pm. The place was very busy, and we had to wait longer than usual for our food, but we love our waffle Benny. It s a cute little place, and everyone is friendly and works fast.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Parking: Best waffle and omelet I have ever tried! Food

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Wow, just discovered this place and had the best lunch with my friends. The staff were friendly and super lovely when I asked for a special waffle to celebrate my friend s birthday. They brought it out topped with whipped cream, a candle, and they played the birthday song overhead for us too. The overall food, service, and location was a 5/5 experience for us! Thank you.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

My favorite spot to start a bright day!! Delicious breakfast all day long. The service is always amazing!

December 23, 2023

My experience was horrible. After waiting 30 min with my wife. They sat 4 guests that had just arrived while other people including me and my wife that had been waiting. After waiting another 35 min they sat us down on a table of 4. When I adressed the situation they kicked me and my wife out. Hiribal experience il never go there again and il be sure to let everyone know about my experience at starving artist on renemede.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

amazing food and kind service!!! even though it was very busy and chaotic, they managed to get our food out fast and delicious. will definitely be coming back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Delicious food and amazing staff. They was a huge line of people because of mother s day but they still managed to get us a table 10/10 would return

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

I went with my Girlfriend and her family for Mothers Day, and despite a longer line and a bit of a wait (~30-40 minutes) the food and service definitely made the wait worth it. The chicken bacon Waffle sandwich was delicious and the vanilla milkshake was just as good. 10/10 would go ever Sunday if I could afford it

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Americano was strong but not bitter and potato waffle eggs Benedict was delish! Simple sides of salad with vinaigrette & fresh fruit salad balanced the saltiness of the waffle & Hollandaise beautifully. Service was attentive and friendly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Good food. Took my mom here for mothers day. Mimosa was nice.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Went on Mothers Day and it was hectic. Giving 5 stars because it was a hard day for the staff. We arrived before 9am and still had to wait an hour for a table (our fault for not coming earlier). Staff wasnt very friendly at all and not very attentive. I plan to go again to give them another chance, but they definitely deserve 5 stars because I enjoyed the food and my family was happy overall.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Wonderful, great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food - their menu lives up to what they advertise and then some. The portions are generous, particularly on the waffle sandwiches. Definitely order all at once though - if youre ordering espresso before food and its busy it can take forever for the espresso to come out, delaying your ability to order food. Beyond that the potato waffles survive delivery and pickup very well, which makes this one of my favorite places to order from. Vegetarian options: Limited vegetarian but good Dietary restrictions: Clearly labeled options

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The potato waffles are so good service was great at times, other times they either forget or are too busy. We all ordered drinks at the same time and half the table got theirs and the others didnt get it until we finished our meals..apart from that, still a good brunch option on the west end.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Delicious food, big portions Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

The coffee was delicious and my gf waffles were perfect.

December 23, 2023

Our server/service was very slow, but nice. The lady behind the counter was rude when I finally went up to ask for a water refill. Food on the ground under the table. Maybe they need to close for an hour after lunch to clean and rest.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great place to grab breakfast! Ive been twice now and the food and service never disappoint. Portions are generous and I like the salad option as a side that comes with most breakfasts. Their coffee is also spot on, I had a double americano and it was delicious. Will definitely be back!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

First time here. Waitress is pleasant. Not busy. Omelette is ok.

December 23, 2023

Been to the other chain locations and love the food! Disappointed with this location, however as I walked in around 4:30 pm but their Benedict waffle items (which is what s unique about Starving Artist in my opinion) were apparently not available as they shut down the waffle machine at 4. They close at 6. That s odd- never had this issue at the other locations. It seemed like staff maybe wanted to go home early as they were already cleaning up the place since there was no one in at that time. So for those that come to this location of Starving Artist on late afternoons specifically for the Benedict waffle items, be mindful of this.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food and service

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Helpful service and delicious mini waffles ($10 for 4). Side bacon means 4 conventional strips soaked in table syrup for $6. Interesting but not technically caramelized. Note: The glass syrup bottles on the table do NOT contain maple syrup. If you want real maple syrup, they will sell you a shot glass of maple syrup for $2 which is reasonable. Server happily ensured my request to modify a couple of items based on a dietary preference. My only complaint would be that their floors look horribly scuffed and dirty. Menu is quite confusing re size, shape and ingredients in the actual waffles which vary wildly by item.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Love this brunch place

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Fantastic hidden gem in former City of York neighborhood, delicious!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Omg their B Benny is SO delicious I ate it so fast that I forgot to take a photo

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The fully loaded meal is my favourite. All types of waffles.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Was watching you gotta eat here and find this gem. The restaurant is welcoming and the food is on point, got the fully loaded waffles, bacon waffles and the smores waffle. Great food for amazing prices, worth the line at the door.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Good breakfast

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The food options are great and different from typical brunch meals, and I loved that. Good service. No time to wait, and very comfortable. Recommended.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Good service friendly staff and food was good and fast, love the smoothies!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Really enjoyed this place for breakfast. Friendly staff, the Americano was amazing, and the food was very fresh. Interesting menu options also I would definitely go back to try some other dishes.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Love this place. My sister and I go once a month. Great staff. Amazing food.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

if you love waffles this place is for you. EVERY item on the menu has waffles in it. Really cool concept. Unfortunately if you want bacon, sausage, sunny side eggs with toast. DO NOT COME HERE. they wont even fry an egg on the side. Coffee is delicious. the potatoe waffles is basically very soft and creamy potatoes poured onto a waffle iron. Anyways foods meh.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Wonderful family friendly restaurant with great staff and the most delicious food. Kid-friendliness: Kids were entertained by colouring activities. Staff happily accommodated my toddlers dietary needs.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Absolutely amazing staff here. I got to practice my Spanish with Cela who took great care of us this morning. Delicious food - I highly recommend the waffle eggs Benny!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

I like coming here because they have GF alternatives, which a lot of places dont have. This is the first time I went to this location. Its kinda Tucked away In a parking lot, if you arent paying attention youll miss it. Its small, based on all the different locations Ive been too they all are. The food was good! I LOVE their potato waffles, they serve it with a side of salad and fruit or beans. My only negative comments are they mixed up our orders, tried to correct it and it still was wrong and their lattes are incredibly sweet.. I didnt even up drinking mine. Service was good, aside from the mix up. Dietary restrictions: They have gluten free and dairy free alternatives. Parking: The parking lot is big and has more than enough space to park. Kid-friendliness: They had booster seats and coloring pages for the kiddies.

★★
December 23, 2023

Had the fully loaded potato waffles, honestly just wasnt good. It was under seasoned and fairly bland and topped with some pre-shredded cheese that comes in a bag. Can they seriously not be bothered to grate their own cheese? The pre-shredded cheese is much worse being covered in starch and it is more expensive than just a block of cheese too. The only conclusion is that they actually cant be bothered to grate their own cheese which takes just seconds. Maybe it is a bit snobbish to get annoyed at low quality pre-shredded cheese but to me it just smacks of them not caring about the quality of their food at all past hitting the absolute minimum. If you could improve your food easily and save money doing it with the solution being extremely obvious and you still dont take the chance to improve it it reflects really poorly on your restaurant. If the food is equal or worse than a random fast food place for half the price why would I come back? TLDR: The food kinda sucked and the pre-shredded cheese makes me think they dont care at all about that despite charging a price that definitely means they should.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

I loved the place. I got a BLT waffle and it was terrific; they used some kind of sauce that was truly delicious and the waffles were also perfectly done (excellent batter and perfectly cooked). I would eat there daily if I could. And Im not even the biggest fan of waffles!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food was really good. Waffles are fresh

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

I dont whats better, the food or the vibe. Truly excellent food served alongside an open kitchen where you can see the chef running his kitchen with kindness, professionalism and respect for all the staff. And that shows up in food at the table. Speaking of food...fresh, delicious and so many options - dont let the waffle theme fool you. They substitute potato waffles if you dont do flour. They substitute tomatoes or avocado if you dont do bacon. They have savory and sweet options and salads and omlettes if waffles just arent for you. The price is fair for the quality of food you are getting. Love this place.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Honestly some of the best coffee I ve had in the city and I work at a coffee shop! The woman who made the coffee definitely knows what she s doing. Food I can t comment on but the atmosphere was not the best, could be more cafe like or cozy.

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

This was a great place but the last few times I have been, I ve been disappointed. Messed up Orders, smaller portions, possibly a different supplier as the food isn t what it used to be. However i understand the pressure of covid and so will keep trying when I need a waffle fix! Edit: sarcastic comment by the restaurant not needed! Learn to be mature with your response and stop hiding behind Covid . Plenty of places kept their quality up. Do better and don t hire a 3 year old to respond to your customers !!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

My favourite brunch place ever! They have the tastier hollandaise sauce in Toronto.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great breakfast this morning.Really good food and friendly staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

First time trying. Food was so good. Service was excellent. Will definitely be taking the family back!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

I LOVE this location!! I go all the time and I m always happy with the food/service. The staff is amazing, so kind and they do a great job. Food is always 10/10.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

The best brunch restaurant that I have ever been in Toronto. Friendly service and the food is amazing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Delicious and very filling food, great service, lovely atmosphere, quickly made food yet artistically presented and very good to eat.

★★
December 23, 2023

Food was good. Went with family and once we got our food, we hadnt seen our waitress after at all. Werent able to order more drinks/get water. Was a good 45 mins we waited before leaving and forgot about getting coffee since wed probably die of old age.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Definitely a hole in the wall. Amazing service, such cute retro interior decor and their breakfast options are soooo good! Love the mashed potato waffles! So unique and yummy! (Will attempt to make this at home!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

First time the food was excellent. Worth revisiting

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

This feedback is for the manager: why are the only tipping options on your Point of Sale: 18%, 20%, 25% and NONE? I want to be able to pick a custom amount. Usually there is an « other amount » option. Did you do this on purpose or was it an oversight ?

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Had breakfast here today with a large group, including a baby and a toddler (fyi, they have at least one high chair). Service was great and the food and coffee were delicious. I enjoyed the eggs benny, they had no problem subbing avocado for the bacon (Im a vegetarian). They have a veggie waffle sandwich but it would be nice to see a few more vegetarian and vegan-specific options on the menu (forgive me if they do, I may have missed it). They do offer gluten free waffles. Ample parking out front. Honestly, its a great casual spot! Will definitely visit again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

There is not another higher word than excellent to describe the service, quality, quantity, taste and everything. The location at Runnymede EXCEEDED our expectations. After my 89 rounds of Chemotherapies, everything, everywhere affected my system but, here is like been in heaven, no side effects at all and everything is just DELICIOUSSSS.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

The food is delicious!! I got the fully loaded and OMG was it delicious. From the salad to the fruits to the meal itself it was fantastic. I would definitely order from here again!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Excellent

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Amazing food and customer service, very clean place, good vibe and music

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

My favourite restaurant

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Great service and even greater waffles!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Food was delicious!Service was friendly and fast! Even at the peak of the busy time, we were seated in a few minutes and got our food right away. Vegan options were delicious. We all walked away satisfied.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Best brunch spot weve tried so far! Staff was friendly and the food was amazing!

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

My family and I went for the first time today and it was excellent!!! First of the coffee is fabulous,! I have an egg Benny and loved the high quality fruit and green salad. My 10 year old loved the potato waffles, and my 13 year old had an ice cream sandwich for breakfast. So great and friendly service! We will be back.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

It s okay not bad. But definitely not impressive.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

1st. visit great service even better food at reasonable cost.Will definitely return.

December 23, 2022

Based on the owner s responses to negative reviews alone, I would never go back to this establishment. Experience wise, the food is not good quality and is not well prepared. The best item on the menu is the potato waffles. The eggs taste like they ve been microwaved, and the bacon is sickly sweet (just says regular bacon on the menu). We also had a nice server who took our drink and food order initially, but another server who delivered the food to our table was quite rude when I pointed out that I had asked for potato waffles, and regular waffles were on my plate. She snatched the plate back without saying anything and then returned my plate without any apology. We went to the Runnymede location but would not eat here again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

We arrived around 930 and there were lots of open tables. It slowly filled up over the time we were eating our breakfast. They have a really excellent menu that covers everything you could want! We ordered the brunch sandwich and B.Benny. both were different and incredible. The coffee was hot and fresh, the service was great and the food was excellent. We will definitely be back to try more!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Excellent food and service. I had the Breakfast Bennie, on potato waffles with hot sauce on the side. Good call. We were a party of 4 adults and 2 little kids and our server was a total delight throughout, being extremely understanding and helpful as we muddled through with the babies.

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Excellent service! Taste of the food, on the other hand, not so stellar.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Amazing food quality! I had spicy chicken waffle sandwich with strawberry and banana shake (both recommended by the excellent server). The food was fresh and very flavourful. The portions were huge for the price and I was glad to take some home for later. I enjoyed the dine-in experience and never felt rushed even though (understandably) there was a huge queue waiting. I don t believe they take reservations but the food and service were worth the wait!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Nice little brunch/breakfast place. We came for mothers day and the food was really good. I had the salmon waffle sandwich with a Nutella espresso.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Always good music and amazing food. Run don t walk

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Service was super friendly. Went at 11am on a Sunday and there was no wait to be seated. Food was great as usual. They offer gluten free waffles which was news to me.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Staff are extremely friendly. Place is very clean. No wait to be seated. Coffee is good, although they dont offer drip coffee and the Americano is quite small. We were a bit disappointed by the food. The potato salad is definitely not made in house and tastes like Ziggy brand from Loblaws. The syrup taste its like corn syrup based. The regular waffles taste like theyre made from a mix. We did enjoy the potato waffles, and the eggs were well cooked.

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

Amazing! It s all about waffles and its all great. Service was great, super polite and very helpful. You know they know their stuff when they arn t writing anything down. Try the regular and the potato waffles. Something special hiding inside the potatoe waffles ,,, yummy,, ! We came across this place randomly while in the area for a weekend with our little one. What a happy find. Great job ! Finished off our weekend with a smile ;)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

The receptionist was very helpful.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

their breakfast dishes are really good, service was alright, it takes real heart & etiquette to be a good server, there were 3 servers and the restaurant doesn t seat many folks so it s difficult to think they were understaffed or stressed, maybe they re just used to a bit of a harsh demeanour and ok service

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Great waffles, good portions. My only nitpicky thing is that it would be nice if hot drinks came in a cup with a handle, its just hard for me with my carpal tunnel to hold, so for most people this will be fine.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Waffles benny are off the hook here! And always come perfectly cooked, as I request hard poached. We frequently get takeout, and everything is packaged super well and holds up no problems until we get home. Staff is always super friendly and welcoming, and makes the experience a pleasant one when we do choose to dine in.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Taste:6/10 price is cheap. quantity is huge. Working Mans Breakfast, if you will. Overall this is a great store because of the price.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

My friends took me here for lunch, the food is well cooked, potato waffles are new and interesting, very dense and heavy imo. I couldnt finish the waffle benedict. Good flavours, price was much lower then expected. I had an espresso it was good.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

If you love waffles, come here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Amazing food - everything is served with a waffle, between a waffle, or using the waffle press which is quite unique ! Such delicious options for hot espresso drinks as well! Cute and quaint spot that can probably accommodate 2-6 people per group ! Definitely worth checking out !

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Holiday Monday, we got there early and was seated right away. Our order was taken quickly. I had the B (bacon) Benny. It was delicious. By the time we were ready to leave the crowd had come and there was a line outside. It took a minute for the busy staff to cash me out. That was fine, I was not in a rush! I forgot this place was in my hood. I need to go more often.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

they were super short staffed when I visited, but despite that the service was great and the one server that was there, did the best job they could. the food was quick, considering the staffing, and was great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

I am SO upset that I have only discovered this hidden gem despite having lived in the neighbourhood for a decade. THE BEST place and a total fav of ours now! Staff are incredible, friendly, awesome with kids and just the sort of people you want to have a conversation with. Food it DYNAMITE - and I dont even like waffles - THEIR WAFFLES ARE AMAZING!!!! My favourite item so far it the benny and I LOVE their potato salad - but just from what I have seen on every plate that goes out - everything is delicious here. You cant go wrong. I also really enjoy getting a vanilla latte (not on the menu but you can totally order it) - I get mine half sweet as I dont love really really sweet stuff. Definitely our new place to go when we are feeling like heading out for a yummy bit to eat!!!! If you havent been here, you are missing out. GO NOW!!!!! Seriously though....go.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Always delicious (try the B.Benny). And staff are wonderful. My favourite brunch spot in TO.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Delicious food everytime.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Great breakfast

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Service was too notch and the vibe of the restaurant is great. I also love places in Toronto with parking! Most importantly, the food is incredible. You absolutely get the best bang for your buck. The potato waffle benedict is something I d get again and again and again. They have milk alternatives and a real coffee bar. Nutella latté was a bonus! I can t say enough good things. Can t wait to go back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Loaded Potato Waffles are fantastic. Beans and a side order of maple bacon.. Great food. Great service!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

Our top choice for breakfast in the area.

December 23, 2022

Was very surprised when we came to Starving Artist. A lot of stuff is not homemade here. Asked for orange juice and if it was freshly squeezed. The waitress told us it comes in a box . Then asked about the hollandaise sauce she said it s from a package My boyfriend ordered the potato salad. He said it tasted like it came in a container from Walmart. We then asked her if they made it in-house and she said no they buy it from a store We were very surprised and a little grossed out by that. I m not saying everything has to be handmade but breakfast isn t that hard. Tooooo many shortcuts here! We wanted to leave, but felt bad for the waitress. Never again ! Parking: Lots

★★★
December 23, 2022

Meh Overpriced and Medoicre GF Food

★★★★★
December 23, 2022

i came here for the first time a couple months ago and i started introducing many of my friends here. i started bringing my boyfriend, friends, cousins, my cousins started bringing their friends, and we all love the food very much. we usually dine in and the interior is just super cute and its so nice to look at all the art, it feels very welcoming, very friendly staff, and i always want to try something new every time i come in and everything i try is just pure joy in my mouth. the apple pie milkshake tho WOW. i highly recommend this place to locals.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

I ate here several months ago but returning now to write a review. I had a potato waffle which I didnt know was a thing. It was incredible! Crispy on the outside and pillowy mash potatoes on the inside. Vegan options if I ever want to bring my wife. I hope I return soon. Only small criticism is for a breakfast/brunch place they should a legit espresso machine but they have one of those super high-end nespresso like machines, not sure what they are called so its hard for them to customize an espresso-based drink for you.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2022

First time back since covid-19 FINALLY. We use to go to the one near st. Clair and oakwood all the time but unfortunately its closed now. This location is sooooo much better, great parking and the food at this location is amazing! One chef and one garde manger cook fed the whole restaurant quickly and the food quality was incredible! Everything cooked perfectly and presented amazing. The service staff didnt match the food but whatever you cant have everything.. I cant wait to go back! I love this little chain of brunch restaurants and the waffle Benny is the king! Thank you!

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

I have been to several Starving Artist locations and this one is the best by far! Amazing service and cute presentation of food and drinks. Such a lovely experience.

December 23, 2021

On Monday, November 1st, my friend and I decided to check out a local restaurant for brunch. We decided to try Starving Artist. When we arrived, opened the door and stepped inside, one of the staff asked me to put a mask on, right after her, the gentlemen asked me exactly the same thing. I politely replied that I am exempt. They asked me to show a doctors note as a proof, to what I said that I dont have to provide proof according the mask by-law. They seemed pretty confused and the lady behind the counter said that this information I provided was old and was thoroughly searching on her phone to find the updated version. We were waiting inside for about 5 min while she was looking it up, I stepped outside and took a photo of the government issued signage regarding masks, where it clearly states that the proof of exemption in NOT required. The gentlemen agreed to sit us down at a table that was just few steps from the entrance. Note that the restaurant had just one table occupied at that time and it was pretty far. We sat down, ordered our drinks and food. When the gentleman brought us our drinks, he also brought a mask for me and said that if I want to go to the washroom, on my way out of the restaurant, and for the next time, I have to wear a mask because in their research behind the counter they found that doctors note indeed required. At that point I was confused because they acknowledged the mask exemption on their door, let us in and even took our order. I told him how I felt and that I am not going to wear a mask. The server made us leave the restaurant, took away our drinks and canceled our order. I honestly dont like writing this kind of reviews but this experience made me feel like a second class citizen, and I truly felt discriminated against. I encourage the owner to review the current mandates with the staff and make sure they understand all aspects of a given by-law. If a business neglects other important components of a by-law, it is simply breaking it, which is illegal to do. If you are so dedicated to implementing something, implement it entirely without leaving anything out. Medical exemptions are real and do not always have to be visible. I understand the confusion and the desire to do the right thing, but we have to be mindful of how we treat our community because at the end of the day, we need each other to grow. We are all different and if we respect each other - we will strive.

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Great service, delicious food! One of my favourite breakfast places

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Really good breakfast/brunch resto specializing in waffles.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

My favorite breakfast place, hands down!! Get anything, everything is amazing and reasonably priced!!! If I have to pick a fave, its the B. Benny

★★★★★
December 23, 2021

Awesome waffles and potato waffles benny. Cool place. Loved all the artwork on the walls. Super nice and friendly staff. Great portions. Would definitely recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2021

Amazing Benedicts. Super thoughtful team. Love this place.