Fresh Start Bakery & Cafe in Toronto

Ive had cortados at different places all around the city but none of them even come close to Fresh Starts cortado. It had the perfect balance of coffee and milk, with a smooth bitterness tempered by the sweetness of the milk. Baristas who wish to up their cortado game should stop in and learn from this place how it should be done. This cafe also has a wide range of treats and lunch sandwiches and Ive tried a few in the past. It should ho without saying that they apply the same standards of quality to the food as they do the drinks. This place is 100% a class act.

Very quaint cute coffee shop with delicious food and very friendly service. Had the Turkish egg dish menemen which was freshly cooked to order and served in a traditional copper pan, with tea.

This place has the best baklava in downtown Toronto! I believe its made fresh every day, and it really makes for a great taste!

Super delicious Turkish breakfast. You immediately feel like youre in Turkey. Today I ate the full breakfast with Moms Menemen and it was really a dream. I can only recommend it.

Real Turkish cuisine. Delicious

I love this place. I ve tried quite a few things and all of them were delicious but their bocconcini sandwich and chocolate chip cookies are my favourite. Everything is always fresh and the staff are so friendly. Vegetarian options: They have a vegan simit (like a Turkish bagel) with avocado and hummus and two vegetarian sandwich options - the Parisian which has brie, lettuce and tomato and Bocconcini which has bocconcini cheese, pesto and tomato (It s amazing!)

We were looking for a breakfast place to pass the time while a family member had a medical procedure, and decided to try something beyond the usual breakfast chains that are all around now. So glad we stumbled on this small cafe, on the lower level of the Atriums. As we d started our day quite early we were looking for something substantial, and the Turkish breakfast fit the bill. It is meant to serve two, and came with two simits (similar to a bagel), a dish of menemen (scrambled egg in a tomato/pepper/onion sauce, with sausage), and a platter of spreads and toppings. We subbed coffee for the included tea. It was our first time having Turkish breakfast so I don t have a baseline to compare it to, but we enjoyed it quite a bit. The simits were fresh and the variety of toppings really made this meal. There is limited dine-in space, but most folks were just grabbing coffee and pastry to go, so that wasn t a problem. I saw a review from a few months ago noting that it was quite dark perhaps they have improved the lighting since, because it was plenty bright on our visit. We took a few pastries to go for later in the day. The pear and almond tart was a favourite, and the chocolate-walnut cookie was delicious too. The almond croissant was tasty but not the best I ve had. Do note, if it is a concern for you, that most of the pastries contain nuts, and they are all in a shared bakery case. This was not an issue for our party but someone with a nut allergy might not find much here they could sample. The lunch sandwich menu sounded amazing, and if we re in the area again we would return midday to try that!

As someone who is always hopping from different cafes on a regular basis, I can say this is probably the best service I ve ever experienced at a cafe. The staff are extremely friendly and patient with you and work hard to create a good vibe. The cafe has many Turkish options like Turkish coffee and tea along with some other menu items. This is a hidden gem. Highly recommended As a bonus, the owner is also extremely nice. I will definitely be coming back!!

Delicious savory pastry and friendly service started my Friday off right! Will be back soon to try the gluten free pistachio cookie

Lovely food, coffee and service. Agree with others this is a hidden gem.

I tried turkish coffee it was so delicious ,,the stuff were very friendly welcoming with a smile , loved the place , the drink and everything in there sure its not gonna be the last visit for me

Came for moms menemen breakfast (eggs, tomato, feta, peppers, onions, sujuk, with tea and a Turkish bagel). The worker kindly swapped the bagel for a pistachio cookie (delish! Good pistachio flavour). However, there was no sujuk on my menemen :(

We are visiting from USA and looked them up and looked really nice. It was one of the bakerys that were open albutnonce we got there, they were closed.

You can have a specialty coffee made for you and some wonderful pastries made onsite. So much better than Tim Hortons.

Located st the Mall, Fresh Turkey bakery and cafe Good price and quality Nice and polite owner

Finally a place that has decent Baklava in Toronto

The food is great and the place is very nice and lovely however the Service quality is not that great But I would still go there another time Food

The Best Menemen full breakfast in Toronto .

Great almond croissant!

Blondies are delicious !

This place is a hidden gem!!! They have very tasty and fresh Turkish pastries and food. The simit is great! Brilliant Costumer service as well!

Loved the almond croissant, was perfect. Pretzel with Menemen is a must try, I had it without the beef which is a good option for Vegetarians like me . Coffee and chai were decent as well.

Fresh delicious food

Excellent Montreal style bagels.

Frankly, I did not enjoy the experience here. The price is exaggerated for this breakfast, and eggs have nothing to do with the flavors of Turkey, even the items available with breakfast. When I asked about cream and honey, they told me that they would compensate me with two pieces of baklava.

I didn t have a pleasant experience dining in there. The prices is way too expensive for what you get. Ordered tea, it came with a small cup with no refills as well Disappointed.

I am from Turkey and I went there with my family to enjoy real Turkish breakfast which I was very disappointed at this location. The service was not good and the quality of food was terrible. I definitely DO NOT recommend this place to anybody who considers real Turkish food. it was expensive pricing wise It was exaggerated, and the service was not done well, and the place was smelling. It wasn t fresh, clean nothing to feel fresh . By the way even the tea was a nightmare. It does not deserve even one star.

I HAVE TRIED THE FOOD MANY TIMES!!! . THE FOOD IS REALLY DELICIOUS AND SCRUMPTIOUS!!!! THE OWNER IS REALLY GREAT AND HE IS HOSPITABLE. BOTH THE OWNERS ARE STAND UP GUYS!!!! Dietary restrictions: THEY SERVE HALAL FOOD WHICH IS GREAT CAUSE MUSLIMS CAN EAT HERE.

they were run out of: simit, turkish tee cup, donuts. bad experience, don t recommend

Great cookies. Yet to try Turkish menemen and simit here :)

I went to this place for breakfast but it unfortunately didn t meet my expectations. The highlight of this place was the pistachio cookies. They were really good. The texture and taste was borderline perfect. I would highly recommend people to try out their desserts and baked items. I ordered a menemen but it didn t taste that good and lacked good texture. There was also a lot of water which made the eggs a little mushy. The bagel sandwiches were also sub par, they were broken up and were falling apart before the first bite. It tasted good but the ingredients weren t cut properly or weren t spread evenly. I would recommend people to try the sandwiches and deserts rather than the breakfast items as they weren t as good as expected.

Worst Turkish coffee I ever drank , don t think they got training to do it, but nice Pastries

The Mediterranean chess it s so good And the people work there are so friendly The restaurant are so cozy also I like the music there Food : 5/5

I didn t know that it was possible to mix French, Italian and Turkish culinary together but this small place serves tasty Parisian croissants freshly baked, superb Italian espresso + cappuccino and Turkish tasty specialties with a friendly service. A clean and relaxed atmosphere with some carefully selected jazz playing in the background. I make excuses to stop by Fresh Start Bakery when in the Dundas-Yonge area and when I visit Little Canada across the street. Well done. You deserve a 6 star.

Had regular croissant; find it too flaky (falling apart), carrot cake (too greasy) and the GF pistachio cookie (too sweet) Cute little coffee shop. Food

This Turkish bakery and cafe is a hidden gem in the Atriums food court. I really liked the peach, pear, and almond tart. Ill be back to try the shakshuka and the simit (a Turkish-style bagel). I heard that they sell out of the simit in the morning.

MY FAVOURITE NEW CAFE!

Absolutely stellar service, nice, caring, observant people. The double pistachio baklava is delicious.

The cashier/server (Dani) was very sweet and accommodating. I wanted some spice in my food but they didn t have a hot sauce so she went out her way to make a chilli sauce for me that I could have with my food that was so delicious!

Great coffee, sandwiches, baked items and Turkish specialities

Foodies should taste the bakery stuff!

Friendly staff, fresh coffee and croissants.

WOW!! walked out of my way to find this spot and I m glad I did. The Turkish Coffee was amazing! The gentlemen gave me a little history/ how he is preparing the coffee. He really took the time out to explain it to me. The baklava and cookie was to die for!!! I will def be back. Great customer service, great coffee and great treats.

Excellent bakers really put there heart in the work never disappointed

Love the coffee and the authentic Middle Eastern food. The owners are polite and helpful. They serve delicious baklava and other delectable desserts. The Simits are fresh and they can be made with a wide variety of fillings. Vegan options also available. Sad because of covid they are forced to down size. They also sell some Middle Eastern groceries.

This bakery is literally a hidden gem! Everything is always fresh and the staff is wonderful. They go above and beyond. If you re in the neighbourhood, this place is a MUST! I love their baked goods. Their pecan square is out of this world! So yum. And their chocolate chip cookie is so delicious, I cannot even begin to explain.. Those bits of walnut in the chocolate chip cookie are a game changer for me. You won t regret this place, trust me! They have won my heart If you like pistachios, try their pistachio cookie. I promise, you won t regret!

A real hidden gem in the city that quickly won my heart. I ve been visiting since they first opened and every guest is treated like family by the kind and generous owners. Don t forget to try the pistachio cookies and almond croissants!

Got Turkish olives and Turkish tea

Wow! Went for breakfast and did not think I was getting the delicious, abundant meal I did. You could tell the owner loves what he does. I had the Moms menemen platter... so much flavour! Definitely coming back to try their very tempting baked goods!

Fresh and tasty food, was a wonderful breakfast!

Very nice eatery. The employees are super nice and kind. Our team had lunch together and everyone enjoyed it. I had a boccacini sandwich. It was good, just the bread was a little too dry. The tea cups are so cute. I wish they had some options without eggs in the sweet treats section.

The almond croissant was delicious and had so many pieces of crushed almonds on top!

Simply magnificent

The best Turkish restaurant in downtown

Excellent place to have a different breakfast in the morning. Highly recommend the Turkish simits (bagels). The atmosphere is as good as you expect in a shopping mall. workers are amazingly friendly and nice.

Good coffee, great croissants and cookies, lovely service, chill ambience to fresh start a walking day around Torontos downtown.

A real gem! Well worth the effort to seek out and enjoy the in- house bakery and cuisine. I enjoyed the best Turkish breakfast here ( and I have eaten many in Turkey and other places in the world). Fabulous customer service; quality, delicious food and at a reasonable price; and that is something you cannot often say in one sentence ,about a restaurant.

One highlight is the service is super friendly. I have tried both a turkish style bagel and an almond croissant, both times was lack-lustre. The turkish style bagel was a bit too salty with all the feta overpowering everything else in the bagel. Although the ingredients used were fresh and portions were decent. The almond croissant I tried was undercooked and too doughy. I tried an iced americano which was good but very small, the cup was a tad bit bigger than an espresso size. I am giving the 4 stars for the service but food could improve. Since it is in the same building of where I work I am willing to try more items again during my lunch hour.

Fresh homemade food was a kill, absolutely delicious. Feels like home. Baklava and tea was fresh. Loved it Service was friendly, great experience while working getting all attention from them. Thank you!!!

Tried an almond croissant which was great, it was fresh and not too sweet. Really kind staff as well :)

Loved their almost croissant...perfect with coffee :)

Good food and friendly staff.

Its a place that everyone should try! Love the sweets especially baklava was awesome!

Full breakfast was excellent! It was enough for 2 people. Friendly service and the pastries are great too

Turkish coffee 5/5. Blueberry Scone 4/5. Baklava, had higher expectation from a turkish cafe. Service

Absolutely a waste of time and money. Waited over 10 minutes for sandwiches that came out dry; and for it to cost $9 is a joke. You re better off eating at Tim Hortons before going there

Tried Menemen for the first time and it was really good, pretty decent prices, good ambience and excellent hosts. Strongly recommend

Perfect baklava! And delicious coffee!

I love this place, the vibe is beautiful and it s just your corner cafe where you ll be treated with excellent service. It s very homey which is hard to find in the heart of downtown:) 10/10 recommend!

Their almond croissant was absolutely the best croissant I have ever had! Super sweet staff and great customer service! Will definitely visit again :)

By far one of the best Turkish eateries in Toronto, the owner is super kind and helpful and he clearly showed me all the halal options and also told me he could accommodate any sandwich to halal meat upon request! Healthy, delicious and filling!

The baked goods look nice but are soggy and not very tasty Ive tried two already

Great helpful staff and saw fresh food was being prepared..

Amazing breakfast, very welcoming team - Menemen taste 10/10 - simit 9/10 - Tea 10/10 (authentic Turkish tea) - Turkish coffee 7/10 - almond croissant 10/10 Strongly Recommended Add to that, they have halal options for meat Definitely one of the best breakfast spot in the area.

Great service, great food. One of the only places downtown with authentic Turkish food.

Probably the best sandwich I ve had all year and the nicest staff. Highly recommend

Some of the best food downtown - the fresh, turkish food is out of this world. Best fresh baked goods from croissants to cookies, my favourite being the almond cookies and a really delicious take on almond croissants. Baked fresh as well is Turkish pizza (called pide) which takes a little time to make but well worth the wait - from traditional pies to a really yummy chocolate and nutella pide. They also make great coffee!!!!

Wonderful food, and owners , highly recommend, my lunch was legit delecious

The best Turkish coffee and chocolate chip cookies, in general everything it s amazing, great service

Great food and very friendly owner highly recommend

I was waiting for my husband and daughter as they were at Sick Kids and I was looking for something to bring my daughter to eat once she was done, one of the employees made a recommendation and they made a super tasty croissant sandwich for her. The cheese was amazing. I also got myself a few treats and everything was super delicious. If you re looking for Turkish items, they had a lot of snacks and teas/coffee bags for you to buy.

Omg unbelievable! everything was delicious and so fresh! They are so kind and it was not so expensive!

The fresh authentic Turkish recipes here.. to die for! Try the orzo pasta salad and the chicken. The family who owns the business is so welcoming, so nice. Best kept secret around Dundas square - cant wait to return to this slice of heaven!

A hidden gem! We loved Korhan s hospitality and their food is just amazing! A must go place to enjoy a fresh and delicious meal!

The best Turkish food we ve had in Toronto. The breakfast was excellent . We had the mom s special menemen and it was the best we had in Toronto. It was served with cheese, honey and rose jam. We also had the pistachio and chocolate cookies and they were so fresh and delicious that we took a whole box home. The food makes you want to visit Turkey ASAP. It feels like home-made food. The owner is very nice and has very good PR skills. He is helpful and will accommodate for any specific demand as much as possible. We will definitely go back there every time we are in town. Thank you so much for those wonderful moments!

I wish we lived in Toronto so we could visit this hidden gem regularly - healthy, delicious authentic Turkish breakfast, which leaves you feeling energetic and refreshed! We tried the special moms menemen and the smoked Atlantic salmon on a baguette, and all special requests were accommodated graciously, and portion sizes were extremely generous. The customer service was absolutely phenomenal - we have never experienced such amazing service. We cannot praise this place, the food and the staff enough, but this is a MUST visit place if youre looking for a place to grab brunch or pastries in downtown Toronto!

Perfect

Excellent place to stop by, have some coffee or nice local Turkish food, chat with the friendly owners. Consistently great service and authentic food for reasonable prices.

Korhan, Im craving a simit, it looks very nice. Greetings and success

Awesome breakfast!

Today is my first time visiting this cafe and I absolutely love it!!! Coffee is so fresh and the employee (or he might be the owner idk lol) was super friendly! Will definitely come back :)

The food soooo good and the staff is super friendly. I shopped for some turkish goods there too.

Incredibly delicious !!! Plus they are extremely kind. Very good experience ;)

Excellent tea & pistachio cookies

This place is amazing, the food is delicious, the Turkish man serving there is a nice and worm person.

Ive been to this cafe several times in the past week and have loved every bite! Delicious carrot cake, blueberry scone, smoked salmon sandwich...and the Turkish tea! Omgodness the tea is heavenly. Cant wait to try the traditional breakfast next time!

Amazing Turkish food and imported goods. The almond croissants are delicious and I order at least one each time! The owners are kind and welcoming. The good food and friendly environment have made each visit a wonderful experience.

Stayed nearby during last visit to Toronto. Found this gem and tried the Turkish breakfast. Amazingly authentic and tasty. The owner was very communicative and generous (I didn t pay much attention to the bill until my wife reminded me that the two Turkish coffee were offered to us free). Btw, the store is located in the subway station. We found it by searching on the map. There s no sign on the ground level, if I remember correctly.

Been there today 2:09 Nobody Empty No food on the showcase !!??

The Moms menemen was fantastic. Its a wonderful Turkish breakfast filled with many little sides. The Turkish coffee was delicious and the owners were so friendly and kind.

Stopped by here for lunch, Ive passed by so many times but never went in. The reviews dont lie, this place is a hidden gem. Great food and service. Will definitely be back, I want to try the breakfast next!

Best Coffee in the Atrium area! I go there daily. Tried their turkish breakfast today and it was soo tasty and hearty it reminder me of my trip to Turkey. A great food spot!

Fresh Start is a family owned business and they honestly treat their guests like family too! The food is amazing every time! I work upstairs in the building and it is absolutely my go to for fresh, homemade, delicious food - their baked goods are to die for! Support local - they really are amazing people and sell amazing food!

Fantastic baklava and pistachio cookies!! Based on the other reviews Ill need to make it back for their hot meals.

Great food, friendly service, cant go wrong here.

I was looking for a quick bite in between meetings and came across this local gem in the food court level of the Atrium. They have simit bread which you can pair with all sorts of fresh ingredients, as well as a lot of lunch sandwich options. I got a Turkish coffee and the traditional simit with feta, cucumber and tomato. It was super fresh and the simit was very fragrant. The boss was so nice to talk to and he gave me a baklava to try too. Im always looking to try traditional food from other cultures and will be back to try their menemen and other hot food.

Exceptional pastries and amazing friendly staff!

If you like to try some delicious Turkish meals (except kebab), this is the only place you can in Toronto. Amazing dishes remind us our hometown all the time.

Flat bread pizza out of this world! Excellent!!!

Fabulous flavours, excellent service. Fresh everyday. Had the eggs with Turkish sausage and Turkish tea. And also the bagel with a variety of dips, nuts, olives, clotted cream, dried apricots and rose marmalade. Well worth every penny for this inviting family run business.

Whether youre grabbing coffee on the go, their delicious baked goods or having a sit down meal, the experience here is always great. I would recommend everything on offer but especially their full Turkish brunch on the weekends.

Morning breakfast specials on their board outside good value good taste

Good quality homemade style food, good variety and excellent deserts

They have great coffee and food. The pistachio cookie is must try.

Delicious homemade food, warm and welcoming staff!

Everything in their menu is amazing....... pistachio cookies are the best

First tkme trying turkish food. Very delicious :) staff was very nice in explaining the menu

Free WiFi, pass code is freshstart

That Turkish breakfast blew my mind. So fresh and delicious!

Must try ALL but Pictachio, Almond & Nuts Cookie, 1 of the best sofar... and gluten free so no carb. Keep up the good work gents.

Great food and baked goods.

Update. This family owned cafe, is a hidden Jem! Loved every single dish they served. The coffee is excellent. AND THE BUREK! Ive been eating here for the past two years, was never disappointed. Probably one of the best cafes in Toronto. You got to try their almond croissant!

I work in an office building nearby this restaurant in the Atrium centre, and I literally come to eat here at least once a week. This place has built such a loyal following of customers because the food is delicious and the team is so friendly. I love the warm food, you get a generous portion of meat and vegetables, and it tastes very real and homemade. Best of all, the gentlemen at the cashier always have a smile and the whole team feels really excited to share their Turkish culture. They also make a good effort at remembering its customers. This place is a humble little gem!

I got the almond croissant and latte. Was so nice. the Turkish owner is nice person too :)

Best coffee near Yonge + Dundas! The baked goods are fantastic as well; you owe it to yourself to try a pistachio cookie. All topped off with friendly & excellent service.

Delicious coffee and cookies

very good coffee and very warm lunch combination. I had rice+mushroom chicken + green beans + salad and it was really good.. protein+veggies+some carbs + macchiato and i would visit again if I am in the area.

Best breakfast I have had in downtown so far, amazing service.

I grew up with this kind of food, so nostalgic . I ordered the Turkish breakfast that comes with complementary bottomless Turkish tea. The hosts are very kind and always delighted to see you coming back.

Delicious food and amazing people working there. If youre having a bad morning stop in here to have your day made! Didnt try the coffee but Ill be back. Also if youve never heard of Montreal bagels then this place is a must.

Great place to eat out and make friends. All the food is made fresh and they welcome people from around the world. They know how to take care of their customers and the place is well taken care of and always clean.

Fantastic. Better quality and lower price than other nearby restaurants. Best food in that food court.

Amazing Turkish pastries, bagels and coffee. One of favorite breakfast places downtown.

Rare Toronto cafe with in-house baked goods.

Hands down the BEST gluten-free brownie Ive ever had. I think they make it with black beans? But, man, so so good. And the staff is so friendly and incredibly helpful! Definitely stop by if you have the chance!

Great food.

Very nice cafe that serves small snacks and good coffee. Their San Sebastian burnt cheesecake is amazing. Highly recommended. Prices are very fair too!

Only place that I enjoy eating healthy food. They have too many options and great dishes.

Just incredible. Probably the best turkish food in the city. It s like you wandered into a common turkish restaurant on one of the side streets of Taksim. Soo good!!

One of the best Turkish food I have ever had. I dont know if they serve kunefe , but their doner was pretty good. Everyone was pretty friendly.

Best espresso in the area, I will go out of my way to go here. Their blueberry scone is delicious, as are other baked goods. Plus they have flavoured coffee that is also good. Love this place!

They dont really want your business and prefer to give money back than be pleasant to customers.. when i went in to order breakfast the guy was on his phone at the back. Finally he came to the front and took my order. Stood there on his phone not placing my order for at least 3minutes. Very ignorant. I am on work time i said tto the manager. he said you can have your money back. Even ruder!. What an a _hole. . At the same time phone guy proceeded to grill my bagel.who grills a bagel? I said i would like it toasted. Toaster is broken. Heres your money back.

amazing fresh food and great sevice, tha k you for brightening my day Freshstart

Saw something that looked like an earwig near the coffee lids. Disgusting and especially disappointing because my cheese/egg bagel and coffee were pretty good until then.

We had breakfast and lunch. Coffee specifically espresso was perfect. Pistachio baklava was one of the best in town. Lots of healthy and delicious options for lunch. Will go back again.

I cant say enough nice things about this place! They serve some of the most legit, home cooked, natural and ridiculously tasty meals Ive had in this city. Definitely reminiscent of what my own family cooks in the home. The buffet style meals are your best bet here, though the baklava, simit and coffee are also worth a try. Portions are massive with lots of variety and the price is very fair. The hospitality is just exceptional and the owners and staff are super kind and friendly and they make you feel right at home. Its always a pleasure to come back here.

Excellent hospitality and quality of food. We had a party of 9 for breakfast and everyone was extremely satisfied with the meal!

Lovely owners, fantastic food. Highly recommend a visit!

A hidden gem in the busy Yonge Dundas square. Turkish baked good, sandwiches, coffee, and or lunches - all delicious. The service is fantastic - they treat you like you re family! I go here regularly!

Great Homemade Food from Fresh Start Bakery & Cafe at Atrium on Bay Theres baked goods, coffee, breakfast, sandwiches, salads and warm choices. Very courteous and friendly staff. Pictured: Karniyak (Stuffed Eggplant with Ground Beef) and Etli Kabak Dolmasi (Stuffed Zucchini with Ground Beef and Rice) on rice with a green side salad. Super reasonable - McDonald s Pricing .

Friendly staff! Found this through the Feedback app. The sandwich I got was very healthy and fresh!

Excellent salad bar and coffee. Welcome addition to PATH terminus at Atrium food court. Friendly, committed owner.

Excellent place to taste delicious Mediterranean and Turkish food for reasonable prices. The staff is very kind and welcoming too!

Good food, great service. Loved my cup of cappuccino. I ll definitely keep this place in mind when I m in the area.

Finally I have found a place where they make the perfect espresso! The croissant was great too!