Munch Brunch

What did you all do May 2-4 weekend? It wasn't the most amazing weather in Toronto on the Monday. It was a bit sunny, but kinda windy and chilly. Still, we wanted to spend the day at the park, so we made plans to have some brunch deliciousness and then throw a softball around.


Torontonians love brunch. It's like the city's collective Saturday afternoon hobby. We wake up late, hungover or not, stretch, throw on some comfortable clothes, and then walk/bike/TTC to our favourite spot or trek out to discover new and exciting ones. Toronto has a lot of great brunch places, from pubs and coffee shops to joints that do nothing but eggs benedict and pancakes. We planned to spend the afternoon at Trinity Bellwoods Park, so we tried to find a place within walking distance with a good reputation. We had heard of Saving Grace, and although it's located in Dundas West, we thought we'd brave the throngs of hungry hipsters and see if we could score a table.


We picked up some tastey coffee at the Linux Caffe, and then slowly strolled through the Annex into Dundas West, dressed in sweatshirts and sunglasses and carrying softball mitts and beach mats. The streets were pretty empty, but when we arrived at Saving Grace, there was a clump of scenesters standing out front in skinny jeans and plastic sunglasses, waiting for a table in the tiny restaurant. We stepped inside, where the no nonsense waitress directed us to a list near the door where you're supposed to write your name for a table. As I casually scanned the room, I locked eyes with this guy who looked up when we came in, and what do you know it was Michael Cera! I think he was there with his Scott Pilgrim film crew, and their party took up half the place. We hurried out of there so we wouldn't embarrass ourselves, and stood around outside and did not stare through the window.

We ended up waiting almost 1 1/2 hours for a table, but what with the celebrity sighting and bumping into some cool people, the time flew right by. We ran into Dundas West-ers N and K who agreed to pose for some pics with their delicious looking take out - baked banana walnut pancakes and a brie and pear sandwich, which K described as "so f-ing good!". Then, as George Michael stepped out to get something from his car (which we innocently caught on camera), K casually said "Hey, do you mind if we get a picture?", to which he replied "Oh, uh yeah, uh I'm just gonna go inside to buy a cookie first". The picture didn't happen, but too bad they ran out of cookies, though, because he could really use the extra calories. That boy was skin-ny.



So we were finally seated and scanned the menus to decide what to eat. The brunch menu was pretty small, and they had run out of many of the daily specials that were written on the chalkboard, including the broccoli scrambled eggs and the banana strawberry waffles. Two of us decided on the black bean quesadillas from the specials board, while S got the scrambled eggs with roasted potatoes and a turkey sausage. While we waited, L got some rooibos tea and I got a skim "lattino", which is their version of a mini latte. I wasn't sure what that was, but I felt weird ordering a latino and just pointed to the menu instead. When it arrived, it was not very small, but it definitely tasted kind of weak. It was ok though. Just not very strong.

The quesadilla plate was pretty big, with mixed greens and a homemade salsa of roughly chopped tomato chunks and red onions. The plate was sprinkled with chipotle seasoning and was pretty tastey, though I could have used a little more cheese. S's scrambled eggs were yummy, but she wasn't a huge fan of the turkey sausage, and there could have been way more roasted potatoes.

While definitely delicious, for almost $20 a person I would have wanted a little more...something. The food did taste really healthy, and I didn't walk away from brunch wanting a nap and a gym membership. I also didn't walk away wanting to go back there right away. Apparently, though, Canadian celebrities seem to dig it (they say Feist is also a fan), so maybe celebrity fixtures are its saving grace (oh come on, it's been begging for a pun. Just be happy I didn't use it in the title). I wouldn't mind going back to try some of their brunchier options, like waffles and eggs, but I'll maybe have to get there a little earlier in case they run out again. And keep in mind we had to wait over an hour, and The Bluth family won't be there every time to make time pass faster.

Overall, I give Saving Grace three awkward teenagers out of four.

e

(P.S. does anyone else remember the Munch Bunch? It popped into my head after typing the word brunch a hundred times, and I'm wondering if other peoples' parents tried to promote a healthy love of vegetables at an early age too)