Il Gusto

Rated this place:

796 College Street, Toronto, ON

No lines, no fuss: Tired of waiting in line for decent brunch? Me too. In Little Italy, head to Il Gusto. I won't rave about how fantastic it is. It's not. It's just a comfortable place to get a greasy breakfast for under $10. The classic breakfast of two eggs, toast, home fries and sausage or bacon is only $6. For the same price, you can get grilled cheese and home fries. In the summer, there's a very nice side patio. The food is nothing to write home about, but when you want some grease without the fuss of waiting in line, Il Gusto will do.

Caplansky's

Rated this place:

356 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T 1S6

Bigger and better: Now that Zane has moved his much buzzed about deli to its own location on College, the lines are longer than ever. The good news is that Caplansky's has expanded its menu to include an 8 oz. smoked meat burger, braised brisket and steak. Of course, Caplansky's is known for its Montreal-style smoked meat sandwiches and they're still as good as when he started serving out of the Monarch Tavern. If you're like me and don't eat pork, you'll be happy to find the menu has great alternatives to the city's standard bacon/sausage and eggs breakfast options. My favourite is the smoked meat hash. Served with two sunny side up eggs and toast (get the challah), it's enough to take you to dinner. If you arrive for lunch or dinner, start your meal off with soup. I'm not one to order matzoh ball, but the cabbage borscht is arguably the best thing on the menu. With just enough sweetness and shreds of meat, the soup alone is enough to make me wait in line. Heaven in a bowl on a cold evening.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• borscht
• smoked meat hash

Cold Stone Creamery

Rated this place:

1170 Bay St., Toronto, ON, M5S 2B4

Entertain your sweet tooth: When it comes down to it, Cold Stone Creamery's various creations are glorified sundaes. Pick your ice cream, add some toppings and mix it all together. That said, glorified sundaes are delicious and a lot of fun, especially when they are presented in waffle cups made in-store. I suggest a signature creation like the "Birthday Cake Remix" (cake batter ice cream, brownie, fudge and rainbow sprinkles) or "The Pie Who Loved Me" (cheesecake ice cream, OREO cookie bits, graham cracker crust and fudge). But if you're feeling creative, there is a diverse selection of toppings you can choose from to create your own custom sundae. Cold Stone Creamery doesn't make the best ice cream in the city and depending on your flavour combinations, it can be over-the-top sweet. But for its diverse topping selections and overall fun experience, it's worth a try, even if just once. Bring a friend, you’ll need someone to share the large portions with.

Starving Artist

Rated this place:

584 Lansdowne Ave., Toronto, ON, M6H3Y6

Two words: Waffled bacon: For most people, all you really need to know about Starving Artist is that they serve waffled bacon. To my knowledge, it's the only place in Toronto that offers the culinary delight that is bacon wrapped in a warm, fluffy waffle parka. For the rest of you, know that Starving Artist's other menu items are also worthy of a trip to Bloor and Lansdowne. You can substitute bacon with avocado in the waffle benny or breakfast waffle. The latter plate arrived with potato waffles and two of the most perfectly poached eggs I've ever seen. Starving Artist also serves lunch and dinner, but the mighty waffle is where they shine. Even on a Saturday morning after hosting a Friday night dance party, the staff is cheerful and welcoming. Combine that with a solid Americano and you've got yourself a great start to whatever your day brings.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• waffles
• Friendly Service

Sunshine Wholesome Market

Rated this place:

942 College St., Toronto, ON, M6H 1A5

One-stop place for wholesome food & products: Every time I step into Sunshine, there's a new feature inside. It's a small space, but in the past year and a half, owners Andrew and Laila Ois have added bulk bins, housewares, produce and an all organic juice bar. The store has grown so much that the couple decided to change its name from "Sunshine Natural Foods" to "Sunshine Wholesome Market" to better reflect the diversity of products they carry. Despite the growth the Ois family still takes great care in researching all of the products they sell. When they decided to make popsicles for the summer, they took great lengths to find molds free of BPA PVC, Phthalate, etc. For those outside of the GTA, you can also order products online at Sunshine's new web store: http://www.sunshinewholesomemarket.com. My favourite items at Sunshine are: Beretta Organic Farms all beef salami, Lundberg's rice chips and the bulk dry food goods.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• organic
• eco-friendly
• bulk foods
• vegetarian-friendly

Mitzi's

Rated this place:

890 College. St., Toronto, ON, M6H 1A3

Best brunch in the neighbourhood: There are other brunch spots in the College and Ossington area, but none like Mitzi's. The newest sibling in Leslie Gaynor's family of restaurants has been met with much excitement in a neighbourhood that was so desperate for a decent brunch spot, it would wait in line at Boom for an hour. Unlike Boom, where the menu consists of standard omelettes and pancakes, Mitzi takes brunch up a notch with a smaller but more interesting menu that focuses on seasonal ingredients . Where others use unimaginative cheddar, Mitzi's throws tangy Beemster into its scrambled eggs. Omelettes at Mitzi's get a seasonal twist with prosciutto, asiago cheese and fresh sweet peas. It's not a ground-breaking menu, but for foodies looking for a new twist on brunch favourites, Mitzi's on College is your place to go. If you do go though, go early (before 11 am) or late (after 1). Otherwise, prepare to wait along with the hungry locals.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• patio
• service
• watermelon lemonade

La Paloma Gelateria & Cafe

Rated this place:

1357 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON, M6E1C5

Not worthy of the hype: While its cold treats have smooth texture like that of traditional Italian gelato east of the Atlantic, La Paloma's flavours suffer from what tastes like artificial flavouring. Twice the cost of a Baskin Robbin’s cone, it’s fair to expect significant superior quality. Some flavours like the pistachio (with bits of nuts) are worth the extra price, but fruit flavours like watermelon just tastes like a creamy Jolly Rancher.

Get Real Cafe

Rated this place:

135 Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6J 2Z6

A great alternative to a greasy breakfast: Not every brunch needs a side of oily bacon and eggs. For the days you yearn for a fresh, healthy start, head to Get Real Cafe. The cute spot on Ossington boasts a diverse vegetarian and vegan brunch menu of organic egg omlettes, sandwiches and more. The open-faced crostinis are satisfying and well-priced at $6 to 8. The Belgian spelt waffles were our only disappointment. While fluffy at first, they deflate at the first bite. Another turnoff is the lack of coffee refills. The fair trade coffee is priced at $2/cup which you must get yourself. Still, for vegetarians, those with dietary restrictions or just looking for a something different, Get Real is a great alternative to greasy spoon breakfasts.

Mazz Restaurant

Rated this place:

993 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M6H 1M1

Bloor St. sushi that's affordable and good!: From plentiful bento boxes to sizzling hot plates, Mazz offers a plethora of Japanese and Korean dishes that have made it a local favourite in Bloorcourt. The unagi can be hit or miss, but the salmon sashimi is a constant delight. Service can be impersonal, but bring cash and you don’t pay tax. That’s extra money for sake.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sushi
• salmon
• bento boxes

Waterfalls Indian Tapas Bar & Grill

Rated this place:

303 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2M2

Decent cocktails, decent food: Blessed with one of the bigger patios in Kensington, Waterfalls is a great place to watch some of the Market's street theatre play out. It has an extensive cocktail list (including 10 variations on the mojito) and solid food. Ignore the "international" dishes and stick with the Indian fare. My favourite is the rich and creamy mutter paneer. Though I usually prefer rice, I'd rather sop it up with naan. Hot, crispy and buttery, there’s nothing better.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Indian Food
• mojito
• naan