ome folks want to surround themselves with the masses on Sunday morn. Not us. Which is why - in spite of our worries that we might be spoiling everything with pure self gratification – we slip off to this brunch-centric spot for our hangover-nursing, pre-deadline-crunching brunching.

The room has had an illustrious past, including a few personalities. This one is the third best; a bustling, authentic formulaic style restaurant, where huge plates of adequate edibles ring the dining room and hungry acolytes come in waves at lunchtime and on weekends for brunch. Expect lots of chaos and a kitchen that is more at home with shoveling hash than prepping a pretty plate.

While the food is not extraordinary, it's usually fresh, filling and manages to satisfy that lingering brunch craving. Lunch is your typical overly bright lighted room for a bunch of business guys scrambling for a good meal. The menu has broadened somewhat, offering a few more starters (Steak, hamburgers, pasta and the like) and some fowl (chicken).

Brunch seems to be the strength here. And the masses seem to know it; every Sunday, the place is packed to the rafters for the Hot House Live Jazz Brunch. Great bread and muffin basket, fabulous fresh O.J. (with Champagne, when necessary), and a variety of fine entrées. They include lofty scrambled eggs with sausage, lemon-nutmeg-ricotta pancakes, a wildly spicy baked chicken with Bourbon BBQ Sauce, and a thick Lasagne al Forno.

Those who skew toward lunch for brunch should check out the Steamed Mussels and Chili Chicken Stir-fry. Plates are all $6-$8, so you'll have enough for the Sunday Times, too. Yet our waiter was clearly in a hurry to end his shift to catch his audition cattle-call. You better believe it's clear that he's doing us a favour just by serving us.