French bistro is rarely cause for celebration, especially one that been around for over a decade. But what makes Joy stand out is not only its food pedigree – Joy was recently taken over by Peter Brauti, Scott Manicom (The Kitchen and Two Cats) and Steve Pelton (of TIFF) - but that it pumps out one of the best brunches in the Leslieville area.

With that range of experiences and connection, you can be assured these guys know how to have a great time. (And their opening party proved it, with hundreds of young professionals boozing and schmoozing in every square inch of the place.)

Feeling that the Leslieville area was one of the last in affordable downtown property, (how sad is it that that phrase has become oxymoronic?), the group scooped up the place with the hopes of tapping into the late 20- and early 30-year old co-eds migrating eastward.

What is noteworthy about the location is the camaraderie of the community; area dwellers eager to get to know the new owners. "There have been a few nights on the patio," he says, "where I have seen two separate groups start at tables next to each other, and by the end of the night, they've pushed their tables together!"

And it's not necessarily because they had been drinking for the last four hours. With a great space to work with, including three patios, a dining room and an upstairs bar (Over Joy Lounge), Joy is an ideal summer hang, now made even greater with the permanent opening of the east patio and the serving of Sangria and pails of Coronitas.