Can’t afford psychotherapy or Club Med? Just go for brunch, damn it! Years ago, one of the owners of a soon-to-be-opened café happened upon an article by Fran Lebowitz dissing bad restaurant names. One place in particular was a New York café called Bonjour Croissant. If this were France, she wrote, why would anyone want to eat in a place called Hello Toast?

And thus became the name of the cute, little eatery of which we speak. Half a decade later, Hello Toast remains a popular South Riverdale fixture. And two years after Hello Toast opened its doors, another spot opens, to complete the anecdote -- Bonjour Brioche. Apparently there's no connection, but it’s all too cute. Lebowitz’s words may have been pure wit, but as it turns out, many do want to eat at a place called (in French or English) Hello Toast.

Hello Toast has a kickback comfort that just begs you to lounge. Decor is the exposed brick look, slightly dim, with toast shapes stenciled haphazardly in gold on a wine-coloured ceiling. Passing by the '50s-style tables and chairs.

All of the breakfasts, from cinnamon French toast to scrambled eggs, eggs Florentine, eggs Benedict. The serving is colossal -- A fantastic brunch offers up eggs Benedict with smoked salmon in dill hollandaise; eggs Florentine in Swiss Mornay with grilled tomato slice and more fries; large cheddar cheese or ripe tomato with gruyere omelettes; thick slices of healthy multigrain.

A fresh fruit salad is excellent; gingered carrot soup is a rich, thickest purée full of the flavours of carrot, ginger and curry spices.


Reader Reviews


Overall tasty meal !
Aaron Boros, Toronto, ON
August 25, 2002
I had feared a long wait to get into Hello Toast at 12:30 on a Saturday, but after 10 minutes we found ourselves a half couch/half seat table in the back room. The decor was quite interesting, with toasters jutting out of the wall above the door leading to the kitchen and artwork placed outside the window on the exterior wall of the adjacent building. Looking around, I noticed many people sipping on Bloody Caesars. My friends were quick to inform me that this is the drink of choice for hangovers.

I, as well as the majority of my crew ordered the omelette of the day. This consisted of caramalized onions, aspagarus, mushrooms, smoked salmon, melted goat cheese, and sweet chili sauce. It also came with potatos and side salad with a raspberry vinagrette. The omelette arrived on my plate oozing at the seams with creamy goat cheese. I was expecting it to be a bit spicy due to the chili sauce but instead it was very sweet from the combiniation of the cheese and chili. Delicious. The potatos were quite standard and it was nice to balance the meal with the salad.

Unfortunately, my brunch cohort's omelette was missing goat cheese and another member of our party asked the waitress for a plate of goat cheese to compensate! This slightly embarassing situation didn't mar what was an overall tasty meal (at least for me anyways).


Mmmmmmmm
Jay W., Toronto,ON
Nov. 15, 2001
We've only just discovered this place... and the breakfast is delicious! Always has been... and always will be. Mmmmm!


Very Good
Megan Rerdan, Toronto, ON
Nov., 22, 2001
Time and time again, Hello Toast delivers on good food and good value. Their Eggs Provençal is to die for!!!


Come On...
R.I.P. West, Toronto, ON
Dec. 12, 2001
Never, ever eat in at Hello Toast. You’ll never get it. The wait staff are sincere power losers. The food, however, is great. Try the brunch. Everyone else does. The problem with this place is,after you place your order with your waitress, you’ll never see her again, nor your brunch!