There’s certainly no shortage of brunch restaurants in Toronto but what distinguishes Starving Artist (@Starving4waffle) from the rest is that everything here is served on waffles.
Starving Artist, located on Lansdowne just north of Bloor, is a little bit bigger than your average brunch joint. Upon entering the space, I was surprised by how many people it could seat (they’ve also got a patio which is big plus for the summer). But that doesn’t mean there are no lines. We arrived around 10:30 and there was already quite the line out the door. You’ll have to wait outside, so dress accordingly.
They also opened a second location on St Clair west (a few blocks east of Dufferin) not too long ago. There’s clearly a demand for more waffles!
Starving Artist’s menu is pretty extensive. But if you’re not in the mood for waffles, you’re pretty much outta luck – I think the only non-waffle option is the granola bowl. For those with finicky diets, potato, vegan and gluten-free waffles are also available.
They feature breakfast/benny waffles, waffle sandwiches (including a Monte Cristo which is served with French toast waffles) and dessert waffles.
The Starving Artist offers smoothies and milkshakes for $5 each, which I would normally be game for. However, after waiting in the cold for 20 minutes, I opted for a hot Americano ($2.50) instead.
I was craving a benny and decided on the B. Benny – 2 potato waffles topped with poached eggs, caramelized bacon & hollandaise sauce ($13). The eggs were perfectly poached and topped with a delicious hollandaise. The potato waffles, made from mashed potatoes, were a fun take on regular waffles. I enjoyed their crisp exterior but you’ve gotta eat them fast. Once you cut into the poached eggs, the waffles get soggy quickly.
Their caramelized bacon is also noteworthy – a perfect sweet and savoury combination. If we weren’t ordering dessert waffles, I definitely would’ve gotten an extra order of them.
The savoury waffles dishes each come with greens and a choice of beans, potato salad or fruit. I went with the potato salad. I’m not sure if they make this in house or if it’s bought but nevertheless, it was pretty tasty. It had a nice tang to it.
Mike decided to go with the Brunchwich – one egg, American cheese & secret sauce with your choice of ham, bacon or turkey, between two mini waffles ($8). It’s not a particularly large sandwich so if you’re hungry, I recommend going with a dish that has a more filling potato base.
I didn’t find the waffles to have very much flavour on their own nor did I taste much of a secret sauce. But when you sandwich an egg, cheese and caramelized bacon between the waffles, it’s not a bad sandwich. Between the two dishes, we both preferred the benny.
I couldn’t resist ordering some dessert – it’s a waffle restaurant, after all! I love that each of their dessert waffles are single waffles as opposed to a heaping plateful. This just means you have the opportunity to try more.
I ordered the Strawberry Craze – strawberry waffles, fresh strawberries, strawberry jam, whipped cream & strawberry syrup ($6). With the abundance of strawberry jam and strawberry syrup, I found it all a bit too sweet. I definitely needed another americano to go with this one.
Mike went with the slightly more exotic Pineapple Banana Crunch – coconut waffle, banana, pineapple, whipped cream, topped with coconut shreds & peanut chunks ($5). He wolfed it down pretty quickly so I think it’s safe to say, he really enjoyed it.
Overall, we had an enjoyable brunch experience at Starving Artist. Mike and I eat a lot of brunch so it was refreshing to try some place which does things a little differently. It’s definitely worth a visit, particularly if you’re a big waffle fan.
At a glance:
- Serving an almost all-waffle menu (non-waffle options are limited)
- Primarily a brunch restaurant; open from 9am to 6pm everyday
- Waffles are also available in vegan and gluten-free options
- Located on Lansdowne Ave, 2 blocks north of Ossington; a second location on St Clair West
- Be prepared to wait (outside) if you come during prime brunch hour, so dress accordingly
Ratings (out of 5):
- Food: 3.5 stars
- Service: 2 stars
- Atmosphere: 2 stars
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