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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

Starving Artist

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.

The interior

The interior

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.

Starving Artist

Starving Artist

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.

An americano

An americano

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.

The B. Benny

The B. Benny

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.

Cutting into the B. Benny

Cutting into the B. Benny

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.

The Brunchwich

The Brunchwich

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.

Strawberry Craze

Strawberry Craze

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.

Pineapple Banana Crunch

Pineapple Banana Crunch

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

Starving Artist on Urbanspoon



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