Sunday brunch was great. It was not a huge spread but was only $29.95 (for some reason the other 3 tables opted for a la carte). There was live music too. Latkes were great with sour cream & applesauce. Challah French toast was good too. Blintzes were pretty good - they were supposed to be eaten with sour cream & applesauce but were also nice with maple syrup. Various preserved fish dishes were all good. The cheese was nothing special. The hummus had a smoked flavour. read more

I rarely give 5 stars but this place deserves it for the Sunday Brunch. It's clear the owner isn't doing this for profit but her passion for sharing her culture with the community. Every dish was presented with care and she offered advice on which sauce to use for which so we can have the best possible experience. My favorites was the smoked salmon and latkes and the various sweets (I am a lover of desserts). Tip: it's not walk in you need to call ahead, we went at the 11am seating and it was not at all crowded and a very enjoyable experience. Can not recommend enough. read more

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Came for the buffet on the weekend. Was very interesting! I've not experienced something like that before. The food was delicious. My favourite was the latkes with apple sauce. The applesauce was so delicious!!! Lots of good food and traditional music. A fun time and unique way to learn more about Jewish culture. read more

Free Times Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

First time I had full traditional fish-dairy( no meat) home cooked style, Jewish spread like this and they were delish! There were lox, latkes, Blintzes, Gefilte fish, pickled herrings, whole full on dessert & so on. Owner, Judy checked on every single table and with a friendly smile to make sure all the patrons were having a good time and she had a great speech after. It was almost like we were invited to Judy's houseparty. Very much enjoyable live band(Yosi and the Yingles) who played familiar Jewish songs for everyone in the dining room to clap & sing along (with tumbalalaika. ) after the feast. These guys were one of a few bands that made me look for the tip jar. So talented. Such a fun time & food to close 2023. Thank you Judy for hosting this brunch!! read more

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Not a food review. Came here for a stand up comedy event and just got some drinks. Cozy little cafe and there seems to be a lot of traditional Jewish food that seemed interesting (we didn't try it as we had just come from lunch). I think it is neat that they do events here and service was good. read more

I'm giving a perfect score for the Matzah ball soup alone! Every decadent bite transported me back to the old country -- aka my bubby's kitchen. The soup is incredible and unleashed a time capsule for me - transporting me back to my childhood. It is just as she made it. The latkes are wonderful as well, get them with the apple sauce. The bagel with lox and cream cheese was solid, but not as AMAZINGLY INCREDIBLE as the soup! I love this restaurant, comfort food at its finest. read more

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LAST DAYS of WINTERLICIOUS on Feb 9, 2023! The delightful, friendly, classic, efficient & cozy Free Times Cafe at College & Major is participating in Winterlicious 2023 with a prix-fixe 3 course Lunch ($20) and Dinner ($25) Menu and removed any deliberations by adding the Tax and 18% SC to the bill. Attached pictures have the Winterlicious as well as the standard and drinks menus as well as my delicious selection of Vegan Burger appetizer, 3-Egg Veg omelette, and Honey Cake. The service is impeccable and the interior décor is brimming with old world charm with lunch running Latin style until 5PM. read more

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A musical gem but it needs to be said that all the attending performers at the weekly open mic have been working for FREE since 1980. Each musician must pay for transportation there and back and buy a drink at minimum, the owner profiting while the workers pay to play, de facto. Respectful venues at least give a free drink ticket (only costs the business the wholesale price which is much less than the retail price they charge). read more

Open mic on Monday evenings at 7:30pm. Mostly older men playing guitar and harmonica. Small cozy area with excellent service. Got the small matzo ball soup (~$5), and it comes with bread and butter. Nice presentation. I love caraway bread but expected it toasted. It was neither fresh nor stale. The soup is clear and too salty! Could only drink a few spoons. I think they boiled it to death too. The one piece of celery I had disintegrated and was all yellow. Also, I never had matzo ball so I didn't know what it's supposed to be like. For me, I'm not a fan of this bland mushy ball that has the texture of of soaked bread and tofu. read more

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Awful food and incredibly expensive! Not the restaurant it used to be. I have been going there since my Mom brought me there in 1987. Used to be great and affordable. Now the food is terrible and very little and the prices are way too high! read more

Free Times Cafe is a classic brunch spot at the north end of Kensington market. I haven't been there for other meals but I'm sure the food is good. The staff are always friendly. The food is always good for brunch (though I think a bit pricey depending on what you're getting). The interior is a bit run down but part of its charm. They have live music on Sunday's which is fun. Worth checking out if you're in the area and want a classic Jewish breakfast. read more

Free Times Cafe - Classic breakfast with two eggs any style and a lot of sides. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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One weekend soon, the klezmer will kick up and the huge Jewish brunches will be eaten again. Until that day, I'm happy to say that Judy and her team have pivoted to some delicious delivery. Best latkes in the city! Happy Hanukkah to everyone celebrating. Sending light your way as we close out this long, long year. read more

I came here with a a few friends for their comedy and magic event. We purchased tickets for the show on the Eventbrite website. We were greeted by the performers who were very nice. The waiter stopped by and gave us menus. A few moments after the show starts he returns and we said we were still full from dinner earlier. He said we'll be charged 5$ if we don't order anything. So two of my friends ordered a drink. This was a bit odd since the event page said nothing about needing to purchase food from the venue if we were to attend the show we already paid for. After the event was finished, my friends went to pay at the counter because the waiter never showed up with our bill. We were waiting outside for one of them to go to the washroom. The waiter rushes out and asks if we paid. Well, yes we did. So he goes back in and then returns again and said we need to pay an additional $10 since me and one other friend didn't order anything. I declined to pay this since we paid for an event and now they are forcing me to pay an additional fee for going to it. He said he'll just get my friend who's still in the washroom to pay for it since I refused. I asked him to let me speak with his manager. He brought me to his boss and I explained the situation to her that they never mentioned on the event that I had to spend money here or pay a fee. She tries to guilt me by saying "so your not going to support this bar?". I re-explained that this is a matter of you asking me to pay additional to the tickets. It's like I paid for movie tickets at a theater and as you leave they say "you didn't buy anything from our concession stand, so pay up another 5$". She said "fine, you don't have to pay, but don't ever come to my bar again". If their policy is to have a minimum spend to attend the event, specify on the event page. Don't give patrons who paid for events a surprise door fee. Since this was their "mistake" they should own up to it, not be rude to us. So yes I won't be supporting this bar as the service is terrible. read more

Free Times Cafe - The event I attended. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Get the latkes. Super fresh excellent crunch. Comes with sour cream and in house apple sauce . Patio is open read more

Probably the quintessential place for Jewish soul food right in the city of Toronto. You can't go wrong by ordering their signature potato latkes served with applesauce and sour cream, along with a bowl of chicken matzoball soup. On various nights there are live musical offerings to help enjoy your meal. I was graciously served by servers Mike and Victor, and is definitely a place that I would frequent for life. read more

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Came here for a comedy show. Neat location and atmosphere, the food was okay, nothing spectacular, but also not bad.

Free Times Cafe is famous for the AYCE buffet for Sunday brunch so I thought I would have their sampler plate typical of what you would get at the buffet. It was $16.95 and included a bagel, cream cheese, smoked salmon, latkes, along with those scrumptious blintzes. Those are egg crepes filled with sweet, lemon flavoured cottage cheese. Solid and filling. The latkes go well with the sour cream and homemade cinnamon apple sauce. Delicious! Since it's still winter the fruit accompanying the plate was a little pale, but that's understandable. It was a lively Saturday and the place was hopping with early afternoon brunch parties and the beer was flowing steadily. Truly a enjoyable and enduring restaurant and a fixture along with College Street strip. read more

Free Times Cafe - Special. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

a really charming, old fashioned (I would say) place. the cafe hosts many live events (music, storytelling) and is also a home to Sunday Brunch. the menu is quite good (although not too many options for vegetarians or vegans). there are beers and drinks on special available. I love the place's decor and its unique atmosphere. the staff is super fast, friendly and attentive. there is some art on the walls and also many posters about concerts and events that took place over the years, and their number is impressive. a good venue to meet with a larger group of friends as there are many tables and they can be easily arranged together. read more

Free Times Cafe - the front of the cafe with its iconic neon sign - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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it's a good hangout place but the menu is limited and very very expensive! the food is decently good and so are the drinks the servers and the vibe but you can find much economical options with the same everything at Augusta - Kensington market read more

Can't do better as far as Vegitarian Breakfasts goes in the city. And their Sunday Brunch. Holy shit. Plus the staff is amazing (With a high amount of Celtic accents for some reason. Not complaining though.) This place makes you feel like family. If I ever move away from Toronto every return visit will feature breakfast here at least once, but luckily I get to enjoy it whenever I like. read more

I love that this place serves classic kosher-style cuisine but makes interesting combinations with them too. Loved the Challah French Toast the last time I came here. The Shakshuka, Latkes, and Matzo Ball Soup never disappoints. Would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for good kosher-style options. Great place for brunch and late night drinks as well! read more

Great place to eat. Best brisket in town! Soups and desserts are made in house and are perfect. Try the apple pie. Pleasant atmosphere and warm and freindly staff. COLD beer , a good selection. This place is well worth a visit. read more

Came here for an impromptu Sunday brunch with family and was pleasantly surprised by the "Bella! Did Ya Eat?" Jewish brunch buffet, that happens every Sunday. We had no clue this was going on at all. There was live music (Kiezmer and Yiddish Cabaret) happening in the back room which we didn't see but could hear and was a nice touch. The buffet consisted mostly of various salads with some classic Jewish fare such as cheese blintzes, potato latkes and gefilte fish. There was also a dessert section with various tarts, cakes and fruit. The buffet is set up by the front door which can get a bit crowded with people coming and going, as well as the narrow hallway between the dining room and the entrance/buffet area. The owner, Judy seemed to make it a point to greet all of the guests personally and all of the servers were friendly and circulated around the restaurant often. This was a fun and interesting experience. The food wasn't anything fancy but if you're looking for something out of the ordinary and open to trying different things I would definitely recommend stopping by on a Sunday for brunch. read more

Free Times Cafe - Delicious salad bar - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I've only been here once and it was kind of something my friend and I stumbled upon while walking over to kensington market one day but I absolutely loved it! We ordered the sangrias which came in these awesome flamingo cups and were very flavourful. We then ordered the brisket poutine to share. It was amazing! I loved seeing all the Jewish foods on the menu like latkes, matzah ball soup, etc. Made me feel right at home! I decided to try the brisket sandwich for my main. It was perfect. I've read many great things about their Sunday brunch and would love to come back and try it! Great food, great service, great atmosphere. read more

Free Times Cafe - Sangria!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I love this cafe. They have the best Jewish Brunch in the city. You have to book it in advance as they always have a full house but it's a wonderful experience. I love the scrambled eggs with salmon (they used salmon instead of bacon to keep it kosher). It was heavenly. They had all of the breakfast foods you would want to eat in the morning. They also have a live band playing Jewish folk music. It was a great experience and I would definitely go back. :) read more

Came here after work with my boyfriend to grab a quick bite to eat. Really chill atmosphere and a spacious patio area that is group friendly. Drinks: I got their Caesar for $9 and he got a mojito for $8, all taxes included. My Caesar is a good size (1 pint with 2oz vodka), very well made, spicy and peppery which I really enjoy. His mojito is quite small (less than half a pint), and we both didn't like it very much; it had so much sugar that it never dissolved and it's crunchy between the teeth when you drink it. The mint was also not fresh. Food: I got a Free Times burger ($14.95) that came with a selection of 3 toppings from a list of toppings. I chose sauteed onions, guacomole (that actually came as a side), and a fried egg. I was very impressed by the amount of veggies it came with. Ample amount of lettuce, tomatoes and onions on top of your selection of toppings. The beef patty was very juicy but lacked some seasoning. The burger can't be eaten on its own you need to add some ketchup or other condiments. With the burger, you can choose to have a side of fries, potato salad, soup or coleslaw. I chose coleslaw and it was very fresh, made with red cabbage. It also came with yummy aioli on the side. The food was delicious overall and I would purchase again. Service: Can't complain. The service was fast, and I had taken the waiter's choice of Caesar over Sangria which I'm happy about. I would definitely come back. 4/5 stars because of the price and the failure of a mojito. Besides that would definitely recommend! read more

Free Times Cafe - Mojito $8 (would not recommend) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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When I was crazing searching some Sunday brunch buffet place in Toronto, Free Times popes up. This is a old school style Jewish bistro. Band music everyday, the boss was a lovey old lady. The bistro is near T of U. The price is good for me, I paid CAD $30 for the whole brunch buffet. The food was delicious, especially desserts. They had fresh warm bagels, cream cheese, salmon and pickles. Eggplant salad and chickpeas. The service was read more

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I was actually there before they opened & was told to wait outside until they were ready. Ok, sure (odd I thought). I ended up getting french toast & side of latkes, since I wouldn't be able to eat a whole order of latkes. They should have that as a side order on the menu since they actually don't. I was glad they were able to accommodate that for me. What I didn't care for was that they didn't bring out what I ordered together, instead I got the latkes first, ate them & then got the french toast. Weird. People came in looking for their buffet which I guess is a thing but they didn't have it. I guess something worth checking out but since I don't live there, won't be able to. They have stage for live music which seemed like it would be a great time as they have photos of so many different musicians. So go check it out. read more

This review is only for the Sunday Yiddish All-You-Can-Eat Brunch. This place is always busy and it's best to reserve a table during one of their two seating periods. The food is definitely unique from a restaurant perspective. It is the dairy side of traditional Kosher cooking which includes loads of carbs, dairy, veggies, and seafood. You won't find any meat from land animals so while the overall meal may not be vegetarian perfection, it is a dream come true for Pescetarians. That being said, most options are vegetarian-friendly so don't be turned off by the few fishy options. What really adds a bit of extra to this experience is that they always have Klezmer musicians playing a set that starts in the late morning. More entertaining though is the opening act which is always the owner of the restaurant going up on stage and sharing her story of how she started the brunch buffet and teaching the audience a little bit about Ashkenazi culture and humor. It's a real treat! :D The food is very good although it can be a tad pricey even for an all you can eat. I would suggest that if you enjoy bunch style meals, you should give this place at least one try. If it's your think, you will no doubt become a regular. :) read more

Oy! Sunday Brunch at Free Times Café is like no other brunch you'll find in the city. For me, it was like crashing a family get-together full of complete strangers, yet feeling strangely welcome. I've had dinner on the patio a few times but never realized what an extensive dining area lay inside, including a lovely back room that makes 40 feel cozy and served as stage for an experience that had me feeling like an honorary Jew by the time I stepped back out the front door almost two hours later. I wondered what I was signing up for when Avigail suggested we head out for "Jewish Brunch." After briefly lamenting the absence of bacon (or ham, or sausage, for that matter) I decided to go in with an open mind and try something completely new to me. As it turns out, it's possible to get absolutely stuffed on a delicious brunch buffet without consuming an ounce of pork! Saturday brunch is a la carte; I highly recommend waiting an extra day and heading in on Sunday for the buffet ($20), especially since many of the same items are served.* I'm not one to drop $2-$3 on a few paltry sips of orange juice or coffee with my breakfast, but both are included in the price (!), the OJ is fresh squeezed (!!) and the servers are quick with a free refill (!!!).** Another perk of holding out for Sunday is the klezmer band (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klezmer), which plays sets at 11:15 and 1:15. Guests are welcomed and the band introduced by more-hostess-than-proprietor Judy Perly, who brings a sense of warmth and celebration to the occasion that makes it feel like a special one even when it's not. The Food Being a complete neophyte to Jewish cuisine, I made the most of the trip and tried as many different things as I could possibly fit down my hatch. I was delighted with almost all of them. The latkes were delightfully thick and crispy cakes of shredded potato, served with traditional sour cream and apple sauce. The blintzes were stuffed with cheese (ricotta?) and laced with just a hint of orange. They're deceptively filling, so just have one if you want to sample the spread. A host of bagels with cream cheeses and other topping options was next; I opted for cream cheese with lox (cured salmon) and was left a very happy camper. Scrambled eggs with lox also found their way onto my plate (delicious), as did two salmon cakes that stand out as the sole regrettable choice of the day. Fish was offered in several smoked and pickled varieties, followed by veggie and fruit plates and finally a spread of traditional Jewish and North American desserts, including dates (which I happen to love) and a crumbly-but-tasty sesame cake. My favourite dish of the entire array was by far the pickled herring. Not the sort of thing you want to eat a lot of even if you are a fish fan, but the big chunks of tender fish and surprisingly tame brine made it hard to resist. * Make a reservation. ** The coffee, as it happens, is lousy. I recommend pre-caffeinating with a latte from Manic just down the road. read more

BELLA, DID YA EAT?! You know, being Jewish has its perks. You get long, curly brown hair, a nice olive complexion, a good college education, and a childhood rife with the only kind of purgatory in which we believe: gastrointestinal. Every holiday we get a dinner AND a brunch the next morning, complete with heaping platters of blintzes, lox, whitefish salad, bagels, smoked mackerel, olives, hummus, leftover brisket from the night before, fruit, herring, gefilte fish, coffee cake, and, if you're my aunt in Thornhill, Swedish meatballs. Oy, such amounts of food. Is it heaven? Is it hell? Who knows, we're Jews! Unequivocally, of course, the hardest part of being Jewish is sitting on your hands and WAITING for these holidays to 'round the bend once more. Thankfully, Free Times and old aunt Bella have made this hellish paradise available each and every Sunday for the moderate price of about $20/person with tip. Hey, it's cheaper than med school. read more

I've been a number of times for open mike night when my friends are playing, and usually take advantage of their drink specials, but this weekend was the first time I went for their 'Bella, Did you Eat' Jewish style buffet breakfast. Oy. Excellent. The meal starts off with coffee, tea, and fresh squeezed orange juice, which is included in the price. Then on to the front of the restaurant where the buffet is displayed. There was a wide variety of both sweet and savory dishes. Eggs with either apple or smoked salmon, french toast, fresh fried latke's (and least when I went up), blintzes, lox and bagels, gefilte fish, fresh fruit, salads, home made baba ganoush, and dessert items! Wowza. This is a dairy meal, meaning because they serve dairy they don't serve any meat, but fill up on smoked salmon, and I swear, it won't be a problem! (And this comes from a bacon LOVER.) My only complaint was that the service was less than stellar. A pitcher of milk was spilled, clean up was haphazard, orders for coffee and tea were forgotten. Still, it's a buffet, and you don't really deal with the servers that much. And I have received good service before, so maybe it was just an off day. Another note, there is live music, which is fun, but we were seated near the front, and the noise did make it difficult to talk (and was probably rude to the musicians to chat through their set). If you're there to catch up maybe request a table further away from the stage (or be prepared to feel guilt like I did.) $19.95 brunch =$26 with tax and 15% tip. (What do people normally tip on a buffet where you serve yourself?) read more

Judy Perly, the owner of Free Times Cafe, stopped in her tracks when she saw me. I glanced behind me. No, it was definitely me who'd caused that response. "You," she said, inhaling deeply, "look so much like an old friend of mine." I got the impression that the friend was deceased---if she was a Catholic (like me), I'm almost certain she would've crossed herself---and I just sort of smiled and nodded. She shook herself, took me to my table, asked me where I was from, and told me the history of "Bella! Did Ya Eat?," Free Times' Sunday brunch, which is so named in honor of Judy's grandmother, who made sure everyone had a full plate. I'm a vegetarian and was concerned about a potentially limited selection, but there were tons of veg-friendly food from which to choose. The latkes, blintzes, and array of fresh fruits are amazing. The coffee is good, the service is excellent, and the live, traditional Jewish music is so rad, I could barely stand it. It's just a fun and upbeat place for brunch. Come hungry and fill your plate with goodness. Before I left, Judy stopped me again and asked, "your name isn't Helena, is it?" I nearly shat myself. "What did you say??" I said, grabbing her arm. "Your name isn't Irene, is it?" she repeated, and I let out the breath I'd been holding. That would've been just too uncanny. read more

Ok, DON'T go here for food. It's overpriced, for the portions, cold and the service was awful. The waitress had half a brain and borderline straight rude. For the price you can get way better meal down the street at Nirvana or Sneaky Dee's, this is definitely not one of College Street's finest even though its a been a landmark of the area. That all being said, they usually have interesting and good local musicians playing in the back and I have enjoyed a number of shows there. In short- go for the music and drinks, skip the food! read more

I met three friends here to try out their mid-week breakfast (vs. weekend brunch). 3 of us had the breakfast special at 7.95, which included 2 eggs, "bacon" or sliced tomatoes, 2 latkes, a multigrain bagel and coffee. It is still excellent, but lost a star for the following reasons; It "opens" at 10 am. (A tad late for breakfast.) It opened at 10:10 am. (Inexcusable. Staff was inside, while we huddled outside.) Chef doesn't do poached eggs. (Wha???) No condiments were included with the latkes. Sour cream was $1 extra. (How can latkes be served without sour cream or apple sauce? Both are served when one orders them as a meal or side.) Why did I only subtract 1 star for all the infractions listed above? I still love this place. The food is excellent, the server was friendly and (eventually) attentive, the coffee was above average, the vibe is great, the music was nice, it's an institution, they support local musicians, the Sunday brunch is fantastic...need I go on? read more

Free wi-fi Friendly service Good breakfast/brunch I like! Came here after a little stroll around town, and had a plain jane standard breakfast, 2 eggs, back bacon, and toast. what made this extra special were the latkes. mmmm two crispy lumps of deep fried shredded potato and batter goodness. I'm still salivating thinking about it. My sidekick had the three -egg omelet, which had asparagus, which I feel should be put in omelets in many more places (: Two had a pretty hearty and satisfying breakfast for less than $20 read more

Back in my UofT days, I had frequented Free Times after nights in the area. Decent pub grub (well, I stuck to the fries) and pretty darn cozy. About two weeks before my wedding, though, my dad decided that he wanted to host a brunch for the family and asked me to find a place. Some of the brunch spots right by where we were staying were either booked already or didn't take weekend reservations. Then a nagging voice in the back of my head reminded me that Free Times offered a Jewish Brunch that I never took advantage of. Oy vey! Judy helped us book our group of about 30 (we have a big fam, what can I say?) The brunch buffet is pretty large and features several traditional Jewish foods, albeit not all breakfasty items. Think lox, eggs & onions, lox with bagels, latkes, rugelach, gefilte fish, and blintzes. I wasn't blown away by the food - my Bubby did better - but it was decent. The atmosphere, though, is hilarious. Think old world Jew meet a semi-hip clientele... then again it is Kensington-adjacent. We enjoyed the Klezmer music and the older folks liked the communal "oys." The music they get is pretty darn good, I got to say. The service was also pretty good and we all had a great time. Thanks Free Times! read more

Already craving another veggie burger from Free Times! SO good! I had mine with fried onions, guacamole and cheddar and it also comes with lettuce, red onion, tomato and a side of garlic mayo (amazing!) Another must try is their spiked cider - was perfect for the cold April weather we've been experiencing. I will definitely be back because there were so many other menu options I'd love to try! :) read more

The Free Times Cafe is like that old college haunt that you frequent to hear your friend strum on his guitar. Which is exactly what I do about once a month. The open mic night is a great way for fledging artists to have their music heard. I've heard some really great up and coming Toronto artist come through here on more than one occasion. Although honestly the acoustics suck and they could do a little more to amp up the performance area. However, beggars can't be choosers and Free Times often has a pretty solid crowd in attendance - a must for any aspiring musician. The waitstaff is also super friendly and attentive here and the food is unexpectedly delicious. I highly recommend it for brunch especially. Plus, Free Times is a great place just to grab a beer and people watch on College Street. read more

We had a nice dinner sitting out on the patio on a warm evening over the weekend. I have to start by saying that none of their Jewish food is as good as the stuff that my mom makes. That said...the brisket and latkes were tasty and so were the chicken skewers. My friends who never had a blintze enjoyed them, but they really weren't even close to what I am used to having. The sangria was also lovely on a hot night. I would want to give this place 3.5 stars but that is not an option. read more