Starving Artist is one of our go-to spots for breakfast in Markham. It's minutes from our house,…read moreand not only that we actually like the food. Although this is a busy brunch restaurant, the turnover happens fast, and we have never waited more than 30 minutes for a seat. Starving Artist has a wide array of coffees and teas as well as waffles and 'Bennies. We have tried quite a few of the drinks during our visits, and we have tried many of their signature dishes. The staff are great and always accommodating and very patient when my kids can't make up their minds about what they want to eat or drink. The servers have helped my kids on more than one occasion make up their minds. This is a great place for breakfast, brunch or even late afternoon coffee, and we try to go at least once a month.

Visited around 10:45 a.m. on a Tuesday. The café is tucked beside Shoppers Drug Mart, with plenty…read moreof parking available. You pass through a charming patio to enter, which was shaded nicely thanks to the size of the Shoppers building. Given the recent heatwave, we opted to sit indoors. We were greeted at the door and offered the choice between a two-person table tucked farther inside or a four-person table closer to other diners. We chose the smaller table for a bit more privacy and ease of conversation. Menus were provided right away, followed shortly by tap water. When our server checked in to ask about drinks, we let her know we were fine with just water. Later, when we were ready to order, she came promptly when we called her over. A standout moment: we ordered just one smoothie, and she kindly asked if we were sharing, then offered to split it into two cups without us even asking. A thoughtful and appreciated gesture. The Pineapple Banana Smoothie was a highlight. It was perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, and incredibly refreshing. My sister ordered the Halloumi Benedict. She noted that while the waffles leaned toward a sweeter flavor on their own, the combination of waffle, egg, and halloumi was well-balanced and worked beautifully together. The egg was jammy and spot-on in terms of taste, texture, and presentation. I had the Fully Loaded, which features a potato waffle topped with bacon bits, sour cream, chives, and cheese. It leaned a bit salty, but not overwhelmingly so, still quite enjoyable overall. I loved the potato waffle which has the slightly crispy edges but was soft to bite with a texture that resembled mash potatoes. As someone who isn't usually crazy about waffles, which was such a nice alternative. Each of our mains came with a side salad (lightly dressed and refreshing) and a choice of fruit salad, maple baked beans, or potato salad. We both chose the fruit salad, which was impressively varied with orange, grapefruit, watermelon, blueberry, blackberry, and banana. Note: Payment is cash or debit only.

Paid street parking. The restaurant is right on the corner. They offer indoor and outdoor seating…read more Beautiful restaurant with tons of photo opportunities so make sure to be ready . We were greeted at the door. It was a little pricey. They offered a FULL vegan menu and it also included mocktails. My soul was SO happy. I definitely tried something new. I wasnt a fan but that didnt take away from the experience. We were treated to a nice birthday surprise. The staff was very friendly. The bathroom was clean. Make sure to try it out if you're in the area.

This brunch spot offers a typical big breakfast menu with items like salmon and eggs, bacon, toast,…read moreand Italian coffee, all in a quiet, unhurried environment that allows guests to relax and chat without being rushed out. It is less crowded than most cafes, like Cafe One, making it ideal for conversations and long brunches. The relaxed atmosphere seems to be a highlight, setting it apart from busier and louder cafes. However, I personally think the food and service is considered average in taste and style, with prices slightly above what is standard for the area--about $30 per person. Menu items like salmon and eggs, bacon, and toast are standard for brunch, offering a familiar but unremarkable experience. Italian coffee is available, adding a nice touch but not enough to elevate the meal experience. The price per person (about $30) is slightly above average for what is essentially a regular breakfast menu. While the environment is comfortable, the food is ordinary and not especially memorable for the price paid. Unless the friendly, relaxed atmosphere is a top priority, there aren't compelling reasons to return for the food alone.

1st time back here in a few yrs, and was delighted by the renovations. The staff is still just as…read morefriendly, and the food just as delicious and arrived quickly! Great breakfast spot, and nice variety of options for all pallets. They even have turkey bacon for my non-pork eating friends.

I heard they served poutine, and I wanted it for breakfast and called. They said I could have it…read more I'm sorry, but poutine has curds, not shredded mozzarella, and the fries while super crispy were not slathered in gravy. To top it off, the place is filthy.

Came here for drinks after work and had such a lovely evening! Reservation was super easy to make…read moreonline, which is always a plus. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, although it got pretty lively (aka loud ^^") as the night went on -- definitely had to scream across the table a little lol. The food is all meant to be shared, which I love for a night out. The Chef's Toast was a standout for me -- made with seasonal ingredients, so the flavours change often. The pizza is made with house-made sourdough, and the Lovechild was such a fun combination of savoury, sweet, and a nice little kick. The cocktails were delicious too! They can also make classics that aren't on the menu, so naturally I had to go for an Old Fashioned. Can't wait to come back! I also heard they make amazing focaccia sandwiches for lunch, so that's definitely on my list for next time.

Cute Italian spot in Vaughan that has an adorable patio on their side. Their lunch and dinner menus…read moreare very different with lunch being a casual sandwich and flatbread spot, and dinner be a more cozy date night dinner spot. Came here for lunch right when they opened and there was already a few people that have ordered and a mini line that formed behind me. It was quick service and they brought the sandwiches out to the back patio for us once they were ready. The sandwiches here are so incredibly delicious, my only complaint is that I wish there was more filling to it. We ordered: Bianca Focaccia 5/5 - Focaccia sourdough was amazing to begin with and so fresh. The pairings of the mortadella, prosciutto cotto, stracciatella, arugula, pistachio pesto is what made it a 5/5 for me. All the flavours tasted so good together and I still think of this sandwich. Bee Sting 4/5 - A flatbread pizza on their focaccia sourdough. It came with soppressata, stracciatella, and hot honey. This was also so delicious. Love that the sandwiches come cut in half, their packaging is really pretty, and the food is tasting even better! I think about this spot often and can't wait to come back.

This place only has. 3.5 overall average star rating…read more So.... I'm going to support local businesses and give this place a 5 star rating. Because.... They deserve it!!! I can see why they have been in business this long. I ordered a regular size veal sandwich and added mozzarella cheese. Total bill came out to $10-$11 or something. A little pricey but "OMG" was this sandwich special. The employee (I gather who was also the owner) gave me suggestions and upon choosing the veal, I saw him bread it and cook it upon ordering. That's beyond fresh!!! The bun it came on had a hard crust and soft in the middle. The cheese melted upon opening the sandwich....Mmmm.... Cheese melt!! They well deserve this 5 stars And I will be back for more. I definitely recommend this place for your Italian sandwiches!!

Sometimes, you stumble on an eatery and you wonder why you hadn't discovered it sooner. East Street…read moreSandwiches is one such establishment. A couple of Saturdays ago, I had the weirdest veal cutlet sandwich that I have ever consumed. This experience made me crave real veal in a yummy sandwich with marinara sauce. My usual go-to veal sandwich place is California Sandwiches. I have the option of hitting Ajax, Vaughan, or Toronto to get my fix. I need at least half an hour to get to any of these locations. I found East Street Sandwiches on Ritual. My eyes zoned into the veal sandwich immediately. I added mushrooms to it, which is my usual way that I like it. I saw arancini on the menu. The last time I had some was last year and it was horrible. The rice was so hard that I peeled it off as if it were the shell of a hard-boiled egg. The filling wasn't anything to write home about. I ordered the meat and peas arancino here, hoping that it wouldn't suck. I had plans to hit Richmond Hill last Wednesday anyway. It was perfect to grab some takeout for dinner before heading home. The eatery is tucked away in a small plaza with Fat Bastard and a few other places. There were guys cleaning the parking lot, so half the spaces were taken. I waited for two cars to leave this parking lot so I could park. One got out quickly. The person in other one looked so confused and was so inexperienced as a driver that I had to wait until this person got her act together. I then backed into a spot and headed inside. The most comforting detail that I saw on the window was that this place has been kicking around since 1978. If a place has been in business for that long, the food must be great. I headed inside. I was greeted by Bruce Springsteen on the wall. It was cool. An older gentleman was behind the counter. He was so nice. I indicated that I had a Ritual order. He handed me a paper bag with my items with both hands. I thanked him. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was pleased to see a human being. I looked so forward to eating my food, wished him a great evening, and headed back to my car. I had one other errand to run. After I was done, I headed home to chow down. I had my veal sandwich first. Delicious! The veal as lightly breaded and had marinara sauce. I tend to like lots of sauce. This place doesn't smother the veal with tons of it. At first, I was concerned. However, the marinara sauce was so bright and flavourful that having less of it actually works perfectly. It was the first time eating a veal sandwich neatly. The bun was perfect. I normally look like a kid eating it without a bib. Not here. Yum! The meat and peas arancino was fantastic. The rice was lightly sticky and so good. I normally don't go crazy over rice, but I loved it so much. It's a decent size. The filling was yummy. The only negative that I can think of was that I did not see any peas. Maybe they were pureed? I couldn't tell. It wasn't horrible, as the flavourful meat filling made up for not seeing any peas. I am no longer afraid to get bad arancini now that I have found this place. Such a gem in Richmond Hill! It's much closer to get my veal sandwich fix here. Huge fan! I'll be back for more sandwiches and arancini. (353)

Came here for brunch for a girls day out and what a little gem! We came on a Thursday afternoon and…read moreit wasn't busy so I can't say how busy it gets on the weekends. I ordered their chicken kaarage with mochi waffles. The chicken was fried with a light batter. Crispy on the outside and the meat (chicken thigh) was moist and juicy. The waffles were crispy and chewy and stretchy with a hint of sweetness. The yuzu sauce was refreshing paired well with chicken.The dish came with a side of salad which helped balance out the heaviness of the fried chicken and mochi. We also ordered their pistachio souflle pancake and it was delectable. It was light, airy and fluffy. The pistachio sauce was creamy, nutty and aromatic without being too sweet. I also liked how it came with fruits on the side. I also ordered their hojicha latte, which was one of the best ones I've had. It was smooth, creamy, and had just the right amount of tea flavor. The milk foam had the perfect velvety texture and it came with a pretty latte art. Overall, I really enjoyed the brunch they offer here. It is a pretty simple cafe, so don't expect it to be all decked out because it's not those instagramable cafes. But the food were solid and it's a great option for a small group brunch as they don't have many tables and they don't have large tables at all (the best is to 4 people or less). Staff is very limited but it could be because we went on a Thursday and it wasn't busy. They have a QR code for you to scan and you can order directly from there and food came fairly quickly shortly after we placed our order. I would definitely return when I'm back in town.

I ordered the Wafu Carbonara after seeing decent reviews on Yelp, with the only critique being that…read morethe dish could be a bit dry. Hoping to get ahead of it, I requested the kitchen make it "more saucy." That was a huge mistake. Instead of actual sauce, it tasted like they literally just dumped water into the dish to thin it out. What arrived was a bland, watery, and completely tasteless mess. It was so flavorless that I had to aggressively add my own salt and pepper just to make it palatable. The photo speaks volumes--it was completely ruined. The service was cold and entirely hands-off. Our waitress took our order and then performed a total disappearing act. She never checked back in on us to see how the food was, and we literally never saw her again for the rest of our meal. The Verdict Between a ruined $22.50 plate of pasta and non-existent service, this place is a hard pass. Will not be returning for brunch.

Went for brunch with friends, and we decided to try this new brunch spot. When we found out that…read morethey served middle eastern style cuisine, i definitely had expectations, and they were successfully exceeded. I ordered the blackberry peach lemonade, and I would honestly go back just for that. It was sweet, refreshing, and just the right amount of ice. It paired nicely with the cilbir and spicy potatoes, which tasted so good. If you ever need any convincing to get a savoury breakfast, the cilbir and spicy potatoes are not only extremely filling, but it's a good amount of diverse textures and flavours, and it's not as heavy as a classic american breakfast/ brunch. The veggies and the yogurt balance out the oily parts of the dish, and the pita lets you scoop up any of the remaining sauce on the plate. Definitely a 10/10 breakfast, I just wish the indoor seating wasn't so cramped. Lovely food, nice servers and good service. Eggstatic will be seeing me soon !!

Major yikes for this place, it was quite disappointing to begin with. Our server was non existing,…read more as side from the water on the table and placing our orders she never came to check up on us. There was another staff that came by to check and the only time she ever came back was when we had to ask another server for the bill and she brought it over. We ordered the steak & eggs which was $28 and it was not edible. It looked like stir fry, chewy and tough as if it was the last portion sitting in a pan on top of the stove. It was so salty we had to let them know we couldn't eat it without getting hypertension and I assume the manager came over to give us a fresh one to go but still the beef was tough to eat. We also got the spicy Nashville Benny for $25 and the chicken looked as if it was frozen from a bag, nothing nashville about it. The smoked salmon benny was just as disappointing with two small pieces of salmon on each, you could barely see the existence of it. The only thing that looked and tasted good was the tres leches pancake which came out fresh, fluffy and presentable.

I feel it is not quite as great as back in the day down on Claremont but when I think veal sangwich…read moreI think California. Service always good, bread seems inconsistent between locations, sandwiches very large.

Was in the neck of woods so came back to this California Sandwiches in Vaughan…read more The sandwich is just as good as before, nice tender veal, nice bite and crispness of the kaiser bun but it could have used more sauce in the sandwich. You can't go wrong with this location or any of their other locations. I've been going to their York Mills location and it is just as good if not better. This is the place or franchise that has a go to veal sandwich And I recommend any of you to try it. It won't disappoint Side note: their steak and onion sandwich is just as good and is a must try as well.