My friend was visiting here for the summer and she wanted to have brunch. I have seen this cafe a few times while passing by, so I suggested this place for a Saturday brunch. The reviews suggested that we come here early (as it gets very crowded once the lunch hour starts), so we came by before 12 noon. A friendly young lady welcomed us and took us to our seat (which was around the middle area of the cafe). Our waitress welcomed us and asked if we have been here before- then let us know that there is a seating time limit. Knowing this, we decided to order first, then catch up. My friend ordered Fish-O-Filet and I picked Holmpei Pancake with smoked salmon. After a few minutes, our orders arrived and we could not wait to eat! My friend said that the fish was juicy yet crispy, the veggies were fresh and the portion size was great. I enjoyed my pancake as well, the pancake was soft yet fluffy and all the ingredients were fresh. We were too full, so we did not have any room to try their drinks. Friendly service and yummy food, highly recommended! read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Holmpei Pancake with smoked salmon - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Asian cafe review! Food: A wide variety of Asian inspired foods. The ube coconut drink was like a healthier boba tea. The waffle was the most unique waffle, like a salad on a waffle and the udon had the best chewy texture and the steak melted in my mouth. I'm surprised they made the steak so tender. The curry was better than othe restaurants who specialize in curry. Service: Was quick. No complaints. Surprisingly, I got a seat, this restaurant is usually full. Ambiance: Small spot, packed. Tables were a bit close to each other. Right next to Eaton Center and lots of other restaurants. I really enjoyed this spot for brunch. Definitely will be back to try more. All the foods were a surprise. Try the seasonal menu if it's available. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for a while now, and I'm glad I made it for brunch! The salmon eggs Benedict with the cornbread waffle was delicious - all of the flavours were so fresh because of the vegetables and labneh. The matcha mango latte was also delicious. The service was prompt and friendly. It was pretty busy and loud inside given that it was a Saturday morning, but luckily we managed to get seats without a wait! read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is a small cafe/bistro on Dundas just west of Bay. Menu is Asian fusion flavours. Not a big space so tables can be quite close together. As the buildings on this strip are older restrooms are typically downstairs , in this cast a fairly steep set so not accessible. Most menu items are in the low 20 price range. Brunch is served until 4 pm. Good selection of coffee and non coffee based drinks. Did not see alcohol on the menu. What was ordered: Kimchi eggs - scrambled eggs served with a thick piece of milk toast and kimchi with a side salad Croque Madam - ham, carmelized onions and generous spread of Dijon mustard on a piece of crusty bread with a fried egg on top and side salad Bolognese pasta - bolognese sauce on tagliatelle pasta topped with a fried egg Fish sandwich - deep fried fish patty under a béchamel sauce. Served with a side salad and sweet potato fries. The croque madam was really acidic. The combination of the caramelized onions with the Dijon was overpowering and took away from the other flavours. The bolognese sauce was really nice and the added sunny side egg on top just added to the flavour. Feedback on the other two dishes were okay. Nothing outstanding. Popular place, when we left after 4 pm the place was still full. read more

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This cafe location is very convenient, 5 mins walk from dundas/TMU station. I went there at 1pm on Saturday and waited for 20mins to get a table. The cafe is cute and small, I like the cozy vibe. All the food sounds so good in the menu; my friend and I ordered the same thing - lemon cream shrimp pasta. The sauce is very creamy but not so overwhelming. One of the best pasta I have ever. Only one issue is that the place is very busy and it took a really long time for the waitress to even bring water to the table. Overall, love this cute brunch place and I will definitely come back and try other food! read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Lemon cream shrimp pasta - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We arrived at Holmpie Cafe Bistro in Toronto and were put on a 45-minute waitlist -- but surprisingly, we got called much sooner. A little unorganized? Maybe. For a small spot, service can be on the slow side at times, so a little patience is needed. The double beef smash burger was a messy masterpiece. PLASTIC GLOVES REQUIRED -- provolone, cheddar, truffle aioli, arugula, roasted pepper, bacon jam, crispy shallots, pepper rings, and yes... blueberry jam. So good? Absolutely. Worth it? Every bite. We also tried the honey gochujang udon, which was nicely balanced between spicy and sweet -- definitely a standout dish that delivered on flavor without going overboard. Despite the hiccups with wait times and a few service lags, Holmpie dishes out creative, well-executed plates that are worth the visit. So close to a 5 star -- I'll be back. read more

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TThe food here wasamazing! It has been awhile that I have experienced a place with such delicious food! If you're a foodie, this place is an absolute must! The ambiance is casual, so no wow factor on the atmosphere but the food is so delicious so just devouring the food alone will be exciting enough so no need for any spectacular vibes. The place has a warm atmosphere and very comfortable seatingswhere you can xmcomfortably chat and you can't hear the chatters fromthe next table . Great place to hang out with friends to enjoy some good drinks &food! They have a pretty interesting list of drinks that is worth trying. I got the cold coconut Matcha andmy husband got the Biscoff latte. Bothdrinks were fantastic! Now on to the food which was amazing! We got 3 mains to share for the 4 of us cause I wanted to try everything on the menu especially since it was my first visit. We were here for dinnerlast night (Sunday) and the placewas full Asthe place isn't very big, I would recommend making reservations. Keep in mind that their brunch menu is quite interesting so you should review the brunch & dinnermenus to decide if you want to try their brunchor dinner. I plan to come back for brunch so I can't give any comments now on which is better. And the staff told me that I couldn't order anything from the brunch menu since I was there at their dinner time. They should really reconsideroffering tocustomers to orderbrunch items asI would definitely eat some of their brunch items for dinner. It would be perfect if I could order from both menus. Just reviewing food photos posted, their french tosst and pancakes are pretty popular for brunch! I was able to order their french toast from the dinner menu as a dessert and I would hhighly recommend the french toast. I think the flavor offered may differ daily. We got the Ube mango french toast. It was fabulous as a dessert and good portion to share. For the mains, we got the steak and fries, seafood angel hair pasta, andmushroom risotto. I honestly liked all 3 dishes and it would be hard for me to pick the best one but if I had to, it would be seafood pasta as my first pick,the steak would be #2, then the risotto. But I might just have to order all 3 items each time I come. The portions were decent size and good to share with a few people but we did finish the pasta dish very quickly and there wasn't enough for me to get a second serving so next time, I think I'll just get the pasta for myself. I definitely will be returning but likely for brunch and try their pancake with smoked salmon or prosciutto (lots of pics so it seems like avery popular dish). read more

Beautiful , fresh plating of dishes. Decor is minimalist but inviting. Was a bit cold in the restaurant the day we went so had to leave jackets on. I would say that the food looked far more appetizing than it tasted and was a bit too light on flavour. Wanted something a lot more "homey" and savoury but fell flat for me. Willing to return to try other dishes because clearly they put in effort to present something new for the brunch / lunch crowd. Fish burger just had way too much sauce. Fries were good though. The pancake could have used more seasoning. Presentation was wow! but the taste did not leave the same impression read more

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This is a cozy place for Asian inspired brunch and dinner near the Eaton Center. It was packed even on a Tuesday around 1:30pm. We waited for 15 minutes to be seated by a very friendly server. The menu to me is an Asian fusion of Cafe Landwer. There's an extensive coffee and drinks menu with summer specialty drinks and food items. We chose smoke salmon cornbread waffle Benny and Holmpei prosciutto pancake to share. We also ordered the ube latte and dark chocolate orange mocha to complement the meal. The portion sizes are generous and the pancake served insides a cast iron pan keeps the contents warm. The seasonal fruit which was peaches paired well with the bitter arugula and prosciutto. I liked the plating and attention to detail. As for the cornbread waffle, it has a denser cornbread texture and with a rather hefty lemony taste. This was plated beautifully with sliced avocado as food art and rolled up cucumber slices in dill, as you would find in some high tea places. The ube latte doesn't contain caffeine but you can add a shot of expression for $0.50 more. We liked the little smiley face on the foam of the dark chocolate orange mocha. Overall, the dishes delivered and were plated meticulously. Although the place was packed, the one and only server still came to check on our table and was friendly and attentive. I would come back to try their pastas and burgers with waffle fries. read more

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A huuuuuuuge menu. Had a difficult time deciding... We decided on the cornbread benny and the gochujang udon. Although interesting in concept, I'm not sure what this place is. It's Asian fusion brunch, but the smorgasbord of offerings and the mix of flavours are confusing. My sesame latte was very lukewarm when it arrived. Would have liked it warmed up in the microwave. The gochujang udon was like ttukbokgi... I'm not sure if it works as much as it would like to. The benny was suuuuuper confusing. But pretty! Not together in taste. Very young clientele. Maybe it's a palate I don't understand anymore. read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Cornbread benny - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Holmpei Cafe is such a cute place for brunch. I tried their biscoff latte, burger, ube mango French toast and their seafood pasta Biscoff latte: 5/5 very yummy. Not too sweet Burger: 5/5 was amazing! I loved that they gave gloves too Ube mango French toast: 4/5 very refreshing and visually appealing Seafood pasta: 3/5 this was ok and I'd assume not their specialty Holmpei pancake: 3.5/5 I liked the flavours but the middle was a bit spongy Tips: - Book a reservation, they can get busy. - Ask the servers for recommendations as there seems to be a lot of options. The ones they recommended happened to be the ones I liked read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Ube mango French toast - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

this place is a cute food spot to hit up with your friends! i was a little underwhelmed at the mushroom risotto (we came for dinner), so i'm wondering if the breakfast options might be better. i've had the tiramisu latte before and i liked that drink, so maybe the drinks are the highlight here :) read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - mushroom risotto - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great spot on Dundas near the Eaton Centre! So many options for food and drink on the menu! I stopped in around 2pm on a weekday so I opted for something for lunch. I went with the Holmpei pancake with smoked salmon & an iced matcha with strawberry. Both were fantastic! The dish itself comes in a hot skillet and the pancake itself is done like Dutch baby style or like a large Yorkshire pudding. So many flavours in the dish with the salmon, avocado, cucumber. sunny side up egg, arugula, capers, cream cheese, pickled onions. The iced matcha with strawberry was perfect. The strawberry taste was fresh & just sweet enough, and lasted throughout the whole drink. Service was friendly! I'd suggest that they bring cutlery when the staff brings the water or the drink order to avoid a wait for cutlery after they bring the main food dish. Definitely recommend this spot! They have options for brunch, lunch, dinner and dessert. Many types of drinks if you want to come in for libations & a catch up! read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Holmpei pancake with smoked salmon - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Holmpei Café located along Dundas St. W. near Bay St. serves up fusion brunch and dinner eats with a twist. The eatery is small, with space for about 30 customers. The menu is vast, with multiple brunch as well as lunch/dinner options to satisfy the pickiest of eaters. The drink menu consists of classic espresso based options as well as other unique offerings - think biscoffee or dalgona lattes, purple ube latte, strawberry matcha latte to name a few. They also have cocktails which are reasonably priced. I stopped by Holmpei Café twice already. First time I had stopped by on a Monday around noon, however, the wait was about 45 min and I opted to eat elsewhere. The second time I stopped by it was a Thurs around when they opened. The café only had a few tables occupied and I was able to get a table right away. Service was friendly but the food took around 20-25 min to arrive at the table. The vibe and ambiance of the restaurant is relaxing and calming. In regards to food, I ordered the following items: - Flat white - Wild smoked salmon cornbread waffle benny (avocado, poached eggs, arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, yuzu hollandaise, spring mix) The flat white was made well and it came with cute latte art looking like a cat. The waffle benny was a big portion! I didn't taste much of the cornbread waffle but the yuzu hollandaise was a good balance to cut the heaviness of the dish. The presentation of the waffle benny was also spot on, perfect for Instagram. Overall, a decent option for brunch in the Dundas/Bay area with unique drink and food options. Service was friendly but I found the food/drinks took a while to prepare. The space of the eatery is also not big, so don't expect to stay for hours on end since this place likely will get busy during peak dining times. Would return to try their other menu items! read more

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HolmPei Cafe Bistro is a beautifully designed space with a stunning aesthetic and clean, minimalist vibes. The service was good and our server kept checking in. However, while the food was good, it didn't quite stand out. We tried the Chai Latte, Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte, and Purple Ube Latte, and while they were enjoyable, they were fairly standard. For food, we ordered the Scone with Whipped Cream, Blueberry French Toast, Shakshuka, Filet O' Fish, and Benedict. The portions were generous and worth the price point, but the Blueberry French Toast lacked flavor. The space itself is small with limited seating, so it's best to visit during off-peak hours if you want to dine in. While the food might not be a standout, the beautiful decor and cozy ambiance make it a nice spot to grab a drink and enjoy the atmosphere. Conveniently located by Dundas and Bay Street, it's a good option for brunch (they also have dinner but have not tried). read more

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Finally got to try it during a Saturday brunch. It's usually super packed and has a long line, but got really lucky and got a two people table. The place has a bright decor and was busy but not loud. We tried the shrimp pasta and the smoked salmon pancake and got the matcha yuzu and matcha strawberry latte. The pasta had a nice balance of creaminess and citrus, not overly rich since the lemon cuts through any feelings of grease. The shrimp was cooked just right. It was my first time trying Holmpei pancakes and thought it was very didn't than what I expected and was definitely worth a try. It's a great spot for brunch and catching up with friends. read more

This is my second time here, and this time I finally got the chance to try their lunch menu! The shop itself is quite small and a bit tight inside, but the food is tasty and some dishes are quite unique. We ordered the Prosciutto Holmpei Pancake, and it was delicious: right balance of savory flavour of the prosciutto and sweetness from the pancake. Definitely worth trying! We also had the Wild Smoked Salmon Cornbread Waffle Benny. Honestly, we couldn't really taste much of the cornbread flavour, but overall it was still good and nicely presented. Overall, the food was quite good and we were pretty happy with everything. We also ordered two drinks, but to be honest, the drinks weren't anything special -- you can probably skip them next time. Staff are friendly! read more

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Came here for a drink and a quick bite and got the iced strawberry matcha latte for $6.95, a hot ube latte for $6.25 and a wild blueberry scone for $4.5. I like the quality of the matcha used for the drink, it was the perfect amount of sweetness after I mixed it. The ube latte was good but I wish it had a stronger ube latte (you can add espresso to the drink, however it would overpower the ube flavour). The scone was a nice pairing with the drinks. There was a whipped cream dip with blueberry jam I could dip my scone in. It was soft and not too sweet. Overall a cute little cafe and bistro! Came for the drinks and pastries but I will have to try out the food items they have as well. read more

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This place is not for everyone. Their popular dish Holmpei Pancake with prosciutto is overrated. We found it disgusting with the fusion style and greasy pancake. We left half untouched. The toast was tasty and fresh. The waitresses were not attentive. We waited for utensils for a long time. Had to keep asking and they kept ignoring us. There was one lady on her phone screen frequently. Poor management and service. read more

Went for lunch with a friend to this cure cafe with a killer brunch menu. Got the: - Wild Smoked Salmon Cornbread Waffle Benny: Good portion size, tasty smoke on the salmon, generous veggies. Would have liked a bit more cornbready taste on the waffle but liked its texture. - Holmpei Pancake with Prosciutto and Burrata: Really tasty, interesting plating, good size, though got a bit soggy with the burrata. Vibe is casual, service is friendly, kitchen is quick, prices are what prices are these days. Between the food and ambiance, can see why this place is a hit. read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Holmpei Pancake with Prosciutto and Burrata - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Small, yet well light, and aesthetically pleasing! We got the Tiramasu latte, the lavender blueberry fizz and a mocha latte. Service was polite and courteous. The Tiramasu latte were appealingly made, looks ans taste like a tiramasu cake! The lavender blueberry fizz was beautifully layered and refreshing. Overall, great beverages, presentation and taste..all with just enough sweet! 4 star because the space was soo small it was cramped waiting for drinks or would have to wait outside in the heat. read more

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It's nice to have a cafe downtown that is still open during dinner hours! As someone who doesn't drink and would much prefer a latte with their meal this is a god send! The dinner menu is considerably smaller than the brunch menu but that doesn't stop this cafe from being very busy on a Friday night. It's not too spacious inside, so recommend coming in a group no more than 4. The fried chicken wings with waffle fries seems to be the most popular appetizer for sharing and the wings with sweet cheese power taste fantastic! The waffle fries were good too, a bit too crispy for my liking, but the chipotle dip was incredible. We also got the crispy shrimp spaghetti as well which was well cooked and decent portion for its price. Might try out the lobster pasta next time since that seemed to be the most popular main at dinner. Service was a tad slow since it was only one server for the who restaurant. Don't expect her to check up on you but if you wave her down for anything she was very friendly and helpful. Deducting 1 star for the slower service and some dishes were already unavailable by the time we came to eat at 7pm (they close at 9pm). But food was great and I'd consider visiting them for brunch as well. read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Fried chicken wings with waffle fries - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This Holmpei Cafe Bistro is a must-try restaurant. Don't let the words cafe Bistro fool you; their food was excellent. We came for lunch, but they also serve dinner. Yes, the owners want it to be a casual restaurant, but there is nothing casual about their food. They give amazing attention to details such as ingredients, taste, plating art, and elevated experience. They are an elevated dining experience, close to fine dining quality, but in a casual atmosphere with reasonable prices. Lunch/brunch prices are $19-$23. We have to come back for dinner with prices of $20-$29. All ingredients are very fresh and good quality. Each dish is carefully designed. It almost felt like the food was healthy, with none of the greasy or preservative-filled ingredients. They have an open kitchen, so I managed to see how much effort and care they took for each dish. Their coffee products are very smooth. We ordered the following: 1. Biscoff Latte (hot) ($6.75). Latte art and a Lotus biscuit. 2. Dark Chocolate Orange Mocha (cold) ($6.75). 3. Midnight Blue Lemonade ($6.25). 4. Iced Coconut Matcha ($6.95). 5. Fish-O-Filet ($21.00). Wild Atlantic cod, potato salad, cheddar, dill, relish, brioche bun, sweet yam potato fries, spring mix. 6. Wild Smoked Salmon Cornbread Waffle Benny ($23.00). Avocado, poached egg, arugula, cherry tomato, cucumber, yuzu hollandaise, spring mix. 7. HolmPei Pancake with Prosciutto ($23.00). Prosciutto, Figs, burrata, basil. 8. Cookie: Ube-Chocolate Chip-Matcha ($3.00). The Latte was very smooth and just the right amount of sweet. The three cold drinks were very refreshing. The Fish-O-Fillet was really good, with an overflowing amount of cheese!  The cornbread waffle tastes better than your typical breakfast waffle. The smoked salmon came in slices and rose shaped. Even the cucumber was thinly sliced and rolled up. I managed to watch how much effort went into the preparation of this dish. I was impressed. The HolmPei pancake is a Yorkshire Pudding baked into a bowl shape. It was so airy and tasty. I loved it. The prosciutto and fig inside the bowl were really delicious. Even a simple item like a cookie looked wonderful. A tip: If you bring the cookie home and warm it slightly, it becomes ooey gooey good! There is table service and it was excellent. They soft-opened on 2024-07-06. They appreciate feedback from customers to shape their menu offerings. They allow reservations because it can get quite busy at popular times. Some customers even walk-in just to order a drink. In the near future, they will have a loyalty/reward program. If you wonder about the name HolmPei, there is careful thought behind it. "Holm" is an old English word for water/sea/islet/wave. HolmPei represents smoothly flowing with changes in the industry and customers. Even the lettering/logo signifies the smoothness. The owners are Henry and Michelle. Each of them have been chefs for 10 years. Henry does the marketing and IG. Michelle is the restaurant architect and decorator. There is free WiFi. The restaurant is not wheelchair accessible. There are two gender-neutral washrooms, both of which are not wheelchair accessible. There is paid neighbourhood street parking. Review 2024-151 read more

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This place definitely had an enticing Instagram so it brought me in. Modern, clean bistro. It does take awhile to receive an order even coffee once it has been placed but if you aren't in a hurry you'll be fine. I initially ordered the dalgonna coffee and I was very sad to know it was unavailable. It was one of the reasons I went. The flat white was a good alternative but still I was a bit disappointed. Ordering the holmpei pancake with burrata, prosciutto and fig on a Yorkshire inspired layer. It's not a heavy dish though it looks like it might be. It was okay. For me, it looked more appetizing than it tasted. I was intrigued by other dishes surrounding me after a few bites. The pancake for me fell flat in bringing together the ingredients which I love . I'm curious about their other dishes so perhaps the next time I'll try another on the list like the waffle or salmon read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Very high class upscale asian fusion place, comparable to glass kitchen. This is located in the heart of downtown so space is very limited I recommend you make a reservation if you're coming here on the weekend. I got the smoked salmon eggs Benedict, which you can't go wrong with. It came with avocado and the base is a cheddar waffle which I loved. The serving size is generous and I shared with my bf. The gingerbread latte came with a cookie on top and was yummy. read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Smoked salmon eggs Benedict - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Our server was so friendly and the food was really delicious. Lots of fresh flavours and textures. Small place but nice and cozy! read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Mushroom risotto - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Overall, the food was okay! I got the ube latte, which wasn't the best. The service was great and the ambiance was cozy and aesthetic. read more

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If only this place was closer to where I live, I would come back more often! I love the menu selection, the trendy vibe and the tasty food and drinks. I got the eggs Benedict which was so delicious! The presentation and food itself was so good. The drinks there were also good. The French toast rum caramel was oh so good. Food was very well sized too. This is such a great place to come right after shopping. read more

I came here around 3:30 on Labour Day which is still within their brunch 10-4pm I ordered the: - spicy vodka rigatoni $21 - smoked salmon Benny cornbread waffle $23 - sweet potato fries (they were out so gave me waffle fries instead) $9 Bit bland had to ask for salt and pepper for all dishes. I would come again read more

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The food was well balanced and well cooked. The pasta was aldente. The food was cold when it came out unfortunately. The service was good as the workers were kind. The ambiance was nice and we felt comfortable to chat. There were people working on their laptops in the store so it seems like this is a laptop friendly place. read more

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Food is good but I waited almost for an hour to get my pancake, also super crowded and I think a lot of social media people? I was being pushed because they are helping a media girl to take photos, did complaint to the server but got an eye rolling treatment...not a good experience overall. read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We stopped here for dinner and I loved it- they had such good options to choose from. It was a little cramped inside, but still comfortable and had a nice, clean vibe. There were mostly couples on dates, no larger groups there when I went (I would imagine it would be fairly cramped with a very large group). A perfect spot for a small group of friends catching up. :) It was very cozy and everything was presented beautifully, including our drinks. I would 100% come here again, their brunch menu looks amazing. I got a drink there and then a dark chocolate orange mocha to go- they were both so good. The service was great! read more

HolmPei Cafe Bistro - Butternut Squash Gnocchi - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This place seriously deserves more five star reviews. The price here is typical for Toronto but the quality of the food is higher than what you'd expect for the price. The mosaic of flavours and colors in each dish is spectacular. Each dish and drink is a piece of art. Portions are fair. Service is neither fast nor slow. The food may take a bit of time to bring out because the people in the back are likely working hard to make each dish look and taste exquisite. Cute and small nook for your weekend (or even weekday) cheeky brunch! read more

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We visited this quaint little bistro today for family brunch, and it was an absolute treat from start to finish. The ambiance is warm and friendly--cozy yet modern--with just the right touch of charm that makes you want to linger a little longer over your meal. We shared the delightful HolmPei salmon salad pancake, steak and eggs, burrata salad and blueberry French toast! Enjoyed it immensely and will be back again! read more