Brunch on the East Side

Simply put, Fire on the East Side has one of the tastiest, most pleasant brunches around. The ambiance is casual but lively, the service is friendly and the food is better than we’re used to at this time of day. Before you start thinking they’re located in Leslieville, please note that when they’re referring to the “east side” they literally mean three doors east of Yonge St.

To start his day with a hearty kick, my pal Jason R. went with the Steak & Egg Frites ($14) featuring a 6oz New York strip loin, two eggs, fries and cornbread. When I asked “How is it?” he couldn’t help his journalistic tendencies and blessed me with this descriptive gem: ”‘Twas my first steak and eggs and mmm, mmm, I can say without a doubt that the meal was both sumptuous and delectable to boot. With an array of kitchen-fresh food stuffs, the tender steak and potato fries truly hit the spot. The g-spot, just kidding.”

I’ve had a few good meals here at Fire, and decided to try something new with their Toad in the Hole ($11). The description had me drooling: an over-easy egg with brioche bread with a side of mixed greens, avocado salsa, crumbled feta and a choice of sausage or bacon. Sadly, my review isn’t as positive or entertaining as my companion’s. The egg was completely overdone (no runny yolk in sight) and felt like a hard-boiled egg slammed in the middle of a piece of toast. But I know better than to write this place off based on one dish, so two weeks later I gathered another group of friends for brunch.

This time I set my sights on their Smoked Salmon and Arugula Bennie ($12). It’s a twist on the traditional since the poached eggs are mounted on cornbread rather than an english muffin. It was all very good, but I decided the cornbread is rather crumbly and feels too dry, despite the well-executed orange-chipotle hollandaise.

Two of my brunch friends ordered the Stuffed French Toast ($11), served with sausage or bacon. The stuffing changes daily, and on this morning it was White Chocolate and Cream Cheese. Both parties were worried their portions might be too small, but by the time they polished off their plates, both were adequately full and satisfied.

There’s plenty of other tasty gems on the menu including a hash, breakfast poutine, quesadilla, huevos rancheros and omelettes (the spinach, oven-dried tomato, shallots and brie one is a standout).

I’ll come back to Fire on the East Side again and again, especially for the complimentary banana loaf. This is so delicious it’s motivation to arrive on time. Otherwise one of your friends will snap up that bread and pretend it never arrived at the table (here’s looking at you, Pat!).

Fire on the East Side / 6 Gloucester St., Toronto
416 960 3473 / Hours: Brunch Sat. & Sun 10am-4pm, Mon.-Fri. 11:30am-1am, Sat. & Sun. 4pm-midnight