Brunching With Baby
by Metro Mama
One of life’s great pleasures is the Sunday brunch. Remember the pre-baby days, when brunch was late and leisurely? You'd meet up with the friends you parted from only hours before to debrief and replace lost fluids with countless cups of coffee?
Sorry, those days are (probably) over. However, post-baby Sunday brunch, though different, can be just as enjoyable. Having a baby doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to Golden Griddle: there are hip, baby-friendly restaurants with great food, and Leslieville has more than its share.
Make your way to Queen and Logan and you'll find several choices in one block. Try Joy Bistro for a great patio and seven different kinds of eggs benny, including my favourite, the Eggs Norwentine (Norwegian Salmon, sautéed spinach, two poached eggs and hollandaise on a toasted English muffin). 
If you like eighties music, check out Kubo Radio's brunch. If you’re really hungry, order the Big Boi, which includes scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, French toast, potato rosti, fresh juice and coffee or tea. They have television to distract the babes, and the sweet bartender made Cakes a diluted fresh fruit drink in her own little shot glass.
For something a little more upscale, head to Verveine at Queen and Pape. The service is incredible and your little darling will be treated well too. Have a mimosa with your brunch.
Wherever you go, make sure you order something for the little one. I still recall with horror, the time Cakes ignored her cheerios and ate half of my scrambled eggs and smoked salmon at Bonjour Brioche.
If you brunch often, a bumbo seat is a handy thing to have (not cheap though). If your baby likes to feed herself, a dish with a suction-cup base is a big help. Most importantly, don’t forget lots of toys (if you do forget, duck into Value Village and pick up a bagful for 5 bucks).
Before you head home, reward the munchkin with a treat for allowing you some adult time: head to Lumiere at Queen and Broadview for beautiful handcrafted baby decor. Then, reward yourself: stop at The Leslieville Cheese Market and pick out a delicious selection of fine cheeses to enjoy with a glass of wine after dinner. Brunch is one thing. Taking baby out to dinner is another-it’s not for the faint of heart. But that’s a post for next time.
‘Til then, bon appetite!
What are your best baby-friendly brunch spots in Toronto? Please, share!
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Julie has a baby girl and is currently working in the home. She keeps busy finishing her undergrad (English), caring for her family, reading lots of books, writing, and trying to figure out what the heck to do next.
Contact Julie at metro_mama@hotmail.com.
21 comments:
One more thing...Kubo has just turned 1. To celebrate, if you bring in your one-year-old, you'll receive a free babycake (their babcakes are delish by the way).
Great column Julie!
Eighties music?! I am in ... definately will have to cke out Kubo.
We have recently made Sunday brunch a family tradition at the inspiration of a friend of mine. Her favourite haunt is Mars at Yonge and Eglinton that is super kid friendly and I've fallen for Piggy's accross from Riverdale farm in Cabbagetown. They even save us a table now. Only brunch is just May-November so I'll need a new spot soon.
I keep trying to comment......if this one works I will write a true comment...
This has taken 5 tries, so ya know I love you Metro.
I love how Cosmopolitan you sound, I ache with jealousy for all of your hip restaurants. In my hood we have Butlers, Loons, both great with kids, food so so (but Loons has a patio, crayons and alcohol so....). There are some very nice places, but I do not know if they are kid friendly.
Tons of Coffee Shops though, Alternative Grounds, All That Jazz, Timothys, Second Cup. They rely on the parent child business I think!
great recos - we loves us some baby-friendly brunch.
another great brunch spot with babes - insomnia in the annex. not only is the food awesome, but they seriously understand their clientele - us. we started eating there as singles or couples and now we are families, and we are still welcome. in fact, they have ordered 2 more highchairs to accomodate the evolving needs of their customers. LOVE IT!
Yum, eggs benedict... my favourite! Love the recommendations. The most recent places that we ate at were overpriced and not so delicious.
Great Recommendations Metro.
We tend to eat a lot of Dim Sum but I am going to make an effort to try out some of the places you and everyone else have mentioned here.
How sad that I've never been to Mars?
Great list! Most of the places are a bit far for us, but perhaps worth a journey out sometime!
I second the vote for dim sum...there's actually a very child friendly place on yonge just north of eglinton...The Cha Liu Dim Sum Shop. A bit expensive, and you have to go up a huge flight of stairs, but they have high chairs, and don't complain when your toddler throws all his noodles on the floor (Yes, I know this from experience!)
Great list Julie. In my quest to get better aquainted with the east side, The Boy, Husband and I recently went to Toast for brunch and were surprised by how accommodating they were. Their back room is great for families - there was a group of four kids, two adults next to us.
Haven't been to Toast since I visited TO from Vancouver to stalk George Stephanopolous....
Swan on Queen West is yummy as is Mitzi's. Only problem with Mitzi's is that although the food is fab, wear something you can wash as you will walk out smelling like the food.
This rocks, Julie! Hard!
So, if we head crosstown to do a Kubo brunch... you and Cakes will join us...?
I don't know who the eff Catherine is. Oh yeah... ME.
I don't know who the eff Catherine is. Oh yeah... ME.
ooh. great post.
invite us next time. Isabella lurves to eat!!
I knew it was you Bad Mother! We'd love to join you. Cakes and WB can fight over toast.
Damnit. HBM was right, it does make me want to move there.
I'm way up in the 'burbs.
Milestones works (on the weekends) for us. But we're way up here in the boonies so ...
just another reason to move away from the suburbs, sigh.
Great post, Metro! I'm going to try some of these places out! I love taking the monkey to Starbucks.... ;)
Wicked list and suggestions Julie. I'm going to definitely try one of these place out.
great column Julie.
gotta love food+ baby friendly restaurant tips.
Bar One in the west end does brunch too and is baby friendly.
we went there for dinner tonight and were really impressed at how well received Lulu was.
Bonus was the side order of Gnocchi they brought her within 10 minutes of sitting down.
but I am really loving Leslieville for all it's fantastic little restaurant gems.
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