Location:

634 Church Street, Toronto

Cost: Approx $25 pp

www.lolascommissary.com

I think seeing "sexy potatoes" on their online menu (although I think it's actually "sexy sweet potatoes"  on the menu) is what sold us to eat here. That, and the recommendation from a friend at work whose paintings also hang in the restaurant :)
Our gaggling girlie troupe landed on the (beautiful) Lola patio for brunch this past Sunday and never before have we been able to so freely enjoy a brunch in such a large group (8).  Mil"dread"'s wouldn't seat us, other brunch places don't take brunch reservations but at Lola's Commissary (open 6 weeks, now), it's not a problem. 



We took a while perusing the unique menu and daily specials which were such a mix of dishes that we had to take another few minutes to decide. 



 In the meantime we got some drinks...


The service is friendly and accommodating. The food is fancy brunch fare (a tad pricey but tasty to boot) and gorgeously presented!

As usual I got the (straight up - challah bread dipped in egg custard) french toast due to my loctose-intolerancy and not being able to stomach the cheesecake french toast.  I also got a side of fresh fruit ($6) and a side of sexy potatoes to share around ($6).



The other items ordered were as follows.

Multigrain waffles with a side of berries, dense and filling...



The egg white frittata (goat cheese, mushrooms, spinach and hemp pesto)

 

Eggs Lola: poached eggs, ancho chicken, torillas, avocado, creme fraiche



Lobster and goat cheese omlette



Roasted trout with quinoa and tabouli



 Beef hash brunch feature

 

Therese DeGrace (executive chef) came out to greet us which was super. She's wonderfully warm and took the time to chat with us, which was really pleasant and so uncommon in the city!


The interior of Lola's is sort of industrial chic with brick, wood, high ceilings and tall windows. 



The paintings in the dining hall lend a certain mellow sweetness to the vibe with the upstairs catering to more of a loungey atmosphere with funky retro seats and laminated fantastical art on the walls.



Even the washrooms are spa-like and immaculate, with artwork adorning almost every surface (including a wall outside the restaurant).



The complimentary Nutella Cheesecake dessert was delish and perfect split eight ways.


Lola's is a definite must-try in the Bay/Bloor area - the patio alone will make you want to spend your whole afternoon there. We certainly did! And unlike so many other places in the city, our patronage was welcome! We're already planning our return!