Are you a shopper or a bruncher? Boxing Day is one of those days where you either brave the crowds in the craziness of crowd filled shopping malls or you go for a boozy brunch with friends and maybe catch one of the new box-office movies out on Christmas day. Here at View the Vibe, we’re generally the latter…. No surprise that we’re that boozy brunch bunch! However, finding a good brunch spot on Boxing Day can prove to be tricky as many restaurants are closed. No worries, we’ve got you covered! Here are our top picks:
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
One of the first noteworthy brunch spots ever offered in Toronto, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen will be presenting their regular brunch menu on Dec. 26th from 10am – 3pm. Donna Dooher, the delightfully charming lady behind the Liberty Village staple, is well known for creating homely and delicious items perfect for the holidays (or everyday really). Our recommendation? The delectable buttermilk blueberry pancakes will have you going back more often than your waistline may appreciate.
Allen’s on the Danforth
Spending Christmas on the East side? Allen’s is the cozy Danforth restaurant/bar that does NOT serve Greek fare. Instead, the Toronto institution offers up top quality local and simple food along with an extensive all Canadian wine list and one of the largest Whiskey lists in Toronto (never too early for whiskey during the holidays!). On Dec. 26th, they will serve their delicious and traditional brunch with staples like steak and eggs, brioche French toast and the classic peameal bacon eggs Benedict from 10:30am to 4pm.
Café Boulud
If you feel like really tantalizing your taste buds, we say indulge in the culinary masters of Chef Tyler Sheddon at the Four Seasons’ Café Boulud. For $38.00 per person, their 2-course brunch menu offers 23 items to choose from. You can go sweet with the masterful lemon ricotta hotcakes – which do sound hot indeed – or go salty with items like biscuits and gravy, steak and eggs or the farm egg cabonara, which is a unique brunch take on the traditional spaghetti carbonara. They will be serving brunch on Dec. 26th from 11:30am to 3pm.
The Drake Hotel
This is the go-to brunch spot for Queen Westers and anyone who can’t get enough of Toronto’s coolest hotel. Most Sundays there is a half hour wait for a table but once sat, cocktailed and fed, everyone is in brunch heaven. In our opinion the vibe, cocktails and chicken and waffles are the cure to any hangover and perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. But this year we have good news: you can also enjoy this Dec. 26th through to the 30th from 9am to 4pm.
Origin
Famous for their tapas style menu with creative options, Origin has long been a favourite brunch destination for the cool Toronto crowd who love original cuisine in smaller portions. That said, don’t let the small portions scare you away because the taste packs the punch and you won’t leave hungry. Popular items like French Toast with duck confit, blueberries, hoisin, sesame seed brittle and sour cream or the tostado ranchero with a fried egg, avocado, black beans, salsa and bacon will make you wanting to come back every Sunday….. OR check them out on Dec. 26th between 11am and 3pm.