Toronto has its amazing share of brunch spots, but a new restaurant from Montreal is looking to add a little French flair to the scene. L’Avenue, Montreal’s brunch institution since 1994, has just landed its first flagship location outside of Quebec, right in the heart of Toronto’s buzzing The Well.
Stepping into L’Avenue is like entering a brunch lover’s wonderland. The menu is a hearty affair with plates so generous, sharing is practically mandatory. Indulge in their fluffy pancakes, rich French toast, hearty omelettes and legendary eggs Benedict.
“It’s exciting to share a bit of Montreal culture in Toronto,” says Damien Fremaux, the restaurant’s controller, and you can almost taste the excitement.
For the indecisive, try the carrot cake pancakes or tiramisu-style French toast, each served with two organic eggs, L’Avenue breakfast potatoes, unlimited maple syrup and your choice of bread. Add a savoruy option like bacon, honey-orange ham, sausage, or veggie pâte and don’t miss the French toast stuffed with mascarpone and coffee coulis, topped with crumble.
But the feast isn’t limited to the plate. The decor is an Instagrammer’s dream with its graffiti walls, pop art and even a hanging motorcycle. And the restrooms? They’re a quirky spectacle unto themselves — think colour-changing Italian wallpaper, abstract graffiti and movie posters like Pulp Fiction and Star Trek. Yes, you read that right.
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Brunch runs until 4 p.m., but don’t worry if you miss it — dinner kicks off at 5 p.m., serving up the same massive portions and mouthwatering flavours. Dive into standout menu items like the Ultimate soft shell crab sandwich, featuring fried soft shell crab, kimchi tartar sauce, bacon, shredded lettuce, and butter-grilled brioche bread. For mains, you can’t go wrong with the spicy jumbo grilled shrimp salad or the Mack-Rib, a creamy mac and cheese topped with pulled ribs, crunchy grilled panko, coleslaw and pickles.
And when it comes to dessert, L’Avenue doesn’t hold back — think banana, strawberry, blueberry and Nutella waffles with vanilla ice cream, or the decadent pecan pie french toast, also paired with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
The Well, where L’Avenue is located, is a bustling mini-city brimming with energy. Home to 22,000 daily visitors and 11,000 residents, the development spans 1.2 million square feet of office space and 320,000 square feet of prime retail and dining.