The top 10 brunch in Little Italy

Little Italy might just be one of Toronto's preeminent brunch neighbourhoods. This densely populated strip offers so many options; you'll always have a plan B if lineups at one place are too long. And you can dine on morning meals from around the globe, including tastes from Trinidad, Mexico, Spain, Iran and beyond.

Here's where to brunch in Little Italy.

The Depanneur
The Thick Cut Brunch menu offers dishes like the flapjack stack, featuring fluffy pancakes with bacon, sausage, greens and a runny egg, as well as mix-and-match options such as corn grits, potato hash, sausage patties, and of course thick slabs of bacon.

Aunties & Uncles
This quirky cash-only eatery is notorious for its weekend lineups. You'll find cinnamon French toast, breakfast tacos and a daily breakfast burger on the menu as well as my go-to order: the breakfast pocket, a sandwich loaded with scrambled eggs, cheese, peameal, tomatoes and caramelized onions.

Takht-e Tavoos
You can find Persian brunch dishes such as haleem, a steaming bowl of wheat berry porridge flecked with morsels of lamb, at this Iranian cafe. If you're craving eggs, try the paneer boroshteh, a dish with sunny side up eggs over halloumi cheese with marinated olives, tomatoes, smoked salmon, herbs and potatoes.

Bar Raval
Breakfast at Grant van Gameren's all-day spot includes lemon and fennel pollen doughnuts, ham croissants and salt cod tortas. Snag a seat on the patio if you can and settle in for a spread of small plates and strong espresso.

Windup
Oxtail Benedicts smothered in herbed hollandaise and spiced duck confit with caramelized apples and sunny side up eggs, along with a couple of vegetarian options, are on the brunch menu at this Trinidadian restaurant.

Easy Restaurant
Popular picks at this all-day breakfast joint include the huevos divorciados and toast soldiers with soft boiled eggs. Those who prefer sweet over savoury can mow down on brioche French toast or mini Belgian waffles with fruit compote, fresh berries and whipped cream.

Utopia Cafe
Open for more than two decades the heart of Little Italy, this cafe and grill has attracted a local and loyal following. On the brunch menu you'll find breakfast poutine, breakfast burritos and fried chicken karaage and waffles.

Me & Mine
Eclectic and seasonal menus at this College Street spot are always in flux. You might find a fried chicken Benny or breakfast poutine one week and huevos rancheros or a croque madame bread pudding the next.

Sneaky Dee's
Mexican breakfasts are the specialty at this Bathurst and College bar. The extensive, and affordable, options include spicy scrambled eggs with diced sausage and concha con huevos featuring poached eggs in crispy corn tortilla cups.

Kalendar
Soak up sun on the street-side patio at this College Street stalwart. The brunch menu here features five types of omelettes, an array of naan bread sandwiches and stuffed French toast served with optional sides of honey-glazed ham.

What did I miss? Add your favourite Little Italy brunch spots in the comments.

Photo of The Depanneur by Jesse Milns.

by Liora Ipsum via blogTO