Aunties & Uncles

Some restaurants are pros at handling a deluge of customer’s; Aunties and Uncle’s, however, shines brightest during slow weekdays. The small space and open kitchen are often overwhelmed by stumbling undergrads seeking to assuage their hangovers. The wait staff get overwhelmed, the kitchen becomes chaotic, and the patrons grumble and moan about wait times that exceed the half hour mark. But, come on a lazy Thursday for lunch, and you can expect a piping cup of joe that rarely runs dry (2$, Reunion Island), some friendly banter with your sports enthusiast server, and well prepared and plated food.

Yves drinks a cup of Reunion Island coffee. Grown in Madagascar, roasted in Toronto, brewed at AU.

The decore is quaint, but a bit affected—it channels small town Ontario circa the 1950s with its airplane wall paper, outdate maps, long stopped coca cola wall clock, and pastel coloured Formica furniture. AU is homey not because it is particularly comfortable, but because it reminds you of what you think your grandmother’s kitchen would have been like.

Their set menu is ample and diverse with savory, sweet, and vegetarian options. And they are very flexible about sides; choose between challah bread, hash browns, Dijon potato salad, and mixed greens. Their potato salad is possibly the best in Toronto. Made with coarsely cut red skined potatoes, Dijon, fresh dill, and secret spices, this side is sinfully creamy, but it’s actually mayonnaise free and, surprisingly, vegan.

While the menu at Unties and Uncles is excellent for those watching their wallet (nothing over 8.75$), it’s not great for those watching their waists. Almost everything on the menu is heavy, buttery, and eggy. This may be why so many hangovers have been cured at AU. They are channeling that old diner vibe, so, grease should be a given, and on a cold winter day there’s nothing like a full belly to keep you motoring.

Three mains that will fill your belly

The breakfast tacos without chorizo. A poor decision.

The Breakfast Pocket (8.75$) is a patron favourite. The Breakfast Pocket is served on a warm onion bun, and thus is more of a breakfast sandwich than a pocket, but semantics aside, it’s delicious. Full of fluffy eggs, perfectly seared peameal, accented with caramelized onions, cheddar, and a hint of mayo, this sandwich/pocket is sure to fight off any hangover and all hunger pangs.

The Breakfast Tacos (8.75$) are satisfying, but my first mouthful failed to transport me to Mexican warmth. Despite the delicious cilantro sour cream, these tacos lack one key ingredient: salsa. Without ruffage the tacos are heavy, and their only real saving grace is the in house made chorizo and authentic Mexican tortillas. On my last visit to AU I decided to substitute the chorizo for mushrooms, big mistake. It’s the perfectly spiced chorizo that’s holding this dish together.

The Grilled Brie served with disappointing and underwhelming hash browns. The lesson: go for the amazing potato salad. Always.

If you are looking to forgo eggs, try the Grilled Brie (8.25$) served with pear chutney on challah toast. The natural light sweetness of the challah bread provides a great counterpoint to savory Brie. The Brie AU uses tends to be on the mild side  and does not overwhelm the delicate pear chutney. However, the walnuts can, and often do, overwhelm the sandwich. Walnuts have a high tannin level in their skins when compared to other nuts, that when unblanched can inundate the palate with bitterness. The bitterness could be balanced by a more flavourful pear chutney, or by blanching the walnuts, or by chopping them more finely, thereby sacrificing aesthetics. All together a good, and satisfying sandwich, but with a few small kitchen tweaks, this could be an awe inspiring, dream worthy, sandwich.

The meal was leisurely, the portions satisfying, and the service was good. The total for two people came to just over 21$. Ultimately, it wasn’t an out of body gastronomic experience, but it hit the spot, and as far as value for your buck goes, AU vying for first.

Full for 10$, I can handle that.

SERVICE 3.5/5
AMBIANCE 3.5/5
PRESENTATION 3.5/5
TASTE 3.5/5
PRICE $
HOURS Monday – Sunday 9 am – 3 pm
LOCATION, LOCATION 74 Lippincott Street (just north of College)

NOTEWORTHY

• Cash only
• Homemade ketchup with undertones of cinnamon and deliciousness
• Belgian waffles that strike a balance between a crispy outside, and a soft doughy inside.

Not So Pour Boy

If you are feeling strapped for cash, but not willing to venture of to the periphery of Toronto to imbibe at moderate prices, think Pour Boy for the poor boy. Located at Manning and Bloor, the Pour Boy Pub is a snug, two story, bar that offers Greenroom reminiscent fare, and prices well below the Bloor average.

The bar is hard to miss, decorated with a giant mural of Hendrix and Dylan; it brings some great colour to the Bloor landscape. Inside, the decor is hippie grandmother’s dining room meets new age Buddhist.

The servers are very friendly and attentive, when they can be, but when this place reaches capacity it can be difficult to wave down a server, regardless of the full bar on each floor. The issue I had with their ambience was the music— while the music was a fun mix of well, and not so well known oldies, it was painfully loud depending on the track.

Their daily beer special, Pour Boy Choice, will run you less than 12$ a pitcher, 4 $ a pint (typically something like Pabst or Amsterdam).  Their other beer selections will run you 13.25$ a pitcher. The selection isn’t prolific, typical Ontario beer fare, but they do have Blanche de Chambly and Sapporo on tap for those feeling adventurous.

Pour Boy’s food is also incredibly affordable, with healthy portioned mains averaging 7$. Whatever cuisine whets your appetite Pour Boy has something to sate it—from pan Asian standards, to polish perogies, with salads, sandwiches and burgers in between.  Their Pad Thai was possibly one of the best I’ve tasted in Toronto in recent years. Their salads aren’t whelming, and their sandwiches are easily recreated at home, but if you stick to bar standards (anything with cheese and/or fried), and the pan Asian dishes, you’ll really feel like you’re living gourmet on a dime.

SERVICE 4/5
AMBIENCE 3/5
PRESENTATION 3/5
TASTE 3½/5
PRICE $
HOURS 10:30 am- 2 am, kitchen open late
LOCATION, LOCATION 666 Manning Street
NOTEWORTHY

• EVENTS
• Sunday Afternoon: 4pm – 8pm – Open Mic
• Sunday Evenings: 9pm – 2am – DJ UpBeatz (Hip Hop, Funk, Soul and House)
• Monday Nights: 8pm – Quiz Night