Emma’s Country Kitchen

Quaint location, very friendly staff, and delicious food — Had the breakwich with cheddar and bacon, with a side of sea salt and thyme frites. The buttermilk biscuit is fantastic, and the egg was cooked perfectly. A no fail spot, will definitely be back.

Must Try: BISCUITS, Breakwich, Pancakes, Eggs Benedict
Rating: (⁹⁄₁₀) Food, (¹⁰⁄₁₀) Service, (⁹⁄₁₀) Value, (⁹⁄₁₀) Ambience, (⁹⁄₁₀) Presentation, (¹⁰⁄₁₀) Cleanliness
My Experience:
One of the best Brunch places in Toronto, not just because of the food, but because of the atmosphere. Not pretentious or trying too hard, but great service and great food. I’ve been here a handful of times and the food is always consistent.
Important note: yes there is a wait. If it’s brunch on a weekend, it’s a wait for a table. Any of the top brunch spots in Toronto will have a wait, and this spot if not immune. Yes, it may take up to an hour. However, they do take your name and number down, and you’re welcome to go run errands or grab a coffee while you wait for a table.
One of my favourite items hands down is the Breakwich. A biscuit sandwiching a perfectly cooked lightly runny egg, cheese (swiss or cheddar) and meat (sausage or bacon). This sandwich is the epitome of breakfast sandwiches, I doubt I’ll ever find anything better.
I also recommend the blueberry pancakes or the eggs Benedict. If you’re particularly adventurous, I would suggest getting the pancakes to share, and adding a side of eggs Benedict and the Breakwich to have the best of everything! The presentation was clean and not over the top, just enough to make you want to devour the food.
In the front bakery display, they have donuts, which are made only on weekends, and once they sell out, they’re gone for the day. I had the pleasure of taking home the Triple Chocolate, the maple bacon and the apple and blueberry donut. Personal favourite was the triple chocolate (oreo crumble on top? yes!). I’m not a donut person, but these donuts are fantastic.
The service here was great. Even though there is a wait, they are very considerate and patient, taking down names and numbers and letting customers come back later to grab their seats. Even though we had a large party, they never rushed us to order or finish our meals to fill seats, which was really appreciated. The overall cleanliness of the restaurant was spot on.

I’m so stoked about such an adorable and delicious brunch spot opening up in my neighbourhood! I had the eggs benedict, which was served on tea biscuits made in-​house. The skin-​on red potato side was also fantastic, and the décor of the space is bright and cute and cozy. Hooray!

It was a great experience! The restaurant was comfortable and felt like we were eating at home. The service was pretty attentive and friendly. We had a quiche and the classic breakfast. Both of them tasted pretty good but the classic breakfast definitely got me hook line and sinker. The eggs were scrambled to perfection, have yet to taste such amazing eggs until today, not only were the eggs amazing but it came with bacon and roasted potatoes that definitely made this dish the complete meal! I would definitely go back again!

Service
It was fine, normal stuff. I have nothing to add lols.
Parking
I pray you know how to parallel park (look for Green P signs).
Food
You come here for the FOOD and I say this because brunch/​breakfast here is godly. First of all, the classic breakfast IS AMAZING. I almost ordered it but opted for the quiche because it looked so good online. The quiche is not bad but I think it would have tasted better with spinach, perhaps I’m not a big fan of squash. The sides/​pastry of the quiche is very crunchy and is super tasty. The content (egg and squash) are okay, but not something I would eat again. For the side, I chose quinoa and I kind of regretted it because it felt a bit dry. The dish itself was fine, but nothing mind-​blowing. Now we move onto the big breakfast… it was stellar. To start, the eggs look like perfection. The scrambled eggs were organized and didn’t look all spread out on the dish. It was also fluffy when I tasted it, they probably used milk (?) and cooked it at the right temperature and time. The bacon is so big, not a lot of fat, and the right amount of crispiness on the sides. The potatoes, sooooooo good. This dish is the bomb (a happy kind of explosion in the mouth!).
*I just want to add that the menus do change (not sure if it’s a daily basis). Their famous donuts are not available on weekdays and from what I’ve heard it is super packed on weekends. I do plan on coming back for these though lol.*

I came here for breakfast/​brunch on a very special day. It was my wife’s birthday and being that she grew up not far from this neighborhood it was even a bit more special. I had parked on Lauder Ave south of Cloverlawn as you can park for free on either side of this one way street as long as it’s not April to November.
Emma’s has a nice comfortable feel to it as their food is comfort food, so is their hospitality, service and ambiance. The menu was marked with food for that particular day. This means the menu changes so this is the type of place that you can’t get used to anything really unless it’s some sort of staple of which I do not know. There is a sign above the counter explaining that they serve whatever ingredients are in season which totally makes sense.
Coming here I saw photos of other meals that looked really good. For my visit the menu was not the same but served up delicious sounding choices just the same. I have to be blunt, the reason I choice this place was for the biscuits. HARD it is to find a place that makes American style biscuits in Toronto by a business not named Popeye’s. My wife loves biscuits and Emma’s has on display a nice platter of buttermilk biscuits. Were we lucky they even had this available or are biscuits a staple dish? I should have asked… regardless they had them and my wife was in luck.
My wife ordered the breakwich (breakfast sandwich) on the menu and it was bacon, egg, choice of cheddar or swiss cheese on a buttermilk biscuit. She was given the option to add avocado and for my wife that’s the magic word.
I had wanted a change of pace from my default which is bacon and eggs so I decided to go with the wild blueberry pancakes with a side of sausage. The sausage is in patty form mixed with sage and onion. It was delicious and not too salty. The pancakes were nice and light but not too fluffy and soft. The syrup on the side is real Canadian maple syrup with a whipped butter as well. I loved this breakfast as it’s exactly what I needed… a fresh good tasting home made style breakfast that I wouldn’t make for myself but that tasted as well as it looked.
The servers were constantly asking if we were fine and were constantly filling our coffee as well as they gave us water to start without even asking.
They don’t have too much booth seating but the table we had in the middle of the restaurant was comfortable enough for a quick meal.
This place is great and I’d come back for another brunch any day.

Food was really yummy. One of the better brunch menus I’ve enjoyed. Can’t wait to go back.
Tip:Parties of 2 get seated quickly.

The restaurant is busy, but turnover is quick. There is free parking along the side streets. Service is friendly and food is quick.
Good: The menu seems to change daily. The holiday sandwich had a deliciously soft bun, was a little over sauced, but tasted like christmas on a bun with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and arugula for a nice bite. Thyme fries were good, but not hot or crispy enough.
The yogurt was very rich and creamy and perfect for people who enjoy this kind of thing.
Classic breakfast: bacon was thick cut, eggs perfectly done over easy, potatoes seasoned and crispy on the outside and the breakfast biscuit was fluffy and super buttery, while not being greasy.
The apple cider was a little too tepid for my taste.

This place is amazing. Had the granola and wanted to order more for take out! It’s really busy on the weekends for brunch so be prepared to wait in line.

We live in the neighbourhood and will come for weekend breakfast at least twice a month. The trick is either to come 15 – 20 minutes before opening, or to know when to catch the lulls between waves of customers. Either way, for us, it’s worth it. Just suggest to my 5-​year-​old that we might be heading to «Emma’s» for breakfast and she’s already up and getting dressed.
The signature items here for us are definitely the buttermilk biscuits and the quiche. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a place that does either one any better. And then take that biscuit and layer it with Benny toppings??? Ohhhhhhh… (Pro tip: ease your dieter’s guilt by ordering a side Benny: half the size, all the flavour!)
The quiche is different each time, favouring seasonal veg as much as possible. It is creamy and fluffy at the same time, with wonderful height and a flaky crust. Side salads are always winners, with tasty dressings and good, solid ingredients like quinoa or toasted sesame seeds to give some heft to the bowl.
Pancakes are also seasonal: in fall, they will be pumpkin. In winter, gingerbread. Don’t forget to smear them heavily with the provided citrus butter. You won’t even need the maple syrup, but you’ll want to take advantage of it when most places give you table syrup unless you pay extra.
I haven’t even mentioned the donuts yet. If you don’t get there during the first waves, though, you’ll have missed your chance, as they sell out quickly. Our favorites include Emma’s standards, maple bacon and cinnamon sugar, but there are always fun and inventive flavours, again mirroring the season (yesterday’s pick came with crushed candy cane sprinkled atop a dark chocolate glaze).
For carnivores, the thick, savoury bacon is worth every streaky, crispy bite. I’m less a fan of the sausage, but that’s just because I’m a bacon gal at heart, and also the seasonings in the sausage aren’t my fave. But if you like a fragrant, handmade sausage patty, you’ll appreciate it.
I’m so glad to have this cheerful, reliably yummy spot in the ‘hood, and it warms my soul to see a little local place ring up so many kudos (and queues!).

We ordered the Emma’s Benny (eggs benny) and The Classic with poached eggs, buttermilk biscuit, and hollandaise sauce (upgrades). Both are definitely highly recommended menu items. I was pleasantly surprised by their delicious poached egg, which was poached with a tinge of butter, and their crisply baked potatoes. We didn’t get a chance to order the maple bacon doughnut, but for those who want to order this, I recommend coming into before 10am as they ran out pretty quickly.
The only reason this place is not a full 5 star is that the place is quite small, so the wait time is between 20 – 40 minutes at a time, and you cannot make reservations or wait inside… which is a hassle if it’s cold outside. The servers are also not the fastest people, but they are quite friendly once they get to you.

Time of day visited: Saturday morning at 9:00 AM
Amount spent: with tax, tip, for two people, our total was $ 39.32.
This review is specifically for weekend brunch. Be warned, if you don’t come early, you could be waiting to eat for quite awhile. We arrived here right at 9:00 AM on a Saturday morning recently, and by 9:10 AM, most tables were taken. The place is charming, homey, and just the kind of comforting meal environment you would want on a chilly weekend morning.
We ordered the Eggs Benny ($ 13) with a side of home fries, the gingerbread pancakes ($ 11), and two donuts (the «Kitchen Sink» which is glazed with chocolate and topped with bits of the most random snacks you can think of, including and not limited to, potato chip crumbs, Cheerios, M&Ms, etc, and a cranberry apple donut — the donuts ranged in price). The Eggs Benny was our favourite, and was topped with a delicious sauce, the biscuit was light and buttery, and the home fries were flavourful and crispy! The gingerbread pancakes were also super fluffy and weren’t heavy at all.
Overall, if you want a no-​nonsense, comfort food-​type environment, Emma’s is a great option. Portion sizes are quite large, our server was attentive, and prices are reasonable given the quantities served (I only finished 1.5 of my 3 pancakes — they are quite large, and I had to take the rest home!). If you’re in the area, this is definitely a great brunch spot, and I’d highly recommend it.

No wait is too long for a classic breakfast spot.
On a warm sunny October in Toronto, it was time to check out Emma’s Country Kitchen on St. Clair W. The place was packed and the wait time was 20 minutes, but the staff was very accommodating and coffee ($ 2) was provided in take out cups for patrons outside waiting. Homemade donuts are available too which were a hit with many (arrive early for the bacon maple donut since they run out!).
Inside, the restaurant is light and bright and filled with a wonderful energy. The server was on his game and was very helpful with the specials and all our needs.
The group choice was The Classic ($ 10) which was a heaping plate of 2 eggs any style, bacon/​sausage, delicious home fries, choice of toast and a side dish of happiness. The meal was hot, delicious and coffee refills were done promptly. I was so hungry that I ate it all before I remembered that I should have taken a pic. Oops.
Lots of other great meal options including eggs benedict, pumpkin (boo!) pancakes and quiche of the day.
Meal was ridonkulously inexpensive for Toronto. I would definitely return for more.
Lots of street and bike parking. :-)

This small cozy place is located right on St. Clair. I went on a Sunday for brunch and the wait was about an hour for a table. So needless to say it gets real busy for brunch!
Service was super friendly and quick. The place is managed quite well and there are lots of servers around to handle the volume they get.
For brunch, the popular go-​to is the eggs Benedict but make sure you brought an appetite because the serving is hefty! I’ve had the Farm fresh french toast and that was pretty amazing. The pumpkin Pancakes are a must-​try.
Parking out in front is green p patrolled, but I believe it’s free for a certain period on the weekends. Just make sure you allocate enough for wait time in case it’s busy!

I love small shops like these, especially breakfast joints!
This is the first place we tried and Toronto and really really loved it! I was starving and wanted two meals but had seen someone eating this on my way in and I am huge biscuit fan, so had to get this!
I got an open face biscuit with gravy on top and two scrambled eggs on the side and let me tell you, it was DELICIOUS! Hit the spot. The price was amazing and the staff was great toO!!!

First time in Toronto. Toronto is really underrated for the food.
Emma’s is a great place to have brunch although I thought the Eggs Benedict was just okay… But the maple bacon donuts made up for it, they were huge, like eating an entire meal.
Definitely worth the trip!

Came here with a few friends today and I had the gri pla parfait with a biscuit for my meal. It was delicious, like actually delicious, perfect balanced with almond slivers, pecans and raisins. The Greek yoghurt for some reason tasted better than any other greek yoghurt I’ve had in recent memory so it really added to the richness of the meal, yet at the same time it felt light.
The buttermilk biscuit was a bit underwhelming though, it looked great but tasted like it had too much baking soda in it.
For desert I had a lemon square which was delicious, it had a soft gooey centre and a perfect tangy favour.

Came here for brunch on a Sunday, around 12:30PM — it’s a bit out of the way for me so had to take advantage when a friend offers to drive. The restaurant is on west St. Clair west, in a very cute area with a bunch of other food spots. They didn’t take reservations for brunch — it took a while for someone (who appeared to also wait tables and tend the cash register) to come over and put our names on the list. We were told that it was going to be approximately a 45 minute wait (which turned out to be closer to an hour), so we went to a coffee shop a few blocks down (see review here:
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What can I say — the wait was definitely worth it! Between the 2 of us — we shared the memories of the farm french toast (the best part was the buttermilk custard and cheesecake mousse, though the toast itself was a bit burnt) with a side of fruit salad, the daily quiche (my favourite item — it was loaded with mushroom and eggs, and the crust was just right) with a side of green salad, and a «breakwich» (a buttermilk biscuit sandwich with an over-​easy egg, swiss cheese, and avocado replacing meat as my friend didn’t eat pork — this was yum!).
The wait staff was great and very helpful, and the place has a very homey feel — which is a bit different from some of the more hipster brunch spots downtown that I’ve been to. We also stumbled on their 3^rd year anniversary celebration — so got a free donut (we both got the beignets donut filled with dulce de leche, which my friend claims to be the best donut he’s ever had) and some ice team. They also sell donuts for takeout, and all of the flavors looked delicious.
I would definitely recommend this brunch spot!

Had the day off last Thursday and decided to try this place for some brunch. This is as good as it gets if you ask me.
Pros:
All items are made in house from scratch
Food is excellent
Friendly staff
Cons:
Not as much items available on weekdays
Heard a lot of great things about this place in the past so it was a foregone conclusion that I would make it here eventually. Upon arrival we were presented with a one page menu. It seems that not everything is a available to order on a weekday. They had 4 breakfast items and a couple of sides to choose from. This is about it as far as anything negative goes.
I ordered the classic breakfast while my GF ordered the breakwich. We also ordered the daily soup which was cream of mushroom and a order of fries. One thing to note here. Everything is made from scratch in their kitchen. They bake their own bread, they smoke and cure their own bacon etc. You can definitely taste the difference.
The soup came out first. I can tell you that this was one of the best cream of mushroom soups I’ve ever had. The mushrooms were chopped to a very fine consistency which gives the soup a different kind of texture you’re used to. There was a detectable hint of white pepper as well. My classic breakfast came out next. Everything about the breakfast was excellent. I chose the whole wheat and honey bread for my toast. It was very good, just the right amount of honey flavour. The eggs were scrambled perfectly. You know a place is a good if they scramble an egg right. The bacon was very good. It was not too crispy and tasted very good. The red potatoes were the star of the show though. They were made so that they were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was so good I can’t give them enough justice here.
The breakwich was a is not your garden variety breakfast sandwich either. First, it’s made with a house baked buttermilk biscuit. The egg is still a bit runny in the yolk which makes it extra good. The sage and onion sausage my GF added to it was very good. The fries were just OK and that’s only in comparison to everything else we had. They were above average fries though, don’t get me wrong.
The 2 servers we dealt with were both very nice and knowledgeable about the place. They could tell you fully about the process of how things get done here if you care to ask. They were super nice throughout our whole visit and made out great experience here all the more better. There’s not enough good things to say about this place.
If you’re looking for a home cooked type brunch, you must try this place. I will definitely be back on a weekend to give their full menu a try.

Went there on mother’s day and had a good experience,. We Ordered the quiche and breakfast sandwich on the home made biscuit and both were absolutely delicious.
Prices are good and service good too.
Solid place for brunch

On est venus en famille prendre un brunch. Les serveuses étaient super gentilles. Nous ont bien accommodé avec le bébé. C’est bon et très copieux!