NORTHSIDE — Restaurant in Ontario

Really really enjoyed this place! Come here as early as you are able to ensure you don't have to wait in the long line that probably forms not long after it opens. They don't take reservations.

My YEA and I planned to get here as the doors open on 8AM. We ended up being 7 minutes early. The extra effort was well worth it because not long we seated, the place started to fill up. This is 8AM on a Sunday btw.

This shop serves up platefuls of Aussie inspired brunch fare that tickle your tastebuds in a room that is filled with natural sunlight and brightly decorated space. It's highly IG-able but not just IG-able. The food is legit too.

There are two big group tables of 8 that you may share with others during the busiest of times, 2 tables of four, and the rest are small tables of 2 resting along the wall. It's a very long and narrow space but the decor makes feel bigger.

We started off with a pot of English Breakfast tea. Although the menu says it is made for one, you can get about 3.5 cups of tea out of the single pot. There's definitely room to share if you don't mind the cooties.

We browsed the menu very thoroughly and decided to settle on three items:

Avo Smash - gotta try it the OG way since this originated from Australia.

This is an absolute must dish to order if you love avo toast. I completely enjoyed it from start to finish. The avocado was ripe and only lightly smashed. The Thai chili gave it a great tinge of heat. The feta and lemon added this acidity to cut through the creaminess of the avocado. It was served on top of a piece of grilled sourdough bread that held up against the weight of the avo smash itself.

Tim's Benny - an Aussie twist on an egg's benny

It's a pretty solid combination. The potato rosti is really thick take on a hashbrown that is lightly browned and crispy on the outside while the shredded potato is moist on the inside. The salted ham combined with the runny yolk and lively apple cider hollandaise bring it all together.

a side of Haloumi - uh yeah, just because it's awesome.

The service is super friendly and casual. The vibe is friendly and cheerful even at 8AM in the morning.

Would definitely come back out here again. I can see why this place is a hit...

Nov 7, 2025

I ordered the Butter fried milk bread, that came with candied almonds, poached apple, Concord grape syrup and some magical, cinnamon spread. Somehow, the pops of thyme turn the dish into fireworks.

They told me that, even though I think I'm a favourite, the size of the fried milk bread was standard and not extra large.

Please order it and report back with pictures so I can be certain. From quaint corner cafe to mid-century elegance: the decor might be different, but the experience is still extraordinary.

Going to Northside's new location was like meeting up with a family member who just moved (we should've brought flowers...). I love the little touches of the previous location that they brought with them!

I don't want to say the space feels more grown up, but now that the kitchen is further away from the eating areas, it is easier to chat quietly with dining partners.

The seasonal menu is, as always, a pleasure to discover and a challenge (I can only eat one meal, no matter how much I want to eat more). We always find something for my brunch companion who has lactose and birch pollen intolerances. Believe me when I say that is not easy at most restaurants.

Our greatest sadness is that we can't purchase the granola for at-home consumption

2024: I went for a latte.

They handed me a menu. That was the single, most evil thing they could've done.

Benny's. Breakfast sandwiches. AvoToast. Several other (vegetarian and GF) mouthwatering options were available.

They call out their local food suppliers.

How could I NOT order something to eat? So evil.

So I got a croissant with homemade tomato jam.

And then the SERVICE.

It has been a while since I visited a café where baristas have convos with patrons. It was fun and easy going, and the team is tight. The plants, in particular, look incredible. Particularly near the patio.

I'll be returning, often and with great...

I'm sad not to be able to give five stars as I've been here many times over the years and it's usually a pretty good experience but this past Sunday our visit was not great.

We were seated faster than anticipated which is nice but we were given a table smaller than our party size. I would rather wait longer for a table that can properly accommodate our group.

We ordered drinks and received them in a timely manner and then we ordered our meals. After about 45 minutes of waiting with no updates or checkins from our server we started timing our wait and decided to give it 15 more minutes before we would just leave.

At this point our drinks were long gone and the option to order another would have been nice. I understand delays but I think it's so important to be upfront and honest and communicate that with guests.

Our food DID arrive within the 15 minutes we were willing to wait. But had we known it would be about an hour until we would get our meal we wouldn't have dined here. Most of us liked our food but we had one left extremely disappointed. Our server told us she would be taking care of our drinks due to the very long wait time (I also overheard her say this to at least two other tables so I can assume we weren't the only ones experiencing a negative visit). My drink ended up being on the bill and I didn't realize until after we paid, but at that point we were just eager to leave and didn't mention it.

So overall, I usually have a really nice time dining here, the service is usually great, and I do love the cute atmosphere, but this visit has unfortunately left me really...