Benna's Bakery & Deli — Restaurant in Toronto

Sadly, I have to update this review from 5 stars to 1.

It was my last time in the bakery. I have shopped there for many years and encountered different level of service, but mostly positive. However, in the last while I have noticed that the store must be trying to wind their business as the business hours and days were permanently limited. Also, the product offering has diminished. But what tip the scales for me was the very rude behavior of the sheepishly looking woman serving mostly the prepared food counter. I was greeted with a unapproachable attitude, of my items (greasy and warm) was packed in a tiny plastic bag instead of a box. I was told that I have no choice as which item (potatoe pancake) I can request. She made that decision for me and belittled my request on the top of it. I initially let go, thinking that she is probably a new immigrant still rough around the edges and probably carrying some of her incompatible cultural habits (like patronizing clients, lecturing, and acting as she is a cut above her clientele). But when she continued in her rude manner, with a sour face, lecturing me as to prodding me to decide what I am to buy as she needs to know what container to use, I decided this is the end of my relationship with this store. I left her with her poorly packaged potatoe pancakes, lecturing, sour faced, miserable woman who will never be able to hold a job like that anywhere else. Longos will have her fired, if she even was able to get a place there. But the unprofessional little Polish store on Roncy continues the rude traditions. I think the woman is actually a different nationality as she has an accent that sounds more like Ukrainian.

Wanted to support my Polish local business, but the local Polish business insulted me, a patron of many years.

Bye bye Benna, Roncy has fabulous little grocery stores. Happy...

This long standing traditional Polish market and deli has been an anchor on Roncesvalles Ave for years. It is very busy and caters to a wide variety of clients...including a lot of early generation Polish seniors. Polish is the working language when ordering at the meat, cheese and hot table...both with staff and customers. Don't feel you are being sidelined if the often harried staff don't engage in small talk. They are busy and the line-up they face on the weekends never stops. Having said that, I have never been ignored when asking about a specific cold cut or deli item. I always receive an answer, usually with a smile. This store is a Polish food hub and their meat counter is jammed with items you are not going to find elsewhere. I have tried dozens of "new-to-me" charcuterie and all were very tasty. Their hot table items are fresh and delicious...a great take home comfort meal on a rainy or snowy afternoon. Their bakery is well known for many items, but I am a huge fan of their rye loaves. Superb. Their selection of (frozen) pierogies and their sauerkraut-by-weight are exceptional. There is also a huge selection of Polish label jams, spreads, candy, etc. Yes, you are probably going to be jostled and yes, someone is going to cut in front of you in this place on a Saturday. And no, you are not bringing your MEC baby stroller inside. That is the nature of a crowded, narrow aisled, jam-packed deli, and it is also part of the authentic experience. The staff are very busy but have always been friendly. Parking is street only and often hard to find, but this area is served by streetcar as well as being a great walking...

Went there specifically for the polish doughnuts. Very busy on a festival Saturday. Small aisles. Polish doughnuts are okay, had unidentified fig(?) jam inside, dough was plain and not as fluffy as expected. Better heated. Also had the perogies which were reasonably priced and slightly better than grocery bought ones. Was disappointed in the bakery wait staff, barely got acknowledgment I existed, shoved a bag at me with doughnuts, didn't say a word (despite me saying thank you), and didn't even notify me there were options for the doughnuts. The patron behind me was able to choose flavours of doughnuts. It's very busy inside, with many patrons in a hurry to push others around. Small market with tight aisles and a select variety of polish groceries such as jams, European drinks, sausages, bread, baked pastries, and perogies. Only saving grace was a very nice cashier who was pleasant and helpful...seemed to be the only nice person inside the store that day. You'll need tough skin if you're not a regular and you want...