Fran's Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Toronto

DECEMBER 2024 Update: Fran’s Restaurant remains a Toronto favorite, with two well-placed locations: one on College Street near Yonge and the other on Shuter Street, east of Yonge. Known for its all-day menu and dependable comfort food, Fran’s delivers a welcoming dining experience in the heart of the city. The two locations have ample comfortable seating ranging from 2 to 4 person booths

If all-day breakfast is your go-to, the four-stack blueberry pancakes are a must. Topped with Fran’s signature maple syrup and paired with soft, fluffy scrambled eggs and bold black coffee, it’s a satisfying start to any day.

For something more savory, the pictured Eggs Florentine Benedict is an excellent choice. Poached eggs sit atop a toasted English muffin, topped with a rich homemade Hollandaise sauce and served with crispy fries on the side—simple yet delicious. For more protein try the pictured Salmon Benedict (Eggs Blackstone)

Seafood fans can’t go wrong with Fran’s Halibut Fish & Chips. The light, crispy batter pairs perfectly with tangy tartar sauce and creamy coleslaw, topped with Allen's Malt vinegar, making it a solid choice for lunch or dinner. Pair it with a cup of Fran’s bottomless coffee for a complete, fuss-free meal.

Fran’s continues to shine as a reliable spot for comforting classics with a hint of nostalgia. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this Toronto institution delivers dishes atended by super friendly and efficient staff, that will keep this diner coming back. ... And no GST/HST until 14 Feb 2025!

Fran's Restaurant, a beloved Toronto institution, boasts two convenient locations: one on College Street just west of Yonge, and another on Shuter Street just east of Yonge. The allure of Fran's lies in its timeless appeal and an all-day menu that caters to diverse cravings.

One must-try dish is the delectable stack of four blueberry pancakes, generously smothered in Fran's house maple syrup (never corn syrup!), accompanied by a side of perfectly scrambled eggs and a robust cup of black coffee. The combination is a breakfast dream come true, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients and flavors.

For those leaning towards lunch, the Eggs Florentine Benedict is a standout choice. Poached to perfection and served on a toasted English muffin, these eggs are adorned with homemade Hollandaise sauce and accompanied by a side of crispy French fries. The symphony of flavors is nothing short of delightful.

Alternatively, Fran's classic lightly battered Halibut Fish & Chips offers a satisfying and crispy experience. Served with tartare sauce and coleslaw, this dish is elevated further by the option of bottomless strong black coffee—an ideal Friday lunch that can be enjoyed any day of the week. Fran's Restaurant continues to uphold its reputation for delivering delicious, comforting classics with a touch of...

Disappointing to say the least. My sons and I went down to this restaurant which I used to go (different location) some 45 years ago. They had the best burgers and best milkshakes. The location I used to go to was closed so we went here. In high school we always ordered the burgers and they were juicy and fresh/homemade. When I saw the menu online that they still made the homemade burgers I took my sons to see if I could relive the past. I did not. I asked if the burgers were homemade and the waitress indeed said yes. Oddly enough, my sons were wise enough to steer clear of the burger and ordered chicken panini and a BLT. Those both seemed fine. When the burger came it was a real let down. This was a factory frozen burger. How this is homemade is beyond me. They are basically grey matter called a burger. What you see in the picture is an $18 burger. A cheese burger with fries.... not fresh fries or homestyle fries but frozen fries from a bag. So for $18 you are getting a frozen puck and frozen fries. After I ate most of the burger I spoke to the waitress and said they should confess these are not homemade burgers. She said they were not made on site but elsewhere with their own recipe. Very complex recipe. One ingredient. Meat. Ok maybe some salt etc. She did admit they were frozen. After we paid she came back and explained that during COVID the burgers were commissioned to be made off site. She also said they were going to change the menu. Whether the new menu will reflect the fact they are frozen pucks I do not know. My bottom line is that their menu is very misleading if not outright false. Frans has a very broad interpretation of the word "homemade" to say the least. Years ago these were juicy and authentic burgers not frozen pucks made in a factory. Indeed the fries used to be planks and also very fresh. If you want a good burger then I would suggest heading to South Street burger or Burger Priest or any other specialty burger place in the city. Even the burgers from Wendy's are fresh not frozen. I am sure there are some good things on the menu but burgers is not one of them. It's a bit of a rip off in my mind. They are charging a hefty price for a frozen puck. All the other places I mention are going to be alot less money than Frans and their burgers will be superior. Milk shakes here are $7 but to me tasted pretty damn artificial so not convinced this is real ice cream. Basically they are living off of their old reputation and charging inflated prices for sub par food... at least as far as burgers, fries and shakes are concerned. Over priced, mediocre quality and misleading menus. The one plus is that this has a very authentic diner feel and look. If you want to go to the roof top. Not till 4pm since its a different restaurant altogether. Not going back. ...

January 01, 2023: NOT ACCEPTABLE. I've been simmering on this review...now being Feb/02nd. Out all night celebrating the New Year and went in for breakfast before heading home for some sleep. Finishing my meal when a kitchen staffer comes around and openly coughs twice onto the coffee pot before helping himself to a cup. He and my server seemed to brush it off. You would think after years of Covid and in a flu season, more care would be a matter of habit. It'll be a while before I go back. If he does that in full view of customers, you have to wonder what he does out of view in the kitchen.

December 2022: Beautiful Christmas turkey feast for eat in or take out. Comes with a hearty veg soup & dessert.

August 2022: Liver with onions & bacon. Delicious meal best ordered with a side of gravy.

Note: May 2022 open at 7AM for eating inside the restaurant.

August/2018. If you haven't tried the Maple Leaf breakfast, you're in for a treat. Maple sausage along with gentle onion infused beans will kick start any taste bud. Good size meal for the price.

A few tweaks here and there and it could be so much better. Ie: Corned beef (from a can?) that has been chopped up does not make for a good hash and eggs.

Attentive, friendly service and the coffee is easy to take.

Dec/2017: Four meals over the past two months and all but one were fine (except for the dreaded tater tots.) Fran's you're killing me! Ordered the chicken waffle. This dish seems to be the worse in the hit and miss category. Picture below will show bones, gristle and fat far outweighed what I had in actual chicken meat. The Manager was pleasant and offered a replacement meal, which I politely declined. And yes, I paid the bill since I ate what was given to me.

Oct/2016: The kitchen surpassed itself with a perfectly prepared medium rare steak. The quality ratio to price far out beats other breakfast eateries in the area. Unfortunate it was served with deep fried taters.

Nov/2016: Fair price for a cup of tea. Attention Cora's at 4 dollars a cup. The chicken waffle is quite good with a little heat. Unfortunately the lack of information on the syrup bottle leaves you wondering what you're really getting.

Aug/2017: Breakfast for two with another go at the chicken waffle. A tad different than the previous attempt (see picture) with a better presentation. Unfortunately the waffle was stone cold...what the heck. The Braised Beef Benedict was moist and tasty but again, unfortunately, the eggs were over cooked. Lacked the glistening flowing yellow when cut open.

Fran's has been around for a long time and I wish them another 100 years of prosperity but all of the little misses add up...including still serving those dang frozen taters. For the price, especially with a steak order, the customer...