Hazel's Diner — Restaurant in Toronto

The Mount Pleasant location also has an outdoor patio, hidden by beautiful foliage and a wide sidewalk so that there's more privacy.

You can certainly find the staple breakfast fare of bacon and eggs at Hazel’s, although I think their signature creations are so much better and love that their menu offers so many meat-free options.

Bonnie’s hash ($17), named after the owner’s wife who is a vegetarian, is a hearty combination of well toasted potatoes mixed with corn, onion, pepper, spinach, garlic, and jalapeno, topped with two eggs done to your liking (my over medium was done perfectly). It’s a satisfying breakfast that’s also refreshing and delicious.

I only wish the rye bread was less crispy – it’s more akin to melba toast – and is great for dipping into eggs but not solo with jam. Sourced from a local bakery, the owner explains the lack of preservatives does mean it can crisp up quickly, so perhaps order it untoasted if you like your bread soft.

On the other hand, if you’re craving decadence, the eggs Natasha ($19) places poached eggs on smoked salmon and pancakes topped with hollandaise, sour cream, and black caviar. It’s a savoury, sweet, and smoky concoction, certainly a dish to wake up the taste buds and makes me wonder if it’s too early to have a shot of vodka.

For those who like it sweet, the French toast is made from challah so that it’s extra custardy tasting with a faint cinnamon finish. I particularly love that Hazel’s uses maple syrup instead of the overly thick and plasticky tasting table syrup. When you’re creating such wonderful dishes, go maple!

After such a filling brunch, I didn’t think we could get through the loaded waffle ($16), but as I took a bite of the fluffy creation with a sweet berry, I wanted another bite and another… needless to say, it did not go to waste. And despite what looks like an insane amount of whipped cream, it was as light as air and seemed to vanish...

I called ahead to Hazel’s Mount Pleasant to confirm my partner’s medical (not emotional support) service dog was allowed, and they assured me it was fine. After we arrived, the owner came over just to tell us we weren’t welcome. He claimed he only allows guide dogs for the blind, which is blatantly illegal under Ontario’s Human Rights Code (OHRC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

It was clear he just wanted to make a point. Refusing service is discrimination. This business needs to educate itself on the law.

Avoid this location if you support basic disability rights.

EDIT IN REPLY the owners comment:

I called ahead to confirm my partner’s medical service dog was allowed, yet you still turned us away. When we tried to explain the law, you dismissed us outright. My partner even returned with the official City of Toronto guidelines and let you know we would be writing a review.

Service animals beyond guide dogs have been legally protected in Ontario for nearly two decades under the AODA and the Human Rights Code (since 2005). The law has not "just changed". Businesses are expected to be aware of and comply with these laws. It should not be the responsibility of those facing discrimination to create a scene in order to have their rights upheld.

My partner’s name is not Eric and your claim about our dog’s behaviour is false. The dog had just walked in and hadn’t even sat down before you ambushed us. Another patron immediately complimented and cooed at her, so it’s hard to believe anyone was bothered in the way you described..

My review isn’t an attempt to “tarnish” your business. You did that yourself when you chose to discriminate against a person with a disability. If you truly regret the interaction, start by taking real accountability instead of shifting the blame onto the people...

Hazel's Diner is a really good quality breakfast diner. That's the best way I can put it. The atmosphere is what you would expect, or at least what I expected on a Sunday afternoon. We didn't have to wait long for a table, maybe 5 minutes, however that doesn't speak to how busy it was or it's popularity. The staff seem to be very well practiced at high turnover. Usually, when I have the wherewithal to go out for a brunch, I stick to a classic breakfast of a couple of eggs, toast, bacon, etc. For the longest time I was on the hunt for the perfect eggs benedict but after finding a few good ones, I got very tired of all the terrible ones and switched, however reluctantly, to a classic breakfast. That said, the first time I cane to Hazel's something on the menu jumped off the page and practically slapped me in the face with eggs. Hazel's has what they call a "Mexican Eggs Benedict". Chorizo sausage, habanero hollandaise, and really perfectly cooked home-fries that were seasoned simply. The heat was perfect, the eggs were on point and the flavors were incredible. My wife had an egg-white omelette with goat cheese and though not my thing, visually striking and my wife loved it. I would go back for the Mexican Benny this afternoon, if it wasn't frowned upon for me to leave my place of work unannounced for the purpose of eating great food. Sadly, this is not the case! Definitely...