Hugs and Sarcasm — Restaurant in Toronto

The food and service quality is too inconsistent to recommend this place for brunch.

The first time I went, it was outstanding— the Full English breakfast had a phenomenal spread of perfectly fluffy golden potatoes, bacon and sausage cooked just right, and overall excellent and attentive service.

Yet, only a week or so later, the food and service is completely different— to the point where I had to double check and make sure it was the same restaurant.

Wait staff was impatient, forgot portions of my orders, subbed out my potatoes for fries without asking, and gave me nearly half the previous portion size of the “Fry Up” from what I had ordered last time— all while only providing one glass of water for my wife and I after repeatedly asked for another. The fried bread was simultaneously soggy yet overcooked, the mushrooms dry, the fries cooked in oil that tasted of overused oil, and the tomato nearly raw. Overall a complete disappointment, especially given how incredible my previous brunch experience was.

The kitchen and service were clearly understaffed, but it was a perfect storm of a general lack of care leading to poor kitchen quality, poor service, and rush to get us out. No check up to see if we needed anything else, only coming over once asking how we wanted to pay for the bill— which for context, the entire duration of our brunch to being asked to pay (after receiving food) was under 10-20 minutes.

I really really really hope this was a one off occurrence resulting from some no-call, no-shows— because the first time I went, it was magical. The best English breakfast I’ve had outside of England proper— yet there are clear consistency issues that need to be fixed.

Again, I don’t think there’s any individual to blame, specifically the owner, as I know it is a small business. I’m not one to argue with any food put out in front of me, and did finish it, but the biggest takeaway I had after my latest visit was how much I wished I could have had the previous version of the brunch, instead of the version I got.

I hope they fix them, genuinely, but unfortunately I find it unlikely that I’d be rolling the dice again to see if it has been. Steer clear until this issue...

Somehow, until this month (Oct 19), I have missed this gluten free gem, despite regularly walking by and assuming I wouldn't be able to eat there! If you're looking for an option that has both delicious gluten free food and food for gluten lovers, at a place that also understands how to protect from cross contamination, this is the place to go! Normally, I have so many questions I need to ask before ordering to get a sense of if a restaurant understands how to keep me safe from gluten, and as soon as I told them I was celiac, they proactively rhymed off all the precautions they take. Which absolutely put my mind at ease. On top of that, there are multiple delicious options for everyone! We started with the spinach dip & chips that was modified to be gluten free (no naan bread). 3 of us had delicious mocktails (the Fruit Fizz & the Tropical Tonic) for anyone who wanted yummy non-alcoholic options. For those wanting a spiked drink, the Pineapple Ginger Mojito was a hit too! 2 of us had the gluten free fish and chips (despite only 1 of us being celiac) and we both loved it both the day of and because of the large portions, it was yummy again the next day as leftovers. 2 of us had the "Hot N Honey Chicken" (not ordered as gluten free, but option to make it gluten free) and enjoyed it so much it was eaten in 10 minutes, despite being a hearty portion too. The service was so attentive and welcoming. We were having such a good time that I forgot to take pictures of everything except the dessert (Gluten Free Sticky Toffee), which was so mouth watering that originally only one person ordered and immediately upon it arriving at the table, 2 more of us ordered it as well. It was awesome and the picture does not do it justice. For those of you who also appreciate quality and comfort, it might sound random, but they also have the nice toilet paper, not the sandpaper stuff. At every point, we all felt well taken care of and it was a great atmosphere too. All 4 of us were already planning our next meals there before we had even left. I'm so thrilled we went and can't...

Disappointing Experience

My partner and I went for breakfast, and while the restaurant was busy and potentially understaffed, we were initially understanding. I’ve been a server for 10 years, so I know how challenging these situations can be.

From the start, the service was very slow, which we didn’t mind given the circumstances. However, when our server finally took our order, she seemed irritated and unfriendly. Again, I understand stress or bad days, so I didn’t let that bother me.

The real issue began when our food arrived. My partner’s meal was fine, but my eggs Benedict was inedible. The eggs were hard-boiled instead of poached, and the bread was so soaked it was unappetizing. I am not a picky eater, but I couldn’t eat it. I had one bite and gave up, opting to eat a few potatoes instead.

No one came to check on us during the meal, and when we finished, we had to get up to pay because no one brought us the bill. My partner informed the server about the situation, but her response was dismissive and rude. She told him, “You should have let us know,” despite the fact that no one had come by to check on us. She reluctantly offered a “discount” of $2.50, which felt insulting considering I had to pay for a meal I didn’t eat.

This experience left us deeply disappointed. We’ve been frequent customers at Hugs and Sarcasm because my partner (who’s Irish) enjoys the fry-up, but after this visit, I doubt we’ll return.

To be clear, I understand how demanding a busy shift can be, and I’m forgiving when service steps are missed. However, how a restaurant handles these situations is crucial. Dismissing customers’ concerns and making them pay for food they couldn’t eat is unacceptable. I can’t recommend this place to others after...