Jodie's Restaurant — Restaurant in Toronto

Pleasantly Surprised – Not the Truck Stop I Thought It Was!

I’ve been living in the neighbourhood since 2007 (yes, that long), and for years I just kind of wrote this place off as a truck stop or some random pit stop for people passing through. I think a lot of locals probably felt the same way—or maybe still do. But recently, I saw a post in one of our community Facebook groups where someone mentioned that the breakfast here was actually really good. That definitely piqued my interest because, let’s be real, breakfast is one of those meals that’s hard to mess up—but also hard to really impress with. So, I figured I’d give it a shot.

And wow—I’m actually glad I did.

First off, the food was made fresh, which you can taste right away. I ordered the breakfast plate and the sausages stood out to me—not your typical little links you find at most places. These were big, filling, and satisfying. You get the sense they don’t skimp on portions here. The toast was perfectly done, the eggs exactly how I ordered them, and the home fries were hot and crispy, not sad and soggy like in some places. It was a solid, classic breakfast done right.

But beyond the food, what really surprised me was the vibe. It has that cozy, old-school diner feel—nothing flashy, but super comfortable. The service was really friendly, and you could tell a lot of the people eating there were regulars. That “hey, good to see you again!” energy. It gave the place a kind of warmth that’s been missing in a lot of modern spots. If you’re someone who likes to build rapport with your local breakfast joint, this is exactly the kind of place you could start going to weekly and the staff would remember your name and maybe even your usual order. That’s rare these days.

I only had breakfast, but I noticed they also serve burgers and other lunch options, which I’m definitely curious to try next time. I also heard the pancakes are worth coming back for, so those are on my list too.

My only small suggestion—and this is more of a personal preference—is about the seating layout. Right now, all the tables and chairs are arranged facing west to east (and vice versa), which means most people are facing the wall or the TV. It would be nice to alternate a few tables so that some face north to south, which also happens to be where the windows are. The space already leans a bit dark, so letting more diners face the natural light could really brighten up the experience—both literally and atmospherically. I totally get that the TV is mounted on one wall, but a little variety in table orientation might make the space feel even more inviting.

All in all, I was genuinely surprised in the best way. This place is not what I assumed it was for all those years. It’s got heart, solid food, friendly service, and a sense of community that I think a lot of people are looking for right now. If you’ve been sleeping on this spot like I was—give it a try. You just might find your new favourite local...

I used to go to this place almost every day when I work in the area. Decided to drop in on this particular day as I was randomly in the area again and the inside has not changed at all. When you first walk in it definitely has The vibes of a greasy dive but this five-star review is all about the food. I ordered french toast, pancakes, toast, poached egg and home fries. Just like back in the day, everything was cooked to perfection. This is not a place you come for the ambiance but if you're looking for a good breakfast joint you need to come here. I have never had a bad breakfast. Even their coffee tastes fresh. When they come in and out of the kitchen and by the bar you can kind of see into the kitchen and despite the seating area looking quite outdated the kitchen looks spotless and I did inspect the plates and cutlery and everything looked clean. Often when I go to popular chains, there's always something stuck to a fork or a knife I went out of my way to check a few tables cutlery here and everything seems spotless. It's one of those hidden gems where you would just drive by and not give a second thought to but once you try the food you will...

My wife and I stopped here for breakfast and were so glad we did. Our server Madison was great. She was a ray of sunshine. She knew the names of everyone in the place and asked us our names as well. The food was fantastic. The pancakes reminded me of the ones my mom would make for me and my sister. Jodie was in the kitchen working feverishly at making everyone’s order exactly as they wanted but still took a few seconds to say hello to a regular. The food, service and prices are amazing. Don’t let the dated look of the building turn you away. You will NOT be disappointed, you will be grateful you did. Support...