Pennies — Restaurant in Toronto

I recently visited Pennies in Toronto, and I have to say, it’s quickly become one of my favorite spots in the city. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by how warm and inviting the space feels. The décor is simple yet stylish, with a cozy, relaxed vibe that makes it a perfect place to catch up with friends, work on your laptop, or just enjoy some quiet time. It’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into creating an environment that feels comfortable and welcoming without being pretentious.

The staff at Pennies are fantastic. Everyone I interacted with was friendly, attentive, and genuinely seemed to enjoy being there. They greeted me with a smile, answered all my questions about the menu, and even offered helpful recommendations based on my preferences. I really appreciated how approachable and knowledgeable they were — it felt less like being served and more like being welcomed into a space where people care about making your experience enjoyable.

Speaking of the menu, I was really impressed. Pennies offers a great mix of classic and innovative dishes, all made with quality ingredients. I tried [insert dish/drink you tried — e.g., their avocado toast or specialty latte], and it was absolutely delicious. The flavors were fresh, well-balanced, and thoughtfully presented. Portions are generous without being overwhelming, and everything tasted like it was made with care. It’s clear that the kitchen staff take pride in their work, and that attention to detail really shows.

One thing I particularly loved about Pennies is the overall atmosphere. It’s bright and airy, with plenty of natural light, but still has a cozy, homey feel. The seating is comfortable, and there’s a nice mix of tables and counter space depending on whether you’re working, meeting friends, or just grabbing a quick bite. The background music is at a perfect volume — lively enough to add energy, but not so loud that it makes conversation difficult. It’s the kind of place where you can linger for a while without feeling rushed.

I also noticed that Pennies takes care of the little things that make a visit special. Everything from the presentation of the food to the cleanliness of the space shows attention to detail. They also seem to really value customer experience, which makes a huge difference in how enjoyable the visit feels.

Overall, Pennies in Toronto is a gem. Between the welcoming atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff, thoughtful menu, and overall attention to detail, it’s a place I’ll be returning to again and again. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick coffee, a leisurely brunch, or just a cozy spot to relax, Pennies hits all the right notes. It’s one of those places that makes you feel appreciated as a guest and leaves you looking forward to your next visit. If you’re in Toronto and haven’t been yet, I highly recommend checking it out — you won’t be...

The Wyck Recommendation: Pennies Rating: 3.8/5 Free Popcorn and Economic Despair Never Tasted So Affordable

Intro Scene It was the kind of afternoon where the sun hits your collarbone just right and a $20 pitcher feels like financial planning. We slid into a bright yellow booth on the edge of Pennies' newly extended patio, surrounded by the sound of traffic, distant laughter, and whatever existential dread you can afford on draught. A “Savage” necklace gleamed across the table. It felt earned.

What Was Ordered One pitcher of the house lager – $20, described generously as “okay” Free popcorn from the ever-working popcorn machine — the smell hits first, the salt hits later No food this visit, but I’ve had the sliders and tots plenty of times before Sliders are decent, in a frozen-but-familiar way Tots are crispy and nostalgic New addition: tacos, because why not

Service Commentary Service is hands-off. You grab a seat, maybe wave someone down, maybe don’t. Drinks come. Food follows. Eye contact is optional. If you're polite, you might get a smile. If you're hot, you'll get it faster.

Vibe Check Loud. Young. Busy. Music blasts, conversation competes, and there’s always that one guy screaming over shuffleboard like he invented it. You come here to feel alive, not heard. And that’s okay.

The Space Itself Bright, simple, and proudly low-maintenance. Inside, the popcorn machine perfumes the room like a theatre that only screens hangovers. Games like shuffleboard and darts keep people moving. Outside, the patio’s been extended — a solid move that adds to the mayhem without killing the charm.

About the Neighborhood Strachan and Wellington. A sweet spot for Liberty spillover, late-night cyclists, and people too broke for Cactus Club. Streetcar nearby, but most folks walk, Uber, or manifest themselves into the scene.

Hits & Misses

✓ $20 pitcher in 2025 feels illegal ✓ Free popcorn machine = genius nostalgia trap ✓ Sliders are reliably decent — fried, fast, no surprises ✓ Patio extension is a win for sunlight and oversharing ✓ Loud music and games give it pulse

✗ Popcorn might be 85 percent salt by weight ✗ Food isn’t fresh so much as hot ✗ Service is reactive, not proactive ✗ Not ideal if you're over 35 or hate noise ✗ Fryer cross-contamination makes “vegan” more of a theory

Final Verdict Pennies is a time capsule for the broke, the buzzed, and the emotionally uninvested. It’s not trying to wow you. It’s trying to keep you fed, watered, and vaguely social for under $30. The popcorn smells great. The sliders do their job. And the beer? Cold enough to forget everything else.

Perfect For Pre-drinks before a Liberty house party A third date where expectations have been...

I was so excited to go to the Pennies grand opening on College. I live in the area and every time I walked by my partner and I were looking forward to one day closer to the opening! I am very upset to say our first visit did not live up to our standards and really did upset us.

I will preface it with this: I myself am a service manager at a high vol restaurant, and am in no way shaming or telling people not to go to Pennies. I am leaving an honest review with the steps of service I felt went wrong in hopes it won’t happen to others moving forward.

-around 7/8 pm, inside was not completely full, yes it was busy on opening day, but not swarmed at this moment as it was still early evening. It took almost 10 minutes for a greet. I understand maybe the server had a large section, and many people to attend to, but an “I will be right with you” would’ve made a big difference.

-no two bite check, it had been upwards of 10 minutes AFTER we finished our meals and our server had not checked in, my drink had been empty for a while and I wanted to order more food as well. In turn, I walked up to the bar because I did not want to overwhelm her. I got that second drink after she had noticed I wanted to order and was at the bar, but I did not desire more food or a third drink at this point from that initial wait time/lack of presence at the table/lack of checking in. Again, I understand a large section with lots of other large parties and lots of guests to serve, but us two tops still need some love 🥹.

-host asking us to MOVE to the table next to us in the middle of our dining experience. Sure, if there was a party of 3+ looking to get sat where we were I get it, sort of. But it was just a two top..in the same section. They could have sat at the table we were moved to. It didn't make much sense. We were a bit confused as we were having our drinks and some food still on the table, had to move it all over.

The overall personable experience and attention to detail was not there, and that is something I was really looking forward to. I understand it’s a casual cheap drinks and food spot, and maybe I went in with too high of expectations.

I understand it is a brand new establishment with a handful of new team members, but even some manager/supervisor presence on the floor checking in would have made a big difference to execute service even smoother on opening day.

I was so excited for my local pennies, but this experience just left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Cheers team.

Update: came back the next day. Service was much better, lots of people checking in. Again, bad days...