Rating: 3/4 
Looking for a quick breakfast to fit into a busy day, my partner Kara and I headed down to Church and Carlton to Daybreak. With a proud rooster as their logo it seems supremely appropriate for Daybreak to be known as the great breakfast nook located across from Zippers. Once inside the homey, sunrise-coloured restaurant, we were ushered to a large pine table that gave the feeling we were tucking in for a meal in a big kitchen. Since I’ve already enjoyed their satisfying all-day-breakfasts, I set my sights on something different.
There were many choices on the ample menu, but when I saw the frittatas I knew what I wanted! Daybreak offers a selection of them, ranging from $8.50 to $10.25, the latter applying to the new Montrèal smoked meat and Swiss cheese frittata, which sounded decadent. Despite this temptation, I ended up deciding on the Junkyard, boasting a heavy trunk load of items including mushrooms, peppers, onions, hash browns, smoked turkey and cheese, for $8.95. I also ordered a side of farmers sausage, but the helpful waitress cautioned me on the size of the meal, which came with two large pancakes and your choice of toast. I recounted gratefully and later was very glad I did.
As for the rest of the menu, Daybreak offers a number of other items such as pancakes, waffles, crepes, sandwiches and enormous salads. Kara decided on the pancakes, the extra large order for $10 or $11, with strawberries. You can choose to order your pancakes with bananas, blueberries, or seasonal fruit for only a dollar extra. For an extra two, you can top them with chocolate chips or pecans. There were also two types of maple syrup for Kara to choose from, one regular and one cinnamon. She finished her meal with an order of farmers sausage.
I expected a traditional frittata in a casserole dish, similar to a quiche. Instead, I was presented with a very large, open-faced omelet smothered in a thick layer of Swiss and cheddar cheese, in addition to the small pancakes and toast. The cheese made the egg dish very decadent, the vegetables were perfectly cooked and the turkey was a subtle addition. However, what really did it for me was the soft, yet crispy hash browns. It made it a very hearty, stick-to-your-ribs type of meal with a lovely texture.
The pancakes were not so wonderful though. They were light, but had an oily aftertaste, which made us wonder if they were made from a box, but only the chef would know. Kara and I both enjoyed the cinnamon syrup. The strawberries with whip cream were good, but freezer thawed. The sausage was excellent with a wonderful combination of garlic and peppercorn. Eggs are definitely their specialty, so an order of any type of eggs with sausage is sure to kill the most wicked greasy spoon craving.
Overall we were very satisfied after the meal, which only came to $29.52. Kara and I definitely plan on returning, and she is looking forward to having her own Junkyard when we do. When we spoke with the waitress, she informed us that they normally have a pride flag flying, which is currently not up due to technical difficulties. She was sure, however, that there would soon be one on the door. Not that its needed one, there is a wonderful array of gay and lesbian couples that frequent their restaurant. Daybreak is also washroom accessible and located just east of Church on Carlton right in gay town. At three flags strong, go soon and with a big appetite!
What: Daybreak
Where: 399 Church
Phone: 416.598.0004
Parking: P parking lot north of Carlton on Church, street parking
TTC: Go to College station and walk or take streetcar one stop east
Price: Approx $30.00 for two
Why: Eggsellent egg dishes, homey atmosphere and affordable prices!
