A lot of places in Toronto think that a plate of fried chunks of potato, greasy bacon, and poached eggs swimming in a pool of hollandaise sauce, fancied up with an orange slice and a strawberry should pass as brunch. The sad thing is places like these usually have lineups around the block before the ‘Open’ sign is even turned on, and I’ll be honest, even I have consumed my fair share of this type of food.
The historic Windsor Arms Hotel
If this is the type of brunch you’re looking for, then the Weekend Brunch at the Windsor Arms Hotel is definitely not for you. The brunch at this historical five star hotel, located on a side street just off of Bloor Street, aka The Mink Mile in Toronto, is served in the grand room of the hotel called The Courtyard Cafe. High, high, ceilings and lots of natural light adds to the ambiance of this room
The Courtyard Cafe
I have to admit that at $65 per person it does seem pricey, but it comes with unlimited mimosas and boasts an impressive lineup of both hot and cold dishes as well as a carving station and a large assortment of desserts. It’s not a brunch you would do on a weekly basis, unless you could afford it, but I think it is worthy of a splurge every once in a while.
My first stop on the buffet line was at the bread station. Yes I know the golden rule of buffets: Don’t load up on carbs, leave room for meat, yadda, yadda, yadda, but bread is my weakness. My kryptonite. I can never refuse bread especially if it’s made with white flour, chock full of gluten. I’m serious, I love bread!
An assortment of breads
After I loaded up on bread, I walked past the salad table. Again, it was a beautiful selection, but I follow the other golden rule of buffets: Don’t fill up on salad!
Salad selection
Seafood lovers would love this next bit. You can inhale as many fresh oysters, shrimps, king crab legs, smoked salmon, and baked salmon as you’d like. I don’t think the giant bottles of Belvedere vodka is part of the seafood selection though.
Also available were some hot entrees including some more fish, potatoes smothered in sweet onions, and vegetables.
But even after all this bread, and seafood and hot and cold entrees, a brunch isn’t a brunch with out the staples, am I right? I’m talking about the french toast, the pancakes, the bacon, the sausages, and of course the made-to-order eggs benedict (of which, the Windsor Arms has three).
French toast & pancakes
Sausages & bacon
Eggs benedicts
And if after all that you’re still hungry (you’ll be my hero) we have the carving station which includes their roast beef and lamb with all the ‘fixins’.
Roast beef & lamb
Now at this point it may seem impossible to fit another bite of food into your stomach but no sane person could pay $65 for brunch and say no to the dessert table. I loved the variety of desserts that was offered, from the cakes to the mousses to the fresh fruit.
A variety of desserts from cakes, to mousses to fresh fruit
All in all, this was a fabulous meal. The atmosphere, the food, the super friendly staff all put together made for an amazing experience. You’re bound to find something to satisfy almost every discerning tastebud.
Contact Information:
Windsor Arms Hotel
18 St. Thomas Street,
Toronto, ON M5S 3E7
Phone: (416) 971-9666
Twitter: @windsorarms
Facebook: The Windsor Arms Hotel
Instagram: @windsorarms
Disclosure: This was a complimentary meal for my guest and I. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
