If you get distracted for even just one second by the HMV across the street, you will walk right past the Beverley Hotel. Narrow and unassuming, the hotel also houses a restaurant and bar that’s classier than most of its neighbours on Queen Street west near John Street.
Open just three months, chef Eric Wood is already rolling out a new dinner menu this week and just this past weekend introduced a stellar brunch menu.
The Chicken and Waffle Sandwich ($12) reads: “house fried chicken, sunny side egg, Eggos, rosemary-chili butter, maple bourbon syrup.”
“That’s cute that you call the waffles ‘Eggos,’” I say to the chef.
“They’re actually Eggos,” he replied.
And so they are. Two Eggo toaster waffles barely hold together a crispy fried piece of battered boneless chicken marinated in Eric’s own blend of 11 herbs and spices that include: ginger, Vietnamese cinnamon, and fenugreek. Not quite what the Colonel has in his secret recipe.
The Breakfast Bone ($14) isn’t the precursor to a walk of shame on a Sunday morning. The combination of bone marrow, quail eggs, and pork belly is hearty and comforting as the crisp weather approaches. A manly dish, you say? Not quite. On the first day of brunch service, a table of middle-aged women indulge in this carnivore’s delight.
A simple Mushroom Benny ($14) is a filling vegetarian brunch with mixed mushroom confit, wilted greens, soft poached eggs, and herbed hollandaise on a cheddar biscuit. Roasted potatoes are served with a spoonful of tasty house-made jalapeno plum ketchup.
Sides include Sun Tots ($5) are made with roasted sunchokes mixed with potatoes to create soft little bites similar to a croquette. Granola, yogurt, pork belly bites and a small basket of baked goods can also be ordered at $5 each to help round out a hangover breakfast.
Show up after 11am when the bar can start serving and order a $4 Caesar made with bacon bourbon, lime, and house Caesar mix. If you get a little sleepy, don’t worry. There are rooms to be rented upstairs. Plenty of time to take a nap and wake up to try the new dishes on the Beverley Hotel’s dinner menu.
@BeverleyHotelTO
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