Great place for breakfast. We ate outside. Fran's know what they are doing, the food is served hot and quickly despite how busy they are. Staff was on it on my day. read more

Great place to hang out with friends. Very convenient as it is close to the UofT campus. Only downside is the quality of the food. It is often bland and not worth the price in my opinion. But Frans is a Toronto favourite and I highly recommend trying this place. It just isn't for me. read more

Stopped in here for an early lunch before heading out of town for the zoo. What a great diner! We had exceptional service by the staff! If we weren't with the kids we would have gone upstairs to check out the more adult cocktail bar. Ordered a traditional poutine which our son now sets as the benchmark for other places. I got the eggs benedict with spinach (fresh baby spinach -- not frozen), and the husband ordered the original with Canadian bacon. Both were cooked perfectly! Our daughter ordered the mac-n-cheese which was homemade and very cheesy -- really great! If you're looking for typical diner food great service, full bar, local brews, nothing fancy and greasy favorites, you've got to check out this place! read more

Actually, I would like to give Fran's on College Street 3.5 stars, mainly because I have been there many times in the past and have almost always had a decent meal for a decent price. So this past Sunday, I was out late and decided to go back, probably the first time for this year. It wasn't as busy as it sometimes is, so it was less loud inside than usual. The service was okay but I have had better; my server seemed to be in a hurry all the time. The décor is definitely retro, a real old-fashioned diner feel, with floats and milkshakes and big pieces of pie for dessert. I decided on a sandwich and chose the Triple Decker Reuben; corned beef / Swiss cheese / sauerkraut on three slices of marble rye bread with fries (which also could have been home fries or tortilla chips). Pretty good, the rye was very nice, and the sauerkraut gave it a nice tangy flavour. Total bill was $14, so also not bad. Overall, a decent meal once again, certainly good enough for late-night fare when not too many places are open. I have had many late-night breakfasts there, and they are generally better than the dinner fare. The Maple Leaf breakfast with eggs / maple sausages / baked beans and the corned beef hash are both very good choices. read more

You may or may not have read my negative review of what I shall refer to as the "Icky Fran's" from this point onward. I revisited the College Street location to seek out my mojo - the diner milkshake. I was hesitant to order one after my last experience, but went for it (chocolate, if you must know) & waited for the moment of truth. It arrived. It was a true blue milkshake. & it was delicious. I was so relieved that I explained my giddyness to our server about my Icky Fran's experience. Fran's @ College has redeemed it. From now on, I'll know where to head for my 24-hour-diner needs. While it isn't the classiest food or the most upscale joint - Fran's fills their niche perfectly. read more

Frans is really great for students studying late late at night. Super greesy food and yummy milkshakes! It has the atmosphere and build of an authentic diner. I always come here with friends to treat ourselves after a long night of studying! The best is the milkshakes and desserts. The food is really good too and really filling. I would suggest the chocolate chip banana pancakes! read more

Simple, local diner. Our party of 3 came here on a Friday night and they were about three quarters full. Coffee and water refills and general checkups were frequent which was nice. Everyone at our table got something different, a sandwich, a breakfast meal and steak. All the food was on par, and nothing too special. The only issue I had with the whole meal was that their food didn't really seem that warm. It was definitely cooked thoroughly, but it never felt fully hot, which wasn't to my liking. I'd probably come back out of convenience, but not particularly for their food or service, as neither were that exceptional. read more

Fran's has a cozy spot in Toronto's history, and I'm not here to take that away from them. This is the "historic" Fran's where a couple aunts and uncles of mine went on their first dates, where I first learned the glory of late night food, and where I later learned that late night food is all too often accompanied by obnoxious people. This location in particular, is usually filled with obnoxious 19-year-old GTA-ers, out to celebrate someone's birthday, looking for food at 3 am when the clubs close. And that's fine, it's just not my cup of tea. The food at Fran's is decent diner food. They have the typical all-day-breakfast, tons of different sandwiches and other assortments, and none of it is bad, but none of it stands out as phenomenal, except the milkshakes. You MUST get a milkshake from Fran's to fully understand the meaning of milkshakes. Breakfast-wise, they do a good job, but I'm not a huge fan of the home fries -- I find them low on the flavour scale but high on the grease scale. Tip the scales and I'd like them a lot more. If you're coming to Toronto, you have to come to Fran's at least once (especially for a milkshake). If you like dingy diners, the College St location is for you, but I tend to lean towards the newer, cleaner one on Shuter, although they don't have the Banana Chocolate Chip pancakes there for some strange reason. read more

This place is the bomb. My kids loved it and so did I. Giant waffles covered in strawberry whipped cream goodness, chocolate chip waffles, eggs, bacon and breakfast potatoes. . . a perfect morning. Do it! The service was excellent, even after my daughter spilled a chocolate milk all over the table, and the coffee is delicious. read more

This place has been a favourite of mine for years. Any time is a good time for this 24-hour diner. Service is always good, and Fran's cooking has never missed the spot. The 1950's vibe here is really cool too. read more

I, too, have a thing for greasy food at all hours, as well as jukeboxes. The food here is good, but never quite spectacular. But that's not what it's about, right? It's about the comfort food, and the comfort of food. Items like lasagna, macaroni and cheese and burgers have, at some time, provided me with both. Although I must say that in the immediate aftermath of having the best lasagna in my life (in NYC's Little Italy), choosing here to satisfy the residual craving only bred disappointment. Whatevs, it's a Toronto institution, y'all. You've got to go sooner or later. The two locations are quite different from each other, the College St. one being appropriate for late-night philosophizing, and the Shuter St. one being particularly awesome after a concert at Massey Hall. This brings me to my most recent and quite memorable visit, post- Smashing Pumpkins as well as immediately post-Obama victory! I of no cable got to enjoy a side of historical television with my burger (which is far better than the relatively small salad you can subsititute for fries, for relatively too much money). Now that is what I call change we can believe in (I don't really know what that means). read more

24 hour diners are generally good places due to their convenience, and Fran's is not an exception. They have a good sized menu, with all the foods you would hope to get at a diner. This includes things like all day breakfast (decent), grilled cheese (meh), sandwiches (good), burgers (good) and milkshakes (excellent, even better if you add a banana!) They also have some Asian food on the menu, but this stuff is very minimal. The staff here is pretty good, but it's obvious that they deal with a lot of annoying drunk college kids, and as such, certain waitstaff is prone to rolling the eyes and not taking you seriously. The feel inside the restaurant is an old fashion diner feel, with lots of booths and bright overhead lights. read more

I have been going to Frans (multiple locations, but more recently this one) for YEARS and have rarely been disappointed. I work at Ryerson and live right near the College location so my staff and I frequent the location across from Massey Hall and my hubs and I frequent the location at College location. Let's get one thing straight here - Frans isn't called a "greasy spoon" for nothing. And if you want super cheap food ($5 for a full dinner plate), there are plenty of places to find it in this area. But you pay for what you get and Frans has always been consistent for me through frequent visits over the past six years. The menu is HUGE and I've tried a little bit of everything off of it and have found lots of gems on their menu. You can't go wrong with breakfast, the portions are large and are always fresh and taste good. The all-day breakfast is a huge plate (and I feel like a pig being a girl and ordering it) but it's always a pleaser and I never regret ordering it. The fettuccine pasta dish is fantastic; I've yet to order it for myself because I'm partial to sandwiches but the last time I had it (a friend shared), it was amazing. The chicken parm sandwich is great too, huge portion size and always tastes great. You can't go wrong with the grilled cheese sandwich (somehow the ones I make at home never come close to measuring up to Fran's grilled cheese) and I know that the unlimited coffee is a popular choice for my sleep-deprived student coworkers. However, all that being said, this is not the kind of place I would EVER order a steak at - if you want a good steak, go to one of the many steakhouses or pubs that line the downtown core. And anyone expecting to get an appetizer and a good-sized main for under $20 is insane (this goes for just about any sit-down restaurant I've been to). Fran's is about comfort food and an almost familiar atmosphere inside. The staff is always friendly at this location and we usually wait less than 15 minutes for our food. If you're looking for a place where you'll be blown away by flavor and arrangement on plates and all that fancy junk, this isn't the place for you. But if you're not an elitist food snob and you like good home-style food for decent prices, you'll be happy with what you get at Frans. I also think it's pretty important not to judge a restaurant based on one food dish - the menu here is so large that it definitely deserves a few return trips to get a good sense of what food is good and what food is great. read more

Always good, solid diner food, no matter when you go. 4 AM on a holiday weekend? Sure. Saturday brunch? You might wait, but the food is solid even at peak load. Definitely better than the one on Shuter, nicer staff overall, better kitchen, etc. A late night favourite. read more

The food isn't good. But at 3am in the morning when everything else is closed WHAT DO YOU EXPECT! It's better than Mcdonalds! A little expensive for the lack of quality but again 3 am in the morning! The service is not bad, they are pretty attentive and quick. To be honest the food isn't HORRIBLE but it's not amazing, its basically grease between two buns or on a fork, however you prefer, but after a night of dancing and drinking....its all you could ask for. Cost: 1 people, 2 mains, $40. Food quality: 2.5/5 Food quantity: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Perfect for: Late night binges Would I Go Again: Yes, because I still plan on going out getting drunk and being hungry. read more

Either I was super hungry one morning or their food is just that good...!! I really liked their little patio! Would definitely go back. A nice casual atmosphere.... and they're always open ;D read more

I was a hungry looking for a good ol' breakfast while visiting Toronto and stumbled upon Fran's which was a few blocks from my hotel. I noticed a few other "chain" like places around this area, but the neon and the full booths of Fran's told me it was the place to go. The place has all the traditional breakfast fare, served piping hot, quickly, and with great service. Good prices and hella good waffle if you go for the "Morning Glory". read more

I came here with some friends a couple weeks ago as a party of 8. This place is SUPER busy on a weekend. The food was OK (3/5) in taste. Service was really slow, which was expected, given the condition of the restaurant. The portion size was only good if you ordered the big breakfast or the 8 oz. steak and eggs. Others within my group ordered the chicken and waffles (ridiculously tiny portion). Prices were decent - expect to spend $8-15 per person. We had someone check on us to ask us how we found the food RIGHT after it was served (not really much opportunity to taste it). Besides that, they didn't check on us. One of us in the group asked for an additional iced tea before we got the bill...they forgot to bring it. We had asked for all the bills to be separate - when they arrived, they got the bills all wrong. From looking at the receipts, it was just kind of randomized: some bills had multiple meals and no drinks, some bills had all drinks and no meals (but every person ordered a drink and a meal). Ultimately, we sent the bill back and I paid it all as one bill. It took about 15-20 minutes just to get the debit machine after the single bill was issued. read more

Seriously fresh and amazing food. I ate breakfast here everyday when I was in Toronto. The prices are good and you get a large portion every time. All the servers I had were super friendly and welcoming. I wish they extended their chains to South Florida. read more

Fran's Restaurant - Montreal corn beef hash. Biggest plate for only $11. I can definitely live Ike this. - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Nice selection of vegetarian options beyond the (normal) ones you'd expect from a diner like Fran's. Love the nostalgia, service is very good, and we enjoyed the food very much. Chances are you will have to wait a few minutes for a table but it's pretty much worth it to get a good meal and sense of what Toronto was like in the past. Don't forget to keep an eye out for the jukebox (digital) by front door, while we were there the staff played Michael Jackson and Madonna, which fit well with our meal ;) read more

Fran's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Frans is your typical diner. The nachos were mediocre and the French onion soup was just about average. The Lakeview Diner in Toronto is way better. The booths were also very small and tight. Cool setup but not good enough for Diners Drivind and Dives. read more

LOVEEEE FRAN'S!!! Early morning of me flying out on vacation this past December, me and 2 friends decided to eat since we pulled an all nighters. Amazing server, food, and of course milkshakes! read more

Love me some Fran's, yes I do! I am a non-fancy breakfast person for sure...just give me a good cup of coffee, 2 eggs over medium, white toast with butter, some crisp bacon and some kind of potato and I'm happy. That is why Fran's makes me so happy. My one and only complaint would be about the massive portions of fried potatoes. There is just no way to finish them and I hate leaving a big pile of leftovers on my plate when I'm staying in a hotel and can't take them with me. We've always had excellent service, even at 3 a.m., and I love the cozy little booth compartments on the main level. Just watch that step down out to College Street from the exit door..woah! read more

Came here after watching a late night movie with my cousins and it was a nice place. Food was good (but not memorable) service decent, and it was warm (considering it was a cold night) . They brought the food to us quickly and didn't say anything to us when we were laughing really loudly at YouTube videos. Overall good experience read more

My daughter and I really enjoyed our meal here. It is a laid back, family-friendly place that serves good food for a reasonable price. The server was lovely and efficient, the food was delicious and arrived quickly, and the staff was very accommodating of our needs, as I had a toddler with me. If we lived here, we would come to Fran's all the time. read more

Fran's Restaurant - From the street, in profile - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

What's not to love about Fran's? A "go-to" for late night eats and brunches alike, they serve a little bit of everything; and the menu is HUGE. As you can imagine, with so many items on offer it may be a bit "hit or miss" although I have enjoyed everything I've tried on the menu. Generally, prices are reasonable and on-par with other options in the area. Personally, I am a BIG fan of their Mac & Cheese, whih comes with a small piece of garlic toast. It's very rich, but worth every step on the treadmill! Service is generally very good, although at peak times (Sunday morning) there can be a bti of a wait. Four stars as at times cleanliness does leave a bit to be desired (clearing tables, wiping down surfaces) but overall the ambiance here is retro and quite clean. read more

Breakfast menus are just okay. But their philly cheese steak sandwich is amazing!!! Upgrade regular fries to sweet potato fries. Totally worth it! read more

We stopped at a different Fran's the morning before and loved. We tried this Fran's in hoping we could get a repeat performance. Wow, we were wrong! The place was a mess, it looked clean on the surface, but underneath was filthy. The booths were broken, and when we asked to be moved to a non-broken seat.... We found out that we are apparently picky. We pressed on. Ordered breakfast, asked for a croissant instead of toast and was told that that was not possible. Not on the side, not for extra money. No way.... But my wife got one with her breakfast, and the previous Fran's had no issue in handling that request. Stupid customer requests. Food was fine, coffee was bitter. Service was terrible. Find a different Fran's. read more

Possibly my favorite after bar diner. My go to food here are: - Wings (they're REALLY good here, and the wing sizes are pretty decent) - Chili - Energy Breakfast read more

I believe this is the original Frans location in Toronto. My mom and dad (who were married in 1952) used to frequent this place shortly after they met. I remember them having their condiments on a lazy susan type device (which I loved as a kid). Their hamburgers are absolutely delish. The fries are great, and if you go there for brunch their coffee will blow you away. This place holds a special place in my heart because of my mom and dad, but that aside, it's an awesome restaurant with an old school feel and great food. read more

This place is classic. Appeals to the nostalgia in most of us and gives us the feel of a diner back in the day. Pros: price is reasonable food is good cons selection is standard, nothing memorable. Coffees and drinks are refillable. read more

Have been here for the second time! I love the pancakes and the waffles. I was not so hungry this morning so just ordered a waffle and coffee. I enjoyed the taste of coffee. It's not so strong and smelled so good! Oh and, waffles just the reason to drink maple syrup!!! read more

Fran's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Fran's used to be a go to for me but over time I realized it's really not worth it. Their pancakes are big and golden but is unfortunately paired with fake corn syrup as they do not offer genuine maple syrup. extra bacon is $7 and buys you three small pieces of bacon. the avocado BLT is delicious. I just don't think the breakfast is feasible economically, it's not worth the price. Honestly just make pancakes at home, they'll be 10x better and you'll save money. read more

Food is decent but service can be hit-or-miss, depending on who you get and what night you go you might get great service food coming out within 10-15 minutes or you might get terrible service with no coffee top-ups and everyone waiting around to settle up the bill at the end of the night. They're open 24/7 but don't expect service byond Golden Griddle levels, despite the 1950s kitsch... read more

Took way to long for my son and I to get seated by the hostess and then another 10-15 minutes for the server to greet us. Food was mediocre at best and, obviously, the service was atrocious. Never again! read more

A great go-to place when you're craving all day breakfast or late night eats. The menu is extensive, I've barely made a dent in it, but some notable dishes are the Mac and cheese, grilled cheese, spaghetti, eggs Benedict, and any of their pies. The rooftop patio has a nice atmosphere but the menu up there is much more limited....only worth it if you're going for drinks and the view. read more

These breakfast vibes feel good. Vibes, classic vibes, late night vibes. Come to Fran's. You won't regret it.

If you are in need of decent diner food 24/7, Fran's is for you. OR... if you are in need of decent diner food and have over 150 pages of Frankenstein left to read and need to finish the book in one night, it's perfect. I had the pancakes, and they were a little fluffy for my taste. However, after I drenched them in delicious syrup they were splendid. The service isn't super quick and it can get pretty noisy, so if you like your midnight pancakes fast and in peace this may not be the best place for you. read more

Morning glory was amazing, careful with eating it right away, melted caramel is very hot and will burn your mouth awfully. But is soo good.. same as everything on the menu, except for the fresh fruit bowl, that was nasty.. fo'real, avoid it... nothing fresh nor flavorsome. But thata just a detail where they can improve.. love the place read more

I love Fran's, but maybe not for the greatest reasons. I love Fran's for hangover food, for its large portions and its reasonable prices. That's pretty much the only thing to love here. I went yesterday with a friend for breakfast. I'm on this awful diet and I'm unable to eat any dairy or gluten for 30 days (Whole30 - look it up). Our server was very accommodating with my questions about what contains what, and informed me that their home fries are coated with flour...what a bummer (but before this, I didn't know - so celiacs beware!). My other options were a fruit cup, a $3.95 upgrade, or a salad, a $1.95 upgrade. I get it, choosing a different side than the standard is a little annoying, but this is Fran's. You're gonna charge an extra $2 for a small cup of leaves? Considering I skipped the toast as well, I thought they coulda just given me the salad...but oh well. I don't know if it's a thing at Fran's, but it seems your server only comes to the table if you flag them down. If you ask for a few more minutes, you'll wait 10; when your meal is finished, your plates will sit there until you do something about it. The server was kind and friendly, but it seemed we disappeared until we made a gesture towards her. For brunch, I just think two eggs, two little turkey sausages, a small cup of salad and a coffee isn't worth $15 when the two egg combo is typically $8.99. Though I will give them praise for accommodating my annoying diet...sort of. read more