Starving Artist is one of our go-to spots for breakfast in Markham. It's minutes from our house, and not only that we actually like the food. Although this is a busy brunch restaurant, the turnover happens fast, and we have never waited more than 30 minutes for a seat. Starving Artist has a wide array of coffees and teas as well as waffles and 'Bennies. We have tried quite a few of the drinks during our visits, and we have tried many of their signature dishes. The staff are great and always accommodating and very patient when my kids can't make up their minds about what they want to eat or drink. The servers have helped my kids on more than one occasion make up their minds. This is a great place for breakfast, brunch or even late afternoon coffee, and we try to go at least once a month. read more

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Visited around 10:45 a.m. on a Tuesday. The café is tucked beside Shoppers Drug Mart, with plenty of parking available. You pass through a charming patio to enter, which was shaded nicely thanks to the size of the Shoppers building. Given the recent heatwave, we opted to sit indoors. We were greeted at the door and offered the choice between a two-person table tucked farther inside or a four-person table closer to other diners. We chose the smaller table for a bit more privacy and ease of conversation. Menus were provided right away, followed shortly by tap water. When our server checked in to ask about drinks, we let her know we were fine with just water. Later, when we were ready to order, she came promptly when we called her over. A standout moment: we ordered just one smoothie, and she kindly asked if we were sharing, then offered to split it into two cups without us even asking. A thoughtful and appreciated gesture. The Pineapple Banana Smoothie was a highlight. It was perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, and incredibly refreshing. My sister ordered the Halloumi Benedict. She noted that while the waffles leaned toward a sweeter flavor on their own, the combination of waffle, egg, and halloumi was well-balanced and worked beautifully together. The egg was jammy and spot-on in terms of taste, texture, and presentation. I had the Fully Loaded, which features a potato waffle topped with bacon bits, sour cream, chives, and cheese. It leaned a bit salty, but not overwhelmingly so, still quite enjoyable overall. I loved the potato waffle which has the slightly crispy edges but was soft to bite with a texture that resembled mash potatoes. As someone who isn't usually crazy about waffles, which was such a nice alternative. Each of our mains came with a side salad (lightly dressed and refreshing) and a choice of fruit salad, maple baked beans, or potato salad. We both chose the fruit salad, which was impressively varied with orange, grapefruit, watermelon, blueberry, blackberry, and banana. Note: Payment is cash or debit only. read more

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Holy potatoes. Let me preface this review by saying the brekki is good, but the service was disappointing. Honestly, I don't think I'd come back or recommend the location given my experience seems to match with other reviews from years back.. Lets start with the good stuff! Eggs beautifully poached at our table, and we went bananas for those potato pancakes. It's a great gluten friendly option for our celiac friends and I actually prefer those to waffles given I lean more to savory than sweet. The wilty salad was a bit sad and over dressed but tasted fine still. Loved the variety of fruits you get in the fruit salad too. Some places just literally give you melons and coated in some weird sugary syrup. Here, the fruits were freshly cut. The coffee was alright. The chai latte lacked chai flavour in my opinion, and the vanilla almond latte was insanely too sweet. We asked if they could lower the sweetness on an order and they said they can't because they use vanilla syrup and the almond milk is sweetened.. I can't imagine why on earth you'd use sweetened milk. You're leaving no wiggle room for the customer - many of whom don't want that much sugar in a drink. So onto the service. It was not great. 3 staff behind the counter, 2 on the floor that we could see, restaurant half full only, and yet it took a very long time to get their attention. They mixed up our drink order (ordered 1 americano and they brought 2). We let them know and the girl just stared at us looking quite frustrated. It's not a big deal. It's a coffee. Anyway, the rest of the orders came out perfectly, albeit a bit slow. The only staff who smiled was literally the nice hostess who seated us. Unfortunately, she wasn't the one who served us. And the ones behind the counter - if we needed something and made eye contact with them to ask for help, they literally looked away... I understand if maybe your restaurant has some weird rule that barista's and prep staff can't come onto the floor, but you can smile and kindly call someone who IS on the floor to help. My goodness. Everyone looked kinda pissed to work there and it was just a beautiful Saturday morning. Worst part, if you have a party of 6+, they charge you 18% gratuity. It was so not worth it. The other locations are better, but there's just also better brunch spots in town now. Also, they do not take credit card. Only cash or debit - just an FYI. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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It's been a while since we have been to Starving Artist but, we decided to stop by for food as we were at the plaza. I ordered their waffle benny while my partner ordered the chicken and waffle. The food overall was a bit underwhelming. With so many new brunch places in Markham, Starving Artist has not kept up with other places (Sisters & Co for instance). The eggs (thankfully) were nicely cooked with a good runny centre. The disappointment came with how half hearted everything was put together. Nothing was super visually appealing. The chicken was a bit disappointing and there was no crunch to it at all. It reminded me of old school shake n' bake. The server was really friendly and the food came out in a more timely matter. The restaurant itself has updated the paintings which were really nice. Not sure if we will be back with other better choices available for brunch in Markham. read more

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Place was not busy when I got there but. Gets busy fast. It did take a while to get or order in . Our waitress forgot our side order of bacon , but overall, the food was great . My daughter had the strawberry waffle, but it was too much for her, verry loaded in Sugar , so we got a plane waffle . I got the Benny, and it was good . Eggs were cooked to perfection . It was good! The ambiance was definitely loud . The tables are too close to the other tables very hard to hear others conversation . read more

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Forget everything else on the menu and just order the potato waffles. The B. Benny is the best option! I really like the aesthetic of this restaurant. It's really trendy and is fairly clean and large. There is also an outdoor patio for the warmer months. Servers are nice, but I find service to be sometimes slow. Each dish comes with the main, a side of a salad with an amazing balsamic vinegar dressing (I don't usually like balsamic because it's too strong for me but this was perfect!), and a choice of fruit salad or maple beans. Both sides are a good choice. Potato waffles are surprisingly crisp, and seasoned superbly. I sometimes order an extra waffle just because it's so good. Another tip, for all my avocado lovers out there, if you order the B. Benny, add a side of avocado. It pairs together WONDERFULLY. These waffles only thing that keeps me coming back here. Their drinks are okay too, nothing to write home about. I have not tried the regular waffles due to the mixed reviews and I don't think I will ever stray from my potato waffles. Make sure you either come with cash or debit. They also accept e-transfer but it's a bit more of a hassle to pay that way! read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - B. Benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

It was nice that they could accommodate a larger group of 10. The eggs benny was okay, but the chicken and waffles was not very good. I probably won't be back here. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

2 words: POTATO WAFFLES - so good! However, that's the best thing they offer here. It basically ends there. Overall nice brunch spot with this one unique feature item. Get it like a loaded potato or get it with eggs Benny on top. Everyone loves potatoes and mashing it up and moulding it into a waffle press is genius. However, I do wish it was a bit more crispy on the outside. Downside is they only take debit and cash - no credit card. Easy to find and ample parking. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - a plate of food - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Came here for brunch and was surprising to see the prices seemed reasonable. Nice atmosphere with relaxing vibe. I got the Nutella latte ($5) which was special. It was huge and very good. Near the bottom it was quite sweet so I just poured water into it. I also got the Sammy Benny since I was craving something with smoked salmon. It was good, I think it would be better with potato waffles because I tried my friend's potato waffle and it was awesome. I thought the waffle batter to be a bit cakey. Anyways, the service was good and would definitely come back for brunch one day! read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Sammy Benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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First time to be here, nice brunch Ordered latte, I'm suppose latte with latte art but not Services so so read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Chicken waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Brunch places all serve relatively the same stuff so it's VERY ez to compare quality between different places. This place - while cute and very spacious - was just ok in my opinion. The sausage and eggs benedict was pretty standard and decent. There was not much wow factor and it was a tad under seasoned I might add. Chicken and waffles was not that great. I love my fried chicken and I've eaten a lot (from fast food to housemade) and this fried chicken was seasoned aiight but the batter was so sad. It had the homestyle, original KFC breading which is not even crispy. #1 rule for me towards having a good fried chicken is having an incredible CRUNCH (possibly why I never eat KFC lol) and this fried chicken just reminded me of KFC. The iced americano was whatever (fair enough, since these guys don't claim to specialize in drinks) but my gf said that latte was just right in terms of taste. If you're in markham, I would have to honestly recommend NextDoor or Alchemy Coffee for brunch over this place. read more

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I want to give them 3.5 stars. I've been here twice, and I do really enjoy most of the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant. Their portions are good and the price is reasonable. I got the Waffle Benny last time, and the poached egg was perfectly cooked! I also love their salad dressing - I could eat that salad all day! My friends who got other dishes also enjoyed them a lot. My beef with them is actually about the waffles. I'm not sure if I just have unusual taste, but the waffles seem a bit too cakey for my liking. I prefer waffles to be more crisp and light, which their waffles are not. They are quite chewy and dense. It's a bit disappointing because they literally have "waffles" in their name. I do love all the other food besides the waffles, which makes it hard for me to rate haha. Overall, there aren't a lot of brunch places in East Markham like this, so I recommend going if you are in the area. I would just like to say that for myself, their waffles don't hit the spot. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Waffle Benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Visiting one of my fav brunch spot @starvingartist.Markham before returning to work after 2 weeks off (plus it probably is my last dine in before the next locked down again). This spot is close by to Markham Road and highway 7 in Markham. Have been here quite a few times since last summer! My fav there is their Benedict! This time we have tried out their new menu items: Sausage Benny -- 2 mini waffles topped with poached eggs, pork sausage patty and hollandaise sauce $17 (5/5) -- always cooked to perfection and in a good portion to fill our tummy Churro 4 starving waffles -- 4 mini waffles coated in cinnamon sugar and drizzle with caramel sauce $12 (4.5/5) -- sweet option Nutella latte -- included a chocolate finger on the side of drink $5 (4.5/5) -- just the right balance between sweetness and coffee flavor This cute spot can get busy during lunch time even on a weekday! We usually reserve ahead n this time we decided to walk-in at 10:30 am and was seated immediately. Have you tried this spot? What's your fav brunch spot? Starving Artist has various location, we went to the one below: 5762 Highway 7, Unit 3, Markham For more food adventures, check out mu food IG @eatntravelrepeat read more

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Food is delicious and aesthetically pleasing. Portion size are substantial and prices are mid to high range for certain items. Friendly knowledgeable wait staff. We sat on the patio which is always nice when you get a sunny summer day. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Brunchwich on mini waffle with egg and cheese side of salad and fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

I came here with a party of 2 on a busy Saturday morning at 11:30am, but even with no reservation, I was seated right away! The prices and portion sizes are pretty decent. Everything on the menu has waffles. The regular waffles are great, the potato waffles have a bit of an onion taste, and I didn't try the mini waffles. I had the spicy chicken waffle sandwich. I thought the chicken would be fried but it was grilled. The waffle was not seasoned (as stated on the menu) and the chicken was okay. For my drink I had a cappuccino and it was very good! I would go back again as it's a cute place and there were more things I wanted to try. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Spicy chicken waffle sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Another weekend, another brunch This is definitely a well known markham hidden gem that I've seen here and there on social media. I'm a big lover of both eggs benedict and waffles , so when I saw a dish combining the two, it felt almost too good to be true! I don't know about you guys, but I've certainly never had potato waffles before, and wow were they good! One of my friends had the chicken and waffles and while the waffles were just as amazing, the chicken did not wow him. I was impressed with their aesthetic plating and pleasantly surprised with how they served the mains with both a side of salad and a choice between beans and fries! I definitely don't see that often. Cant wait to come back and try out some sweet waffle options! Breakfast Benny $16 Waffle Benny $14 Chicken and Waffles $18 read more

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I was craving some Fried Chicken. When am I not craving this lol. Decided to checkout this place in Markham. Had some good reviews so decided to make the trek from Durham. It was well worth it. Great service, and the food was exceptional. Would highly recommend this place. Will go back and try other options read more

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There's too much competition at this price point and this area to make a trip here worth it. Taste: 2/5 Service: 4/5 Setting: 5/5 Value: 2/5 Although Starving Artist has wall-to-wall artworks, ranging from paintings to sketches to photographs, and sets the mood for a themed cafe-style meal, you'll find that the food isn't up to par with the setting. We had the fried chicken and potato waffles, as well as an eggs benny. It was all underwhelming, especially for the price paid. It would be easier to write down what was good instead of what was bad, so here goes: The only thing that was redeemable was the potato waffles, which were tasty and had a good texture. That's all. Come here for the potato waffles. Don't eat anything else. Maybe buy a picture? read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Potato waffles and Fried Chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Food - 1/5 Service - 1/5 Ambiance - 4/5 Overall I would not recommend coming to this restaurant, the food and service was awful. We ordered the starving 4 waffles with Nutella and bananas, waffle grilled cheese, and chicken & waffles. For drinks we ordered the latte and vanilla almond latte. To start, they forgot the Nutella and banana and gave it on the side. Could you imagine paying $4 for a smudge of Nutella and 4 banana slices?? Ridiculous.. the grilled cheese was basically a frozen eggos with Kraft cheese slice from nofrills. The side of potato salad is the equivalent of the Costco potato salad, which was very sad. The chicken tasted like it came frozen, dry and lacks flavour. Our lattes tasted watered down, almost like it's instant powered coffee mixed with a hand mixer. Did not hear the coffee machine turn on or any milk being steamed. The place has really nice paintings and good seating, but if you are looking for a nice brunch spot to eat, this is not the place to go. Spending a total of $70 for frozen food. Would not come back nor recommend this spot. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Starving 4 waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Service: It was not too busy when we came in. We were seated quickly and served quickly as well. Food: We ordered items from their special or new item menu so I don't think these items are shown on their website. Chicken Waffle - This came with two fairly large pieces of chicken, though our chicken was pretty dry. I liked that the skin wasn't too thick but it was not that crispy. We got the spicy mayo with it which was good. Sausage Benedict - Eggs were poached nicely but overall there was nothing special. Sausage patty is like what you buy frozen from the grocery store. As a place which features waffles, I thought the waffle itself was not memorable. Waffles typically are crispier on the outside and soft on the inside, which this was not. It was more on the softer side and also not too flavourful. Overall: Maybe I'll come back in the future to try dessert waffles but overall I wasn't too amazed. For the cost, I think there are places with the same price range which have better Benedict's/Waffles. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Chicken Waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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It is nice to have a all day Brunch place, like Starving Artist opens up in Markham. Came here for late brunch around 2 pm on a weekday, there was only another table occupied aside from us. So this might not be a typical experience during weekend's prime brunch hours. Services was fast and friendly. We were served in a reasonable time and with no issues of whatsoever. I do foresee how the kitchen could be overwhelmed since all the food is made when ordered. My eggs were poached perfectly and I love the fresh fruits on the side! I also able to try the Potato waffles but I prefer the regular version. I will be back for sure if I want some breakfast/brunch! The artworks decorates the interior is interesting. I especially love the ones that are from young kids. read more

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One of the worst breakfast places I have ever been to, I had the spicy chicken waffle I thought it was a fried chicken very underwhelming not seasoned, I was just thinking what the heck did I just eat, 16 dollars complete rip off, I see why this place is called starving artist cuz after you eat your still starving read more

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Service: 5 Food: 3 Latte: 2 We saw this waffle place one day when we went to Osaka next door. At lunchtime the place was full and we thought about going there but our friend told us that the prices are pretty high and portions small so we passed that day. Fast forward a few months and we decided to give it a try for afternoon tea. First impression was eclectic. The art was nice except they scared the kids. One piece had someone licking a skull and another at the entrance looked like a bleeding girl. Artwork aside (I explained that it was art to the kids) the table that we got was very comfortable. Our server was very friendly and chatted up the kids too. She brought Iron Man coloring sheets and crayons. Being pumpkin spice season, we ordered a pumpkin spice waffle which had pumpkin purée and whipped cream. It was quite good but it was a bit strange to have salad served with a sweet dessert-style waffle. We also wondered if the purée was from a can. The pecans or walnuts added a nice texture to the mix. There was A LOT of cream on top which would have been better if it was actual whipped cream and not the kind from a can. I also tried their pumpkin spice latte and thought that the espresso wasn't very flavorful. I much prefer Second Cup's PSL. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Pumpkin spice waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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They deff need more workers. N e body?!? Food was really good. I got Sammy Benny and it was really delicious. My nakama got chicken'n waffles and spicy pot chicken. Really well seasoned. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Review for the Markham location!! Came here for brunch on a Sunday between 11:30-12, place was very full and we got the last two person table outside on the patio - thankfully it was still kinda warm enough for that as long as you were in the sun. First of all, their coffee beans are amazing. I got a latte ($4.5) and was pretty amazed at how great it tasted with no flavouring or anything else added! Also tried the Mocha ($5) which was really nice with a hint of chocolate sweetness... later found out we didn't mix it well enough so the end was very sweet. For food I got the loaded waffles ($15ish) and my bf got the sunny benny ($18ish). He said his was really good, it came on regular waffles but they were very light which helped make the meal not as heavy as a regular eggs benny would be. For my loaded waffles, think of loaded nachos (with sour cream, cheese and bacon) but on a potato waffle - so yummy. The potato waffle was seasoned really nicely but it was a bit heavy so make sure you want a filling meal if you are ordering this. Both meals came with a side salad and a choice of side (between fruit salad, potato salad, and maple beans). Overall, really great experience and I would love to come back and try some of their sweeter meals! A note that this place does serve alcohol (beers, some cocktails, and mimosas ($10 for the last one) were all I remember from the menu). read more

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Starving Artist has been on my brunch list for a while but I've never made the trek downtown. I was ecstatic to hear that they finally opened an uptown location, and so close to me too! When I went, it was cash only. I'm not sure if this is because they're still new or if that's just how they operate. Luckily, there was a TD next door. I was seated right away but there were tons of people coming in after me. I'd say go early! Keeping with the artist theme, there's lots of artwork on display that are available for purchase. If you're an artist, you can also contact them as well to have your art displayed/sold. The menu is pretty simple. Mostly just WAFFLES on waffles on waffles! I LOVE waffles. You can choose from regular waffles (sweet) or potato waffles (savoury). The potato waffles are made from mashed potatoes so it's a tad crispy on the outside but so soft and delicious to bite into. I am craving one now as I write this review! I got the regular Benny breakfast which is served with salad and another side of your choice. I opted for fruit but there's also potato salad. Mmm the potato waffles were so delish! I will say it could have been just a little less salty but I loved it nonetheless. Since it's made from mashed potatoes, it is pretty filling and I only finished one out of my two egg bennys :(. The salad was average - tasted like the boxed kind from the grocery store. I found the pricing to be average and I would not consider the food expensive. The drinks, on the other hand, I found to be a tad more expensive than other places. My cappuccino was $5. The foam was sky high (love it) and it came with one of those chocolate sticks (chocolate fingers??). I think they should opt for something like a biscotti in the future because the chocolate was already melting from the hot drink and it just kinda smeared over the bottom of the cup. :/ Anyways, I think I found my new brunch spot in Markham. I can't wait to go back again! (2019/5) read more

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Such a cute place! I came here fro brunch with a friend on a Sunday morning and right away I loved the atmosphere. I really liked that there's lots of artwork on display that are available for purchase. It really adds to the chill vibe they're trying to create here. First off service here is amazing! The staff are so kind, friendly & attentive. We actually had more than one server come and check up on us to see how we like our first initial bites of our food. Which I definitely appreciated. The menu is pretty straight forward, it's mainly waffles. Whether it's regular waffles, dessert waffles, or potato waffles (savoury) there's some pretty good options to chose from. So far, I've found my favourite to be the the potato waffles, which are made from mashed potatoes. They are deliciously crispy on the outside but so soft & fluffly on the inside. Honestly perfect for the base of an eggs benny. I got a regular latte to start with and the Waffle Benny $13 but I decided to switch one of the waffles to a potato waffle. ( they charge $1 additional ) I was a little hesitant to try it, but I'm so glad I did! I substituted the maple glazed bacon for avocado, and it really hit the spot. It's also served with side salad ( which was meh ) and another side of your choice. I opted for fruit but there's also potato salad & baked beans as options as well. This plate was sooo filling, I could hardly finish it. Overall, it was definitely a great option for brunch in Markham especially at such a great price point. My total bill came out to $20.93 for both the huge latte and filling Waffles Benny plate. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Waffle Benny with avocado ( one potato waffle & one regular waffle ) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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They have a policy of not allowing your group to seat at the table if your group is not all present. I understand this policy if your restaurant is packed and when there're a lot of people lining up. But there was nobody lining up when I came with my group around 10. There were 5 empty tables in the restaurant. But we were told to wait by the door with a toddler until my group is all here. I don't quite understand why they couldn't just seat us because my group was ready to order some coffee while we wait for another couple friend to arrive. After speaking to the staff who then asked the manager's approval, they said they'd make an "exception" for us. Even then, it still does not make any sense to us. 5 of us ordered coffee to start but the server ended up giving us Americano in a little cup. We had to pace ourselves so we could still have some coffee left when the food arrives. The staff told us there were refills. But little did we know that the refills were not free. I wish they could mention it somewhere on the menu or verbally so we were aware. These little hitches could be improved. read more

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I'd been to a Starving Artist years ago downtown and it wasn't the easiest to get to but now there's so many locations to choose from. Lunch on a Monday wasn't too busy and we had to wait for a couple minutes to be seated since it was only 1 waitress. My friend did mention that it does get quite busy on weekends so make sure you get there early if you plan on going then. I like that there was artwork on the walls to admire while we had our meal. My friend and I each ordered the Sammy Benny with fruit salad. I'm not a fan of greens/salad so I could've done without that. There was a nice selection of fruit and the eggs Benedicts. The hollandaise sauce was a good consistency and the poached egg was just right. Some times it's either underdone or too well cooked and that just ruins it. I liked that each egg was on a mini waffle instead of being together on a large one. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Sammy Benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

We walked in Sunday morning at 11:45am without any reservations and we were pleasantly surprised they were able to seat us right away for a table of 8. They quickly put the tables together and were able to seat us no problem. The waffles were delicious. We had waffle sandwich with bacon in it. My son said it was good but he couldn't taste the bacon much. My husband and I had the smoked salmon eggs benedict waffle and it was just the right amount of waffle to egg. The egg was a little overdone though so it wasn't runny but it still had good flavours. They also had mini waffles which was a perfect size for my toddler. read more

Have always had eggs benny on waffles/ english muffins but never on potato waffle! I've tried both Waffle Benny and B. Benny. The only difference between the 2 is the waffle. Think of potato waffle as mashed potatoes molded into a waffle shape. What you get is a crispy outside with a soft potatoey inside. The eggs are always perfectly runny in this dome-shaped. You get to choose your sides of beans/fruit/potato salad, plus a side salad. This place isn't bad but pricing can be misleading. When you pay, there's an extra $2 which is not mentioned online. When asked about it, the staff mentioned due to COVID, pricing was increased which is understandable, just needs to update their corporate website. Doesn't accept credit so make sure you have some cash/debit! Overall, not bad to have for brunch treat. I get super stuffed and sometimes have a difficult time finishing the final bites. read more

We came for brunch on a Sunday. It was around 11.40am. We were asked if we had a reservation and we said no. We were a party of 3 and there was a lot of empty tables for 2. The hostess told us to wait and they would accommodate us. Another staff member brought a chair inside ftom the patio area and placed it at a 2 person table and said sit down. I said, how can our plates fit on tiny table? I was about yo leave and eat sushi next door but the hostess said she would retrieve a table from the outside for us. She did this and placed it next to another table. She told us that there was a 1 hour seating limit. We sat down and looked over yhe menu, nobody came to take our order. We flagged somebody down and the food took over 20 minutes to arrive. The food was ok but I was very thirsty after. The poached eggs were a little well done and not runny. We paid and left but patrons seated before us were still seated. So much for the 1 hour limit. The service we received was terrible. Being told to sit at a 2 person table which would not have fitted 3 plates of food. I do not understand why restaurants are taking reservations for tables under 4 people. If you are a large party I understand. I doubt I would ever return here again. read more

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3.5 stars. We went on a Saturday (around 1pm) and there were some tables available (some were cleaned, some were not). There were a few groups of people ahead of us waiting and none of us were acknowledged (no number system, nothing like "please wait a moment")...we were just left standing there for 10 minutes. Alright so we finally got seated and they gave us some water and the menu. No one else came to follow up, no one to take our order for another 10 minutes, and when we asked for our order to be taken, we still had to wait awhile! We were starving at the Starving Artist! (Ha...ha...). I got the Hitchhicker and the husband for the Eggs Benny. I liked how the bacon was not your typical but it had some sweetness to it (a maple sauce, maybe?) and it wasnt overly cooked. They could've been a little more generous with the fruits for the price you pay rather than giving each dish half a strawberry and 3 slices of banana and some other fruits. $30ish dollars for the two of us out the door. Worth it? I might try another brunch place next time, but won't purposely make a trip back. Oh, cash only! read more

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A unique concept for a cafe. The walls are covered with pieces of art from local artists that you can purchase. Warning, the price tags are not cheap! I came for a late lunch and there was a ton of open seating at 2pm. Their 2 person tables are a little bit squishy. So much so that you can barely fit 2 entrees and 2 drinks on the table. They also have a bottle of water on the table for you to refill, as well as a little condiments rack so yeah a little short on space. I went with a bacon waffle benny as my main. I wasn't asked what level I wanted my eggs to be poached but they came out perfect for me, slightly runny but not so much that it escapes all over the plate. I do really like waffles but I think I prefer a more neutral to savory base for my benedict after all. It was a decent waffle regardless. My entree came with a side salad and some fruit, both which seemed very fresh. I tried some of the bacon and turkey grilled cheese and found it to be a little too salty for my tastes. It was also a big portion so I think it would have been kind of hard to get through. Their drinks were pretty on point though and they both came with a chocolate finger on the side. At one point we were ready to leave but still had drinks left over. We were able to get to-go cups from the server on duty. You do go up to the register to pay and it is cash only. read more

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Starving Artist was so good I had it two days in a row. My go-to order is a B. Benny which is two poached eggs over bacon and a potato waffle, a side of mixed greens and your choice of baked beans/ potato salad/ fruit. I went on Sunday and because people are still warming up to dining out, the restaurant only had a few tables occupied which worked in our favour. Pre-pandemic times, the restaurant would have been packed but it was so worth it to wait! They accommodated my fruit allergy and were kind enough to give me only watermelon, which was what I had requested. A dish is pretty filling. You MUST get the potato waffles! The lattés are really good too. I can't wait to go back next week! read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - B. Benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Came here before and during the pandemic and I think they are the only place that does Potato Waffle Egg Benedict's that I know of! When I came by during the pandemic I felt very safe dining indoors as well as seeing how the outdoor dining area was seated as well. They servers are super friendly and are very good at giving recommendations Never have a potato egg Benedict I didn't know what to expect but it was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and mash potato-y on the inside. What I do have to say is two potato waffles are very filling but so so yum. Their dessert waffles though a bit small make up for it in taste I can't wait to go back for some brunch while typing this! read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Eggs Benedict with potato waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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I made a reservation for a Sunday at noon. They advised me on the phone that it is cash or debit and a one hour limit. When I arrived it was the usual vaccine proof with ID. In addition you need to scan a code at the entrance and then input your contact tracing details and answer more than the usual number of Covid questions. After showing that I had completed the questions successfully I was seated. My friends were a few minutes later and same requirements. The place was full of people enjoying waffles. I love that they offer gluten-free and vegan options. On the menu they even indicate that they will swap bacon for avocado or tomatoes for no extra charge. Most of the non-starter options include a nice green salad plus a choice of several sides (fruit, baked beans and I think potato salad?) Between us we had: Potato waffles eggs Benny Four mini waffles with strawberries Four mini gluten-free waffles with blackberries We also added on maple syrup for a small upcharge. Two different types of tea, one with the cutest side car of honey A half sweet vanilla almond milk latte We all enjoyed our waffles and drinks. After offering up the raw bananas in my fruit salad to my friend, I bit into the gluten-free waffle which it seems is made with bananas. The g-f waffles were like a crispy warm banana bread but slightly squishy in the middle. They did not kick us out at the hour as there was no longer a line up. They gave us separate bills that you take to the front to pay. I would definitely go again. read more

The LO has been begging for waffles for a while and while, I have the equipment at home to accommodate, at 8 AM on a long weekend, Mommy is not in the mood to do so. Plus this location has been on my Markham places to check out bucket list for a while. Looking back in my memories - I originally visited the very first location back in 2011. So it was high time for a visit. Now they operate on a first come first serve basis with no reservations and typically won't seat you unless your entire party is there - it is an annoying quirk; but you have been warned. This place is cash/debit only - so something to keep in mind. My husband loves the Hitchhiker; which is a little bit of everything minus their hollandaise sauce. I am personally partial to their Waffles Benny; due to their perfectly poached runny eggs and previously mentioned hollandaise sauce. For our LO, we usually order the mini waffles with fruit as it is a better option rather than opting for a dessert waffle. Their waffles are just the perfect texture of crispy and airy; while they have potato waffles - my preference is to stick with their regular waffles, if possible. Their coffee is decent. My preference runs to tea - so I opted for the black current tea - which is good - but it is a bagged tea - so not much to write about there. Service is friendly; but it is occasionally challenging to get their attention, especially when it is busy. Overall, great option for breakfast/brunch if you catch them at the right time. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Waffle Benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Love the potato waffles!!!!!!!! Plating is beautiful too! The only reason why I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is that I find it odd that they serve tea bags in glass tumbler. I think tea is best served in mugs, easier for consumption. So after the first 2 visits, I switched to ordering juices instead. (I don't drink coffee much, so juice it is if not tea.). My favorite dish is the eggs benny on potato waffle. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - Eggs benny on potato waffles with baked beans and green salad. Starter waffle with fruits (perfect for kids) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Visited on a sunday for brunch and it was pretty much filled so would recommend making a reservation. We had a big group and they told us we'd only have an hour seating but ended up being no limit. I ordered the waffle benny with potato salad. The portions overall were kind of small, if you order any of the dessert type waffles the portion is very small. The potato salad and eggs benny were good, didn't really like the pairing with the salad. Someone in my party had the chicken and waffles and didn't really like it at all - the chicken is air fried but lacked flavour. read more

Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso - chicken and waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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