Very cool, retro diner, gorgeous wood interior with old jukebox and original? Booths and counter seating Service was fine. Food was not quite as expected for good diner fare- no heaping portions, no option to add onions to homefries as they are deep fried, Benedict a bit dry read more

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24 hour spot! I repeat 24 hours, which is extremely rare to find now a days since covid started . The place was giving diner / family friendly vibes. Located in downtown Toronto. It had Plenty of space and seating available. Our server was very welcoming and gave the perfect amount of time in between checking in on is throughout. I always ask for the recommendations or popular items, and what he told us did not disappoint. When traveling finding amazing food and new experiences is my #1 goal, and The Lakeview was a great place to add to my list. They leave little note pads and markers on the table to allow you to post messages , drawings and positive messages . I thought that was a perfect idea to kill time and share messages to others around the world. We we're a party of 4. I order the most popular item; The Cornflake chicken sandwich, with there fresh cut fries. The other order at the table where the well know all day breakfest plater, and a burger with onion rings. Everything was delicious. All the food came out at the same time. Only down side was there home fry potatoes where prenty from. Besides that we had a great time and the food was delicious. Must try when your visiting ! read more

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I went to The Lakehouse for a weekday brunch and I was sorely disappointed. I got the chicken waffle Benedict. First off the plate was far too small so my food was constantly on the verge of falling off. The home fries were too firm for my liking. The chicken was a pan fried breaded chicken breast that was too tough. The waffles were too thin and soft. The combination was just off and I did not enjoy my meal. The service was friendly and quick. The washrooms were clean. The dining room was a little dark. read more

A great late night spot to get together with friends to grab a bite after hours in Toronto! This place insta to transports you back in time with its diner vibe from the 80s. It's a very laid back spot! We just came to get some late night apple pie milk shakes and it definitely didn't disappoint. Also was able to add a fireball shot in ours as it was the servers special read more

The Lakeview - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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My wife insisted on giving this long tenured diner a try, so we did and its what you'd expect from a diner atmosphere seating wise and old traditional movie poster and music. The people that worked there seemed to wear their own random clothes and its not uniform attire, but service is there when you need it. Here was what we ordered. Coffee-$3.75 - standard refillable coffee Hot Chocolate-$5.50 - This comes with whip cream on top and the taste was decent and not powdery like others as it had some chocolate syrup The Standard Breakfast-$15 - 2 eggs, rye toast, home fries and 1 sausage. - With diner breakfast stuff its nothing special, but this sausage is thicker and bigger than traditional ones... Maybe that's why it was only one. Fish & Chips-$20 - Two pieces of fried fish & fries and pickled coleslaw and tartar sauce. - I've tried quite a bit of fish and chips in my time, and I got to admit, this is the WORST I've had anywhere... The fish is definitely frozen and the batter was really noticeable as it looks like a swollen inflated piece of fish. It was also watery because its frozen. - The server was gracious enough to allow me to exchange for something else which I got the mac n cheese, but that dish was okay. Its a bit creamy but not cheesy at all, and it was quite salty. Apple Pie w/Vanilla Ice Cream- $9 - This was probably the highlight dish along with the one sausage piece and the home fries were decent too, but again a bit on the salty side. Oh, the tartar sauce for the fish n chips was pretty good! Overall, we'd probably one and done for this establishment. read more

Food is great, service is great, atmosphere is great. Love it, $5 mimosas!!! This place is a gem. read more

The Lakeview - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We saw this on a food network show and thought we'd check it out while in Toronto. I was aware that ownership had changed, and reviews weren't perfect but thought we'd try anyway. I thought my husband would love the apple pie milkshake. He did enjoy it. It did NOT have a big hunk of apple pie on the edge like we'd seen on TV, but it was still good. We each got the Turbo Sandwich with peameal bacon. It was amazing. Perfect amount of mayo. And those home fries... When they came out they were super dark so thought they may be overdone, but no. They were perfectly seasoned and crispy. The ambience is awesome since it's old school and looks original. They even played 50s and 60s music. Our server was super friendly and got our orders right even with modifications. Not sure what the diner was previously, but we'd happily eat there again. Lots of other yummy options we'd want to try! read more

The Lakeview - Apple Pie Milkshake (they bring you the extra in the metal can, too) - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I had brunch today at The Lakeview Restaurant. I ordered the Standard Breakfast with peameal bacon and a large milk. The home fries were really overseasoned so Jade asked for a new batch for me. It was a filling but a bit pricy breakfast. Jade was friendly and chatty ... thanks, Jade! read more

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Excellent food, service and ambiance . I highly recommend the Lakeview's for anyone looking for Canadian food especially large groups with multiple dietary needs read more

The Lakeview is BACK folks!!!! Dear lord finally! I don't mean back from almost being shut down and gone. I mean back to the glory days!!! The food quality is back to where it was years and years ago! The food slaps again, diners and drive in days slaps! And the Mac and Cheese as good as ever. Oh dear lord thank you!!!!!!!!!! I have missed them. The vibe in the back now is so much classier although I miss the white walls the mirrors are a nice welcome touch. Just a bit dark at night wish there was more lighting back here against the mirrored wall but hey I'll take it! read more

After a long overnight drive to Toronto. The Lakeview was exactly what we needed. The atmosphere was just what we were looking for in a diner, and the food really hit the spot. We were disappointed that pancakes and benedicts were unavailable, but we did just fine. We had a great time with our server, James! read more

Cool restaurant with great food. I ordered the smoked meat sandwich and it hit the spot! I also tried my wife's disco fries and they were delicious! The pancake medallions were delicious too. I'll be back. read more

The Lakeview - Smoked meat sandwich - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Hands down the worst turkey dinner I have ever eaten. Every part of it tasted terrible. Overcooked dry turkey. Small portions. My daughter ordered poutine...also terrible. Fries in a puddle of gravy with one pinch of shredded mixed cheese blend on top. A huge house centipede crawled on my daughter mid-meal. Disgusting all around. read more

I had a very tasty chicken club sandwich with cheese where. They add a spicy sauce to it and it gives it a nice heat. The bread was nice and soft, bacon crispy along with the crispy chicken. On the whole very enjoyable. I also had a milkshake which was good but quite large... I over ate with that Int he mix... But I'd come back for sure. As others have said the service is amazing, really nice staff that make it an enjoyable occasion... read more

The Lakeview - Very tasty crispy chicken club sandwich... I'd have this again.. - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This restaurant is absolutely amazing with stunning staff and very quick food response, the vibe is super cheerful and absolutely everyone should go here! You can always find a quick seat of great comfort food, The old times vibe of the place makes it feel very impactful. read more

Grabbed one of the patio tables on the last sunny and warm day of 2020. Got lucky as I arrived just after someone else had left, there aren't many tables. Had the clubhouse stack which was OK. I liked the aioli spread and there was lots of bacon but wasn't crispy like I prefer. Also the chicken was this thin breaded thing more breading than chicken. Is it just me or does it seem redundant to serve breaded chicken in between three slices of ...bread? The clubhouse was stacked alright, but mostly with bread and breading. I ordered the salad which was basically a cup of greens with vinaigrette and some toasted pine nuts. Again it was ok but nothing exciting. I think I finished it in four or five bites. It wasn't terrible, but not sure I would go back, lots of other choices in the area. read more

Known for their apple pie milkshake. They're huuuuuge. If youre going with a group of 2 or 3, just order one milkshake. If you dine in they will give you the cup they prepared it in. It's a lot. Their mimosas are $3. There are also man-mosas, and pitchers. The waiter didn't accept my NY state ID and had to go check upfront which was annoying. The mimosa itself is really good. Honestly, I wish I got a pitcher because I got more than one. Bathrooms are tiny. read more

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This place is a staple in Toronto. Been there forever, open 24/7, broad menu. Most of my experiences have been stellar with free samples, laid back wait staff and decent quality of food. I usually love their poutine but was disappointed with the dish on Saturday (the last time we were there). The atmosphere of a 50's diner is still the focus of the experience. I will definitely return! read more

The Lakeview - Poutine lakeview - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The place was at a convenient location. They serve classic breakfast. The menu isn't exciting, but traditional. There are more older crowd. Foods are just okay, but expensive. The service is good. Not bad but not wow. I don't think I will come back, but there will be always people who like the place. read more

Been meaning to check this place out for over a decade -- more recently because of The Shape of Water. I guess I had medium expectations going in, and those medium expectations were met. This place smells and looks like a dive bar (except it's a diner). The reek of cigarettes and body odour is baked into the paint. Stopped in for a Sunday beer and a bite, and $70 for two mac and cheeses and two generic beers was pretty steep considering the atmosphere and smell we had to eat in. While the service was good, I recommend this place if and only if you don't have a strong nose or a taste for anything ... tasteful. It's definitely a "one and done" type of venue -- and considering the location, there are much better offerings out there. read more

After a long night of drinking, playing pool and good times my friends and I were hungry. The only place that was open was The Lakeview. Very cool spot, I really like the decor and theme however the food was barley passable. The service wasn't the greatest but that was forgiven because there was only 2 people working & it was 2:00am. We all ordered our food and man oh man it was awful. The problem was that I wasn't drunk so I could actually taste my food, although my friends who had been drinking didn't like it that much either. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of poutine. The pulled pork was kinda cool and the sauce was too sweet but overall it was edible. The poutine....... oh god, it shouldn't even be called a poutine because that was a disgrace to Canadians everywhere. The fries were SO cold, the gravy was cold and the curds weren't even melted. It was gross! I won't be going back, no matter how drunk or hungry I am. McDonald's would have been a better option. Keep Eating, Angela read more

The Lakeview - Poutine & Pulled Pork Sandwich - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Cute diner setting, and great when you're in a pinch and need some 24/7 food! I had the apple pie, which was delicious and homemade. I got a grilled cheese and onion rings to go. It did not travel well. The grilled cheese was soggy and I was not a fan of the extra slice of bread in the middle - too much bread, not enough cheese. The onion rings were decent though and I'm sure would be better fresh. read more

This is a very special diner. A hidden gem of Toronto. A diner this old you have to come to expect the classics done simply and without flare. But there are some hidden gems in this menu. One of them is the chicken club sandwich which is the best club sandwich I've ever had. The day I went they ran out of vanilla ice cream so I couldn't try the famous apple pie milkshake. But I think about going back all the time. I am so excited to try the apple pie milkshake. The staff is friendly and the restaurant itself is like walking back in time. I love places like this that preserve the history of a location. If everything around you is closed this is the place to go. read more

This place has a comfortable atmosphere and attentive service. I wish they'd upgrade their lighting because it is quite dated and a bit hard on my old lady eyes, but that's all I can really complain about. I can only speak of their desserts and wine specials. They have $4 mimosas and $5 sparkling wine every day. That alone would keep me coming back. They also have $5 mixed drinks and a decent selection of beer. They have a daily pie and a daily cheesecake, both $7. When we went they had apple pie and caramel apple cheesecake. My friend really liked her pie, but I'm a cheesecake fan so I'm always going to be partial to that. I'd come back to try their milkshakes, floats, and other desserts. read more

The Lakeview - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

On a trip to Toronto, our group googled the best places for a boozy brunch and this place popped up. It was a 10 minute cab ride from our downtown hotel and the website advertised cheap drinks so we were in! When we arrived, there were a couple parties waiting ahead of us. There is no host to put your name down and it's up to the guests to keep track of which order you came in. Staff calls out an open table and if it's your turn, you get the seat. The diner was opened in the 50s I believe and they haven't updated it much since. The booths present with a distressed vibe, and there is nothing fancy about the place (which is fine). We started by ordering drinks. The drinks were all a dollar more than advertised online. The mimosas were good but they were inconsistent on the amount of champagne. One of the mimosas also came complete with a hair in it. We ordered food; two eggs Benedict, one breakfast sandwich, and a burger. Our food took over an hour to arrive. This business must loose out on a ton of money as they take so long to turn over tables. Three meals came out cold and then there was an extra wait for the fourth meal. Everything was over cooked and the food was nothing to rave about. The bathrooms were what you'd expect in a dive bar. It wasn't disgusting but it wasn't necessarily clean. It definitely hasn't been updated. The most positive part of our experience was our server. She was friendly and genuinely felt bad about our wait. This place has the potential to be really cool. It's nice to find a place with cheap drinks. With a few updates (even keeping the old vibe) it would be an awesome place. read more

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24 hours eatery... Lakeview might not serves the best poutine or has the best services or the nicest deco... But in the middle of the night and you have some cravings for snacks for whatever reason.. or your Yelp friends just want to chill out somewhere after Elite event and want to have some more cheap booze... Lakeview is a winner! This place was so busy on a Thursday night..... Services can be a little slow but at least they have free WIFI just ask for password. Thanks fellow yelpers that shared a table with me let me took photos of their food and even let me try them all........... Onion Rings Poutine Pulled Pork Poutine Some sandwiches? Fried Mars Bar That sounded like a complete meal with appetizers, main and dessert? I'll be back to Lakeview if I am in the area when nothing else opens...but there are so many interesting places for food in the area... read more

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Came here on Canada Day for brunch and it was quite busy. I don't think they were expecting it as there were about 3-4 servers. We were seated within 15 minutes, but the wait for food took a while. I got the chicken and waffle benny while my boyfriend got the disco poutine. The chicken and waffle benny was okay but I would have rather just had chicken and waffles. The hollandaise sauce was more like a salty and tangy mayo. The chips and salad were okay, but fries would have been better. The disco poutine was not at all what we expected - fries, some gravy, shredded cheese, a sausage cut into 3 or 4 chunks, and some scrambled eggs on top. For the price we were expecting a lot more substance. Would only come here again to try the mac n cheese balls. read more

The Lakeview - Chicken and waffle benny - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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24/7 and good late night vibes, lots of fun float options (i had root beer w/ chocolate ice cream) and food seemed pretty good too. lowk pricey but oh well. shoutout jason super chill dude. read more

This review is for food only. Have tried the cornflake chicken club, mac n cheese balls, and chicken n waffles. The chicken club is decent - but doesn't come with enough spicy mayo, and they charge extra 50 cents for extra. Mac n cheese balls weren't memorable. Chicken n waffles came with two poached eggs on top, and both of the yolks were cooked through. Also the 'syrup' is the glucose-fructose kind. Side of salad is good, fries are ok, the soft potato chips that come with the waffles are really good. read more

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We showed up for lunch mid afternoon with a decent-sized group of five adults, four kids and we were seated straight away. Our server was patient while we ordered a variety of dishes and drinks. The restaurant was busy and noisy as we waited, with all manner of patrons happily eating and chatting which only added to the atmosphere. With such a large order in a busy restaurant we didn't expect fast service and appreciated that our server kept us updated. We were impressed that once they came, all our dishes were delivered to our table pretty much all at the same time. All of the food (pancakes, eggs, poutine, cornflake chicken burger, onion rings, chicken & waffles, kids poutine, cheeseburger, tuna melt) was all delicious in generous serving sizes enjoyed by all. We couldn't have asked for anything more. read more

The Lakeview - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

3 stars for establishments who have been around for a long time, can't bombard a place with negative comments that's been curing hangovers and broken hearts for years right? But this one time, I shall complain...a bit.. because their two berries were so disappointing to look at, let alone taste these failures beside pancakes that came out cold and bland and I could really go on and on but what did you expect from a place where staffers look fatigued out, that asking for water can lead to a resounding 'not worth it' feeling after placing a 20% tip because tipsy me was feeling generous. My server was probably confused as well, he sounded like he had a chronic back pain that made life completely uneasy for the both of us so getting tipped probably had him thinking I was too drunk for my own good or I had crush on his charismatic yawning while he took down our order. Point is, not a place I'd go back to on a whim or even being dragged into after long hours of debate on where to grab some late late grub after a night out. read more

We visited this restaurant twice for a nice sit down meal and have had mixed experiences with The Lakeview. We once came here during the wee hours of the night to grab a quick bite and was very happy with our food. We ordered a hamburger and a poutine. The portions were HUGE and by the time we finished our meals we almost had to buy a larger size of pants. The service was quick and very friendly. Fast forward to a few months later, we decided to come here again for a Sunday morning brunch. The restaurant was extremely packed so we didn't mind waiting for half an hour. However, once we were seated it took ages before someone even acknowledged us. It took even longer for us to place our order. After what seemed like an hour we had to flag down our waiter to follow up on our food. This then prompted him to rush to the kitchen to bring it out. We ordered the buttermilk pancake stack and omelette. We were a lot less satisfied this time since everything was cold and the taste was just alright. It was extremely difficult for us to get any additional seasoning or sauces too. Overall if you need a late night snack, come visit The Lakeview for a nice fix but you might want to try another restaurant for brunch if you want good service. read more

The Lakeview - Philly cheesesteak poutine and portabello mushroom sandwich - Diners Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The server the night we went on our date night was the only one there, and just by the way he engaged with everyone to let them know he was serving them and took his time, everyone had great service, and the food was amazing! My husband and I were thrilled! Thank you for another lovely date night Lakeview! read more

This is a great place to be if you're in the Ossington and Dundas area and craving for a late night diner. It's lively and energetic. The staff members are always in a great mood. The milkshakes are amazing! The apple pie milkshake is so different than any other milkshake and even has apple pie pieces in it! For me, it wasn't too sweet but I really like sweet things in general. I had the Coca Cola float (can't remember what it's called on the menu) and the little bit of caramel drizzle added was just perfect. Made it taste different than any other float I've ever had. Just sucked that the floats weren't refillable for the pop. The burgers here are very good. My bf loves burgers and from what he told me, it didn't disappoint. He had The Lakeview burger. I had the cornflake chicken and tbh, it wasn't that great. I could only eat half of it before I just had to stop. The meat itself; cooked in cornflakes; tasted like it was burnt and it was black. It was hard and just difficult to eat. Maybe that's how it was supposed to be? Either way, I wouldn't recommend the cornflake chicken. All in all, like I said in the beginning, this place is lively and fun. You can even order free handshakes! read more

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The first time I remember going to the Lakeview was in the early sixties. My family lived on Ossington around the corner. The cherry pie was my first taste of heaven. Fast forward sixty years, I left Ontario during my career. I have always used the Lakeview as a standard. I went in for a meal, and was given a banquet. Went in to be nourished and left totally satisfied. My several trips there tell me that what you order doesn't matter, the combinations don't matter, and their willing to help you, it is all good. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, any time. Go for the milkshakes. Their fries and milkshake are a great pick-me-up when you're not ready for a full meal. Atmosphere: Don't be a wise-guy, it's 50s' fantastic. Staff: Warm, friendly, helpful. Tip well they work hard! Portions: Generous Meals: Been through the Card, haven't been disappointed yet. Suggestions: Milkshakes are a specialty. Pies are homemade delicious. Save room for dessert regardless of your entree. Lakeview has been around my whole life, and I hope it will be around long after I'm gone. Live Long and Prosper. read more

Can't believe I have never written a review of the Lakeview. It's an institution. I like the diner style , the food is always decent if not amazing and there are always cheap drink specials of actually drinkable beer. A lot of places on the Ossingnton strip are hit or miss and fly by night so the Lakeview wins if you don't want to guess how the quality of your pint or poutine will be. read more

This is a greasy spoon diner which recently changed hands and is now trying to be trendy with an overpriced menu. The food was very expensive for what it was (still just a greasy spoon, food quality has improved a bit). They didn't have about 5 of the items on their small menu when we arrived on a Tuesday at 7pm. I went for dinner and ordered the brisket burger. The meat quality was good, however, it was about 25$ and did not seem worth that. My friend ordered the steak and it was almost 30$, it looked very sad and was not cooked medium, it was pretty much rare and COLD. It took ages to get our food, and the service was just weird. Not really friendly or welcoming....I would not recommend other than the decor. So many other amazing greasy spoon places for a great burger in this city. If you want a good brunch, so many cheaper better places! read more

Lakeview has been one of my fav staples since I moved to Toronto four years ago. Proud to share I have graduated from 3AM after-bar visits to mid-morning working brunches ... sigh, I am getting older. If you can avoid the weekend morning brunch rush (and the other morning rush that occurs around 2am), you can expect to be seated pretty quickly in a "vintage" diner booth. And if you're into old-school vibes, you'll love the retro bar and old mixers in the window. Come here if you want good food, cheap prices, and a fun dive-y diner scene. Don't come expecting cloth napkins and candle light! Service is always friendly and efficient, WiFi is decent, and coffee is bottomless. What more could you ask for? read more

TLDR: THOU MUST TRY THE APPLE PIE MILKSHAKE. Throw yourself back to the 1960s in this capsule through time. Equally enjoyable as a hangout with friends as it is a late night grub spot for couples. (Slightly) longer review for those not in a hurry: Taste (5/5) : The Lakeview Restaurant is renowned for their apple pie milkshake. If you search "Toronto apple pie milkshake", Lakeview Restaurant is so prominent that it exists in the sacred square space on the right side of the screen. Now, I can't really say for sure if I am qualified to give a food review for them, because I only had their apple pie milkshake, but this place is so retro and I was so blown away by the apple pie milkshake, I just had to write this review for them! The milkshake itself was a perfect blend of sweet and cinnamon. The texture of the milkshake was smooth, and the bits of apple pie was a pleasant surprise and extra treat. If I had to pick one negative about this drink, it might just be that I wish they gave us a proper metal boba straw to vehemothly inhale the milkshake instead of a soggy-too-soon paper straw. They're environmentally friendly that way though, so props to them! Place (4.5/5) : This isn't a fake retro place (those usually look fake rustic and probably a little cheap). The Lakeview Restaurant almost seems like a retro joint where Hairspray or Grease might be filmed, with teenagers from the 1960s sharing a milkshake over jukebox music (I don't know if they have a jukebox, but it sure feels like it would). Both times I went it was very late, so there was only one handsome boi waiter waiting at the tables. Neither time it was very busy though, just that the vibes were chill and the service makes the slightly longer wait all worth it. He was so nice as to give me the extras of the milkshake from the blender (as opposed to throwing out that yummy goodness like many other shops might). Definitely visit this place. It's the perfect blend of comfy, retro, and somewhat classy even? Follow my insta @joelyho for more food reviews and derpiness! read more

My friend and I had just finished working a night shift and decided to get breakfast. We came to Lakeview and shared the Ossington Massive. Seeing that we were the only patrons in the restaurant, we thought it'd be a quick in and out. However after 30 mins at 8:15 am, did our food arrive. The waitress explained that the kitchen was changing hands. Noted, but our meal was cold and stale. Sausages were burnt and cold...you would think freshly burnt sausages would be hot! Home fries tasted a day old, and our eggs felt like they had been at room temp for ages. We aren't the picky types, however we could not find any positives in this experience. Unfortunately, we were too early to get mimosas...but I think it would have made the waiting time and food more bearable. read more