Pete's Corner Grill legacy returns to Roncesvalles
Toasted opens this month with the no-fuss breakfasts and big portions that made the old Parkdale spot a neighborhood institution.
Before brunch got bougie in Toronto, Pete's Corner Grill in Parkdale served up no-nonsense breakfasts to a hungry and fiercely loyal crowd. When the diner closed in 2020 after the building sold to Dave's Hot Chicken, regulars mourned the loss of a multi-generational family-run restaurant.
Now owner John Poulakos and his team are making a long-awaited comeback around the corner from where Pete's once stood. Toasted is opening soon on Roncesvalles in the two-level space that once housed Lambretta Pizzeria — a spot that has cycled through several identities without sticking.
Poulakos is betting locals are ready for what they loved about Pete's: big portions of homestyle cooking, affordably priced, without the Instagram aesthetic. "The project is inspired by what people loved about Pete's, with a twist," he said. "Parkdale and Roncesvalles have always meant a lot to us, so we're really excited to be coming back to the neighbourhood."
The menu spans diner-style breakfast dishes (bacon and eggs, pancakes, waffles), brunch handhelds like BLTs, modern staples (various eggs Benedicts, avocado toast), and crêpes. Lunch will feature house-made pastas and other comfort dishes.
The photos show a crisp-edged eggs Benedict with ham, berries-and-cream waffles, and the kind of abundance that made Pete's unforgettable. Roncesvalles has been waiting for a neighborhood anchor like this.