L'Avenue Toronto Review: Montreal Brunch at The Well
Key Takeaways
- Montreal brunch legend L'Avenue opened at The Well in September with a 100-seat space covered in graffiti, disco balls, and motorcycles
- Bobby Does Dallas ($29.50) is the standout: AAA ribeye, cheddar scrambled eggs, mushrooms, and BBQ sauce over seasoned potatoes
- Instagram-ready dishes don't always deliver on flavor (the Pistachio French Toast and Pasticcio latte underwhelmed on first visit)
- Book ahead or expect a wait; lines form quickly after opening
- Toronto gets an exclusive dinner menu, but brunch is the main event with Montreal-style bagels from a St. Viateur alum
Why L'Avenue brought Montreal brunch to The Well
I'll be honest: L'Avenue didn't win me over on my first visit. The Pasticcio latte looked gorgeous but tasted flat, and the Pistachio French Toast was all Instagram appeal with flavors that didn't deliver. I left thinking it was another case of style over substance.
But I gave it a second shot, and I'm glad I did.
L'Avenue landed at The Well in early September, bringing its Montreal brunch reputation to a 100-seat space that's as loud and lively as the city it came from. Corporate chef Mitch Haikalis leads the kitchen with a massive menu designed to keep things fresh. "The goal is to be ahead of the curve, think outside of the box," he says. "We want to show people stuff that they won't see everywhere."
While the chain's five other locations focus purely on breakfast and brunch, Toronto gets something special: an exclusive dinner service. Haikalis is trying to revive what lost steam in Quebec, with a dinner menu that jumps from Beet Carpaccio and Ahi Tuna Burgers to Chicken Schnitzel Caesar bowls.
Still, brunch is the main draw, and for good reason. The restaurant is lively and chaotic in the best way. Graffiti blankets the walls, while disco balls, motorcycles, and mannequins create a street-meets-pop-art vibe that begs to be photographed. The bathrooms are just as arresting as the main space (you'll have to visit each one to see for yourself).
What to order at L'Avenue (and what to skip)
Bobby Does Dallas ($29.50) is what brought me back around. This colossal cassolette of cheddar-laced scrambled eggs, AAA ribeye, mushrooms, and barbecue sauce over L'Avenue's signature seasoned potatoes is fantastic and flavorful. It's exactly what you want from a high-end brunch spot. You can round it out with your choice of naan, baguette, multigrain bread, or bagel.
Those bagels deserve attention. They're Montreal-style, made locally by an ex-employee of St. Viateur who now works at The Bagel House. The Pink Salmon Benny ($29) stacks herbed cream cheese, smoked salmon, avocado, marinated onions, and poached eggs on one of those bagels, all topped with beet-tinged hollandaise.
The Antioxydant smoothie ($11), packed with açai berries, blueberries, strawberries, banana, yogurt, and honey, hits the right balance of sweet and tart without being overly sugary.
Now for what didn't work: The Pistachio French Toast ($10) looked better than it tasted. It comes doused with white chocolate ganache and raspberry coulis, but the flavors didn't live up to the Instagram appeal. The Pasticcio latte ($7) had the same problem on my first visit. Visually stunning, but the flavor fell flat.
Don't skip the signature amber-grade maple syrup, though. "We deal with the best maple syrup we can get our hands on," says Haikalis. "You can use as much as you want. There's no limit."
How to visit L'Avenue
Make a reservation in advance. Lines form quickly, with reviewers noting that decent-sized waits appear shortly after opening. Expect to spend around $30 per person for brunch.
Go for the Bobby Does Dallas and those signature seasoned potatoes, and don't be shy with the unlimited maple syrup. L'Avenue is located at 433 Wellington Street West at The Well, joining other standouts like Bridgette Bar and Lulu Bar.
Author
Maya Thompson