Avenue Open Kitchen

Lovely little joint within walking distance from work. this place was small and spaces were tight. The booths would not fit 4 people unless you were all skinny like sticks… Lol. nonetheless the food was amazingly good. Size, portion everything well balanced. they didn’t go cheap on anything… which way too many restaurants do nowadays…
It’s more or less like a fast food joint owned by an the previous generation… the chicken kebobs were juicy and flavourful, salads were fresh with more than adequate pieces of chicken, burgers were juicy and delicious… the prices are very reasonable!
It’s becoming a mission to find places that provide above average quality and quantity. Overheard, that this place is being secretly taken over… hmm… hope that’s not the case becuz if it is… the quality and quantity will be at risk…
This is the place for lunch and it’s always packed… when you see a line going in such a small restaurant, you’ve gotta eat here!
Definitely coming back without doubts…

This is not just a diner, it is THE diner. The standards for diners are all based off of this spot. Friendly, down to earth service, and a classic peameal bacon dish I will get every time I visit.

Greasy breakfast joint with an amazing cheap menu comparative to other greasy spoon kitchens around the city. Had the Peameal Bacon served with 3 eggs, Home Fries, Toast and a Coffee for $ 7.95. The Peameal bacon was thick and cooked perfectly. Eggs were fresh and delicious. Service is excellent. Quaint little no frills diner. Highly recommend!

Great little spot! If you’re craving home-​style cooking, this is the place. The daily specials are amazing — every Wednesday they do a full Turkey dinner complete with stuffing and cranberry sauce. The all-​day breakfast always hits the spot. The staff are lovely and they get to know you and make conversation. Plus, you’ll get more cheese curds on your poutine here that at any poutine place in the city (pretty sure, anyway).

Truly a gem in the King/​Spadina area. I came here for some take-​out brunch on a Thursday and ordered the eggs/​bacon/​home fries. The food was exactly what you would want from a late breakfast/​brunch — oily, hearty and savory. As a plus, the diner is also cheap and family-​run.
My only complaint is the limited hours — Avenue Open is ironically, not open on weekends when I would have needed it the most! In terms of seating, there is a long bar for larger groups and only 3 booths.
I regret not finding this diner sooner, but will definitely be coming back for more!

A very small little bussines and a good place to find Aa great first lunch in Canada, Montréal beef with poutin
It was delicious.

Love this little joint.
A little mama’s papas diner, a perfect little hideaway in the middle of the city to come have an awesome breakfast, a home made yummy sandwich, and/​or a salad.
You’ll definitely get your money’s worth here and the staff is super nice.

«Avenue Open Kitchen is a clean vintage diner, but calling it just that does not do it justice.»
«To top off the experience, we ordered their Rice Pudding. What a delight! Milky, tender, smooth — it was served with a container of cinnamon on the side (for those of us picky about what is the ideal amount). «
“It has soul given to it by a Macedonian family from Greece who opened it thirty four years ago.»
Just a few bites of our full experience!

Absolutely the most fantastic deli for pastrami and corned beef sandwiches in Toronto Great prices great service not much room so you have to squeeze in but it’s worth it.

I have went there a few times and was never disappointed. The servings are awesome and staff friendly except the cook looks kind of grouchy. The turkey dinner they serve is just like home. It does suck they are not open in the evening but they do open really early. So if you are in the Camden street neighborhood check it out.

Fantastic greasy eats with sizable portions at cheap prices.
It’s not going to be the best and definitely not the healthiest, but Avenue Open Kitchen is a diner. And it’s a very legitimate diner at that. Service is slow, but the staff are more than familiar and definitely quite friendly. Seating is limited, bar seating and a few booths and small tables.
The mac and cheese Friday specials are good! They have a special each day of the week and they all sound wonderful, but I only had the chance to try Friday’s. I did find it oily (what’d you expect!) but it also did come with ‘chef’s salad’ (sorta makes up for it) for $ 8.50 + HST. I do like mac and cheese, but I don’t think it’s fantastic… just decent. However, I’m quite satisfied with the value I get here.
The chicken souvlaki on a pita was tasty, with a good amount of tzaziki making it a creamy and satisfying lunch. The pita was a decent size and it came at a cheap price too ($ 5.50).
I’d come back again.

The most average diner you’ve been to, fortunately situated where there are no average diners.

Best of the best.
Been coming here since I was born. Literally.
My dads photos on the wall.
I have many great memory’s here.
And I’m always recommending it.

Sometimes at work I go here for a cheap lunch.
That is the beginning and end of my relationship with this establishment but oh god how I wish it could be so very much more.
I long for the soft, gentle embrace of your pemeal sandwich, open avenue kitchen

Maybe my expectations are too high, but I expect people who handle my food to do so in a sanitary manner. The last time I ordered a sandwich here, I watched the man at the front handle cash, slice meat, and make a sandwich without putting on gloves or washing his hands. No thanks, never again!
The first time I ordered here it was for beef stew, which comes with buttered bread, corn, and mashed potatoes. Definitely too much for me to eat during lunch. The food was pretty good.
There are a few seats inside, so expect to order to go. This place only accepts cash.

Best greasy spoon place downtown, bar none! Food is cheap and delicious and the service and the atmosphere is a throwback to the 60s. So is their cash-​only policy but as long as you bring cash, you’ll leave happy and with a full belly!

This place is such a go to for me that I take it for granted. So much so that I’ve completely forgotten to review it until now. I’ve pretty much been coming here sporadically over the last 3 years but now almost every week.
Avenue is just solid and consistent and, believe it or not, reasonably priced for an eatery smack in the middle of the king to queen overpriced lunch zone. You can actually have a sandwich AND soup or fries for under $ 10 instead of paying $ 13+ for a burger with a side of diddly squat with a fat 20% tip expected for a whole lot of nothing.
The peameal bacon is a bit nuts though. Half an inch thick and greasy as hell but you can’t say they don’t hook you up, even if I like my peameal thinner, like at insomnia.
The navy bean soup is awesome and straight up like your dad telling you to «listen when I’m talkin’ to you, son!» Have it with a pastrami sandwich and scud missile amounts of mustard.
If you’re dining alone, sit at the bar like a mensch. Don’t take up a booth because you’d rather be at Weslodge nibbling on fennel and wondering why the waiters wear gun holsters.

Classical deli sandwiches with a ton of meat between two thin slices of rye bread. Absolutely delicious simple formula and these guys do it really really well. The Mac and Cheese (Fridays only) is the best Mac and Cheese I have ever had in my life. It’s like the macaroni and the cheese blend together into one greasy delicious entity. If I’m disciplined, I can split it over several meals (or I could just finish it in one go. actually that sounds a lot better). I’ve heard great things about their chicken fingers, but I haven’t had a chance to try them yet. Sandwiches are higher priority!
Minus points for:
— cash only
— short assortment of premium sandwiches: pastrami, smoked meat, roast beef
— mac and cheese being only once a week
— extremely limited hours. I don’t work in the area so their weekdays til 4 is extremely problematic
— that one grumpy waitress (the guys who work there though are super-​friendly and helpful)
So good all those shortfalls can only bring it down to 4-​stars.

Every once in awhile a place arises out of nowhere because someone points it out. I love that. Kinda goes to show how much neighborhoods supports their gems.
This place certainly is one. A greasy spoon with tons of pictures from way back when that let’s you know the folks behind the counter have and will always be here.
The place is crazy busy during the lunch rush so very happy to have a seat in the booths but I would have been just as happy eating at one of the lunch counter stools.
It’s fast, cheap and charming. Genuine vintage everywhere.
One of the crazy things is the bathroom. You go upstairs instead of down. I dig it.

Went back for lunch. Orderd the cheeseburger ($ 4.75) previously frozen 6oz patty, toasted bun, grilled but mostly raw onions, tomato and my favorite cheese for a burger (though it took me a minute to come around) American cheese.
Good overall taste with tax and tip $ 6.50. If I’d wanted fries they’d have been another $ 2.95. Worth the snow jog over there from my office over lunch (15 minutes) not worth the two slip&falls I took on the snow-​stumble back (20 minutes plus bruising.)
Other lunch specials: hot smoked meat/​pastrami/​roast beef freshly shaved & piled high on rye with a generous bowl if homemade soup ($ 8.50), braised shortribs/​mashed/​peas ($ 10.50), BLT ($ 4.95), Poutine ($ 3.95), giant chefs salad ($ 6.95)
This place is really known for its sandwiches, homemade soups and huge lunch specials. The food is all made in-​house and really tastes good and whole — not a lot added or taken away. Heavy and big portions for sure, but satisfying and inexpensive and it won’t leave you feeling off (like McDonalds, which admittedly I also like.)