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“Okay, Pleasant, Average”
Review of By The Way

By The Way
Ranked #1,294 of 10,803 Restaurants in Toronto
Price range: C$15 - C$35
Cuisines: Latin, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Israeli
More restaurant details
Restaurant details
Dining options: Breakfast, Dinner, Reservations
Dining style: Casual Dining
Neighbourhood: Old Toronto
Cross street: Brunswick & Bloor
Description: By The Way is a much-loved neighbourhood favourite that offers contemporary Mediterranean fare with Latin flare in the heart of the Annex. A reliable, tasty standby for generous, nourishing eats, BTW has all the meal bases covered, from breakfast to late-night fill-up. Omelettes, pasta dishes and eggs benny get lots of mention, as does the fine selection of Middle Eastern choices. The restaurant enjoys a particular reputation for its healthy focus. There's also a solid selection of vegetarian dishes. A surprisingly extensive wine list includes both house and vintage options. The space is bright and cheerful. The big corner patio fills up in the summertime.
Reviewed February 12, 2019

This restaurant has changed hands over the years - or at least its menu has. They now offer Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food, which we generally enjoy. There was nothing wrong with the food but it was rather bland and unexciting. We chose this restaurant because it is close to the Bloor Cinema but next time we'll go elsewhere.

Date of visit: January 2019
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
Thank Well_Travelled_TO
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviews (108)
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14 - 18 of 108 reviews

Reviewed February 7, 2019 via mobile

We reserved for lunch and the place was packed. Very crowded in fact with little room between tables. Other guests had to move their table so we could get to ours. Service was not overly in your face but did ensure our orders got to us in a timely way. I was a bit concerned with the tables being so close that we would overhear each other’s conversation, but there was a din of noise that took care of that. Our immediate neighbours seem to be having parallel play on their phones so maybe they could hear us. Artsy kind of decor. I enjoyed the Mediterranean chicken on a pita with a lightly dressed spinach salad. So much luscious sauce dripping from the pita, it was delicious. The veggie burger was also enjoyed with crispy fries. I would go again and like to try other dishes. If you choose to try this spot expect to be close to others enjoying good food.

Date of visit: February 2019
Thank Saucysavory
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed February 4, 2019

I wasn't expecting much but It was a really good breakfast.
I liked the Middle Eastern flavor of the potatoes.
The bagel was toasted but obviously fresh.
Eggs cooked over easy.
Never had to ask for coffee on the endless cup.

I liked this place.
Very homey, good food and service.
Breakfast for 2 with tip $27

Date of visit: February 2019
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
Thank justmyimpression
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed January 15, 2019

Lovely patio and a nice take on brunch but made mediterranean style. A little pricey for what you get.

Date of visit: September 2018
Thank Laura T
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed September 15, 2018 via mobile

If you want a meal where the ingredients are pretty good and it is not too bland or saucy this will do. Don't expect to be blown away. The Hake was fine. Salads fresh. Dependable. But you won't be surprised and you can cook better at home. But if you don't feel like cooking or blowing your wallet, this will do.

Date of visit: September 2018
Thank Dorten
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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