Finisher’s feast: Eats for after the Goodlife Marathon
If you’re running in the Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon on Sunday, May 3, you’ll definitely want to replenish your strength after you cross the finish line. Pavement-pounders can load up on carbs and knock back a few celebratory cocktails at these nearby brunch spots.
School Restaurant
70 Fraser Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 3E1Weekend brunch at this Liberty Village mainstay definitely earns a place at the top of the class. The always-packed dining room offers a tongue-in-cheek schoolhouse aesthetic with clocks on the wall, apples at each table and maple syrup served in science lab beakers. Start off your victory meal with a School House Caesar (served with bacon) and warm up your appetite with bakery fresh scones or muffins. For the main event, try fried chicken and waffles, chocolate chip pancakes or the super cheesy bacon French toast.
The Drake Hotel
1136 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J3Keep your feet moving and stretch out those legs with a walk up Strachan Ave and find your way to this hip West Queen West hotel for a memorable post-race meal. The daytime menu is packed with classic sweet and savoury dishes like eggs Benny, cinnamon French toast and a decadent croque monsieur sandwich made with smoked ham, gruyere and caramelized onion. Once you’re done eating and drinking, take some time to explore the hotel’s rotating art installations and be sure snap a sweaty selfie inside the old-fashioned photo booth on the main floor.
Williams Landing
120 Lynn Williams St, Toronto, ON M6K 3N6Just a 15-minute walk from the finish line, this Liberty Village restaurant caters to the nearby condo dwellers with its savoury brunch specials and daytime cocktails. The menu delivers a variety of egg dishes, including Bennys, burritos, burgers and sweet French toast stuffed with cheesecake. If you’re a fan of liquid breakfasts, don’t miss the Landing Cure — the alcoholic spectacle is an over-the-top Caesar served with east coast lobster, smoked bacon, fresh cut veggies and caramelized onions all topped with a slice of pizza.
Brazen Head Irish Pub
165 East Liberty St, Toronto, ON M6K 3K4Looking to rehydrate with a congratulatory pint of Guinness? Head to this classic Irish pub in Liberty Village where you’ll discover a variety of domestic beers and imported brews on tap. Weary runners in need of nourishment can opt for a classic Irish fly up, a Dublin Benny with potato cakes and smoked salmon or the spicy Huevos Divorciados. You’ll also find plenty of seating both indoors and on the multilevel outdoor patios so this is a great spot if you’ve got a larger crowd.
Mildred's Temple Kitchen
104-85 Hanna Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 3S3You might feel underdressed in your running gear at this Liberty Village dining room with a chic industrial vibe, but show off that finisher’s medal and you’ll earn the respect of your fellow brunch fans. The blueberry buttermilk pancakes here are the stuff of legend (at least when it comes to Toronto breakfast lore) and are the ideal indulgence after a grueling marathon. If you prefer salty over sweet, the Huevos Monty is a flavourful Mexican dish that’s both fresh and filling. You can definitely expect a lineup on a Sunday morning at this hotspot so be prepared to wait.
Bolt Fresh Bar
1170 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J5For truly virtuous runners, post-race fuel means a nourishing smoothie and lean protein. You’ll have no problem eating your greens (and reds, and yellows, and blues) at this health-conscious fresh bar on West Queen West that serves up a colourful variety of juices, smoothies, soups, salads and grain bowls filled with nutrient-rich super foods. If you want to replenish those electrolytes with something sweet, try an energy bowl made with acai berries, banana, lucuma, kuzu and coconut milk. This take-out spot doesn’t have any seating inside so grab a spot on the bench out front to rest your weary legs.
1 Kitchen
550 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2V4What’s the best way to reward yourself after a long run? With a heaping plate of truffle mac and cheese with bacon, of course! This contemporary diner inside the Thompson Hotel has an upscale feel and specializes in refined-yet-gluttonous comfort foods. The all-day menu lists a diverse array of classic breakfast dishes, hearty sandwiches, salads and a selection of “Oversized Way Too Big Mains” like butter chicken, roasted lamb shank and braised beef short rib ravioli. Be sure to leave room for a creamy milkshake spiked with booze — go on, you’ve earned it.
The Lakeview
1132 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1X2This beloved diner might be a bit of a trek from the finish line, but the $3 mimosas and $4 Caesars are worth the extra mileage. The all day, all night menu features a crowd-pleasing array of diner fare and 24-hour breakfast dishes. If you’ve ever fantasized of trying a deluxe milkshake mixed with a slice of pie or a deep-fried Mars bar now’s the time to do it! Too tired to walk up to Dundas after the race? Hop on the Ossington bus and jump off steps away from the Lakeview’s front door.
Beast Restaurant Inc
96 Tecumseth St, Main, Toronto, ON M6J 2H1There’s no surprise that the menu at this acclaimed King West restaurant is designed for carnivorous appetites. Chef Scott Vivian’s creative meat-forward plates are packed with protein and prepared with local ingredients sourced from Ontario farmers. We suggest the signature Beastwich, a gourmet breakfast sandwich that sees fried chicken thigh, pimento cheese and egg served atop a buttermilk biscuit and drowned in pork sausage gravy. Even the sweet eats get an animalistic upgrade — cranberry French toast comes topped with duck confit and the maple-bacon doughnuts (baked fresh by Scott’s wife Rachelle) are a local favourite.
My Twitter
My Instagram
