Hazel’s Diner

Average food. Excellent service.
I would return to the restaurant if it didn’t smell like bathroom. The door to the bathroom downstairs was open the whole time we were there. If I closed it, someone would open it. No one who worked there closed the door. The smell ruined my experience.
I don’t understand how people are able to enjoy their meal, with the smell of bathroom wafting through the restaurant.

Ok, this may or may not be because of the time but that still does not excuse everything. We had brunch around 12:30pm. The place was pretty empty. Roughly between 6 – 8 other customers in the building. First off, the waitress left the empty tables filthy with dirty plates and cups. She did not bother to clean them up because she was busy chatting it up with regulars. So immediately the place felt dirty. It took her forever to get to us, again because she was busy chatting it up with a close friend. Finally we order: a half stack, an order of french toast, 1 egg, 1 order of potatoes, a cup of coffee and orange juice. The food tasted bland, very plain and dull. I tried my best to flavor it up but it was not working. The coffee was an absolute disaster. It was horrible. The service was very poor. Yes our waitress was kind but, the place was a mess, and she was not tending to her customers as she was preoccupied talking to friends. Oh, the prices are insane! We spent $ 35! The coffee and orange juice came to $ 7.50 alone. Absolute rip off. I’ve had better food and service at McDonald’s.

Experienced a couple pleasant mornings here — a great variety of classic hearty breakfast items and healthy alternatives. Amazing service, will be back for sure!

I was really put off over one silly thing but that’s just the way I am. I have enjoyed breakfasts at two of their locations Yonge Street and Mt. Pleasant just this last Wednesday when upon asking for an ice water with lemon was told by the server that they charge for the lemon. They charge 1 buck fifty or 1 buck twenty — five as since I saw RED at the word ‘charge’, I wasn’t focused on the exact amount since no matter what the charge would be, I already knew that I would not be prepared to pay anything. However, the amount of this surcharge was so outrageous that I was more interested to hear an explanation and here it is as feeble as it was. Firstly, some customers would order lemon with ice water and proceed to make their own lemonade using the sugar at the table and when I said that they must get some very nasty customers, she was quick to defend their customer base as mostly being nice. So then she tried this one on me, a lemon can cost over a dollar and if they serve only one customer lemon that day then the rest of the lemon is tossed and they need to recover the cost by charging for a whole lemon. Enough prattle! Would have left then if I had been on my own but did not want to subject my friend that I was with, to any unnecessary inconvenience so we enjoyed a breakfast special which was very good value but with just plain tap water. But since there are other diners around that can provide a decent breakfast at a fair price and still put a slice of lemon in my iced water, Hazel’s is off my list as it hard for me to imagine any diner that could not figure out a way to be able to include lemon in the ice water when requested without sounding so ridiculous when they try to justify such an exorbitant surcharge. Management should work on a better story for their servers to use on their customers rather than these excuses that are an insult to the customer’s intelligence.

Great service, the staff always seems to be on the ball and warm which starts the day off right. Breakfast special (before 11) is pretty solid and the restaurant itself is very clean and welcoming. Reliable spot for solo breakfast, visiting with friends, or bringing family members (have done all three multiple times). Usually the volume of people is pretty good so never really a problem getting a table or service (have heard on holidays it fills up).
Have only done the breakfast (special, omelettes, and the eggs bene) and one day will try lunch, so far so good!

Shared the Loaded Waffles + Poutine =$ 18 and we were both full before finishing the meal :)
The server was so friendly! You can tell she actually cares about service and the restaurant.
Only reason it’s not getting 5 stars is because the poutine had kind of a weird gravy (maybe chicken idk) and not fresh cut fries. The waffle was good though, lots of fruit toppings.

horrible food, when the owner is not there what do you expect, try to bring you in with cheap sign but when you get the bill its a surprise. way better pl, aces to eat breakfast and lunch and they only take cash. How can anyone screw up breakfast?

Four stars, but remember it IS a dinner!
NOTE: They only take cash and debit. They do NOT take credit!
Busy and very loud. Not a place for conversation. Took my elderly father there for lunch and that was a mistake due to the noise. I had to basically yell for him to be able to hear anything I said.
On the other hand, the server was excellent. Quick, knew the menu, friendly, and there when she was needed without being in the way.
My brother had the «caker». He enjoyed it but had a hard time finishing. Very generous portion and very heavy!
Based on another Unilocal review, I asked about the smoked salmon and avocado omelet. When I learned it was an egg white omelet I should have passed, but it was intrigued and ordered it anyway. I personally find egg white omelets are always a bit blander than I like and I find I want a sauce or something to zest them up … undoing any reason of not using the yolks.
The omelet was generous and plenty of fresh smoked salmon and avocado. As advertized, but next time I would request they use whole eggs and not whites or try one of the 3 – 4 other menu items that caught my eye.
On the whole. I liked the place and if I was in the area again (without my elderly father) I would return to sample more of the menu.

It’s a pretty good option for breakfast. Two tone rye bread, real potatoes, crispy bacon, 2 eggs in the breakfast special for $ 5.99. It’s clean and bright and doesn’t have the greasy spoon vibe too much.

This is a diner. An honest to goodness diner. Staff are accommodating, efficient, and friendly. Food is excellent for diner fare. I come here often through the week but stay away on weekends. To quote Yogi Berra «Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded».
I’m deliberating on a four star rating. Not so much through the fault of the diner but that of the patrons. Privileged parents and the boorish heirs can grow tiresome quickly.
Five stars it is. This is a diner!

if I could give a zero I would. My husband I have gone here on a number of occasions before kids and the food was average, prices a bit high for what is offered and staff pretty uninterested in the customers, but we never minded as it was close to home. Today I can say we will NOT be returning and NOT recommending to our friends
We met friends there for an Easter get together. When my hubbie and I walked in with our two kids one 4 years, one 18months I sat the 18 month old down to help my other and she took a few steps the waitress looked at us in an angry way and rolled her eyes. My husband also noticed and scooped her up and took her to the table warning me that we better keep a close eye on the kids as she seemed annoyed.
Our friends arrived with their 5 month old we sat and waited to order, it wasn’t too busy but it took a while to order. Our waitress was abrupt and not friendly. We ate our meal, she kept our coffee filled but that was about it. At the end our 18 month old was walking along our seats then started to go farther. so I walked behind her to keep her out of the way. The door to the steep steps to the basement was open so I thought I would close it for a few minutes just to be extra careful. When I turned around the same waitress had opened it. I asked her if she would mind if I shut it for a few minutes while we wrap up and get coats etc., just a bit safer… she said «yes, I would mind actually!» I was floored she was sooo rude. I told her my reason and she said people may bang into each other coming and going from the bathroom, I repeated my need to shut it for a few minutes, we went back and forth for a minute or two she ended up getting the owner. I said to him I though this door was closed on occasion when I was here and would like to do that while we pay bills get jackets etc. He laughed in my face and said in the three years I have owned this place Its never shut. Then an older ‘gentlemen’ at the end of the bar started telling me off for having children at the restaurant. My 4 year old had been in his seat the whole time and my 18 month old with me .
Then the waitress tells me that «This isn’t a playground, you know»! and rolls her eyes at me. I said I realize this and my daughter has been with me but walking a bit. I was a waitress I know you don’t want kids under your feet all the time, and mine wasn’t but this is a diner for families. When we go to the homeway, the granite pub or pickle barrel the staff laugh, interact and play with the kids, its a more welcoming atmosphere, with a more creative menu. I told them we would not be back they didn’t really care. I gave her 15% grudgingly as I was so upset by the way we were treated and spoken to, and the service was slow, but I’m usually a solid 20 percent. Won’t be returning and would NOT recommend for families especially those with young children.

This is a good place if you want a quick and simple breakfast. It’s a classic diner… With Toronto prices of course. I had the eggs over easy, and really liked the side of potatoes. I found the burger overcooked and a bit tough… would not get that again. Pancakes seem to be a family fave when I go.

We’ve been to Hazel’s twice now, as it’s nearby to good friends and makes for a convenient Sunday breakfast spot. Unfortunately, the undeniably friendly staff can’t make up for average food at above average prices, or the tragic comedy that is their coffee.
So what’s my gripe? Well, our most recent experience saw:
* Unreasonable and illogical upcharges for menu substitutions (turkey bacon is 50c more by menu price for a 3pc order, but $ 1.50 more for a substitution of 2pc on a breakfast).
* Questionable quality and freshness: the same turkey bacon, and accompanying sausage, were flavourless and cold upon arrival.
* Three eggs according to the menu arrived as two, and an order of over medium came barely over easy. I suppose it’s easy to slip up on quantity of eggs, but at their prices it’s annoying at best.
* Previously mentioned coffee. Words cannot describe how bad, though I’ll try: I came armed with a hangover and desperate need for caffeine, which usually translates to «I’ll drink just about any coffee-​type-​sludge you put in front of me». I couldn’t finish a cup. Sour and burnt are pretty accurate descriptors and no amount of milk and sugar could rescue it. This is a diner, people! A breakfast diner! Average coffee? Sure! Bad coffee? Ok, I can tolerate… but perhaps the worst coffee I’ve ever had? Gods, no! Who brews your coffee, Hazel? Tyler Durden?
So why two stars and not one? Well, the first experience was about a 2.5, perfectly serviceable (same awful coffee, however), and the staff really are just super likable. It’s hard to give a * review to such nice people… so let’s hope they improve their coffee, re-​examine their price structure, and do a better job of ensuring food freshness. They deserve better.
But then again, so too do their customers.

My friend and I happened by this place after a long run in the rain; we were ready for a greasy breakfast and that’s pretty much what we got. No surprises.
The service was friendly — joking about the rain and getting drenched. We ordered coffee and our meals. I had an eggs Benedict with a side of sausage. It was average food; I think it spent too much time under the heat lamp since the hollandaise had congealed and burned a bit (somehow?). They had a couple servers for a packed place due to the rain but they had things under control.
Overall it’s a decent place if you’re in the area.

This is a small but busy diner in Toronto that has good service but just average food. They specialize in breakfast and have the usual items like Eggs and bacon, French a Toast, Waffles, and Pancakes.

Went on a Sunday and there was a lineup at ~ 1:30 pm. Understandably — the food was good, service was good. I love the salmon & avocado omelette. Definitely a neighbourhood gem.

Nice little breakfast spot we tried for the first time today and took it as take out. Both got the Canadian omelette which was good, packed full of bacon and onions. Not the most amazing place ever, but good.

Breakfast at this newish, attractive eatery was uninspired, to say the least. The décor set it apart from a typical diner or greasy spoon, but the breakfast special was just about average.
The eggs were overdone, the home fries were bland and lifeless, and the brown toast was «Wonder”-ful. I think I remember the bacon being described as «weird».
The waiter was attentive and the coffee flowed freely.
If you are looking for breakfast in this general area, you’d do better 1.6 kms northeast at Mars
or the Sunset Grill
, on Yonge just north of Eglinton.

This is a cute diner and an alternative to the pub brunch in my neighbourhood. The regular breakfast dish (eggs, bacon, home fries & toast) was well made and not greasy — so bonus points. The tea at $ 3 per pot, while the coffee is $ 2.50, is not though!
But it’s a cute place and the meal was well cooked.

My first visit to this place was delightful by all counts. The service was outstandingly good, the food was amazing, but the price was a little much for breakfast. It is a clean and modern looking diner and they serve a wide variety of breakfast options. I had the hazel hash ($ 14) and it was an amazing blend of meat, eggs and potatoes. The portion sizes are huge and the serving time was quick. They had freshly squeezed juices and coffee available though it has to be said the coffee was a little underwhelming. I will have to go back to try out their other menu items as it all looks delicious.
Notes: The washroom is very clean and has a cool sink!