Starving Artist

Starving Artist is such a cozy and fun spot, perfect for brunch or a casual meal. The atmosphere is warm and artsy, with local artwork hung all over the restaurant—and many of the pieces are actually for sale, which makes the space feel creative and unique. The waffles are absolutely delicious—crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and served with generous toppings. Portions are satisfying, and everything tastes fresh and well-prepared. The staff are friendly, welcoming, and attentive, which really adds to the overall experience. A great place to enjoy comfort food while supporting local artists. Highly recommend!

I would have written this review years ago but I never have any pictures to post because by the time I think to grab my phone, we've already inhaled our food. My husband and I have been coming here since before the pandemic, when life felt a lot simpler. Through the years, this place has been our constant. Our go-to order is Eggs Benny, Strawberry mini waffles, both with a side of greens and baked beans, often paired with an Americano. We rarely stray from this order because, for years, it has been consistently perfect. The staff are lovely, friendly, and attentive. Even if life gets in the way and we don’t make it in for a few months, they remember our order the second we walk through the door. We also love the clean, minimalistic, relaxed atmosphere, the great music, and the local art for sale on the walls. If I could give this place a 6/5, I would. To the staff: Thank you for all your hard work (we see you ☺️) and for being such a dedicated, reliable part of our lives and the community.

Went when there was literally no other customers. Food was incredible and the only things were that hot coffee was served in a glass and I was too full to have dessert which made me sad. Staff were friendly and funny. It's super out of the way but worth it if you want savoury waffles. Omelette was fluffy and smooth

I was excited to try this place after hearing that there were gluten and dairy free options. It turns out that there are very few gluten free/vegan toppings aside from fruit, so I decided to get the avocado toast on a gluten free waffle. The inside of the waffle was extremely wet and slimy. I tried to take a few bites, but it was honestly inedible. On top of the slimy texture, it also tasted strongly of banana, which was a very gross flavour for avocado toast. Nowhere on the menu did it say that the gluten free option was a banana waffle, and the server didn’t mention it when I ordered. I flagged down the server to send back my food. I showed her the slimy inside of the waffle and said it might be undercooked. She denied it, saying that it was cooked long enough and that their gluten free waffles are always mushy in the middle. Despite sending back most of the waffle uneaten, the bill came with everything charged at full price and no apology offered. Needless to say, I will not be coming back.

This was my third time visiting this location and at this point, it's my favourite breakfast spot. The staff are friendly and fast, the food is absolutely delicious (perfect poached eggs, omg!), the establishment is clean with a cozy atmosphere and the prices are pretty reasonable. Today I had the 'Sammy Benny' and we also split a blueberry dessert waffle - they did not disappoint! Highly recommend!

I love that we were given an option to try the potato waffles and the sweet version for our Sunny Benny. The Chai latte is so good too though, we forgot to ask if the milk was regular or we can have lactose free milk/soy milk. Anyways, everything was so good. Stumbled upon this place by chance as we were returning a car rental in the neighborhood. Finally, a brunch place that we were able to try. We got there in a very busy time where most of the tables were dirty but the lady who attended to us was fast and friendly. No lost points for those.

What a wonderful way to start your day by coming to this place! Our group came for brunch on a Saturday and enjoyed the superb service, delicious food and great coffee. Bonus points for having plenty of parking because they are situated in a small mall and we didn’t need to wait for a table!

I tried Starving Artist for brunch and really enjoyed it! The waffle was crispy and fluffy, and the fried chicken was juicy with a nice seasoning. The combo of sweet and savory worked perfectly together. The portion was just right enough to leave me full but not overly heavy. It’s a great comfort food option if you’re craving something satisfying for brunch. Definitely would come here again!

Cute atmosphere! I appreciate the family friendly vibes, and super accommodating staff. While the food we ordered looked great, and seemed fresh, everything I tried was oddly dry. From an overcooked omelet that really could have used more cheese, to the waffles that came with no butter and were ever so slightly overcooked, the execution was a miss. That said, I wish I had a spot like Starving Artist in my neighborhood. I'm sure once you get used to the menu, it's pretty easy to make a custom order that fixes any of the problems you might experience.

Friend suggested this place. We have been here a few times already and love it. It's often busy. Staff is nice, food is great what else could you ask for? Try the Nutella latte. We order it every time we go. Their eggs bennies are delicious and the portions are very fair for the price. You can either have it with waffles or potato waffles. Yes that's right, they serve much of the food on waffles.

Wasn't much of a fan eating here. I saw waffles and was like yes immediately. Love the menu warning though. I got vegan chocolate chip waffles and they weren't the best thing I've eaten. I taste a regular waffle and was like I should've gotten that instead. But oh well I ate 2.5 of them. The restaurant seems to be very popular, but small on the inside. Restrooms were very clean. Service was a little slow this day. It was as if we and the people next to us were forgotten about but the waitress was very friendly and helpful with suggestions.

Did somebody say WAFFLES? Who knew that waffles and breakfast went together. Fresh ingredients, made to order, and the toppings are unreal! I've been here a hand full of times and they service is always great and I am never leaving disappointed.. The sides are pretty cool too! Healthy but the beans and potato salad are DIVINE! I would recommend if something wants to try this one of a kind breakfast/brunch spot!

So yummy! Great staff and yummy food/coffee. Potato waffle is my go to. Lots of free easy parking.

Visited them for brunch last Sunday! We were able to get in directly.. no wait time. The menu contains of lots of dishes with waffles (every dish had waffles in some form; both sweet and savoury). The coffee(Double Espresso) was fantastic! The foot was meh. I tried Sammy Benny. It comes with two small waffles topped with poached eggs, smoked salmon, hollandaise sauce and capers. You can substitute a regular waffle with potato waffle for ($1 up charge per waffle). I substituted one regular waffle with potato waffle so that I could try both of them. I found the waffles exterior soggy/chewy instead of crispy, given that waffles are all they do. I wasn't too impressed. Wife tried the mixed veggie sandwich. It was an open faced sandwich with tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, avocado, cucumbers, mixed greens & secret sauce(read plain yogurt). She substituted both her waffles with potato waffle. She liked her dish. The service seemed rushed and impersonal. The washroom was clean and there was a changing station too.

So we were out for some hospital appointment and we decided yo treat ourselves with this unique experience. So we called to see if they take reservations, which they don't they mentioned there is no queue so we drove to this location, located in a strip mall, they have ample of free parking. They are very strict on and thorough on their COVID Rules. Which is good for me. The washroom is gender neutral equipped with baby changing table. So once we were seated, we scanned the menu and while we were still trying to decide on the menu the server came twice to ask what would we like to eat, we felt rushed so we ordered a espresso coffee, which was exceptionally delicious. On her third visit in 5 mins we ended up ordering food, and within a second we just requested to change the toppings on our waffle and they refused to do it, the reason that they have already started preparing the order. Lol. Anyways we cannot dislike them for this, we were the one who placed the order, doesn't matter if we were rushed into it. While they served the coffee they did not serve any sugar or creme with it, so I walked and requested the server sugar, so she gave me one sugar from a open pantry placed at the customer side in the dining area. Now I wanted 2 more sugar so i got up to get another packs of sugar before my coffee gets cold and by Mistake without reading the note sticked below the shelf i picked the sugar, well I startled as the server TOLD ME THAT I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO TOUCH IT AND NOW SHE HAS TO THROW THE CUP ( which had some sugar sachets) , I apologized immediately but It didn't matter I had to hear in a mean tone. ( again it was my mitake) I should have waited for my coffee to get cold and the server to visit our table, and should have read the instructions on the shelf. So our order come out, looked huge . We ordered- 1 veggie pancake salad platter with extra topping of cheese and upgraded the waffles to potato waffles and with an extra side of maple beans. For my husband he ordered egg benny waffles ( 1 regular waffle and 1 potato) The waffles were undercooked rest all was delicious. But again if you are going to a waffle place you expect them to be exceptional and these were not even average ones. The portions were pretty good, we had plans to order one dessert waffle later but we were so full. I think if they learn to be patient with their service and cooking, they could do a lot better.

The best breakfast/brunch I had. Been here couple of times before the pandemic and their service and take out is as great as usual! I got the fully loaded, salmon bennies, pineapple banana waffle dessert and chai latte. All meals came with salad and a choice or fruit, potato salad or maple beans. They gave a generous portion which I ended up sharing! Very yummy, the poached eggs were perfect and loved the potato salad! My chai latte was missing sweetness. Other than that brunch was delicious! Glad to have one close to home :)

The starving Artist knows how to do brunch!!!! Visited here for the first time and was greeted promptly upon entering. The restaurant is following all COVID guidelines for Toronto too. I ordered the spicy chicken waffle sandwich it was spectacular. The chicken was seasoned very well and had the appropriate amount of spice and buffalo/hot sauce. It came with a salad too and I choose fruit as the optional side. The portion size is vast and I couldn't finish it. Everything was so good from the salad, fruit, waffle, water, and syrup. The waffle also didn't need syrup either and that says a lot. Definitely check this place out for good munches.

I will always have a soft spot for Starving Artist and their potato waffle bennys. However, I do have to say that the service at this location is impeccable! We ordered take out when we were here last because of the dining restrictions that were in place, and each item we ordered had a hand written thank you and illustration on it - it's such a small gesture but it definitely put a big smile on our faces. Now that dining is open again, we can't wait to come back for in house service!

Took my partner here for bday breakfast. We enjoyed the food and staff was very friendly. They even gave my partner a bday card! They sure made the experience special. Restaurant is located directly beside High Park Brewery if you need to pick up a few cold ones on the way home

Went with my daughter...the food looks nice but it's below average, waffles are just ok and my whole meal was room temperature. My cappuccino was very foamy. The servers are nice but service is slow and in the whole hour we were there the server came only once to our table....i would not go here again

Still mourning the lansdowne location but went to the Danforth. Waffles Benny with avocado were great. Greens were crisp and nicely dressed. Companion's fruit salad looked fresh and no ubiquitous melon. Potato waffles could have been a touch more crisp and the hollandaise a bit more tart but overall very good. Americanos were strong and the service was excelle

I live a few kms away from this location and am utterly dumbfounded that a restaurant of this style chose to locate here. It is a rough and ready hood on a good day, with the Dizzy Dingo next door say no more. The citizens near by have never eaten this type of glamorous breakfast food and am not sure any locals could even pronounce the menu items. Perhaps Starving Artist is caught in a time warp circa 2035 when people who actually have manners are living in this area. I have enjoyed a few brunches here with female friends, which is how it is best suited. I wish the owner luck but am not sure he hung out around here before signing the lease.

This place needs a forensic cleaning. It's likely the food is good but the staff were standing around and there was food, garbage and grime all over the floor so we left.

This place recently opened and I've never been to another location, but they say they are famous for their waffles. They have two kinds: potato waffles and the traditional waffles. My guess is peoples favorite is split down the middle so you pretty much gotta try both to make your own decision. I preferred the traditional but wife preferred the potato. They had decently size portions and it was quite good. The Benedict has wonderful (possibly farm fresh) eggs that were delicious. We went in middle of day on weekday so it was not busy at all. The service was nice and helpful but they were not busy. I did not like the cash only, they did have an atm.

Split the chicken sandwich waffle and the Boston creams. So much food, with salad and beans or fruit on the side. And delicious ... should have started with that!

Great food and service. Had the B.Benny. You can replace the bacon with guacamole. Also you can get a refill on your Americano for $1. Note that they only accept cash. There is an ATM machine in the restaurant.

Glad to see this franchise open in this neighbourhood. The plaza is up and coming with plenty of parking space. Next door to the newly open High Park Brewery. Service was pretty slow but I assume it's because they opened not long ago and understaffed for Sunday Brunch. Potato waffles are the best and enjoy the free substitute of bacon for avocados. Coffee tasted burnt, spicy chicken meat tasted processed and wouldn't recommend it.

Food was great, service was great but the place could be a bit cleaner. Front windows needed a good polish and floor under the table had food that someone had stepped on. Would definitely give it a second chance!

Consistent with their customer service and the food is always great! I love going to this location along with the St. Clair locations and it's thumbs up every time. I find myself tipping the cooks and chefs at the back for such a proper meal! 10/10 would highly recommend.

It's quite busy on weekends, the service is slow, it's cash only, but damn do these people know their way around a waffle. The waffle benny are some of the best eggs Benedict I have had, hands down. The potato salad also makes an excellent accompaniment. Affordable prices too!

After about four visits, I can vouch for the consistently great service and food at this location! The staff are super friendly and well-organized. Love the waffle sandwiches and potato waffles and that you can opt for healthier sides like salad fruit. Two thumbs up!

Amazing. I'm pretty blown away. Brunch is hard to impress me with as I consider myself quite the cook and foodie and their food was awesome! We also are gluten free and the options blew us away and tasted great! We had 5 dishes delivered via Uber eats: waffles & bacon, Benny, and a BLT to name a few. The plates arrived beautifully prepped and served with tons of fresh fruit. We will absolutely be visiting this location as a family for brunch. Kudos. Super awesome. Made our Sunday.

Amazing breakfast options! Try the potato waffle. Very yummy. Very friendly staff and kid friendly atmosphere. Came twice in same week and would come again without hesitation. They have both indoor and patio seats available.

Amazing addition to the neighborhood, very accommodating with a baby and stroller. Food is incredible!