Vesta Lunch

The restaurant space was much smaller than what I was expecting. Very convenient location and close to Dupont station. Accept credit payment, and food is ok.

Had a great time here last night. Luis made me feel very comfortable and was very kind. The pie was great, would recommend

It's pretty cool that this diner has been around for over 7 decades. The layout of the diner has been kept the same. Very authentic and cosy when you walk in. Menu is basic breakfast and lunch plus some Latin food items. The service is always kind and prompt. The food was delicious. Been here twice already trying the burger, tacos, french toast, bacon and eggs and empanadas. It's all delicious and feels like comfort food. Prices are great and just an overall nice experience.

This place was once a great diner but now it’s an absolute rip off. It’s $25 for a painfully basic borderline mediocre 2 egg breakfast and coffee…yes this is final price after tax/tip but I can’t stress how basic and small the portions are. You could make a better breakfast at home for peanuts…the only benefit from new management is they now take visa/amex…so it’s not cash only anymore….their prices have just sky rocketed and the food is nothing to write home about…so stay home and learn how to make an over easy egg yourself

There’s no denying the authenticity of this roadside diner that presents like a truck stop diner in an art house movie. The decor and kitchen equipment appear unchanged from its founding 1950s. Expect heaping mounds of hospitality and generous servings of well prepared sandwiches, classic all day breakfast eggs, sausage and bacon with home fries and bottomless coffee, along with some choice Colombian and Mexican. There’s even a vegan poutine! Countertop service only, all you need is to bring a smile!

We had the food truck experience for a work event. Right off the bat, it gave unorganized vibes. We preordered the food from a set menu that likely was provided to Vesta before hand - to prepare etc. We ended up ordering again at the truck. Order by order, everything was hand written. The menu was condensed (4-5 items, tacos, nachos, chicken sandwich) but one thing is the cook was preparing each order individually. Not sure if it was lack of training/experience but it was a small menu/set items. Everything is a heat and serve process which still took forever. I got there fairly early and had to wait 45 mins so I’m sure others had to wait longer. People either missed out on lunch or their meeting. Also, the one taking the orders helped turn on the burner and I guess the gas was on for a little so by the time they used a bbq lighter, it went boom! Startled everyone! If you’re reading this Vesta. Please group the orders, have the server pair up 2-4 orders so the cook can move efficiently. Instead of heating up beef for one, heat 3 and make the veg option. Train the server to help pack the food etc. Imagine having to wait 30 mins to place your order then wait 45 mins (maybe longer, I was the early bird) for your food during work hours. Had the chicken sandwich, which wasn’t edible but the others said the nachos and taco were fine.

I used to live across The street from Vesta… And eat there all of the time. It was a staple in the neighbourhood and I loved it. I went there tonight for the first time in over 15 years. I can’t describe how disappointed I am. I should have been forewarned by the fact that not a soul was in there. I got the same thing I always used to get, which was the Greek souvlaki pita. Pretty standard for a diner like that to have a decent souvlaki. Unfortunately, not this one The chicken is not Actually souvlaki… It is tiny morsels of regular Chicken breast. And barely enough to be a few OZ. of meat. The tzatziki was runny, and tasted more like a ranch, flavoured dressing. Definitely shouldn’t be calling that tzatziki. The pita itself was thick and warm and decent … But the overall sandwich/meal itself was quite small. And intensely disappointing. I asked for salad instead of fries and got about 3/4 cups worth of iceberg lettuce, with NO DRESSING, Very few veggies you’d find in a Greek salad… No olives… And barely a scrap of feta. It’s not even that hard to make a decent Greek salad people. I don’t understand??? The worst part of all of it is this meal cost me $20… And I decided to give the old Vesta a try… and be nostalgic….- instead of going to the authentic and delicious Greek diner in my neighbourhood. Where $20 get you enough food for two meals. I won’t make that mistake again. I guess I knew there was new management at some point… But boy has it gone downhill.

I have lived in Toronto all my life and finally had a cheeseburger and fries. 24 hour Diner has been here since 1955. Everything was exactly as expected. A solid, basic meal at a fair price. I was hungry and my meal was delicious. Big menu. Old-skool atmosphere and very narrow, with cp24 on a tv at the end. I was only customer so service was polite and prompt. One of the best places if you are looking for a classic greasy spoon. I parked on a side street just north. They do pickup/delivery.

A bit run down but friendly enough lady working there who was the chef, waitress and everything! My friend got the liver which he said was average and I got the all day breakfast which was a little on the greasy side even for a cafe. Probably would return if in the hood and desperate

5 stars for the experience -- 3 stars (or less) for the food. I mean, this place is historic so it's worth trying at least once. Especially in the middle of the night after hitting the bars, considering it's open 24/7. It's the most authentically retro, no-frills diner in town, so you can definitely get a good photo shoot here at the very least. It would actually be a unique place to bring a group of people for a party. And you probably won't need to reserve the party in advance since the place seems empty a lot of the time, despite its prime location at the corner of Bathurst & Dupont. Anyway, the food was forgettable. I ordered a grilled cheese and fries. Ho hum. And no gravy was available (boo). The best part was most definitely the milkshakes. Strawberry was good but chocolate was best. Like I said, it's the experience that counts. Come here for a shake and fries and feel like you've time-travelled back to 1955.

I used to go here only for the Toasted Western. Never really stopped in to try anything else. Recently I went in and ordered the fish and chips and beef empanadas. A lot of menu items they didn't have so we opted for those. The menu listed coleslaw with the fish and chips on the overhead menu above the counter. When I got home I realized the coleslaw was missing. Since we live close we went back and asked for it. We were then told they were out. So instead of informing us while placing the order, they just hoped we wouldn't notice? I would have liked to at least been told so I could pick something else or get a substitution for it BEFORE I left. They offered us a salad as a substitute for the missing coleslaw and it didn't taste fresh. It tasted as if it was made a few days prior and was left sitting in a tub in the fridge with tomato juices. The fish wasn't great either, just a frozen fish patty they fry up. The outside was crisp but the inside was soggy. My mom ordered the empanadas and they didn't look appetizing at all. She took one bite and threw the pit because they didn't taste good at all.

There's no mistaking Vesta for a diner, and true to form, you will not be disappointed. Service is cheerful, and fast. The menu selection is decent and the quality is what would be expected. Unfortunately, perhaps for the time, no satisfaction of a craving off hours.

I love a good diner so I decided to visit one. There's just something about a diner that, despite the shapes and sizes they come in, feel something like home. // Diner Dash: Sunny Side Up // I went to check out Vesta one evening. With just one bar and a row of stools to accompany it, It has to be the smallest diner I've ever been in. I was greeted by the lady you see in my photo and ordered some breakfast. My eggs are usually scrambled, but I decided to get them Sunny Side Up. The food was good and as I was about to take my last bite, the lady asked me how the meal was. We started talking about diners and why the food sometimes feels like home. Back in the 70s, the lady was just a little girl entering Vesta with her 6 siblings and father. They just arrived in Canada and Vesta was becoming their morning routine. She remembered how her father would proudly tell others that the 7 kids were his and it was there that she had eggs for the first time as breakfast. It just wasn't a breakfast item where she was from. When she explained how later she would call back home to her father to tell him that she now worked at this tiny diner, there was so much heart found in her voice. Her father, Canada as her new home and eggs for breakfast all become rooted in Vesta. The lady hopes to continue cooking there for a long time. I smiled back, told her I hope she can too, and took the last bite of my eggs. They really did taste Sunny Side Up.

Old fashioned diner you don't see in downtown Toronto anymore. One counter with stools and open kitchen,no pretentious. Menu is typical diner style, lots of fried food etc. This place is not fancy at all and its well worn but I enjoyed my sandwich and the tastiest fries I've had in a long time. Server was cheerful and obliging. Good spot for a quick old timey meal to eat in or take out.

Steak and Eggs were delightful. HOT and fresh. I enjoyed sitting in this linear space, hearing the server cook the food beside me. The coffee was freshly made the moment the server saw my group come in. Old diners like this in Toronto don't hit the same. This made my weekend.

8:10 am Sep 24: I ordered for pick up through DoorDash at around 7:40. The order sat for a while without being confirmed so I called at about 8:05 to follow up. The old guy working there didn't even know what I was talking about. I explained I ordered through DoorDash for pick up and he starts yelling saying he doesn't know what that is. He yells that he doesn't know what I'm talking about and hangs up. Not ordering from or coming back to this garbage restaurant that doesn't even know that food courier apps are a thing and where the employees don't know how to show respect.

This diner was so dirty/grimy that I could not bring myself to order any food for fear of getting a food borne illness. I ordered a milk shake and tried not to drink too much. On the plus side, the server was kind and hard working.

This diner has been around as long as I can remember and today I finally decided to try it. They are a 24 hour diner with decent prices and loads of options to choose from. It's very small and you're sitting bar style. I decided to order the steak and eggs and for the price of 13 dollars, it was pretty good. It also comes with toast and home fries. Something about their home fries just tasted better than most places; maybe more pepper? The service wasn't too great cause I asked for water twice and never got it but I did go in at 2am with half a full restaurant and only 1 server. Beware they only take cash so be prepared.

I live only 5 minutes walking to get here, but never really get a chance to try it. Then yesterday they opened a one of the stand on the busker fest at yonge-dundas. I thought that why don't give it a try, i bought their pork souvlaki dinner for $9. I thought that they would give me a generous portion with roasted potatoes, etc ( like most of the souvlaki has ) but all i got was a rice, little amount of pork and lettuce.. I think it's ok if the taste was good, but it was really bland! I was totally devastated and it wasn't worth at all!! No doubt there wasn't many people buy from them. There's a lot of different greek restaurant that offers better souvlaki than them.

One of the last authentic old school diners left in Toronto. No tables, just a counter facing the open kitchen, open 24/7. Put on your fedora, pull up a stool, and take a trip back 60 years! Vesta Lunch - Reputable Since 1955!

Classic diner. No booths. Everyone sits at counter. Not many seats. About 20. Can be crowded on weekend mornings but rarely a line up. Take cash only. Staff are very nice. Lots of regulars. May not get your order perfect first time but they will be happy to fix if you ask.

Had some work to do early in the morning and the Starbucks doesn't open until 6, and Timmies is full of homeless people Best grilled cheese sandwich I ever had, and at 5am too!

I feel like we all know the sign. We've past it hundreds of times and up until the other day I never even thought about stepping inside to see what type of food they serve. I ended up going in because I was waiting for a store in the area to open at 12. It's a greasy spoon in every sense of the word. You don't come here for a gourmet dining experience or even a night out with friends. It's only limited counter seating and everything is made before your eyes. The menu has a fair selection of greasy spoon favourites; you know, sandwiches, breakfasts, souvlaki, etc. and everything is done well. I had a sandwich was toasted to a perfect golden brown. I will admit the accompanying fries had a bit of a strange taste but they were still easily finished. I believe my meal was supposed to come with coleslaw which was replaced by a tomato slice, but I really wasn't looking forward to the coleslaw anyway. Service is prompt and despite sitting at the counter, they are fantastic about not hovering over you. Price point is reasonable. It's ideal comfort food served in a relaxed setting. I will be returning to this location in the future.

Fresh Burgers, Shakes, Fries, loved it. Shake was a 10. Burger was an 8. Service was a 10. Open very late. Generally open 24/7. Always down to make the drive to Vestas. Thanks for a friendly and classic diner experience!

Vesta Lunch On Wheels - the food truck Korean fusion Canadian food was the theme of the day for the truck. I got the bulgogi poutine. For $10 it was a large serving almost ate the whole thing but was really full & it was delicious - covered in LOTS of gravy the way I like it. They didn't skimp on the beef and kimchi - which added sweet and spicy flavours. It's everything you want a greasy poutine to be and it just hits the spot with an asian spin - I would definitely get it again! Their regular burger was $8.00 and was solid food truck burger no complaints. The older asian man serving was very nice as well

Absolutely disgusting. Ordered the hot chicken sandwich with fries and gravy and vegetables. I know it's a diner but I do expect the food to be somewhat edible. My order was fried up chicken scraps on toasted bread. No gravy, no vegetables. When I told the cook that this not what I ordered...he gave me attitude like I was in the wrong. In all my life eating out I have never encountered such awful attitude. Also, I question the cooks hygiene. I am not exaggerating. I hate giving negative reviews but it was absolutely disgusting.

I love Vesta Lunch! I can always rely on this place for a hearty and satisfying meal with friendly service. I have come here at all hours of the day and always get amazing service. Great people and a charming spot. Also just want to note, this is a late night diner! Also not sure why people seem to be expecting a high end restaurant experience, this an old school diner dating back to the 50's.

The good: If you ever feel like going back in time to a different era, check this place out. Has a very old school / retro vibe. They have a pretty large and diverse menu with reasonable prices which is good. The bad: For starters, it's a very tight space. Not roomy at all. The place looks a bit run down with some ripped seat, worn paint, and lack of overall cleanliness. They only accept cash, and service is slow. I also don't see them washing their hands after handling money or different types of food.. We just came here for a snack and ordered fries. They didn't put any salt so they weren't very good. If this were any other place, I would give one star. But since they are a small independent family owned diner stuck in the past, my expectations weren't as high.

REPUTABLE SINCE 1955. Reading their ridiculous sign, I'm overjoyed with this place before I even walk in. What I walk into suits me just fine--the long bar that extends in front of me makes up the entirety of the dining space, and wafting in the air is the faint smell of my grandparent's kitchen (cooking grease and formica--mmmm). Two orders of eggs, bacon, potatoes toast and coffee plus a chocolate shake to share are ordered. The breakfast potatoes were AMAZING. The scrambled eggs were 30% butter, which, as it turns out, is amazing. If this frightens you, have your eggs fried. My DP's were fried to perfection. Bacon was acceptable. Coffee was good, and refilled promptly. Choc shake was I think made chocolate with syrup (don't quote me on this), but it was served with one of those great tins that holds everything that won't fit in the glass, which made up for it. Service was perfect. Everything was absolutely classic except the Sirracha sauce offered-- and I'm fully willing to sacrifice theme for Sirracha. This experience came in at $22. Get your tush onto one of these stools, man.

The Good: 1. Cool looking place it reminds me of a old school dinner out of the states. 2. Great Asian Chef working mostly in the nights who takes pride in his work 3. Friendly people and atmosphere The Bad: 1. Out dated paying methods; you pay either cash or use their ATM to withdrawal. 2. Not the cleanest place I been too, i noticed it has a weird odour as your sitting waiting for your food. 3. Not the cleanest bathrooms 4. There is a older white male as a chef in there who is in his 50's and does NOT look clean at all. Numerous times I've been there and seen him deal with meat,fish, eggs and touch other foods which leads to cross contamination and which is unacceptable. Im surprised that he still even works here for that long after all the complaints I heard from customers and employees. The Truth Its just a place to swing by and get some fast food and pray that you don't get sick. Its also a nice drunk spot after a night out and you need some type of food in your system. Not a place i recommend on a first date!

This 5-star rating is based solely upon how fantastic Vesta Lunch is for a hangover on a late Saturday afternoon following a staff party where too many alcoholic beverages were consumed the previous night. With that clearly out of the way, one has to give Vesta kudos for both its longevity (est. 1955), the sheer volume of its eclectic menu, its price point and the hours of operation cannot be beat. With a waning 24 hour diner scene in the city, Vesta is a welcome sight at 3:30am or whatever other ungodly hour one deems fit to enjoy authentic Souvalaki and a milkshake. With an all-day breakfast and light speed service thrown into the mix, Vesta is worthy competition for even the greasiest of spoons.

There is nothing high brow about this place. There are hardly any seats, and often you have to sit beside some obnoxious drunk guy, who is too loud, invading your personal space and is hitting on your best friend. But that's all a part of the charm of this 24 hour diner at the corner of Bathurst and Dupont. For the longest time, I use to drive-by this place on my way home, when I lived in North York and I was always curious as to how greasy their spoons were. Well when I finally stopped in, I wasn't disappointed. My staple is to order a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon. The bacon isn't on the side, it's actually a part of the sandwich. delicious. I don't make a habit of coming here, but if it's late night, and I'm passing by, you may catch me enjoying a sandwich here.

Updated review: Another visit: this time I walked out without even being served. SO disappointing after walking all the way there. NO consistency in this place. ............................................................. Please don't think me too fickle, but my most recent trip there was good. The cook was nice and didn't mind my 10 requests for how I specifically wanted my breakfast prepared. The breakfast was good. ........................................... Below is how much I didn't like the servers the last time I was there: This place has gone DOWNHILL! In the past, it's been nice for a greasy bacon and egg breakfast - but the hacks working there now just aren't cut out for serving food. I don't want to insult the rotund woman serving the food - but they need to widen the space behind the counter because she can't walk behind the counter without bouncing off it frequently and knocking things over on the serving counter. And she is rather clueless as a server. I didn't get the Coke that I asked for, and no Ketchup for the fries. No toast. It sat waiting to be toasted after she asked if I wanted brown bread or white. And then - when I was done eating, and pushed my plate to the side and wanted to get the cheque - she just kept walking past me and walking past me and ..... ..... ..... And it would be nice if the cook did a little better timing his preparation. I asked for fries for the second breakfast I ordered (OK - call me a pig) - because I couldn't stomach more than one bite of their pitiful excuse for fried potato mush (I guess they call that crud home fries or something - but it's about the most mushy, soggy, luke warm excuse for such a thing you'll ever see). I mean that mess was WORSE than your usual crude they reheat to go with bacon and eggs. But my mistake asking for fries meant that the rest of my food got cold sitting on a plate after the cook took the eggs and bacon off the grill to wait and wait and wait for the fries. So the eggs and bacon arrive cold. Thanks. And the grunge in this place!!!! Little flies sticking to a sign that hasn't been cleaned in years - and you don't - I mean you DON'T want to see the handle of their frying pan or the block they use to clean off the grill. Some genius has taken rope of some kind and wrapped it around the handles on those two tools - and the handles are a disgusting grease soaked grungefest. Someone really should grab a picture of what I'm talking about. Sorry I didn't get a pic for you. Because words can't begin to describe the completely grease soaked through dirty rope wrapped around the handles of the tools they use to prepare YOUR food. There is NO WAY IN THE WORLD those two things could pass a health inspection visit. No way.

Its a small diner with very little room. Its open 24 hours, and if you're are looking a place to eat where you can good value for your dollar, Vesta is a great place to go. The food is very hardy and simple (better value than going to a harveys.) However I would like to highlight something on their menu that is tops, its the 'house fries' they have. Its actually chopped potato mash, that are cooked on top of the flat grill, and its given a sprinkling of salt, pepper, sweet paprika (and will never find its way into the frier.) Wish other places did this. Anyways, the food is simple, filling, and perfect for those people who are hungry after hitting the clubs/bars, and they don't over charge you. Don't expect anything gourmet, its a greasy spoon that serves comfort food for those who are hungry at 3am.

I think this diner is receiving unwarranted negative reviews, simply because people don't understand the vestige associated with it. A lot of the commenters and reviewers alike are simply too young to recall a time when this kind of establishment was both very well-received and very popular. To this day, among an older crowd, it remains as such, and this is mainly due to its "in and out" atmosphere, as well as its decor, its servings, and its prices. The prices are fair. You will not get the same amount of food, nor the same quality of food, that you would get at a similar "vintage" diner, such as Teddy's on Old Kingston Road. However, the location for Vesta Lunch is at the crossroads of a very busy and very well known intersection close to the downtown core of Toronto. This provides shipping problems, food-wise, as well as convenience for a larger group of people within the area. Multiplied, these factors make the slightly more expensive (in relation to the quantity of food you get) Vesta seem more than fairly priced. The atmosphere, while dirty to some, harkens back to an era where it was considered quite normal to smoke indoors, to drink alcohol with breakfast, and to chat amongst other patrons who themselves were strangers. With the advent of cellphones, a more restrictive LLBO, and indoor smoking laws, this kind of atmosphere simply does not exist. Couple that with the fact that family run diners are now few and far between in Toronto, and you have what may just be, the most original and classic "grease pit" breakfast stop in all of the greater core of the GTA. Your grandparents were attending this place. Your parents were attending this place. You're attending this place. One thing I can guarantee you is that it has always been a grease pit, and a place to rest and enjoy a quick meal. That was its original marketing appeal, and even to today, remains its main marketing appeal.

@vestalunchto Food Truck | Bulgogi Wrap with Fries || Unfortunately, a gimmicky wrap with muted Korean flavours and diluted sauce. The sauce wasn't thick enough and dripped everywhere! They should stick with diner basics and not promote Korean fusion. ||| This food truck was parked at Bloor & Bedford, right beside the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning. It originated from the owners of Vesta Lunch Diner at Dupont and Bathurst. #VestaLunchTO #VestaLunch #foodtruck #fries #bulgogiwrap #bulgogi #lettuce #redonions #carrots #foodie #urbanfoodie #TOEats #TOFood #Toronto #torontoeats #yyzeats #lunch #Korean #KoreanFusion #KoreanNotReally

At Vesta, you get what you expect. There's no need to pretend here at Vesta. It's a mom & pop (without the mom) cash-only 24h diner located on the NE corner of Dupon & Bathurst. You're don't go to Vesta at 2am expecting gourmet food. It serves its purpose. I work in the area, so am only here during lunch hours. Having said that, the food isn't spectacular. I come here sober, during daylight hours, sans food beer-goggles. So my rating is based on comparing Vesta with its surround places around Bathurst, and it falls short. I tried it out a couple of weeks ago. Although the menu has primarily Greek items, I opted for the Fish & Chips, which only came with one piece of fish. The fries were nothing special. It also came with a serving of salad. The tartar sauce is given in packet form. They do have a solid male-only following during the day. These regulars seem to be in no hurry when dining here. Since I am not in the area at the wees hours of the day, I won't ever get to experience Vesta in its full glory, but that doesn't bother me.

If Edward Hopper lived in Toronto and decided to paint his famous painting "Nighthawks" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks) in Toronto, you'd see a few people at the counter and a cook making cheeseburgers in front of the grill at Vesta Lunch while traffic slid by in the night along Dupont. This is as diner-y as you can get. Forget the faux quaintness of the Fran's franchise (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/frans-restaurant-toronto), this is the greasy spoon of all greasy spoons. It's a shoebox of a place that has possibly four to five tables, and a counter that runs the length of the restaurant with stools for singles to sit, eat, and not bother to hang around long. You go in, you eat, you leave, and are able to do so, 24 hours a day. The clientele will run the gamut from locals looking for a quick bite, those of a "harder" ilk, looking for a cheap lunch, and those that are hammered from a night of drinking looking for something to put in their bellies at 3:00am. All of this does not take away from the fact that as diner food goes, this stuff is really good. Never had a bad meal here, but since they've been slinging hash since 1955, you'd assume they've got it right by now. The interior may not be for everyone or even first-date-friendly, but this place more than serves a necessary purpose. You're able to get good food quick and cheap. And not just lunch, as you may infer by the name.

I liked this place, but I think I was more in love with *the idea* of this place. You know what I mean? I love me some diners, some burgers, some souvlaki. And this one has a super-cool atmosphere on top of all that, with its long, skinny counter and flourescent lighting. The staff were definiitely interesting and friendly, and twenty-four hour joints always get bonus points with me. Maybe if I went during the wee hours and not the early evening, maybe if it was a post-drinking visit (which is tough, as far as I'm concerned, cuz it feels too far away from most things, at least in the winter), it would have had the magic I was looking for. My burger was good; I enjoyed myself; the bathroom was a little terrifying; it's close to my friends' house. But no, it didn't change my life.

Blech. As soon as I moved into this neighbourhood, everyone and their mother told me, "YOU HAVE TO GO TO VESTA LUNCH". So one day, I finally walked down the street and went there. And never went back. I guess with this place, you either love it or you hate it. Personally, I didn't like the fact that the place made me claustrophobic. I've been in bigger bathrooms than Vesta Lunch. You have to sit down at the counter and watch them make your food, and watch them pour the pounds of butter and grease into your food....only to come home and realize you smell exactly like the food you just ate because the fried smell is in your hair. Nope, not for me. My food was so basic, I could have made it myself at home, and I wouldn't have gained 5 pounds from eating it. Basically if you have more than 2 people with you, you should not come here simply because you will not all fit inside. And if you are a germaphobe, you'll be happy to know that you will be able to see exactly how many times the cook washes his hands. But I firmly believe that ignorance is bliss in this scenario, and the only way to be ignorant and healthy is to abstain from Vesta Lunch at all costs.

I want to hate Vesta Lunch given the quality of their greasy food, but its so cheap and its close proximity to where I live keeps me coming back. Mind you I don't think I have ever been to this place earlier than 3:00am and I have definitely never been when sober. It's down the road from me so if I am walking past on my way home from a night out then it seems like a good idea, but it usually isn't. I tend to order things like sloppy burgers with homefries and it always tastes like the most amazing food given my state, but in reality I know it's probably not. The homefries tend to be undercooked and this concerns me when it comes to eating anything meat-based. But at least it's cheap and all the drunks sitting along the tiny counter are likely thinking the same thing. The place is absolutely tiny. You walk in and hope it's not crowded because I can't imagine what it would be like when things are standing room only. I imagine you would have to wait outside for your order. I recommend getting take-out because you really don't want to spend more time in here than you have to. Plus the food will likely look less appetizing under bright lights. There's been some instances where I have been waiting for food and I have to entertain drunken knuckleheads, but if you're cool with the staff/cooks then they will have your back in a second if things get out of line.

Like the guy said when I came here, "Our place is only seven feet wide, but our menu is thirteen feet long!" Vesta Lunch is a fantastic counter-style diner that's been around for over sixty years, is open twenty-four hours, and is staffed by real characters. You can come for steak & eggs, burgers, souvlaki, and, of course, banter--in other words, all the hallmarks of a classic greasy spoon. If you want to get the delicious breakfast special, don't show up too late: the price goes up after 11 AM. It's served lighting-fast, although if you're not assertive, you might not get much input into how the eggs are done.

I haven't been there for 30 years and I wish I still lived in Toronto so I could go there. Restaurants like this are disappearing. It's too bad because we need more

3.5 stars! All i know is that this is the best place to go for food after some drinks...sorry i mean a lot of drinks hahaha food was decent but that's what you get for late but the friendly staff makes this place a must go if you are in the area. Next time you go tell "Momma" Chris says hi. she is the one that wears the little cute black hat. Go with the breakfast special or chicken club with fries.

I live nearby and have wanted to try this place foreva-eva, however it looks so grimey that I needed some good excuse to go in. Welcome statutory holiday an 24 hour diner a few blocks from my crib. Went there at the wee hours of the morning yesterday knowing only that I was starving and not ready to spend a lot on food. Being a semi-part-time-vegetarian there was not much option for me (predictable) however my friend got a deluxe burger (which comes with fries) and I upgraded it to greek style poutine and just ate that. We also got a chocolate milkshake which we devoured. The food was okay-pretty much what you would expect, but the service was great. They were very kind and being the middle of the night, it was pretty fast, as well. Not bad for a 24 hour nearby greasy spoon.

I finally had my first visit to this Toronto fixture a couple of weeks ago. So greasy... Might I recommend only trying it if you've had a considerable amount to drink first. You can tell at a glance that this place has been around forever, but they've had a long time to perfect service and it gets the job done. Menu and one long low counter with seating run the full length of the place. A TV in the corner keeps you informed of the news, and staff are happy to chat while you wait (not long) for your meal. I had the gyros breakfast on this visit and enjoyed it, but kept looking over at my vesta-companion's meal of liver and onions - it looked kinda good - not what I would have expected of liver and onions at all. Open 24-hours, I have to assume they get most of their business during the hours that most other places are closed. Still, not bad.

Really awesome diner style restaurant with all counter no tables or booths, very retro feel and good vibes all around, greasy spoon type diner, cute date place to share a burger or milkshake, the chicken fingers were great and the fries were amazing! Service was very quick and friendly, it is cash only though just as an FYI, there is an ATM located in the downstairs part of the restaurant. Slightly pricey for diner food but a great experience nonetheless!

It doesn't look like much from outside and yes its a little cramped, but its the little diner that could. Great burger joint. It hasn't let me down

I think this may be somewhere that needs a star rating for drunk and sober experiences because I'm sure I would have enjoyed it much more had I been too drunk to regret wasting calories on greasy food that doesn't even taste that great. The atmosphere has a really cool old diner feel. There is just one long counter with stools, behind which the chef prepares your meal. I was served by a nice older gentleman who made friendly conversation with us while we waited. It is definitely not fancy or even very nice but it has a great old fashioned vibe that I really liked. My food wasn't great. I had fish and chips and both were clearly right out of a package and fried. Also the fries were floppy and barely brown which is not my cup of tea. It was served with coleslaw and two little packets of tartar sauce. At 8 bucks I guess it is an ok deal. My boyfriend had the liver special. It was swimming in gravy but apparently satisfying. So I think this is a great place to check out for historical value and the nice staff but I wouldn't say that the food is anything to seek out. It also has virtually no vegetarian options which is a little disappointing but not surprising. You could probably get the BLT without the bacon but that's basically it.

Old school diner in a great way! Simple good food in fair prices. Service is okay but don't expect much of a conversation or a smile (which is perfectly fine!). I just love this place

They say customer service is a relic of times past and perhaps the sign outside is indicative of such antiquated practices - but here's a helluva story to renew even the most cynical with faith in mankind: I wasn't feeling too hot at 11:30 at night after a slight bout of food poisoning a few days prior and had just begun to get my appetite back after eating nothing all day. I wasn't too keen on consuming anything too heavy so I figured I'd call the restaurant which, according to its awning, has had a pretty good reputation for 60 years. "Hi there," I said as my stomach growled in the background. "Do you guys have chicken soup?" "Our soup of the day is lentil," a kindly female voice replied. "Bummer. Well I wasn't feeling very well and was looking for something light to fill me up because I have been ill. Thanks for your time anyway." I was about to hang up when the kindly female voice assured me that she would indeed make chicken soup from scratch and that I should stop by in a half an hour. Surprised at such magnanimity, I hung up the phone with famished bemusement. At midnight I walked in and introduced myself. "Hello there," I said as I extended my hand with gratitude and humility. "I was the one who called and requested the chicken soup." A slight woman with short grey hair grabbed my hand and with a smile that could warm the heart of someone with the most frigid of demeanors said, "I'm Miriam and I treated you and made this soup as if you were one of my own children." Needless to say it was the best chicken soup I ever had and when I called her back 20 minutes later after finishing the entire container I told her so. It was so good in fact and I was so touched by her effort that I said that I was going to sign up for Yelp and write a review because the world needs to know that kindness and culinary expertise are not mutually exclusive. So I hope you have enjoyed my first official yelp review dear reader. Never has a woman like Miriam or her place of employ - Vesta Lunch deserved it more. - Fin

I am usually a fan of dives, greasy spoons, mom 'n pop shops etc, but the food here just isn't good. It isn't even good if you've been drinking. It's really a pity considering I live nearby. To put things into perspective: if there was a fast-food place next door (e.g. Wendys) I would choose to go there over Vesta lunch despite in theory wanting to support local businesses.

Most of the reviews of Vesta Lunch, the good ones and the bad ones, are right. It's a 24 hour, seven days a week greasy spoon with all the pluses and minuses such places have. If you're lucky, however, George Golias will be the cook behind the counter and he's a fascinating fellow, a 73 year old Czech who has been in Canada for forty or so years, speaks, reads and writes ten languages including Japanese, Arabic, Greek, and Russian to name a few. A one hour documentary movie (The Night Cook) was made about him in 2011 and has aired at least eight times on TV Ontario. He'll make you a good breakfast and entertain you, if you ask, with stories of his life. The place is worth a visit if George is there!

I really can't help but laugh at the motto... "Reputable Since 1955". Notice it's not saying it was established in 1955 - but seems to suggest some 'irreputable' in the early 50's at least. So it's a 24-hour greasy spoon that's set up like a narrow bar. Really just a perfect place to get a cheap, filling, greasy breakfast. Alongside your usual eggs and meat offerings, there are burgers, pork chop dinner and liver and onions. I like that it authentic - this place could easily be owned/run/patronized by hipsters - but it's not. Not the cleanest, best tasting or even cheapest place around. But the kind of place that makes me happy that it still exists.

The poutine here is frozen fries, the worst skin-coated gravy in the city, and a kraft single slapped on top. Do not go here. Not even if you are super tanked.

One of the few, and probably last, truly 24-hour greasyspoon diners in the city, and still with the same formica counter that graced the place when your grandfather had his morning coffee there. It's not classy but it's classic, not cuisine but it has character. And when you're hammered at 3am, there's nothing quite like a plate of hot eggs, toast, and coffee under fluorescent lighting to wake you up pleasantly.

All I wanted was a poutine, and it was really, really sad. I don't expect much from a greasy spoon, but decent fries at least! Better to go up the street to the Annex Grill.