CLOSED: Scratch Kitchen (Toronto)


Scratch Kitchen

Scratch kitchen prides itself on using fresh ingredients, prominently displaying their in-house baked bread at the front of their open concept kitchen. However, it was the sign proclaiming they were on BlogTO's best pancakes lists that made us stop and enter. Indeed, they appeared to be a popular. After seeing the cast-iron turned over to reveal an over-an-inch thick pancake, I had to taste one. 


Luckily my husband decided on the big boy breakfast ($15) which included a “kid–sized” portion. Soaked in maple syrup and topped with strawberry coulis, the pancake was delicious – dense yet fluffy and an egg-laced aroma.


The rest of the breakfast could also easily be shared with three eggs, numerous pieces of what seems like naturally-cured bacon, hefty slices country bread and plenty of home fries. The rest of the meal was fine – the eggs and home fries nicely cooked, but the bacon much too salty and the bread overly dense for breakfast.

On paper, the steak sandwich ($14) held promised and could be delicious (as the flavours were there) if a few things were tweaked. Firstly, the bread: since it was already soft and fresh, the chef should lay off on buttering the bottom bun as once mixed with the steak's juices, caramelized onions and melted cheese it became so soggy and messy.


Secondly, the steak itself, although grilled beautifully and well-seasoned was ruined when chopped cartilage pieces were left - taking a bite and chomping down on a hard bit is jarring … just throw it out. Needless to say, having to go through the sandwich to pick the pieces out before eating wasn’t impressive. And lastly, the balsamic vinegar to oil ratio on their salad needs to be revised – a tad overpowering for the first meal of the day.


Nonetheless, Scratch Kitchen was still a decent North York find for brunch. There wasn’t a line-up and service was friendly and efficient. I’d just stick with the basics – eggs work well or perhaps one of their monstrous pancakes.

Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 3471 Yonge Street


Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System

  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!


Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this: