Cafe Landwer image

Cafe Landwer

Restaurant Cafe Family restaurant Mediterranean restaurant

One of the Most Reviewed Mediterranean restaurants in Old Toronto


Address

165 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5H 3B8, Canada

Website

www.landwer.ca

Contact

+1 647-748-1165

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (3.8K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Monday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Tuesday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Wednesday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Friday: 8 am to 11 pm
  • Saturday: 8 am to 11 pm
  • Sunday: 8 am to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: great (19) good (19) menu (19) friendly (17) brunch (17) breakfast (16) delicious (16) service (15) wait (14) options (13)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Cecilia M. 1 year ago on Google
    Visited here a few years ago. And recently back to have breakfast again! It is a lovely space filled with nostalgia of old-school deli and restaurants. They have a large indoor dining room, and outdoor patio. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, they are situated on the very busy University Avenue. Their food is fantastic! Paired with great service and ambience, this restaurant is great for dining alone, for dates, or hang out with friends/family. This location also has a good takeout counter, for fast coffee pick up!
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rahul S. 1 year ago on Google
    Visited Cafe Landwer one Thursday evening for dinner. Didn’t have reservations but we were seated right away (opted to sit inside but there’s a sidewalk patio available). Interior was really nice, gave true cafe vibes. Staff was really friendly, our waiter checked on us frequently and gave us some solid recommendations. Service was fast. The Truffle Mushroom & Cream Pappardelle was very delicious. There are some vegetarian friendly options as well. Definitely recommend checking out! Price $$-$$$.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mariana R. 6 months ago on Google • 463 reviews
    First visit to this Cafe Landwer location, and it was a delightful experience from the start, thanks to the excellent service provided by the staff. I decided to try the pasta with pesto and chicken breast, and the portion was generously sized—I devoured every last bite. Simply fantastic!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ellin K. 2 years ago on Google
    In love with this place! The interior of the restaurant is awesome, it was fun looking around all the decors. I admire every little thoughts that went into this place :) Visited for brunch on a weekend, the wait time was over an hour so I’d recommend arriving early. They have a great variety of brunch menu, it was almost too hard to choose because everything sounded delish! Plenty of vegetarian/vegan options as well. Absolutely recommended!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Travis S. 6 months ago on Google • 51 reviews
    Excellent Service and delectable food in a cute atmosphere. We arrived early in the day and had no issues getting seated. The staff were friendly and attentive, without being overbearing. Overall the food was great. All were delicious (I highly recommend the French toast) but the Belgian waffle was smaller than expected and therefor wasn’t quite filling. Good choice for those looking to have the punch of flavour but a smaller portion.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eli B. 6 months ago on Google • 33 reviews
    This cafe is so charming and cozy. It has a lot of personality and a nice contrast to the busy downtown area. It’s very popular, so there might be a line, but it moves fast. The staff are friendly and quick. The food, coffee and the decor are pretty enjoyable.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Danielle S. 9 months ago on Google
    Such a beautiful place! I love the indoor and outdoor seating options. The menu was amazing with lots of healthy options. The shawarma hummus was out of this world. So much flavor and deliciousness. The cocktails were a delight as well. I would love to go back and try another menu option.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hannah R. 1 year ago on Google
    4.5/5 Yum! Definitely worth the wait. It was a 15-20 min wait for a weekday lunch. The food here is delicious! The Sinia Kebab was our favourite. The service isn’t the best (they’re friendly but slow). However, I’d still recommend coming here. Would return!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeannie K. 6 months ago on Google • 236 reviews
    So awesome and wholesome food served here!! Almost always pack haha. I came on a Monday morning and glad there’s space. Staff are friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Rhonda S. 8 months ago on Google
    This was a recommendation from a local & it didn't disappoint. I was in Toronto for a weekend birthday trip when we decided to get some breakfast. The food, service & ambience of this establishment was great. I had the Italian French vanilla coffee with cinnamon & it was absolutely delicious. We also had the breakfast for 2 with beef sausage & loved the Mediterranean twist on plates with all the spreads. My friends had the Farmers Breakfast & the Eggs Benedict with Salmon. Drinks were the matcha latte & the Iced Matcha latte. Everything was delicious & tasty & the presentation was spot on.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 sasika g. 2 years ago on Google
    Great service and really nice atmosphere. We had a hazelnut latte and a crumble cheesecake. The latte was excellent in both presentation and taste, the cheese cake looked awesome but taste i would say is average. They have a nice patio as well.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Babak N. 3 months ago on Google • 216 reviews New
    The table and chairs look built for liliputs. Small and old. They are busy and long line most of the time that make me think about the other options. Other than that the service is good. Staff are nice. The food is good.

  • 5/5 Bérénice R. 7 months ago on Google • 62 reviews
    This place is a must do, perfect brunch. We got the Eggs Benedict Florentine & Avocado toast + Waffles! 👌 Amazing mocca (you can choose milk dark or white chocolate) The terrasse is really nice!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kathy N. 1 year ago on Google
    Thoroughly enjoyed my brunch here. Has a homey diner feel but with elevated food. I fell in love with the cauliflower appetizer - so simple but so good! Shakshuka is another must have when you’re here.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nassif A. 11 months ago on Google
    This was my first experience here. The food, service and atmosphere were excellent. Historically, I have had a tough time finding a great restaurant for breakfast in Toronto and I have now found it! It was delicious, great portions and unique. I highly recommend any of the shakahukas and pair it with the INCREDIBLY soft and flaky challah bread!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Julia P. 8 months ago on Google
    Nice little cafe in Toronto, very diverse food offerings. The sandwiches were lovely, and drinks were unique and yummy. The atmosphere here is very rushed, and it unfortunately was not the cleanest. The staff also seemed rushed and not super kind, they prefer you order via QR code which is strange to me for a dine-in restaurant
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jane T. 9 months ago on Google
    Went for brunch and didn't wait long to be seated. The place was very well decorated and the service was also very quick. Everything was delicious, especially the pita bread. Loved that we could try various things. Lattes were also very good!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jessica U. 1 year ago on Google
    With a menu as immense as the one at Cafe Landwer, I don’t know that it’s fair to provide just one review based on a sandwich. So I’ll definitely be back with more thoughts on the food. What I can provide, is a review on the lunchtime experience. We put our name on the list ahead of time and still had to wait 10 minutes which is fine, but there’s no waiting space so it was very crowded and uncomfortable. For a busy time, the service was quite slow. If you have a strict one-hour lunch I would not risk a stop here. The menu was also super slow to load on mobile and said you could order on your phone but you can’t (server said it works sometimes?) I had the roast beef on Jerusalem bread and enjoyed it. Honestly there isn’t much to say about it, I do love Jerusalem bread though. And if you’ve made it this far you will be rewarded. Because the best part of the whole thing is that I found my new favourite pastry in the whole city. The. Whole. City. The cinnamon danish. It’s like a cinnamon roll and a danish had a delicious baby - you need to try it. All that said, I’d like to go back for brunch and explore that massive menu some more! Stay tuned!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tom G. 10 months ago on Google
    I absolutely loved this place. It is downtown Toronto near the Hilton and City Hall, so I figured it would be outrageously priced. It wasn't. The prices were very reasonable for what you received. The chef here is to be commended. The food was gorgeous and bursting with flavour, and the staff were very curtious and knowledgeable about the menu items. We had these two dishes, which I forgot to take pictures of, so I used the menu ones. We took chicken and salmon as the protein for a bit extra. I highly recommend this place if you want a top-notch meal. The deserts were fantastic as well. ❤️👍👌
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tanja G. 1 year ago on Google
    Only came here to grab a coffee and croissant to go, but both were fab so giving 5 stars. I've also been to the Vaughan location for brunch and know how amazing their sit-down menu is which helps justify my rating 🤓 Hopefully one day I'll have the pleasure of sitting down at this location and indulging in their delicious cuisine!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 saran s. 1 year ago on Google
    Dined in here with family for brunch. Nice service and ambience. Food and drinks were tasty. Service was good. Very crowded in the weekends. Average wait time is 30-45 minutes on the weekend. It’s better to plan accordingly.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Annesha B. 2 years ago on Google
    The interior of this place is so pretty! Definitely one of the coziest place to hangout with your friends or family. I loved their all day breakfast menu. The prices are pretty reasonable given it’s a popular downtown restaurant. The Mediterranean shakahuka was my favourite. Their wait times are long, so definitely make a reservation prior to your visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kuldeep M. 1 year ago on Google
    Great brunch place. The food and service was great. We really loved the coffee. Although it was a long weekend and pretty busy the wait was around 40min. Well worth the money and time. Definitely a must visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Linda T. 2 years ago on Google
    The decor offers a ‘modern diner’ feel and the atmosphere is warm and laid back. We stopped in for brunch . The menu offers a great mix of foods with many unexpected global influences on traditional brunch fair. The Italian French Vanilla coffee was a wonderful surprise of deliciousness. The famous Landwer breakfast was an eclectic grouping of flavours and we found it surprisingly fun to try. This is like a charcuterie breakfast board with an eclectic grouping if flavours. Tuna, salad, yogurt, granola etc howeber we both decided - one try is enough. The combination of flavours were a bit clunky. The cauliflower was a miss - overcooked and the tzatziki was not to our liking.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gunjan A. 2 years ago on Google
    Food decor and service shouts aloud “Excellent “ Loved the atmosphere, it’s warm and welcoming with delicious, finger licking food. They serve vegan vegetarian options and a great place for a peaceful cup of coffee and me time or celebrating with friends and family and indulging in a hearty brunch. A favourite.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Benjamin Homaii, P. 2 years ago on Google
    The fascinating decor inside this cafe in downtown Toronto indeed caught my attention. To me, it's quite quaint but in a unique fashion. It feels very good to sit inside and just look around. Their breakfast options are really special. I had the Landwer's Famous Breakfast (20$); as you can see in the pictures, I got multifarious food options on my table to nibble on =))) And they make most of their own bread! (like my multi-grain one) There's one caveat though... coffee (3$) is not included in the breakfast option that you order, so you gotta order it separately. And that adds to the bill. So in the end, you could easily end up with a 30$ check for breakfast, but I think every once in a while, it's worth it to treat yourself to cool places like this. Just a thought :D
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Roshni K. 1 year ago on Google
    Great service! Food was amazing too, the pasta was scrumptious And it came out really fast and was piping hot! My most favorite part was the dessert! Definitely recommend it! I don't remember the name but I posted a photo of it! It's melodic on the taste buds! I promise, you will not regret ordering it!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mark O. 2 years ago on Google
    Cafe Landwer is an excellent spot for a meal in the downtown core. They have delicious food and the atmosphere is great. They also do take out if you prefer. The menu has something for everyone. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a good lunch spot in the core.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Patricia T. 4 months ago on Google • 124 reviews
    What a cool place!! A group of us went for a holiday brunch on a Monday late morning. We arrived just after 11, and there was already a lineup. We walked over from near Union Station, about a 10 minute walk through the path. Luckiky, we put ourselves on the waitlist using the Yelp app before heading over, so we were quickly accommodated when we arrived. You can actually order online from your table, but you need to create a profile first. We ended up just ordering from the waitress as it was quicker than setting up the profile. Fresh orange juice was delightful and filling on its own. Portions were generous. Challah bread was light, airy, and warm when it arrived. We were all stuffed by the end of it !! There is a bakery on site, but we were too full to consider it. Friendly, fast staff.

  • 5/5 Lee C. 5 months ago on Google • 24 reviews
    What a treat for our last breakfast in Downtown Toronto! Amazing food and the atmosphere was unmatched. Very busy too - sign of a good spot! 💯💯💯

  • 5/5 Katie N. 4 months ago on Google • 23 reviews
    Visited Cafe Landwer for brunch, I ordered the matcha latte and the eggs benedict. The eggs were perfect and the potatoes were super crispy and well seasoned ! It was a super cute cafe will definitely come again !

  • 5/5 Sally S. 7 months ago on Google • 13 reviews
    It’s a cute cafe with a lot characters. Unlike majority downtown restaurants, this cafe doesn’t give much business vibe but more of a touristy feel. There is a line due to its popularity but the wait isn’t too long. The servers are friendly and prompt. Food is tasty. Both of us loved our choices and the bread pudding. It’s the 2nd time and I surely will go back for more.

  • 4/5 Humayun A. 2 years ago on Google
    Loved the environment and beverages (coffees, shakes and smoothie). I will visit again for breakfast as they specialize in that and they're bakery items were fresh and amazing. I have 4 because the lunch/snack items which I had were not as good as the other stuff. But definitely a place worth visiting and finding your favourite items from the menu.

  • 5/5 Kanushree J. 2 years ago on Google
    In terms of food, they have some of the best menu options in the neighborhood. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or carnivore, there is something delicious for everyone. The spices they use and the in house bread are a true seller. Their halwa which is made from tahini and date syrup is unforgettable. I personally love their Farmers Market Vegan breakfast. Their pancakes are pretty incredible too. Don’t forget to try their pesto Mayo. Oh, and their Berlin 1999 tea is out of the world as well!!

  • 5/5 Drumil T. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the best Gnocchi plates i have ever had. And the falafel sandwich is so freaking good. The only regret is that it's not a large portion because i never wanted this food to end.

  • 2/5 Tuqa T. 2 years ago on Google
    I’ve read many reviews talking about how average the food is but I decided not to believe it. Well, I can confirm that the food was indeed below average. After waiting for one hour in the hot weather, we were finally called. We ordered the Belgian waffle. It was by far the worst waffle I’ve ever tasted. It was cold when it arrived. The waffle itself is not chewable. It was hard to cut through. Banana on top was unripe and left our mouths dry. Ice cream tasted like the cheapest store-bought quality. This experience was a disappointment. I decided to give my feedback to the staff. They got us pancakes (the waitress said: they are to die for). Pancakes are better experience than the waffle but it still not worth it. There is absolutely nothing special. To add to that they added the ‘on the house’ pancake to the bill. Luckily we spotted it. On the contrary, the ambiance and location are amazing. Staff are friendly and helpful. The only thing keeping this review from being one-star.

  • 5/5 Marc P. 2 years ago on Google
    Great place for breakfast in Toronto but be ready to queue for a long time on weekends or holidays. Their pancakes were superb and sevice was friendly. Would definitely come back again.

  • 5/5 MY Y. 2 years ago on Google
    It is a special cafe with somehow retro look. Place is often busy, but has a great pastry and breakfast variety. Staff is friendly and accomodatig. It's worth the little wait.

  • 5/5 Layla F. 2 years ago on Google
    Very nice place in downtown Toronto. The ambience is great, with friendly staff and an impressive menu. A lot of options for all tastes, good vegetarian-friendly options. A little pricey, but totally worth a visit! Had a great experience and I would go back for sure.

  • 5/5 Nick Y. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice place to have a meal or even a coffee. So nice and professional staff and are ready to help you with anything. So friendly. Price was reasonable. The environment was warm and welcoming. I will go there again for sure.

  • 5/5 Dona T. 2 years ago on Google
    A well deserved 5 stars! In love with the scrumptious and delicious red wine french stew. The cafe spoils you with amazing options for food, drinks and desserts. Weekends are super busy and waiting time can be really long. Still a must visit cafe!

  • 5/5 Chad N. 7 months ago on Google
    This place is a fabulous middle eastern inspired brunch spot right in the heart of downtown Toronto. The weekend was pretty busy, but as I was dining alone I was able to score a seat by the window. I went with their shakshuka and it was out of this world. The flavors really came together. I liked it so much I went back for dinner and had the Chicken Shawarma which was delicious as well. Trust me, this place is well worth the wait!

  • 5/5 Catherine I. 11 months ago on Google
    Lovely atmosphere with very friendly and attentive staff. Despite having a function and being full, we didn't wait long for our food to arrive. Ordered the beet salad which was fresh and tasty, margarita pizza was perfection and the atlantic salmon was juicy and tender full of taste, the seasoning was on point, however the mozarella arancini was a bit flat, needs a taste elevation. Definitely recommended , and we will definitely visit again!!!

  • 5/5 Jayanti H. 8 months ago on Google
    Love the atmosphere of the cafe. Staff are friendly and helpful. Food was absolutely delicious and such a unique mix of Italian and Mediterranean food. Will come back here for sure

  • 5/5 Rebecca C. 8 months ago on Google
    Takes a while to get served (20-30 minutes) around 1-2pm. But fabulous food. Started my Jewish entrepreneurs from Germany 100+ years ago. Has a great selection of food across the continents. Especially loved the focaccia bread and the shashuka. Sinia Kebab was also excellent. They roast their own coffee beans here. For the side of vegetables, ask them to not overcook the broccoli.

  • 4/5 Kriteeka S. 8 months ago on Google
    A great place to grab brunch. Food is a mix of middle eastern and European dishes like shakshouka, schnitzel, pastas and shawarma. The coffee and fresh juices is a must try. The waffles are good. Overall good value for money and great dining experience. Be prepared to wait in line on weekends and rush hours.

  • 5/5 Ash J. 2 years ago on Google
    A special cafe along university ave that's worth a visit. The food is reasonably priced, tastes good, and the service is great. Excellent vegan and vegetarian selections too. They have a separate vegan menu with several options. The interior decor is nice and unique, with the entrance made up to look like a phone booth. It's got windows all around and is right at the corner lf the intersection so you can see the hustle and bustle of the city. They also have coffee beans for sale!

  • 5/5 Vida B. 9 months ago on Google
    Service was decent. The food was delicious. Well priced for downtown. Only thing that annoyed me is the fact that the server thought I would skip out on paying. I went to wash my hands and returned to my table and she said oh I was scared I couldn't find u and I thought oh boy. Even if you thought that, vocalizing it isn't a good look. Note. If someone is trying to dash, they wouldn't ask for the bill.

  • 5/5 Hani S. 8 months ago on Google
    Excellent service, friendly, helpful and very polite staff, tasty food and specifically including a good full vegan breakfast in the menu. In addition, the online menu includes images of the foods that were really helpful. Enjoyed the atmosphere as well.

  • 5/5 Ryan T. 9 months ago on Google
    A delightful landmark of downtown Toronto! The washroom was clean and well maintained. The food selection was wide and competitively price; and they had a great kids menu, complete with a colouring activity! My wife and I are repeat customers and we can’t wait until our next visit!

  • 4/5 Yomna A. 9 months ago on Google
    Cute place for brunch. All the food was good - Do yourself a favour and get the roast potatoes with the Shakshuka. All the girls tending to our table were very friendly and polite. 6.5/10 overall and would come back again !

  • 5/5 jenn d. 9 months ago on Google
    This was our first time trying Landwer and everything was so good. We sat down ten minutes before the kitchen closed and the staff was still extremely helpful and friendly. We got the schnitzel, mezza platter, sinia kebab, and Landwer’s shakshuka. The kebab was the best protein out of everything we got and the labneh with matbucha was the best dip on the mezza platter. Our pita and challah was hot and fresh as was the rest of the food. Definitely would come back and try their dessert as well!


Call +1 647-748-1165 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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