Open 7am-4pm Mon-Fri; 7am-5pm Sat; 8am-5pm Sun
under $15. Tel : 514-849-8883.
 New Years' Day brunch at Beauty's is just like any other day. There's a line-up outside, quite a long line-up in fact. People stand in the bright sunshiny day, and wait, no one complains about the cold temperatures. Once inside, the solo-eaters are seated together at the counter and we make friends (today I have Toronto on one side and Boston on the other).
Being That Girl From Vancouver, I'm still in search of a great breakfast place that could become my new weekend hangout. I'm looking to replace the fabulous toast, organic coffee, free range scrambled eggs resto in North Van (Capers) – and so far in my new city, my search has come up empty. I've been to Beauty's four or five times, trying to make my "new best friend."
I order waffles with fresh fruit and frozen yogurt. I was hoping for fresh yogurt but that was a no-go. How do I feel about ice cream with my breakfast? Never mind. The decaf latte was wonderful, if a little bit small, and the service was quick. Sitting at the bar you can watch the fruit cups and smoothies being prepared (this is one of my favourite pastimes when I'm there).
Because I don't go to Beauty's for the food. The meals are very ordinary, regular breakfast fare, such as eggs, pancakes, bacon served with hash browns and a side of bagel. The portions are large, the coffee refilled often. But it's not special in any way. And it's not for the table service. One of the two girls working today was downright surly, maybe hung over, but she was making enemies left and right, slopping coffee, taking away a guy's plate while he was still chewing. He and I shared a knowing smile as if to say, "oh she hates you too?"
No, Beauty's has earned its reputation as being the best brunch place in the city because of the two guys running the place, Hymie and Larry. You see them every time you come to the restaurant. They're on friendly terms with almost everyone in the line-up, asking about their wives, their New Year's celebrations, how long are you in town? Larry remembers me from my last visit (because I had told him that I wanted a job making the fabulous little fresh fruit cups and he didn't know whether to take me seriously or not. I was dead serious. I'm still waiting for my phone call to come and chop bananas).
I've been to Beauty's alone, in the summer and in the winter. I went there on a blind date in September (which is when the photo was taken; I was so nervous I spent 10 minutes taking multiple pictures of the outside of the restaurant. They all turned out virtually the same. I never saw the guy again).
You know, it's not that I'm looking for a place like Cheers "where everybody knows your name." But if I was, this would be the place. The food is very standard diner fare, portions large, and the menu probably hasn't been changed in 30 years. But it's consistent and amazingly friendly. In a big city, it is nice to have a seat and have someone say "Shelley, how have you been, what can I get you?"
— reviewed by Shelley MacDonald
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