Bonjour Brioche
Bonjour Brioche has been a hotspot for heavenly Parisian inspired pastries and petite des Jeunes in Riverside since 1997.
When Lori Feasson and her pastry chef husband Henri opened their bakery, fresh bread was non-existent anywhere else along Queen Street East and brunch was a thing reserved for Toronto’s west end.
“You would not believe what it was like here 20 years ago,” says Lori. Back then she had a buzzer under the cash register so Henri could run upstairs if there was any sort of danger.
The couple chose the corner of Queen and Degrassi for the location of their cafe mostly because it was, and still is, within walking distance to their home in Leslieville and, says Lori, despite Riverside’s bad rap two decades ago, it’s always had a very neighbourly vibe.
“You can feel it as soon as you get over the bridge.”
With an all-day breakfast and brunch menu featuring the likes of brie and garlic aioli on a fresh baguette and Croque Madam, Bonjour Brioche is now easily one of Toronto’s top brunch spots (with a guaranteed lineup out the door on weekends).
“There’s nothing here that isn’t started from scratch, which is why the bakers start at midnight on weekends,” says Lori.
In addition to a dedicated and talented staff, she attributes the bakery’s success to its ability to always stay consistent with its hours, products, and service. While Riverside has changed drastically over the years, Lori says Bonjour Brioche is very much still the same.
Karen Lloyd is a writer, photographer and website designer in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood. This blog is part of the series Riverside Business Profile. Read other blogs from her: Riverside Patios, Places to Stay in Riverside, Brunch Spots, Health & Wellness in Riverside, Kid-Friendly Riverside, Event & Catering Spots, Riverside Chefs, Self-Care in Riverside, It’s Easy Being Green in Riverside, The Dirt on Gardening in Riverside, Eat Around the World in Riverside, and Saying ‘I Do’ East of the Don.