Hastings Snack Bar: Toronto, Canada

Name: Hastings Snack Bar

Address: 5 Hastings Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4L 2L1, Canada
Website: Website
Phone: (416)466-0534
Wifi: No
Tender: Cash Only
Neighbourhood: Leslieville, Toronto
Type: Polish

Upon entering I immediately fall for the interior with it’s black & white penny tiles and colorful retro-style stools alongside counter seating. After a short chat with the gentleman behind the counter I learn that Hastings was recently renovated and now under new ownership after the original owner retired after 50+ years of service. The only thing that remains from the original shop is the countertop and the menu has been completely revamped to serve traditional Polish dishes. The space is narrow but has an old-school diner feel which I’m always a complete sucker for. Menu offerings are hand-written on a chalkboard and the kitchen area is directly behind the counter where all the action can be seen right from your seat at the counter.

I actually visited Hastings Snack Bar on 2 separate occasions. On the first visit it’s a Monday and I’m told that brunch is only served Wednesdays-Sundays. It was approximately 8:00am on a Monday and I’m also told that lunch offerings won’t be available for a few hours. While I’m disappointed to have arrived at the wrong day and time to try any brunch or lunch I’m told that they do serve espresso based coffee as well as pastries which are provided by Pain Perdu and baked daily in-house.

Several options are presented including plain croissant, chocolate croissant, raisin croissant, and cinnamon raisin roll. We opt to try the raisin croissant and plain croissant, plus  a cortado and Earl Grey tea. My selections are placed into the oven and bake up warm and fresh in about 10 minutes. The pastries seem to have spread slightly in the oven, but even that just adds to the charm and home-style retro atmosphere. More importantly they are warm, fresh, and melt in my mouth. I’m also pleasantly surprised that the cortado arrives with latte art which is rarely found in restaurants/diners and is typically only reserved for  independent coffee shops in Toronto that specialize in caffeine.   But even better than the fact that it’s pretty it also tastes great. Serious bonus points for you Hastings. The tea is from a Twinnings tea bag which while not particularly exciting gets the job done.

I revisit again on a second occasion with the goal of finally getting to try some brunch and lunch. Luckily, it’s on the weekend and in addition to having both brunch and lunch options available I’m told that they also have Polish doughnuts which are available weekends only.

There are three doughnut options available.  I’m told there is Pom (the most traditional for Poland), raspberry, (their most popular), and custard filled (the server’s favorite). I choose the custard filled and immediately dig in. It’s much more dense than a North American doughnut almost bordering on more of a bread-like consistency. The outside is glazed which lends to some sweetness but the custard filling, while tasty, is minimal. There is only a small dollop of custard filling inside the doughnut which was disappointing, but perhaps this is how filled doughnuts are prepared in Poland.

Two breakfast selections are available including a breakfast sandwich ($6 CDN + tax) plus a breakfast plate ($9 CDN + tax).  We order the breakfast plate option which includes two eggs, Polish weenie or bacon, 2 potato pancakes, and Polish bread.

First the breakfast, which definitely had a homemade look and feel. The eggs and Polish weenie were pretty standard, and it’s the potato pancakes that really standout in this dish. They are fried perfectly without being overly oily. I’m told that they are made from mashed potatoes as opposed to potato shreds which lends to their slightly crisp fried exterior with a nice soft interior. I could eat several of these for breakfast and be happy.

We decide to order a lunch option as well. There is a soup of the day ($5 CDN + tax), 2 cabbage rolls ($8 CDN + tax), 2 kielbasa ($7 CDN + tax), and what’s called a Hungry Tata’s Plate ($13 CDN + tax) available. We choose the Hungry Tata’s Plate which includes a little bit of everything on the lunch menu + sauerkraut + pickles + sliced cucumber and tomato. They also allow you to mix and match pierogi fillings (options include cottage cheese & potato, cheddar & potato, or mushroom) so we choose 2 cottage cheese & potato, 1 cheddar & potato, and 1 mushroom.

I’m particularly excited for the pierogis, especially after recently just returning from a trip to Warsaw. In addition the server tells me that the pierogi dough is made in-house and hand-rolled. They do not disappoint. In fact, they are better than the ones I sampled in Poland.  The kielbasa is fried lightly and topped with onions. It is flavorful and the onions are a nice addition. The cabbage roll consists of a thin piece of cabbage filled with meat and topped with a light tomato based sauce which is also homemade and tastes just perfect.

As a dessert option they have Blueberry Pierogis on offering ($5 CDN + tax) and I can’t resist ordering these as well.

Eaten alone, I find these to be a little bland and the blueberries are a bit sparse.  The sweet cream is definitely needed to add more flavor. Another handful of blueberries would make these a sweet and unique treat.

Overall the experience at Hastings Snack bar was a pleasant one. The casual and laid-back atmosphere is comfortable and the service friendly. While I’d skip brunch, I would definitely visit again for lunch or coffee/pastries.

Oh and if you’re interested it’s co-owned with the Hastings Barber Shop in the adjoining space so you can stop by and get a quick haircut as well.

Disclaimer: This post was not sponsored, nor was anything gifted to me. All opinions expressed are my own. All menu offerings and prices are accurate as of time of posting, please refer to restaurant for most up to date information.

*All images are copyrighted Allons.Y Styling & Photography. Please do not use or re-post without written consent and provide credit where applicable