Open since 1997 in Toronto’s brunch loving Riverside neighbourhood, Bonjour Brioche beckons you with the smell of warm croissants, fresh coffee, and a beautiful outdoor patio. On weekends, the bakery is bustling while diners line up along the sunny side of Bouton Avenue for their French toast, quiche du jour, and peameal bacon.
“Twenty years ago you would not believe what it was like here,” says owner, Lori Feasson. When Bonjour Brioche opened you couldn’t find fresh bread on Queen Street East and brunch was a thing reserved for the west end. Shortly after a Globe and Mail write-up with glowing reviews of Riverside's new French style bakery, the neighbourhood seemed to transform from ghost town to a weekend destination.
“We’ve been busy ever since,” says Lori. “We hardly get any vacation because it’s just too hard to close.”
