United Bakers Dairy Restaurant

Great selection of bagles. Good service. Bagle comes with sides, big portion, I sometimes take the other half of the bagle to– go. Ive only had lunch there, but would love to try breakfast.

I came here yesterday with my friend for lunch. He just moved to the area and used to go to this place all the time with his grandparents when he was younger so he was excited to return!
We got there and were greeted and seated quickly by the friendly hostess.
Our waitress came by a few times to see if we wanted drinks or food but we hadn’t made any final decisions yet. I am always torn between at least two meals at restaurants and always ask my server which one they would recommend.
Well when I asked our waitress who’s name was Felicia what she recommended– either the shakshuka or the egg salad platter, she looked at me like I committed a crime and said, well they’re 2 completely different meals so…
And that was it. I kid you not. I felt so uncomfortable I just decided to get the shakshuka so she’d leave. Are you kidding me? Usually servers enjoy telling you what they like, and they may be different but does that mean you don’t have a preference? Or for gods sake just name the more expensive one and call it a day!
A very nice waitress names Joey noticed my friend and I were kind of caught off guard and came over. She told me I made a good choice in ordering the shakshuka and even went and got us a sample of the pea soup after we told her we’d never tried it. She was so sweet and came back to our table a few times to see how we were doing.
Our food came pretty quick and my friend and I both bet that Felicia wouldn’t even come back to ask how it was. She didn’t for a while but when she did she literally said «how’s everything» and before we could even say «good» she had walked away and was already asking the lady at the table next to us.
The food was amazing by the way! The shakshuka was so delicious and I had a bite of my friends fries and they were heavenly.
We both ran out of water towards the end of the meal and left the glasses very visible for Felicia to see but nonetheless had to ask her to fill them. She came over with one bill and when we told her it was actually separate she angrily walked away to fix it.
Finally my friend put her to the test and gave her the opportunity to apologize! He asked her if she was having a bad day because she wasn’t very nice to us. She simply said, no I’m just working. That was the final straw, let’s just say we called Joey over and gave her a well deserved tip.
Bye Felicia!

Although I live very close to this place, I don’t usually jump at the opportunity to visit United Bakers, something about an all dairy diner (that does not meet Kosher requirements) doesn’t appeal to me.
However, they have not been in business for 100+ years for nothing. What they do, they do well, and locals know that. They have a warm and inviting atmosphere with low lighting. A varied menu which makes you not (usually) miss the meat and generally when I end up here I enjoy what I’ve ordered.
Their soups, baked goods, and eggs are probably my favourite items on the menu.
However, I should mention that despite an aging clientele, they are not accessible. They will do what needs to be done to get someone in a wheelchair inside but it’s not always easy.
It’s worth a visit if you have never been and all I can say is that I hope they remain in business for another 100+ years!

Never ever changes and wouldn’t want it to! Please don’t change love the food, the people and the atmosphere and the prices. My boyfriend and I have made a habit of Saturday morning breakfasts here. If you don’t get this place, you don’t get it and I feel bad for you

Been going here since I was two years old. My favourite spot in the bathurst and lawrence area. Pea soup and the fish and chips are my favourite! Reasonably priced. If getting a bagel, ask for a gryfes!

A pretty standard kosher style Jewish diner (kosher style because not certified kosher). Nothing to write home about. A bit overpriced. Decent food. A mix of friendly and unfriendly servers. I come here a lot with friends for a basic breakfast with a nice hamishe feel.

In one word lousy! i felt sorry for the waitress, she was a little old lady who couldn’t hear. Therefore she kept bringing wrong things each time. The Gefilte fish was beyond awful. The Spanish Omelet wasn’t too good either nor was the overly cinnamon Rice Pudding with the consistency of old Oatmeal. Even the fresh honeydew Melon chunks were cut too close to the rind. The one bright spot was the pea soup and cabbage borscht.

It’s not the food. There’s no way. It couldn’t be.
MInd numbingly predictable and served with an exclusive sulk of indifference. Your order arrives mere moments after it’s placed. It’s underwhelming and expected. People eat the same thing, almost as if by rote.
Sure, there are those who swear by the pea soup here. But their competitive set probably doesn’t include many restaurants without the word ‘bagel’ in the title.
But this is the spot that you come to for the community.
It’s the defacto town square for a specific set of folk. It serves this role better than anywhere else in the city. Booths are low. There are mirrors on the ceiling. You can scan every face in the room from any seat in the place. And that’s what it’s all about.
This is an environment where you can kibbutz and hear all the gossip on one side while listening to kvetches complain about their problems on the other. You risk your life in the perilous parking lot just to wait in line as you’re scanned by a thousand eyeballs, each with a loudly expressed opinion.
Someone once told me that more business deals get made at UB than any other place in town. I believe this to be true.
Definitely an experience.

I must be missing something. This place is brutally bad and expensive. Will not return even if it is free

United bakers is one of the places in Toronto where you know exactly what you are getting, a 100+ year old establishment that is simply delicious, old world soul food.
It is a great place for brunch with the family or just quick lunch. Always good and always fresh.

If you want to pay top dollar for hospital food this is the place for you! The service and attitude you get from the wait staff is pretty bad too. They got my order wrong and I had to approach the group standing around chit chatting to get any service.
Did I mention the food was low quality?
Visit your dad/​grandma/​etc in the long term care facility and help them finish off their dinner tray for the same food and attitude.

I have a huge place in my heart for Jewish diners, especially dairy and fish ones.
Until a dramatic and lengthy search for *diners serving all day breakfast open Sunday late afternoon* occurred, I had no idea this place existed. My husband also hearts Jewish diners, and since he lived a long time in LA he doesn’t mind driving 20 minutes for lox.
I had the pea soup, the eggs over easy and a bagel. It is all exactly as you’d expect, and is served to you as you sit on a plastic booth, the laminated menu is pages and pages exactly as your heart hopes it is, and you pay at the front where you can buy bagels to take home exactly as you imagine.
Enjoy!

Honestly, I am not sure what is so great about this place.
Overall the food is very bland, which is on par for restaurants in this part of Toronto.
We ordered the shakshouka. The shakshouka tasted like chili with eggs that I could have made at home. The pita was ok.
The eggs and lax was marginally better but still bland overall. The bagels were ok but they only gave you butter and jam to put on it, would have been better with some cream cheese.
Its nice that you get quick service on the coffee, but the coffee is also flavorless.
The place seems packed, so people must like it, but we left underwhelmed.
One positive sit that the seating inside is nice and they have free parking in the mall complex that they are located in.

Toronto’s oldest family restaurant: O Interior is pretty old school but def got a nice family feel :) Was pretty busy when we went on a Saturday morning, the front of the restaurant had a pastry section which we visited after finishing breakfast to grab some biscotti and chocolate croissant to go.
I ordered the Eggs and Lox (smoked salmon), which came with some raw veggies and coleslaw (I decided to forgo the French fries due to sudden health urge haha) Also comes with a choice of bread and bagel. I enjoyed the dish — simple and definitely filling. Also tried the Shakshouka — which was eggs dipped in tomato sauce — best eaten with the bagel/​bread!
Overall, the chocolate croissant was the highlight of my trip there. Nice place to try if you’re ever around the area for breakfast or brunch :)

Amazing lox and cream cheese sandwiches. Delicious desserts — especially the rumballs!!! You have to try them!
Casual setting. Staff weren’t the best at customer service but that’s okay. I would come back here anyways.

Although I try not to echo my fellow Unilocalers’ previous reviews, I’d like to echo my fellow Unilocalers’ previous reviews. This place is most definitely an uptown «institution». I think pretty much every Jew in Toronto has eaten here at least once, or continues to eat here regularly, with or without their bubby and zaida (usually with).
Highlights for me at United Bakers – aka United Dairy, aka «United” – include the tuna (def one of my favourite tunas in the city) and the famous split pea soup (heartwarming)…other great bets are the Greek salad, the noodles and cheese (served hot), and the eggplant parmesan. They have nice baked goods as well.
Oy vey that’s a good Jewish diner!

Truly one of Toronto’s finest institutions! One visit to UB and you’ll see why it has been around for over a century! Even if it is your first visit, you’ll quickly feel at home at this family establishment.
Recipes that have been passed down for generations have been perfected — especially what is easily the best Split Pea Soup in the city (maybe the world?!). I would also highly recommend the Greek Salad/​Spring Mix Salad, and if you are so inclined for a taste of Jewish comfort food, get a scoop of the Whitefish and some potato latkes.
The extensive menu boasts enough choices for every member of the family.
A family restaurant for family, by family. Can’t get better than this!

Being pescetarian, hungry and pseudo-​Jewish, I might be expected to exalt this place. Sadly, I do not.
Despite the wonderful dairy restaurant menu, the bagels are underwhelming and the portions are teeny-​weeny. The pea soup ($ 4.89) is delicious but the bowl is what most establishments would call a «cup». I can only assume their «half-​bowl» is a spoonful. What actually IS a spoonful are the sides you receive with the «platters» ($ 9.99-$ 10.49 for tuna/​salmon/​whitefish salad). Don’t most restaurants practically give away coleslaw and fries just to fill up the plate?
Their cheese blintzes are also good, but if there is a blintz out there that is worth $ 7 apiece, I haven’t met it. And I meet a lot of blintzes.
In summation: United Bakers is an institution, but obviously not for its value. Bring your Bubby, enjoy the lively atmosphere, then go to Gryfe’s afterward to fill the rest of your stomach.

I was in Toronto visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday and my dad’s friend took us to this place for dinner. I had the salmon, which was outstanding. It was moist, but flakey. The veggies on the side were really good, too. I also had a bagel, which was quite good and normally I don’t like Toronto bagels. I thought it was a little pricey, but I can’t complain. Everyone at our party liked their meals a lot.
My father liked it so much that him and I went back a few days later for coffee and a black bagel, which was excellent.
I go to Toronto every three months to visit and I will definitely be going back to this place.

OMG — can I say «g-​d» while reviewing this restaurant? — SO GOOD.
My sister, a pescatarian (those vegetarians who eat fish), dragged me here today because she knew she can eat anything on the menu, as it’s a dairy (no meat) restaurant. When we got there, I was craving a chicken noodle soup — as I had been omitted this important detail.
Instead, I settled on the lox and cream cheese platter. First of all, let me say that service was excellent. Fast, friendly, the lady was incredibly nice. The hostess, without prompt, pushed two tables together even though there was just two of us, for no reason other than niceness. The lox platter was gigantic, the twister was delicious, and I longed for a raw onion — and then the waitress pointed out it was hiding under the lettuce leaf on my plate.
Too bad it’s so far from my obvious ‘hood, downtown. Otherwise I’d be there at least once a week.