Last weekend we were invited to brunch with the kids at Pearl Diver in Toronto. It was a busy morning as we had a 6 year old’s birthday party and then we swung by the playground in the hopes of tiring Little Monkey and Baby Boy. You see, we were secretly hoping to enjoy a leisurely Brunch without the tots yapping away! That plan backfired as neither of them wanted to sleep and were eager to see what they could order off the brunch menu at Pearl Diver!
Some may recall that Pearl Diver is where Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill used to be for over 13 years. The new space has created a more casual vibe with this new restaurant. Upon entering the spot I loved the chalk drawings on the pillars and the woodsy nautical decor. You immediately feel like you’re on deck in a ship. The booths are great for families as it allowed the little ones to sit and do their own thing without the need for high chairs. We arrived at 1 p.m. on a Sunday and the place wasn’t too busy, which made it easy for us to park our double stroller by the front entrance. Our servers were friendly and asked if the kids needed anything to be brought out before the rest of our food was prepared – nice touch! I was informed that the menu featured a combination of local, ethical and sustainable menu items.
Our brunch was peaceful despite Baby Boy’s recent antics of yelling ” MOM!MOM!MOM!MOM!” for absolutely no reason at all ( I promise to video tape his shenanigans for a post this month!). My favourite part of the meal were the oysters and watching them being shucked right at the bar. On Thursdays there’s a 100 oysters for $100 deal and the hubs and I plan on hitting it up with some friends. If you’ve been following me on Instagram you know that we’ve been on a bit of an Oyster kick, and I can tell you that Pearl Diver has a fabulously fresh selection on offer. Coast to coast and some international ones as well. No regrets at all! The Oysters (priced at $15 for a dozen on Sunday afternoon) were a great way to kick off our brunch when paired with a pint of Amsterdam beer and a chowder. We do love our traditional cream based chowders but this Manhattan style tomato based version was also satisfying. For the mains, I chose the Losbter Benny which was very meaty. I’m quite certain they served a good portion of the tail on my eggs! The hubs loved his dry aged beef burger and of course enjoyed the great selection of craft brews available here. The next time I visit for brunch I definitely plan on ordering the Panko Fried BC Oyster Omelette with home fries and toast. Also, if you’re looking for a spot to dine at on Tuesday evenings, Pearl Diver has launched its impressive Seafood Circus towers at a third of the price every Tuesday evening. Their Sticky Toffee Pudding is deliciously rich but not overly sweet, so be sure to get that when you visit!
What I enjoyed about Pearl Diver was that it is a casual spot for families looking to brunch. There’s a great selection of land and sea offerings (so grandma who doesn’t like seafood can also join in!) and yet there’s no crazy lines to battles with young ones along. If you’re looking for a brunch spot, check these guys out and maybe join us one Thursday for the crazy awesome Oyster deal!
