Top Ten Best Diners in Toronto

Could it be that the quintessential North American meal is two eggs, any style with sausage or bacon, home fries and toast? If not, it might well be the classic burger with fries. Either way, I've sampled a fair few of each around town, and here are my picks for best greasy spoons in TO.

1. The Emerald Bar & Grill (1628 Queen East at Coxwell, 416-691-3817): My current favourite, partly because it's near my house and partly because hardly anybody has "discovered" it yet. The book on the Emerald is that it was the local for racetrack regulars in the old days, but now that they've demolished the racetrack and banned smoking in restaurants, it's just a great, dim little local place that offers a great deal on peameal bacon with eggs and a decidedly masculine decor (as in green walls, framed news clippings from the first Jays World Series win and two TVs tuned to cable sports shows with the sound off).
2. Avenue Open Kitchen (7 Camden Street near Richmond & Spadina, 416-504-7131): Tiny and tucked away, rough-and-ready, and with seriously good home fries. The first time I was there, the city snow-clearing crew was in stoking up on carbs, which I thought was a great sign.
3. Patrician Grill (219 King East near Sherbourne, 416-366-4841): Open since 1967, this one's bigger and a little more comfortable, with an air of gravitas befitting its name. I like to think my great uncle the railway conductor might have stopped by for a pipe, a paper and a leisurely Saturday morning breakfast in a bygone age.
4. The Bus Terminal Family Restaurant (1606 Danforth at Coxwell, 416-463-4680): Kooky '70s decor left over from the 2005 filming of 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin', and some actually fresh salads and whole-grain bread to accompany classic diner sandwiches, omelettes and so on. I have been made to wait quite a while for meals sometimes, but such is the price of greatness.
5. Vesta Lunch (474 Dupont at Bathurst, 416-537-4318): Open 24 hours. Really. I challenge you not to slip into an interior film-noir voiceover as you slouch over your Java and BLT at the well-worn counter.
6. People's Foods (176 Dupont at Davenport, 416-972-0195): In the '80s, when I inhabited a dreadful little basement across the street, this place was the darling of the Yuppie crowd (remember Yuppies?), and they would line up every weekend to get in. Well, it's still the same clean, efficient place with the good onion rings, except now you can just walk in.
7. Detroit Eatery (389 Danforth at Chester, 416-461-0136): In my Danforth-dwelling days, this was my regular spot. Clean, comfortable, cheerful and decorated with Red Wings paraphernalia.
8. Jim's Restaurant (897 Queen East at Logan, 416-463-6535): This is the one with the "Best Westerns" sign outside, and I have actually eaten there. I must say, I did feel the down-at-heel ambiance was a little bit challenging, but the steaming hot toasted western sandwich made me forget my trepidation. Mostly, though, I enjoy their noble rotisserie chicken, brought home by my bike-riding sweetie Jonathan.
9. Dangerous Dan's Diner (714 Queen East at Broadview, 416-463-7310): How can you not love the home of the Coronary Burger (bacon, cheese, fried egg, mayo)? I find most of their portions way too big and heavy for me, but Jonathan adores them for weekend lunch delivery.
10. Gale's Snack Bar (539 Eastern at Carlaw, no phone): This is my only cheat, in the sense that I haven't been there myself yet. But everyone whose opinion I trust and who has eaten there says it's great food, miraculously cheap. NOW magazine claims it's Toronto's oldest luncheonette, which is in itself a reason to check it out.

There was a time when I'd have put Lakeview Lunch high on this list, but I've been hearing that it's not what it once was. And what's up with Stem, Mars and KOS?

PS: I seem to have some kind of tribute to Michael Snow's Walking Woman going on in my photo. No idea how that happened.