Review #66 - Sunnyside Too

Sunnyside Too
Variety: Diner
Address: 1552 Bedford Highway
Date Visited: Monday, August 10, 2015
Orders: Monster Burger, Rise & Shine

Taste: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 78% (Good)

(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)

Notes: The Sunnyside (and Sunnyside Too) is one of those places we've driven past dozens if not hundreds of times over the years but have never visited. For whatever reason, we kind of assumed it was pretty much the same as Smitty's. We decided to give it a shot, and guess what: It looks like a Smitty's, feels like a Smitty's, the menu is just like Smitty's, the clientele looks like what you'd find at Smitty's (largely older folks with a smattering of people with young children), and the food tasted pretty much like a Smitty's.

We were confused as to why there was a Sunnyside and Sunnyside Too beside each other with the Sunnyside being closed and the Too being open, but the server explained the other one has pretty much the same menu cooked in the same kitchen. Ok, I guess?

As you walk in, you can't help but notice the pie fridge on the wall. You know instantly that you'd better save room for dessert, which we totally did. J was hungry, though, so he went for the Monster Burger (see below) - the menu accurately stated "Designed for the monstrous appetite! Two beef patties topped with bacon and cheddar." That, plus lettuce, tomato, pickles and red onion (even though he asked for no onion). It was virtually impossible to eat that thing without a knife and fork. The only issue was that the (huge) patties, obviously made from scratch were dry and didn't have a lot of seasoning, making the whole thing kinda bland, even with all of those toppings. Seriously, look at the photo below and you can almost tell how dry those things were.

T's Rise N' Shine breakfast plate was perfectly adequate. A couple of eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, homefries and a glass of OJ. It's kinda hard to screw that up, and they didn't. Nothing wrong, but nothing special, hence her 8s across the board.

The much-anticipated pies, on the other hand...the lemon meringue was tasty, but the crust was mushy and not at all flaky as one would have hoped. The coconut cream pie, on the other hand, was bland as could be. No flavour at all. One minus point for tempting us with wonderful pie and falling flat on delivery.

Final Verdict: It's basically Smitty's.