Looking for a get away, but can't afford to get away? Step into Madeleines, Cherry Pie & Ice Cream and feel as though you stepped into Europe for a delightful brunch.

Walking into Madeleines, Cherry Pie & Ice Cream is like stepping into a lovely piece of Europe in Toronto. Paris, Munich, Barcelona- take your pick- either way, you’re in for a wonderful treat. Apart from offering the famed French cake-like buttery cookie (the Madeleine), this Madeleine is known for some of the best cherry pie in town. Baker/owner and bon vivant Kyla Eaglesham’s mom drives into Toronto three times a week from Peterborough to hand-roll each and every pie shell with painstaking care (you can taste the difference!). The rest of the scrumptious cakes, squares, and pastries are made by Kyla and her team.

Add this to the pièce de resistance- the Summer Garden Sunday Brunch on the back patio, and you’ve got yourself one of the city’s best hidden gems. Most would never know that off of Bathurst Street there sits the most welcoming patio garden festooned with French cloth-topped tables, red umbrellas and a tasty little gazebo housing every kind of edible brunch item on your wish list. Brunch starts off with your choice of freshly brewed Illy coffee, tea, or fruit juice, pastries, fresh fruit, cheeses and yoghurt. You can peruse the offerings inside the gazebo where Mark and his team efficiently work to prepare made-to-order omelettes, Belgian waffles and some of THE most decadent French Toast I’ve ever had. Flecks of chocolate bread, sweet brioche-style bread and a swirl or two of cinnamon intermingle in this happy cross between a French Pain Perdu and a traditional piece of French toast. Served with a few fresh berries and a lashing of maple syrup- you’ll be happy you did.

While the hot-off-the-line omelette was light, flavourful and wonderful, the day’s show stopper has to go to Mark’s grandfather’s crepe recipe. Buttery, melt-in-the-mouth and served as Mark likes with just a dab of maple syrup and cream, or as Kyla prefers – with pressed cheese, fresh berries and a hint of unsweetened fruit coulis; either way, you’ve got a taste sensation. There are tempting mini-quiches, potato tarte tatin squares to be sampled as well as the lovely cherry tarts (I had to have one of those to tell you how terrific it was!).

Having eaten our way through a wonderful selection of offerings served up by friendly staff, we chatted to Kyla, a former flight attendant who went to cooking school and who calls herself “a magpie”- she enjoys having everything look pretty as is evident by her shop. Her High Teas sound divine too- Devon cream and jam with scones, cucumber sandwiches, petit fours and cherry tarts abound for a minimum of 4 to 40. We browsed our way back out to reality and picked up a mini-brick of Kawartha Butterscotch Ripple (tremendous ice cream from the Kawartha Lake region of Ontario, if you’ve never had it- try it!), one of Kayla’s Beef Bourguignon Pies and a French Chocolate Macaroon for the road. Friends near and far and family will soon be making the rounds to Madeleines, Cherry Pie & Ice Cream with us (of course) where a respite from the city awaits in the soothing oasis of that backyard garden patio. Call ahead for reservations- there are two sittings (weather permitting on the patio or inside the lovely shop).

Madeleines, Cherry Pie & Ice Cream

1087 Bathurst (south of Dupont)

Toronto, ON

416.537.3131