Death in the Afternoon at The Drake

Where can one have a late - and I mean late - brunch? At The Drake, of course! They serve theirs until 4pm. Now that's what I call an accommodating kitchen.

I've always loved The Drake. The RC and I find it to be consistently reliable. And The Drake always manages to surprise just a little bit. Case in point: the best thing on the brunch menu is actually a cocktail called Death in the Afternoon. How about that name to jolt you out of sleepiness (without a cuppa java)? It's champagne and Absinthe. It's effectively a dare, so we try it. A slight herbal, cough candy aftertaste but honestly, it's quite appealing. Go ahead and try it -- apparently today's Absinthe won't kill you.

The breakfast burrito is a huge favorite, judging from the orders all around us. The RC chooses the sausage filling, which is delectable. The day's fritatta is delish - who would know that mushroom and arugula could be so flavourful? Our next-couch companions have a Cobb salad, which they are very pleased with. Another stand-out item is banana pancakes, and there are the usual egg dishes as well as fruit and yoghurt. However, the menu is not just brunch-y things; there are burgers and sandwiches to tempt you, in case you are the type that cannot eat eggs or pancakes after noon.

The really great thing about The Drake is that you can eat anywhere: the cafe, the streetside patio, the lounge while listening to live music, and the upstairs patio (Sky Yard open after 1:30pm on weekends). After brunch, a nice walk along Queen to visit the galleries is a nice way to spend the afternoon. Or book yourself a room and...