Leasiders have embraced a popular Thornhill restaurant, which opened at 1608 Bayview Ave. in May 2023. Fans of Ramona’s, who had been making the trek to the original location, which opened in 2015, were delighted to see them expand to this neighbourhood.
Owner Carlo Carlucci named the restaurant after his wife, Ramona, whose tasty recipes grace the menu, like the popular southwest benedict and the avocado and brie omelette.
Says Carlo, “the Leaside community is friendly and family oriented and we always wanted to open a location here.” In addition to Thornhill and Leaside, Ramona’s has added Ramona’s Café, next to the original restaurant, along with a location at Hillcrest Mall.
Since opening in Leaside, Ramona’s has received great support from the community for whom the eatery is a regular haunt. It also sees customers from all over the city and beyond, having welcomed guests from places like Ottawa, New York, Texas, California and abroad. Many of these visitors have either heard about Ramona’s from friends or family or found it through an internet search as it regularly pops up as a “top brunch spot.”
While Ramona’s Kitchen is known for its breakfast and brunch offerings (with more than 10 variations of eggs benedict on the menu), the restaurant is actually a diner serving lunch and dinner and is open into the evening. It also provides a true ‘all-day breakfast’ – you can order classic bacon and eggs or any of their breakfast creations at any time of day. One of the most popular menu items is the banana bread French toast, a delicious variation on the classic.
According to manager Gail Longworth, “the most popular menu items in Leaside are the schnitzel benny (eggs benedict with schnitzel), the chicken waffle, and the grilled tomato and avocado benedict.” Ramona’s also features a classic burger and fries plus an Amsterdam Brewery beer special on Thursdays and Saturdays and a fish and chips special on Fridays. The restaurant is busy with dine-in patrons but also sees a lot of takeout orders. On Friday and Saturday, they offer late night and early morning take-out (pick up only, outside of regular business hours).
Ramona’s is a very friendly place. Longworth was a customer who loved the restaurant before becoming an employee. When she met Carlo and heard he was looking for a weekend manager, she was delighted to join the team, which is very much like a family. They are also community-oriented and charitable, supporting both local organizations and fundraisers. You will see Ramona’s Kitchen’s name and logo on one of the rink boards at the Leaside arena.
The front patio is pet friendly with treats for the four-leggers. In addition, there is a heated, covered back patio area that offers a tranquil setting. This hidden gem is functional all year as the cover opens on nice days, but also provides protection.
If you were near the restaurant in December, you likely noticed their Christmas tree, which they invited people from the community to decorate. Typical of the welcoming atmosphere and community focus.
