The County General
The County General lives up to the all the buzz and talk you’ve all been hearing. Its a tiny restaurant located in a big city, serving farmer inspired dishes, with a rustic decor and plating and a fantastic menu.
The County General Bar Area
For all brunch lovers out there, looking for a homey breakfast done right, using fresh ingredients, The County General is the place to be at. As the weather warms in this rather cold city, I long for those warm Sundays where the act of “brunching” becomes a fundamental part of one’s weekend.
I would describe brunch at The County General as tasty and comforting with a “farmy” feel to it. Their Croque Madame is certainly representative of that and a crowd pleaser with a decadent cheese melting conception.
Croque Madame
The Croque Madame is simply a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a twist. The twist being the soft béchamel sauce, the use of hand crafted specialty cheeses and the added element of a fresh sunny side-up egg. Served with your choice of french fries or salad, this sandwich is melted ooey-gooey goodness on a hard-wood cutting tray.
Although sandwiches seem to be what drives the Toronto crowds to the County General, it seems their big hit, whether for brunch, lunch or dinner is still the infamous Fried Chicken Thigh Sandwich.
Fried Chicken Thigh Sandwich
This sandwich has been praised and talked about all over the city, and its popularity does match its taste. I mean, who would have thought of taking tender pieces of chicken thighs (which in my mind are the best part of a chicken), soaking them in buttermilk, then frying them to perfection and assembling in a mix of avocado chutney, pickled red onions and coriander (aka cilantro), on a milk bun…truly mouth-watering.
The way to eat this sandwich is by squeezing the top bun down until the master piece is bite-able, and then sinking your teeth into what ‘s about to become a great brunching experience.
Last but not least, I would like to give an honorary mention to County General’s Eggs Benny.
County General’s Eggs Benny
Although I can attest I have had better eggs benny experiences, such as the one from the already closed Hoof Cafe (thanks for ruining me for life btw); I would say CG’s Eggs Benedict are quite good and worth the try. They tend to be more rustic and dry than your typical benny, but the hollandaise is quite fresh and tasty and the eggs are done just right. So if you are a Benedict fan, you would not go wrong with these.
As a parting thought, I would also like to give a mention to CG’s coffee. I had one of the best cappuccinos there. Their coffee is done to perfection and the milk is frothy and fresh. So much so, that I even doubled on my coffee order that day!
Until next time Foodies!
Buen Provecho,
Foodies Inked.
Dining Experience: Brunch
Venue: The County General
Specialty: Farmer Inspired – Seasonal Cooking
Location: 936 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
Menu items: Croque Madame, Fried Chicken Thigh Sandwich & Eggs Benedict
OH WOW! I just want to RUN here after reading this review! Too bad we got turned away from here last night, though I have NO regrets about going to Parkette instead!
I’ve only been for dinner; should def drop by for their brunch one day
! Everything looks fantastic!