Sublime Dining
Dooney’s is a beloved café of the Annex section of Bloor St., and a sweet little gathering spot for the area’s creative types. A long, oak-coloured bar runs almost the whole length of the indoor area of the restaurant. It creates a sense of comfortable closeness between the patrons and staff. High ceilings and light from the windows help create a sense of space. The décor is classic, from the brick to the muted brown walls to the tiled tabletops. As soon as spring is in the air, however, customers congregate outside in one of the most sublime patios of the Annex. Beneath a myriad of glowing bulbs, the terrace adds a sense of intimacy and romanticism to the evening’s dining experience. Thanks to Dooney’s, many Annex-dwellers count sipping cappuccinos and watching the tourists and college kids walk by as one of their favourite pastimes.

A Little Bit of Everything
The menu at Dooney’s is not extravagant, but it is diverse and well-priced. Covering all the essential mealtimes, the dishes at Dooney’s are in flux throughout the day, serving assorted plates for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The club sandwich is always a safe bet, unusually augmented with sliced avocado and chipotle mayo. The heuevos Dooney’s is a combination of slow-cooked black beans, scrambled eggs, toasted cornbread, and fresh tomato salsa. As dusk approaches, customers may opt for a hearty helping of penne, a steaming bowl of mussels, or perhaps crostini spread with chicken-liver pate. The wine menu, though not flamboyant, covers all the essentials from Italy, Chile, Australia, France, California, and Ontario. And no one in their right mind leaves Dooney’s without having dessert. A case full of imports from Toronto’s best bakeries closes the argument. Rich chocolate cakes and deep-gutted fruit pies await you at the end of your meal.