Little Bavaria Restaurant Toronto – 3222 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M1J 2H6
Country: Germany    
Seating: Only indoor seating. 
Must-try dish: Münchner Schnitzel with Cabbage and Spätzle 
The high: The decor and atmosphere take you to a Bavarian-style tavern in Germany. 
The low: It’s difficult to get to from downtown, otherwise we would go more often! 

The neighbourhood home to Little Bavaria Restaurant was originally a landing spot for German immigrants in Toronto, but slowly over the decades they moved out of the city and this area became more multicultural and less German. This restaurant is one of the last reminders of the former German settlement in the city’s east end. 

Although the restaurant has been open for 40 years, the ownership has changed hands a couple of times. The current owners hail from the Munich area and have had the eatery for 21 years – it’s very much a family-affair. 

Upon stepping foot into the space, you’re taken out of Toronto and transported straight to Germany simply with the decor, and things get more German from there. There are matching antique lamps above every table, advertisements for German beers, and coffered ceiling paneling. This can all be enjoyed while sipping on one of three German beers on draught: a lager, a wheat, and a pilsner. The food menu is packed with German specialties from Bratwurst to Schnitzel to Kase Spatzle, and side dishes to accompany each dish.  

It’s immediately evident that Little Bavaria Restaurant specializes in Schnitzel, and there’s no shortage of variations on the extensive menu for all types of palates. Some are breaded and some are not, while some are doused in sauces and others are dry. There’s even a vegetarian schnitzel to accommodate those on a plant based diet. 

We decided to dive into the deep end and go directly for the main dishes because the portions are generous. The Münchner Schnitzel caught our attention – it’s a breaded pork schnitzel topped with bacon, mushrooms, onions and melted cheese. Despite the large piece of meat, it felt like there wasn’t enough because it was so good. This dish is a party of textures from the thin piece of meat, the crispiness of the breading, the softness of the mushrooms, and the velvety cheese to bring all the flavours together. 

The second dish was Krainerwurst – two massive sausages with a hint of smokiness in each bite. Both entrees were served with a small bowl of soup, and a choice between cooked red cabbage and sauerkraut. There’s also an option to pick between potatoes and spätzle (a german pasta noodle common in the south). The potatoes and the sauerkraut were delicious but if we were to recommend one combination it would be the cabbage and the spätzle. 

On a future visit, the Kase Spätzle (a German take on macaroni and cheese), the Jäger Schnitzel (meat cooked in red wine, bacon, mushrooms, and onions), and the Cabbage Roll would all be on order. It would also be wise to save room for one of the decadent-sounding desserts. Black Forest Cake anyone? 

There are a number of classics on the menu that we overlooked because we had both tried them in Germany, but if it’s your first time, then the Bratwurst and the Wiener Schnitzel are excellent options that will have you excited about German cuisine. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)