By Ghazal Lotfi on May 26, 2026 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

White Lily Diner is definitely popular, so be prepared to wait. The good thing is that you can join the waitlist online, which makes it easier since you can walk around and come back when they text you or when you’re closer to the front of the line. We waited for about 2 hours.

The food was good overall, but the biscuit was the highlight for me. Definitely worth trying. I can see why people like this place, but personally I think it’s a bit overhyped. Worth visiting once for the experience.

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By Anthony Goodings on May 16, 2026 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

The food was good, but maybe my expectations were too high because I was not blown away. One of the people with me got pancakes which were quite dense, we found that surprising. I found the meatloaf slightly oversalted. The salmon toast was good, but nothing particularly creative. We were quoted 45 minutes at the door and waited 90 minutes. Once ordered the food took over 30 minutes to arrive. Some of the interesting things like the homemade pickles and fermented green beans are like $7 for a portion, we didn’t really want a large portion and were a bit disappointed that there no option to add a small sampler for a few dollars. Overall I wouldn’t come back.

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By Neiswonger Rehbein on May 3, 2026 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

I went for weekend brunch and, honestly, I went in expecting a bit of a wait since the reviews often mentioned it. We waited about 30 minutes, but it felt reasonable given how small the place is. I ordered the Hot Turkey, White Lily Standard Breakfast, Caesar Salad, and Sweet Potato Salad, along with a filter coffee. The food was genuinely delicious. Prices are typical for Toronto not very cheap, but reasonable for the quality. Overall, I was satisfied. Would I go again? Yes, but I’d avoid peak hours. I’d recommend it, just don’t set your expectations for “fast service.”

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By Phoebe Ting on March 25, 2026 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

A lovely spot for a hearty breakfast. The vibes are quite cute and they have an extensive menu. We loved the caesarish salad and the hot turkey was... quite a comforty treat but HEFTY. The hashbrown was nice with the malt mayo.

Trick is to get into the queue once it opens before/while you're on the way. But make sure you're there in good time for your turn or else you'll lose your table.

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By Chris H on March 21, 2026 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

4.5/5.0 rounded up. Have visited twice for brunch and ordered the White Lily Standard both times with poached eggs and bacon. Simple and delicious. Highly recommend!

My partner tried the Buttermilk Griddle Cakes and the Meatloaf Dinner and enjoyed both of them. She found the buttermilk biscuit to be not as buttery as she would have liked, and on the dry side.

We got their donuts for takeout to try and would not recommend based on our expeirence. We tried the Strawberry Crueller and Chocolate Orange Filled. The Strawberry didn't have any sort of strawberry flavour, and the Orange Chocolate tasted like Terry's. Both donuts were on the overbaked side (they had that specific overbaked flavour).

We joined the waitlist at 10:15am on our most recent visit on a Sunday (March 2026) and we were notified that a table was available at 12:30pm (2.25h wait). They give a 10 minute window for you to get there if you decided to wander around or are on the way.

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By Kristin on February 25, 2026 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

Food was absolutely delicious and super filling. I loved the hashbrown in the breakfast, but it looked/tasted more like a rosti to me. The biscuit was also so buttery and soft and if I wasn't full to bursting I might've ordered an extra on the side to take home. We were too full to try the donuts but I heard those were good too. Overall the food is seasoned on the heavier side, so while it was tasty, it was a bit overly salty for me and if I think about my Asian parents, they're definitely not going to enjoy the heavy flavours of everything lol.

We came on a random Monday noon, so it wasn't full but we were seated at the bar as a walk-in. We didn't know there was an online waitlist to sit at the booths, so that's good to remember for next time. I heard it gets super busy otherwise so we were quite lucky we didn't actually have to wait for a seat, but the bar seating was a bit uncomfy due to no backrest and no real place to put our coats.

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By nomnomnom on January 31, 2026 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

the food is great, but i feel like i’ve had better, more satisfying diner food for cheaper. i’m not sure i tOTALLY understand why there’s always a huge line , but hey i still enjoyed it !

the only thing that was TRULY remarkable were their biscuits, especially with their maple-y sweet, whipped, airy butter lathered all over. the biscuit was warm, soooo fluffy and soft on the inside, with a good crunch on the outside. a truly perfect biscuit.

the og patty melt was delicious too, with a flavourful, sweet relish that really stood out. the meat was juicy and moist, the bread was nicely toasted and thick (maybe a bit too thick at the edges?), and the cheese sauce was subtle and not overpowering. the potato salad on the side was creamy, a bit tangy/pickly, and sweet.

the hashbrown was quite good too, i enjoyed how the creamy and light mayo made it taste not too greasy, and there was a good freshness from the green onions too. the top was slightly crispy, but otherwise it was more like soft, shredded potato.

the meatloaf dinner didn’t stand out to me too much, it was just decent. it had a strong savoury, heavy meaty taste — kinda like a beef meatball — and i would’ve liked a bit more of the sweet jam to balance it out? the pickles on the side were good though, much sweeter than normal. it was also my first time trying grits, and at first i thought they were just really creamy mashed potatoes, but they were actually more like porridge-like grains with a subtler, milder flavour. not bad !

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By Brad S on January 11, 2026 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

The food was quality diner food. I ordered the meatloaf dinner and it was a healthy portion. Two peppery pieces of meatloaf that had a nice crust on the exterior and a moist interior. The savoury jam and pickle cut the richness of the potatoes and meat nicely. The biscuit was crispy on the outside with a fluffy interior.

The atmosphere was classic diner. They have a few booths that can seat up to 4, and two that seat 2 people. There are 4 stools for bar dining. Two single use bathrooms on the main floor for accessibility.

The service was alright. We were slow to be seated and they were slow to take our order. We had to ask for anything we wanted, such as a drink to start and any refills. Staff were polite but, overall, service could have been more friendly and warm.

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By Shruti Mittal on January 11, 2026 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

The diner came on my radar from Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list. Good place for brunch or lunch. Good vibe and food. Staff is pleasant. I'm glad they had an online waitlist - had to wait for 2+ hrs even first thing in the morning. Southern style breakfast with biscuits was delicious. Worth exploring at least once in my opinion.

A few things that could be better - salads served with sandwiches are same as all other restaurants so it felt basic for this place. They can be clearer that they have only 7 tables and a bar with the limited seating, which might help people assess how long it might take to get their table through the waitlist.

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By Arpy G on November 9, 2025 Verified by Google White Lily Diner

White Lily Diner absolutely blew me away. We started with the broccoli salad and radicchio salad — both were out of this world. The dressings were so well-balanced and flavorful, especially the radicchio one, which I think was a seasonal special — crisp, fresh, and perfectly dressed.

Then came the salmon toast, which might honestly be one of the best bites I’ve had all year. The bread itself was incredible — crusty, chewy, and full of flavor — topped with smashed capers and olive oil that brought everything together beautifully.

For mains, our table had the meatloaf dinner, Reuben, patty melt, and hot turkey dinner. I was lucky enough to try a bit of everything, and there wasn’t a single miss. Every dish tasted like it was made with care — rich, comforting, and layered with flavor. I also tried a side of sausage, which had this amazing peppery kick that stood out in the best way.

The music and overall vibe were perfect — that classic diner feel but elevated, with an energy that just makes you want to stay longer. Our server was fantastic — attentive, friendly, and really added to the experience.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get better, we finished with their house-made donuts — absolutely divine. Light, fluffy, and perfectly sweet — the ideal ending to an already unforgettable meal.

White Lily Diner is the kind of place that reminds you why eating out can be such a joy. Whether you’re coming with friends, family, or on a date, it’s a total win. Every bite was a moment of pure happiness.

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