On Aug. 19, 2024, The Little Lion, a hot new brunch spot with bougie decor, a delectable menu and a welcoming ambiance opened in the Victoria Plaza. Specializing in late morning and early lunch foods, The Little Lion offers a variety of options including salads, sandwiches, burritos and more. Apart from serving food, this new restaurant offers an open bar.
As I walked into The Little Lion, I was pleasantly surprised by the decor and the attentive staff. I sat down immediately, despite having just entered after the lunch rush hour. Left with the menu, I observed the multitude of options in front of me, from specialized toast to a classic burger.
After contemplating what I wanted to try, with many vegetarian options astounding me, I chose to get the antipasti sandwich and “the breakfast club” toast. Waiting for my order, I observed the atmosphere around me. The space was a little cramped, but with the light color scheme and attentive furnishing, it felt warm and comfortable.
After ordering, I waited no longer than seven minutes for my food, which arrived hot and fresh. As a vegetarian, I appreciated the ability to alter the menu items to my liking, allowing me to get the meat on the side or completely removed from my meal.
I started with my sandwich, digging into the fresh components included in it. With crispy ciabatta, farm-fresh vegetables, creamy hummus and crumbly feta, the antipasti sandwich lived up to all of my hopes and dreams. The quality of the sandwich was excellent, and its flavor was a perfect mix of its given ingredients. It was also paired with a side of fries, excellently crispy and generously produced.
After trying my sandwich, I dug into “the everything” toast, which I chose to eat with a side of hash browns. I was delighted by the toast, oozing with egg yolk, fresh avocado and melty cheddar, served over crunchy sourdough. Although the toast was good, I felt like it was overpriced for its simplistic recipe; it was something I could have easily made at home for $10 or less, rather than the $18 that The Little Lion sold it for.
While I was enjoying my meal, my attentive waitress refilled my water and checked on my table regularly. I appreciated the quick, friendly and caring staff. Despite enjoying most of my meal, I found that my food got cold very quickly, though this might have resulted from eating close to the entrance. My hash brown in particular lost its heat swiftly, and I had to save it for later. I also went to the restroom during my visit, pleased with its cleanliness and aesthetic, but the journey there and back was a bit cramped, with the frequent collisions between the other customers and me.
Overall, I was delighted by this new eatery at the Victoria Plaza. Despite thoroughly enjoying my meal, I was a little surprised by the pricing, but it is what to expect from the average brunch spot. I rate The Little Lion an 8/10, and I would recommend this new site for anybody interested in brunch foods!
