Sad to say: Tortilla Flats is the new Still

By Molly

It’s a sad day when one of your favourite greasy-spoon breakfast joints closes down. It’s an even sadder day when this breakfast joint doubles as a pretty cool nighttime hangout with a good patio, cheap deals, and good atmosphere. And when this place is but a stone’s throw away from your apartment? It’s almost heartbreaking.
So. When Still The Duke of Connaught closed a couple weeks ago, Torontoist knew nothing of its fate. Would there be new owners? Would they revive and preserve the way Still did? Or would the historic signage disappear and a franchise store move in? Torontoist could only hope revive and preserve would win.
Lo and behold, there’s gonna be a new kid at Queen and Augusta, and Torontoist’s pretty certain they won’t dish out the same quality breakfast for $3.99, although this new joint IS known for some pretty cheap deals themselves. Another edition of the American franchise Tortilla Flats is moving in. Does that mean they’re moving OUT of their prime real estate between Spadina and John? Who knows.
But Still! The place that lay abandoned for so long. Revived with the old signage as a tribute to the old brewing still discovered in the basement during renovations. Now loved it for 2004, so did Martiniboys . . . because it was Queen West cool without being pretentious, because it was simple and stylish, but not trendy somehow. A piece of history without drawing attention to itself, the decor was sleek while still staying true to it’s century-old structure. With the coolest celler-washrooms in the city (sad but true, a cool washroom in the basement of a bar is a rare find!), and the best winterized-patio around, dear Still: you will be missed.
Sitting there every weekend since September ordering the same breakfast each time, this Torontoist whined constantly about the crappy service, yet stayed loyal as the “hotter” breakfast spots on Queen couldn’t compare price wise. And other than breakfast all the food was decent, you could pop in for live jazz nights, and the promoter was keen to lend you the spot for any occasion that would draw more people. Nestled in the middle of all the crazies on Queen West, it seemed hard to believe Still was an abandoned hole for so long. Maybe the crazies weren’t bringing in enough business — but is Tortilla Flats going to do any better? Good luck.
Torontoist has nightmares already … the 1940’s terrazzo floor replaced by gaudy tex-mex wood-panelled renovations….