Owner is a hoot
The owner of this place is a hoot with a wicked sense of humour. A great place to stop for a quick snack. Good vegetarian options.
This spot is by far the most economical spot to have lunch, in the Old Town/ St Lawrence area , if you factor in portion size and quality of the food. Also the most convivial( first time customers get a free cookie) and welcoming. The owners are so nice and friendly. They have been open for 27 years and I wish them 50 more. From falafel to tuna salad, while not forgetting the delicious baked goods, the food is much better than at any other place selling this type of lunch fare. Elias loves his family , his restaurant and his customers. And we love him back! And yes, the apple cake is to die for!
Elias is probably the most genuine human being alive. Also, the apple cake here IS the best dessert you will ever put into your mouth. Go there...Now.
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Let's be real here. If you're Middle Eastern, your grandmother/mother make the BEST falafel on the block. No contest. No one comes close. But then, you make that big kids decision to move away from your family for work, school, life, whatever your reason - you're far from the best food you've ever had. Now what? You hear your non-Arab friends talking about this place, "Mystic Muffin" and you think, well, special muffins aren't my thing, I'm sooooo hungry. The convincing game begins. "Look, trust me on this one, lunch is on me. You won't regret it, I promise". So you go, it's a free lunch. Living on a budget is tough. Free is nice, even if it's gross.
You make your way to this purple store, Mystic Muffin is written in red on a white board and you're thinking - oh man, this friend is crazy. Lol. You walk in and there he is. You're greeted by the owner, Elias. You're looking at the menu, you're reading the boards on the wall and you stumble upon his story. He left his city in South Lebanon to come to Canada at 21. Being Lebanese as well, I started asking questions. Likely enough (most Arabs can relate), he knows my uncle - they met when he first arrived in Canada all those years ago. I instantly felt that this was a good choice, I can trust this man to make my food and it would be quite close to Teta or Mom's food.
I ordered the falafel sandwich with the grilled eggplant. Please always order the grilled eggplant. It was fresh, the falafel was so perfectly crispy, the mash up of flavours from the eggplant and fresh vegetables (I suggest the pickled turnips, lettuce, tomatoes and parsley) was a combination of crunch and happiness. If you're considering putting something wonderful in your body, I suggest Mystic Muffin. You can always cheat a little here and try their apple cake - which is completely OUT of this world.
PS. Say Hi to Elias. He's the man!
On the last full day in Toronto, our plan was to visit the Royal Ontario Museum. Ben loves museums. Ben intended to walk to the ROM via Queen’s Park. On the way, we came across the above World Best Apple Cake signage. The signage was from a neighbourhood restaurant; Mystic Muffin. How can we miss the opportunity to try some.
Perfect neighbourhood spot. I decided to stop by here during my lunch. The owner and his wife were polite and welcoming. Meeting the owner and chatting with him was a hilarious experience in itself. It was a nice break from a busy work morning. Cheap food and warm service.
Awesomeness. Use Urbanspoon to find good eats, usually cheap good eats around cities. My favorite saying is urbanspoon strikes again, and the Mystic Muffin fit the bill. The owner was super nice and funny, off the wall talkative. Food was good and the apple cake hit the spot. Check this place out!
Great place. Great food and awesome owners. This little shop located on a busy corner of the downtown core delivers hearty meals at low cost. Always a pleasure to drop in and grab a coffee and a sandwich for takeout. They also have tons of freshly baked goodies for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Nicest staff I've ever encountered. Good banana bread too. Areas not that bad. There are high end condos in the same block.
Apple cake!. I lived condos up the block and loved getting a hot muffin in the morning or picking up a sheet of apple cake to take to my mom's house on the weekends. Great staff. Great baked goods. And the muffins are a normal human being serving size- not those ridiculous 700 calorie softball sized things - at a good price.
I live in New Orleans now and am jonesing for an apple cake fix.
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