Being a Queen’s student in Kingston, I feel more than #blessed for the array of restaurants that surround us. From Japanese sushi bars like Kame Sushi to fancy Italian bistros like Atomica, Kingston’s got it all.
Even on a tight student budget, it’s hard to go hungry in this foodie city… even if that means eating at Morrison’s everyday (I’m definitely not complaining). Being the avid brunch-lover that I am, I’ve been in search of new brunch spots in Ontario aside from the typical Pan Chancho and Windmills menus that we’re used to in Kingston.
With some quick research, I stumbled upon the Drake Devonshire Inn. This inn’s one of the many Drake establishments that can be spotted around Toronto: The Drake Hotel, Drake One Fifty and the Drake General Store. As the name suggests, the Drake Devonshire Inn’s a hotel, but of course, we just went there for the food.
Photo by Kennedy Choi
The plain Jane exterior of the Drake Devonshire Inn was a completely misleading representation of the lodge’s funky interior. Inside, there were various art pieces mounted on the walls. My personal favourite was a handmade paper mobile by Kirsten Hassenfield that hung above the front entrance.
The dining room was brightly lit with high ceilings and an open view to the lake. This made for the perfect ambience for a weekend brunch. Anyways, enough about the design, let’s get into what matters most: the food. The drive to the inn did a great job working up our appetites, so by the time we arrived, we were ready to eat some good grub.
Photo by Kennedy Choi
Chef Matthew DeMille, the head chef at the restaurant, takes advantage of local products through farm and lake to table cuisine.
We woke up our taste buds with some coffee. I ordered a macchiato, which is basically espresso with foamed milk. It’s the perfect little caffeinated drink for those who want to leave room for food. But if you prefer cups of coffee, I won’t judge.
Photo by Kennedy Choi
We started by ordering blueberry scones with clotted butter and raspberry preserve ($10). The scones were flaky and buttery and just melted in my mouth. I’ve heard a lot of good things about scones at the Drake establishments in Toronto and they definitely live up to the hype.
Photo by Kennedy Choi
For my main, I decided to indulge in the chicken and waffles ($16). When the waiter came with my dish, I was instantly impressed by the presentation (definitely Insta-worthy).
The fried chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Underneath was a fluffy waffle with corn and pecans. This savoury dish was well complimented by the sweet maple syrup. 8.5/10 would eat again.
Photo by Kennedy Choi
My friend ordered the smoked brisket hash ($18), which came with a layer of potato hash mounted by tender and well-seasoned beef brisket topped with a poached egg. Although I don’t regret my order, I’d give the brisket a rating of 9/10.
kennedy Choi
Overall, my experience dining at the Devonshire Inn was enjoyable and relaxing. It was the perfect spot for a daytime getaway. The one hour drive was well worth the food and the beautiful interior design.
The inn also offers alternative breakfast, lunch and dinner menus at their restaurant. If you go for brunch, I highly recommend ordering the scones. You won’t regret it.