Gold Standard Queen

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Wyck Recommends: Gold Standard Queen – All Sandwich, No Space

Picture this: You’re starving, half-frozen, and standing at the corner of Queen and Brock—where the wind slaps harder than your last situationship—and the smell of bacon and hot sauce lures you toward a bright little shop with three stools and big promises. You think, “This is gonna hit.” And hey—it does… but not without a few bumps.

What We Had:

The Gold Standard Breakfast Sandwich – fluffy scrambled eggs, sharp cheddar, crispy bacon, pickles, aioli, and hot sauce on a toasted English muffin.
Tastes great. No notes on flavor. But at $10 for a takeaway sandwich with nowhere to sit? That’s a choice.
Service: Not friendly, not helpful. No greeting, no vibe, just an order number and a bag. You’ll get fed, but don’t expect warmth or welcome.

Vibe Check:
It’s not a vibe—it’s a sandwich mission. You’re either standing awkwardly indoors with strangers breathing down your neck, or outside in Parkdale wind chill questioning your life decisions. There’s technically seating, but only in the same way that a windowsill technically counts as furniture.

The Space Itself:
Visually? Beautiful. Tin ceiling, tiled floor, good light, plants, retro signs—it’s got that curated, urban breakfast charm.
But physically? It’s tiny. Like, “two humans and a stroller is a full shutdown” tiny. The stools and counter look cute in photos but function more like decorative suggestions than actual usable space. Most Canadians aren’t built to perch like hummingbirds.

About the Neighborhood:
This part of Queen West is loud, weird, and full of energy. You’ll find thrift gold, momos, record shops, and at least one guy ranting about landlords on a megaphone.
Fun fact: The area was once Toronto’s furniture manufacturing hub—now it’s where sandwiches are made and personal space goes to die.

Hits:
✔️ The sandwich is fire—great ingredients and flavors
✔️ Fast, efficient service (even if not warm)
✔️ Cute design, great for a quick solo stop
✔️ Iconic Parkdale location with character

Misses:
✖️ Interior is unbelievably small—you’ll be shoulder-to-shoulder with a stranger before you even finish ordering
✖️ Not enough space to sit, eat, or even stand comfortably
✖️ No parking, chaotic intersection, no place to chill
✖️ Service was cold—zero welcome, no helpfulness

Final Verdict:
Gold Standard earns its name for flavor—but everything else is a logistical struggle. You’ll leave full and mildly annoyed, like someone who paid for a great concert but stood behind a pillar the whole time.

Rating: 3.5/5

Perfect for: Locals grabbing a quick bite, sandwich lovers, people who already ate there before
Avoid if: You want to sit, feel welcome, or not get elbowed while chewing

Gold Standard might have a small menu, but they absolutely nail it—especially their breakfast sandwich. It’s seriously one of the best in the city and totally worth the hype!! The portions are generous, the ingredients are high quality, and the bacon is that perfect mix of crispy and melty.
We keep going back for it, and it never disappoints!

Gold Standard is hands down one of my favorite spots for breakfast. The vibe inside is bright and inviting with plenty of natural light and plants that make it feel super cozy. I ordered the Impossible Melt, and it was delicious.

The staff here are always incredibly friendly, and this time the cashier even sang, which made the experience even better. Definitely a 10/10!

This is the best on-the-go breakfast on the westside of Toronto! The Good Standard breakfast sandwich (with either bacon or kale - we had both and they were excellent) is made of scrambled eggs, melted cheddar, crispy-thick bacon, pickels, hit sauce on a toasted English muffin with nothing but tasty goodness!

Very fresh and tasty sandwiches! The Telway is a Detroit classic done right (although this one has a much higher price tag than the original), the 4 Guys burger is substantial and perfectly dressed ... and the Breakfast Sandwich is so delicious - perfectly cooked eggs, savoury, smoky bacon, sharp cheddar on a soft English muffin - the best part though: they use my favourite hot sauce of all time: Marie Sharp's!