Simple brunch staple rises with housemade sourdough

Where: Nelson the Seagull, 315 Carrall Street

Hair of the dog: If you’re looking for a boozy brunch, this isn’t your place. If you’re looking for fantastic coffee, you’ve found it. With coffee beans from Elysian, the offering of drinks ($3 to $5), from an Americano to a Latte, are worth savouring.

What we ate: Avo on toast ($9) and Poached eggs on toast ($11) with roast beef, roasted tomatoes, roasted mushroom and avocado (additional charges).

What we loved: Gluten-free people beware, this brunch spot is all about the bread. House-made sourdough. Yes, house-made sourdough, which you can watch being kneaded and baked in the back. The avo on toast is quite literally toast with butter, avocado, salt and pepper. The bread has a hard crust and is full of chewy air pockets where the butter melts and food bliss is created. You can also purchase a loaf of the sourdough to take home, too.

The space is full of that reinvented and repurposed charm of an older building, with a cracked tile floor, high ceiling strung with lights and worn wooden tables. There’s room for large groups or those seeking some peace alone, with a comfortable atmosphere that’s both busy and cozy.

Tip: Be sure to get there early, after 11 a.m. you’ll be hard pressed to find a seat.