For our Easter breakfast, we decided to go to Mimi’s Breakfast on Bathurst (under the Oak Leaf Spa) but we were turned away.

Rather rudely.

We found Mimi’s from 10best.com and thought it sounded nice. We were attracted to the “kitschy”.

When we got there, no times were posted on the door and yet I could see people inside past the dusty toys lining the window. I pushed open the door to be greeted by a thick dirty black curtain blocking off the alcove to the restaurant. Loud folk music and a strong waft of pot hit me like a hammer as I pulled back the drape. Standing in the front of the cramped “diner” was a short woman with shorter hair, in flannels, cutting potatoes. In her craggly mouth a cigarette hung precariously over the cutting board. Since she was in full view of the front window, I was a bit shocked that I had missed that obvious violation of health codes when we walked by.

“Mumumuuh!” she said past her cigarette, Bob Dylan singing over her.

“Huh?”

“WE’RE NOT OPEN!” she bellowed.

“Sorry, man!” I said and turned.

My last glimpse of the space was another woman coming from the back looking like I was there to rob the place: eyes wide in fear. I then realized the space was kitschy, but in a bad way: dirty; cramped; and judging by the kind, heartfelt response of us walking in on them because they left the door open an hour before they were open, absolutely no fun at all.

So regardless of how “trendy” you may hear or think Mimi’s is, remember my little tale of smoking over food, rude ejection and stoner culinary delights.