Dating back to 1944, The Avenue is an institution, frequented by neighbourhood residents and a potpourri of the famous. Among the big names – actors, broadcasters, writers and athletes who’ve occupied the 22 seats and 13 bar stools – Robert DeNiro (several times), Ethan Hawke, Jane Fonda, Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, Whoopi Goldberg, Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Michael Keaton, Bryan Adams, Eugene Levy and former CBC nightly reader of ‘The National News’ – Peter Mansbridge, and I’ve heard that Margaret Atwood has popped in too, and Mike Myers comes for the pea meal. It’s a great place to go for breakfast, within walking distance of Yorkville.