White Lily Diner

What is White Lily Diner? Perched at 678 Queen Street East in Riverside, White Lily Diner redefines the traditional greasy spoon through an ambitious, scratch-made farm-to-table lens. Founded in 2016 by chef Ben Denham and partner Ashley Lloyd, this Michelin Bib Gourmand and Green Star honouree sources ingredients directly from its own regional farm, curing pastrami and baking every loaf of rye in-house. The narrow room radiates warmth, featuring sunlit front windows, retro timber-framed booths, and an intimate diner counter overlooking the open griddle.

White Lily Diner Menu & What to Order Start with the White Lily Standard for textbook eggs, plump house sausage, crispy hashbrowns, and sourdough toast, or order the iconic OG Patty Melt griddled to perfection on house caraway rye. The decadent Hot Turkey—stacked on savory stuffing French toast smothered in gravy and tart cranberry chutney—and the flaky buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy are absolute standouts. Vegetarian and gluten-conscious diners can pivot to Southern grits bowls or seasonal farm salads, but leaving without snagging a freshly glazed doughnut or salted caramel cruller from the pastry case is a mistake.

Know Before You Go The diner operates without traditional table reservations, managing seating via a digital waitlist that goes live on their website every morning. Sidewalk crowds peak during weekend brunch between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., making early arrivals or laid-back weekday dinners from Wednesday to Sunday your best bet to bypass long waits. Take the 501 Queen streetcar to Broadview Avenue for a direct drop-off right outside the front door.