Channeling the spirit of a 50's soda shop and a swanky 60's apartment, Daddy O's Milk Bar offers up nostalgic eats with a modern spin.

Popping into Daddy O's late in the afternoon, the newly arrived spring sunshine is pouring over a leopard-print bowl chair by the window. A friend and I quickly snag the seat and take a look at the menu.

Espresso milkshakes, grilled panini, savoury crepes and fresh waffles all look so tempting. Thankfully, great combo options make mixing and matching easy (and cheap), so we order up a few different items (as I pull out my camera).

Sitting in the window of 'milk bar' though, we do the right thing and order up a milkshake to start.

Passing on the classic chocolate/vanilla/strawberry options, I debate between Little Green Men From Mars (espresso, chocolate chip cookie, mint syrup and oreo cumbs), the Jack Kerouac (banana, chai syrup and apple cider) and locally inspired Sunnyside Cherry Iced Mocha (espresso, maraschino cherries and chocolate syrup).

A 12 oz Little Green Men From Mars wins and it's just perfect. The espresso flavour dominates while chocolate chip and a hint of mint round things off for a mature-but-still-cookie-loving feel.

(Would make a great take-out drink on a hot summer day.)

Next up, a mixed salad and two grilled panini: The Haight-Ashbury and Sophia Loren .

Havarti, mozza, roasted red peppers, artichokes, grilled mushrooms, tomatos and pesto make up the Haight-Ashbury and sealed in a crispy grilled bun, it's a savoury choice I'd definitely order again.

The Sophia Loren, filled with Greek, not Italian(!), flavour, seems a little misguided but is, overall, pretty good. Grilled zucchini and spinach are great, but the 'meh' feta and canned black olives leave some room for improvement.

Good as it all was, we couldn't stop thinking of the dessert waffles. So, sure enough, when the waiter asked if we needed anything else, we ordered up The Bohemian: Strawberries, vanilla ice cream, whip cream and chocolate syrup all sitting atop a hot, freshly made, chocolate waffle.

Ab-so-lute heaven.

Take a sec to scroll to the top for a look at that photo again.

Need I say more?

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Daddy O's Milk Bar

221 Roncesvalles Avenue

Toronto, ON (416) 534-0139

Open 7 days a week.