The original Pennies location is like a well-worn pair of jeans that we never want to part with, even though it's sagging in all the wrong places. So, when the defunct AllStar sports bar building right in my neighbourhood was painted Pennies' iconic sunshine yellow, I was more than pumped. The new location on College Street in the heart of Little Italy captures all the soul-soothing nostalgia of the OG Pennies, but wonderfully new and shiny.
The retro-themed diner has all the funky old-school signage, including the one cent bauble lights, along with plenty of mirrored and sea foam blue tiles. Stools line the bar and the high-tops, while large booths provide more cushy seating. A window behind the bar opens up to the sprawling patio where guests can pull up a seat. Or they can hunker down at picnic tables under large umbrellas.
Pennies: What's on the menu
The food menu is exactly the same — prices and all. There's a lengthy list of handhelds, and tater tots with all kinds of toppings. They're no different than the frozen ones I make at home, but served on a patio in the sunshine, for a pre-game snack or after a night of, ahem, fun, they somehow taste better.
I'm a big fan of the $5.69 sliders. They're small but delicious, and come in a range of options. There's an entire vegetarian section and a whole vegan menu, too. My favourites are the Southern Honey Fried Chicken, a perfect balance of spicy and sweet; Korean fried chicken, which hits all the right flavours; and the Buffalo Fried Chicken slathered in Frank's. They all come in Beyond Meat "Chicken-ish" versions, too, that make me forget all about meat. For just under $20, you can snag a combo with three sliders and a side of the crispy tater tots.
Pennies: What's on the drink menu
The lime slushy is a non-alcoholic sweet treat that slaps on a hot summer day. The cocktails are simple and straightforward, but at $7–12, we're not complaining. There's wine and beer for around the same price point, too. They even have mini bottle service (lol).
Every day that I've walked past Pennies, the patio has been packed, and I can see why. With inflation skyrocketing and tariffs looming, Pennies is a cheap and oh so cheerful place to while away an afternoon or cap off a great night.
