Weekly Lunch Pick: The Lox and Guac from The Bellevue’s new lunch menu

The Bellevue provides a rare midday patio escape that’s not jam-packed by 12:05. Tucked in a quiet corner in Kensington Market, the quaint restaurant just launched its lunch service less than a month ago, and serves a small but tight menu with plates like fish tacos and an all-day breakfast. Our order of the Lox and Guac ($10) features a thick slather of guacamole on toasted St. Urbain sesame bagel halves, with chunks of cured Atlantic salmon (from Hooked, no less) and large dollops of cool sour cream. Crispy fried shallots and finely slivered chili peppers are piled high on each open-faced sandwich, adding a subtle sweet-spicy complexity, while a simply dressed mesclun salad helps round out the plate.

The cost: $13.50, including tax and tip

The time: 32 minutes basking in the sun

The Bellevue, 61A Bellevue Ave., 647-340-8224, thebellevue.ca, @thebellevueto