Hungry customers at a Montreal eatery can no longer have their scrambled eggs and toast served with a side order of topless waitress.

Restaurant des Princesses d'Hochelaga, located near the Olympic Stadium, lost a long court battle with the city and borough of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve that's been brewing since 2004.

"The city said that I didn't have the proper zoning to have a topless restaurant," owner Raynald Morissette told CTV Montreal Wednesday.

That decision was upheld by the Quebec Superior Court in a 2010 appeal. The restaurant has always had a permit to serve food, but the borough isn't zoned for erotic shows.

Morissette had argued there were no such shows at the establishment, but simply attractive women serving food.

But his legal battles weren't just about serving food hot with half-nude waitresses.

His liquor licence was suspended in 2008 because the restaurant was serving alcohol without food. The licence was reinstated this month.

While he's resigned to having his waitresses cover up, Morissette said the two cases cost him about $200,000, with about half of that going to legal fees.

And, the decision has upset waitresses who say their tips have dropped substantially since the decision.

"Before, when it was topless service, we made more money because there were more customers, especially tourists," said one waitress, who is studying to be a dental hygienist and didn't want her name used.

One angry customer said the decision is unfair to the business and staff alike.

"They should do what they want to," said Juan Gomez, a 35-year-old factory worker who has been eating there for four years. "They make more money if they do that, and I support them if that's the motive."

Officials with the city and borough declined comment.

With a report from CTV Montreal's Kevin Gallagher