Toronto Café reviews
So in my recent decision to appreciate Toronto for all its worth, I have been goin to different cafés to read, write or draw.
Here are my findings:
The Common – 1058 College (at Gladstone)
I ordered a soy latté and it was Awesome. Served in a tall, what might be considered soda glass with thick edges, I was a little put off by its cumber. Once I threw one of those handy little keep-your-hand-from-scalding-itself cardboards wrap-arounds, I was free to enjoy, and boy did I ever. The really babeish girl behind the counter made it extra foamy (how with soy, I do Not know, but kudos) and it lasted me ages. I sat on a pew writing for a few hours while they played horrendous music off of her ipod (the headstones? really?) until an even more babeish dude sauntered in and started working, changing the music immediately. They serve dinner there though I didn’t experience the food, but I did see someone get a sampler dish at the next table, with various cheeses and cured meats and it looked most appetizing. There are something like 6 tables in the entire place, so meals wouldn’t ever get to crowded and at night, it’s by candle-light. There are chairs in front if you feel like chilling outside with your drink, just remember to bring your glass back in when you’re done. This is the sort of place where I’d love to get taken on a date, just sayin…
Also, points to the babeish dude for offering everyone in the café fresh strawberries procured from the local farmers market at Dufferin Park (it was a Thursday).
Lit Espresso Bar – 810 College
I went in here on a rainy day, looking to draw around some human companionship at a distance, and figured this might be a place to do such a thing. Can’t say it was terribly successful, but the coffee was great. I ordered a soy mocha – I guess comfort from the rain? I don’t know – and on top of making it look really pretty with swirlies on the top, it tasted incredible. The espresso was not totally distinguishable, but definitely there enough to make it a supreme mocha. There’s nothing worse than ordering one and having one taste overpowered by the other – it’s a delicate balance, an exceptional mocha. The atmosphere of the café was cold, I guess it’s a matter of taste, but it’s simply that modern decor incorporating exposed brick and polished maple but not appearing any more warm or “authentic” than my knock-off airwalk chucks. The art on the walls right now though is pretty awesome, being photographs of various coffee-related items thrown into illustrator and trace-masked with different colours to give it a totally surreal look. The music was awesome, playing bloc party, vampire weekend, and wilco, which was particularly soothing on such a wet and gloomy day.
Green Beanery – 565 Bloor St W.
I chilled out here reading for a few hours before heading down to Nirvana for lunch with a friend. This café is half coffee product store, half coffee shop. The atmosphere is pretty sterile, corporate. I can’t say I really cared much about it at all, actually. I ordered a soy latté, and it was pretty unexceptional. What was exceptional though is that they carry ice cream there and ALSO have a chocolate chip shortbread cookie. I LOVE SHORTBREAD AND CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. I had to look away cuz I’ve been eating so much ice cream these days, but I know it’s there and I will return one day, to triumphantly chew and swallow said cookie. I can’t remember the music playing, so chances are it wasn’t awesome. Actually, it felt really like a Second Cup, which always feels like a second-rate anything else: it’s never terrible, but always totally unmemorable.
Nova Era – 770 College
Ok, so this place doesn’t really count as a café I guess, but I just have a soft spot for them. Maybe it’s that they’re so unforgivingly Portuguese and despite recent circumstances, I just like that country. The place just teems with cafeteria ambiance, but they have Pastéis de Nata (custard tarts) that normally aren’t the flakiest ever, but TODAY THEY WERE, and so many different baked goods, and breads, and they all speak Portuguese to each other and it’s just really cute. Their coffee is great too. It’s $1.50 for a solid espresso and the same for a Pastel, and I’m sure their sandwiches are equally as awesome and inexpensive. They’re all over Toronto and this one has a sweet patio (covered, which helped in the rain today) with an awesome view of all the randos walking around Little Italy (Always entertaining!).
