This is a tough review because I was very excited to see this authentic Italian cafe. Or what I thought was a cafe....
Upon entering you quickly realize that there is more going on here than what at first meets the eye.
We were welcomed by the owner, who is friendly, but very ethnocentric about all things Italian. To the point of exclusiveness. That is the unfortunate part because the impression we were left with, was that he has not at all embraced the Toronto culture, and perhaps not even the Canadian culture.
On a positive note, this is a shop that sells deliciously bea-U-tiful Italian Espresso machines, and Imported coffee and Tea. The design and presentation of the products are so outstanding artistically, it's like a coffee art gallery! Marked with individual characters to "brand" each roast, one can buy huge bags of this imported custom coffee. Secondary to that, they offer specialty coffee drinks. There are a couple of comfy chairs to sit and enjoy your Italian experience.
I'll be interested to read other people's experience of Lucaffe, and I sincerely hope to see this business succeed and evolve into something that binds together the Italian and Canadian experience of coffee.
I'll be back!