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| - This is another of my favourite coffee shops, out of the many the St. Clair and Christie area has to offer. I mentioned in my review of Noir that which one is best really depends on what you're looking for - between those two, Ellington's has a far more funky, relaxed, casual atmosphere. It's a coffee shop by day and music venue by night (some nights, anyway), and there's pretty much always musical instruments lying around and someone doing something creative, even if it's just puzzling over the lyrics for a song they're working on - it's a major hangout for musicians, poets, artists, etc.
It's also a very kid-friendly place - the staff are super-friendly to children, there's a big basket of kids' toys and books over near the stage with more downstairs (plus a pool table and tropical fish tank down there), and no one ever seems to mind kids running around the place (probably because the music's usually pretty loud to start with, so it's not where you go if you want a quiet environment). It really has a family feel - not just in the kid-friendliness, but in the way the staff tend to greet you like family or old friends once you've been there a few times. It's very, very easy to feel at home here.
The coffee tends to be better than the tea here - they do have a reasonable assortment of tea, but it's all teabags, and nothing you can't find in a lot of other places. But the coffee is really good -- all fair trade, and freshly roasted on the premises. The food selection is pretty limited, and varies from one day to the next, but you can generally find something decent to snack on.
So, if you're looking for somewhere that's relaxed, down-to-earth, and friendly, with a creative atmosphere, where you can hang out for hours getting to know local musicians, playing around on the piano, or entertaining your hyperactive four-year-old, all while drinking really good coffee, Ellington's is where you want to be.
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