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| - I was excited by the rumour that the Bulldog would be opening a second storefront. I was thrilled that the new location would be so close to home, in the increasingly caffeinated Yonge-Eglinton corridor.
Walking into the comparatively huge new space, I realize that I have a critical choice to make: the Bulldog sits blocks away from Aroma, my usual for a cup of not-so-average Joe.
Before I so much as sip, I am torn by divided loyalties. I've long been a fan of Aroma. The coffee's good, the people are friendly, and I welcome the selection of light and healthy lunch items.
That said, a trip to the Bulldog's original location just makes me feel good about myself. I don't often have occasion to walk down Church Street, but the tiny coffee shop in the shadow of Maple Leaf Gardens was always worth a special trip. Even when I mistakenly said that the original shop was part of the actual Village, only to be sharply corrected by the campy curmudgeon of a barista.
The coffee here is as good as ever, although the service is even less friendly. Our bored barista provides perfunctory answers to questions, and waves us over to a poorly-labelled display case of scones and cookies. They look tasty, but if he can't be bothered to tell us what's in there, we can't be bothered to order.
The dude may be mean, but he makes a really mean cup of joe. The Bulldog's namesake drink still coaxes a lingering sweetness from smooth espresso and microfoamed milk. It's still a relative bargain at three dollars and change, and I'm still left staring at the bottom of my cup wanting more. Any mention of the Bulldog North or South must cite cite their prominence in latte art circles. As ever, the drinks are as pretty to look at as they are to drink. What the staff lacks in manners, it makes up for in precision and training.
Next time I'm in the neighbourhood and looking to splurge on my umpteenth caffeine fix of the day, I'll pay the Bulldog a visit. Otherwise, I'd say the competition is nipping at this spot's heels.
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