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| - Came here to use my Indie Coffee Passport this weekend -- so far this is one of my favourite passport finds! The location isn't bad, it's a convenient stop if you are making you way to Leslieville or the Distillery District, although the immediate environs are not that exciting. The space is warm and relaxed, with lots of interesting art on the walls (for sale). There's loads of seating, from the benches facing Queen E. to the couches at the front (good for newspaper browsing or if you're in a big group), and smaller tables equipped for people bringing their laptops. But with the nice weather, I chose to sit in the little patio in the back. It only seats about 6-8 people and feels like someone's cozy backyard, with potted plants and cute furniture.
The drinks menu is extensive, but the excellent service is what makes this cafe stand out. The genuinely cheerful barista greeted me immediately and was really enthusiastic about the Indie Coffee Passport, asking where I've been and making recommendations re: where to go next. She told me I could get ANY drink with the passport, regardless of price and said if there was something I wanted that wasn't on the menu, she'd try to custom-make it for me. I opted for a tea latte and she brought out a bunch of different teas I could choose from (David's Teas) and smell. There was this dark chocolate one, a roobios one, a Moroccan mint... but I decided to go with an oldie (but a goodie) - the creamy earl gray. You can choose your milk: whole, 2%, skim, soy, and even almond. Later, I overheard another customer tell her that their chai latte was the best he'd ever had.
The barista made repeat appearances as I was reading on the patio. Checking in on how people were enjoying their drinks and letting us know when she had to reboot the internet. The staff foster an environment where it's so friendly that it's not creepy if the person in the next table strikes up a conversation with you.
The food selection looked decent -- some muffins, cookies, croissants as well as ice cream. But I didn't try any on this visit. Bathrooms are downstairs -- no mirrors though!
I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the 'hood:) Indie Coffee Passport success!
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