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| - I reviewed this café originally about a year ago and gave it 4 stars, naming a few minor critiques. But now, after having been here a few dozen times, I feel compelled to re-write my review and add another star. It is my opinion that since first opening, this café has worked out the kinks and really upped their game, all while keeping portions generous and the food delicious. Basically, it is my favourite place to eat with a friend or study for exams in the Mile End.
FOOD:
This is a vegan café. They serve a small but fierce menu of rice bowls, sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods. My personal favourites are the BLT (tempeh bacon!!!), the caesar salad and the channa bowl. I have also tried their chill, which is excellent and their guacamole is very rich and delicious. All of their portions are fair for the price and the quality of food is top-notch. It's not fancy or showy, but it tastes amazing and you feel good after eating it.
They also have a pretty great menu of beverages, including some good quality loose leaf teas, homemade lemonade and good smoothies.
Oh and they just added vegan soft serve ice cream to the menu!!! Just in time for summer :)
ATMOSPHERE / STAFF
It is a giant place decorated casually, very homey and down to earth. Lots of spots with power outlets. The music is generally jazz or other instrumental stuff. So really, the place is a dream for studying or chatting with a buddy. It's a basement place, so there isn't really much natural light, which is a draw-back, but they've done a good job of making the place bright and cheery, very un-basement-like. The staff are really nice and generally very good at what they do.
They have live music every night, which is very nice if you are going to the show, but a little frustrating if you just want to have a meal. It becomes a difficult negotiation sometimes between customers just there to eat good food and the show organizers who want you to pay cover and/or not speak while they are playing their experimental music despite the fact that you are far at the back and just trying to eat with your date. Basically, i'd suggest going here early (daytime or before 8pm) and/or having back-up plans if you arrive past 8pm to discover that it's a packed house for a loud show that costs $8.
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