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| - Trend is something that must be avoided at all cost. The idea of a board game restaurant is not a force that could persuade me even if it offered free food. But when I heard that the menu was consulted by Jack Lee (not that celebrity chef who throws his thumbs up and pops his collar at every camera pointed at him [I didn't even know you can pop the collars on those chef whites), a rising star within the culinary consulting world, I decided to throw some money at this place.
The real estate is enormous!
This "cafe" (restaurant is more befitting) is immediately next to the Toronto landmark 'The World's Biggest Book Store', and I think some of that enthusiasm rubbed off on the people who designed this place. Clean, simple ambiance with a hint of sophistication. I was not expecting anything of this sort from a business that offers its patrons with potential heart attacks via the sound of collapsing Jenga pieces that can occur at any moment in time. Booth capable of seating four people (six if you're fairy sized) stretch across the south side window. There is capacity for over 110 people, what kind of cafe is this??
I do struggle between the semi sectioned off Canadian Flag section and the huge sofa chair area. Both areas are very cozy and close to the main games shelf. I don't recognize much of the games here, I've only played Monopoly as a child, which probably explains my affinity with money. I also dream of owning a real estate empire. Maybe it is good that I didn't play snakes & ladders then, otherwise I'd probably be somewhere climbing a building for Green Peace.
Italian soda in mason jars, various coffee and teas, seven dollar cupcakes?! I cannot be fooled by mere esthetics and inflated numbers; I ordered everything.
Who is this Jack Lee?
My palate yearns for more of his magic touch. My hats off for the chef who creates every item on the menu with obviously fresh ingredients. The quality of the food is consistently good, challenging my perspectives on certain foods that I've pointed with only my nose at before. Who knew a croissant sandwich with eggs and ham could be so bloody tasty? Smoked meat burger? Tiramisu coffee dessert? Why on Earth is this cafe not advertising itself as a restaurant instead? The name suggests a college hangouts, but everything about this place is on par with a fully serviced restaurant. In fact, this is what I always wished what an International Hotel restaurant would be. Drinks when I need it, good food on demand, highbrow desserts and alcohol.
Oh yes, Roll Play Cafe is licensed. Why the hell isn't this place 24hrs and places like..well, any other 24hr place/s is/are. Indeed, this place is the 'Anti-other 24hrs place.' Only, it's not 24hrs. Make sense?
I sound like a Western philosopher with all these questions. Allow me channel the Asian philosopher and offer some answers.
Unbelievable culinary vision, romantic ambiance that I would take any of my fictitious sweethearts to, from the most exciting (Jenga) game, to the most mundane (Ticket to Ride). An ambitious menu that unsurprisingly attracts not only university students, but foodies throughout the city, a mean corn soup that restores the bad name corn has been given in this overly organic modern society, and seven dollar cupcakes.
Don't let the name and concept be a deterrent. Roll Play Cafe is cooking up some serious business.
There is a rumour that the owner is contemplating decorating the walls of the stairway ascending to the dining floor with artificial grass. I don't know what the hell kind of game he played as a child to think now as an adult that being a good idea, probably something 'educational'.
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