I've mindlessly passed by the Queen Richmond Centre (or QRC for short) on more than one occasion, but had previously never thought to take a glance at the interior components of the building through its forward-facing glass panels.
During my weekday intake of (the ever-so-biased) blogto, I learned that the newly-constructed building was spotted to house an pop-up coffee shop: Early Bird Espresso Bar & Brewery.
The stark white, "mobile" bar was centred directly underneath a lofty, teepee-like structure from which festive ornaments had been hung, just a mere feet from the entrance.
The stark white, "mobile" bar was centred directly underneath a lofty, teepee-like structure from which festive ornaments had been hung, just a mere feet from the entrance.
Along with the standard espresso options, Early Bird also offered a significant variety of teas (from which tea lattes could be created upon request) and an appealing selection of glazed donuts, dense bars, butter tarts, granola cups, and more. The food items were definitely on the pricier side; each was priced differently, though some cookies ranged from $2.75 to $3.10 individually. (Yikes!)
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The full album can be viewed HERE !
Two mochas were ordered, one with 2% milk and the other with 1% milk. Both were carefully concocted at different parts of the bar before being presented to us with stunningly symmetrical latte art.
Given the espresso bar's name, I found the pieces to be absolutely fitting. The heart and feather art was adorable!
Gradually being accustomed to Pilot at Union Station as well as Ritual orders, this coffee-obtaining process was, by no means, a swift one. It was evident that the girl taking orders at the cashier was still mildly unacquainted with operations, and hadn't been able to provide a concise comparison of the available drinks on the menu; meticulous care and precision had been utilized by the barista to produce the drinks in a somewhat lengthy 6-minute duration. However, the two members of staff were likely the friendliest I've spoken with in a commercial building.
As we weren't pressed for time, speed was irrelevant in this scenario. Despite this, it would be a good idea to remind oneself to skip Early Bird for another visit when time is of the essence.
Given this lovely atmosphere though, who wouldn't want to stay behind to leisurely enjoy their coffee?
Given this lovely atmosphere though, who wouldn't want to stay behind to leisurely enjoy their coffee?
I suppose the only downside was that the beverage hadn't been mixed as thoroughly as I would have preferred: the bittersweet chocolate syrup had remained at the greatest depth possible, rendering the chocolate-y flavour imperceptible until 75% of the cup's contents had diminished. It looks as if the stir stick(s) hadn't been used to its full potential.
Early Bird's pop-up bar seems to still be adjusting to their new location. Hopefully, improvements in efficiency will be witnessed during my next visit to try their Chai Latte.
Later in the afternoon, I headed to CoCo's new Mississauga location to participate in their Soft Opening.
Later in the afternoon, I headed to CoCo's new Mississauga location to participate in their Soft Opening.
Their Grand Opening will not take place until next Tuesday (December 8th), nor will the BOGO offers.
In the meantime, the Top 10 Drinks on the LED screens can still be ordered, but will not be subject to any discounts. (Vicinity points can still be collected though.)
In the meantime, the Top 10 Drinks on the LED screens can still be ordered, but will not be subject to any discounts. (Vicinity points can still be collected though.)
Opting for the safer choices of the "3 Guys" (milk tea with tapioca, grass jelly, and pudding) and Mango Smoothie, it didn't take me long to realize that the girls working the bar/cashier were still in the midst of training, making the Soft Opening customers their guinea pigs.
As with the morning coffee run, drink production was definitely on the slow side. With every drink order, a manager would guide the employees through the creation process, as well as correct orders that had been punched in under the wrong category. This resulted in an approximate ten to fifteen minute wait, almost thrice the duration of Chatime during off-peak hours.
Despite the stable Wi-Fi connection and large store space, not a chair was in sight. Perhaps furniture had been removed in anticipation of eager BOGO customers, but if the establishment is kind enough to provide both Wi-Fi and a unisex washroom anyway, a few chairs and tables shouldn't hurt either.
Nonetheless, I shall be returning during their 10-day-span Grand Opening to evaluate the changes, in addition to obtain discounted bubble teas.
Despite the stable Wi-Fi connection and large store space, not a chair was in sight. Perhaps furniture had been removed in anticipation of eager BOGO customers, but if the establishment is kind enough to provide both Wi-Fi and a unisex washroom anyway, a few chairs and tables shouldn't hurt either.
Nonetheless, I shall be returning during their 10-day-span Grand Opening to evaluate the changes, in addition to obtain discounted bubble teas.
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