Recall my proven theory that Markham and Oakville residents demonstrate maximum reluctance to venture beyond specific east-west boundaries. Now compare this against a half-day downtown trip to engage in munching catch-up sessions with former colleagues. The difference in willingness to transit is vast, and remains an extraordinary mystery to someone who hails from a region of outgoing suburban folk.
A plan had been set in place: morning coffee would be substituted with milk tea from Chinatown's most recent lounge spot before grabbing lunch with an alumni acquaintance.
The place in question had piqued my interest on one of my trips on the 510. In contrast to the obnoxiously bold lettering and gaudy colours of its surrounding establishments, Icha Tea calmly distinguished itself with a sleek, earthy vibe that was mostly associated with uptown cafes.
A plan had been set in place: morning coffee would be substituted with milk tea from Chinatown's most recent lounge spot before grabbing lunch with an alumni acquaintance.
The place in question had piqued my interest on one of my trips on the 510. In contrast to the obnoxiously bold lettering and gaudy colours of its surrounding establishments, Icha Tea calmly distinguished itself with a sleek, earthy vibe that was mostly associated with uptown cafes.
Despite the excitement that rattled each and every bone in my body, I fallen victim to the idiotic blunder of forgetting to check opening hours. Their operating hours were slated to begin at noon, but I needed to be elsewhere at that time.
Bowing my head in disappointment, I looked towards the adjacent facilities for an alternative. Adjacent was Sam James Coffee Bar; on its steps were two young, black-tshirt-donning males smoking and looking utterly disinterested in the world and its happenings.
I excused a path of entry for myself and hiked up the steps. The front area of the warehouse-like shop comprised of SJCB's brewing area and cashier, while the back housed a decent selection of Stussy menswear items. The two men had lifted themselves from their resting spot upon seeing me wander into the shop. One greeted me, looking extremely alarmed, before I turned back towards the front for my caffeine fix.
Bowing my head in disappointment, I looked towards the adjacent facilities for an alternative. Adjacent was Sam James Coffee Bar; on its steps were two young, black-tshirt-donning males smoking and looking utterly disinterested in the world and its happenings.
I excused a path of entry for myself and hiked up the steps. The front area of the warehouse-like shop comprised of SJCB's brewing area and cashier, while the back housed a decent selection of Stussy menswear items. The two men had lifted themselves from their resting spot upon seeing me wander into the shop. One greeted me, looking extremely alarmed, before I turned back towards the front for my caffeine fix.
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The barista lady was none too friendly either. She had been resting at the boxy seat area before I sauntered up to the counter, and only appeared testy when I reviewed the menu situated near the ceiling. An iced latte or mocha would have been my regular choice, though Cold Brew for $2.62 fascinated me. This lengthy brewing technique is known for being retailed at higher price points than its freshly-brewed counterparts, so it was definitely odd to see the inverse.
For reasons why SJCB refuses to accept any other form of payment besides cash is uncelebrated. I handed over my $2.75 and was presented a plastic cup subsuming three quarters' worth of product. Presumably, this space had been left for customers to add milk or cream. However, I consume my Cold Brew black, thus requested her to fill the remaining space.
The barista nodded, but only topped off the beverage to the 85% mark, then slid it over.
For reasons why SJCB refuses to accept any other form of payment besides cash is uncelebrated. I handed over my $2.75 and was presented a plastic cup subsuming three quarters' worth of product. Presumably, this space had been left for customers to add milk or cream. However, I consume my Cold Brew black, thus requested her to fill the remaining space.
The barista nodded, but only topped off the beverage to the 85% mark, then slid it over.
Butter Knife from Cut Coffee was the day's cold brew blend. It was a darker roast that I was accustomed too, and not very aromatic either. The brew wasn't particularly concentrated, which is fine by my standards, though its acidic aftertaste was found to be very off-putting. I sipped at the sour-tasting solution slowly, eventually disposing of it at the halfway mark since I couldn't swallow any further.
Sam James is a frequent name spotted throughout various Toronto neighbourhoods, most commonly as a grab-and-go outlet. Service varies across the locations, but I find that The Path ranks highest in terms of friendliness. (Keep in mind that not all members are cheerful).
Sam James is a frequent name spotted throughout various Toronto neighbourhoods, most commonly as a grab-and-go outlet. Service varies across the locations, but I find that The Path ranks highest in terms of friendliness. (Keep in mind that not all members are cheerful).
My dining partner was in agreement with my suggestion to dine at Pai, as it had assumed a spot on her to-try list before. Ultimately, the lines were too extravagant, so we took our Thai cuisine cravings to the next closest option: Kiin.
I haven't had the opportunity of trying Khao San Road after their relocation to the brighter, roomier Charlotte venue. As far as reviews go though, shrinking portions, inflation, and poor service aren't factors I'm particularly keen on witnessing.
Offering similar cuisine in Khao San Road's old spot is Kiin - a destination that boasts intricate decor and ample illumination. Dark walls had been swapped for windows, and dingy yellow lighting for delicate hanging bulbs. Wooden seats were converted to emerald booths and cushioned chairs. Even the bar area appeared more luminous than before.
I haven't had the opportunity of trying Khao San Road after their relocation to the brighter, roomier Charlotte venue. As far as reviews go though, shrinking portions, inflation, and poor service aren't factors I'm particularly keen on witnessing.
Offering similar cuisine in Khao San Road's old spot is Kiin - a destination that boasts intricate decor and ample illumination. Dark walls had been swapped for windows, and dingy yellow lighting for delicate hanging bulbs. Wooden seats were converted to emerald booths and cushioned chairs. Even the bar area appeared more luminous than before.
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Just in time to secure the last two-person table for the lunch rush, the hostess seated us with a smile before resuming her standing duties. Front-line staff comprised of two waitresses, one hostess, one water-pourer, at least one bartender, and two members of management staff that seemed to be regulating the restaurant's operations.
The single "water-pourer" adopted an interesting role: she ensured that cups were never empty with constant refills, but deferred all menu questions to the waitresses. At times, she would assist with making the waitresses aware of requests, though would not tend to them firsthand. If the position was to shadow a member of higher seniority, I suppose inefficiency is inevitable. On the other hand, additional responsibilites should be assigned for improved productivity, especially during peak lunch hours.
The single "water-pourer" adopted an interesting role: she ensured that cups were never empty with constant refills, but deferred all menu questions to the waitresses. At times, she would assist with making the waitresses aware of requests, though would not tend to them firsthand. If the position was to shadow a member of higher seniority, I suppose inefficiency is inevitable. On the other hand, additional responsibilites should be assigned for improved productivity, especially during peak lunch hours.
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The extremely compact menu took the form of a double-sided sheet listing seven signature creations on one side and build-your-own noodle soups on the other. I was slightly stunned to find that such a diner-style manner of ordering found its way to a destination of such sophisticated appearance. Allowing customers to mark their own selections with dull pencil crayons would aid in minimizing errors and quickening the process of order entry, though it seemed unnecessary if staff had already been trained.
We were later informed that they had only opened for lunch recently, and that most servers were more familiar with dinnertime procedures. I failed to see why customer interactions and speed were adversely affected by this.
We were later informed that they had only opened for lunch recently, and that most servers were more familiar with dinnertime procedures. I failed to see why customer interactions and speed were adversely affected by this.
The aforementioned ordering sheet was concluded to play no part in quickening speed of service. Neither of us could comprehend why Kiin operated at a sloth-like pace when the lunch rush was token compared to Pai (seating was at approximately 60% capacity) and order sheets were so straightforward.
Both the waitress and water-pourer provided their recommendations to us, pleasantly so, and heeded the spiciest item before returning eons later.
Both the waitress and water-pourer provided their recommendations to us, pleasantly so, and heeded the spiciest item before returning eons later.
Gaeng Kua Gai (depicted as a red curry with grilled chicken and Betel leaves over jasmine rice) and Gaeng Karee (deep fried chicken/tofu with yellow curry sauce and jasmine rice) were scratched onto the order sheet and passed onto the waitress, who disappeared from hence onward.
The waiting game persisted as the neighbouring table of six departed in giggles and members of other parties had all received their plates of noodles/rice. A tall man in a pink button-down finally emerged with our meals after a solid thirty minutes (or even more).
The incredibly lengthy wait resulted in the delivery of dishes comprising of extremely simple presentations. While Gaeng Karee demanded the deep-frying of tofu to order, Gaeng Kua Gai was essentially a pre-made curry dish served with a cup of plain white rice.
The waiting game persisted as the neighbouring table of six departed in giggles and members of other parties had all received their plates of noodles/rice. A tall man in a pink button-down finally emerged with our meals after a solid thirty minutes (or even more).
The incredibly lengthy wait resulted in the delivery of dishes comprising of extremely simple presentations. While Gaeng Karee demanded the deep-frying of tofu to order, Gaeng Kua Gai was essentially a pre-made curry dish served with a cup of plain white rice.
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Thankfully, neither dish lacked in terms of flavour profile. Gaeng Karee boasted a creamy, sweet curry sauce and perfectly-friend tofu. Supple, soft tofu was encompassed in the thinnest, crispiest layer of breading ever. The yellow curry sauce was darker in tone and more viscous than anticipated, but its aromatic properties and complexity of spices banished these doubts. Jasmine rice was, well, plain white rice that should have had the option of being upgraded to coconut rice for added depth.
To have Gaeng Kua Gai exaggerated as the spiciest dish of the house, it was undeniable that the runny pot of redness brought about a smidgen of disappointment. Reminiscent of tom yum by ways of vivid red appearance and evident separation of layers, the curry was much milder than advertised. Even I, a mortal with insanely inferior tolerance, could ingest it without having my throat set ablaze.
I did find that the red curry would become increasingly less mild with more bites, thus a full dish may not be my personal pick. Compared to Gaeng Karee, it retained slight hints of sourness, making it easier to digest than the richer yellow curry.
All dishes rang in at fourteen dollars and were decent in terms of portion size. The remaining one third of the Gaeng Karee was taken to go, but it had the potential to be demolished entirely with a ravenous appetite.
To have Gaeng Kua Gai exaggerated as the spiciest dish of the house, it was undeniable that the runny pot of redness brought about a smidgen of disappointment. Reminiscent of tom yum by ways of vivid red appearance and evident separation of layers, the curry was much milder than advertised. Even I, a mortal with insanely inferior tolerance, could ingest it without having my throat set ablaze.
I did find that the red curry would become increasingly less mild with more bites, thus a full dish may not be my personal pick. Compared to Gaeng Karee, it retained slight hints of sourness, making it easier to digest than the richer yellow curry.
All dishes rang in at fourteen dollars and were decent in terms of portion size. The remaining one third of the Gaeng Karee was taken to go, but it had the potential to be demolished entirely with a ravenous appetite.
The bathrooms were an area of highlight for me: Pink panels with hooks replaced doors with locks. Lights offered sufficient, soft illumination and could also be dimmed individually to suit different moods. Hooks with pink quartz-toned embellishments were shifted from the back of the "door" to the side of the stalls.
Two tiny stalls, a single sink and faucet, and one dyson dryer comprised of the bulk of the restroom. Noteworthy design details aside, I did find several flaws in the new arrangement. While hygeinic and unscuffed at this point in time (the renovations are fairly new), the stalls are quite cramped and the panel formation do not provide complete enclosure (<i> read: </i> privacy). Toilet paper rolls are placed on a stand near the ground instead of in a dispenser several feet above; mini disposal cans were exposed as the back corners of the stall. Nonetheless, the sight was worth seeing at least once during the visit.
Two tiny stalls, a single sink and faucet, and one dyson dryer comprised of the bulk of the restroom. Noteworthy design details aside, I did find several flaws in the new arrangement. While hygeinic and unscuffed at this point in time (the renovations are fairly new), the stalls are quite cramped and the panel formation do not provide complete enclosure (<i> read: </i> privacy). Toilet paper rolls are placed on a stand near the ground instead of in a dispenser several feet above; mini disposal cans were exposed as the back corners of the stall. Nonetheless, the sight was worth seeing at least once during the visit.
Kiin offered a welcoming environment and comfortable atmosphere for dining and conversation, albeit the heavy noise pollution during peak lunch hours. Sustenance was simple yet flavourful, and service never veered past gushingly friendly. That said, the establishment is definitely NOT an optimal choice for work lunches or rushed guests.
Our entire meal lasted approximately 90 minutes, one third of which was spent waiting for food and another third in delay for the waitress' attention. The bill remained unsettled until I waltzed up to the bar in request of the bartender's assistance.
Put simply, the potential is present, but be prepared for a lengthy wait.
Thai Iced Tea was sadly not present on the menu (maybe it didn't fit the "Royal Thai" theme?). In its stead were three iced tea offerings of vibrant tones and invigorating ingredients. Hibiscus, pandan, and quince are exotic elements rarely spotted elsewhere, so I would have likely taken one to go had my agenda been empty.
Our entire meal lasted approximately 90 minutes, one third of which was spent waiting for food and another third in delay for the waitress' attention. The bill remained unsettled until I waltzed up to the bar in request of the bartender's assistance.
Put simply, the potential is present, but be prepared for a lengthy wait.
Thai Iced Tea was sadly not present on the menu (maybe it didn't fit the "Royal Thai" theme?). In its stead were three iced tea offerings of vibrant tones and invigorating ingredients. Hibiscus, pandan, and quince are exotic elements rarely spotted elsewhere, so I would have likely taken one to go had my agenda been empty.
The prolonged lunch excursion had rendered me tardy for my next appointment. Instead of embarking on the 25-minute walk I originally intended, the subway was my only solution to minimizing lateness.
Infuse Cafe is a relaxing spot that I dropped by on three earlier occasions, primarily to purchase takeout drinks.
The cafe is conveniently nestled between McDonald's two-level flagship store on Elm and Dundas station, just across from the Ryerson SLC. In addition to being home to a number of board games, the tea-centred study area also boasts knowledgeable, chatty baristas that identify with indecisiveness and student budgets.
Infuse Cafe is a relaxing spot that I dropped by on three earlier occasions, primarily to purchase takeout drinks.
The cafe is conveniently nestled between McDonald's two-level flagship store on Elm and Dundas station, just across from the Ryerson SLC. In addition to being home to a number of board games, the tea-centred study area also boasts knowledgeable, chatty baristas that identify with indecisiveness and student budgets.
We took to iced cups of Peach Blossom as well as a mix of Scarlet Rose and another white tea variety that I cannot recall the name of. Outlets and A/C aplenty, the establishment was a tranquil way to catch up and relieve ourselves of the heat while phones could charge unbothered. Surrounding us were laptop users that typed away furiously, but occasionally looked up to converse with other members of their party.
The establishment was a tad dusty in certain spots, namely the bathroom and areas close to the ground. My dining - er tea-sampling partner - remarked about the dire need for a major renovation, utterly unimpressed with the chipped doors and darkened walls. On the bright side, she expressed appreciation for the support of local artwork and carpentry.
Personally, I just found pleasure in the touchless garbage bin near the condiment section.
The establishment was a tad dusty in certain spots, namely the bathroom and areas close to the ground. My dining - er tea-sampling partner - remarked about the dire need for a major renovation, utterly unimpressed with the chipped doors and darkened walls. On the bright side, she expressed appreciation for the support of local artwork and carpentry.
Personally, I just found pleasure in the touchless garbage bin near the condiment section.
A while back, I recalled that Cece's Cheesecakes were sold in three varying flavours. Though I'm unsure whether the business relationship remains in place, it was noticed that brownies and pastries have since replaced the plump cheesecakes since the first two visits.
Frankly, it's of no matter to me, as the ninety-cent brownie with cookie crumble topping was absolutely delicious.
Final errands of the day comprised of quick runs to UNIQLO (for wide-legged linen pants that I couldn't find in the end) and Uncle Tetsu's Angel Cafe. The Black Tea Angel Hat Cake that caught my eye previously needed to be picked up.
Frankly, it's of no matter to me, as the ninety-cent brownie with cookie crumble topping was absolutely delicious.
Final errands of the day comprised of quick runs to UNIQLO (for wide-legged linen pants that I couldn't find in the end) and Uncle Tetsu's Angel Cafe. The Black Tea Angel Hat Cake that caught my eye previously needed to be picked up.
Merely another rendition of the Cheese Zuccotto series, one would expect the dome-shaped specimen to exhibit identical characteristics in terms of texture and richness. A tad of a surprise, the Black Tea variation did not propel obvious traces of pekoe but rather augmented doses of creaminess.
Specks of black tea leaves were present, alluding to the addition of infused milk or cream, however the taste simply was not apparent. In line with the increased richness, it was discovered that this version was also much sturdier than the original flavour and only a little less airy.
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The chiffon-like cheesecake was thoroughly enjoyed nevertheless. Strawberries and honey graham cracker crumbs also added a nice touch.
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