Out & About #514 | Saving Grace, Manic Coffee + Answer Tea

Brunch?
The clock read 10 AM, and by the time we would reach Toronto, it'd unquestionably be past noon.
"Let's do it". I succumbed to the convenience of a combined mid-day meal and began to scroll through options in our area of interest.

​The skies were dull and dreary, camouflaging the fact that the drive had been lengthier than normal for an off-peak weekday slot. It neared 12:40 PM by the time we pulled into the municipal parking lot just north of Dundas on Claremont.

​Relatively easy to spot from a distance, we made our way across the street to Saving Grace - a restaurant catering specifically to brunch-goers. Nearing the entrance, I caught sight of a small group reviewing the menu. Upon closer inspection, I spotted a pair of all-too-familiar platform sneakers - it was orangecane (& co.)!
I had attempted to call the establishment earlier in the day, though no one had picked up. Now being faced with a compact restaurant brimming with boisterous diners,  we came to the realization that there would a wait after all.

​Peeling away the red cloth curtains behind the doors, we made our presence known to one of the servers. She proceeded to gesture towards a clipboard fastened by the door: "Write your name down."
"Do you know how long the wait will be?" I inquired earnestly.
"About 20-30 minutes." She responded blankly (and admittedly a little hesitantly).

Orangecane and her party were seated shortly, followed by two other small groups. Our names were called at 1:30 PM - just as the server had predicted - and we were ushered inside to a cramped yet well-illuminated corner spot by the window. I had silently been wishing to be seated here, for other tables were either shrouded in complete darkness or glazed with grim, dingy lighting.

​The double-sided laminated menus had been reviewed while waiting outside the premises, so we had a vague idea of our options. As first-timers though, we requested additional details. A different member of waitstaff strode over for assistance. We were made aware of the rotating selection of pancakes and waffles, in addition to their best-selling sweet and savoury dishes.

Heeding her advice, we took to a half order of the Carrot Cake Waffles with Honey Cream Cheese, Cornmeal Pancakes with Lemon and Blueberry, and Savoury Waffle with Fried Eggs, Swiss Cheese, Avocado, Pickled Jalapenos, and Blueberry Chutney. In addition, a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and Espressado were ordered to start.

View the full album HERE !

​Drinks arrived with maximum swiftness, and were followed shortly by the "main" courses. With stout glasses, utensil sets, and a cap-less jug of water on the table, we were required to juggle our table space in order to commence the consumption process comfortably.

​I originally had my doubts about the Vietnamese Iced Coffee, fearing that authenticity may not be guaranteed. However, I am glad to report that beverage quality was superb and succeeded in providing the copacetic dose of caffeine. While the glass could have easily done without copious amounts of ice and condensed milk, it was nonetheless enjoyable.

Espressado was apparently a Saving Grace signature; crafted from a bewildering combination of espresso and avocado, one may be led to picture a pulpy amalgamation reminiscent of superfood smoothie fads, though reality was distinctly different. The mixture was aromatic, buttery, and entirely smooth - as if the normally nasty aftertaste of avocado had been chemically extracted to yield a creamy, stimulating pick-me-up. In short, it was tastier than either of us could have imagined.

A request for straws was returned with a set of flimsy paper tubes. While competent for a maximum of thirty minutes, their biodegradable qualities later led to loss of sturdiness, ultimately failing to fulfill functional requirements.

​We hadn't been aware of "half portions" until the more seasoned waitress had brought it to our attention. Such half portions consisted of precisely two mini pancakes/waffles per serving, making it ideal to split between us.

Digging into the Cornmeal Pancakes with Lemon and Blueberry bestowed us with inconceivable satisfaction. Carby and dense as pancakes are, the edges were crispy and the interior delectably fluffy. The addition of cornmeal provided an interesting texturized twist, while the generous spoonful of blueberries kept dryness at bay.

We opted to switch to a less sugary profile afterwards for the sake of variety, so the Carrot Cake Waffles remained untouched until the end of the meal. By that point, sogginess was inevitable and the Honey Cream Cheese felt a tad satiating. Although, I should add that neither of us were huge fans of carrot cake to start; we were merely intrigued by the notion of integrating a spiced autumn classic with a traditionally Canadian breakfast staple.

​The highlight of the meal was unmistakably the Savoury Waffle platter. Atop an emerald plate were three main components: a wispy-thin, full-sized waffle, two fried eggs, and a side salad.
Both eggs had been cooked sunny-side up with a gushingly perfect yolk at the centre. Surrounding this was the silkiest egg white I have ever tasted, followed by a refined crispiness on its underside. Eggs are a very common household ingredient, yet a very versatile one at that. To produce a masterpiece embodying three different consistencies is surely no easy task.

The side salad of arugula and tomatoes was coated in a tangy, balsamic dressing. On top of the greens resided a chunky pickled chickpea mash, which further heightened its grease-cutting properties. Despite despising dressed greens, I found myself returning to pick at the salad throughout the meal.
The waffle was, of course, spectacular as well. Sweet-and-savoury combinations are a no-fail in my books, so it wasn't hard to love this cheesy, crunchy composition.

Avocado slices and pickled jalapenos were not to be overlooked either. Not a speck of darkness was present on the seeded vegetable, thus indicating optimal freshness and ripeness. And while spicier than my taste buds could handle, the pickled peppers would have served as a great second-degree palate cleanser.

​To be quite frank, I hadn't expected to enjoy Saving Grace to such an extent. With a wait time of over twenty minutes, we were almost ravenous once finally seated. Moreover, the procedure hadn't exactly been enjoyable: a cramped interior meant waitlisted guests would be forced to wait outside in the frigid temperatures. There was no option to leave a phone number to be contacted, nor were parties seated until all members were present. All in all, it was an inconvenient and extremely inefficient process.

Noise levels inside the eatery were excruciatingly high and table spacing was minimal, which also meant that conversations from the next table over could be heard in their entirety without having to eavesdrop. Orangecane had made remarks about the dining area being "stuffy", to which I suppose I should be thankful we had earned ourselves a spot by the window.
Over the dim lighting and warm temperatures, my main concern was with the oily fumes trapped within the space. These unpleasant odours were apparent from the second we stepped in and persisted throughout our eating expenditure. For the remainder of the day, we reeked of grease. Having seeped into every single pore on our bodies, every strand of hair on my scalp, and every single thread of our clothing, it was as if we had taken to voluntarily consuming our meals in a Sunset Grill fume hood. (Mind you that I had arrived with clean clothes and freshly-washed hair, only to depart feeling grimy and repulsive. It was truly a major trade-off.)

​Individual bathroom stalls were located on the second floor of the eatery, where a series of bar seats and two six-person tables were situated. The mirror was a tiny rectangular sliver - useless for checking the status of food babies and food-stained sleeves - and no hooks were in sight. The toilet paper dispenser was also nowhere to be seen. Chipped paint, dust, and unseemly spots were bountiful; condensation on the side of the sink had even caused the adjacent wall to form unruly holes. Significantly better restrooms could be found elsewhere.

​Conclusively speaking, I enjoyed the Saving Grace experience. Prices were reasonable given the outstanding quality of food; service was also respectful. My sole suggestions would be to come as grimy as possible, and refrain from donning prized attire. The coziness of the eatery makes it ideal for catching up. Just ensure your party is fine with radiating with grease all day afterwards.

​Our next stop of the day was Manic Coffee.

​Affiliated with Put A Cone On It, I suggested the coffee shop in a dire attempt to acquire my beloved Matcha White Chocolate Chip cookies. The Koreatown gelato shop had been closed during my last few visits, leaving cravings utterly unsettled.

Thankfully, the cafe was well-stocked with the cookies. I was quick to pick up a pack of five, along with a striking Strawberry Jam Croissant. My partner-in-crime opted for a five-dollar cookie bag, which contained varieties of Matcha White Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Chocolate, and Ginger Molasses.

​The cookies weren't identical to Put A Cone On It, but succeeded in satisfying suppressed desires. Manic's variation seemed sweeter and less grassy.
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Similar qualities were observed in the Strawberry Croissant. As luscious and vibrant as the jam filling was, the combined effect of the sugar glaze and jam resulted in overpowering sweetness. Strange Love shall remain triumphant in their two-toned croissants.

Finally, we made our way to Answer Tea at College and Spadina. Not dissimilar to Tika, Chinatown's newest bubble tea contender was enthusiastic about cream caps and beverages containing real fruit.

Two menus graced the cashier - one in English and the other in Simplified Chinese. Not a single item revealed detailed descriptions underneath. Amongst the signatures was Lipstick Prince, a magenta-hued drink combining pitaya (pink dragonfruit) and lychee bits. We both opted for this pick, though I nixed the need for a cream cap.
For those fond of the creamy addition, Answer Tea enables users to upload an image for printing on top. The theory operates akin to that of cappuccino art printing, which made its debut a few years back.

The cashier advised to refrain from altering sugar levels, for their drinks were already less sweet than the average tea shop. Ultimately, both Lipstick Prince and Sweetheart were still slicker than preferred. The latter was a bit more refreshing due to its inclusion of citrus.

​The staff were quite tardy at taking and processing orders even in the absence of a lineup. That said, it had only been open for a few days at the time of our visit.

Bathrooms were not visited, therefore no comments can be made in that regard.

It's undeniable that the interior decor is beautiful: marble tabletops, a stunning wall of aqua-toned florals, and gold accents gave off a "wedding shop-like aura" (as quoted by a fellow food enthusiast). Though, with pricey drinks and not much else of interest, it's unlikely either of us will bother when there are countless alternatives in the area.

And with that, we returned home as the sun made its way over the horizon.

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