New downtown openings in the city are essentially synonymous to winding lineups. Whether it be a fleeting fad or an up-and-coming startup, the queuing never seems to cease.
Hopping on the bandwagon after Starbucks' more upscale Reserve locations is the Tim Hortons Innovation Café. Claiming to be the solution to generating interest (read: stimulating business) amongst the younger generations, the venture has expanded Tim's original selection to include over-the-top donuts, exclusive (and arguably pretentious) caffeinated options, and supposedly premium sandwiches (think Caprese with focaccia), foregoing the typical glazed donuts and tried-and-true Fruit Explosion. Like Second Cup's King and John flagship, a brew bar is found towards the end of the counter, just adjacent to the drink pickup area.
 |  |
I persuaded my favourite fangirl, who has recently found herself in the core not too far from myself, on a lunchtime adventure. We scoured The PATH in search of the outpost, eventually confiding in the directory to guide us to the ground floor of the Exchange Tower. Contrary to our suspicions, it was not on the lower level of First Canadian Place. Street access could be found on Adelaide at southeast corner of York and Adelaide.
The lineup extended outside of the store, which we joined without much hesitation. Inching in with every passing minute, the red decor, not-yet-operative self-serve kiosks, and downtown-exclusive menu slowly came into view.
Greeting us first was the donut display; the colourful, sugary treats could be purchased as singles or dozens (half or full). Next along the ordering path was the cashier, where drink orders were placed and names were taken, inaccurately might I note, for the cups. The pickup process didn't differ too greatly from Starbucks, but it felt oddly less personal than the Seattle java giant.
Greeting us first was the donut display; the colourful, sugary treats could be purchased as singles or dozens (half or full). Next along the ordering path was the cashier, where drink orders were placed and names were taken, inaccurately might I note, for the cups. The pickup process didn't differ too greatly from Starbucks, but it felt oddly less personal than the Seattle java giant.
Cleanliness level did not vary vastly from any other Tim Hortons: sticky counters, coffee splatters, a disoriented utensil area, and stained delivery slips possess a consistent presence. The addition of name tag-bearing drinks is a recent introduction - likely to appeal to the urban masses. Seating may be more sophisticated in comparison, with a wooden communal table and velvety finish sofas along the north perimeter, but I found neither inviting due to the tables' overall filth and clutter.
Identical orders of a Maple Bacon Donut (not for myself) and a Nitro Cold Brew were placed. I snuck a quick bite of the "Dream Donut" following an unnecessarily humid outdoor trek: it tasted like a regular Maple Donut. Maybe it was a bit fluffier than my last Tims - whenever that was - but the bacon topping made little to no difference.
 |  |
The Tims Draft Latte had been in several articles as being a sweet concoction bearing an impeccably smooth, silky crema, however the truth could not be further. Coffee from the Canadian fast franchise has never been my go-to, nor will it ever be, notwithstanding the presence of another coffee house in the forty-kilometre radius. Over the years, I've come to associate the name with a poor quality brew, as have many surrounding caffeine fiends; "a watery mess" is my reason for denial. The Draft Latte (aka Nitro Cold Brew) didn't stray too far from this description: acidic with a thin, bitter layer of foam, I breathed a sigh of relief that I had ultimately chosen a Small. The cup's contents were incredibly potent, but otherwise impossible to enjoy on its own. Ice cubes and a generous splash of soy milk assisted me in finishing the $2.79 monstrosity.
 |  |
A Turkey Avocado, which rang in at a whopping $8.49, was depicted as being wholly average and unsuccessful in engaging the tastebuds for further sampling.
I returned towards the end of the week to consolidate my findings about the allegedly one-of-a-kind undertaking with a Matcha Latte.
Lineup control measures were in full effect, with separate strings for donut-only and food/beverage purchases. Wait times were also considerably shorter than Monday, despite our 12pm visit.
Lineup control measures were in full effect, with separate strings for donut-only and food/beverage purchases. Wait times were also considerably shorter than Monday, despite our 12pm visit.
On this outing, we were delegated with the mission of obtaining lunchtime munchables for our small group. Orders had been taken prior to departure, quoting the menu published in several articles. While there was no shortage of Dream Donuts (except the Hazelnut Buttercream), the meal assortment had plummeted extravagantly. Unattainable items included the Pesto Chicken Wrap, Tomato Gouda Soup, and Moroccan Vegetable Soup; in their place was a creamy Portobello Mushroom soup and a regular ol' Tims Chili. A rotating menu is fine, but given the newness of the establishment, inconsistency in menu availability is an aspect that cannot be commended. This is especially true at its given prices: soups and sandwiches started at $4.99 and $7.99 respectively - a steep ascent from any regular Tim Hortons.
Witnessed again were tacky tables and sticky donut boxes - there was no improvement to be seen here.
Witnessed again were tacky tables and sticky donut boxes - there was no improvement to be seen here.
 |  |
< Pictured above and below:
- Maple Bacon Dream Donut
- Nitro Cold Brew
- Crème Brûlée Dream Donut
- Dulce de Leche Donut
- Cranberry Orange Donut
- Matcha Latte >
My Matcha Latte, which I had cautiously took to in a Small size, was gritty and grimace-inducing (literally). Bitter but decidedly devoid of a distinct grassy aroma, it fell short of whatever expectations had remained. On a more positive note, the microfoam heart had been executed skillfully, its configuration unaltered by my request for skim milk (the default was whole). One could also opt out of sweetener - a feature absent at McCafé. All factors considered, however, the $3.59 price tag - along with the 60-minute round trip - failed to be warranted.
The sole redeeming item of the trip was the Crème Brûlée Dream Donut. Having publicly declared my penchant for all forms of the European dessert, this was an object of major interest for me. With a delicate, blowtorched surface that cracked under moderate pressure and a vanilla bean-speckled pastry cream filling, this was quite stellar in comparison to the rest of the batch. The donut itself was dry and undeserving of merit, though the contemporary additions were worth a try.
As for everything else, 130 King W is merely a gimmick as far as I can tell.
RSS Feed