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Alternative Grounds Coffee House
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
333 Roncesvalles AveToronto, ON M6R 2M8
Neighbourhoods: High Park, Roncesvalles
(416) 534-5543
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 7 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 7 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Alternative Grounds Coffee House
17 reviews in English
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Review from Mandy M.
Toronto, ON
1/9/2012
Been going ever since we moved to the area.
Awesome coffee and friendly staff. We mentioned once going to the zombie walk and they were able to help us with a costume which was kind of random! Love the fair-trade thing.
Homey atmosphere. Always looks busy but is quiet and you can normally find some seating hidden between a couple of regulars.
Recently I had a mint-twist thing which was like a hot chocolate with mint tea steeped in it - super yummy. There are some good vegan treats too, though not all are made in-house (local nonetheless).
Con: we wish it was open later! I do enjoy a coffee after 7 sometimes, and the Timothy`s down the street just doesn`t cut it anymore. That`s more expensive, and not as delicious, anyway. -
Review from Candice E.
Toronto, ON
1/2/2012
I've been going to AG regularly since 2009, ever since I started hanging out in Roncey/High Park. It's become a Friday morning ritual for myself and a group of friends. Well actually, many of them have been going here for years and years for a morning coffee before work... I just started joining them in 2010!
Their menu is all vegetarian, vegan-friendly and delicious. My favourite thing is their samosas, which I'm pretty sure are from Raani foods. Although, I gotta say their veggie pate open-faced sandwiches are amazing too. I'm addicted to that vegan pate they use!
Coffee is good - all fair trade, lots of organic options, and they always have three types on. Espresso beverages are good too - not the absolute best I've ever had, admittedly, but very good. Good tea selection too, if you're not a coffee drinker or you're off caffeine (been there, done that, keep getting sucked back in by the dark roast coffee they have here!).
In the summer, check out their back patio - very cute, good place to bring a few friends to chat the afternoon away. -
Review from Joey S.
Toronto, ON
12/27/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Been going to Alternative Grounds since I first moved into the Neighbourhood. I originally made the schlep here because it was one of the few Fair Trade shops in the city back then.
Not much has changed in 14-years. It is a hang-out for progressive political types, and is kid-friendly.
The drip coffee is very good, but not a fan of their espresso products. Good food wraps, and breakfast bagels.
When I'm on Roncy, this is my main coffee shop. -
Review from jen c.
4/27/2012
they have giant monster sized chocolate chip cookies the size of your head and almond milk for lattes-- perfect for lactose intolerant (i.e. gassy folks) like me.
nuff said. -
Review from Michelle A.
Toronto, ON
So I'm sitting in Alternative Grounds, drinking a pot of lemon tea, eating a samosa, enjoying the music, when this wasp flies over and starts helping itself to my mango chutney. It would not leave me be(e). My first instinct was to kill it ... it was being slow, sluggish... but then I remembered where I was, and didn't want to be judged for killing a creature. So, I get up to move tables, and it stings me in the neck. Can you believe it? It was the worst! The staff were nice and gave me a garbage bag of ice (no paper towels, I guess). But after making a huge dramatic scene about it, I had to leave and go to Timothy's down the street (bee-free fyi).
Aside from the wasp, the snack was actually quite good. They have an all-vegetarian menu with salads,granola, empanadas, roti, salad, sandwiches, etc. The options change daily. I've had the potato/pea samosa and the tofu/spinach - both are delicoius -baked not deep-fried. The service is a bit slow for food - but they'll bring it out to you, which is nice.
If I'm not too traumatized, I will return.Listed in: Coffee faves
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Review from Andrew K.
Toronto, ON
12/12/2010 10 Check-ins Here
Best coffee shop on Roncy - comfy atmosphere, tasty and affordable, not at all pretentious. There's a clear crowd of regulars, but you won't feel like you're imposing on some private party - plenty of friendly conversation if you're looking for it.
I love the clear values focus on connecting the coffee to the growers - it's evident this isn't fair trade as a marketing scheme, but a real core mission at AG. The random collection of mugs, and the cabinet for keeping your own there, makes this place really feel like a community.
A great place to get work done, or not. -
Review from Matthew B.
Vancouver, BC
8/3/2009
You gotta love any coffee place not named Tim Horton's or Starbucks these days. I've been meaning to visit Alternative Grounds for a few weeks now, and finally made my pilgrimage on Civic Holiday Monday. Ahhhh to be off work and wandering Roncesvalles on a Monday, is there anything better? Maybe wandering the streets of Paris, but it's a recession and I'm on a budget. This will do.
Alternative Grounds is a comfy place to grab a morally satisfying (free-trade) coffee with surprisingly ample seating. I am fond of sitting near the windows, and will almost always grab the chair with a view of the street.
Perhaps my companions occasionally find it rude how I try to listen, but find myself distracted by goings on outside. Today, however I was all by my lonesome. That is, except for the very loud middle aged women laughing like hyenas at a nearby table. Fortunately, I never leave home without a trusty book and an mp3 player full of Metallica, Beatles, Oasis and even some classical. Yes, I'm not afraid to admit it - I'm a raging introvert!
This place reminded me a bit of Tinto Coffee House, further down Roncesvalles except that the menu was far more limited here. Bagels, a few salads, cookies, and other pastries seemed to be the extent of it.
But I'm always down for a tasty cookie and a long espresso.
I snagged a table near the window, grabbed my goodies and set to work casually devouring my cookie, and sipping my coffee.
What I find annoying about Starbucks and Second Cup, is that when you order an espresso, they will invariably refer to it as an 'expresso.' Before I went to Europe, I wouldn't have known the difference either. I suppose it's just a cultural thing. North Americans are more accustomed to a Timmy's Double-Double - than they are to a fine Italian coffee. This place has less of a take-out feeling to it. As in Europe, people will sit and enjoy their coffee. Pure joie de vivre.
Apparently they had free wi-fi, although I can never be bothered to haul my laptop with me when I'm out.
I love holidays. This makes me think, why isn't every weekend 3 days long? Our ancient nomadic ancestors spent all their time and effort from dusk until dawn preoccupied with hunting, gathering wild edibles, and the rigors of survival. Then we slowly developed agriculture, built cities and settled down. Eventually the industrial revolution allowed us to mass produce goods cheaply. Economics, supply and demand force us to focus our efforts on what we do best. Some of us make cars, others fix the pipes, and others drive buses. With all the advances in society, why aren't we taking more time to enjoy life?
Life is short. We shouldn't be working so hard. Take a load off sometime, and visit Alternative Grounds. Just don't forget to take your headphones and something good to read. -
Review from Duncan H.
Toronto, ON
6/24/2009
There's a lot going on at Alternative Grounds. I don't just mean in the cliche sense that this spot has "got it going on." I mean literally, this place is a microcosm of all things to be involved in.
Serving their community for 14 years now, the Alternative Grounds crew is immersed in the Roncesvalles (and beyond) community. Supporting charities, other businesses, residents, musicians and cyclists, your cup of coffee goes a long way here. And, the coffee is delicious. I had a very enjoyable single Americano. Espresso and water, it's hard to mess up. But, most chain coffee shops continue to do so.
My suggestion is to come in and stay awhile. Invite your friends, use one of their communal mugs, order a tasty snack, take some beans to go, use the free wi-fi provided by wirelessToronto and have a good time. A community is people, and Alternative Grounds is people-friendly in every way. -
Review from Jan A.
Toronto, ON
7/17/2009
Free wi-fi, great ambiance and good coffee. If you need a place to relax or get some computing work done, Alternative Grounds is it. The music is pretty good too (unlike the radio smooth jazz over at Coffee Culture) so I'm usually pretty content to listen to whatever it is they're playing.
The place just feels comfortable and that's probably due to their collection of mismatched chairs, tables and mugs. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. It's just so great to look at and really easy to feel relaxed around.
Outlets to charge up your computer are a bit scarce so if you do plan on bringing yours here make sure it's fully charged or that you're able to grab a seat where there's a plug near by. -
Review from Dan F.
1/17/2011
Great unpretentious atmosphere and decent drip coffee. You should definitely stay away from the espresso drinks though!
It's a pretty nice place to set up with the laptop and get some work done but it can get a bit busy (walls of macbooks). Worth it if you get a spot though. -
Review from Luke A.
Toronto, ON
9/29/2008 1 photo
Alternative Grounds deals in fair-trade coffee mostly, but also some teas, too. The selection varies from day to day, but is always good quality stuff, and you can get coffee to go at the cafe, or buy beans to take home.
Alternative Grounds is also heavily involved in community stuff, with special events, contests, and art on display. But what's great is that they put their eco-socio-friendly money where their mouth is: you can get a discount if you bring your own container for take-out, and there are days where biking over with a reusable travel mug will get you a free coffee. -
Review from Renata R.
6/27/2010
Gotta love this coffee!!! True feeling of Roncy: cool without being overhyped.
Go there with your date or best friend, share a giant cup of latte/mocha/cappuccino (REALLY GIANT) and have some of their delicious treats. May I suggest the date squares, to make it even cuter? They are very organic and vegan oriented, for those with this kind of concern.
Have I already mentioned the giant cups? They are more like a BOWL. I'm sure they're meant to be shared. Really, you must try those.Listed in: Coffee & Muffins
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Review from Fabio N.
Toronto, ON
7/8/2010
This is a very nice place at Roncesvalles which prides itself on serving fair-trade coffee, to the point of being almost "in your face" about it. They really, really want you to know that they've SEEN the coffee fields, TALKED to the people who work there and, if possible, would gladly pluck the beans from the coffee plants themselves and watch closely as they are dried and roasted.
Ok, but is it any good? As a matter of fact, yes! I've tried the espresso (of course) and it's just right, but the big star here is the giant latte. Seriously people, it's a bowl! And it's not only big, put pretty good. The pastry is simply excellent, specially the date squares overflowing with jam. Love it.
I've already went back a few times and intend to do so again, so yeah, I would recommend you to try it too. -
Review from Andrew S.
Toronto, ON
9/7/2009
Your standard 90s coffee shop -- a dark, dingy, little nook. The coffee's fine. The iced chai is good. The open-faced veggie pate sandwich is great.
For the brewed coffee, you get to choose your own mug, though it'd be nicer if they added a few more iconic mugs -- currently they look like sally ann leftovers. They have coffee sold by the pound. I've never got it, but the people who do, love it.
All in all, a cafe to go to when you're on Roncesvalles. -
Review from Wagner P.
Toronto, ON
6/27/2010
Way too P.C. Go to Cherry Bomb instead, it's just a few blocks south,
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Review from Christine L.
Toronto, ON
4/6/2011
I like this little spot - love the AG breakfast... my only complaint is that they run out of it often... but that being said, it's a great spot for a coffee, some internet access, and a cool chilled out crowd...
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Review from P J.
Toronto, ON
8/7/2010
Best ice coffee in the city, amazing veggie sandwich and egg breakfast bagel. Great down to earth atmosphere, smoke-free patio. One of the best cafes in the city.
