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Art Square Cafe
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Creperies Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Coffee & Tea, Creperies, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
334 Dundas St WToronto, ON M5T 1G5
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 595-5222
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
25 reviews for Art Square Cafe
Review Highlights
"We all shared a Crepes Suzette and loved it."
(in 13 reviews)
"...This place also has free wi-fi, bright walls and a fresh..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...was admiring all the handmade chocolates and truffles, and..."
(in 3 reviews)
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Simika K.
11/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Relaxing atmosphere, good strong coffee, and delicious crepes. Go there on a first date, check out the rotating art works, grab some dessert, finish off with some strong turkish coffee :) This place also has free wi-fi, bright walls and a fresh, open ambiance. It's located right across the AGO. Worth checking out if you're in the area.
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Review from Laz C.
Toronto, ON
2/3/2012
I would give this place five stars for the food if it didn't take 1.5 hours for it to reach me. Service is seriously slow, and honestly a little wack, "uh, yeah I would like you to clear the dirty dishes off the one empty table that I just sat down at"...ten minutes later... "Seriously, could you please clear the dishes and bring some menus, you know, when you feel like it". Eventually dishes are cleared but we sit without menus for another good fifteen minutes before again asking for them. When they finally arrive we have all but thirty seconds to make our selections, lest we never see our server again. All that a side, I can forgive slow and erratic service so long as it's genuinely friendly (and here it is), it just limits the appeal of a place that would otherwise be perfect for a workday lunch. With the current level of service there is no way you're getting in and out fast enough to make it back to your office within an hour.
But otherwise, if you have time at your leisure and perhaps a date to impress, this is a good shot. You can even use the (lack of) service to fill gaps in conversation, not that you'd have any ;-) The ambiance is warm, beautiful and inviting with a little side patio to enjoy after checking out the rotating gallery inside. The crepes are a must. Savoury. Sweet. Buckwheat! You can't lose on this one. They have great tea blends served in cute little pots with wooden spoons and homemade truffles just to make things extra special.
Pretty little spot to liiiiinnnnnggeeerrrrr. Come here with a delightful companion and soak up the atmosphere and lovingly prepared food. -
Review from Sandra T.
Toronto, ON
7/11/2011
Stopped by Art Square Cafe for a little late night dessert with the hubby and little man :)
We all shared a Crepes Suzette and loved it! It was recommended to us by a European foodie friend. And according to her, its authentically delicious! Its hard for me to describe ... hmmm ...just try it!
At the time, there was some sort of gallery party going on. Its a pretty cool spot to check out some cool art.
What an awesome little romantic cafe! -
Review from Thomas H.
5/27/2011
Some of the negative reviews you might read are mostly a case of expectations.
This is a REALLY laid back little coffee / crepe spot, inside of a small art gallery facing the AGO.
The service is slow. That's just the way it is: relaxed. If you want something fast, you have to make that very clear. ( I would recommend going up to order and pay)
Recommended:
- crepe (there are many kinds)
- tea - they have an interesting selection of teas that serve 2 people and come in some heavy duty pots.
I haven't tried them, but they also have turkish delights and chocolates. -
Review from Cecilia M.
Mississauga, ON
6/8/2011 18 photos
Great little café across from the AGO!
Great food - mainly crepes (savoury and sweet; and with a choice of buckwheat or white crepe!), sweets (organic chocolate) and some Turkish specialties. A wonderful selection of teas, and they serve good illy coffee. Discount if you bring your own travel mug!
The atmosphere is casual, with a small gallery attached to the actual café - it is meant to be a place to relax. Open late compared to other similar shops.
And with free wifi, that's an invitation to stay a while longer. ;) -
Review from M P.
3/22/2011
Beautiful vibrant paintings deck the walls of this modern cafe. A younger crowd mainly hangs in the seats and tables. We walked in drawn by the promise of chocolate. I found myself grabbing a few homemade truffles by wooden tongs in flavors like earl grey lemon, almond amaretto, and champagne.
Eating the truffles a few days later and with a few 100 miles of tossling rendered them kind of ugly, not that they were that pretty to begin with. The word "homemade" is really taken seriously here. However the taste is delectable. Each truffle had a creamy flavorful ganache center.
I'd love to sit in this cafe and stare at all the paintings over an espresso. -
Review from Vivek S.
I revisted this spot for a morning coffee and breakfast. Let me come right out and say it: service here is sl o o o o w. I think it took about 30 minutes before I took my first sip, and a bit longer before I got my crêpe. I can't fault the server --she was alone-- but I sure am glad I had nothing better to do.
Half cafe, half art gallery, the Art Square Cafe is a petit spot across from the art gallery of Ontario. They feature artwork by rotating artists and in the back is a full-fledged cafe with crêpes, desserts, and Illy espresso.
I showed up for breakfast, and snagged a lemon and brown sugar buckwheat crêpe which was pretty solid. My cappuccino was good, but sadly not too warm. Not a bad place to visit for it's late hours and diverse menu. The gallery makes it a great spot for a date.
Obligatory Title Pun: It's hip to be SQUARE.
Menu Readability: Usually I just walk up to the counter and order what I feel like.
Need to mention: There is free wifi.
What this place teaches me about myself: I am the world's biggest non-ironic Huey Lewis fan.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/13/2009
This cosy café-cum-art gallery right across the street from the AGO is a great place for a date.… Read more »
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Review from Marie F.
8/30/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Confused! Everyone here was confused! From the barrista taking my order to the other staff running around in the "kitchen" like chickens with their head cut off; everyone here super frazzled.
After and awesome trip to the AGO, I decided to venture into Art Square Cafe for a latte. I thought it was a cute concept to have coffee shop and art gallery right across from the AGO. The whole thing took 15 minutes! The barrista had to ask me to repeat my order three times (regular latte to go). and then proceeded to burn my beverage.
My latte was by far the worst I had ever drank, and tasted like hot water and burnt beans! I don't think I'll be coming back.Listed in: I'll Sleep When I am Dead...…
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Review from Jim P.
9/26/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Nice French speaking counter people. Great coffee. Free wireless.
All nestled into a nice art gallery with plenty of seating.
Their specialty here is crepe's with various fillings, but I opted for their coffee, and some of their specialty candy from their counter.
Nice place. They could speed up the service just a bit. -
Review from Melanie C.
Oakville, ON
5/1/2011
I came here on a rainy evening looking for some quiet time. I snagged a tiny two-top and went up to the counter to ask for a menu. I've been here a handful of times and I still can't figure out if it's a help yourself kind of place or full service. The waitress comes around to take orders and check on you.... occasionally. Perhaps I'm just impatient and sometimes I've marched straight up to the counter to place my order, and I've seen others do the same.
I ordered a soy latte and a lemon and brown sugar buckwheat crepe. Latte was so-so (they burned the soy) but the crepe was delicious. There's more lemon than sugar, so be prepared for sour. I later followed with my favourite beverage here: the chai latte, served in the heaviest teapot in the world. The pot serves about two cups and their chai has just enough interesting flavours for me. (I find some chai teas too crazy and overwhelming.)
So they advertise free wifi and when I tried it out I needed a password. When I mentioned this to the staff, they told me that I don't need a password. I was too lazy to figure out the situation and continued to work away, sans wifi. Then another customer asked me about it, assuming I was connected. I told him my story and he said he had the same issue. He eventually convinced the staff that their network was indeed password-protected and they gave him a password. When it didn't work for him, he asked me to try it - just in case. Of course it didn't work for me either. Then, this persistent customer explained to them that this was the wrong password and insisted there must be some other password. Persistent customer was right and we eventually figured it all out. In conclusion: there is wifi. You just have to ask them for the password twenty times. Thanks to the dude who hooked me up.
I like coming here because I can usually find a free table and it's usually not too loud. This time 'round the girl at the next table used her outdoor voice the entire time (maybe because the door was left open?). I learned a lot about this stranger.
(Did you know that in some parts of Europe you can be fined for being too loud in public?)
There's art in the front area. -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
12/11/2010 2 photos
I love the concept of this place. It's across from the AGO and the first thing you see when you walk in is art work. It's perfect for the area.
However, after that it seems to fall apart. A point in its favour is it does serve an OK cup of Illy coffee. However, the other edible item they reserve a majority of counter space to is their handmade chocolates. I believe the woman behind the counter said her brother had made them.
Now, I have to say, I'm a real chocolate snob. Actually, I'm an awful chocolate snob. I've had the best chocolate in the world. Done tastings and worked with a master chocolatier for 6 years. This my friend, is for what you are paying. not so good. Sometimes, the flavours are too heavy handed in the liquors and other times their flavour idea's good but the taste was just not there. Very disappointing.
I must say, the mini wooden spoons that come with your coffee are adorable.
I am curious about their crepes. I love crepes and haven't tried any in the city yet. The big bonus here is they have a gluten free option!! Celiacs will be happy to have another place to eat!
Would this place be more of a destination if the customer service was better? Of course. From what I can tell, alot of Yelpers feel the same way. -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2009
We stopped in for coffee this morning, and everything about this place was good. I wish we had gone back here for brunch instead of where we did go.
First, the decor was outstanding. What a cool gallery space to use for a cafe!
Second, the service was very friendly and quick. We just did coffee to go, so not too difficult, but the woman behind the counter and the server up front both offered to help in a friendly manner.
The coffee was very good too. I was admiring all the handmade chocolates and truffles, and the crepes look delicious. I am definitely returning for the food.Listed in: Coffee, Please
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Review from Daniel B.
2/10/2009 1 Check-in Here
Delicious crepes.
An amazing collection of art schoolers and ESL students tapping away at the free wi-fi. Gorgeous serving staff. Excellent haircuts. Delicious crepes.
All the shiny shiny of being in the middle of a small gallery across from a very big gallery with none of the horrible pretension or lost puppy.
Delicious crepes. -
Review from Raynarth L.
North York, ON
6/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Quiet little cafe with a decent menu. The Canadian crepe was great; maple syrup and an amazing strawberry jam were provided. Other dishes on the menu were not that appealing. Just a great place to sit down with your laptop and kill some time. Not enough room for a large group, 4 people max.
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Review from Jes L.
Toronto, ON
2/26/2009
I'm tempted to write a single word review "YUM!" - it sums it up so succinctly.
A friend introduced me to Art Square last weekend, and I couldn't believe that I had never been inside. I don't know why, but I stopped paying attention to the strip of bars, lounges, galleries, and restaurants near the AGO years ago. I guess I went through phases for awhile and felt I'd seen all there was to see. I was wrong. Very very wrong. It's always important to remember that Toronto establishments rarely stay the same for long.
My crepe was excellent, but the highlight was the handmade chocolates. I would recommend going for one of the daily specials, and then picking up an array of chocolates to take home with you. -
Review from Joanne W.
5/12/2010
Came here tonight for dinner with a few friends.
I've passed by this place 10 million times, and never ventured inside. They're supposedly known for the truffles, crepes, and illy coffee. However, sadly, I never got to try their truffles.
The place was nice and small, but cozy. The servers were quite nice. I ordered myself a smoked salmon crepe with goat cheese. Usually, I'm not a fan of goat cheese, but this crepe was actually quite amazing. A definite recommend! It also came with organic green salad with a bit of balsamic dressing. What I found interesting about the crepe was the contents inside of it -- I'm not sure what it was, but I think it was the "green sauce" that they describe on the website: homemade with dill, parsley, olive oil, lemon zest, and garlic. It was delicious.
The cappuciuno was a good way to end the night.
Great place to have conversation with a friend on a night! -
Review from Matthew B.
Vancouver, BC
9/20/2009
It is said that "Art lies in the eye of the beholder." I couldn't agree more.
After a heavy Italian lunch at Il Gatto Nero, and wandering around Kensington Market, we were looking for a little mid-afternoon 'pick me up' in the form of a caffeinated beverage.
This place would by no means have been by first choice, but China Town by Spadina and Dundas is completely devoid of Coffee places.
Art Square Cafe was like coming upon an oasis in the desert. "Yes! Espresso S'il vous plait."
I was a bit confused about the layout. It looked like a coffee shop to me, but I was promptly reminded that it was a 'restaurant' after I went to the counter to order and was banished back to my seat. "Sit down, and we'll bring it to you."
Their deserts were bizarre. All they had were biscotti, which I don't like. And a vast assortment of little chocolate balls. I was hoping for a good cookie or something. I decided to pass.
After waiting at least ten minutes, during which I fought the urge to walk out, our drinks finally arrived. Espresso was expensive - $3.5 for a double shot.
Before we left I went down to the strangest washroom ever. It is downstairs through a labyrinth of twists and turns.
As the Art Square Cafe is right across the street from the AGO, they had various forms of uninspiring 'art' for sale.
Above our table were three small paintings that looked like feces smeared on a canvas. But to be fair they were only $400 each.
There were also some generic blurry pictures of female bodies in graceful poses. I liked these a bit more, but they were frankly nothing special. They looked vaguely like knock off of something by Da Vinci. $2,000 each.
The kicker was some sculptures on the tables. They were hollow shapes made out of wires to resemble vines. Cool! I actually liked these ones. There was a sphere, and a cylinder. On my way out I checked the prices, and they were like $12,000 each.
They're the kind of thing you could expect to see in an arts and crafts shop in Port Hope for $250. Or maybe some factory in China could mass produce them for $50 each. We're talking wires molded into common three dimensional shapes.
It reminded me of reading an article in the news about a year ago that the cost of living was too high in Toronto. Agreed. However the proof they used was an interview with a local 'artist' who was complaining that his $2000/month 2 bedroom apartment was too expensive.
At the time I was living in a 3 bedroom on Danforth Avenue costing about $1250 and I thought: "What is this guy talking about?" Anyone who has rented in Toronto and done a bit of research knows there are plenty of 2 bedrooms around the $1000 mark. Or god forbid, if you don't have a stable income - take something cheaper.
There is definitely some kind of disconnect between the artistic community and reality as the rest of us know it. $12,000 for a wire sphere? $2,000 apartments?
Suffice to say, I won't be returning to the Art Square Cafe. It was pretentious without justification. Plus their menu was very strange, and the help wasn't friendly. Nothing except biscotti and chocolate balls! You may be seated! -
Review from Amy L.
3/24/2011
When you first enter the cafe, there is a big, open area with paintings by local artists. The second half of the cafe is where customers sit down and enjoy their coffee, hand-made chocolates, crepes, and cakes. I enjoyed a Cafe Latte and an Amaretto & Almond Handmade chocolate while I waited for my dessert crepe. I'm a nuts lover so I ordered the Banana & Walnut Crepe garnished with Chocolate & Pistachio, and a scoop of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream to finish it off. It's a huge crepe but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I particularly liked the ice cream because I could actually see the vanilla bean in it. The crepe itself was on the softer but chewy side. My friend got herself a Seige of Art (Espresso & Chocolate). My next visit would probably include truffles and a savory crepe like smoked salmon!
Listed in: Dessert Places
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/12/2008 1 photo
Art Square Café's sandwich board displays photos of too-good-to-be-real crepes, sending my salivary glands pumping off the taste-o-meter. Passing by proved enough to mentally fill my stomach, merely from the pictures alone. I doubted the crepes would actually live up to my imagination.
Luckily, they did. It was the Frank Gehry $7.50 sweet crepe special -- a 16" shell filled with a homemade peach, apple, and raisin stew, topped with whipped cream, served with a cinnamon-topped black and herbal tea -- that got me in the door, and will keep me coming back. The filled sweet and savory crepes can seem a bit pricey (from $4.99 for a simple crepe to $9.99 for the super deluxe treatment), but I assure you they're filling, made with good quality organic ingredients, and well worth the price. You can even ask for buckwheat and soy milk replacements, if that's your bag.
It took quite a while for me to get served, but to their benefit, it is the Art Gallery of Ontario's opening week and is probably more busy than normal. Plus, the staff seemed truly apologetic and so endearingly real that I had to forgive them instantly. For the servers alone am I encouraged to return again and again. (Okay, okay, so I'd really come back for their homemade profiteroles, but the service was pretty sweet.) -
Review from Andie S.
Toronto, ON
10/23/2010
This is a fairly expensive creperie due to the high quality ingredients they use and I suspect also due to the over staffing. They seem to have a lot of people working there, but they are all really busy. They had almost no customers when I went there but the service was still rushed and hard to come by. The wifi didn't work when I tried it, but it was broadcasting. They need to get a little more organized and make customer service more of a priority. The sweet crepe I had was decent, but overpriced.
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Review from Aaron B.
3/10/2010
This is my favorite place in the city. Across from a museum and among galleries (including itself), it serves delicious Illy coffee (same as I drink at home), has healthy eating options in the form of savory crepes, and desserts, and great teas. The prices are a bit high but I'm pretty sure it's justified by looking at their ingredients...you really are paying for quality here. The space is nicely laid out, brightly lit, there is free wi-fi, it's open till 10pm or 11pm every night, and it's on the way home from school/work. I come here several times a week and know the people who work here by name.
The service here is admittedly not great (okay, it's plain bad) and that costs it one star. If you order a crepe and you want water with that then you'd better ask for water else you won't get it. Same for refills. If you finish your meal don't expect them to take the empty plate from your table. If you order a drink then you'll probably have to ask for a napkin. If you order an Americano then you have to explain how you want it because the thing they'll bring out otherwise is NOT an Americano. The people here are really very friendly and nice, they're just not service oriented and are too busy cooking to be attentive to customers in the dining area. If you just ask they'll be happy to provide whatever you need. -
Review from lucinda k.
Vancouver, BC
5/15/2010
OMG, I don't know why it took me 4 years to try this place, but it is AMAZING! I love crepes and have tried most other creperies in the city, and I was very pleasantly surprised with this cafe... Excellent quality ingredients, friendly servers who give you your space (a plus in my book) and unique, wide beverage selection. I had the Desert For Grown-Ups crepe which was phenomenal- pistachios, figs marinated in grand marnier and blue cheese- yum! The chocolate chai tea was the perfect accompaniment and I appreciated the copius amount of cocoa without added sweetener. Prices are great for the quality, I will most definitely be back:).
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Review from Danielle S.
Toronto, ON
11/1/2010
I think a certain type of person would love this place, but I'm not that type of person. The concept is neat and I appreciate that they use organic products which makes it a bit pricey but other than atmosphere, I'd give this place a thumbs down. The hot chocolate was absolutely bitter and my pastry was given to me still frozen. The server fumbled with some excuse about something being broken. The pastry was brought back substantially warmer after a long wait but still not great. But as I said, I like the concept and the atmosphere was great for a lazy Sunday morning.
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Review from Steph W.
4/26/2010
This is a cute place! Once you walk in, there is open space with beautiful artwork. We sat on the patio, tucked away outside. All the crepes were AMAZING!I got the salmon, goat cheese buckwheat crepe with spinach salad. Other orders included eggplant crepe, Canadian crepe (eggs and chicken bacon), and dark chocolate and pistachio. All the ingredients are super fresh. The homemade strawberry jam was delicious, and the maple syrup hits the spot! My comparison is usually to San Francisco based businesses, and this was definitely better than a lot of the crepe places I frequent in the city.
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Review from John S.
7/26/2009
We had a great brunch here. We wanted to hit the AGO and this place is right across the streets. My family had spent the previous night having Indian cuisine (their first time) and probably wanted something more familiar. And they did. Banana walnut, and *very* berry crepes - something from the sweet crepes menu. My wife and I had something from the savory side of the menu. Oh, turkish coffee and turkish delight were a nice treat as an appetizer(?), really good food and a great atmosphere. Especially great warm-up if you're headed across the street to the AGO.
