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City Cafe Bakery
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
8 reviews for City Cafe Bakery
8 reviews in English
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Review from Brian B.
Kitchener, ON
8/29/2009
There's many things to like about this place.
1. The sourdough bread. It's the best tasting sourdough I've ever had, and also the best looking. Take a loaf home and make a grilled ham and cheese. It'll blow you away.
2. The croissants. They're fairly dark in colour, and have a sweetness to them. Nice and flaky, and a perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning.
3. The pizza. Nice, thin, slightly crispy crust. Real mozzarella, and interesting toppings.
4. It's on the honour system. As another reviewer said, this makes everyone look like an idiot the first time in, but I think it actually saves time. You don't have to wait in line or anything -- go in, grab what you want, and dunk your cash in the box. The staff are always happy to make change, if need be. I've heard that the honour system actually treats them quite well -- their theft percentage is actually fairly low. Certainly lower than you might imagine.
One minor quibble: it's nearly impossible to get a seat here on a Saturday morning, which is my favourite time to go. It's bustling and energetic, then and it's fun to watch the different kinds of people who come through the door. I don't think they should expand their cafe space (they'd lose some of the ambiance, I think). I guess I'll just have to keep coming here, and fending for a table. -
Review from Susan D.
Toronto, ON
6/28/2011
We love their cheese buns, croissants and pizza slices--and look forward to trying their other offerings as the occasions arise.
Their bagels are pretty good, but very different from the dense, sweetish, Montreal-style bagels that are my favourite (and which, to me, are the quintessential bagel--and are usually evocative of, but not quite as good as, *actual* Montreal bagels, from Fairmount or St Viateur--YUM!), so I tend not to be a big fan of other "bagel-shaped offerings" that are available in most places. These ones are fine, and are distinctive, and I'm sure some people love them.
But back to the good: at the moment, I have one of their delicious, buttery (and gigantic) croissants waiting for me at home. I usually have the croissant over two meals (I've not got a super large appetite), and their cheese buns over three meals (they honestly are gigantic. Even my husband, who is a reasonably hearty eater, will split one of those over two meals unless he's really famished!).
And yeah, they're serious about the honour system. My husband was stopping there a few weeks back and didn't have enough money (cash only). They told him to "just pay the rest the next time you come by." Of course, because we're not used to that in our society--and I get paranoid about forgetting!--I stopped by there the next time I was close by, later that day, and put the amount owing into the box.
The seating area does tend to get a bit packed, as mentioned by other reviewers. Still, they're an institution in K-W, and as such, definitely worth a try. -
Review from Garth P.
Waterloo, ON
12/20/2011
Somehow, for me anyway, the second location on Ottawa at Charles, has much better customer service.
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Review from James C.
Kitchener, ON
8/22/2010
I'm a regular for lunch at City Cafe. I live nearby. I like their melts. If there pizza is fresh, it's good as well. They will reheat pizza, but fresh is best imo. Tuna melt is probably my favorite.
A couple pet peeves, they won't make a melt (or any other lunch, unless pizza is already made) 1 second after 2pm (on weekdays). I've walked in at 1:55pm, and you will literally see the employees eyeball the clock.
I'm also a little squeamish about germs. They used to handle money, and clear tables/garbage while making pizza and melts, and not wash their hands. They seem to have have improved lately -- a lot more hand washing.
People seem to get seriously confused by the honor system. I've wasted so much time behind people who don't know what they're doing. 1) They will make change for you, just ask (don't be afraid to ask the not busy person you didn't talk with about your order) . 2) They will not accept tips, so don't bother. -
Review from Brian H.
Kitchener, ON
1/8/2011
A great place to finish after a run on the Iron Horse Trail. Nice and warm inside due to the wood fired oven. Really like their date squares. Often full, but we don't mind sitting outside on the deck beside the Christmas tree.
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Review from David C.
Kitchener, ON
1/26/2011
A thin crust portobello pizza was fresh out of the wood-fired oven and waiting for a taker, when we dropped by on our way home from work. Cash only honor system for payments is a neat novelty (but it meant we had to make an extra stop at a nearby bank machine beforehand). Get there well before 6 pm to be sure they're still serving pizza before closing.
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Review from Thomas D.
King City, ON
1/12/2009
Two words: tuna melt. This is less of the café and more of the bakery. One of my favourite stops for lunch as everything is done in house. Pizza can be quite good, but I stick to the sandwiches with a (generally bizarre) side salad.
Payment is the honour system and manages to make everyone look like an idiot their first time in. -
Review from Ben R.
10/21/2008
A very popular bakery that serves breakfast bagels and lunch pizza. You serve yourself and pay into a box. Get there early, because they run out of their very limited selection quickly.
