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Ground Level Cafe
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
1496 Queen St WToronto, ON M6K 1M4
Neighbourhood: Parkdale
(647) 342-3947
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 6 pm
Sat 9 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
16 reviews for Ground Level Cafe
16 reviews in English
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Review from David L.
1/27/2012
I'm not sure if you're familiar with the story behind Ground level cafe but you can find more information about it here:http://glyv.org/glcafe.html
The cafe is about giving back to the community and supporting youth with difficulties finding jobs elsewhere. A lot of things and resources are based on donations so you can't expect top notch equipment. The drinks are priced reasonably lower than most cafes charge and it's not bad for its value. The clientele isn't your usual pretentious hipster who loves paying for over priced coffee hence a more modest vibe and feel. The baristas are great and friendly and often form positive relationships with their customers. I was offered free pie and whipped cream upon my first visit and it was the best pie EVER!
Take it for what it is... and stop being a pretentious douche bag. -
Review from David M.
Toronto, ON
2/1/2011
This place has a weird vibe, as described by many other Yelpers. I had to ask whether this place served lattes as I couldn't find the usual machinery associated with making espressos, lattes, cappucinos, etc. Then I spotted what appeared to be a home version of a Breville espresso maker.
The steam wand was broken, so it took about 5 minutes to steam my milk*. I requested my latte with an extra shot, but it was still lacking in coffee flavour, and seemed more like warm milk.
In a nutshell, not a satisfying experience, and a place not at the same level as most other Indie Coffee Passport establishments.
*When describing the situation to me, the friendly employee told me it was "good and bad". "Good for me because I can go do something else (like toast a bagel), but bad for you because you have to wait".Listed in: Coffee
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
2/11/2011 4 photos
Ground Level Cafe's barista is the nicest barista I encountered using my Indie Coffee Passport. If just for him, I would have give them a 5 star...
On a cold winter afternoon, the shop was half empty.. so I can sit where ever I like... either at those nice comfy sofas/armchairs at the back or in the wicker chairs in the front overlooking Queen street under the sunshine...
I was surprise when my cappuccino was served in a paper cup?!! I asked the nice guy why not in a mug? I cannot drink from a paper cup that is hot to touch (I have history of spilling hot drinks all over myself or my friends)..I need a mug!!!! Sorry.. they don't have MUGS!!
The cappuccino itself is quite good... the roast was a little weak to my liking but the froth was dense and milky...
Note to Management: " Please have some mugs!!" and I don't care how environmentally your paper cups are!!! -
Review from Dishan W.
5/15/2011
If there ever was a spot I would have chosen to miss during the Passport program, I seriously thought this would be it. It's very far from anything I do and has a relatively low average rating. But I knew for better or worse, once I had decided on completing the passport I would have to indeed take the streetcar ride here. It was a stop where I told myself to just get it done with, walked in and yes this place is pretty big with nothing that really stands out apart from an old stove or something and a bookshelf by the far end.
The barista did not look like someone I would trust to make me coffee he didn't seem to fit the "indie look" that most barista's had and there was also pop cooler (a Pepsi refrigerator or something) in the back of the counter. Not very charming I must say.
But I got a latte nonetheless and sat myself down in one of the many spaces available and the barista turned out to be one of the friendliest guys I met while doing this whole thing. Showed me not to judge a book by its covers, and on top of that I didn't find anything wrong with my latte either.
So overall the trip ended up being a far bigger success than I thought it would be. Shame I will not be returning often as like I said, it is a very far distance away for me.
I must note though, the wifi was not reliable at all and he did mention that it does happen frequently and that he'd been meaning to talk to the company about it.Listed in: Caffeine Adventures!
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Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
3/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
After weeks of being sick and avoiding caffeine, I was finally able to use my Indie Coffee Passport and decided to stop in here last weekend.
It's a great space, nice and big with large windows that allows for a lot of light to come in. Yes, there's a lot of negative space but honestly, I don't mind it. My one complaint is that it felt like oven in there. Perhaps this had to do with the bright sun beaming into the cafe but for the first five minutes, it felt uncomfortable. Perfect for growing tropical plants though.
I had the best tasting cafe mocha ever. It was rich-tasting, chocolately, and not too sweet. I swear I have had a lot of cafe mochas before and none of them can compare to the one I had here.
I also was served by the nicest and friendliest barista ever. EVER. That alone, and the cafe mocha, will make me return here. -
Review from Michelle G.
Toronto, ON
1/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is huge, but lacks seating. I spent a considerable amount of time visualizing how they could fit more tables in without getting to crowded, and I can see why they set it up the way they did. But a couple more tables wouldn't hurt. (but that's what everyone says).
I love the space. Floor to ceiling windows facing Queen St and the rest is brick. High ceilings, ample bookshelves and the random old stove in the center... it just works.
I ordered a soy latte, and it was delicious, not too bitter, not too boring. Foam was nice and thick (but not too much) Just right. Unfortunately, they don't seem to have any "to stay" cups. But on the plus side, they've got free wifi and they don't charge extra for soy milk.
One thing I find really cool about Ground Level is that it operates as part of Ground Level Youth Ventures where youth learn life skills and job training (beyond just making coffee). Definitely something I'm into supporting.
I went here solely because it was part of the Indie Coffee Passport, but I'll go there again if I'm in the neighbourhood. My latte was better than the cups I've gotten from other shops in the area.Listed in: Indie Coffee Passport Stops
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Review from Vivek S.
Yet another oversized café with only a smattering of tables and chairs. Is this a new trend in Toronto? I swear you could play European handball in here, yet you'll only find two easy chairs, two kitchen-sized tables and several rattan seats near the front. That's not to say the atmosphere isn't swell. I'm sick of saying "exposed brick" so I won't. The Queen St façade is all windows, and the natural light just pours into this high-ceilinged space. And as a graphic design enthusiast, believe me, I love negative space -- but more seating wouldn't hurt.
My latte was served at approximately 451 degrees Fahrenheit and took some time to produce, but it was tasty and only $2.75. There is art on the walls (for sale) and a few bookshelves laden with reading material (also for sale). I would certainly spend time in this place (free wifi) but be warned: the music is horrible. I heard two Police tracks while in here, need I say more?
Obligatory Title Pun: This place is on the LEVEL.
Menu Readability: A big old chalkboard with (gasp) really poor handwriting.
Need to mention: They also serve paninis, grilled cheese, bagels and soup. Cash only.
What this place teaches me about myself: Don't stand/Don't stand/Don't stand so close to me.Listed in: Indie Coffee Passport
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Review from Allison T.
Toronto, ON
1/6/2011
I think I was in a really picky mood. The guy behind the counter was super nice, but our (two) drinks took FOREVER. Once they arrived, I was cautioned that my chai was too hot to drink & my partner's cup overran with foam.
My chai was watery & icky-sweet at the same time.
I found it really distracting that they played radio because at one point the hosts were talking straight for 5 minutes about the news. Not calming.
The space itself is quite nice - large & airy with little decorations here & there for whimsy's sake (I'm looking at you, large empty gold birdcage!).
I'll probably give it another try because I like the cause but it wouldn't be my first stop.Listed in: Indie Coffee
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Review from Angela L.
5/26/2011
The first and last thing that one cannot help but notice is that Ground Level Cafe is a terribly large, but sparsely furnished space. While the floor to ceiling windows provide gorgeous natural light, most of the seating is located to the back. Meanwhile, this range of seating styles provides options while maintaining more privacy than one would expect from smaller cafes.
Ground Level is a nice refuge from the dingy fast food joints littering this Parkdale strip. I've only ever had chai from here, but the bagels, bars, and muffins look alright. The ceilings are high and the baristas are friendly. The shelves are filled with books (for sale) that you might recognize from your apartment's communal laundry room. They also have a few weeklies available, but you're probably better off bringing your own reading materials or coffee date. -
Review from Isabella L.
Toronto, ON
10/4/2010
C O F F E E P A S S P O R T S T O P (#14)
Drink: Soy Chai Latte
Atmosphere: This place is awkwardly big. By awkward I mean when you walk in there's a huge empty space in the middle with all the chairs and tables pushed to the right side. They should seriously consider putting more tables and stuff. I don't know why they don't, BUT ANYWAY..
My drink was good, but the only problem is the foam was too airy. It was not dense enough for me. Overall, it's a cool cafe, but they should close the door 'cause it was pretty darn cold when I sat there. Oh yeah, they have a cute pioneer stove top there which is supposed to be a table. I found that as a nice touch.
Verdict: The barista was friendly and my drink was good, but there's something about how awkwardly big this place is that isn't clickin' with me. I'd rather find a smaller cafe. Those always feel comfortable and cozy.Listed in: Indie Coffee Passport Stops
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Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
12/11/2010
Holy crap! Could this space be any bigger and more empty?
Seriously, this place is nutty? Is the strategy for making people take the coffees to go to remove most of the tables?
I had an ok cup of coffee. The barista obviously was having a slow day because she was sitting at one of the very few tables available and reading. I took my coffee from her only to find all the milk options empty. It`s ok. I`m sure the book was too awesome to put down. Anyway, I ended up throwing my coffee away.
This is no place to write home about until they do something about all the dead space. -
Review from Nadja B.
Toronto, ON
3/1/2011
This place... oh man, I can't even begin to compose a proper structure for this review, so I guess I'll just go with point form for now.
I tried two things on two different occasions from this uncomfortably large and underused space, both of which left a pretty bad taste in my mouth.
- The drip coffee tasted like it came out of a carafe that hadn't been cleaned in a century. The coffee itself had a lot of really unpleasant chemically undertones (fair trade and organic, eh? I'm questioning that pretty hard right about now,) and gave me a huge headache after something like three sips.
- Now onto the Espresso. Completely flavorless, lack of depth, and the presentation was completely tacky. I seriously went home and fell asleep after. Those outcomes are exactly what you do not want when searching for good espresso.
Toronto has some awesome coffee places, most of which can half-assedly pull off pretty passable espresso, but Ground Level is certainly not one of them. If bad coffee is a total deal breaker for you then this is definitely not a place for people who frequent the likes of... well.. anywhere else really.
The barista was really nice, but in kind of a creepy/off putting type of way. Maybe that's just me.
House music: the radio..... ugggggggggg, really? like..... really? Do I even have to explain myself for thinking that this is a complete no no?
They have sandwiches and whatever too, but I was kind of apprehensive about ordering anything else on account of the throw-away dishes... Something about carbon footprint blahblah.
only bonus: free wifi. -
Review from Julianna B.
Toronto, ON
9/1/2009
My review has a big hole - I'm not a coffee drinker, so I can't remark on the quality of the brew, but this is an amazing place to pass an afternoon hour. It's beautiful - big and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows, wood floors, a few rustic touches. You have a choice between wicker chairs, overstuffed leather chairs, or well-lit seating at tables. The only thing detracting from the calm is the occasional raucous station identification on whatever generic radio station they're playing.
The staff is friendly and attentive, prices are great, and I love their book buying/borrowing system: hardbacks are $3, paperbacks are $0.50, and either one is discountable from your next coffee if you choose to return it. I'll update once I've tried the panini. -
Review from Julia A.
Toronto, ON
12/22/2011
very friendly staff, nice music, very spacious (not disturbing at all). i could sit for hours to work and get good vibes from all around me. I will definitely come again.
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Review from Diane R.
Toronto, ON
12/27/2010
I ended up in this place because of the Indie Coffee passport, and this has been the least impressive experience by far (and I've tried almost all the Indie Passport destinations by now).
Upon arrival on a really cold day (-22 with windchill!), I ordered a mug of apple cider, a soup of the day (leek and potato) and a veggie panini. The barrista was quite laid back, friendly and accommodating (veggie panini was not on the menu, but he basically let me pick ingredients such as eggplant and roasted red peppers, and made me a custom one). So far so good.
Unfortunately, this is where the good more or less ends. The apple cider was, to put it bluntly, undrinkable. I ordered it in several other Indie Passport cafes (Cafe Novo, linuxcaffe, The Rooster), and each place had a different but tasty take on it. The Ground Level version, however, was some sickeningly sweet swill with some unpleasant chemical undertones. I could not finish it.
The soup was really bland. It was hot and filling, for which I was grateful, but in the taste department it was nothing to write home about. The panini was okay, but, again, nothing special.
Since I stayed in the cafe for a while, I ordered a some more stuff: A capuccino that was okay (at least I could finish it!) A tea that was also quite okay (they use decent loose-leaf teas). And a banana, which was quite good as far as bananas go. Overall, though, I was not impressed. It did not help that the place does not seem to believe in real dishes and utensils - everything is throwaway paper, styrofoam and plastic, even if you're ordering to stay.
The space itself is not bad, in my opinion. The size of the space did not bother me - I like roomy rooms. The crazy old guy who was hanging out at the cafe, talking to himself for hours (sometimes whispering, sometimes almost shouting) also was no big deal - yeah, you're in Parkdale, deal with it. However, I go to cafes to eat and drink, and when the food and drink are this unremarkable, I don't really feel any desire to return. Sorry, Ground Level. I wanted to like you. You are trying to do a noble deed (help youth with limited resources to get job skills). But good intentions won't fill my belly and impress my taste buds. -
Review from Avi L.
Toronto, ON
1/9/2011
Finally came here with my Indie Coffee Passport. The coffee wasn't impressive. Would have been nice to have ceramic mugs (all food and drink was served in biodegradable paper cups and bowls). Aside from that, the staff were very friendly. More to the point of cool, the space itself is worth coming to, to work and read. A very open space, which during the end of the day has a massive amount of natural light. Think they have good wifi ( shared a table with a guy working on Android and Bberry apps). I had a good and tasty grilled bagel sammich.
