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R Squared Cafe
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
668 Queen St WToronto, ON M6J 1E5
Neighbourhoods: Niagara, West Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods
(647) 344-8558
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 8 pm
Sat 8 am - 8 pm
Sun 9 am - 8 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
15 reviews for R Squared Cafe
15 reviews in English
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Review from Pouneh R.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2012
Love love love love love love love them
Ok seriously what's NOT to love about them? The cafe itself is beautiful, trendy AND comfortable, which is kind of hard to find these days. Free wifi with open plugs( hard to find again) and great music. I think I actually Shazamed 5 songs when I was there last.
They have the best Americano obviously everyone knows that. I just tried the Iced Mocha the other day: YUMMY and I thought I dont even like Mocha.
Once Reza made me a special iced tea, SO GOOD. I asked what it was and turns out its some sort of a fruit tea called Bora Bora, that you can even eat it dry! isn't that cool? A tea that you can both eat OR drink.
love love love love love love love them -
Review from Ayumi S.
Etobicoke, ON
3/27/2012
I love their friendly service and coffee...and decor too!!
Especially, wooden table!
A male barista created a beautiful leaf on my cappucino.
Very silky foam as it should be.
As a coffee lover, I needed to find a place like this to make proper coffee.
And if you are also coffee lover, try this place and you will see this is the right place!
I would like to try their espresso next time.
One of the best coffee in Toronto. -
Review from Susan C.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2012
I walked by this cafe and noticed it is no longer the Quaff cafe. I had made two visits so far and is quite satisfied with my visits. First off, the staffs here are probably one of the nicest in coffee shops. Always smiling and greets you when you walk in. Their coffee-based drinks are amazing - probably one of my favourites. But, their london fog latte is very plain, lacking of the vanilla part of it. It tastes more like tea bags placed in steamed milk. They have a variety of sandwiches and treats available, which I must say, it tastes amazing!
I am happy that R Squared replaced Quaff cafe. Will definitely be returning back! -
Review from Rohit S.
North York, ON
12/23/2011
Best treatment I've received at a coffee shop - period. Everyone in the store (even the customers) were SUPER friendly and the barista even drew a butterfly coming out of a tulip on my latte!
Ordered the orange moka based on a friend's recommendation the first time and a plain cappuccino on my second visit.
Visited twice so far - will be back many, many more times. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Love those South Facing floor to ceiling windows opening up to Queen Street, especially on a nice, gorgeous Sunday afternoon.
R Squared Cafe is bright, clean and full of energy! Barista was so excited to see me using my Indie Coffee Passport.
Cappuccino was A-OK. I can tell the barista did take the care in making the drinks.
R Squared Cafe was quiet with everyone busy typing away on their laptops.... Free WIFI and Coffee and Sunny Afternoon.......... I felt like I am in a library! :) -
Review from Dishan W.
My first stop for the second coffee passport and I say 3.5 stars. The lack of a 4 or 5 star review is mainly for the friendliness which could have nicer, normally one would expect the barista to be sort of excited at least for giving me my first stamp, in fact what I got was the exact opposite. The staff didn't seem all that happy when I came up with my passport saying "it wasn't good for them". When I started saying that thanks to the first passport I had returned to locations I would otherwise never have been to, they didn't seem to be all that in to having the conversation. But on the other hand, when we were leaving a different barista was friendly and asked us how our coffee was etc.
While I was a fan of Quaff, R Squared does seem to be it's cleaner and brighter brother/sister? Seating seems to be ample and very roomy which I'm always a fan of and free wifi is a plus too! . Like Vivek mentions in his review, the vintage movie posters were a nice addition in the back.
I got a pistachio biscotti which could have been cheaper but was delicious nonetheless. My latte was well done and went down smooth and my friend's cappuccino did have some nice art going for it.
I would give them another shot as I did like my drink, but after being spoiled by friendly staff at most other locations, R squared gets points off for lack of love towards the Coffee Passport program, which I happen to love.Listed in: Caffeine Adventures!
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Review from Kiran S.
Toronto, ON
10/23/2011
R squared is located on Queen st, just west of the bathurst intersection. I checked it out on a weekday evening around 8pm. My first impression was 'this place is cool' with its high ceilings, modern-cozy wooden tables and white chairs. The music was happening.
I ordered a chai latte, which was really well made. Sweet and tasty, lots of foam. Their latte art is very good. At first I thought I was getting heart...then an apple...but my server continued on to create a butterfly! What talent!
I also had a biscotti, really good! One of the better biscotti's I've had, with a real texture and heartiness (much better than the ones at second cup).
I didnt try the wifi, but I am pretty sure its free!
So based on food and drink, I'd easily give this place a 4 start. Its one downfall was it was pretty noisy. Not ideal for studying, which I was trying to do. I managed to stay about 1/2 hour, but I couldn't concentrate after that. The conversations were at the level you would expect in a noisy bar.
But hey, it could of been just the one night there happened to be a noisier crowd in the cafe.
I would definitely return here, but lower my expectations in terms of studying potential. If you are looking for a cool place to have a non-alcoholic beverage and chill with friends, then this is a great spot! -
Review from Vivek S.
Two gentlemen named Reza now own the Queen street space formerly housed by Quaff, which has been completely renovated and rebranded. I never really liked the name Quaff but for atmosphere and espresso it was solid. This new incarnation however, is not only an incremental slide up the alphabet (and squared no less) it's an improvement too.
There is a fresh coat of paint, new furniture, and interesting touches of Persian culture throughout. (Be sure to check out the vintage movie posters in the back.) It's brighter in here too, as though they have pulled the daylight from Queen street back into the recesses of the erstwhile cozy and antique hollow, to create a clean, bright and modern space.
A few elements still persist. Freelancers' Row is still here but the new chairs are definitely a relief. And of course the great big chalkboard menu looms behind the baristae.
The boys here know their coffee, and I notice that pour-over has made its way on to the menu. I had an iced coffee on my visit, and it was respectable.
This sea change brings improved customer service. I had barely cracked my laptop to write this review, when the barista came over to whisper the password to me. They also have a loyalty card program too. Be warned that they are leery about accepting debit for smaller orders, but they do accept it. This rechristening seems like a herald of good things to come.
Obligatory Title Pun: The REZA'S have an EDGE.
Menu Readability: The chalkboard remains and the printing is scalloped.
Need to mention: The Wi-Fi password is hilariously insecure.
What this place teaches me about myself: I dig change as long as it's quadratic.Listed in: Queen Street Address, Coffee, Wifi, Power, LIFTOFF
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Review from John C.
Toronto, ON
2/15/2012
The coffee at R2 is delish and made by a passionate barista with a talent for latte art. It's also nice that the owner, Reza, is always around and happy to help or answer questions. This place has an unpretentious vibe. But, something about the design of the cafe makes me feel like I'm in an echo chamber - it can get loud at times, and I wouldn't consider trying to get work done here.
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Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
I finally had the chance to visit R Squared last Sunday. Since the new owners have taken over Quaff Café months ago, I failed at my neighbourly duties to visit it.
While I did like Quaff's Parisian atmosphere but I also really like how the café looks now. The significant changes are a small lounge area by the windows with a comfy sofa chair and small table. There seems to be more seating than before and now, more bold colours on the walls to really brighten up the space.
The seating set up is to similar to what Quaff had. Despite it being a Sunday afternoon, there was no shortage of people transfixed at their computers in Freelancer's Row.
When I came here, I was in a bit of less-than-happy mood. After ordering my cappuccino and croissant, the cute and very nice barista asked me a question: "Do you like a teddy bear or a butterfly?"
"Teddy bear...?," I said.
The barista's head disappeared behind the machine and I asked him, "Do I get a prize for answering your survey?"
Little did I know that I was in store for something great. I peered over the counter and saw him create the best design latte art I have ever seen: he created a teddy bear in the cappuccino foam. [Check out the photo]
It's the best latte/cappuccino art I've seen in the city. How impressive!
This small gesture was great and whatever mood I had immediately evaporated. My first visit marked a great start to beautiful patronage with R Squared. -
Review from Yochi J.
Toronto, ON
8/21/2011
The quality of the coffees at R Squared have surpassed all my expectations. This is my new go-to place for artisan coffee excellence.
In addition to the delicious espresso drinks, I especially love their pour-overs. I had the Ethiopian Sadama in a pour-over several times and it was consistently outstanding.
Best coffee I've tasted in a long time. Also really impressed with GTA's own Social Coffee roaster (who RSquared uses); finally, a local roaster striving for really high quality.
P.S. I am [sadly?] a coffee geek who's been into coffee for many years, I prefer it black in order to taste the subtleties of great coffee, and as a result don't usually drink anything like Timmy's or Starbuck's black because all I taste are the caustic flavours of crappy coffee and/or over roasting. I say usually, because sometimes it's an emergency -- a matter of getting caffeinated or not, and in that case I'll load up on cream to cover the tastes. -
Review from Michael K.
11/29/2011
Friendly, relaxed, well-designed, light-filled, quiet. I always try to stop in here when I'm in TO.
Yesterday, the barista brought me a second espresso - on the house, unrequested - because he said he'd adjusted the grind and enhanced the flavor. That alone left me with a smile all day. -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
9/28/2011
I used to frequent this place when it was the Quaff Cafe. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the coffee was not bad either.
In this reinvention, it still remains open and airy. I did notice all the white Eames chairs. That was a nice touch. I have to admit I paid little mind to the seating before. I just like the place.
Customer service was friendly and prompt. They were great with pairing their baked goods like the one I had, the peanut butter double dipped milk chocolate biscotti, with a drink. I didn't listen and I suppose I should have because my americano was alright but not the best I have had. I would still try something else though maybe the cappuccino they suggested.
My friend had their oatmeal chocolate chip cookie which strangely had a salty taste. I have no idea if that was intentional. I wanted to purchase one of my own but alas, none left. Must be good. Next time.
All in all, a welcome spot in the queen west district.
PS...It is seems to be a must to work on a Mac in there. Mental note: buy a mac. -
Review from Elvis A.
I have to agree with other reviewers the latte art is the best in the city. Staff is very friendly and polite. Setup is very nice with lotsa seating, free WiFi and some interesting reading material.
Now for the cappuccino it is quite good, the espresso shot is mellow and the milk is frothed well. latte art is the best I have seen in the city.
3.5 for the drink (I prefer a stronger espresso taste)
4-5 stars for other stuff.
I will visit again when I am in this area. -
Review from Tina H.
1/6/2012
Nice big space that can hold a good amount of people. Decent flat white.. a bit bitter though. Good chocolate chip cookie. A big water dispenser to fetch your own water, with nice big glasses so you're not getting up too often. An ideal place to get some work done with reliable, fast wifi, but it gets very busy.
