- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Redline Coffee and Espresso Bar
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
354 Queen St EToronto, ON M5A 1T2
Neighbourhood: Corktown
(647) 344-3865
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 5 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 4 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
11 reviews for Redline Coffee and Espresso Bar
11 reviews in English
-
Review from Sharon F.
East York, ON
12/5/2011
The first thing you would notice walking into Redline is how friendly the owner - Julie - is. Her voice fills up the otherwise quiet space, and everyone who walks in is a familiar face. She called everyone out by name and drink, even if they had only come in last week. This is truly a neighbourhood hangout!
My entire weekend was spent drinking hot chocolate and staring at the rain, so their marshmallow latte seemed irresistible. I'm usually a purist when it comes to espresso-drinks (with the occasional deviation to Starbucks holiday stuff), but the marshmallow coffee combination was amazing. The espresso shot is poured over the marshmallow so it can melt a bit before being mixed with milk. If you don't like sweet drinks, but want to try it, make sure to ask for a reduced number of marshmallows.
Other than coffee Redline also offers a great selection of teas, sandwiches and lovely mugs to cup your hands around. There's free wifi, no pretension and just a really chill Corktown vibe. Plop yourself down on one of the four leather couches up front or get set up in the tables in the back. The walls are covered in bright paintings and art. Although the coffee isn't the most spectacular, the experience will leave you warm and fuzzy inside. -
Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Thanks to the Indie Coffee Passport, I have had the chance to visit a lot of different, and quite out of the way Cafes in the last couple of months while in the search of a free Latte.
This Cafe was visited as a part of a Latte Crawl a friend of mine did and was the third in the day and I have to say, this place is quite the nice little Cafe. Sure it looks a bit like other cafes and to be honest I do not know about coffee enough to discern if they serve amazing coffee or not. Although I have to say my latte was on the small side.
What I can do say, is that with their low-key decour and, if you live in the neighbourhood (which I do not) then that you should ought to check it out. If just to see what it is in your hood.
The place is small with less than six tables, which seat four, which makes this place very small in my books. In the end we were a group of about 10 and we were taking most of the seating space. Also, the owner, he seems like a really nice guy.
As far as the rest of the decour, yes, they do have some art from local artist, now whether you enjoy the art or not is completely subjective but at least they are trying.
All in all, give it a try, but like most local cafes, 90% of their income is based from the neighbourhood, and they do not have the cool factor some better known joints have.
PS:. I did not check for free wifi, so I do not know if they have it.Listed in: My Reviews
-
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Redline Coffee and Espresso Bar is located near Queen and Parliament which is out of the way for me.
Maybe I should go for the double shots of espresso as the friendly barista suggested.... but I was wired as it is and don't want to be more caffeinated before my yoga class!
Cappuccino was on the mellow side and taste more like a latte.
The vibe here is definitely more laid back and casual. It was in fact really quiet on a Sunday afternoon.
Great Indie Passport Coffee shop! Free unsecured WIFI!
The washroom in the basement, which I would avoid in the future is clean but has this really bad smell. -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
10/17/2011
Nestled near the queen and parliament bus stop, is this place. You could miss it if you aren't paying attention.
I had ordered an americano . I learnt from my previous experience at my last review just to make sure and tell them not too much water.
My brew was OK. Yes, i could order it again. However, it still doesn't measure up to my faves or my go to's. I would say, if you are in the area it beats any chain hands down. Go here first.
There is a very comfortable feel to this cafe. Rickety chairs and tables, back area patio and local art on the walls. All that while you sit down and enjoy your cup with some baked goods and free wi-fi. -
Review from Denise S.
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here to use my Indie Coffee Passport this weekend -- so far this is one of my favourite passport finds! The location isn't bad, it's a convenient stop if you are making you way to Leslieville or the Distillery District, although the immediate environs are not that exciting. The space is warm and relaxed, with lots of interesting art on the walls (for sale). There's loads of seating, from the benches facing Queen E. to the couches at the front (good for newspaper browsing or if you're in a big group), and smaller tables equipped for people bringing their laptops. But with the nice weather, I chose to sit in the little patio in the back. It only seats about 6-8 people and feels like someone's cozy backyard, with potted plants and cute furniture.
The drinks menu is extensive, but the excellent service is what makes this cafe stand out. The genuinely cheerful barista greeted me immediately and was really enthusiastic about the Indie Coffee Passport, asking where I've been and making recommendations re: where to go next. She told me I could get ANY drink with the passport, regardless of price and said if there was something I wanted that wasn't on the menu, she'd try to custom-make it for me. I opted for a tea latte and she brought out a bunch of different teas I could choose from (David's Teas) and smell. There was this dark chocolate one, a roobios one, a Moroccan mint... but I decided to go with an oldie (but a goodie) - the creamy earl gray. You can choose your milk: whole, 2%, skim, soy, and even almond. Later, I overheard another customer tell her that their chai latte was the best he'd ever had.
The barista made repeat appearances as I was reading on the patio. Checking in on how people were enjoying their drinks and letting us know when she had to reboot the internet. The staff foster an environment where it's so friendly that it's not creepy if the person in the next table strikes up a conversation with you.
The food selection looked decent -- some muffins, cookies, croissants as well as ice cream. But I didn't try any on this visit. Bathrooms are downstairs -- no mirrors though!
I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the 'hood:) Indie Coffee Passport success!Listed in: Cafe Culture
-
Review from David M.
Toronto, ON
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very nice decor - think homey, comfortable coffee shop - and friendly, accommodating baristas. They didn't have a cortado on the menu, and they didn't know how to make one, but I explained it and they happily obliged.
It wasn't very good...it was much too hot and didn't taste very good. Not sure if it was the beans or the prep. Anyway, other reviewers really like this place, so maybe just stay away from the cortado.Listed in: Coffee
-
Review from Vivek S.
10/1/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I almost missed this spot biking by on Queen St East. This charming and urbane coffee and espresso house is a welcome entry into the emerging neighbourhood. Rich hardwood floors accentuate the shop's long and narrow shape, and the walls are covered with dazzling canvasses from local artists. There is a tiny garden patio in the back, where a smoky stray kitten nuzzled me as I worked away. (Apparently she's a regular.)
The owner, Julie, was on point. I was halfway through my latte when she replaced it when a fresh one, explaining that the machine had not been properly calibrated. I appreciated that; the new coffee was superb. There were a lot of locals passing through the shop, and you really get the sense that they've welcomed Redline into the neighbourhood. I can't wait to come back!
Obligatory Title Pun: Rev your engines to the REDLINE.
Menu Readability: None that I noticed -- I just asked for a latte.
Need to mention: There is free wifi, but I couldn't figure it out.
What this place teaches me about myself: I am irresistble to cats. It must the open tins of mackrel I keep on me at all times.Listed in: Top Coffee Shops
-
Review from Shaleen S.
Toronto, ON
2/23/2012
I really enjoyed my experience at Redline using my indie coffee passport. The coffee was delicious, they have all kinds of milk, and the staff is extremely nice and helpful. I went on a weekday at mid-morning and it was pretty busy, there was a steady flow of people coming in and lots of people sitting in the shop on their computers or reading. I am going to add this place on my regular coffee rotation around the neighbourhood!
-
Review from Cori C.
Toronto, ON
9/8/2011
I've had nearly everything from coffee and espresso to tea, both hot & cold. I absolutely love Julie and Aaron. They're fast and friendly and always remember you even if you've been gone for a while! They have a nice back patio space as well for those of us who don't have a nice quiet place of our own to enjoy our drinks.
-
Review from Elvis A.
I came here as part of my indie coffee pass in the search for the best cappuccino in T.O.
The setup is awesome with free WiFi and a very nice ambiance and it really does seem out of place for this area.This place is awesome though in a not so nice neighborhood.
The Barista was friendly and asked me what other places I had tried on the pass so far and how did I want my cappuccino.
Good start , I believe for indie places it matters how you treat your patrons. I was offered an upgrade to a double shot without even asking (good sign IMO) as I prefer my cappuccino stronger than normal.
Nice crema' on my drink topped with coco powder. Not the burnt feel you get initially in some cases. The milk was frothed OK but the main Barista was training a new recruit so I will give the leeway and will adjust rating on the second round.
the drink itself was done very well a tie so far for the top spot on the indie passport.
There are some regulars here and we got into a discussion about how things are in TO and real estate (one of my favorite topics now)
Good score for the cappuccino but the location could have been much better.
4 Stars. -
Review from Giselle g.
Toronto, ON
3/3/2011
Really good coffee served with a smile. The decor is cozy and homey too. I wish I had more time to hang out here.
