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Sage Cafe & Catering
Category: Event Planning & Services Caterers Caterers [Edit]
166 McCaul StToronto, ON M5T 1W4
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 340-7345
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 3 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
13 reviews for Sage Cafe & Catering
13 reviews in English
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Review from Vivek S.
I finally came back so I could try the vanilla french toast I had previously dissed for their marvellous eggs benny. I walked through the door and lo and behold a new brunch menu was waiting for me. (yay) But the vanilla french toast was no longer on there! (boo) But it had been replaced by an even more decadent version, stuffed with ricotta and apricot (yay)! Man, what a rollercoaster that day was.
After regaining my emotional footing I ordered the aforementioned dessert-passing-for-breakfast. I don't normally cuss before noon (not quite true) but FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULL HOUSE that was a mean french toast. Slathered with real maple syrup, the thick pieces of perfectly carmelized bread had my heart pounding -- and it wasn't just from the fat intake.
The french toast was served with a salad (why?) and fresh fruit. Service as always was impeccable and motherly. Sage is as good as it gets.Listed in: Betwixt Breakfast and Lunch, Best French Toast
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/13/2010
How have I never been here before? Ravenous on a Sunday morning, I collapsed at Sage's front door in… Read more »
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Review from Grainne M.
Toronto, ON
2/17/2012
I'm really fond of this place. I kind of wondered why one of my colleagues was obsessed. He kept running out at lunch to get sandwiches and also buying big containers of pasta for his dinners when he couldn't be bothered to cook. Then I started trying it for lunch and got hooked myself.
One of the criticisms levelled against it below is that the food tastes like something you could make at home. That's precisely its charm for me. The food tastes real and wholesome. Like the stuff I'd like to make at home-not the handfuls of M&Ms which would be more likely to exit my kitchen. The lunch menu doesn't change much and is full of sandwiches, soups, salads and various meals like lasagne etc. I've had soup which was really tasty and fresh-tasting and my other go-to is the salad with BBQ chicken. It's healthy and tasty and really not that expensive at just over $8.
I love the ambience of the café. It's cosy and welcoming with bright colours and tables for two. Staff are not always very friendly-perhaps due to the busy service at lunchtime; however the older woman who works there (and I think cooks) is a complete sweetheart. She's like the grandmother I never had-all sweet, smiley and caring.
So-decent value for money, cosy and reliably tasty food. That's an excuse for ending up there every week, isn't it? -
Review from Jackie P.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is the third place in the past two weeks that was rated 4-5 stars on yelp that bombed. Even a few of my favorite reviewers from yelp gave this place five stars! Am I just picky? Most say yes, but after today's experience, I'm confident that's not the case.
On the outside, Sage has a lot going for it: intimate, home made style treats and charm. It's whats on the inside that counts and Sage's inside seems to be going bad, real quick. The place was empty which is usually a bad sign, but we decided to write it off to the -14 weather outside.
We ordered tea and coffee. My cup was covered in old coffee stains and his Americano bland, but we chose to turn a blind eye, as we just wanted to enjoy our Saturday morning brunch.
The food on first appearance looked fine and I was just hoping the taste would be its saving grace. First bite, underwhelming. He ordered the Salmon Benny on a homemade biscuit. The salmon was fishy, biscuit mushy and the potatoes undercooked. I ordered the Apricot Ricotta stuffed French Toast. It was a little dry and the filling cold, but was good enough to eat and get filled on. I decided to ask for some syrup as it was lacking in the sweet rich flavor you'd expect from Ricotta stuffed French Toast. After a generous pour of what I'm sure was Aunt J syrup, I took a few more bites and looked to my right. On top of the syrup were six tiny red ants that were feasting off the sweet sap. I looked down on the table and a few more scurried in front of me, trying not to be seen. This was not something you just shrug off.
I called the owner over and she immediately took it away and was very upset as well. She even said shit out loud as she hurried to the kitchen. She asked to make something else, but based on the lack luster flavor, ants and dirty dishes I started getting concerned about the overall sanitary conditions of the place. We asked for the bill and she comped my meal. I was a little shocked she charged for my partners as he hardly ate his either. But truthfully I was getting the sense they needed every last dollar.
Right before we left, a table that had just come in asked for some milk. She came over to our table and grabbed the left over milk cup and gave it to them. I was shocked. For all she knows, my partner could have sneezed or dropped food in it. That was the sign that Sage is slipping from the supposed once glory days to a deteriorating sad mess. What a shame; and I was really looking forward to it. -
Review from Kat T.
10/6/2011
I hate to say that I'm not such a big fan. If going out for lunch I'm likely to pick the sushi rolls on Dundas, or Sushi on Baldwin, or sandwiches at Avenue Bistro. But, on the occasion I do get to leave work for lunch, I have a few friends who drag me to Sage.
My gripes: All the food tastes like stuff I can make at home. The sandwiches are not grilled, hot or tasty.
If you pay for a filling, the wraps are often filled with more lettuce than filling. The Noodles are greasy but bland. the soup was bland.
I've really given it my all, but everything I eat here is underwhelming.
Although Margs recommends avoiding the lunch hour, they close at the ungodly early hour for 4pm, so its always either busy or closed.
Still only going if my friends drag me. -
Review from Melanie C.
Oakville, ON
12/13/2010
I have always, always wanted to have a meal here, but I tend to be walking by when they are closed. I finally had a free weekend and was asked to have brunch here. My dream came true!
I believe the owner was serving us. Things seemed to take a while, but she was all on her own and chit-chatted with everyone - some regulars, some newbies. Very personable.
I ordered the hot cocoa, which took a lifetime to get to my table (the owner had to find time between serving all tables to steam the milk/cream). It was delicious, but a stupid fruit fly ruined it for me before I even got halfway through the beverage. Ho hum.
I love their menu because there is specifically a 'non-egg' section. I'm not a huge fan of eggs, not sure why, so I immediately decided I would take advantage of this. I ordered the non-egg version of the breakfast burrito (for all you egg-lovers out there, you can add egg).
The burrito was pretty good, quite standard. I really liked the potatoes that came with my meal. The plate was garnished with some fresh fruit. It was very filling, and not too greasy.
Interesting: The walls at Sage are filled with fabric art - which is basically pieces of fabric put together (not sure how) to form a picture. Quite interesting. Not sure if this artist is always featured there or if it changes every now and again. -
Review from Denise S.
12/2/2010
I heart Sage Cafe. It's been my go to lunch spot for a while now. Perfect location if you are going to the AGO or visiting/working at any of the University Ave. hospitals.
They have lots of daily specials: 2 soups, pasta, pizza, quiche. Plus there's the regular menu with lots of delicious sandwiches/wraps, including many veggie options. The baked goods look great too, although I've never tried them. Some of my favourites include their pesto linguine, goat cheese/spinach/mushroom quiche, and corn chowder. Everything is fresh, (relatively) healthy, and delicious.
This place does get a little busy at lunch hour, but staff are always pleasant and efficient. Some seating in the front, which is nice for people watching (although cold in the winter with the front door opening and closing). The back area has more tables and they will bring your food to you. I especially enjoy the placemats which feature recipes by kindergarten-age kids, e.g. "Dinosaur Soup"!! -
Review from Micki M.
Toronto, ON
3/25/2010
There are three quick reasons why I love Sage:
1) As soon as you walk in the door the adjective that comes to mind is 'simple'. For me this is a bonus. They use simple ingredients and make real homemade food (i.e. don't add 10 x's the salt, sugar and oil you would use at home)
2)I like to come to Sage to study - it's very peaceful and small with good soups that make me feel like I'm back home sitting in my mother's kitchen.
3)You can sit near the giant windows to get a good dose of vitamin D. Is there anything better than studying near giant windows?? Well besides the studying part?
No, no there is not!
Et voila! There you have some incentive to visit Wendy, Charlotte, and Fernando at Sage. Having said this, I invite you to join me, but hope to keep the unique peacefulness and serenity in tact! Merci! -
Review from Matthew S.
Toronto, ON
4/9/2010 1 photo
Eating at Sage is like eating at home. This small lunch spot is in, what looks like, a converted house just off the Baldwin strip. And, they haven't gone too crazy on the conversion because it still looks and feels like a house. There are a few seats up front where you order and a cozy room in the back with a few more.
The food is tasty, healthy and has that homemade feel to it. The have a variety of wraps (with plenty of veg options) as well as soup, salad, pizza, and quiche. All looked good but I went for a feta and avocado wrap. They use a large, thin pita bread like a tortilla to wrap the wraps. There was plenty of perfectly ripe avocado, a decent amount of feta, and it was filled out with tomatoes, lettuce, and sprouts. My only complaint is that it could have been a little bigger. This is something I could have easily made at home, but sometimes that's a good thing.
There's also a variety of tasty looking muffins, bars, tarts, and other sweet things up front. I went for a butter tart with hazelnuts (or maybe some other nut, I'm not sure). Not quite as gooey as I like my butter tarts, but it was pretty good and the crust was nice.
My meal came out to about $9.50 with the tart and the wrap. -
Review from Margs L.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2010
I love love love Sage Cafe. But if you don't want to wait and don't want to be surrounded by pushy patrons, do not go right at lunch time. Any other time, this place is the bomb. The wraps are SOOOOOO good. Every single one that I have tried has been delicious. My favorite I think is the salmon dill one but honestly every single one you try will be good. It is a little expensive for a wrap sandwich but once in a while you can splurge. There are also some fancy drinks that you wouldn't be able to get at a regular 7/11.
Listed in: Lunch Bunch
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Review from Stas Z.
Toronto, ON
4/24/2009
Just had lunch there, my girlfriend and I split BBQ chicken - grilled veggie and curry chicken - apple almond wraps. Both were good and came with garden salad of fresh greens. I particularly liked the custom-made sauce, which was very delicious and enhanced the otherwise simple ingredients inside the wrap. This cafe is situated inside an old house in the Baldwin Village, has a cozy relaxed vibe and friendly service. Good choice for lunch, especially in the summer when you want to enjoy cold foods.
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Review from Joanne W.
4/11/2010
If you're looking for something other than burgers and hot dogs, this is the greatest thing you'll ever have. A little restaurant found on McCaul and Elm, they serve great and fresh saladas, entrees and wraps. I definitely recommend the wraps (great $7 lunch that's very filling). However, at lunch time, it's quite busy, so make sure you have the patience for the line-up.
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Review from Tyler G.
Toronto, ON
7/24/2010
What a gem!
Everything is fresh and tastes really healthy (because it is).
The prices are really decent ($9 for soup and a wrap) for the amount of food you receive. The service is sharp and kind.
The hours are tough if you don't live nearby (only open until 5; 11-3 on Saturday and closed Sunday), but it's really worth it.
Go to the AGO on a Saturday, skip eating at Frank, and hop around the corner to Sage after enjoying the art. -
Review from Jenna B.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2010
Perfect place for a date! Their tofu wrap is vegan and deliscious, and I'm under the impression that they have a vegan soup every day too. For the non-vegan folk, there is quiche, gourmet pizza, salads - it's really quite lovely. The ambiance is cute, quaint and has an almost-European feel to it. I highly recommend it!
