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The Beet
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Vegetarian, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
2945 Dundas St WToronto, ON M6P 1Z2
Neighbourhood: The Junction
(416) 916-2368
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
22 reviews for The Beet
Review Highlights
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"I just enjoyed their organic egg nogg latte." In 8 reviews -
"...dig the atmosphere, and their patio is a really nice place..." In 7 reviews -
"...and vegan, but much much better than the usual paperweights..." In 2 reviews
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22 reviews in English
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Review from Jenna M.
3/6/2012
Every time I go to a place in the Junction, I sing that song in my head that goes like this, "Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses." Why? I wish I could tell you. But, one thing I can tell you about is a lil place in this neighbourhood called The Beet, which is an organic cafe that serves up some proper healthy meals, juices and smoothies. All of their ingredients are certified organic and local. This spells out one thing in my mind: fresh.
I've been here a few times before for brekkie and it never fails to jump start my day. The Buenos Dias wrap and Huevos Rancheros are muy muy delicioso (Welcome to Spanish class!). I also love how small and cosy it is, and the natural light makes it feel bright and inviting. As an added bonus, there's a patio. Since "patio" is my middle name, I tend to gravitate toward great little places that have them.
Next time I'm heading to the Junction and inevitably singing that little ditty in my head, I may just pop into The Beet and get everyone to sing along with me! -
Review from Sara K. P.
Toronto, ON
4/27/2012
Don't be fooled by the TD bank entrance that leads you into the yummy goodness of the Beet. This place is an adorably fetching little eatery, that kinda reminds you of your hippy friend from university, y'know, the one who had that eclectically mad charming kitchen and who would churn out those awesome healthy/vegan optional meals.
Really though the Beet a nicely chillaxed and casual space, and I'm a little dissappointed we didn't get to sit and eat here as we only had time to do it take-out style and surprisingly the wait was very short for both mine and hubby's meals.
I'm docking a star though for pricing a la $32 bucks for takeout lunch for two?! But I will say that my vegan Island Roti was really flavourful, filling and large portioned.
Hubby did also really enjoy his Organic Fenwood Farms chicken roasted BBQ wrap with gusto.
Also worth noting the Beet have an extensive line-up of smoothie selections, and they stock a good selection of organic local bevvies like the gluten-free Nickel Brook beer, and my new fave drink, the amazing Toronto based Kombucha Tonica, which is a lot like a wine spritzer on a green tea note.
Yes, the Beet is pricey, but still I'll give mad props to the Beet for their enthusiastic efforts to support local organic growers and suppliers. Overall, the Beet is a cool little Junction spot that offers a wholesomely tasty gluten-free and vegan friendly menu. -
Review from Dr. K.
Toronto, ON
9/3/2011
I've never actually eaten at The Beet because I hear it's far too overpriced.
I have however used their bathroom, and as a connoisseur of public toilets let me tell you that it's second to none! It's large, spacious, comfortable and brightly decorated! It's like dropping a deuce in your aunts living room!
So next time nature calls and in you're in the Junction, don't go in a dumpster like you usually do, go to The Beet! -
Review from Em M.
Toronto, ON
11/22/2011
the food is five stars, no question. I love their menu and am willing to pay a touch extra knowing that their ingredients are responsibly sourced, fresh, and of the highest quality. never had a bad meal, nor have any of my dining compatriots. I also dig the atmosphere, and their patio is a really nice place to spend a sunny morning.
but I've never had a server actually roll her eyes at me before. and then go and do it at another table too. since the spring the service has been going way downhill which is too bad. I used to be a regular and would like to be again. -
Review from Hussain S.
North York, ON
9/25/2011
Great service, friendly staff and very relax patio, quite patio despite that it's right next to dundas street
Menu is good, and prices are not bad, I have been here several times. I would strongly recommend this place if you can't decided where to eat out in High Park area.
Don't forget to check out the bathroom. It's extremely clean, and very nicely decorated. -
Review from R S.
Toronto, ON
12/18/2011
Love this place! great food, friendly staff, and cozy atmosphere!
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Review from Allison T.
Toronto, ON
12/1/2011
I was treated to a delicious lunch here & it was lovely. Our server was calm, friendly, & informative. My meal was so delicious. It isn't the cheapest place to eat - but I felt so nourished. It was a stress-free place to eat where we both knew we'd be well taken care of as far as options went.
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Review from Patrick M.
Toronto, ON
7/4/2011
Popped in for a coffee and snack while Heather was getting a mani/pedi down the street.
While I got a good vibe from The Beet and will likely return, a few things kept it from jumping into the 4 star range. Foremost, it was hot in there... uncomfortably so, to the point even staff members commented (twice) on how hot it was. It wouldn't have been a big issue -- I don't need AC to be happy -- if there were more airflow, but the layout doesn't really allow that. So it felt kind of stagnant and stifling, not ideal when you want to relax.
Still, the coffee was very good, some of the best I've had in the city, and the vegan banana-choco muffin was fantastic. In fact, hell, now that I think about it, it was the best muffin I've had in the city! Not that I eat many muffins... but, man, it was tasty. Highly recommended!
Outside of the coffee and muffin, some things of note:
* Limited beer list (Mill Street staples), of which I never saw a price and wasn't inclined to ask.
* Long list of smoothies, priced at $6 12oz and $8 16oz, as I recall. They all sounded delicious, but it was a bit more than I was looking to spend on a tide-me-over, especially considering I had a smoothie for breakfast (and I make hellagood smoothies myself!).
* Almost everything on the menu is organic. This alone helps justify the slightly higher than avg pricing. Not sure what the "not organic" would be, but I will suspect staples like pepper, butter, etc... could be wrong.
* It has a patio, though not covered (only reason I stayed inside... I'm pasty and burn way too easily). All other customers were out there, so I was suffering alone with the staff! It bears mentioning that I saw plenty of delighted faces when these more fortunate patrons were biting into their various tasties courtesy of The Beet. Makes me want to try items off their menu.
So, in closing, a 3 star... for now. It's definitely on the list of places to visit when I'm next in the Junction, and I suspect it could easily push into the 4 star range. Certainly all signs point to "yes" on that note so, even as I type, I look forward to a return! -
Review from D P.
Toronto, ON
10/10/2010
Let me make this simple. The best thing about the place is the coffee. Second are the servers... all very nice people (a bit slow but might not be their fault... but well mannered and that means a lot to me).
The food is... ermm well I guess its ok - some things are a bit too pricey but the menu is well thought out with good options. If you can afford to eat here and spend $25 on a wrap and a protein shake (tax and tip included)... well maybe you should give me a call!! -
Review from J. S.
Toronto, ON
11/6/2011
This place could be great, the food itself certainly is. Unfortunately the owner is a terrible business manager and has no idea how to run a cafe effectively. The operations are so poorly organized it's impossible for the serving staff to manage the space, hence the many complaints about slow service. They try, it's not their fault.
Perhaps most surprising from a place that has built its reputation around serving ethical food, the owner is also quite happy to break labour laws, hiring multiple servers for unpaid, full day "trial shifts" and never bothering to so much as call them back to let them know they don't have a job. This has become common practice in the food industry in Toronto, but it is definitely, completely illegal and one would expect a higher standard from a business that makes money convincing the public that they are committed to the social and ecological values surrounding organic and fair trade. -
Review from Kelly O.
12/17/2009
Mmmmmm. I just enjoyed their organic egg nogg latte. Holy freaking delicious. WAY better than any "chain" store holiday lattes, thats for sure!
My friend also enjoyed a tasty Americano, only 2.50!
The food looked great as well, but for now I'll just stick to my caffeine! -
Review from Renata R.
Updated - 8/8/2010
Came back today and tried a brunch. The service is slow, really, but food is very very good.
I find this place a bit confusing. When you come inside, the first thing you see is a TD bank lobby with an ATM machine, so you think you have gone to the wrong place. But it's their lobby, and you finally manage to go to their lounge.
Their space is also messy, has a wall dividing it (I don't know why, makes it feel even smaller), they try to be an organic market, but they're really not - they only sell a few things on the counter, which is a mess.
I'd suggest sitting on their patio, but today was raining and this was not an option - and probably the service will be even s-l-o-w-e-r
Well, at least the food is good and healthy.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/12/2010
This is not exactly a review, as nothing happened. Let me try to explain.
I was early to my… Read more »
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Review from U U.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 8/29/2011
I decided to downgrade the beet by one star after my last couple experiences. The service remains really slow (even when the place appeared not to be busy). The food was okay - I ordered the "Buenas Dias" wrap, but was a bit disappointed. As my sister commented: "I can taste all the ingredients, but none of them seem to really come together". 2 wraps and 2 beers came up to $50 after tax and tip - yikes.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/1/2011
I came here with a large group for my birthday, for dinner on a Saturday night.
Pros:
-Lot's of food… Read more »
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Review from Laura M.
Toronto, ON
3/19/2011
A once avid supporter of The Beet, I have since decided not to spend my money there anymore. Even when I was a regular customer, the service was slow, and the customer service was poor (I once got my eggs with a long hair in it - mine is short - and ended up waiting a very long time for a replacement meal that was not discounted), but I continued to go because the food was tasty and I felt it was important to support a local business. The straw that broke the camel's back happened after I called in a take out order. I went to pick it up, paid for it, came home, had my meal and went downtown. I received a call from the restaurant hours later, informing me I would need to come back to the restaurant to pay for my lunch. I was confused, as I was sure I had paid, and checked my wallet. The cash I had used was definitely gone, so I insisted they were mistaken. Only then did she back down and told me they only knew it was me or someone else, so it must have been the other person. Instead of explaining this to me to start with, I felt accused of something I didn't do. I never received an apology, and I was irritated at the way it had been handled. I wrote two letters of complaint; one to the restaurant's email address, and a week or two later to the owner directly. Both letters went unanswered, so I've determined my money isn't important to them anymore. I haven't been back since.
What a shame. I hope at some point this restaurant is bought by someone who appreciates customers. -
Review from Kat F.
2/11/2009 2 photos
The Beet is sort of hard to find - you have to walk through a TD ATM to get to it, but once you're inside, an exciting menu of take-away (or eat-in) specials awaits you! There is a rotating selection of daily specials like soups, stews and sandwich, both vegetarian/vegan and not. There's a small dining area where you can enjoy a meal or a drink and in the summer there's a bushel of organic produce for sale.
I've ordered the veggie burger multiple times and it's outrageous. It's a cross between your typical "meat analogue" burger and "heartier" vegetable-based veggie burgers. I think there are chickpeas and other beans in it, by the taste of it. It's served with a young greens salad, finely grated carrots, and of course, beets! Yum. -
Review from Clement H.
Toronto, ON
8/5/2011
Went in for a quick coffee which ended up taking over 30 minutes. The coffee took like over 15 minutes, not sure if the waitress forgot or something. They were not busy, so there could not have been much for her to do. She did not even apologize and was very rude and unfriendly the entire time I was there.
The bill came to $4.03, so i left a ten with three pennies. I asked for change and when the change came back there was a five and a loonie as well as the three pennies. I was so turned off by that, I am never going back. -
Review from Robin E.
Toronto, ON
9/23/2008
A newish addition to the burgeoning Junction strip, The Beet offers a selection of simple and nutritious mostly local, organic menu items, created by pooling the culinary creativity of a naturopath and a nutritionist.
Where things can't be sourced locally, they choose fair trade items. And the sustainable focus is apparent not only in the menu, but in the decor - tabletops are made from bamboo or pressed sunflower seed husk, and reclaimed furniture and decor can be found throughout. Lighting is mostly natural, and toilets have 2 low- and high-water flush options, depending on, well... you know.
Brunch is kinda nice - egg dishes, seed pate and veggie sandwiches, some organic meat sides, a few south american and asian twists. All baked goods are gluten free and vegan, but much much better than the usual paperweights that result from those kind of experiments in muffin making. And the coffee and smoothies are great.
The atmosphere is cheery and the staff friendly. All 'round it's a good neighbourhood joint, where you can hang for a while, either in the sunny main area, or on the lovely little side patio. -
Review from Li S.
York, ON
8/11/2009
The Beet has a nice variety of yummy and healthy food. They don't shy away from serving meat which is great as many of these healthy food places are also vegetarian.
The space is kind of small so may not be the best place to go when you are with a lot of people.
The staff is very friendly and helpful.
The shakes are a bit pricey but delicious and they have a very nice selection of teas. I took my Mom there for Mother's Day and we both really enjoyed it.
If you buy something next door at the furniture store (Forever Interiors) he might give you a discount coupon, worth asking. -
Review from angela k.
Toronto, ON
3/31/2010
This place is damned tasty and worth a trek out of the my neighbourhood, worth the trek north of Bloor, worth a short bus ride from the subway station. If I had a car or lived nearby, I would likely go here on a weekly basis for brunch. As it stands, I find myself out this way at least once a month.
The vegetarian options are so tasty and the meaty options seem to impress my friends. I don't find it significantly more expensive than your typical Toronto brunch (definitely more than a diner, but most places are) and that said, I am willing to pay for good food that is organic and healthy AND delicious.
It can get pretty crowded so go early or be prepared to wait as I don't have any favourites within walking distance I can refer you to and it seems some people like to linger. Given the trouble I once had in getting FOUR people seated together, I would also not recommend going here with a group.
The service could stand to be a bit more attentive and friendly on some days, but other days, I find the service fantastic. Definitely worth checking out some time!
Oh, and the coffee is also quite tasty. -
Review from Stephen B.
Toronto, ON
1/14/2010
Low marks for the staff. Pretentious, over-priced and slow. Hearing the server say "oh, I forgot about you" when it isn't busy sums up several experiences I've had there. There's several much better places in the neighbourhood (Cool Hand of a Girl!).
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Review from Leslie-Anne W.
Toronto, ON
11/16/2010
I like The Beet very much, not because the food is amazingly stellar, but because the coffee, the side patio and the concept are fantastic. The organic, local cafe has an interesting menu that will please vegans, vegetarians and carnivores (like me). I have enjoyed the huevos rancheros twice, they are fresh, but small, and on the pricey side indeed. I recommend the Beet, with hesitation, only because the price and the portion size are not always in sync.
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Review from J S.
Toronto, ON
8/25/2010
The food at The Beet is fantastic, with many options for meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans. It's not cheap, but given the quality of ingredients most items seem appropriately priced. Service can be slow (especially out on the patio), and the owner has been rude to me on multiple occasions when she's been serving food (ranging from correcting my pronunciation to very brusque service). Still, four stars for how tasty the food is.
