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The Depanneur
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
1033A College StToronto, ON M6H 1A8
Neighbourhood: Dufferin Grove
(416) 828-1990
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 8 am - 6 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
3 reviews for The Depanneur
3 reviews in English
-
Review from Michelle G.
Toronto, ON
5/4/2012
I've been going to the Depanneur nearly once a week for a few months. They have a casual atmosphere, and are generally a good venue to find local food stuffs. Corner store by day, dinner establishment by (some) nights, it's really a great space.
The drop-in dinners are usually why we end up there once a week (or more) whenever they have a vegan one (which is on the regular.) It's always something different, but it has been consistently delicious. The chef stylings of Len (who I think is the owner) cooking something up every Tuesday, Emily Z, or Kalmplex (and many others) make this place just a total hidden gem (that I kind of don't want to tell anyone about, because I want to keep it to myself.)
As people have mentioned, sign up for the newsletter on their website (or connect with them on facebook/twitter) to keep up with the events they have going on, there is always something for everyone.
The house made sodas are totally delicious (elderberry, blackcurrent, maple lemonade, just to name a few), they also have coffee/tea, apple cider, and soy milks.
Packaged foods include local mushrooms, jams and jellies, ketchup made in house, and freshly baked buns and breads (often with gluten-free options as well), soups, milks, yogurts, and other small business produced products.
There is WiFi, there is table space, and the service is always friendly. It's like a home cooked meal in the best possible way.
Things to know: CASH ONLY (there is an ATM available at the convenience store across the street) -
Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
From first appearances, the Depanneur is just another lovely place to buy coffee, cheese, eggs and baked goods. My friends who live nearby are lucky: they can visit this corner shop regularly and indulge. As for me, it's a small trek but each trip would be worthwhile especially if it's for one of the special dinner parties. Apart from being a local grocer, the Depanneur is also the home of the Rushholme Park Supper Club.
Despite walking over there in the drizzling, cold rain, I was greeted to a welcoming atmosphere. It was cozy and warm, and the smell of food wafting in the air. White linens dressed two long tables that formed one long communal table. The kitchen is large and open to us; I felt like I was in someone's house rather than a grocery store.
Each dinner at the Depanneur varies, and the night's food theme was black and white which meant all of the food served were in those two colours. For fun, each guest had to dress up in those colours too.
It was three course dinner and because we were a small group, we had ample seconds. Here's a sampling of what we had:
- White and Black bean soup, with fresh cheese & black garlic
- Squid-ink pasta with white truffle Alfredo sauce
- Linguine with black trumpet mushrooms
- Black sesame and vanilla ice creams
- Homemade Oreos with white chocolate ganache infused with espresso & cacao nibs
It was all delicious, and what a surprise to taste certain flavours that I didn't expect in each dish. Because we were a small group of approximately 10 guests, we had a chance to talk to the supperclub and store's owner and our chef for the evening, Len. He explained to us how he created each dish, as well as what his plans were for his store and supperclub. I loved his ideas so far!
His goal is to make the Depanneur is a place where great food events happen and most importantly, accessible to all. Supperclubs are a wonderful opportunity to try delicious food and mingle with wonderful like-minded people but a lot of them are expensive to join. But membership at this supperclub will set you back $40, which is steal. The one caveat is that it's valid for one night. If you want to attend another food event, you have to pay $40 for another membership that is valid for that night. See what I'm getting at?
It's a good idea to sign up for the newsletter so you don't miss on what's coming. That's how I learned about the dinner. The Depanneur also plays host to weekend brunches and Tuesday night drop-in dinners which cost you less than $20.
Len also explained to us that the supperclub is open to anyone who wants to host a dinner. Apart from having dinner parties with guest chefs, you can host your own and have all of the right tools and equipment at your disposal. My friend Ashley is thinking of hosting one of these dinners; she's a great cook so I can't wait for that event to happen!
Thanks to my lovely experience last night, it's certain that I'll return. Nothing beats eating a great meal with old and new friends, and the Depanneur is doing a great job at becoming a neighbourhood favourite.
A point to remember: Cash only. -
Review from Lyla M.
Toronto, ON
3/13/2012
I was there tonight for the one-pot dinner. 9$ for green Thai curry, and a red curry with sweet potatoes. The second was amazing. I could have eaten seconds and thirds.
Len also made, on the spot, a maple lemonade that was a perfect sweet and tart counterpart to the spice.
At 6:15 it was getting busy. Maybe a little trendy but not pretentious in the least.
A great idea and lovely setting. He's done wonders with a space that looked like it should have been condemned. Now it's white and brick, clean, cheerful, eclectic.
Will return for sure for the warm welcome and fantastic food.
(Cash only)
Specialties
The Depanneur is a space where interesting food things happen.
A combination of café & corner store, The Dep offers a simple menu of coffee & toast, ice cream in the summer and soup in the winter. We also sell the local & organic ingredients we use: stuff like milk, bread, eggs, veggies and seasonal treats. We now serve a great, organic brunch on the weekend too.
The Dep is also the home of the Rusholme Park Supper Club, a series of dinner parties hosted by a rotating cast of chefs...
History
Established in 2011
The building was a bank at the turn of the century. For the last 40 years or so it housed a series of progressively nastier (in)convenience stores. I took over the lease in Jan 2011, de-squalorified it as best I could and gave it to a friend to run a pop-up vintage and collectables shop for a few months until I could start the renos. Come spring we dove in, building a clean, safe, sealed box inside a sketchy old building to house our new cafe/corner store/supper club. With big plans for the shady, tree-lined West side patio, we still have lots to do, but the place is looking sweet and inviting. Pop by and see for yourself.
Meet the Business Owner: Len S.
A designer by trade, a photographer by schooling, a traveller, DJ and foodie by passion. I started the Dep as an experiment in how to get closer to food in a fun, meaningful way that engages the community where I live, but that also avoids the pitfalls of the traditional restaurant model. Let's see what happens...
