Cafes
Orange Alert
Orange Alert sits on the corner of Dundas & McCaul, facing the fancy pants new AGO, and enticing bundled pedestrians off the slush-filled sidewalk with their warm, orange exterior. Their M.O. is written in plain sight on the window: Organic! Fair trade! Gotcha.
Inside, it's small but roomy (not as much of a paradox as you may think), with several tables and a couch. WiFi is a plus for any students who may drop in from neighbouring OCAD, or there's a shelf with a selection of books and a few board games (but what's up with the sign that says 'please do not take books'? I'm guessing they mean read, don't steal). In other words it's pretty welcoming, and filled with nice natural light thanks to the big window.
The menu bursts with a wide selection of drink options, including smoothies, juices and teas, with their roast provided by Toronto-based, fair trade & organic Dark City Coffee. I ordered a mocha latte (pretty steep @ $4.90) and an in-house made blueberry muffin, which hit the afternoon snack spot. Some other treats on the menu, including banana bread are prepared by Orange Alert, while other selections are provided out of house (but not disclosed). Rugelach, tarts and cakes tempt from the display, and their lunch menu also offers homemade soups, quiches and sandwiches, which I duly noted as a working resident of the area.
So my very scientific conclusion is this: Orange Alert may be a little more pricey than some spots, but with a block dominated by Sbux & Timmy's, it's good to know that some fresh, organic coffee is just around the corner.
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There is no Tim Horton's "on the block" -- it's across the street and two blocks away. The Starbucks is five to six blocks to the west, or about the same distance to the outlet at Queen and John; the Chinatown store closed. It's puzzling to hear the area described as being "dominated" by chains when within three blocks there are Avenue (University just north of Dundas), Mangiacake (just a block up McCaul from Orange Alert), Art Square and Espresso Time along Dundas opposite the AGO, and an excellent coffee stand in Village by the Grange with a huge selection of teas -- all independent, and all closer than the closest Starbucks or Second Cup.
My boyfriend and I walked into Orange Alert after AGO's opening night, and walked back out. It's OK if other people want to pay a certain price for a product, but we thought it was pretty dang steep.
I have feared, though, that the high prices and slow machine would keep people away -- something my TA and I would discuss each week last year, because they are so nice and we didn't want them to fail.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theappetizer/archive/2009/02/04/is-it-organic-author-mischa-popoff-questions-the-organic-food-industry.aspx
I worked with 'em when they first started out; it's nice to see they're still making it happen.
Orange alert isn't a place to go if your in a hurry, if you lack patience, (a virtue) then it's not the place for you. If you know anything about coffee, it's a great place to enjoy a Dark City roast, if you know what Dark City coffee is, then you will understand. This is a family business that isn't a well oiled machine geared and fuelled by massive corporate marketers and adding heaven knows into their what looks and smells like coffee but doesn't really taste like real coffee. This is a corner coffee house where the owner struggles to get a muffin out of the baking tin and find a plate to put it on. It's a place where the attempt to look corporate failed, yet became something more successful by not having a corporate feel. It's a place that you can watch people and winter go by, as well as rumbling streetcars.
Best to have no expectations about 10 second service or perfection in every moment, it won't happen here. I love it for all of it's imperfections, as many have stated, and in that there is a sense of perfection, as sense of a family business doing something and giving us the opportunity to share in their experience. I love knowing that I'm not contributing to fuel the insatiable needs of the Yuppie Junkies, who in the 60's were all about love and peace, who dropped their flowers beads and long hair for cash, condos and cars.
pLEASE SOMEONE CHANGE IT..
P. S. I believe there is a place (in Seattle??) where you pay $20 for the "perfect" cup of coffee, so in comparison, this place is a steal!
Not sure what the real number is. Mocca Choco (used to be in the same space) was at 416-591-8965 and Now thinks Orange Alert is still using that number. http://www.nowtoronto.com/food/recent_reviews.cfm?content=165409
Calling the number didn't reveal anything - no answering machine. Maybe someone can try when they're open. ;)
It's a local business, it's fair trade and organic (and for the record 98% organic is about as organic as the majority of products on the market), and it has a great atmosphere.
It's a local business, it's fair trade and organic (and for the record 98% organic is about as organic as the majority of products on the market), and it has a great atmosphere.
I see some people below had bad experiences with the service - I am sorry to hear that as they have always, staff and owner alike, been very polite and kind to me. As a former barista I can only say - everyone has bitchy days from time to time!