Saving Gigi
Saving Gigi is a sister-cafe to the oh-so-popular brunch spot Saving Grace. Check out our first look at the cafe here.
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Onboard a PCC streetcar.
By Annika Hui.
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Friday, March 19, 2010
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our new hours are ...
mon-fri.9am-9pm
sat-sun 10am-9pm
416 531 1538
patio in the summer.
side patio avaible inthesummer
free wireless
fairtrade coffee
great music vibe...
anniversery party coming soon....
live perfomances
Not clear why Gigi bothers promoting free wireless. After many months of patronizing the spot and supporting their city petition for the patio, a relatively new waiter asked me not to come back if my main reason for coming was the free wireless. "We're not an internet cafe" I was told. When I asked if he was serious, this stranger went on to say "I won't miss you." I waked out humiliated but I guess it's my Seinfeld moment. P.S. As if to soften my banishment, he comped my tap. So confusing.
just to make a few things clear petrasatelite.first off we are not a internet cafe.we offer the free service to who respect our policies .what we are is a coffee sandwich place that offers free internet .second the next time you decide to offend anyone for the products they offer the communtiy and espcially the owner by saying to him that you dont come for the coffee becuase its not good and that you tell him in his face that you only go there for the free internet,is not costumer edicate in anyway.as long as you have been attendind saving gigi you have sat there for hours on very minimal consumption with no one hassling you to re-order every hour.so i guess you might want to think about your critacism towards someone that has been successful in business for serval years and has a greap reputation in communitys ,to add more that im not a mean person in life and i would'nt opened serval cafes in the city if i were.unfortunatlly you have'nt gotten to know me yet.you should do your home work on people and find out there history in business before assuming the worst about somoeone.if the new employee asked you to leave its because you make a remark about his or her employer ,which was offending to anyone.
The place is not bad, although I wish they would try harder, and leave the hipster attitude at home.
As a patron of this awesome little cove in the Bloor-Ossington hood, I'm surprised how much the owner and staff go out of their way to make you feel at home. The family of staff work hard, and the menu offers unique, well-displayed dishes of what can only be termed cuisine. CHeeses like chevre and brie are piled thick onto sandwiches, portions are generous, and care is taken on every dish. Food is all homemade, including my favorite - freshly baked muffins every morning. I like my baked goods. hehe. especially when they contain cardamon, apples, and other nutritious healthy goodies. Attention to organics and environmental awareness is a big thing here. After a conversation with the owner, I learned that he recycles like Bob Hunter. Sure, people dress kinda hipish here - but hey, it's downtown and people can wear whatever they want and be whoever they wish. I don't know why this irks some bloggers. If u don't like it don't wear it !
By the way - the coffee is top-notch. SO if you want some serious fair-trade java, and enjoy a soothing chillaxing atmoshphere, I recommend you meet a friend here, and chow down.
Salut everyone !
this is my first blog. i was born and raised in toronto. i grew up at st clair and dufferin. just steps away from gigi s humble abode. i use to frequent his old place of business for a good cup of joe. gigi moved on to bigger and better things. and now when i go to his establishment he always wants to sing. and once again these are a few of my favorite things. all i know is that if want a good cup of coffee and good food and excellent service this is the place foe ewe.
This is a lovely nice spot with delicious food and a great vibe. The portions are really large like Marie says. I love the minimal decor too. Not sure how they could try harder. Add more chevre?! I've had several people tell me to check it out, so I'm sure they can afford to lose a grumpy patron or two.
What great decor, so clever! This is definitely an oasis in the Bloor/Ossy neighbourhood. And the menu easily accomodates the celiacs/gluten-sensitives among us. The menu is inventive, and generally quite whole food, so it is easy to choose a gluten-free item. The coffee is so tasty, and the atmosphere is European. Take it all with a grain of salt, get off yer stiff British asses!
Thank you for the love you show through food.
Honestly I was all excited and ready to try this place out, but gigi's reply to petrasattelite has kind of put me off. No, I am not one to be offended by savage goring of the English language. Rather, I find the rough-worded attack on a former customer (someone who supported your petition for a patio, no less) simply over the top. Based on your post I think I'll pass on the mistreatment and malapropisms that may follow a less than satisfactory visit.
I find sometimes the owner to be a little crabby, otherwise I enjoy this spot to do work and drink coffee. I don't know the definition of an internet cafe, but I don't see it as derogatory.
Agreed, the owner is a crab. i came in for a cup of coffee while on a walk with my 2 year old. My daughter was walking around the cafe (which had no more than 4 people in it) and he was giving us the dirtiest looks, like kids were not welcome in his hipper-than-thou cafe. For a neighbourhood place, the attitude needs to change to be more welcoming, otherwise in the age of the internet grapevine (blogs like this) the place won't last.
I stopped in one day and bought a sandwich, felt the attitude, and have never returned (the sandwich was excellent, btw) although I suppose I might. Don't get me wrong, the faux cheerfulness corporate chains traffic in is not what I prefer. I just think that guy doesn't like his job, and throws uninviting looks around too often...very strange. I've definitely never seen him smile, or even give a nod to a stranger.
Still, the place always seems to have a couple of customers working away (on their laptops) inside. The patio is a really nice little spot on the corner. If you care what people dress like, find a place that will offer you fries with your meal.
Saving Gigi is certainly worth checking out. If you want cookie cutter, go to the Timmy's at Dufferin.
sorry guys if you all think im a crab but unfortunatly you have to get to know me .my attitude is cut dry.meaning im not really the out going guy that stands at the counter and gives everyone the evil eye for choosing to support our neighborhood business.but what really strikes me is the judgemental costumers that enter .why all the negativity.to answer some of your remarks ide like to add that for one im not an evil person in anyway i dont dislike any of my costumers in anyway .we are i cafe that offers a veriety of coffees and sandwiches.and to add to it we dont rush you out the door like other places do.or maybe youde like that approach .i dont get it.my costumers get to sit there for hours for a buck fifty without anyone bugging them to keep ordering.but the crabby owner trys to accomidate children and everyone,i guess its never good enough for anyone. we'll be here for quite a while and look forward to make everone happy but the picking on myself as the owner should stop ,or stop writing crap and go up to him and get to know him better.im really a good guy that loves life and loves the industry he's in.i ask all of you to be possitive in your lives not not promote negativity about me orothers you may incounter.
>I am not one to be offended by savage goring of the English language
That's bullsh*t. Otherwise you wouldn't have even mentioned it.
it's not the just the internet grapevine, it's the word on the streets too ... it's shame that I rather go to another spot further from my house now.
I LOVE this place. I have taken so many friends from out of town here, and they've all loved it and asked me about it once they've gone home. Oh, and the owner is a SWEETHEART!
Don't understand the complainers but that's their problem!
This place almost seems like it's worth a visit if only to check out the sweetheart/crabby owner! He sounds misunderstood :)
hey guys thanks for all the support at saving gigi.i will no longer be there im moving on to my next venture.it will be owned and run by saving grace.hope you all support them.so you dont all have to worry about the old crabby guy behind the counter anymore.thank you to everyone again.and hope to see you soon.
What will your next venture be?
hey guys happy holidays to everyone ,ive just opened a new coffee parlour ,its a hole in the wall something u would see out of new york city.its been great im located at oakwood and davenport icalled rockabilly rock.great coffee as usual....hope to see you if your in my neighberhood.thanks for all the constructive critasism but this cat will always be possitive in life and be surounded by positive people and great freinds.happy holidays to all new and old,bitter and sweet and especially the ones who hate me.
Glad to hear the old owner has moved on. Maybe I'll give it another try since I boycotted the place due to the owner's terrible attitude. I went in a few times and he was always cranky and rude to me. After I saw him YELL at his poor employee in front of a line up I decided not to give this guy any of my business.
happy holidays to everyone at blog.to and to my loyal costumers that are supporting me at my new cafe.and for the old costumers that are supporting amilia and christan..
i would like to clerify the last comment made by rory...iu seem to have no idea what u are talking about.i have never in the history of saving gigi since i built the place acted or given anyone rude attitude or YELLED at any of my employees let alone yell period.further more before u accuse anyone or be a hipacrit in life with any cafe u decide is not good for ur standards .open your own fuckin place .now im giving u the attitude .im alittle sick and tired of everyone putting me down and the place i opened up in a community were there is nothing but coffee time..mind ur owns bullshit to yourself and leave the negative feedback in your own house.accept people for who they are and please siclude yourself from society .do the owners a big favor and go to starbucks....for the bashing of many owners im sure u seem to write about every little thing u dont approve .and its ur privilage to walk in to a cafe that the owers whoever they are have put so much time and effort to build a place were people can interact and support a community. remember they cafe that u so call support dont owe u anything but a thank u.remeber the next time u choose to bash a owner without true facts or to even have the balls to go up to the owner and let them know .instead u do it behind a computer were u cant be seen...great support u give to comunity....thank god there are decent people out there still.
rory you should really give it another try.
I went to this cafe because it was easy to get to, but I won't be rushing back anytime soon. I liked the table setup, and the staff were friendly, but the chai latte I ordered was definitely subpar. Perhaps it wasn't the right thing to order at a Greek cafe? They brought me a tall glass (not mug) with kinda warm milk and a huge chai teabag. I was with a friend, and we chatted for at least 45 minutes before I could taste any chai at all in the milk. It just wasn't warm enough to steep the teabag. My friend got an Americano (also in a glass), and she seemed quite happy with it. The cafe itself looked more like a laundromat than a cafe; I didn't feel the character and charm that the picture above seems to convey. I wouldn't stay away for that reason alone, but I don't know what I'd order.