Cafes
Snakes and Lattes
Snakes and Lattes is a concept cafe by Parisian entrepreneurs and life partners Ben Castaine and Aurelia Peynet. The concept: hock the Macbooks, PCs and WiFi and bring out the good ol' fashion, batteries not included board games. For $5 per person, patrons are encouraged to play any game in the store -- a collection of 1,500 plus that ranges from the necessary (Monopoly) to the nostalgic (Jumanji) and the rare (Fireball Island).
The baristas at Snakes double as tutorial leaders, giving instructions on how to play the board games, assisting with strategies and from time to time acting as a third or fourth or even fifth player.
On this occasion, my friend Jonathan Mainou (Jono) and I decide to compete at The Settlers of Catan on our charismatic barista's (Joseph Brosnan's) recommendation. As he explains, it isn't ONLY German Game of the Year, 1995, OR U. S. Board Game of the Year, 1996. BUT, boardgamegeek.com CONTINUALLY rates it one of the best games EVER! With Brosnan's assistance, Jono and I are quickly knee deep in a competitive race to build roads, towns and armies with the objective of earning 10 points using two dice as our only weapon.
While the board game half of the concept at Snakes and Lattes (the Snakes) is unmatched, the café half (the Lattes) leaves room for improvement. My iced latte ($3.40), although refreshing in the August heat, needs at least one more shot of espresso to pack a stronger caffeinated punch. Not to mention, the pain au chocolate ($1.90) I order is clearly a day or two old and what was once soft and buttery is now stale. Jono experiences a similar disappointment in his croissant ($1.90).
According to Peynet, the pain au chocolate and croissants are purchased from Patisserie Cocoa in Etobicoke while the rest of the baking is done in house. Although I didn't test the items myself, the savory quiches ($3.50) and sandwiches (Sm $4.75, Lg $6.75) look tempting while my sweet-toothed notes Peynet's clafoutis ($3.00), a flan-like cake originally from Limousin, France.
Beyond the baked goods, the café also sells a small variety of candies and chocolate bars which will pair well with the beer and liquor soon to be available when the café's liquor license is in order. Castaine says prices, portions and sale items are likely to change as the coffee shop continues to grow.
Of interest is the café's drip coffee brewed from a European brand called Cam. These specific beans are known for their deep, bold flavour and are normally ground for espresso however the shops leading duo are very proud to unconventionally use the dark beans in their regular cup of joe (Sm $1.75, Lg $2.00).
Peynet says the café will soon host themed nights such as an evening of murder and mystery (not to be confused with a Murder Mystery), and if interest is perceived the owners might arrange role playing nights. Other developments will include Brunch and Board Game Sundays, youth-focused initiatives and a rental system where customers can take board games home for a few nights.
For the most part, Snakes and Lattes has already slithered its way into the hearts of Torontonian gamers, but the Bloor West café has a little work ahead if it wants to win over the city's coffee connoisseurs.
Oh! Before I wrap this up, I should mention (without too much ego, of course) I absolutely destroyed Jono at The Settlers of Catan and I will now be accepting professional invitations from local players via commenting below.
Mon - Fri 11:00am - 11:00pm; Sat 1:00pm - 12:00am; Sun 1:00pm - 9:00pm
Writing by Carl Hiehn. Photography by Dennis Marciniak.
Discussion
104 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
Im really looking foreword to checking this place out.
$5 seems like a lot to me it's more than double the price of a head of lettuce.
Thanks for doing this write up. My wife and I will be sure to check this place out!
Buy a house in the Annex $800,000
Have 6 friends over to play
Total costs $800,049.95
OR 6 friends x $5 = $30
I also see some Axis & Allies. Couldn't spot a Twilight Imperium though. Still, place looks awesome.
Sure, there is a huge selection of games... but its not a good selection, or really organized well for that matter.
I don't want to knock the place, as I'm sure the owners are lovely people, but this is not being executed well whatsoever. If you are going to go, enter with low expectations.
The selection of game is just AMAZING (1500+), the best of Eurogame includind Settlers of Catan of course and a great collection of recent and funny games!
And Yes, the owners are lovely :)
Love,
J.
$5 for a table of 4 is more reasonable, or even $5 for 2 people. If I am sitting in a cafe that long, I am definitely eating and drinking, as I did. In under 2 hours, my table went through sandwiches, coffees, and desserts, but the games added $20 to that for 4 people and the group decided it would have been better to put that extra $20 towards a pitcher of beer and play the free board games at Clintons.
There is no incentive for me to go back without some kind of price revision or as has been mentioned, a food & game price combo.
I want quality food cooked on site. If I get something that was made somewhere else and just brought there. I might was well make my own and bring it they way I like. This needs to be the perfect marriage of food, drink and games. Imagine enjoying some wine and playing scrabble... this would be great at futures!
I don't own a single board game. This seems like a perfectly good outing when I have the urge to get into "Trouble"
Side rant:
Annex... I don't understand what anybody sees in that area, unless you're a U of T student. Once you grow up, get a job and make decent money, it's a terrible area to live.
It seems that people have mixed reviews depending on what their expectations are. It sounds like the people who don't like it are those who expect good food and drink, or those who aren't really serious gamers.
My friends and I will be going for the games, and the food and drink will just be for when we get hungry and thirsty. The benefit of this place compared to other places which sell games and host game nights is that S&L will let you play any of their games, while other stores make you buy them or bring your own. This allows us to playtest new games and get help from staff (apparently) before we make the decision to buy them. So I can see myself coming here a few times to test new games, then probably buy the ones we like for ourselves. After that, we'd host our own game nights and play for free. Another advantage is the social aspect and meeting other gamers.
I'll write back after Friday and let you all know what we thought.
I know, and almost 20 times the price of a sour key candy!
get a life
When its OSAP $5!!!
I was a little put off by the cover charge at first, but considering every time I've gone I've stayed for at least three hours, it makes a lot of sense. A five dollar cover for that much selection and that atmosphere and that much fun is money well spent on a night out, in my opinion.
The people who work there are super nice and help you find games if you can't find them, and will come and play with you or show you how to play a new game. Hooray for Snakes and Lattes!
"I'm sure the owners are lovely people, but this is not being executed well whatsoever." I won't be going back.
I can't think of a single other downtown venue, other than the Salvation Army soup kitchen, as cheap as this. If you can't afford this you can't afford anything. Time to stay home with the crossword puzzles from the free subway papers!
Earlier, someone compared it to a night out at the movies, and I believe that it's a great comparison to make.
Movie ticket: $12.50 (1.5-3 hours) No talking
Café cover: $5 (as long as you like) Talk to your friends
Movie food: $5-10 for popcorn and pop, maybe some candy.
Café food: $2-10 for fresh coffee, sandwiches, quiche, cupcakes, etc.
And, as a gamer, I'm sure I'll save myself loads of money by getting to try out games before I lay down the money to buy them. I've already been able to cross one $50 game I was planning to buy off my list. I love Snakes & Lattes and wish the owners all the best.
I know this place is relatively new, but I have to say that the service and food needs a lot of work. Some great service people were there to talk about the games, help out, etc. but the guy working at the front mumbled a lot and wasn't very friendly. That was fine, but then when we ordered more food it all kind of went into a big mess. The servers had no idea what we had ordered and asked us multiple times, and the food took a ridiculous amount of time to get. A cup of coffee even took 20 minutes and we had to ask for it twice.
I'm going to give the cafe some time to get settled and they had mentioned they were understaffed. They need to get their butts in gear, but in general, I will definitely be back with a group of friends in tow!
didn't stick around to play any games b/c the owners were so mean that i left without finishing my horrible espresso.
the guy wrapped my brownie, that i had to remind them i paid for, in a huge piece of waxed paper and an oversized brown bag.
Will never go back!
I recommend Holy Oak Cafe, amazing coffee, chill and nice people and tons of board games.
they have been hosting a regular board games night since opening in April 2009
I'm also concerned over the sanitary issue. The $5 is likely a fee to pay for Lysol to maintain the cleanliness of games. I hope anyway.
I don't see why so many people are having an issue with the price, and I'm rather broke and complain about such fees myself.
A movie out is usually around $13 minimum for 1. A movie varies from around 1.5 hrs to 2 or more. You sit and watch, not really socializing with anyone who accompanied you and the quality of the movie will vary.
Now here, we pay $5 per head playing a board game, socializing with your friends for the same [varying] length of time. Which sounds better is entirely up to you and the mood you're in that night, but financially, socially, even intellectually [game dependent] the board game cafe wins on all levels.
But I completely understand the argument of, okay my group paid $30 for a $45 dollar game and we will have to play again should we want to play it again, and I get that. That's something I would certainly say.
But there aren't a lot of decent ways to TRY a bunch of previously unknown, and possibly expensive [see:expansions], board games without paying for the entire thing; What happens if you don't like it and you can't find anyone who will take it off your hands?
The problem, the food and the owners.
Food is frozen and/or several days old and the owners don't give attention to this. They are not very into cleaning tables and the place and I'm not really sure the kitchen might be as clean as we can expect... And what about cleaning the games after a party ??
It will be a NOGO for me despite the fact that I found the idea is great but hygiene is not really a top priority for the owners...
I'll admit though that when a whole table pays for the admission and then also buys drinks and food, it does adds up. Maybe they could make it a cheaper admission IF you buy food or drinks?
The service was a little slow, but the coffees were superb. Food was meh. Game selection's amazing and the environment is super comfortable!
To all the fools who think five is way too much, there is a reason why you don't own a business. If they were to charge 5 bucks for a table or 15 for a month, they would be in the red very fast.
You pay 10 for a movie and receive 2 hours of entertainment. You pay more for that for a concert and receive 2 hours of entertainment, if you're lucky. You want to play a few holes of golf, you end up paying a small fortune and only get around 2 hours of fun. You come across an arcade that actually still exists! Five dollars lasts you 10 minutes. You want to play board games for as long as you want in a friendly environment, with a chance of making new friends, you pay five bucks and can stay as long as you want. Oh yeah, what a horrible deal!
There is a cost of entertainment. It's not just paying for a table and drinking coffee. If you don't enjoy board games enough to understand the deal, than stay home, or go to some other venue of entertainment and pay more for less time.
I am heeding this sage advise and opening up Cafe Water in the Annex. At Cafe Water, you pay $5 per person for all the tap water you can drink. Some might complain that tap water is free at other establishments, but to them I say this: how else would Cafe Water stay in business if we didn't charge the $5? You just don't have a head for business, kids.
I had been once before (with a boy, on a date) and found some bad coffee but a nice atmosphere, so I thought I'd go back for a fun group activity with my friends.
BIG MISTAKE. We were shoved right at the back, the servers ignored us all night, we had lacklustre game explanations/suggestions for our party and they kept forgetting our orders.
At the end of the night they messed up our bill and overcharged us. When I asked for an itemised bill they said they 'couldn't' do that and we each had to just go to the till individually and remember what we'd each ordered. They accused us of lying about what we'd bought (a lot of drinks, might I add) and demanded that one of my friends pay his cover charge again.
Our server was rude and complained to me that he'd worked eight hour shifts 'every day' that week. It was a Friday: I'm fairly sure that the majority of the room had worked 'every day' that week.
Very unprofessional, overpriced ($5 for a tiny bowl of crappy chips?) and the staff don't know how to deal with groups of more than three people. We won't be going back.
In fact, I think $5 a visit is too cheap if you camp there all day and don't purchase food or drinks. I think $10 per hour for a table is more like it, similar to a pool table or bowling alley type pricing system.
I don't' think you should have to pay 5 bucks to sit and drink a $3 coffee then buy a 2-3 dollar treat...chances are that you are going to pay the 5 bucks to sit around anyway....
If anything entering into the very competative cafe business gives you an edge from the large investment of purchasing the games....so be happy to have the customers.....
to me the attitudes that '5 bucks is not a lot of money', is an insult to those who it IS a lot of money....and makes me not want to support that business..
Can a conversation keep going in anymore circles?
I've been here a couple of times and I've never had a bad experience. The staff have been friendly, humorous, and accommodating every time I've visited. This cafe is a place to check out if you're in the mood for good games and quality time with your friends.
[url=http://clomiddiscount.webs.com]clomid pcos ovulation[/url] - ovarian cyst after taking clomid
yeah, if you test too close to your last clomid does, youll get a postive opk. Clomid actually made my ovulation come 6 days later than normal. Dr. said that was ok, as long as the luteal phase was still enough time for egg to implant. Keeping my fingers The ig postmessage cialis subject reply/i of cycloketocain in hydrocodones with acitretin is unspeakably rougher during the denatonium half of the subtle cycle.
[b]clomid treatment progesterone levels[/b] [i]ovary drilling and clomid[/i]
viagra comparison with cialis - cialis synthesis canada
Common causes of ED include nerve diseases, psychological conditions, and diseases that affect blood flow. A number of prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs may also cause ED by affecting a mans hormones, nerves, or blood circulation. Most of the big chains will grant you a discount ranging from 10% to 75% on most drugs but NOT ALL DRUGS when you use this coupon as long as you are a cash paying customer. Also, most privately owned drugstores accept this coupon.
cialis natural alternative cialis romance
Most of the negative comments about our food, coffee and slow service are from the first couple of months we were open and they have been addressed: we have take great pains to improve our cofee and when goods are stale, we don't sell them. If you haven't been since 2010, you'll find out just how much better that situation is. We've also vastly increased the number of staff and implemented a new, high-tech POS system to improve serving efficiency, so we are constantly trying to serve our customers better. If you had a recent experience of poor or rude service, I invite you to email our manager with the details of your experience so it can be investigated contact@snakesandlattes.com
A lot of people on here take umbrage with our $5 gaming charge and I'd like to address those concerns. $5 is too much, it's a rip-off, I'll open a water cafe, etc. These comments seem to make the bulk of the complaints against Snakes & Lattes and, if you are too poor to afford a $5 cover, I am sorry for you and nothing I can say will fix your poverty. If you are too cheap to pay $5 to come and play games with us, let me explain precisely what that money gets you. I doubt my explanation will change some of your minds, but it just might, so listen up:
Why is $5 worth it? First of all, you can play for as long as you like. We are open from 11am-2am Sunday-Thursday and 11am-4am on Fridays & Saturdays. You could potentially stay with us for 16 hours straight (during which time you are under no obligation to spend another penny on food or drink - but outside food and drink is prohibited). That's a potential entertainment cost of less than 32 cents an hour. read that last sentence again. That's worth it alone, but there's more.
Secondly, your time at Snakes isn't spent using your own laptops or books. You get unlimited access to our 2,000 title library of games, many of which are out of print and therefore impossible to play anywhere else. In that respect, we are like an interactive museum. Try to touch the exhibits at the ROM and see where that gets you! These games cost us money to acquire and maintain, so your $5 helps us keep all these games available to play.
Thirdly, if you are connoisseur of games, your $5 lets you try the new hotness for a fraction of the ticket price. I have close to 200 games in my own personal collection, and BELIEVE ME, if I'd had a place like Snakes to try them out before buying them, there are a LOT of games that I wouldn't have bought and I'd have saved myself hundreds of dollars in the long run.
Fourthly, if you know next to nothing about games, your $5 gets you the expertise of our game gurus who will find out what your tastes are and then recommend games for you and teach you how to play them. That is something that you absolutely do not get at any of the numberous pubs and cafes that have a box of trivia cards on the table or a shelf of a dozen Hasbro games from 1994 in the corner. Snakes has two published game designers on staff to help you get the most out of your gaming experience. Universities charge thousands of dollars a year for the game design and history knowledge that our little cafe contains, and you are balking at $5 a visit?
Lastly, that $5 fee to play helps us keep the wait times down. Do we have long waits to get in? On a Thursday-Saturday night, absolutely we do. Six-hour waitlists are not uncommon on our busiest nights. Now imagine how long the waitlist would be if every person who complained about having to pay $5 didn't stay home and also wanted a table?
Two of the most common complaints we hear at Snakes are about the cover and the waits to get in. These two problems are diametrically opposed and if we do something about one, the other just gets worse. Lower the price or offer frequent guest passes and the wait times shoot up. If we want to lower the wait times, we have to make ourselves LESS attractive a business - the easiest solution to that is up the cover to $10 and then we hear nothing but lamentation about how it's too expensive.
We are constantly tinkering with our waitlisting system to make it more efficient and reduce wait times for tables, but as long as we are as popular as we are, your best bet to avoid long waits is to plan ahead. we are not the sort of place that you can just decide to drop by on a Saturday night on the spur of the moment. Our weekends book up two to three weeks in advance. Book early.
I suppose the argument could be made both ways.
So for a family of four like mine, I'd pay $20 for price of entry. Settlers of Catan (base game) costs like $30 bucks. So you'd be like a third way to outright purchasing the game in retail.
BUT I can't put a price on the look on my ten year olds face when he enters the store and sees a wall of games he can play! Plus it's nearly darn impossible to get my wife and daughter (14) to play with me and my son.
Families unite and long live the board game!
Pm99
I realize the occasional 'that guy' will try to game the system and show up at 11AM on a Saturday so he can be there during the evening rush for only $5, but whatever, those guys will be few and far between, and they'll probably still buy drinks.
cannot stop singing my praises for this place. will be sure to visit soon
Thanks!