Cafes
Tango Palace Coffee Company
Tango Palace is the perfect place to stop in for an afternoon treat. It's got a really neat Art Nouveau style, stained glass lamps, and large comfy chairs at every table. From the outside it seems dark, but inside this translates into coziness. It seats about twenty, and when I walk in it's positively bustling, the lively atmosphere warm and inviting.
As I approach the counter, I'm faced with quite the dilemma: there is a lot to choose from, and most of it looks good. What to choose? For the sweet tooth, there's everything from biscotti to dessert squares to danishes and much in between. And they even have some vegan and gluten-free treats.
On the savoury side of things, they serve organic eats (like lasagna, chili, and paninis) from Miss Cora's Kitchen. There are six brews of coffee (including organic, flavoured and decaf blends) at any given time. I find that all too often wide variety means low quality, but it seems that since Tango Palace picks and chooses from several bakeries across Toronto, they manage to avoid that trap.
As I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by all the choices, one of the employees offers to walk me through the options -- he's really friendly and patient, ready to take all the time I need. I'm told that the chocolate chip cookie is one of their best sellers, so, being a sucker for a classic, I order one along with a lactose-free latte ($6.27 altogether).
I sit down in one of their armchairs, lean back and watch the patrons come in and out, many of whom are on a first name basis with the barista. I've got to say: while it may all be a bit unfocused, there's a definite charm to Tango Palace. It's like visiting "that" aunt who always offering to feed you.
The cookie has been warmed up for me and is now both ooey and gooey, melting in my mouth. I'm struck with nostalgia as I savour it, reminded of the cookies of my childhood, all loaded with chocolate but with just enough salt to balance out the sweet. I take a sip of my latte: it's light, and the espresso has a beautiful flavor.
I take another bite of my cookie, sit back, and enjoy.
Tango Palace has been a Leslieville fixture for seventeen years, having started out when there were few other cafes around. And it appears to being doing just fine despite the dramatic increase in competition. I have a feeling this has a lot to do with the neighborly vibe of this eclectic cafe -- they make you feel like part of the family. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it's got.. well.. everything.
Tango Palace is open from 7am to 11pm every day. They offer free WiFi and open the back patio in the summer.
Writing and Photography by Amanda Faig.
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Either way,your obviously thinking of ANOTHER tango palace.
Either way,your thinking of ANOTHER tango palace. Have a nice day.
I will never revisit!
Plus I had a pretty brutal scone here - dry, doughy, and I would guess days-old. It's a shame since all the sweets look pretty tantalizing.
Amanda, great article but I thought you were all about the west.
However, because of the location, vibe and late hours (the only one in Leslieville), I still come here every week. I stick to sealed drinks though.
Re: Kickinghorse Coffee. (@Cindy and Nick) They DONT in fact use Kickinghorse. They sell it, but for the past 17 years they've been using Mr. Coffee. I didn't mention it in the review only because as it is my reviews seem to be on the long side.
Re: the cookie. Glad you like the images, food photography is my forte (working on getting better at the rest)
Re: dry scones: again, since they get everything from bakeries rather than make it themselves it must be hard to control. But that is a shame.
Re: rudeness/snobbiness. I can believe it.. obviously I didn't experience it, but they knew I was from blogTO (hard to whip out a DSLR without having to answer some questions)
also, awesome patio out back!
Your photos were true to my experience but 100x crisper quality. (which is a good thing)
I'll be waiting for your next great find. Keep it up!
But i do like this place. The baked goods are yum.
Did you farm this review out to the local public school?
Do your audience a favour, and read through the article a few times before you post.
The last few times I was in, the music was at a tolerable volume. I didn't get the drip and I forget exactly what I did get, but it was wonderful. It might not have been what it should have been (There's a default formula for drinks - culinary coffee level - even if different places stray slightly from the norm), but it was so good, I had another.
Also, I've always found the service in here to be top notch. They just happen to be very friendly, classy people. And they are not snobbish. They are warm and approachable.
Selection? No kidding! And I love that you can get a hot egg sandwich however you want it, any time. It's not cheap item, but it's very nice. And yes, The place is funky. (Funky coffee is bad. Funky digs is good.)
One question though... This is my first time ever commenting on something like this. As I'm looking over these comments I am blown away at how pathetic a number of you are. Is this what you do with your time? Come on to blog threads and just talk shit with asinine reasons backing it up? If anyone is a snob here its the people on here who do nothing but shit out of their mouths.
It isn't about sales at my workplace (read: home) but rather finding something simple that fits you.
I welcome anyone to come in: grab a double americano off of Maxwell or I and enjoy a good conversation. Welcome to Tango, and welcome to the family. Leslie isn't worthwhile without it - I found a home there, and I hope you can too.
I started going to TP in September of 2008, when I moved to Coady Ave, mainly because I needed to use their free Wi-Fi connection, but I felt immediately at home there and before long was coming in pretty much every morning. By the time November rolled around, they'd invited me to a staff-and-regulars party at a bar a little ways down Queen. Unfortunately I couldn't make it that night, but I guess that pretty much made me a regular.
When I moved back to Montreal in May of the following year, Tango Palace was one of the few things about everyday life in Toronto that I really missed, and now that I'm back and living in the Annex, I miss the place even more. I really have nothing but good things to say about my old coffee spot, and I really can't imagine what life in Leslieville would have been like without it.
Artist: Jennifer Nikitin
Medium: Fibre Art - wearable and ornamental art
Theme: Tank Girl
... for the month of February
Come in for a delicious coffee and peruse the art.
I started going there initially because it's open until 11:00, and so is great for studying, but I instantly became a regular. Though its a tad dark, its completely cozy and still is fine for getting work done. The morning sun is so nice to just soak up, making it great day or night.
The staff are great too. Always the best service, friendly and I'm even pretty good friends with a few of them now.
There's a great selection of drinks, for coffee drinkers and not. Try the raspberry/black-current or the ginger/ginseng teas, delicious! Food- warm or cold, sandwiches, quiche, bagels with whatever you'd like. Desserts- cookies, cakes, "rectangles" (or squares, but a bit bigger), tarts. The prices vary nicely, too.
Go to Tango if you haven't yet. You might just find yourself spending all you spare time there!
And I second hot broadski, Taylor's a dreamboat!
I've been going to the Tango for about two years. I love everything about the place. The selection of hot & cold drinks are the best and the amazing selection of food is top notch. The staff are super, Alex & Taylor are real sweethearts. The place is clean, especially the washrooms which is real important to me. I think the other big chain coffee shops could learn a lot from the Tango Palace.
Lots of plugs. Sweet lighting. It gets an A+ from me!