Cafes
The Beet
It would be an unfair to lump the The Beet together with the hefty entourage of organic shops appearing around the city. Instead, The Beet should be heralded as setting a new standard for fair-trade, organic cafes and shops.
The store embraces every shade of greenness, from 100% biodegradable take-away cutlery and packaging, to environmentally friendly furniture made from, among other materials, sunflower seed husks and recycled paper. The majority of the produce, including grains, cheese, butter and household cleaners, are sold in bulk in order to reduce packaging.
The store has only just opened and locals are already crowding the shop. I was tipped off by Rebas Cafe who told me that I had to check it out, because although I had seen the signs for The Beet before, the entrance is a little misleading.
The Beet shares its front entrance with a TD Canada Trust ATM. To get to the store, you have to walk into the tiny ATM foyer. Only then do you see the store through the glass doors to your left where the bank would normally be (and was) for years.
The Beet functions as both a cafe and a store. The cafe serves a wide variety of organic, fair-trade coffees and teas, juices and smoothies as well as organic and nutritious meals suitable for people "with a wide variety of dietary limitations, from vegans to those with gluten allergies," as explained on their website.
The store provides a wide variety of produce, breads, dairy, grains, tea... the list goes on and on. The Beet also makes shopping local easy with a massive island of local and seasonal produce featured in middle of the store.
Friendly staff I encountered were also more than happy to share their knowledge on nutrition and products sold throughout the store.
If all that wasn't enough, this summer, plans are underway to open a licensed patio serving organic beers and wine.
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Come to http://www.rolluptherimto.com/ now.
Unfortunately, I think this spot is highly under-rated...the owner is a trained nutritionist and takes serious pride in all the ingredients that go into her food (all from scratch - even down to the ketchup!). Breakfast here is the best in the neighbourhood overall - by far.
My only 'ask' would be the ventilation indoors... not ideal and no A/C. Understand that perhaps A/C is not environmentally friendly, however neither is stuffy poor air quality. Perhaps some fans or better windows which open up would be a good idea for those seated indoors, otherwise in the summer the outdoor patio is my favourite spot to be.
BTW - to the previous comment (Colleen)... what exactly is "filthy" as you so eloquently put it? If you're going to dish out "feedback" then have the respect to back up your comments with some examples at least. Mean people suck.
The employees seem to not care about the customers at all. Paying hardly any attention at all. Worst of all, my dining companion was not very hungry and wished to order off of the kids menu, but was denied! Why? No reason was given. The manager was even called and she didn't have a reason for the denial either. Come on! What's the big deal?? What's wrong with letting your adult diners order off the kids menu?!?
Although I feel the menu is extremely over-priced. (I guess thats the price you pay for something that tastes so good - Just saying, I would buy meals there a lot more if they weren't so darn expensive).
Expect to pay approx $25.00 for one meal. These prices are totally non-justifiable, especially with the lack of hospitality and warmth this places offers. Seriously, if the food wasn't that good and flavorful, I certainly wouldn't provide them any business. All my experiences there have always included staff who are rude and ungrateful for business. They never say "Thank you" once you've paid for your order, nor "thank you" for placing an order with them- oh, and dare I mention they always EXPECT tips. I've only ever ordered take-out from there, so I can't much speak for the seating accommodations. ok, so back to the tipping part-never have I felt they've been "deserving" of any tips. But they always seem to think it's mandatory that people tip them, even if I've ordered take-out and even when they're rude. I just don't get it- isn't the whole purpose of tipping a point of acknowledging recognition for the service provided? Call me old-fashioned. . .Rawlicious a couple blocks down the street and are also quite expensive for their meal portions, as well, but never have I not tipped them for a take-out meal, since they've (for me) always provided such sweet, sincere service-you actually taste the good intent in the food they prepare personally for the individual ordering the meal.. You're always greeted when you enter Rawlicious ( too bad they just moved locations-although not too far, but to Bloor West Village). I hope this review helps prepare people when they enter The Beet. Like I said, try their wrap, but expect only that. Oh yeah, and my final "beef": Although it's an Organic cafe, they do serve MOSTLY vegetarian-so why not just serve THAT and lose the couple meat options? for The Junction, this place offers pricing that you would likely pay for a gourmet meal I a 5 star resort.
Thanks for reading, and until next review, happy eating! ;-)
If you eat there as muc as you say you do, then you'd agree that once you pay for one "entree", if you will, plus an organic juice drink, plus a dessert choice (like a single cookie or a muffin, perhaps) then you would agree that a "MEAL" (For one SINGLE person) would cost very close to $25.00+.
Please know I would not bother wasting my time being a "liar"on a service such as BlogTO that's dedicated to serving the public.
As previously mentioned, the price for the wrap itself might be justifiable, but once you factor in the cost for a WHOLE meal (I.e. A wrap, a drink and dessert) then that's when it becomes totally overpriced with no discount offered for buying a whole, expensive-rudely delivered meal..
I am not cheap and i do strongly believe in paying for the service the meal is provided with, and a good meal in itself. I'm sure most would agree.
Unpaid trial shifts are illegal, but the owner will "hire" multiple people for the same position, have them work full days during busy hours, without pay, and never bother to call them back (even to say "sorry but we're choosing someone else.") I realize this has become a common practice in the restaraunt industry, but it is illegal, and seeing as this business stakes it's reputation on serving ethical food you'd expect a higher standard.
Labour laws aside, the service is slow because the place is just so poorly managed. The staff do the best they can but it's so disorganized and understaffed over there that they can't help it. It's truly a shame when a potentially great restaraunt is ruined by the owners lack of respect for staff and customers alike.
Anyway, the attitude aside, I have to say that while I like the menu and its not really that overpriced for an organic cafe, I don't appreciate the $1 charge for ketchup, mayo, dressing etc. It's totally ridiculous - not even Fresh, which some would argue is much more expensive, charges for things like that. In any case, I won't be coming here again because the food is some of the *blandest* I've ever had in my life. Not even extra sauce, for free, could give this food any flavour. Maybe I'm more accustomed to ethnic food, but if you're looking for food that you'll actually enjoy, there are much better places to eat.