White Squirrel Coffee Shop
907 Queen St. W. 
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Phone: 647.428.4478
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White Squirrel Coffee Shop knows what you need, Trinity Bellwoods. You've got your albino squirrels - fine. Keep 'em. But what you lack is ice cream, dear park, and this new coffee shop is gonna fix that.
Let's rewind. Owner David Ginsberg (formerly of Aunties & Uncles) was brainstorming ideas for a new venture. He wanted something simple & good, something involving food. Living in the area, his wife was like, "this park needs ice cream, yo" (those may or may not be her exact words). David was all, "me like coffee". Then a nice wee spot became available at 907 Queen St W, and everything fell into place.
Open for about 7 weeks so far, White Squirrel Cafe is a sweet little spot with their serving counter downstairs and some seating upstairs. A community table, some high stools and Wi-Fi to pass a lazy afternoon.
The food selection is simple - ready prepared, tasty and easy to eat. Muffins, sandwiches and empanadas (among other things) all made in house. Hand-held breakfast items every morning (breakfast empanadas, strata). And Greg's Ice Cream! Currently they serve up a few flavours (roasted marshmallow, yesssss) but can expect more when the weather stops being such a B.
The coffee is fair trade and organic, the custom roast provided by local company Mountain View Estates. And it's not often you see a "flat white" on a menu, eh? Eh? Good times.
So, there may be too many squirrels in the park - but there's definitely room for one more in West Queen West.
Comments (73)
I really, really wanted to like this place but sadly have to agree that the coffee that they serve has a really bad burnt, bitter taste. Tried it 2nd time and was just as bad. Sorry White Squirrel!
Really? Did you guys have a latte or drip coffee?
I haven't had the drip yet but their lattes are really good.
Puts Clafouti to shame (blech).
Do they only have one type of brewed coffee? If I were a cafe operator, I'd offer daily dark, medium, and light roasts to please everyone. I think many people equate dark with "burnt" taste, so offering other options would be a good idea.
i tried both their brewed and latte, both tasted burned. Did not ask if blend different. The owner is friendly and the place is nice in a cool white, gallery, QW kinda way however not to my taste. Glad other people like it.
btw: Clafouti sucks 2 (what up with their croissants?) that strech of QW needs better coffee pronto!
Burnt flavor generally means the beans are stale. Or roasted really poorly. Or are a C-grade bean. Or all of the above.
Man, I tried these guys out and wanted to give them a fair shake but maybe, just maybe, squirrels aren't so adept at making good coffee.
What a bunch of pussies that comment here.
FOR FUCKS SAKES ITS COFFEEE....IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT...JUST DRINK IT!...DONT WHINE AND BITCH!!!
It's so easy to get great locally roasted coffee in Toronto, but who the hell is Mountain View Estates? How many well respected coffee shops use their beans? That beautiful Elektra espresso machine is being put to waste!
Yeah. The coffee here bummed me out too. Harsh flavour. I Gagged a little.
Oh well.
Cherry Bomb is a good cafe. Go there!
I feel this cafe lay out is comfy and unique. The latte is great and i feel that everyone above who does disagree is just in it to complain..possibly substituting for their shity lives. Yes most espresso or lattes do have an acquired taste but we need to remember this type of coffee is also organic and therefore healthier and much different to lets say tim hortons...hey you dont like it go to timmies! This place also has possibly the best herbal and dark teas i have ever tasted in my life. The marshmellow ice cream is to die for and the snacks are an amazing compliment to any hot beverage.
For those above who have spent a good 5 minutes taking the time to complain about the coffee...WELL DRINK TEA INSTEAD!
quoting: "The latte is great and i feel that everyone above who does disagree is just in it to complain"
I guess if you really don't like a place and/or its coffee then you cannot voice your opinion or are called a Pussy?
just because someone doesn't like a certain roast means they have to go to Timmie's - get real.
wow some people need to chill - its all just input. It's not like we said the owner eats babies for lunch or something!?!
cheers!
Thanks for the great profile!
For all of you posters who wrote those less than nice things about out coffee, please come in and let me buy you a coffee and you can tell me what it is about it that you don't like. Direct customer feedback is always appreciated.
David
Alektoronto:
Your comment was very pleasant and in no means am i attacking people who are just making an input o this coffee shop i am however disappointed that some ppl are very rude about it.
That is why i simply said that if you dont like the coffee drink tea or go to timmie. This coffee is organic, it is not your regular type of coffee sold in regular type coffee shops
Is no one going to mention the food? Their egg thing (not the empanada, the other one) is awesome and relatively cheap. Haven't had the sandwich yet...
Know what should have been the FIRST thing mentioned?
The fact that they have flat whites. Srsly. I didn't even bother reading this until Jesse Brown mentioned in another blogTO article. I shall be there posthaste!
my 2 cents about this whole coffee sucking debate... It is great that they are using organic coffee as this is suppose to be a higher quality better tasting bean. But proper roasting, freshness, and proper brewing all will impact quality of taste. The unpleasant "burnt" coffee taste many have referenced is attributed to its likely very dark roasting profile as well as the freshness of the beans. When was it roasted? Most likely its weeks back at best and the coffee has gone stale resulting in that bitter godawful "charbucks" taste. Also, you can have organic/fair trade/premium estate coffee that will taste terrible/bitter/burnt if its not fresh. Fresh coffee = within 1 week of roasting - 2 weeks is pushing it.
These guys really do care about their coffee and take it seriously - so if you really think it tastes "burnt" or "stale," then you should definitely say something to them at the shop. I had them redo a latte for me and they were totally cool about it, and it tasted great.
The food is AMAZING and those brownies are possibly the best in Toronto!
BTW - our coffee is roasted fresh every week. Guaranteed, and we stand by it. Again, if you don't like something about our coffee, please come by and say something to us about it, rather than making posts filled with malice ("the coffee is disgusting. so gross. horrible. very bad"), and conjecture ("It's so easy to get great locally roasted coffee in Toronto, but who the hell is Mountain View Estates? How many well respected coffee shops use their beans? That beautiful Elektra espresso machine is being put to waste!", "Most likely its weeks back at best and the coffee has gone stale resulting in that bitter godawful "charbucks" taste.")
I have to say how happy I am this place opened. a huge fan of the americano, something I find people cannot get right in this city, I was more than impressed when I ordered one. I can honestly say for the first time after living in the area for more than 10 years that I have found a place I get excited to get a coffee from. They even ask how much water I would like in my cup! Super friendly vibe, and very well priced. The only suggestion I could of had would be to attach something to the outside wall to tie my dog to, but the day I was going to make it, there were already metal handles installed! Kudos to David for opening something so needed across from the park. I look forward to many summer days and ice cream. Until the warmth I will stick with my Americano in the park.
I've eyed it a few times while walking by... definitely had the urge to check it out... will do soon...
i visit the white squirrel most mornings - i have to agree with Michael about how good the Americano is. this fresh brew makes for a great walking companion on my way to work in the morning.
this weekend i tried the aforementioned egg-breakfast treat - it was INCREDIBLE. it was moist, fresh, full of flavour...a medly really -ha!
i have also tried a sandwich...it was tasty from what i remember - not monumental, but still worth the purchase
i really cant see why people are hating on this place - maybe its that most pallettes are not used to a fresh bean? i dont know
either way i shall be returning for my morning americano tomorrow
cheers!
Andrew! Shame on you - are you really such a pathetic loser that you have nothing better to do with your time then count points for a coffee shop? Really? Get a life.
I would definitely feel the need to defend myself if I encountered this kind mean feedback.
Suck it! This place ROCKS!
The irony of blasting me for blasting others... sigh.
I can't have much faith in the owner if this is how he treats his customers. I was going to visit this cafe, but I'm glad I read the reviews and decided I will not.
Secondly, 'defending' yourself from feedback is completely delusional and reflects poorly on the owner. Certainly all these people who share the same opinion about the coffee can't be wrong can they? If the owner can't see this, I'll just wait for the next post about this cafe entering the dead pool.
Thanks Simone for sharing your life with us, defending the owner who defends his store against his customers whom I defend is certainly a level I hope to aspire to someday. Also, 'suck it'... really? Is this the 90's? Maybe you can add 'Can you smell what the Rock is cooking'?
Let me see if I understand this, Andrew. It's OK to slag Simone for slagging you, and it's OK to slag the owner for defending his shop against clearly malicious and uninformed posts, but noone can touch a loser who spends his time monitoring the comments for a cafe he's never been to? I get it. You ROCK Andrew! Keep doing what you do. Do you keep an eye on all posts across the internet, or is it just this one lucky one that is graced with your brave presence?
The beauty of this mode of expression is that you can say your thoughts and nobody has to read them.
I personally find that people always seem to have an agenda. That being said I feel that the initial posters attack seem harsh. A lot of coffee places exist in the area and the new kid on the block will often be looked at as a poacher. I'd rather welcome WS to the area and let them know how I feel face to face. Thus encouraging them to fix what needs to be fixed. Input helps them gain new customers and keep existing ones like me happy.
I think the food and the coffee are great. Can't wait till the ice cream rolls in with summer.
Thanks anonymous, I do rock. I didn't slag anyone.. okay maybe Simone but they deserved it. The posts here are neither malicious or uninformed, they're feedback on the coffee (how can they be uninformed if they came to the cafe and tried their products?). I welcome the feedback because I was planning to make a visit. Then once I read the reviews I was thinking of trying something other than the coffee, but with the owner's ridiculous response ('come say it to my face' - is this 4th grade?) I'll happily go to the many other cafes.
What's the point of reviewing the cafes here if only positive reviews are allowed? This community works very well as people share their experiences and you can plan on where to visit accordingly. A lot of people here warned to stay away from the coffee, they're most likely right.
Also, no I don't keep an eye on all posts on the internet, I click that little box at the bottom that says 'Email me when someone replies to this comment'. Maybe you'd know if that you were a regular poster here, instead of someone who suspiciously only joined to defend the cafe.
Sorry Andrew - although my response was directed at you, I did not reply to your comment directly, as everyone can see above, so you didn't get an email notifying you of my post. Outing you as a liar puts the rest of your comments into a very good context. That being said, you and others have posted comments about the place without trying it, as the owner pointed out with his use of the word "conjcture", thus my use of the term "uninformed". It's English comprehension, Andrew. "Idiotic" probably would have been more appropriate, but I'm more polite than that. Comprehend?
About the fact that you don't troll the comment and that you got an email notifying you that there had been a response to your post
Actually if you click that box you get every comment that is posted beneath you. That is what is meant by 'reply'. Otherwise good job.
Doesn't change the fact that there's a lot of people here that think the coffee isn't good.
Ducked in here to get a hot chocolate a few weeks ago. Pretty much just tasted like hot milk with a drop of chocolate. Terrible.
Really wanted to like this place as it's so nice and cozy inside.
OK - I can;t be completely objective cause the owner is a friend but I will say he has good taste and is passionate about his coffee. There is no way he is selling stale goods. I felt for him reading some of these comments!
This place has a unique vibe and the two food items I've tried - empanada and sandwiches - were great. The coffee is good too - take him up on his offer and help a small businessman out with a little free research!
David - welcome to the internet : )
I have been buying my coffee from Dave since he opened. Both the service and food/drink quality is excellent. Toronto needs more spots like his
Andrew is the voice of reason here! Also, something about the anonymous comments feels like someone with an ulterior motive to me...
I love this place, been there lots. First of all, their coffee (drip) is great. Also the food there is so good too. I am quite upset when the breakfast empanada is not made, as they change things up all the time. The breakfast quiche ricotta bacon type thing was really good too. The owner is friendly and quite accommodating when I make a confusing order such as a triple americano with only 5/8ths water... I'm really glad this place opened in the neighbourhood and I will be buying myself and my kids many ice creams there this summer! Also its great their paper cups are bio-degradable, unlike some of the other guys you see peppered all over the side of the road.
too bad it wasnt a starbucks that opened, right??? queen west certainly needs more of those....lets crush the little guy with a big corporation that makes the best coffee. heck, while you are at it, forget any new business's lets just leave all the storefronts empty with for lease signs...or better yet, develop the park into a smart centre with WalMart...
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Some comments have been removed as they were made from the same IP address but using multiple user names within a short time period. This usually indicates that someone is trying to create the appearance that multiple people share their opinion and is not behaviour that we tolerate on the site.
I was in beautiful Toronto on business last week and stumbled into this cafe for a quick latte and treat. Well, I'm from the West Coast, home of some of the best cafes in Canada so my expectations are quite high. I'm afraid to report that not only was the owner not very pleasant but the latte had way too much milk in it. The muffin was substandard.
Would not recommend this place... sorry. 3 out 10
Cheers,
Eric
smells like insurgent tactics in here , grasping at straws..The criossants need not fear the infidels
love the squirrel. great tea and hand held egg dish. a really nice addition to a great strip across from the park. i can't wait to bring my kids here for ice cream!
I went to the squirrel on a date and loved it. Thought the coffee was great as well as the atmosphere
Loved the White Squirrel. Great lattes including lactose free. The brownies and cookies were divinely delicisous. Very relaxing afternoon break
It is incredible that a coffee shop can generate this much talk. Must be the great coffee fueling the debate.
I am happy to support a local, small business that has been able to bring so much life to a moribund topic - the tasty coffee and treats are a wonderful addition.
The Flat Whites are so yummy. It's about time this neighbourhood had some GREAT coffee without any Queen Street attitude. Thanks for opening here.
Our 'substandard' coffee culture is one littered by the Tim Horton's and Starbuck’s of the world ... the 'double double' has joined the likes of the 'frappuccino' in the mainstream Canadian vernacular and it's quite sad. The 'wannabe baristas' (Starbuck's use automatic, pre-portioned grinders and espresso machines - the “electric barista” - due to the lack of skilled labour) have nothing on those that appreciate the art of good coffee/espresso and those that are willing to take the time to do it right. Kudos to those that are passionate about good coffee and at the same time are taking the steps toward sustainable business practices and some social responsibility...
Let's help independent, local businesses succeed and stop the hate.
Great coffee starts with passion and excellence ... the White Squirrel exudes copious amounts of both...
Drink up Toronto!
Their ginger cookies are delicious. The cafe is okay, I hope it survives! It's a rough life being next to claffouti, but the two establishments are very different. It's too bad the sidewalks aren't wide enough for a patio across from the park. Dreams!
REPOST FROM URBANSPOON
I live in the neighborhood and I wanted to love White Squirrel. They have everything going for them: right across from Trinity Bellwoods park; a convenient "walk-up" window for people with dogs who can't go inside; unique offerings that create a niche for the neighborhood ... and they've licensed Greg's Ice Cream.
I had one good experience with this place shortly after they first opened and I've been going back trying to get that same experience, but after today I am finally giving up.
I generally find a dispassionate attitude from the staff so I've accepted that I should not accept over the top service from White Squirrel.
The coffee, which was once tasty, now tastes sour ... which is usually indicative of brewing equipment that has not been cleaned properly.
Their baked goods are generally overly dry, with the exception of the "strata" muffins that they offer. Unfortunately, the strata muffins are often sold out.
Many of my friends from the neighborhood have had similar experiences and have given up on this place, but I kept going, hoping for what I first saw.
Today, I visited twice. I ended up throwing my coffee away after the first visit because it tasted so bad it was actually undrinkable. I would have written them off right then and there, but I later had a craving for my favourite Greg's Ice Cream.
The male staff member was rude to one of the members of my party because he asked a question before he was addressed to be served and we ended up bailing from the line entirely in favour of spending our money elsewhere.
Goodbye White Squirrel ... you have failed me too many times.
white squirrel has the best coffee in town. ngreene...arent you the same guy that gave blowjobs a bad review?
I get it now Tony ... White squirrel coffee must taste like semen ... That's why you like it so much, eh.
I've never given so I couldn't comment.
ngreene, are you really howie mandel in disguise because that joke was hilarious. actually, it tastes like good coffee. obviously someone that sees the word blowjob and thinks about giving them has never received one.
Thanks ... I love Howie Mandel! To be compared to one of the greats is truly an honour.
The fact is that I gave a truthful and realistic review of a quick service restaurant that is not living up to the expectations of it's customers.
That you chose to turn this into a personal commentary speaks volumes to your motivation. Let me guess ... you are an investor? No wait ... a friend of an investor.
How many other names are you on this forum?
I'd like to stay away from the BJ references, but would agree that although the White Squirrel may have tasty treats the poor service put an end to that. I actually opted for 7-11 ice cream out of spite.
More like:
Neighborhood Locals Who Refuse To Put Up With Bad Service and Crappy Products
by ngreene (the uber-elite park monkey)
Love the Greg's Ice cream ... but the ice tea with the cinnamon was awful, why mess with perfection tea, lemon, sugar ... it's pretty simple! Try Rooibos tea with lemon and agave nectar if you wants something different.
I went in early one morning last week, and I found the common table a little creepy. It was so early, and there was one guy sitting there. I went up the stairs, and the two of us sat uncomfortably at the same table for a few minutes before i left. It was too secluded and he was a creeper.
Dark Horse has the right idea with a common table: out in the open, lots of light, no awkwardness.
I've read over the coffee complaints, and got a few good chuckles. As someone who only drinks Timmies when I'm out of Toronto, I drink a lot of good coffee: ideal, manic, etc. and white squirrel was pretty much the same.
For more of the story behind the white squirrels that this café is named after, see this story.
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