Cafes
White Squirrel Coffee Shop
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.
Discussion
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I haven't had the drip yet but their lattes are really good.
Puts Clafouti to shame (blech).
btw: Clafouti sucks 2 (what up with their croissants?) that strech of QW needs better coffee pronto!
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.
FOR FUCKS SAKES ITS COFFEEE....IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT...JUST DRINK IT!...DONT WHINE AND BITCH!!!
Oh well.
Cherry Bomb is a good cafe. Go there!
For those above who have spent a good 5 minutes taking the time to complain about the coffee...WELL DRINK TEA INSTEAD!
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!
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
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
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!
The food is AMAZING and those brownies are possibly the best in Toronto!
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!
I would definitely feel the need to defend myself if I encountered this kind mean feedback.
Suck it! This place ROCKS!
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'?
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.
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.
Doesn't change the fact that there's a lot of people here that think the coffee isn't good.
Really wanted to like this place as it's so nice and cozy inside.
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 : )
Keep it up.
not even sure what that means
Would not recommend this place... sorry. 3 out 10
Cheers,
Eric
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.
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!
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.
I've never given so I couldn't comment.
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?
Neighborhood Locals Who Refuse To Put Up With Bad Service and Crappy Products
by ngreene (the uber-elite park monkey)
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.
give them a break. get over your egos. few people in the service industry are paid to be nice. and instead of complaining that they were rude and being upset you should wonder if you treated them any differently. i find you get what you give.
I'm not sure that just because you choose to take a low paying job that it's your right to be rude to people. Generally we tip very well, but only for pleasant, efficient service and today I just couldn't bring myself to hand over any sort of tip. Unfortunately.
Needless to say, we will never visit this spot again.
I'm all for independent, local businesses who is contributing to social responsibility and making fantastic cup of coffee (especially their americano)
Keep on doing what you're doing David! For those who are complaining about David asking feedback from his customers are cowards that knows nothing about running a business and customer service.
Give these guys a break: it's all just coffee, and these guys make it alongside ice cream and tasty desserts. It's not cheap, but their prices are on par with any other espresso bar. And it is nice and convenient to have a little coffee/ice cream/baked goods shop so close to the park. So I go there all the time, regardless of the "burnt taste" (ok, aren't coffee beans roasted anyway?).
but I think its a linking issue. I've tried it in two different browsers and both show the same results.
of valuable data, thanks for providing these statistics.