First Look: Saving Gigi
Saving Gigi opened two weeks ago on the south west corner of Bloor and Roxton. This new coffee house is the brainchild of Luigi Gigi Xaini (who used to own the now closed Cafe 163 on Corso Italia) and his partner Monica Grace Miller of Saving Grace fame.
Stopping by today I was impressed how much charm the space has. Big windows infuse it with natural light, and eclectic chairs and tables lend it a contemporary, cozy vibe. It feels like the kind of place I could easily spend a couple of hours with a magazine or laptop and one of their tasty looking lattes, smoothies or home baked muffins.
While the specialty here are their line-up of coffee and juice based drinks, they also have a full menu of sandwiches, frittatas, salads and more; all made fresh each day from Saving Grace and brought over in the morning. Among the top sellers are the cornmeal lime ricotta muffin ($2.50) and the old white cheddar, tomato, avocado, lettuce and bacon sandwich ($7.50).
In the coming months they're looking at opening up a side patio (just waiting for a license from the city), adding gelato to the menu (supplier is still TBD) and taking part in the Big on Bloor festival.
For more photos and a full menu (changes regularly) see below. Hours are 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday (except closed Tuesday) and 9:30am - 5pm on weekends. The address if 859 Bloor Street West.
Comments (19)
No. They're not really a brunch place. They don't have a full kitchen and bring most of their food over from Saving Grace each day.
They have their own free wifi now, hurrah! And though they don't have brunch per se, the breakfast food is good enough for a light brunchy meal - especially the goat cheese + preserves toast.
I just wish they had longer hours, though I guess it's not always financially possible for new businesses.
hey everyone ...its me the guy that everyone thinks is pissedoff.well i just look it really im great all around.anyway just wanna let you all know we extended our hours till 9pm.mon.wed.thurs.fri.
sat.10am till 5pm
sun.10am till 5pm.
this is a lovely spot with a great vibe, delicious coffee/tea/smoothies/food and very friendly staff.
I think the place looks great and has character, you can tell there has been alot of time invested to create the look the atmosphere hats off, good for you.
See You Soon
Tony.
We we looking forward to checking this place out because we love Saving Grace but were shocked at how rude the man taking our order was ("pissed off guy" from above?).It was like it was irritating and annoying to him that we...i dunno...ordered food??? Honestly, it's nice there and the food was o.k. but who needs to be greeted like that? If he has such a hard time making minimal conversation with customers, maybe not the right person for the counter since it's counter service. We won't go back. Ruined our morning and we have a higher threshold for moodiness than most people.
sorry to have offended you in any way but ,the soup nazi is the soup nazi.so unfortunatly i was born with a attitude ,but once you get to know me its a diffrent ball game.sorry carrie if you didnt receive the proper attention,but i have a natural pissoff look everyday but i would'nt opened cafe all my life if i didnt like to be around people .think about it.so i apauligize once again but thats a look i cant control .its alittle intimadating for alot of people but i have a great love for all my costumers.
Was in this weekend for great sandwiches and coffee and atmosphere. I can see how when ordering you might think the owner's rude or intimidating, but I spoke with him a bit about the cafe and the neighbourhood and he seems like a nice, easygoing guy.
(When I came in a few hours later trying to find a cheque I misplaced he was plenty helpful too.)
He's not wordy, but I wonder if the difference between rudeness and quietness is because he's a big, tough-looking guy. The same attitude at Jet Fuel is one of the draws there, I'm told.
Food and service were great; order at the counter, they bring food and coffee to your table, and a bottle of still water too, and cleared half of our table when we started spreading out papers to give us more room. Lots of choice for vegetarians.
I'll certainly be heading back! It's great to have this sort of place in the neighbourhood, no more having to head over to Bathurst or down to College, especially with the new hours.
I had a bad drink and worse service. It was quite apparent that my latte was made with 2% milk, which I totally don't mind, except that it was served in a parfait glass, appeared grey and was not hot.
Furthermore, it was entirely unclear if I should expect counter or table service, and the staff (and their guests behind the counter) could not be bothered to pause their conversation the multiple times I visited the counter (to try to order, eventually to order, to pay).
I don't expect staff to be my best friend or fill my day with pleasantries, but I expect to be able to place and pay for order easily, especially when there isn't a crushing throng of people.
I was really underwhelmed especially given my excellent experience at Saving Grace.
sorry liz ,for the worst service that you got in the world ,but for 1 we dont serve 2%milk its all skim,second most places serve it in a parfait glass these days because of the quantity,and maybe if you informed the server about how your latte was made .it probably had 2 shots of espresso thats why it was dark with coffee body not a little weak latte that you prbably pay everyday that tastes like watered instant coffee $6.00 plus tax at your local corperate coffee franchise locations.if you stopped to take alook if there was a menu chalk board it probably means that there are no menus for the tables or the service is based on counter and then we serve you at your table which you recieved.by the way how was the free internet service.hope you took advantage of it.and im pretty sure that if your with co-workers and in a conversation you would finish what your talking about .im sorry if you received the worst service in the world but we are new not like saving grace that has there shit together for the last 10 years.feel free to come in and speak to the owner gigi instead of writing your complains on the internet.have a wonderfull day.
Not clear why Gigi bothers promoting free wireless. After many months of patronizing the spot and supporting their city petition for the patio, a relatively new waiter asked me not to come back if my main reason for coming was the free wireless. "We're not an internet cafe" I was told. When I asked if he was serious, this stranger went on to say "I won't miss you." I waked out humiliated but I guess it's my Seinfeld moment. P.S. As if to soften my banishment, he comped my tap. So confusing.
P.P.S. I did try to explain that having free wireless is great and likely brings in a number of net new customers ('cause it's not for the coffee) but I think that just made him angrier - sorry I was just trying to help. Overall, I don't think I've ever had such an upsetting experience anywhere.
thanks tony ,if your ever in the area please feel free to pop in for a espresso on us.hope to see you soon.its wonderfull to know that there are apriecitave costumers like yourself who still believe in community and local shops that offer a variety of specialy items.hope to see you at our aniversary party may 9th saturday night.
god i love this place! i go here every weekend now. it sort of reminds me of Atlas Cafe in Williamsburg, but this is much better.
Old Cheddar, Raisin Bread, Bacon, and Tomato with a tall Latte please.
theyve had new owners since a few months. it is a home away from home.
they stay open when its busy but usually close at 6 mon-friday, and 4ish on sat, sun.
brunch on sundays too which is badass.
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