I’ve been patiently waiting for the Istanbul Cafe and Espresso Bar to open for almost a year. This new coffee shop is located at 175 Eglinton Ave East between Mount Pleasant and Yonge St.
Recently I noticed via Twitter that it opened and I quickly grabbed a friend to check it out. Yes..that’s the way I roll.
Upon entering we were ooohing and ahhing over the attention to detail. Everything from the lights to the fireplace is STUNNING.
Take a peek at how they serve Turkish coffee. I’m a sucker for presentation so I ordered it!!
This new coffee shop has already had a warm welcome from the neighbourhood and I’m sure it will get even more popular when their liquor licence kicks in.
On a side note: they do serve sandwiches, mediterranean treats and muffins that you would see in typical coffee shops. However, I really hope that they serve more mediterranean food in the future.
For more information:
Istanbul Cafe and Espresso Bar: 174 Eglinton Ave East, Toronto 416 480 0303
Hours: Weekdays 7 am to 10 pm, Saturday 8 am to 10 pm, Sunday 9 am to 10 pm
PS Liquor licence is pending….stay tuned for (much) longer hours
Coffee, eglinton, mediteranean, Mount Pleasant, neighborhood, turkish
The other day, I received a last minute invite to check out the Grand Opening of Touhenbokus Ramens’ newest location at 2459 Yonge St. I didn’t mind at all, as I live about 2 km’s away and was curious to visit. You see, I was invited to the Grand Opening of their first location (261 Queen St) where I indulged in some ramen – but this particular invitation was inviting me to sample their tapas and cocktails. I was intrigued to say the least. (ie …no ramen?)
When you enter the restaurant, you immediately notice the “more upscale” decor than their Queen W. location. I really think they did a great job with the space…just the right amount of classy and hipster. (does that make sense)?
I then found out that there’s TWO menus. A lunch menu (with ramen options) and a dinner menu that will be served after 5 pm. (ie tapas and cocktails).
Indeed I sampled a cocktail that was off-the-chart-amazing. It’s called the KINGYO (remember this) and it’s made with Shohu, mint, hot peppers and soda. What a unbelievable combination. I would order this again in a heart beat. Talk about refreshing.
I also sampled the food. Something tells me that I will be returning to try the Godzilla’s Egg! (see above menu)
Hope you get a chance to visit them one day soon. I have no doubt that the neighborhood is going to love this restaurant.
For More Information:
Touhenboku Ramen: 2459 Yonge St. or 261 Queen St. W, Toronto 416 596 8080
Twitter: @TouhenbokuRamen
cocktails, eglinton, Ramen, restaurant, Shohu, tapas, Toronto, Touhenboku, Yonge
I went to this restaurant when they first opened but for some reason, I never went back. This often happens for no other reason than my perpetual curiosity to keep trying new restaurants.
However, a few weeks ago I dined at Bi Bim Bap…. 3 times in one week. I initially went with a friend who has mulitple allergies (and they were all too accommodating) and then returned with my boyfriend and then returned again when my mom was visiting from Ottawa. It also helps that this restaurant is less than a kilometre from my apartment!
Bi Bim Bap is located on Eglinton between the Allen and Bathurst. It looks like this from the outside.
When you sit down, you will notice a little red “call button” which comes in handy when you want to ask the waitress a question or need something!
What sets this restaurant apart (besides the call button) from other Bi Bim Bap restaurants that I’ve been to?
-They are totally understanding when it comes to allergies. Infact there’s NO shellfish in any of their dishes.
-The quality of the food is outstanding. You might be paying a few dollars extra but it’s worth it.
-The owner, Sam and his staff are super friendly.
-My food (which arrives in stone bowl) was still STEAMING 20 minutes after it arrived at the table. Seriously.
What did I order?
MUSHROOM BI BIM BAP – A mix of 9 different varieties of mushrooms, stir fried (TO PERFECTION) and served on top of Bi Bim Bap vegetables. ($13.99). There are other varieties on the menu but I prefer the vegetarian option. Go figger.
I hope you get a chance to check out this restaurant one day soon. It’s a neighbourhood favorite for a good reason!
For more information:
Bi Bim Bap 950 Eglinton Ave W, Toronto 416 787 7423
Hours: Monday: closed, Tuesday to Saturday 11 am to 10 pm, Sunday 11 am to 8 pm. Closed All Holidays.
No facebook page or twitter presence 🙁
Disclosure: My meal was compensated however all opinions are my own
allergies, Bi Bim Bap, eglinton, Mushroom, restaurant, Toronto
