Antikka - Cafe & Records

Cafe: Antikka - Cafe and Records
Address: 960 Queen St. W
Phone: 416-792-1855
Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs 8 AM - 9 PM, Fri 8 AM - 10 PM, Sat 9 AM - 10 PM, 9 AM - 9 PM
Website: www.antikka.ca

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Specializes in Armenian Coffee
- Coffee from Hale Coffee Roasters
- Tea from Genuine Tea
- Cold brew coffee from Station Cold Brew

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to vegan and gluten-free
- Vegan sandwiches available
- Gluten-free pastries available
- Fresh sandwiches everyday

Chaiwala Chai Latte, $4.75

Small Armenian Coffee, $3.50

Review

Antikka is a cafe and record shop on Queen West that recently opened. With a mix of rustic and indie vibes, Antikka let patrons enjoy a great cup of coffee and discover their next favourite vinyl. The name of the shop pays homage to the owner's grandmother, who often used the word to describe something outdated (similar to antique).

They specialize in making Armenian coffee, a process that uses sand to heat up the coffee to a boil and has to be done twice before serving. If you choose to get their Armenian coffee, they are served in specialized handmade coffee cups from a merchant straight from Armenia. If you prefer your coffee to be sweetened, do tell them in advance. It's recommended not to add any sugar or sweetener afterwards but during the brewing process instead. I also had the chance to drink their Chaiwala Chai Latte, which is not overly sweet or bland either. I did not have to add any sweetener since it had a mild sweet taste to it already.

Antikka will be bringing in live music performance starting January so you check their social media for more information. They will also be opening their patio during the summer time, which you can look forward to in the warmer months. If you are a student living close by, this cafe is perfect since there are plenty of outlets and WiFi for you to use. If you are normally on Queen West, drop by for a drink or come and sell your preloved vinyls.

Khao San Road

Restaurant: Khao San Road
Address: 11 Charlotte St.
Phone: 647-352-5773
Operating Hours: Lunch Mon-Sat 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, Dinner Mon-Sun 5-10 PM
Website: www.khaosanroad.ca

Interior

Downstairs view from second floor

Second Floor

Review

My Order: Pad Gra Prao, $16

I went to Khao San Road some years ago at their old location. The internet raved about how pretty the new location is so I decided to check it out. I went on a weeknight and was a bit disappointed that you weren't allowed to be seated until everyone from your party was there (not sure if this was the case for their previous location as well). I had to wait on the second floor in the meantime. By the time I could be seated, all of the individual tables were filled up and I was seated at one of the communal tables on the first floor.

If you're seated at a communal table, there are hooks under the table for you to hang your bag and coat (though they are quite low if you have a longer jacket). The chairs for the communal tables are also high without a back rest, so there might be difficulty finding a place to hang your jacket during the winter time. They have more seating on the second floor (that can be booked out for events), which also has a bar.

I had the Pad Gra Prao and it came out as expected, vegetables with fried pork over a fried egg and rice. Prices are $15.50 or $16 for their main dishes. Khao San Road is comparable in terms of menu and cost to Pai, which is just down the road. Overall, a cool and casual restaurant to check out and catch up with friends.

Tabule (Riverside)

Restaurant: Tabule
Address: 810 Queen St. E
Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM - 10:30 PM, Fri 11:30 AM - 11 PM, Sat 12-11 PM, Sun 12-10 PM
Phone: 416-465-2500
Website: www.tabule.ca

Menu

From Beirut with Passion, $11

Sampler Platter with Babaganuj, Tabule, and Labni, $14

Garlic Tomato, $7.50

Lamb, $18.95

Review

My friend treated me to Tabule (Riverside location) for my birthday. It's her favourite Middle Eastern restaurant in Toronto and she always raves about it. Since I've never been to any of Tabule's locations (the other ones are in Midtown and Bayview), I was up to see why my friend loves it so much.

We both started off the meal with From Beirut with Passion. This is a great cocktail for fans of sweet and fruity drinks. We decided to share a couple of appetizers. The Sampler Platter is perfect if you want to try three of the four Mezze Cold dishes. If you go for a full size dish, it might be a bit heavy on the stomach if you decide on something like Hummus or Babaganuj. Between my friend and I, the two appetizers and one entree each was quite filling. One appetizer is enough to share between two people since your main dish would be quite big.

I was not wowed by my experience but I enjoyed the food and atmosphere. They have big windows so during the day it's lovely to have lunch there. The Tabule Riverside location is also perfect for families in the area that are craving some Middle Eastern food in a nice sit-down restaurant.