Fuwa Fuwa

Restaurant: Fuwa Fuwa
Address: 408 Bloor St. W
Phone: 647-618-2868
Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 AM - 7:30 PM, Fri 11 AM - 10 PM, Sat 10 AM - 10 PM, Sun 10 AM - 7:30 PM
Website: www.fuwafuwapancakes.com

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Menu

Raspberry and Caramelized Banana Pancake, $13.80

Creme Brulee Pancake, $15.80

Review

Fuwa Fuwa, which translates to Fluffy Fluffy in Japanese, is one of the latest Toronto food hypes. Fuwa Fuwa is the only fluffy Japanese pancakes place I've been to so far. I got there at 4 PM on a Tuesday with a couple of friends. The place had a decent number of customers but luckily there were seats and tables available so we didn't have to wait.

We ordered the Raspberry and Caramelized Banana Pancake and the Creme Brulee Pancake. They were indeed super fluffy and delicious! All three of us preferred the Creme Brulee flavoured pancake between the two. You can definitely share one plate between two people. It would also help cut down on the cost as well since the pancakes are quite pricey for dessert.

For my first experience with Japanese pancakes, I was quite pleased. The hype was definitely worth it. I would recommend checking the place out if you are in the area!

El Furniture Warehouse

Restaurant: El Furniture Warehouse
Address: 410 Bloor St. West
Phone: 647-350-7326
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 2 AM
Website: N/A

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Menu

Review

My Order: Warehouse Crispy Mac N' Cheese, $4.95

My obsession other than food is scoring a great deal. When you combine food and an awesome deal together, I cannot resist (hence why I always end up back at The Old Spaghetti Factory). So when I saw the buzz about El Furniture Warehouse, a restaurant with a very odd name, I wanted to check it out. The restaurant serves everything on the menu for $4.95 (excluding alcohol). I took three of my girlfriends to El Furniture Warehouse to see what the hype was all about.

We arrived to the semi-busy pub around 3 PM on a Wednesday. We were told that no outside drinks were allowed since my friend brought in her water bottle. It was a rule in case people planned on bringing their own alcohol. The waitress allowed my friend to keep it out and said that it was just something to keep in mind for the future. When we were looking at the menus, my friend pointed out how the alcohol were overpriced. I wasn't surprised because everything on their food menu was only $4.95. They had to make more money elsewhere.

For my order, I chose the Warehouse Crispy Mac N' Cheese. I liked the crispy layer on the top because it was a nice twist. I enjoyed it in the beginning. However halfway through the meal, I felt that they added too much seasoning and the taste became overwhelming. Nonetheless, I finished my plate because I still liked Mac N' Cheese. My friend who ordered the Beer Batter Onion Rings and Soft Beef Tacos liked the food she got. We all collectively agreed (aside from the one friend who hates onions) that the onion rings were the best. My friend who ordered the Quinoa and Green Apple Salad liked it at first but was disappointed that all the soy sauce seeped to the bottom of her bowl. Lastly, my friend who ordered the Braised Beef Spaghetti was not happy with her order. She didn't like it overall and thought it was something that could easily be whipped up at home. I ended up finishing her plate.

There was a 50/50 split with everyone's opinions. Two of my friends said they would not come back, because they didn't like the quality of the food. My other friend said she wouldn't mind, though it would not be on top of her list when choosing a restaurant. I, on the other hand, am a sucker for cheap food. I like that it is a nice open pub and all the food have good portions. I hear from other bloggers that other items on the menu are really tasty. Since El Furniture Warehouse offers an array of food, I would like to check out what else they have.
 

Bampot Bohemian House of Tea and Board Games

Cafe: Bampot Bohemian House of Tea and Board Games
Address: 201 Harbord St.
Phone: 416-537-5959
Store Hours: Mon-Tues 5 PM - 11 PM, Wed-Thurs & Sun 11 AM - 11 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM - 1:30 AM
Website: www.bampottea.com

Study Appropriate?: No
Wi-Fi?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: No

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Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Only lactose-free
- Coconut milk available

Foods - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- All food is vegetarian

Xantou Mandarin White Pu-erh, $6.50 (free refills)

Soup of the Day - Thai Curry Soup, $6.50

Review

Drink of Choice: Quangzhou Milk Oolong, $5.25 (free refills)

When I first heard about Bampot through social media, I knew I had to check it out and bring my boyfriend along. We both love tea and board games so it was the perfect combination. We went to check it out a couple of weeks after it opened.

The environment of the cafe definitely suits the name. The cafe is decorated with yellow, orange, and dark red walls, reminding me of the Indian culture. There are some areas where you can sit in the nooks and crannies of the cafe with only pillows and drapes, giving off that bohemian vibe. The space gives a lot of intimacy compared to most places I have been to; which is nice and unique to Bampot.

Bampot serves a vast selection of tea, some with free refills. Like most places, it has a $5 sitting fee if you would like to play the board games. However, it only costs $3 if you decide to order food. My boyfriend got the soup of the day, which was some sort of Thai curry soup the owners whipped up. He absolutely loved it and I enjoyed it as well. It had that spicy flavour that curry lovers would be familiar with. I had the Quangzhou Milk Oolong tea, which tasted exactly what you would expect a milk tea would taste like. It wasn't my favourite, but I didn't mind drinking it either. For each pot of tea you receive, you get a timer as well, so you know when the tea is perfectly steeped. Between my boyfriend and I, we pretty much drained all the hot water they had for our free refills haha.

There are currently about 160 games available and when I was there, many of them were unopened. My boyfriend was in heaven for a short period of time after I found a brand new Firefly board game towards the end of our stay. Unfortunately it was a two hour game and we were already there for about two to three hours. He sadly had to wave goodbye to it.

The cafe hosts different events here and now. They have Scrabble Night on Mondays and free knitting lessons often. They planned on having a Dungeons and Dragons game night as well. The owners said that they were looking for games to host events for. If you are a game enthusiast and would like to bring an event to Bampot, definitely reach out to them!

Overall, I highly recommend Bampot. It's so good that it's now my boyfriend's favourite board game place, knocking Snakes and Lattes to his second favourite. This is definitely a great date location to spend with your significant other. Also if you are a tea enthusiast, it is a must to visit! The cafe is very intimate and cozy with such a lovely staff. I don't recommend coming in with a large group of friends unless you are willing to break the group down. It's best to have no more than three (or at most four) other friends with you because of the space. The cafe also has hookah available as well.

RedFish BlueFish Creative Cafe

Cafe: RedFish BlueFish Creative Cafe
Address: 73 Harbord St.
Phone: 416-960-2233
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM - 7 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM - 5 PM
Website: www.redfishbluefishcafe.com

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: No

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Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Offers Fluffy
- Offers apple cider during the winter season, using apples from Ontario farms!
- Roasted coffee beans from Detour Coffee Roaster, Punch Buggy coffee beans

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Snacks from Desmond and Beatrice
- Offers nut-free cookies
- Offers gluten-free cashew cookies
- Offers nut-free chocolate chip cookies (a favourite for the children!)
- Made in-house salads and sandwiches
- Offers vegan sandwiches
- Offers jerk chicken
- Offers gluten-free hot meals
- Food delivered from Foodbenders daily

Tea Latte, $3.81

Review

Drink of Choice: Latte, $3.58

Redfish BlueFish Creative Cafe is near Spadina Station and is popular among parents and their children and mothers-to-be! Of course, everyone is welcome to enjoy their stay here. Luckily, I arrived when it wasn't too busy. Every week, there are different programs being offered for both children and adults. They have events such as drama, crafts, and yoga. You can see what events are happening during the month on their website. The cafe provides toys, crafts, and books for the children to use during their stay.

One of their specialty drinks is the Fluffy, which is steamed milk that you can add a flavour shot to if you wish. They also have nut-free snacks available for children who have nut allergies. Most of the food available is delivered in fresh everyday by Foodbenders. Some of the salads and sandwiches are made in-house by the cafe.

Overall, the cafe is a great space to bring children and it provides parents with something new to do. It gives both the parents and children the opportunity to interact with others and create new friendships! As well, the cafe no longer uses stamp cards but if you have one from the past, they will honour it.

CSI Coffee Pub

Cafe: CSI Coffee Pub
Address: 720 Bathurst St.
Phone: 416-836-9646
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7 AM - 7 PM, Sat-Sun 8 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.socialinnovation.ca/csicoffeepub

Study Appropriate?: Yes
Wi-Fi?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: No

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Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Soy and almond
- Uses local maple syrup in specific drinks
- Roasted coffee beans from Fresh Coffee Network
- Offers fruit juices made with local ingredients

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Uses local maple syrup in specific food items
- All organic ingredients are from local Toronto farms
- Cheese comes from Quebec
- Offers vegan soup
- Offers open-face toasted sandwiches with a side of greens, $8.50 (tax included)

Review

Drink of Choice: Double Cappuccino, $3.50

When I walked along Bathurst trying to find the cafe, it took a good minute before I realized that it was underground. When I glanced into the cafe from outside, I immediately fell in love with it before stepping foot inside. Vast in size, CSI Coffee Pub provides an amazing location for community get-togethers and group work. However, many students come here to study because it provides that perfect atmosphere (if you are the kind to like open space and people). On top of the cafe are five office floors with about 160 tenants. Everyone working upstairs would come down before work, during break or after their shift for a cup of deliciously brewed coffee and sandwich. I got to speak with one of the owners, Nick, who was extremely friendly and enthusiastic to answer my questions. I found out he also happened to know the president of a student group I am apart of! A small world eh?

CSI Coffee Pub is currently waiting on their liquor license, which would be perfect for those who would want to de-stress from a long day at work. They also brew each and every coffee individually to ensure freshness, all within five days after they receive their roasted coffee beans. They serve some of their drinks in beer mugs as well, so you would be sure to be caffeinated! One of their specialties are their open-face toasted sandwiches with a side of greens for $8.50 (tax included). Customers have claimed that CSI Coffee Pub's sandwiches taste homemade! The cafe doesn't use stamp cards but their drinks are at a great price ($3.50 for a latte in comparison to $4 lattes at other locations).

By the time this review is up, I will be at CSI Coffee Pub once more, enjoying my study time there!