Carousel Bakery — Restaurant in Toronto

Would give a negative rating, for one of the worst experiences ever. Visited this stall at the St Lawrence Market for the first time yesterday in the afternoon. While I was looking at the menu on the board this woman (white, light/blonde hair, maybe 40s) stood there at the counter, looked at me but didn't acknowledge, then looked sideways. I said 'Hi, should I order here' (had to ask because her stance was very cold, which should have made me walk away, but I had missed lunch). Her reply, a brusque 'What do you want?', not even looking at me. No greeting still. I said I want a BBQ chicken sandwich. 'We don't have that right now' (gruff). Then within 10 seconds, she said, 'Hold on 1 second' (not looking at me the entire time) and then disappeared in the back. After a couple of minutes a young girl (South Asian/Indian) came out and said 'You wanted a BBQ chicken sandwich? Sure,' then proceeded to tell me the price. The older woman stood to the side some distance away and this young girl would turn and convey whatever I said during the 2 mins we spoke, to the woman - even though she was near the counter and could very easily hear what I was saying (no, noise was not the issue). Nobody explained why the woman said there was no sandwich and then another person had to come out to actually tell me there was. That is when it struck me that this is not the kind of treatment to pay for, no matter if I starve. I told the South Asian girl I do not have cash (I did, both CAD and USD) and left. The older woman kept that surly and distasteful expression even as I was walking away. Her actions made it quite obvious she did not wish to handle a non-white customer.

I had missed my lunch, was very hungry and hence, had neither the energy nor the inclination to drag this matter further on the spot. Frankly there are a thousand eating options in the city and I proceeded to spend my money at a more deserving place within the next 15 minutes. But I have to leave this review for others.

I do not know how the owners run this, or select their staff, but the bare minimum to do if you are working in customer service is to greet people, and at the very least be pleasant, even if being nice is too much of a challenge for you. Even if you can't do anything for the customer. They say to support local businesses, but this one encounter was enough to put me off this place forever. Doesn't matter what past celebrity endorsements you have had, this incident showed the reality, it is not worth it. A friend had suggested visiting this place and I let him know about this, as well as others I know who plan to visit the market so they can probably skip this one and choose other...

Not Smashing IT!

Horrible.

They changed the recipe. And you know what really get's my goat? I even I asked the worker at the counter 'since the brothers retired have you changed the recipe?' the worker was really coy and very sarcastic.

He was like 'um recipe refers to baking' NO IT DOESN'T SHERLOCK. Recipe refers to everything cook and or baked.

But I digress because I'm a nice person.

So I decided to give Carousel Bakery a try under it's new owners.

I ordered my usual Chicken Parmesan.

And they not only changed the recipe but they also RUINED IT!

May GOD Jalapenos does not go on Chicken Parmesan! What on earth were you thinking?

The supposedly chicken was beaten to a pulp and I don't even think that was even chicken that I ate to tell you the truth 😝

Dear owners let me ask you this question, if it's not broken why try to fix it?

I miss the real authentic Chicken Parmesan when the brothers were in charge.

Sorry, not sorry but Carousel Bakery just isn't what it used to be since the brothers retired.

If you're in the mood for Chicken Parmesan please do yourself, taste buds and Italy a favor and go somewhere else.

Carousel Bakery once again if it ain't broken then...

$6+ for bacon on a bun, tasted okay, cold service.

Let me walk you through the order process: (1) You let the homeless person go first, (2) ask for the iconic peameal bacon sandwich, (3) you pay $6 or more, (4) they will grab a lukewarm sandwich that's been sitting on the metal counter and hand it to you, without smiling. Maybe I just happened to have met a disgruntled employee.

So yes, this is a tourist trap, and they know it, and don't even bothering providing good service, or keep their sandwiches fresh/warm. I would be okay with having the sandwiches pre-made, but kept under an infrared lamp to keep it warm at least...

Oh, and if you eat there, prepare to be threatened by homeless people for money.

On a positive note, the fried egg and cheese in the peameal bacon sandwich actually tasted quite nice. But guess what, I can make that at home for less than $6.

Would I come back? No.

Should you go? No, not even if you're a foreign tourist who's never had peameal bacon, because our usual Canadian hospitality is...