Circles & Squares Bakery Café — Restaurant in Toronto

I'll like to give 4.5 stars but Google doesn't allow that, because everything was good-to-great, even if their "classic" award-winning butter tart wasn't to my liking, because their location is first-rate--aesthetics/vibe, space, staff, food selection, even the outdoor seating with cornhole games was nice. I picked up one of the "Everything But the Bagel" croissants and a large brewed coffee for "breakfast", with a chaser of classic butter tart. The croissant was sliced and filled with a fluffy cream cheese spread--just the right amount (not too little but certainly not like the amount you'd get in NYC!), and covered in everything-bagel seeds. As croissants go, pretty good--very flaky and good lamination, maybe not the "shatter" quotient that some purists would expect, but this wasn't a standard French croissant anyways. As a breakfast, it was massive and filling. A good deal at $6. My only quibbles: I rate bakery-cafes (vs. cafes with baked goods) on their drip coffee, not their barista-prepared espresso-based drinks, and their regular brew was not particularly tasty. Espresso-based drinks are often a reflection of the barista, bean quality/freshness, and equipment, so it can vary widely. Brewed coffee shouldn't, assuming decent equipment. My other quibble is the jelly-like consistency of their butter tart--the crust was flaky and perfect (assuming you prefer that over the more buttery, cookie-type crusts), but the filling was kind of an in-between: not runny, as many prefer and as you would find in many a small-town bakery, and not firm, like the sugary filling at Andrea's, and strictly on personal preference I would've liked one or the other. The size was quite large--height was quite tall, filling copious. At $4, well priced. With tax and tip, about $18, which some might consider ludicrous, but in these COVID/post-COVID days, normal. I'd gladly come back to try one of their cruffins or other baked goodies, and maybe a...

Update: True to my word- We went back and thankfully had a much better experience. Just grabbed a few things, but the interaction with staff was much more friendly and pleasant.

I also emailed management per their response on here and got crickets for a reply. Oh well.

Update 2: Management reached out. Letting me know good help is hard to find.

———— Finally we were in the area and peckish. Let’s check it out. Busy- which is great-that’s somewhat beyond control, so no issue there. Gave the place a vibe. It was late in the day so we didn’t want a full meal, so after checking everything out- we decided to share a pulled pork grilled cheese. Get to the counter to be served by the driest, unfriendliest person I’ve encountered in some time. “We’re all out of those” ok, Pot Pie Handheld? “Nope”. Ok, since she’s unable to say what they have- we ask what DO you have? Yells over at the person making something and asks “do we have blt?” That person said they would check for bacon. Is that it? “Well there’s salads in the fridge” we decide we need to regroup to let the couple behind go ahead (and to try comprehend this person’s attitude as we’re ready to just leave)…we simply decide to get a butter tart cookie and a coffee. Terminal indicates for a tip…and another employee is looking to see if a tip is actually entered. I look at my wife who is just gobsmacked at the rudeness of the cashier… this is point where I SHOULD have just entered NO TIP. I reluctantly left $0.50 (this is what $15+hr gets you? ouch) .

I hear the cashier say your coffee is here sir. She returns to the cash- Not even a thank you or any form of pleasantry- maybe this is one of those I should thank you for the pleasure being able to spend my money in your place places?

The cookie was good, coffee ok- service definitely made them both less enjoyable. I’ll pop back in again at some point and hopefully experience the complete opposite and will update the...

The food doesn’t taste so good when the service is awful. I have a legitimate service dog and have shown his (my) doctors note to the staff many times which is what’s required in Ontario.. Every time I walk inside I am immediately yelled at that dogs are not allowed!! I have asked them many times if they could start by simply asking if it’s a service dog instead of yelling at me and assuming I’m doing something wrong. My SA is 15 lbs and I am always carrying him when I enter businesses because I have social phobia and he is providing me with deep pressure grounding techniques by pressing his body weight on my chest and distracting me before I experience a full on panic attack. He is quiet and doesn’t disturb anyone. The staff humiliate me every time I have entered, which makes their food not taste very good when I leave there practically in tears. I will never enter this place again! They should be ashamed of themselves for making life even harder for people with disabilities. They are not worth the hype and I know many neighbours who refuse to support them because of their rudeness. Good luck because I don’t think you will last with your attitude. I also want to point out that you are literally standing around open bags of bread as your waiting to pay and that cannot be very sanitary. While your worried about my service dog that I’m carrying, perhaps you should be concerned with the number of people coughing on your bread with no projective barrier that prevents people from breathing/ coughing on it and kids touching the loaves! Jules and Thobors Bakeries on Mt Pleasant are far superior bakeries in our neighbourhood to get...