I DEAL COFFEE & WINE — Restaurant in Toronto

Since moving to Toronto, this cafe has served as a "homebase" of sorts. Unfortunately for those reading this searching for insights into the cafe's macha-inspired offerings or specialty breakfast sandwiches, you've come to the wrong man. My order, while as frenquent and reliable as the break of day, is uninspired to say the least.

"Large black drip coffee...yes, just black...no room for milk...that's great, thanks. Oh, sure, yeah, maybe just the scone then, too. Yes, I'm good, thanks. How about yourself? Love to hear it." Save for a few evenings where a glass of lambrussco made its way into my order, this has been my usual exchange for half a decade.

The staff then grabs a mug (really any mug, it seems - although we play this fun charade where I tell them the size of the coffee I want and they nod their head in acknowledgement, and yet whether I say "large," "medium," or "small," the same exact sized mug appears in front of me). It's a puzzle I stopped trying to solve years ago. Now, I merely answer "large" and take the coffee. It's a simple yet friendly exchange that's gone on with about 5-6 staff members over the years; always warm, always as personal as I'd want to get on a Saturday morning (a little, but not very).

But as all true city-dwellers know, the sign of a great cafe is not the service, the setting, or the menu offerings (all of which I Deal happens to deliver in droves). No, instead, it's the potential for quality eavesdropping. I shudder at the fact that I'm betraying myself, that I might be triggering others to put their conversational guard up when sitting on the cafe patio. But as someone who lived on the street for some time, I think it's fair to say those who frequent the Ossington strip are not widely known for their situational awareness. They are the main characters in their own story, the lone voice amidst the city's background noise, the proverbial "Carrie Bradshaws" of Toronto's west side. And for those of us seeking idle gossip to help wash down our "large" black drip coffees, they help make I Deal the most sought-after cafe in the city.

I've heard accounts of nightmare first dates over glasses of orange wine at 1:00 PM on a Thursday, as "Carrie" explains to her gaggle of friends that she might as well give him another shot. After all, she's banned from Hinge (but only because she forgot her password too many times, she'll have us know). I've heard guys pitch vague "projects" to old university aquintances, who look politely at the bare-bones Excel spreadsheet set before them while maintaining a supportive noncommitment. I've listened to sisters debate who would be the better mother and coworkers deliberate how best to leave their sinking ship. Young adults bring their parents here from out of town to explain to them just how safe and cozy the city can be. I've seen ambitious evening plans constructed on Saturday afternoon before slowly divulging into "Maybe we just grab some Pho" before the sun sets. I've heard the type of comfortable, banal chit-chat that only comes 30+ years into a marriage from fit middle-aged couples wearing Loewe and Bode. I've heard break-ups conducted over fresh blueberry muffins. I've listened to promising screenplays (and horrible ones). I've heard family gossip and feverishly desperate networking meetings. Situated amidst an array of west-side restaurants, shops, bars, and parks, the cafe draws in every conceivable character (and conversation) from Toronto's streets.

The coffee is good, hot, and served in a cup sized somewhere between "large" and "medium." The scones are fresh. The service is warm. The lambrussco is worth a bottle if you're so inclined. But the eavesdropping is...

After hearing about this place on Instagram, I decided to make the trip from St Lawerence ( around 45 minutes) .

I am sad to share that I was treated with extreme and undue disrespect and indignity. As Emily, the barista with piercings and reddish/brownish hair.

Firstly she did not greet me and my friend with a smile and went “ what do you want” with a passive aggressive tone.

I didnt think much of it until when I looked for my drink and she started yelling at me in front of everyone “ I CALLED YOU THREE TIMES BUT YOU WERE IGNORING ME”. She had the audacity to not only yell at a customer but to assume that I was ignoring her.

I have had hearing problems.

I told her that this is no way to treat customers in the service industry.

She did not even look sorry let alone apologize.

I asked for the manager and the barista’s name.

She told me her name and said “ Do what ever you want” in an apathetic, passive aggressive tone.

I wish this establishment well. Just wanted to share that I have never been this hurt and unwelcome before as I later saw her making small talk with others at the cafe.

I am not sure if this was because I did not fit in with the usual crowd of the cafe ( I was the only POC there) but regardless of cause the her behaviour is...

Ok ok ok, so it's taken me this long to review Ideal. I suppose it's not even fair—some might even say it's a conflict of interest—so I'll try to keep this clear and unbiased. Firstly, the staff here are the best. It starts from the top, of course, and Julie really sets the standard of what a great business owner should be. The people who work for her tend to stick around for a long time. This is as good a sign as you can get. Since I became a 'regular' (back in 2007), there’s been almost no turnover. I even went to Chris' place on Bloor after he left, which shows you the kind of loyalty they inspire. The coffee is always top-tier—so fresh, and the beans are fantastic. They clearly care about quality. But the secret weapon for me? The breakfast sandwich. I don’t know what it is about it—it’s perfectly simple, yet absolutely delicious. Whether it's the fluffy egg, the fresh english muffin-y thing, or the way everything just works together, so so good. I like to even walk through and not even order anything, just to take the temperature of the neighbourhood, see some friendly faces and fix a leak or two. Ok that part I...