Plearn Cafe — Restaurant in Toronto

This is a fairly new cafe on Gerrard St and the name comes from the combination of 'play' and 'learn' which I found to be a bit misleading. I stumbled upon it recently and admittedly, I've walked by this location quite frequently and never noticed it as it's 'off the beaten path' so to say. Given the name, I thought it may be similar to a board game cafe, or with more to offer, aside from food and drink. They have a selection of 'standard' caffeinated drinks that you'd find on any menu, although I found these to be overpriced for the overall quality, after having tried the Cappuccino for $5.50 and the 'Heavy Cloud' cold brew for $7.50. They have an alternative drink menu with more of an asian-ingredient focus, although these aren't really my cup of tea. Speaking of which, they also have a tea menu, which is limited, and also pricey at $5.95/cup. I tried the cinnamon black tea which is flavoured with cinnamon, and star anise, although it tasted like an average tea you could prepare yourself. They do also have a food menu, although I thought the offerings to be a bit unusual; for example, they have a peanut curry chicken and coconut noodle pork, then they mix it up with croffles. They also have a selection of more Asian and Thai themed desserts such as custard buns and cookies, although I did not try. Overall it's a cute new cafe and I'm happy to support local businesses; however, it's in a bit of a difficult location and unless this becomes a 'destination place' known for its offerings, it may be challenging for them going forward. Best...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Plearn, a cafe located in the heart of the city. Overall, I had a very nice experience and would highly recommend this spot to anyone in the area.

One thing that immediately struck me about Plearn was the vibe of the place. The decor was very trendy and modern, with lots of plants and unique light fixtures. There was also a great selection of music playing in the background, which added to the overall ambiance. I felt like I was in a very hip and cool spot, which was a nice change of pace from some of the more generic cafes in the area.

The food and drinks at Plearn were also top-notch. I ordered a Cloud Latte, which were delicious. The coffee was expertly brewed and had a rich, smooth flavor. I appreciated that the menu offered a good mix of classic breakfast items and more unique options, so there was something for everyone.

The only downside to my visit was that the space felt a bit cramped. While the vibe of the place was great, there didn't seem to be quite enough seating for the number of customers. I ended up having to enjoy my drink while walking outside (which i didnt mind since the sun was shining). I imagine that the space could get quite crowded during peak hours, so it might be best to plan your visit accordingly.

Overall, I would highly recommend Plearn to anyone looking for a trendy and delicious cafe experience. While the seating situation could be improved, the overall vibe and quality of the food and drinks more than make up for it. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm...

I tried emailing Le Lert first as we genuinely had a good experience and food there so this is solely a review on the new Plearn location. When they were on Gerrard St E, I thought everyone was super pleasant and would even get drinks to-go.

However in early July (3rd?) I went to pick up my friend at the new location who was finishing up some work, and the guy working at the cafe (usually sits by the door on his laptop) told me it closes in 15 mins, which is fine, I didn’t plan on being there for long as I was just grabbing my friend to go home together. I got a drink to-go from the very nice barista at the cash register, and waited for my friend. At 8:56 PM the guy starts mopping, which was odd because people were still going into Le Lert (which you have to enter through the cafe) and making steps in the spots he just mopped, but ok… He eventually gets to where I am, standing in between two tables and the back bench, and says “Can you move?” while literally blocking the only way out for me where all the floor was already wet. I responded “move where?” and he just complained that he already told us they were closing soon. Ok… it was 8:58 and we left at 8:59, and again there were still people like a maintenance staff entering the area. This made a casual experience very deterring and I wouldn’t want to come back if his attitude is still like this. The music choice is also extremely off-putting.

I passed by yesterday at 9:20PM and saw two people sitting in a booth, so who knows if this was a one off or if it was just because the guy...