Seven Shores — Restaurant in Waterloo

I tried to avoid living a subpar review here as Seven Shores has been a place we've enjoyed for years. However, I tried both messaging on instagram and then emailing, but didn't receive a response to either, so I'll share my issue here.

Pros: We enjoy the food at Seven Shores. The sandwiches and spring rolls are especially great and full of flavour.

Cons/recent issue: On our last visit, one of us ordered the Avocado Toast with a salad. When our food was delivered, there was no salad. We waited in case it was coming, but went back up to the counter to inquiry when it didn't. We were told they hadn't heard us say "salad." We explained that the menu says it comes with a side and we had said salad, but they said it didn't and it'd be a few dollars extra to get one. Seeing as we had already paid $15 for some avocado toast thinking it included a side, we didn't bother. However, we looked at the menu again on our way out and it clearly says above the mains that they're served with a side. The avocado toast is listed as a main. Of course the line was long and we didn't want to take up the other customer's time or cause a problem during the busy lunch hour, so I thought I'd just email when I got home to ask about the misunderstanding as it wasn't worth my time. To this day, I'm not sure if the menu was wrong, the server was wrong, or if somehow we misunderstood the menu. I'll add the photo of the menu from the website, so you can decide for yourself.

In the end, the food tastes great, but the prices are on the high side. Be prepared to pay $40 for a very small breakfast or lunch. The atmosphere and service used to be better and have more of a friendly vibe. However, our last visits have us constantly looking for a table for our group of two or four people while the 4 person tables are occupied by one person with a drink, working on their computer for an...

This was my first time visiting Seven Shores and my first impression was honestly just how lovely and cozy it is. From the outside it looks small, but inside it’s surprisingly big with several different seating areas. One room even has a large dining-room sized table surrounded by smaller tables, and there’s art covering the walls, big bright windows, and soft, warm colours that give it an almost Scandinavian vibe. There’s even a kids’ area and baskets of blankets you can borrow. It’s such a pretty space. I can totally see myself coming back on a snowy winter day.

The menu is simple but has a nice variety (it kind of reminded me of Smile Tiger’s menu: earthy and no-fuss). My friend and I both got iced coffees which were super affordable (around $2) and you add your own cream/syrup. We also ordered the cheddar egg English muffin. It was exactly what you’d expect — nothing fancy — but still satisfying and worth the price. I do wish they had more vegetarian options.

Service was really friendly. The staff call out your name when your order is ready. They were really understanding when my friend’s tap payment didn’t work and still let her take her drink while she figured it out. The noise level was medium but still pleasant, and there’s a big outdoor patio with lots of seating too. They also have cute little chalkboard signs when they sell out of items-lots of charm in this place!

It’s also really well located right by Waterloo Square.

Overall it’s a really warm, inviting cafe. I’d definitely come back for a quick bite or to try their soups and salads...

Seven shores is a kind and gentle space to relax and enjoy lunch. It can feel kind of baige, as a Latina, which makes me feel uninspired. It has an internet usuage limitation of 2hrs, but seating seems to be okay for longer, if you don't abuse the space. Sometimes the soup is very good, but sometimes its taste like hippy food and lacks flavour and body. I like the salads. The coffee is Social, a brand from Toronto that isnt very transparent about its practices on their website, but claims to support small farmers in the global south. The locations where they procure coffee are interesting, and worth asking the barista about. I worry about supporting the idea that coffee culture is a space for white saviourism, so I'm causcious, but I heard they may also support a Latin owned brand. My barista has been very knowledgeable about coffee, encouraging of my curiousity, and sharing valuable stories. Hipsterism, or colonialism of fine cultures, often feels uninviting for international people. It's a hard balence between being inviting to locals, and supporting the coffee community. I hope the place gets a bit more diversity in it's staff, who are paid a living wage. The cafe is owned by a group of local cafe lovers. The coffee is quite strong, in comparison to European coffee. Be careful, drink lots of water!! And ask for a latte with one shot, for more milk, if you're used to a...