Leslieville is one of my absolute favourite areas to frequent whenever I am visiting Toronto, and I…read morealways walk right past Pilot Coffee Roasters. I never actually tried it before because I was a little skeptical that it might just be hype, but I looked up their menu this morning and saw a matcha called the sticky toffee pudding matcha that caught my eye. I decided it was finally time to go in and give it a try.
The interior is a gorgeous, open, and clean space that I really loved. It was quite packed inside so I could not grab a table indoors, but they still had their outdoor patio open which was fantastic. It was a bit chilly out, but still a beautiful, sunny fall day.
The service completely won me over. The cashier who took my order was super nice, rocking a big smile, super friendly, and very prompt. The barista who made my drink was equally lovely, incredibly enthusiastic, and absolutely radiant. I actually gave her a compliment because some people just glow from the inside out.
I took my order outside, sat down, and took my first sip of the sticky toffee pudding matcha. It was so good. It was not overly sweet at all, featuring a deeply delicious flavor that made it the perfect novelty drink. I also ordered a slice of their chocolate chip banana bread. It did not have any heavy butter or fancy toppings on it, which is normally something I would add myself at home, but it was surprisingly moist, flavorful, and delicious on its own.
Normally when I visit a coffee shop I try to watch my calories, so if I get a pastry I usually only eat half and save the rest. That pastry was so freaking good that I ate the whole thing without any regrets.
While I did not try an actual coffee this time around, usually if a spot can nail a specialty matcha like that, you can count on the rest of their menu being solid. Judging by how packed the place was with a steady stream of traffic coming in and out, it is clearly a great spot. The clean, modern look, open layout, lovely lighting, and prime view of Queen Street East for people watching make it a total winner.
Easily a five out of five experience. I will definitely no longer walk past it, and when I am hanging out in Leslieville, this is officially going to be my go to spot. Sorry to my other regular favorites, but I am hooked.