I went with a group of 12 people just to have dinner on a Thursday - Dec 2010 FYI this is a CASH only place. This is a personal peeve of mine in this day and age. I feel a restaurant of the size and history of Java House should have a credit card & debit machine. Having an ATM that will probably charge $2.00 for transaction fees is not a solution especially for those on a budget. Atmosphere: It was fine. There is the front half of the resto which is more cafe style with table and chairs. We sat in the back half which had booths and a more restaurant dinner vibe. It was dim enough and candle lit which I feel is always a plus. Unfortunately the booth I was sitting in had a spring or something poking through the worn cloth in the middle of my back. In a large group like we were in changing seats would have been too much of a hassle. Service: Was decent. Dealing with large groups I always try to be more understanding (having been *screamed* at by a customer in a party of 20 when I worked at a terrible restaurant in Georgia where we seemed to never have the food we specialized in, or the essential liquors for normal drinks etc) My friend to my left before ordering asked explicitly if the enchilada thingy could be served w/out meat of any sort, or just full of vegetables instead. Server said no problem, I believe in our table she was the only one who a specialized order. Her meal came and there was some meat in it. Once that was picked off, she realized she didn't have any sour cream. She requested some of the server, but the server seemed unable to give her any with her Mexican dish without charging. This to me was ridiculous. Anytime you order a taco, quesadilla, enchilada, burrito or almost any Mexican dish you can expect a heaping dollop of sour cream. As a previous server, I would have not thought twice to go back to the kitchen and scooped some in a bowl or something. Maybe the manager is super strict about such things - but as my friend told the server it should be noted on the menu that the meal does not come w/ sour cream. The server did keep track of our drinks and maintained our waters well, and our meals all came our in short wait. They checked on our table that magical amount of times - not too much to be annoyed, not too little to have us annoyed. Food: I order the Thursday special, an entree w/ premium beer. I choose the Shanghai Noodles w/ shrimp and a Steam Whistle beer for $8.95. The salad that came out before my entree was probably the biggest disappointment of my entire meal. There were maybe 12 large and roughly cut pieces of romaine lettuce, a sprinkling of julienne carrots, and the nice (but very few/small) surprise of bean sprouts. I liked the dressing, not sure what it was though. Looked like a dark italian but tasted more like peanut/Asiatic sauce. My meal was alright. The shrimp had the tails on, which I guess is a positive or negative depending on one's preference (for me I prefer no tail). Only part of my plat principal I didn't like was that the egg over my noodles had not been 'scrambled' into the rest of everything else. It was a fried egg laying on top of my noodles & veges. Not a huge deal, but maybe this was their 'presentation.' It seemed everyone enjoyed their food just enough. Nothing to write home about, but satisfied our hunger pangs. Bang for the Buck? For the relatively cheap prices of their food and variety listed on the menu, you get your bang for your buck. Your food comes out in a plates wanna-be fancy style, decent size portions, in a nice sized restaurant in a funky part of town. Don't expect a thrill. Come for a cool motif painted wall on the exterior, and to fill your belly before a night of drinking. Another place I won't recommend out-rightly, but if someone were to say they were going I wouldn't discourage it. I probably will return because my friend is there often, but will order something like fries and not a whole meal. read more

I know it's weird, but I love the graffiti in the bathroom stalls here. There always seems to be something relevant every time I go in. (On Sunday, it was "You are what you love, not what loves you.") The rest of the place is great, too--inexpensive but tasty food (oh, that avocado and brie sandwich!) and cheap beer. I've heard there's some sketchy ownership deal, but I can't bring myself to care when I'm only spending $4.50 for a pint. read more

Cheap beer, cheap food. Dirt cheap! Do yourself a favour and don't use the washrooms. If you do, you'll need to walk through the kitchen, which will inevitably make you lose your appetite. They make some Thai and Indian-"inspired" food, which is not bad for the price. I find the vegetarian options to be quite good as well. read more

Anton, the manager is completely unprofessional, rude and product knowledge eludes him. When asked, :what's in your sangria?" he stared at me blankly for about a minute and then answered with, "I don't understand your question". He was asked again and his answer was "white or red wine". lol Anyone who's ever had Sangria knows that it's up to the bartender/establishment to decide what juice/soda/wine/fruit goes into the recipe. I let Anton know that I need a minute to think about it. Then another server, Natalie came to take our order. I asked her the same question and she was very professional, friendly and informative. She was able to list all the ingredients in both red/white sangria, down to the fruit. We ordered from her. Antoine re-approached our table and said in an unpleasant tone, "Have you figured it out yet?". It was rude. I vented my frustration with Anton's behaviour to Natalie and even though it wasn't her doing, she apologized on his behalf. It's not my first rodeo at JH. In fact, I've been a regular patron for years. Besides Natalie, there have been other servers over the years that are professional, informative, friendly and understand how to manage and relate to people; essential skills when working in hospitality. Unfortunately, it's not the first time Anton's behaved unprofessionally and rude. Over the years, it seems that he's become even more unpleasant and acts as if he loathes his job/people. I seriously hope the owners will consider promoting Natalie. High praises for her customer service skills, product knowledge, friendly professionalism and excellent service. She could easily teach others how to create a great experience for the customers, not just serve. I also hope the owners will consider this review and take the appropriate action in regards to Anton's behaviour and not allow this to continue with other guests of JH. We won't be back anytime soon. read more

This is basically a place just to go to drink. they have an amzing pato, right on the bustling Queen Street, it is the perfect place to drink and people watch. I went with two friends and we didnt even look at the food menu, most people go there for the cheap drinks and the patio. Why go down the street when they serve 3 dollar beers? read more

my friend took me here when she showed me around Toronto. she's very fond of it, though she pointed out that the service is lackluster. I really enjoyed it. I had a flavorful Asian noodle dish. I was glad to have enjoyed my vegetarian option :) read more

It looks like a bit of a dive, but their nightly drink and food specials can't be beat in the trendy Queen West neighbourhood. While their comfort foods (pastas, all-day breakfast and snacks like grilled cheese) are great, the big winners are their asian-inspired dishes, complete with a Vietnamese coffee for dessert. The patio is huge, and a prime people-watching spot. read more

This place has cheap food and drinks with a menu that can accommodate vegan and vegetarians. It looks a bit run down inside, but it has a nice laid back kind of feel. I recommend ordering dressing on the side for your salad because it is super oily. The burger was good too. We received the meal immediately while we were eating, and were told "thanks for coming, goodbye" midway through our meal. We kind of got the impression the servers wanted us out asap which I found kind of strange. Also note, this place is cash only. read more

The servers here have a real attitude that is quite off-putting. As everyone else has said already "it's cheap" and that's pretty much all I can say about this place. And yes folks you get what you pay for. read more

Worst service ever. The male server is probably the worst ive seen so far. Dont be in hospitality when u have such bad attitude. Not coming back for sure. I gave one star for the food. read more

Unexpectedly ran into it and loved it! Great food very affordable at a patio next to the graffiti area. Cool Molson Canadian lager too!

I love the Java! I eat here often, the food is good and the price is cheap! The service with the Java is on and off, but the servers do an okay job when the place is busy, I love Wednesday nights, Nacho's and beer. I really like there Nacho chips, and their salsa is great. The patio at the Java is amazing in the summer. Their patio is great. Their broccoli and cheese soup, which is available everyday is delicious! Everyone should give it a try. read more

Simple food, laid back atmosphere. My burger was basic but good and the home fries were cooked correctly. My friend got French toast which looked great and was well received. For a quick, cheap and easy bite Java House is great! read more

I stopped in here with a friend after cruisin' Queens St. I had eggs and a Stella! The food is good and a good price, but the waitstaff isn't friendly, at all. I wouldn't go back. read more

LOVE this place! Like someone else said, 4 out of five only because of cash only. Certainly not fancy, but for what it is, it's A +. Good food, good sizes, FANTASTIC prices, excellent daily specials, decent variety of food, pretty good service, too! Love to go here for the patio or for cheap eat and drinks with friends. Recommend the pitcher of sangria to share & quesadillas! read more

I had lunch here with a friend. The food was decently prepared and quick to come out. The Americano was also decent, but I wouldn't come here for the coffee's flavor. The patio was kinda nice except the furniture is cheap, you hear all the noise down Queen street, and bums come up and beg for money while you're eating. So, not terrible, but I wouldn't make it a point to come here again. read more

Been here a couple of times and will definitely return in the future. Despite the skeptical-ism of people, this place has that hipster, Queen West vibe. The pricing is cheap and affordable, with good portions and quick service. All day breakfast options AND daily drink specials?! I love ordering the chicken wings here. They're meaty and crispy. The sauce that you choose is placed in a bowl and thrown on top of the wings (so the wings aren't drenched in sauce, but are served with a decent amount of it). Though I like the indoor seating, there isn't much sunlight that comes into the resto. So, the patio during warmer seasons are a MUST. read more

Very cheap alcohol and food. Perfect for late night hangover when you don't notice the quality. Ambiance is great when the patio is open. Its a great late night dig. read more

Cash only, and dirt cheap. $4 mimosas, draft beer, sangria. oh, and there's that glorious patio with excellent Queen West people watching. The food's not bad - the pad thai is cheap and satisfying - but what you're really there for are pitchers of beer and sangria. read more

The only reason I'm giving it three stars is because this place used to be so much cooler a few years ago. Their menu hasn't changed at all, still the same totally satisfying and extremely affordable food there always was. If you're on a budget, you can't beat Java sandwiches. But they've become less a coffee shop and more of a restaurant over the years. Really touchy about anyone hanging out too long. read more

Terrible food! I got the quesadilla to start, my boyfriend got the penne, and I ordered the chow mein. It was awful I tell you.. The chow mein especially was disgusting. And the sangria pitcher was watered down read more

One of the more popular places in Central King West for the hipster crowd and the patio is almost always rammed in the evening during the summer. Since I switched to a mostly vegan diet in the last 4 months, I was pleased to see a few options on the menu for this. Tonight i tried the vegan style Singapore noodles and added Tofu (an extra $2). It was a big portion with lots of tasty veggies, some tangy sauce came on the side and the tofu was crispy and pretty good. Prices are extremely reasonable and the menu is quite diverse, including a very cheap brunch menu. They have a daily special. It's a bit of a hole in the wall in appearance, but I'll definitely be back for the value! read more

The food at the Java House is pretty terrible, but the atmosphere, tea, large patio and cheap prices make up for it. The bad food seems to be due to every item, from sandwich to fajita, basically having the same cheap ingredients, which is probably why the prices are so low. For $9, you can get an entree, salad and pint of beer. That's one of the better deals you'll find in this city. This is a great place to go prior to going out to a bar or as a quiet spot to talk with friends. There's lots of room for large groups and there's a couple rooms to sit in. They also have a huge selection of tea and an all day breakfast for the day crowd. read more

Good prices. Food is not bad (like the chicken curry on rice). Pints are cheap too. But don't get the wings - they are scrawny!

I have to admit the price and the food portions are pretty decent. The food tastes so good. I had the vegetable stir-fry with tofu and it was so good. The tofu wasn't oily and had a nice crunch to it. I love how they are vegetarian-friendly too. I want to go back again and try more items on their menu. It was the best. read more

Honestly this place is great. Good service, so cheap, and if you stick to the basics on the menu, you won't be disappointed.

I'd give this place four stars if it wasn't for the fact you can't pay by card and the beers I've had from the tap have been a bit dodgy - sometimes flat, sometimes not tasting right. A pint of beer is between $4 and $5 but the quality is sometimes not as it should be, perhaps that's why it's so cheap. The food is fine without being spectacular. Good prices, service is fine, and the music they play for ambience is sometimes pretty good. Everyone that seems to eat here is relaxed and it's a comfortable environment to socialize with friends, even if the decor might not be to everyone's liking. I give it three and a half stars, but Yelp won't let me do it. Doh! read more

Ate here on a whim since it's right on the corner. They had an outdoor table right away. The menu was big, lots of choices, including many vegetarian, local, and organic. The food was fresh with good serving sizes. I had the avocado brie sandwich and my husband had the vegetarian Singapore noodles. Both dishes were great. They serve Mill St. beers and the prices for everything (food and drinks) were exceptional. The only odd thing was that we didn't have one server. It was unusual but all of the waitresses helped us and someone was always available when we needed them. read more

I have been going to this place for years and have been an awesome customer. I'm always nice, always say thank you and always tip. Back in the summer, my boyfriend and I went to Java to have breakfast. Two other friends came by and decided to join us. We decided to leave earlier than the other two people as we both had to work, so we left our money on the table and went on our way. I get an email from a friend who works at Java House a few hours later claiming that my bill wasn't paid. I reassured them that I in fact, left more than enough to cover the bill on the table, and a nice tip. So either, the two people we were sitting with stole our money and took off or our server didn't want to take the blame for an obvious misplacement of money. Either way, I know I paid my bill and I thoroughly explained this to my employee friend. Never heard back from her afterwards, so I assumed they figured out the mistake. Today, went in for the first time in a while, as I felt a little offended of being accused in the summer. I was immediately turned away from service, not by the manager, but by some new server who they were clearly using as their guinea pig to pass information. Really guys? I make more than enough money to pay my bills, not to mention how immature your delivery of "Get the fuck out" was. You could at least have confronted me on the situation like a goddamn adult rather than treating me like a poor criminal. Your breakfast' cost like, 3 dollars a piece(which is more than what they are worth) If I couldn't afford that, then I couldn't afford the clothes I was wearing when I walked in. It's cool though, I have multiple friends that have worked there that have informed me on the restaurants uncleanliness as well as poor management. Your presentation speaks for itself. read more

Cheap and easy. Sometimes you question how it's so damn cheap. Also it has a very diverse menu selection.

This place has a great patio with a very cheap menu of food and drinks. Everything on the menu is below $10 and a pitcher of beer starts around $13ish. It's open late and every time I have been to the Java House, service has been decent. You'll see me coming here in the future. read more

My go to spot on Queen St W to get some delicious food on the cheap. Great daily specials and cheap beer. Cash only, but they have an ATM on site. Fun bathroom graffitti. read more

This place is very similar to one of my favourite restaurants, Red Room! I'm a huge fan of their food and extremely affordable prices. All of these dishes are under $10 and they have reasonably cheap boozer ($3.50 single bar rail drinks, $4 pints). I'll come here again for sure! read more

priced well, good beer on tap at a good price. they only take cash so be aware. I think they have a cash machine but it'll be one of those non bank ones that costs 5$ to pull cash. go here. read more

The current Manager of Java House was the Manager that ran the Green Room into the ground. After 4 closures in a year, they finally closed it down for good. Think twice before you eat here. http://torontoist.com/2010/10/how_the_green_room_got_closed_for_good/ read more

What can i say about this awesome place. This is an absolute staple for anyone to get to if you want that Toronto experience. Low prices across the board. Super quick service and great tasting food and drinks !!! read more

Cheapest restaurant in the city! Tons of food options but its so so. Great for a hangover cure or if you're broke!

The price of the menu sums up the quality of the food... I wouldn't recommend eating here. However you can get a pitcher of beer for $12 and it has a friendly vibe, I would definitely go back for drinks. read more

I like this place. Its inexpensive and the food is great. Yesterday we ordered a BLT and chicken wings. The sandwiches come on REAL BREAD. Looks/tastes like it is baked in house. The wings were great and crispy but they are deep fried and oily, personally I like this but I know lots of people who don't. Its not gourmet, modern or sleek for sure but it is a fantastic little place. read more

Met up with a couple of friends last Saturday. This place gets pretty packed and for one reason only: the cheap drinks. It's definitely not the service that brings people back, as our server lost our food orders and we sat there waiting for 30 minutes. When my food arrived, it was swimming in a questionable brown sauce.The washrooms are also a dingy walk down a flight of stairs past the kitchen. If Java House deserves an award, it's for not being able to separate bills - haven't come across a restaurant that can't do that in eons. I think I'll take my chances elsewhere for a nicer ambiance... and spilt bills. read more