TLDR: cash only, try the coffee, touch the wall garden, amazing food. Good coffee, lunches make me feel healthy, decor/ambience is simplistic with a touch of hipster - definitely my place. It's spacious, white everything, and there's one wall where it's a growing garden forest thing. LOVE it. As a student looking for some healthy food, this is the place to go. They have very appetizing and filling salads (get the sesame dressing). I've tried a bunch of things (lobster bisque, grilled chicken breast salad, roasted mushroom salad, smoked duck breast salad, smoked salmon and caviar baked potato), but my favourite has to be: Bacon and Oesen Egg Baked Potato (9.5) - so savory and so good. All the protein, and all the veggies (potato is a vegetable right?) Cotton Candy Coffee - ya like all the photos on here, this thing was so bomb. More of a novelty, it's cool to have just once to see how the cotton candy dissolves so quickly when coffee is poured on it. Also it looks like you're doing an experiment so you look real cool. One star off because of cash only and that the wait for food can be quite a whole (~20 minutes) at times. Will definitely be back to try all the sweets! read more

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A lovely cafe on the picturesque Baldwin Street. I think a huge draw is how versatile of an option it is. You can enjoy savoury soups and sandwiches or just come for dessert (or do both!). They have plenty of beverage options with several unique lattes and a fabulous selection of teas. There is free wifi, so this makes it a great place to do some work or to just come and catch up with friends over a coffee or a meal. The aesthetic inside is perfect for any instagrammer out there. There's a wall of plants behind one of the rows of tables that brightens up the whole interior. The kitchen is open concept adding to the atmosphere. I would recommend trying one of the teas - you get an entire pot with free hot water refills to steep as many times as your heart desires. We had the Spadina blend (as in Toronto's original Chinatown), and there are plenty other unique kinds to try. read more

Light Cafe - Euro fudge chocolate tart - as delicious as it sounds - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Light café is an amazingly bright and beautiful space to eat. It seems to serve a large variety of lunch foods such as soups, salads and sandwiches as well as some interesting and creative drinks. I had a dessert that you can get from the fridge at the counter. They have a few mousse and macaron options. I would say the food is pretty average, I found the desserts really sweet but the decor and ambiance is great. My friend had a cotton candy coffee and the ingenuity of that dish is awesome. You pour the coffee over the cotton candy and add milk. Great place for beautiful pictures and a quiet lunch. I just wish they had more of a selection of baked goods and desserts. I would rather eat food elsewhere and come here for a dessert. Pros - decor/ambiance - service Cons - pricey - average food read more

Light Cafe - interior shot! - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

It surprised me to see the low ratings here because I actually thought this cafe was a hidden gem! It's easily accessible, service is both friendly and fast, food is tasty (a little overpriced but that's okay), and tea was tasty and they refilled water with no complaints!! The decor is every Instagram bloggers dream- with white stone finished tables to wall covered with living plants, this place has a super cool vibe that's definitely friendly for dates or friends hang out! Only thing is that it's cash only but they have an ATM right in store so it's not a huge problem. read more

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got 2 brunch boxes with the pulled pork sandwich. amazing quality and the portion was great for its price. it was about $20-$25 i believe and it filled us right up. big fan of the pancakes, fries and the vinigarette on the salad. highly recommend! read more

Light Cafe - brunch boxes both with pulled pork sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My friends and I came here post-drinking the night before and were looking for something light and new to try. This place is awesome! The menu consists of a creative asian fusion of canadian style brunch and the atmosphere is nice with marble tables and a plant wall. Definitely want to the the okonomiyaki waffle fries and the pastas next. Would recommend for a nice brunch with your friends :) read more

Light Cafe - (Top to bottom) Seared Tuna Croissant with sesame & dill mayo, Earl Grey Waffle, Mushroom Truffle Croissant yum - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This has definitely been one of the restaurants on my bucket list. I came with my friend and we both left satisfied, money wise and stomach wise. I ordered the vanilla ice cream coffee and the truffle mushroom croissant. The latter came first and I loved the way the ice cream added a sweetness to the drink, different from simply sugar or honey. The truffle mushroom croissant came with a small fruit salad on the aside as well as green salad. The croissant was flaky and soft while there was an abundance of mushrooms with a delicious truffle mayo spread on the inside. It was light yet filling. But it wasn't filling enough so we ordered the charcoal black sesame waffle with mochi. The most amazing part about this dish was how the mochi was inside the waffle as opposed to laying on top. This gave the waffle a soft chewy texture which accompanied the heavier flavour of sesame and sesame sauce on top. I highly recommend trying this dish when coming. Overall, The Light Cafe has great prices with delicious foods and a nice ambiance. It wasn't too loud or too quiet. The decor was neat. The service was great. The wait wasn't long, either for a table or for food. I will definitely come back in the future to try the rest of the menu. read more

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Light Cafe... I call it IG Cafe. It's super aesthetic. They have a plant wall, white stone, dark wood, bright lights and a floor to ceiling glass front. Completely on trend. Their menu items are impeccable arranged and ready for cameras if your shutter-fingers aren't fulfilled by all the surroundings already. That being said, it's meh. I came here a few times since it's opened, usually to bring people who haven't been here yet. The service is alright, nothing extraordinary. The food and drinks, meh for the price you're paying. I've gotten a regular latte, the infamous cotton candy coffee, and fruit infused teas... they don't taste like anything you can't get from Starbucks and they cost $2 more for less quantity. For food I've had the smoked duck breast salad (which I actually like and have gotten 3 times but damn it's pricey) and I've had their also infamous black waffles... which tasted like normal waffles.. but black. Overall, you come here and you pay for the ambience and the presentation. It think it's great for a casual business lunch or maybe a first date. It's casual enough because it's a cafe but nice enough to take someone of importance. read more

This place is cute. I really love their trio of Creme Brulee. It's a very good deal. Their waffles look great but I find the batter very bland and they are very cheap with their syrup. Their drinks are ok...but I have had better. If you order a slush be aware that their blender is quite weak therefore you will be munching on ice. They are usually short staff. They have 1 server for the entire restaurant so she is always running around and never refill your water. By the way, you get a tiny shot class of water and it's hard to get the servers attention to refill. I have been to this cafe several times and we always have the same problem. They also only accept cash and don't always have change for their customers. I saw the server tell a group next to us that they had zero $5 and the customer had to go out and get change themselves. It's still a cute cafe even with all the flaws. read more

Coffee sweetened with cotton candy ...so innovative and so delicious. The place was also super clean and spacious. The price was a fair and you absolutely get your money's worth. read more

Light Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I'm reviewing the Ritual takeout lunch order I got. I got the onsen egg risotto. For what it's worth, it's a pretty worth-it combo if you come during lunch; they give you a free latte as well. I didn't know this was a sit-down restaurant; if I had known, I would have gone earlier and given it more time. I thought the onsen egg was cooked really well; when I poked into it, it fell apart and spread all through the risotto. Delicious! There was also a great amount of cheese in the rice. However, when I took a bite of the rice, it was actually incredibly salty. Maybe that's how they intended to make it, but it was actually really really salty. The latte was surprisingly delicious. I loved how foamy and creamy it was. I'll come back here for lunch for another dish! read more

If you're looking for "light" lunches and is conveniently close to the University of Toronto, Light Cafe is the perfect place for you. At Light Cafe, they have made their mark in the Baldwin Village in downtown Toronto in order to provide some delicious varieties of food for students, citizens and general public alike. At the entrance of this establishment, it was actually hard to realize that the place I was entering was Light Cafe - so be aware that the entrance is a bit obscure. There's a larger and more evident sign on top of light cafe with a panda, which caught my eye first before I realized the place in front of me was Light Cafe. Keep that in mind when you're visiting this cafe!The menu arrived at our table on a clipboard, which I thought was an interesting touch to the dining experience. It was beautifully decorated and displayed professionally taken photos of the food selections Light Cafe has. During this afternoon visit, my partner and I were able to sample 5 different items which were popular choices at Light Cafe.We started off with Lobster Bisque, which was beautifully crafted with its orange and cream palette. Served alongside it was fresh garlic bread and salad that was tossed with a house sauce. This soup was really refreshing and tasted very creamy - a must for a soup like this. In addition, it paired very well with the garlic bread on the side which made the appetizer a great start to our lunch that afternoon. I didn't have a taste of the salad, but my partner only had positive things to say about how fresh it was and how it was a great choice to have on the side. An additional appetizer that we received was the Pulled Pork Baked Potato - which had been perfectly presented to us on a nice wooden board with a side of sour cream and salad. The pulled pork was infused in cheese and had garnishes of onions, cilantro and other greens. This appetizer alone was quite filling, and can be shared between 2 people (1 potato per person). With the sour cream, this appetizer was a delicacy served warm and fresh. If you thought that the starters were enough - the waitress came out with three amazing entrees for us to dine on as well! Displayed on the table were Smoked Duck Salad, Marinara Spaghetti and Spicy Thai Chicken Spaghetti.  Both the Marinara and Spicy Thai Spaghetti were carefully placed into their china and served with garlic bread. Light Cafe does not disappoint with their presentation and aims to please the feast for the eyes, as well as the feast for the stomach! The spaghetti was great and the sauces were fresh, however I would have enjoyed it more thoroughly if the spaghetti noodles were thinner. Perhaps this was something that could have been requested beforehand and I didn't know, however it was something that I noted during my experience in the cafe. The Smoked Duck Salad was truly a beautiful piece of art - I was a bit hesitant to eat it just because I would ruin the plating! Served atop a bed of fresh greens were slices of smoked duck, which were displayed perfectly on the side. What was interesting about this salad is that it also had fruits inside! Besides your classic tomatoes, there were also tangerines and what seemed to be mangoes. This added a sweetness to the salad that blended nicely with the spring greens and the house sauce that came on the side for you to pour into and mix altogether. Check out foodieutopia(dot)com to see other reviews like these! read more

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Overall - 3.5/5.0 Taiwanese cafe in the heart of Kensington Market just right beside Arctic Bites. This place serves up quite a variety of things from croissants, soups, salads, waffles, crepes to various tea/coffee drinks and smoothies. Philly Steak Croissant - A heads up that this can get quite messy to eat but overall it was decently executed. The croissant was decent though it could have been a bit more moist and buttery on the inside. I would prefer having less cheese and a bit more onions to cut through the saltiness as the cheese somewhat overtook the rib eye steak. The mango salad as well as the spinach salad were nicely dressed. Choco-Banana Waffles - The texture of the waffle was quite different. It was more on the stiff and chewy side versus crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. However, it does hold up well with the ice cream as it does not get soggy overtime which is good. Flavour wise, the waffle could have been a bit more intense but perhaps this is how they intended it to be. Brûlée Latte - This is one item that fell short from the rest. The espresso shot that was pulled is not that intense and the micro foam definitely needed work. Also it came with two arrowroot cookies that was store bought from Mr. Christie which totally dragged down the overall impression. Service was attentive for the most part and quite friendly. Decor was quite nice in the front section. It is brightly lit as well as having one wall covered with living plants. I felt the back portion of the cafe was a bit dark and could add in more lighting and decorative items to keep the overall experience consistent. I would come back to try the other sandwiches as well as their soups. read more

Light Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This place is great! We came here right at noon and were the first ones there. However, within 5 minutes people started coming in that eventually it filled up the café. Even though I knew their cotton candy coffee was nothing special but I still wanted it. It's a cute concept. I heard their truffle mushroom croissant was delish so my bf and I both ordered it. Our food and coffee came in a timely manner. The mushroom croissant was absolutely delicious! But it can be a bit messy to eat, so do use the knife provided! Their salad dressing is really good, I chose the yuzu dressing and it made the salad very tasty. Definitely recommend this place, however they only accept cash which sucks if you don't carry cash all the time! read more

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Light cafe is an extremely cute restaurant that serves a variety of items from croissants to pastas to even baked potatoes. We tried the Smoked Salmon Masago Pasta and the Truffle Croissant. Both were delicious for a quick meal. The croissant was very delicious! Their dessert menu looks very unique and appealing as well. read more

It's picture perfect. And that's all. It's a very cute place with very Instagram friendly food but it was a huge disappointment. I was so excited to try this place out, I went with my girlfriends and we ordered almost everything on their dessert menu. But none of us liked the food. The presentation is amazing but the taste is at best Blahh . I'm happy that I tried it and took pretty pictures but I won't go back. read more

Located in a very nice neighbourhood with Arctic Bites and Kekou around. Atmosphere and setting of Light Cafe gives me a Taiwanese Cafe feeling with very pretty decor and natural lighting. When my friend and I got there on a Thursday afternoon for late lunch, the cafe was pretty packed already. We order a Smoked Duck Brest Salad and you get to pick your choice of salad dressing out of 4 different kinds which were: yuzu, sesame, mustard soy and their house special (strawberry vinaigrette). We got the sesame dressing with the salad...it was AWESOME! We also got the clam chowder soup on its own. It was actually very overpriced considering the quality of the soup. The soup was $5.75. So we thought that could be a skip. Ordered the Lobster Rolls which came with a little bit of salad and fruits. It wasn't bad but I probably wouldn't order it again. Lastly we got two coffees, the Light Cafe Special and Cotton Candy Coffee. They both came in big plates and super nice set up. However, I feel like it was just normal regular coffee but no doubt they were super cute and creative. I feel like the cafe is a little bit over priced for the food and coffees provided. However, it has really nice ambience and atmosphere. A great place for friends to chill! read more

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Not bad at all! I thought this place would be over hyped since a lot of my foodie friends have been here and I've seen all the ig pics. I can't say the food was MIND-BLOWING but I would definitely come again. Went here to try the strawberry ice cream waffle - it's a lot of dessert (but not so much that you won't finish :P). They definitely do not cheap out on the amount of ice cream lol. I also tried the earl grey rose latte which was super yummy and not watered down at all. My friends had the mango waffle and the truffle mushroom croissant and enjoyed them very much. I really have nothing bad to say about the food! A tiny downside is how long you potentially have to wait for your food to be prepared (20+ minutes for me). But again it won't affect you much if you're just chilling with friends! read more

Light Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

So a friend of mine took me here. It's a Taiwanese inspired café. The atmosphere and the presentation of their items are beautiful and contemporary. The coffee itself is just average. I ordered the cotton candy coffee. They coffee in one bottle and milk in another. There's an empty cup and a ball of cotton candy. The point is to place the cotton candy in the cup and then pour the coffee over it to dissolve it. It's a fun way to have a nice cup of coffee. If you order the light cafe special it's simply coffee and milk in giant glass tubes. We also ordered the tiramisu latte and red bean Au lait. Red bean Au lait was actually better tasting than the coffee and lattes though presentation was simpler. Great for groups, studyin (they have wifi). Unfortunately it's cash only. read more

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Very cute little cafe with the cutest interior! Love the lights and vertical garden, its the perfect place to come on a date or just to study! I got the iced peach tea and it was the perfect sweetness and the fruits were a nice touch. The mushroom truffle croissant was DELICIOUS!! And the salad with the yuzu sauce was light and tangy. Service was great and they gave us 10% off because the wait was longer than usual, it was very nice of them. The only small complaint I have is that I could smell the garbage from the back, it was very strong and unpleasant, hope they don't open it next time with customers in the restaurant. Overall very good! read more

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I'm a little disappointed with the lobster roll. This place was really hyped on tiktok so I decided to give it a try, but it did not meet my expectations. I'm not saying the place is bad but it was only okay in my opinion and for the time I had to wait, I would say it wasn't worth it. I also ordered the lobster brunch too, but I do not think it is worth $25 dollars. It was smaller than I expected. read more

Light Cafe - Lobster roll - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Wasnt expecting much, only came cause the food looked pretty But was surprised by grilled wasabi chicken sandwich and the ham croissant! They were great. Was disappointed by the texture of the oreo smoothie though. Would definitely come again. read more

Light Cafe - Wasabi grilled chicken sandwich Blackforest ham croissant Vanilla rose black tea - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Came here on a Friday night with a friend for dessert. We ordered the earl grey waffle and added a sesame ice cream on the side to share. I loved the texture of the waffles, it was soft and chewy. There was the perfect hint of earl grey flavour infused in the waffles. The vanilla ice cream was very milky, just the way I like it. Service was friendly as well. I would definitely come back for another waffle. read more

Light Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Let me sum up my dessert tasting at Light Cafe: Prompt service, courteous staffs, tasty and creative French inspired desserts, hippish/trendy vibe in a chic/modern cosy environment. Pretty much a quaint little sweet spot in downtown to catch up with friends and indulge in some desserts. The only downside is probably the only method of payment- cash.... so come with an empty stomachs and a wallet full of dough ! Definitely a re-visit is in the plans... read more

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Light cafe is a great place for a small chat. Relaxing environment. Great coffee. Sweet black sesame waffle but over-fried chicken wings. read more

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I have never met such rude, apathetic waiting staff. I have eaten here a couple times because the food is mediocre and I thought that the waitress I had the first time was just an anomaly but I was absolutely wrong. Everyone who works there is so rude and disrespectful to the customer. The cafe gets annoyingly loud as well just with how the tables are organized. The menu has nothing special. You can make the same food at home or buy it premade from your grocery store and way better quality. There is nothing to set this cafe apart so there is no point dining here. read more

If you ever want a chill place to relax but with some menu items that will wake up your tastebuds and take you to a whole new level, this is the place to come. I tried the black bean waffles with vanilla ice cream and sesame sauce. The waffle has just the right amount of sweetness when you add a little dab of ice cream to the top and the sesame sauce has a certain aroma that just compliments the tastes so well! I've tried the Italian sodas and they are a bit pricey but for the presentation and fresh ingredients, it's well worth it. I've taken my dad and then my grandparents and we all loved it! read more

Really interesting place given the location. It reminds me of those fancy bubble tea places (the classy ones uptown, and not the grungy cramped ones downtown). It is quite girly and would be a nice place to take a date, if your date were Asian (this is exactly what a friend of mine said). Our service was good. We ordered drinks and sandwiches, which came with a side of salad and fruits. The food is very girly type foods that are excellent for picking at, say, on a date. It was such a beautiful day when we came and it was a shame that Light Cafe did not have a patio. It was rather hot inside because the AC was not running properly. Oh, okay I forgot that they only accept cash. They have one sketchy looking ATM at the back, which didn't work when I tried to take money out. I maybe would have had to do dishes if my friend wasn't there to pay, in which case it was convenient that they had an open position. read more

Living wall!? Yes! Such a lovely atmosphere inside and their teas are all so beautiful and lots of salad choices and pasta. My berry tea was so beautiful my friend saw it and changed her mind and got it too. But mine had berries in it hers somehow didn't. My sukiyaki pasta was underwhelming but I didn't expect too much for food flavour at these cute looking tea places that serves food. Service was very good the waitress was so attentive but at one point I was worried she was trying to get rid of us because she was soooo attentive in putting dishes and glasses away the second we were finish but the place still had room. I think she was just eager or bored lol and no she wasn't kicking us out I'm just not used to that. Would definitely go again and my friend suggested it bcos she cans already and liked it! read more

Light Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is a cute cafe in a cute neighbourhood. The food and coffee is average but presentation is fantastic. They spare no expense in using all kinds of wooden trays and spoons to make sure every item photographs well. I enjoyed chatting there with a friend, the environment is great. I would come here again. read more

Came to light cafe to order desserts for two but service was extremely slow, kitchen understaffed

A very cozy nice place to drop by and have some food. They have a wide categories of dishes, including salads, sandwiches, pastas and pastries desserts, and also many choices of beverages. The truffle mushroom croissant was normally yummy and the corn soup was great. The mille feuille was very crispy. read more

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Creme Bruleé: coffee, matcha and tiramisu. Very creamy and flavourful with a sugary caramel crust. Definitely satisfied sugary cravings. read more

Light Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Stylish cafe with a nice, quiet atmosphere for catching up with friends or working. The coffee isn't special but the way they serve it is. Everything is beautifully put together, a feast for the eyes. Will definitely come again. read more

Light Cafe - Light cafe special - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Love this place. Their sandwiches are delicious especially the truffle mushroom croissant. The salads are also divine. A little pricey (2-3$) more than I would expect but still would come back as it is quite tasty read more

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3.5/5 Light Cafe is a cafe that has plenty of natural lighting, decor is an instagrammer's dream! Marble dining tables with cute lights hanging from the ceiling and a faux green space in the background give an atmosphere where you're whisked away to an afternoon in Europe. I've been here on two separate occasions: 1st time with my SO and the second with a close friend of mine after grabbing a drink. Menu: the menu is extensive - with a range of hot foods, sandwiches, salad, and desserts. Mini pizzas and sandwiches are both served with a choice of 2 mini salads served in ramekins. Their yuzu dressing is the perfect accompaniment to the bitterness of the mixed greens. I got the cotton candy coffee and I felt that the coffee was more on the watery side. I did it for the gram... Black sesame waffle was my favourite and I really enjoyed the strong sesame taste of the ice cream. Next time I come here, I'd like to try their fruit teas and the mille feuille For someone who is paying close to $20 every time she comes here, I would expect service to be more attentive. During peak hours, there is only one server, and needless to say, he's not the most attentive (although attractive..) Min. spend of one drink or one dish to detract from those just sharing a plate. read more

This place probably wins for most instagrammable cafe in Toronto. We ordered a strawberry waffle, fruit chamomile tea, and the earl grey rose latte. Overall I had a pretty good experience, the food looks better than it tastes. read more

Light Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Overall: The dessert was not worth the price and the waitress was rude. The food options have nice presentation, but I find it quite gimmicky. Location: on Baldwin Street a couple minutes away from the subway. Price: $12 for some waffles and ice cream. The waffle was probably only as big as my hand. Their coffees are also very expensive. $6 for the deconstructed coffee, which is coffee with milk and cotton candy (which is like a spoonful of sugar). Gimmicky! Food: The sesame ice cream was decently good and we enjoyed it, however it wasn't worth the money. Service: We were waiting for a friend in this near-empty cafe, and the waitress was very rude in asking us when the friend is coming. After our friend came, I think she was trying to redeem herself by acting extra nice. At least she tried! read more

Nice cafe in downtown. It is so pretty! Worth the travel to DT. We had salad, spaghetti, waffle and Taiwanese tea. read more

Light Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The decor is amazing. From the plant wall to the lights hanging from the ceiling, everything about Light Cafe is really cute. I went there on a Saturday afternoon. It was quite busy, and we had to wait 30 minutes to get a table. Once seated, we were given menus (super cute!!! fit with the aesthetic) and I ended up getting the strawberry waffle (a classic) and the earl gray rose latte. The waffle was delicious and had an amazing presentation. If you're planning on going, you have to get the waffle. Perfect for sharing. Aside from the long wait, this place is great! It's a cute cafe that's perfect for catching up with friends or going on a nice date. I will definitely be coming back! read more