The Local Cafe is a grab-and-go cafe where they sell sandwiches, wraps, soups, plus fresh coffee, Pluck-brand organic teas and espresso-based drinks better than Starbucks. It's a Centennial College community hub that is open to anyone, not just faculty, staff and students. They have fresh-pressed juices, iced teas, soft drinks, kombucha, yogurt parfait, breakfast sandwiches, etc. Check out their bakery display case for freshly baked goods like scones, muffins or cookies. All made from scratch. Here's what's great about this cafe - your purchases at this cafe support students studying Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, experiential learning at its best. Starting January 8, 2025, The Local Cafe is open on weekdays from 8 AM -- 7 PM (Monday to Friday). They are open on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 AM -- 3 PM until the end of April 2025. read more

Tim Hortons - Birch Bark coffee announcement - Cafes Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

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A wonderful place to have brunch, as their entrée price includes a drink and dessert. The food is expertly made, and the service is warm and genuine, if a little nervous. I really enjoyed the béchamel sauce on the Eggs Florentine, one of the best I've had in my memory. One tip is to take a look at the dessert bar once you have ordered and pick up your dessert first. By the time you are finished your entrée the options may have dwindled! read more

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The Local serves as a training restaurant for students in Centennial College's food-related programs, so customers should adjust their expectations accordingly. The prices reflect this (usually below $20 for a three-course meal) and there's no tipping. The value can't be beat, and for my taste, the food has never disappointed! The menu is updated a few times each semester to showcase local and seasonal ingredients. The decor is simple and there is plenty of seating. 2hrs of free parking are provided, but if you come during college class hours, it may be a little difficult to find a spot. I visit at least twice every semester and love seeing the students become more adept at cooking and serving. What starts as a slow, bumpy, and over-attentive experience at the beginning of each semester transforms into a solid experience by the end. On this visit early in the semester, I enjoyed pork belly, zucchini salad, and apple shortcake. Every dish was seasoned and cooked to perfection, and the freshness of the ingredients really shone through. The pork belly melted in my mouth, and the crunch of pine nuts in the salad added great texture. I will always come back for more! read more

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The Local has changed their brunch concept since my last visit. Instead of it being completely buffet style, purchase of a brunch entree also gives you coffee or tea and a pastry/dessert buffet. I actually like this change. Even though there is less overall selection, as you can see from the pictures the quality of the fewer items is higher and better presented. I really enjoyed the dessert, and there was a surprisingly large portion of deboned, juicy fried chicken in the chicken and waffles dish. As usual, the service is great. It feels good to support students as they learn the ropes of the industry. read more

Was looking for a place to have lunch and came across the Local Cafe. I was really interested when I found out that the entire restaurant is run by students in the culinary and hospitality program at Centennial College and they did not disappoint. You get to choose three dishes (main, side and dessert) for the price between $13-18. They also serve alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Would definitely come again and support the students & see what new items will come up on their menu read more

As a last-minute lunch, my friends and I stopped by The Local Cafe and Restaurant to grab something to eat. We reserved our table through OpenTable, which made the process much easier, all we had to do was give them the reservation name and we were seated within 2 minutes. We were also given the option for a coat check, which was extremely helpful, especially during the winter. In under 5 minutes, we were given the menu (which I was told changes daily), along with some of the promotions that were going on. For drinks, we each ordered a Blueberry Mojito, with an additional Citrus Glory for one of our friends. In short, the Blueberry Mojitos were the best thing we tried at that restaurant. Not only was everything all natural- no added preservatives or super-processed sugars, but it was also at a discounted price!! The mojito had a small hint of mint and lemon, making the beverage the perfect summertime drink IMO. The Citrus Glory was quite good as well; it wasn't as sweet as the Blueberry Mojito, so I would recommend it for people who are looking for less sugary drinks. For our shared sides, we ordered the parmesan pepper fries with garlic aioli dipping sauce. When they tell you that everything that is prepared in the kitchen is prepared fresh, they mean it!! Everything that we tasted had a fresher taste to it. There was no lingering aftertaste of oily film or much bloating after eating either. For personal meals, we all settled for the grilled chicken wings- some of us ordered the chicken to be tossed in honey garlic sauce, others preferred the spicy siracha sauce. Both flavours were served with celery and carrots on the side with homemade buttermilk ranch. I think it's safe to say, and I speak for all of my friends when I say this, The Local Cafe and Restaurant has some of the most delicious food we've tasted from a post-secondary campus. Especially with the price point that they're providing, not only is it extremely affordable ($37 for the 3 of us!!), but their food is more authentic than half of the restaurants that we pay 5x more for. All in all, it's so worth your money, and this is all food that's coming form culinary students! They are always improving, but everything they make is delicious nonetheless. Go give it a try, I know I'll be heading back soon! read more

This cafe and restaurant is run by culinary arts and hospitality students inside centennial college campus. When you enter the restaurant, you are greeted with a big smile. The food is delicious and service was amazing. $18.00 for eat all you can dinner. The tip will be donated towards the student centre of the school. You don't need to give tip if you like so that's a bonus. I tried to ask one of the students what's in the Sangria $6.00 (not included with the fixed price) she was not able to answer and a little nervous. I guess it's her first day so I changed the topic. The dinning experience was great. The drinks came after my 3rd round of plate so that's a little bit slow for me but taste so good. read more

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One star only for the Tim Hortons in the Guildwood village. The staff is slow, unfriendly, unhelpful, and the food is OK, but not worth waiting for. I've been there four for five times and decided it's not for me. However, having said that, it seems to be popular with a few people who grab a coffee and sit outside. It's like a little social club for them so I would give it a thumbs up if you're looking for a friendly coffee klatch. read more

Thought that it would be appropriate to update my review as I recently returned to The Local Cafe & Restaurant for dinner. Their weekday lunch is buffet style, but for dinner, you order off the menu. The menu is constantly updated; this past Friday, the theme was 'tapas.' As such, the menu had a number of small dishes (that were also friendly to the wallet). We ordered a number of items from fries with homemade ketchup to steak to chocolate lava cake. Now to the weekend brunch... that'll be my next time read more

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I am a huge brunch lover, so why have I never heard of this place? This amazing concept opened in November 2017 (I am more than two years late to the game)! The staff are all students, but overseen by chefs, instructors and managers. Knowing this, we went in with open minds and some patience. One side of the restaurant has large windows, which offers incredible light for taking IG worthy pictures! The décor is minimalist, with an open kitchen. Seating consists of booths, tables and chairs. I was immediately drawn to the table settings - super cute glass carafes, mason jars and Le Creuset mugs! The dinner plates were multi-colored, so we made a point to pick different ones for our pictures! While the food selection is limited, the items are well prepared, sourced from local ingredients and made from scratch. The presentation was very impressive. Although it's a buffet, the students serve the food to you. Here is a list of our favorites: 1. Pizza - delicious crust, served piping hot from their ovens! 2. Turkey breast - I have "never" tasted turkey so moist! Truly! 3. Omelets - Amazing! Chef Oleg Komarov was standing by, patiently providing instruction. I am an omelet perfectionist and I can spot a dry, overcooked or undercooked omelet in a NY minute! 4. Chicken sausages - these were my favorite, and definitely on the healthy sider. 5. Bacon - the bacon wasn't crispy, but this is just my personal preference. 6. Stir-fry noodles - so delicious that I went back for seconds. 7. Lamb ragu - the meat was very tender and surprisingly had no gamey flavor. 8. Croissants and Danishes - I have tried pastries from some high-end hotels and pâtisseries, and found they can be bread like, and missing the flaky, buttery lamination which I crave! Both were very good; the blueberry cream cheese Danish was my favorite. 9. Raspberry jam - was either house-made, or a darn good quality jam! Just when I thought I couldn't eat another bite, I was surprised with a plate of Tiramisu with the cutest Happy Birthday plaque and a song! We ended our brunch with tea and coffee. How in the world do I choose from 12 flavors of loose-leaf tea? After a heavy and rich meal, I chose ginger for digestion ... good idea! Our server, Sandhu, was extremely attentive and intuitive. He checked on us often, and anytime we looked up, he or one of his colleagues would come over. This level of attention may come across as overbearing, but do keep in mind, the students are learning and very eager to please. In closing, our experience was very enjoyable. There were some minor issues, but nothing worth agonizing over. One of the managers checked on us and was very appreciative of our feedback and comments. The bill states that tips are not accepted, but we could not leave without giving Sandhu a generous tip. They are all very hard working and dedicated staff! Location: Ground floor, residence building of Centennial College | The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts department - Brunch includes tea/coffee - Parking is complimentary (2 hours) - $18 per person read more

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The food is always good here and is served and prepared by the students. The prices are ok and the desserts are always great!

Great variety and current trend foods available. Delicous teas and coffee and a fantastic breakfast sandwich.

Located on Progress and 401 just east of Markham Road. This café the training grounds for the culinary and hospitality students of Centennial College. However, don't let that deter you. This restaurant, although a part of the college, is a great place to dine at anytime. The students are there to learn how to be of great customer service and they really put their hearts into it. From the moment you walk in, youre welcomed warmly. Ive gone to the Local a couple times already for brunch and it is definitely on my top 3 of Go-To's in scarborough. Weekend brunch, is a buffet style. Again, since it is part of the college, the culinary students, come up with great tasting foods! From amazingly spiced and delicious steaks, to perfectly cooked salmon, and not overly sweet desserts. The "managers" of the kitchen and the servers in the front makes sure everything is high standards. It is a great place to take a date, or to even to bring a family for weekend brunch. The drinks they make are also very good. I had the passionfruit mojito (non-alcoholic) and it was great! Everything in this place is high end even down to the tableware, I mean, where have you seen a school restaurant use Le Crueset cups?. The resto also does not take gratuities, but in return, would love to have your feedback as an evaluation of the overall experience. Overall, Im very happy with this place. read more

Tim Hortons - Pan seared black cod - Cafes Near Me - Scarborough, Ontario

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What a terrific brunch experience today at this school of hospitality! An excellent assortment of main course items, sides and dessert. Saturday and Sunday brunch is $18.00 which includes tea or coffee. Other drinks are an additional cost. Taxes are added to your bill but No Tipping. Hospitality students are the chefs and servers while program teaching staff are supervisors. These graduates will fan out into the world after their graduation. This is must try place. Service is great; remember that they're learning the business! Paid parking is available on campus. read more

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If you have a chance to eat here, go for it! The students were welcoming and offered great service. The food was outstanding and would be found at any 5 star restaurant, but we were lucky enough to find it here. Price point was reasonable with the gratuities going towards student scholarships. Hours are limited but worth fitting it into your schedule!! read more

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I came here with fellow Yelper Theresa W. for lunch. It's a neat concept where everyone there is a student of the culinary (and possibly hospitality?) school. The food was great, but the service was a little... hover-y. I just felt like they were on top of me the whole time, filling water, asking how everything was, clearing plates, waiting while I paid the bill. It was kind of awkward and uncomfortable. I understand, as there was probably one service person for every diner in the room, and they were probably being graded on attentiveness, but I wasn't quite ready for it. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to go back, as the food was great and I really like the idea of supporting students (do they get paid? I don't know how this works). read more

This is one of those reviews that paibs me to write because its so amazing it deserves the 5 stars but soon it'll no longer be a hidden gem and there will be wait times galore. BUT! It is so worth it to check out. The Local is located on Centennial College campus and is run by their Culinary School. The food is mouth watering good. And it's a buffet. So I mean, there is nothing bad I can say about this place. The service is spot on (they have a LOT of staff for the place I think) - our waters were always topped up, our plates were quickly cleared away, and sorting the bill with our group of four was very efficient. A few bonus notes: - You can reserve ahead of yime through opentable! Yay! - all tips are collected and go towards various projects within the culinary school - they also serve a large variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non. - desserts are not included but I highly recommend you try it anyways! - there's parking in the surrounding short term lots but they are all paid ($1.5 per half hour) I went for a lunch, and they had an amazing garden veggie pizza, grilled salmon, and a taco bar. Staff serve you all the food to keep things clean and tidy. The roasted cauliflower was SO GOOD. The beef for our tacos was perfection, and the peach and roasted pepper salsa was refreshing. Our one pescetarian was very happy with the variety of food. I would come back here in a heart beat and am already planning to bring as many friends as I can. I absolutely love culinary school partnerahip restaurants and am so excited to support this one! read more

Went to this place today for Sunday Brunch with the family. Great spot! This restaurant is located on the Centennial College Campus, and is run by the college's culinary program, therefore the staff are all up and coming chefs and restaurateurs in training, who are being overseen by their more experienced teachers, trainers and managers. The result is an amazing array of fresh, healthy food, at a fairly affordable price. Notably, there are slightly more staff waiting on you and around than a typical restaurant, but they are all friendly and doing their best to simply gain experience in a real working restaurant. You owe it to yourself, (and these students too), to check this place out. This isn't white tablecloth five-star dining, but it's a great way to have an absolutely amazing buffet brunch, for a very reasonable price. According to the staff, the menu changes every 4-6 weeks, so definitely worth revisiting, down the road. Note: There is no free parking nearby, so you'll likely need to be prepared for paid parking in one of the many Centennial parking lots. read more

Came here for the lunch buffet and was pleasantly surprised by pretty much everything! Decor - modern and comfortable Price - VERY affordable ($13.50) Service - nice and helpful Food - amazing quality with plenty of options I was very impressed with all the food offerings. Salmon was moist and perfectly cooked, fried chicken was flavorful and crispy, and the steak was seasoned perfectly. Those were just the standouts but the everything else was great - from the mashed potatoes to all the salad options. I can't recommend this place enough! read more

Nice cafe & restaurant, run by the Centennial College of Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Arts. The servers in the restaurant, cafe, and buffet are generally students. The food in the restaurant is served by students, but it's buffet-style (all you can eat), and most of the food is pretty light and healthy. It's a very affordable and good option for a lunch buffet, and they also serve dinner and weekend brunch. Aside from the buffet in the restaurant, they also have cocktails, coffee, tea, and desserts. read more

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Went for Sunday brunch and I am completely impressed with the quality of food in the buffet. Buffets generally aren't good but this one far exceeds any expectations especially with the $18 price tag. Wide variety of salads,breakfast foods, meats and desserts. Also, tried the red and white sangria and both were very good. I will definitely be going back. read more

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very tasty and affordable. And the service is great they always asking me about the opinions.

Gourmet food for a reasonable price! So in love with this little spot because of one main reason: sustainability ! I reckon very little is wasted during the process of making the food from the classes or for educational purposes to selling it to the public. Daily menu items that are so good like "glass noodle with steak". Sometimes the customer service lacks, but they are learning I would like to believe. read more

Wow! Where do I start....well, it's been voted as the best restaurant to celebrate your birthday in Scarborough! When you walk in, you're greeted by a group of smiling, "waiting for you" Postured students. Eagerly greeting and welcoming you...now that's hospitality! The restaurant is very bright and modern and has lots of seating. The patio is incredible in the summer The lunch buffet is $12.50+tax and it's AMAZING!!! And it's all students cooking the food with couple of sous chefs working in there! Lori (FOH) and the gentleman are one of the most hospitable individuals you will ever meet! A true example for these students. The food is so fresh and diverse. The menu changes every 6 weeks I believe but wow it's really really good! Thank you The Local team for all that you do! read more

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