Coffee at Ella's Uncle

It's a tiny coffee shop on Dundas West between Bellwoods and Claremount.

Pretty simple layout to the place there's a room with a counter in about the middle. The staff are one side and the customers are on the other. It's got a bit of a retro kitchen feel, with the black checkerboard tile setup. There are some counters along the window and one of the wall with stools (seats 8 or so). The other wall has the sugar, cream, milk etc. There's a print of some streetcar track being laid from way back. They usually have music playing. The times I've been there they've played Beck and Marvin Gaye. Combined with the service, it gives the place a pretty laid back feel.

The place is pretty busy on the weekends and you can see the hipster douche bags out. But during the week days its not as busy especially in the early afternoon.

I'll have to admit my first visit was really disappointing. I had an Americano that tasted like it was made at Starbucks. However, they do have a very skilled guy working the machine, his coffee is substantially better. He's got a beard. I'm not sure if they've got a bigger crew working the machine, it looks like a pretty small operation. In any event, the Americano here when its made properly is quite good. There's a decent thickness of crema on it, which suggests that the espresso would be worthwhile. They also make a really good iced latte if your into that sort of thing. They can sweeten it for you as well -- to your preference. I'll have to say that I prefer this one to the stock iced latte you can get at Manic Coffee, which doesn't taste as good (at least to me) unless you get it with soy milk. The prices are really reasonable, a small Americano for $2 and nothing over $4 for the larger size -- lattes, machiattos etc.

There's a dark skinned woman who bakes stuff, I haven't tried any of her stuff yet but it looks pretty yummy. I guess that most (if not all of) the treats they sell are made in house.

Places like this give me hope. It's worth a look. It's a solid bunny, could be two if it didn't matter who was behind the counter.

Rating: 1 Bunny

Notes on the Bunny Rating System:

• 0 or no Bunnies, it's a waste of time; don't go.
• 1 Bunny, the place is worth checking out.
• 2 Bunnies, you should go out of your way to check out the place; the food is really good and the place is cool.
• 3 Bunnies, you absolutely have to go there; the food is exceptional and the place is really cool