Posted by Erin Letson in beverages, restaurant review, tea on August 12, 2007 at 8:01 am

Niche Coffee & Tea Company
1364 Danforth Avenue (plus one other location)
416-466-2547
Cost of tea and dessert for two with all taxes and tip: $10

I hate to admit it, but I’m a Starbucks regular. There’s something to be said about the chain’s consistency, their generally friendly service and the convenience of never being more than a block or two away from one. And really, up to this point, I’ve never found an ideal alternative that’s close by. But a few trips to the independently-owned Niche Coffee & Tea Company has me gradually changing my loyalties. And because I enjoy a good cuppa tea just as much as an Americano (and it’s minus the jitters), I was thrilled to taste Niche’s Earl Grey - many cuts above the new-age, guru-approved Tazo crap they serve at the ‘Bucks.

After my first visit to the Queen West Niche, I checked out their website and was excited to read about the “Sugar-High Tea” they offered on weekends. Description: “A tiered platter for two piled high with a variety of delicious sweets and a large pot of premium tea.” Sounds great, right? So when I arrived at Niche Saturday afternoon to find out that the Queen store only offers brunch, I sucked it up and prepped myself for a trip to the Danforth (where their flagship store is located).

Arriving at the Danforth Niche, I wasn’t so impressed with the look of the store. While the Queen location is bright and airy, with high-top tables and a kick-ass back patio (complete with calming waterfall), the Danforth location lacks originality and comfort. It looks too much like it’s trying to be a Starbucks with dark wood, dim lighting, a fireplace and leather chairs. Also, there’s no outdoor space, save for a couple of white plastic chairs out front. Nonetheless, with a calorie-busting bike ride under my belt, I was ready to indulge in some delicious, dainty delights. But when I asked for the Sugar-High Tea, my request was again met with apologies. Apparently, even though it’s listed on the website, they’ve never served it. Ouch. It was a long way to go to be shut down.

After perusing the pastry display, my mood lifted. I ordered a pot of Earl Grey and two large and delicious looking dessert bars - the total coming to a reasonable $8.10. We sat by the window and were quickly served what can only be described as a tea for the urban hipster.

The Earl Grey came in a rotund vintage-looking pot with delicate mismatched china cups and teaspoons, and the squares were cut up and put on a white china plate. The coffee toffee dessert square was extra fudge-y, with crunchy toffee bits and caramel drizzle on top. It was a a bit rich, and we could barely finish our shares, but there was certainly no denying its decadence. The second square choice, a raspberry linzer bar, was more our speed. It had a moist almond-y crust and sweet, slightly tart filling that was nicely complimented by the tea. (It should be noted that the dessert offerings vary from the two locations). And speaking of the tea, its sweet and complex flavour meant there was no need for milk or sugar. The loose leaves, freshly portioned into bags, showed bright chunks of citrus peel. It’s available for sale at both locations, as are Niche coffee beans, divided into blends by neighbourhood (there’s one for the Danforth, the Beaches, Queen West, Little Italy, Kensington and Toronto Island).

Although my quest for Sugar-High Tea was quashed, I was pleasantly satiated by the stellar tea, sweets, and service at Niche. Next up is brunch at the Queen West location, which has a tasty-sounding menu.

So sorry Starbucks... there’s a new game in town, and we'll be seeing less of each other. And if there's any chance of you stealing back my heart, here's a quick tip: ditch the Tazo ASAP.