Posted by Lisa Tai in restaurant review, sandwiches on December 3, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Get Real! Café
135 Ossington Avenue
416 532-4564
Lunch for two including all taxes, tip, and tea: $29
It was a rainy day, and I was cold and hungry; I yearned for a safe haven and comfort food. As I walked hurriedly down Ossington Avenue toward Queen Street West, a cozy refuge presented itself to me. I excitedly entered the world of Get Real! Cafe, a decision I will forever be thankful for making.
Offering gourmet and basic salads, deluxe and open-faced sandwiches, and a Hot Pot option, this weekday menu was a dream come true for me. It can be challenging to find equally delicious vegetarian/vegan and affordable food in an unpretentious environment in Toronto. This is just the type of spot I'd love to visit on a Sunday for brunch (for which they have a separate menu), though I'm sure this tiny space must get packed quickly.
The friendly and knowledgeable server informed me that the Hot Pot Daily Special ($9) was an Ethiopian Stew, the quiche was a spelt crust broccoli and cheese, and the Soup of the Day, always vegan, was Cream of Asparagus ($4). The option to add soup ($3) or salad ($4) to a sandwich to make a combo solved my problem of having to choose. Initially, I had wanted soup, so I opted for the burrito as its partner.
A beautiful spring green, the soup arrived almost immediately. Organic corn bread (just $1 aside a regular- sized $4 soup) would have been such a wonderful accompaniment, but I did not want to be too full to enjoy my main. This bowl of instant comfort was delicate enough to eat as part of a combo, but had enough depth to be enjoyed on its own. The slightly sweet aftertaste and the pulpy texture made this more than memorable.
The grilled whole wheat tortilla burrito, brimming with a filling of beans, tofu, quinoa, veggies, avocado, rice cheese, carrot and greens, was definitely not your average wrap. Served with salsa and chipotle sauce, this twist on a Mexican classic, was hearty, satisfying, and unbelievably inexpensive. The salsa may have been a but too bland for some, but I appreciated that it was fresh.
Get Real! brings in their desserts from local baked goods specialists New Moon Kitchen and Sweets from the Earth. According to the menu, Alana and Erin provide us with these vegan selections: it's what they do best. Good decision, since it means that the Get Real! cooks can do what they do best.
I attempted to pick the healthiest dessert, but chocolate had definitely been calling my name. In the end, Sweets’ Double Chunky Chocolate Cookie ($1.50) screamed the loudest. This wheat-free gem melted on my tongue as the soft chocolate cookie and the dark chocolate chunks competed for my attention. The verdict? Mmmmmm. Unfortunately for my waistline, its rich decadence made me look forward to eating another one at another time.
A great place to sit and read a book over a pot of tea ($2.50), or to grab a quick healthy and filling meal en route, this comfortable café with its sociable staff could very easily be considered a home away from home.
Certainly, it doesn’t get any more real than this.
