I've been going here for years as I live in the area. The only reason I go back is bcs I love their breakfast cookie. Seriously that's it. The coffee is super-duper overpriced and just 'meh'. The breakfast cookie I'm in love with is overpriced too... just under $8, I usually treat myself 2-3 times a week. I set the intention to just stop, bcs the service SUCKS. Like I said, I've been going here for years... 2-3 times per week. Usually for the breakfast cookie and a coffee... sometimes just the cookie, no one has EVER greeted me... seriously. The person behind the counter usually just avoids eye contact. Staff is unfriendly, not warm at all / or approachable... they look unhappy, like they don't want to be there. Place is super cute, cool music... friendlier, engaging warm, approachable staff needed. Missing a community vibe big time.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Samuel Reyes
Boxcar Social nailed the cozy cafe-bar combo—great coffee, solid cocktails, and plugs everywhere for getting stuff done. Load times? My focus was way faster here than at home. Great spot that listens to what locals need.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Iskander Ajram
Waited in line and completely ignored, waited to place my order for 5 minutes and barista completely ignored me. People came in after and even though knowing I was waiting to be served went onto serving the next person. Wouldn’t go back here.
Service: 1
Star Rb
Love this place!
Miguel
The cortado I had was a bit underwhelming. However, what I liked least was the service. The staff did not do much to make you feel acknowledged or welcome.
Brigitte
The service is hit or miss. Once, a barista was really friendly and made me hojicha the traditional way with a bamboo wisk and little bowl caringly in front of me. Another time, when I politely told a barista, on my way out, that there was a homeless person upstairs who sat in front of me and pulled out a pipe, I was responded to with a sarcastic remark. I didn't mind that the homeless man was there, I understand that we're all human. But the fact that he pulled out a pipe in front of me, and he was sitting right in front of me, and there was no one nearby except someone sitting facing away at the back, made me uncomfortable.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 3
Suzanne Carricaburu
Went with a friend and the atmosphere is super cozy, comfy… good pastries and coffee, all the staff is super friendly as well!! Loved it
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chandrika Mehta
Try Iced Hojicha as their barista likes ! You will be amazed ❤️
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bruce Dawson
They know coffee. My double espresso was crema deluxe
The vibe was very chill, I wish I could have hung out at the shop for longer. The coffee is good. Ham and Cheese was also good. I wanted to get the breakfast sandwich but the barista already seemed unimpressed with the fact that she had to make coffee for people. Unusually bad service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
AmirSayyam Maleki (Juya)
The first time I visited this café, I really liked the atmosphere — it felt cozy and warm. There’s a small backyard behind the café, and the upstairs area also has a comfortable vibe. Unfortunately, smoking is not allowed, neither inside nor in the yard. But you can walk through the yard to the back alley and smoke there.
The café is right across from the LCBO, so parking is possible, though not for long. You can also park for a short time in the back alley.
We ordered a hot chocolate and an Americano, along with a croissant and an egg & beef sandwich. The food wasn’t amazing, but it was decent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Shaemus Swets
Let me tell you, folks, I’ve been to a lot of cafés — probably the best cafés — and Boxcar Social, it’s absolutely tremendous. The service. Incredible. So fast, so friendly — and I know great service, nobody knows it better than me. A lotta people are sayin it. The staff, they’re winners, total winners. Winning very bigly. You’ve got Elda, Diana, Melika, Alyssa — fantastic people. Odie, Callum, Kay, and Shaemus — unbelievable team, really terrific. Everybody says they’re the best, and they really are, people. The coffee, the espresso — wow. Incredible quality, the kind of coffee you dream about but you don’t get anywhere else, no where else! Rich, bold, very strong, the strongest boldest richest coffee — many such cases. A great selection. A variety. Some people even say it’s the best in Toronto. Everybody’s talking about it, everybody’s saying, ‘you have to go back!’ And I will, because it’s that good. Boxcar Social — classy, stylish, just a beautiful place. You’ll love it, I promise. Total winner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kat
They make my favourite espresso in the area; they're very consistent, and do a very light, almost fragrant flat white, delicious both hot and iced.
However, a full star off because the service here is a total hit or miss. Some of the baristas are exceptionally sweet and helpful! But there are a couple who won't even acknowledge your presence even when you're the only one standing in line, and will be strangely dismissive when they do deign to take your order. Doesn't make for a good start to the morning with such weirdly awkward interactions.
Overall atmosphere does feel very millennial hipster coded, as another review noted, but not entirely in a bad way. Feels very much like stepping into an NYC coffee shop where the coffee is legit, with slightly pretentious vibes, but can't necessarily expect consistently friendly service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Mona
I stopped by this café in the middle of a photo shoot today and ordered a few café lattes and croissants. The coffees were absolutely delicious, perfectly balanced and rich in flavor. and the croissants were fresh and buttery. The café itself is very cozy and welcoming, with a warm atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer.
I've been going here for years as I live in the area. The only reason I go back is bcs I love their breakfast cookie. Seriously that's it. The coffee is super-duper overpriced and just 'meh'. The breakfast cookie I'm in love with is overpriced too... just under $8, I usually treat myself 2-3 times a week. I set the intention to just stop, bcs the service SUCKS. Like I said, I've been going here for years... 2-3 times per week. Usually for the breakfast cookie and a coffee... sometimes just the cookie, no one has EVER greeted me... seriously. The person behind the counter usually just avoids eye contact. Staff is unfriendly, not warm at all / or approachable... they look unhappy, like they don't want to be there. Place is super cute, cool music... friendlier, engaging warm, approachable staff needed. Missing a community vibe big time.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Boxcar Social nailed the cozy cafe-bar combo—great coffee, solid cocktails, and plugs everywhere for getting stuff done. Load times? My focus was way faster here than at home. Great spot that listens to what locals need.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Waited in line and completely ignored, waited to place my order for 5 minutes and barista completely ignored me. People came in after and even though knowing I was waiting to be served went onto serving the next person. Wouldn’t go back here.
Service: 1
Love this place!
The cortado I had was a bit underwhelming. However, what I liked least was the service. The staff did not do much to make you feel acknowledged or welcome.
The service is hit or miss. Once, a barista was really friendly and made me hojicha the traditional way with a bamboo wisk and little bowl caringly in front of me.
Another time, when I politely told a barista, on my way out, that there was a homeless person upstairs who sat in front of me and pulled out a pipe, I was responded to with a sarcastic remark. I didn't mind that the homeless man was there, I understand that we're all human. But the fact that he pulled out a pipe in front of me, and he was sitting right in front of me, and there was no one nearby except someone sitting facing away at the back, made me uncomfortable.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 3
Went with a friend and the atmosphere is super cozy, comfy… good pastries and coffee, all the staff is super friendly as well!! Loved it
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Try Iced Hojicha as their barista likes ! You will be amazed ❤️
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
They know coffee. My double espresso was crema deluxe
Good coffee and a lovely patio. Great vibe. 🥰
Restaurantji Recommends
The vibe was very chill, I wish I could have hung out at the shop for longer. The coffee is good. Ham and Cheese was also good. I wanted to get the breakfast sandwich but the barista already seemed unimpressed with the fact that she had to make coffee for people. Unusually bad service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
The first time I visited this café, I really liked the atmosphere — it felt cozy and warm. There’s a small backyard behind the café, and the upstairs area also has a comfortable vibe. Unfortunately, smoking is not allowed, neither inside nor in the yard. But you can walk through the yard to the back alley and smoke there.
The café is right across from the LCBO, so parking is possible, though not for long. You can also park for a short time in the back alley.
We ordered a hot chocolate and an Americano, along with a croissant and an egg & beef sandwich. The food wasn’t amazing, but it was decent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Let me tell you, folks, I’ve been to a lot of cafés — probably the best cafés — and Boxcar Social, it’s absolutely tremendous. The service. Incredible. So fast, so friendly — and I know great service, nobody knows it better than me. A lotta people are sayin it. The staff, they’re winners, total winners. Winning very bigly. You’ve got Elda, Diana, Melika, Alyssa — fantastic people. Odie, Callum, Kay, and Shaemus — unbelievable team, really terrific. Everybody says they’re the best, and they really are, people.
The coffee, the espresso — wow. Incredible quality, the kind of coffee you dream about but you don’t get anywhere else, no where else! Rich, bold, very strong, the strongest boldest richest coffee — many such cases. A great selection. A variety. Some people even say it’s the best in Toronto. Everybody’s talking about it, everybody’s saying, ‘you have to go back!’ And I will, because it’s that good. Boxcar Social — classy, stylish, just a beautiful place. You’ll love it, I promise. Total winner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They make my favourite espresso in the area; they're very consistent, and do a very light, almost fragrant flat white, delicious both hot and iced.
However, a full star off because the service here is a total hit or miss. Some of the baristas are exceptionally sweet and helpful! But there are a couple who won't even acknowledge your presence even when you're the only one standing in line, and will be strangely dismissive when they do deign to take your order. Doesn't make for a good start to the morning with such weirdly awkward interactions.
Overall atmosphere does feel very millennial hipster coded, as another review noted, but not entirely in a bad way. Feels very much like stepping into an NYC coffee shop where the coffee is legit, with slightly pretentious vibes, but can't necessarily expect consistently friendly service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
I stopped by this café in the middle of a photo shoot today and ordered a few café lattes and croissants. The coffees were absolutely delicious, perfectly balanced and rich in flavor. and the croissants were fresh and buttery. The café itself is very cozy and welcoming, with a warm atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loading...