The Palmerston Cafe

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Blizzardy Goodness On Dundas West

February 03, 2011

During yesterday's snow-bomb, which was more a fizzle than the bang predicted by the meterologists, my friend James and I negotiated the empty streets and slipped into The Palmerston Cafe just off Dundas west of Bathurst in Little Portugal. This is the section of town that has become all the rage for those loving entrepreneurial food destinations plus unusual design and art galleries. What's lovable about this part of Dundas West is it has yet to be lassooed by the Business Improvement Area and prettied up into a santized version of village life. Given the creative enterpreneurs opening shop the change is coming, but in the interim it still retains an urban grittiness reminiscent of an older Toronto when arterial roads meant dust, dirt and noise. Heck, there's still a lumber yard on Dundas at Manning in what is otherwise a predominantly residential neighbourhood. I would love to develop a boutique condominium in this area!

The Palmerston Cafe offers a simple decor of concrete floors, 7 marble-topped bistro tables, and a row of slick polished black and stainless steel italian restaurant equipment. And just the right relaxed ambience one craves on a snowy winter day. Easy breezy jazz crooned over the sound system, the cappuccino machine whistled its steamy frothy goodness, and the simple homespun food was comfort yum.



James had the spinach quiche with side salad while I had the lunch special...a bowl of chicken soup, salad and half a grilled panini of roasted chicken, pesto mayo and pancetta was tasty. Add some fresh squeezed Orange juice, a few lattes for our extended blizzard coffee klatch and the $45 tab was a reasonable price of admission. Forgive me the terrible photos!



As the afternoon progressed the snow fell. It wasn't the least bit blizzardy though it did sustain enough momentum to continue for several hours. Yawn! 

For my reader's worldwide, here's an example of our distinctly Canadian humour in this CBC Special Report clip making light of our situation.

The Palmerston Cafe, 800 Dundas Street West at Palmerston, 416-361-3333

~ Steven

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