The Social Gardener Cafe image

The Social Gardener Cafe

Restaurant Vegan restaurant

👍👍 This cafe is incredibly beautiful! An amazing patio where you can chill with some drinks, and scrumptious plant based food. The service is phenomenal, and best of all, all the profits go back to helping local community, since it is a non-profit. Just a perfect place, to be quite honest. Also, they... People often mention patio, staff, friendly, lovely, vegan,


Address

1326 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1Z1, Canada

Website

www.riverdalehub.ca

Contact

+1 647-925-3094

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (61 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • .: Hide open hours for the week

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: patio (11) staff (9) friendly (6) lovely (6) vegan (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 3/5 Marjolaine G. 1 year ago on Google • 440 reviews
    The backyard space is AMAZING to sit in and enjoy. I’m terms of the food, I would stick to the pastries and enjoy a nice hot drink to go with it. I’ve had their BLT sandwich and the breakfast burrito and it was alright. The BLT felt much too bready (thick pretzel) and the breakfast burrito had a lot of turmeric in the tofu scramble. I wish some of the smoothies didn’t have banana in them. Service is fast and friendly.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rachit K. 3 years ago on Google • 76 reviews
    This cafe is incredibly beautiful! An amazing patio where you can chill with some drinks, and scrumptious plant based food. The service is phenomenal, and best of all, all the profits go back to helping local community, since it is a non-profit. Just a perfect place, to be quite honest. Also, they have a rooftop garden on the top and, omg, everything is grown naturally, fresh and they use that in their food ingredients. I mean how much more environmentally friendly can you get???
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 D L. 1 year ago on Google • 81 reviews
    Nice place to sit in the window while having a coffee and a small snack. My first impression was this was going to be a nice local gem. When we walked in the 3 ladies behind the counter struggled to welcome us. One with pink braided hair was extremely unfriendly and lack basic people skills. The food was tasty, and our seats in the window were perfect. Washroom was spotless perfect 5/5. I would consider going back if customer service was made a priority or if the staff that work the morning shift are carefully selected to ensure customers are warmly welcome and made to feel comfortable while dining. We got the feeling that we were more of a bother rather than paying customers. It was funny to see a tip jar on the counter, with barely anything in it. It's no wonder, there was no effort at all made to provide any customer service that would warrant a tip. I do have one tip for the staff, make more of an effort to be more pleasant and approachable toward customers.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Maiesha Z. 2 years ago on Google • 49 reviews
    Food doesn't taste great imo which is unfortunate because it's a cute place and I love the decor + overall location. I'd grab a drink here maybe, the homemade kombucha because that was good but definitely would not come back to eat anything.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Flavius S. M. 9 months ago on Google • 43 reviews
    Unfortunately poor first experience here; I’d give one less star if this place wasn’t part of a cool social enterprise that supported newcomer women. Ordered the breakfast burrito and an Americano late one afternoon hoping to take advantage of the back garden patio I knew they had. The one of the two staff was saying to me AND the customer behind me how lovely the patio was so of course I opted for dine-in. When my food was ready (which took a pretty long time; I’m not impatient but five minutes for tofu, greens, and two spreads in a tortilla?) and I was walking over to the patio, the second worker, who’d made my wrap, told me that patio was closed. WHY are you only saying this now?! I specifically came in and siding take-out for the patio! And why did the other staff tell everyone it was open?! Whatever, I’ll just sit on the noisy ugly front patio with the traffic. OOPS, the tofu is blisteringly salty and my Americano tastes like water, maybe because it’s in a freaking giant cup or something. Should’ve come in a small so I could actually taste the coffee. Maybe other items are better and other staff know how to make a drink but this was a really disappointing experience. I’m only glad my money will have helped lift up disadvantaged folks in the community. Sigh...
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sco M. 2 years ago on Google
    I love going to the social, great selection of food and coffees and the staff are super friendly !!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anna T. 2 years ago on Google
    What a fantastic place!!! Delicious healthy vegan food, cozy beautiful atmosphere, wonderful inspiring people that run the place (Marina is a wonderful human being!) The greens in the food are grown on their roof top terrace!! This is a non-profit organization focused on developing women entrepreneurs. Can't wait to go back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lucy S. 1 year ago on Google • 100 reviews
    Such a lovely vegan spot, perfect for a coffee, quick bite or a meal. So cozy and welcoming inside too. Service was timely and attentive. We got the soba noodle bowl, all three flavours of their patties and tea lattes. Loved everything, filling and delicious. I’d be here more often if I lived closer. Definitely check it out if you’re in the area.

  • 5/5 Marcin K. 3 years ago on Google • 47 reviews
    The BBQ jackfruit wrap is sensational! Also had two orders of the hibiscus iced tea. It was lovely. Great, friendly chill staff. Lovely patio out back. Lui

  • 5/5 Tiffany F. 1 year ago on Google • 10 reviews
    The food is incredibly tasty and there’s a good variety of items on the menu that you typically won’t get just anywhere. Love the space and the fact that they support other small, local business and events. Definitely recommend trying!

  • 5/5 KZ 2 years ago on Google • 5 reviews
    Fresh food, good vibes. I love the back patio — grab a bite and read a book (the inside is soo cozy too) love the team

  • 5/5 James D. 2 years ago on Google
    Wonderful place, friendly staff and delicious food. Nice soup and pastries.

  • 1/5 Holly w. 11 months ago on Google
    As soon as we walked in, I felt unwelcome. The girl at the cashier with the pink braids did not say anything as we walked in and we got the vibe that we were an inconvenience. We placed our orders and when the food arrived, were we immediately disappointed. My partner’s food came back cold. We had to ask them to heat it up 3 MORE TIMES and it was still cold every time. At this point, we didn’t even want the food. We did not receive any apology or any form of empathy. The entire staff was rude and unfriendly. Food was mediocre. Will not be returning.

  • 4/5 Bahar M. 2 years ago on Google
    Great location, very cute and lovely atmosphere… artistic and supporting local artists! Very nice and friendly stuff. Food drinks and desserts taste amazing specially their secret turmeric sauce that I’m crazy about! Wondering why 4stars then?! Price! Yes!! They are very pricey for that small portions.

  • 5/5 Jessie Laurie M. 2 years ago on Google
    Great space to work/study/catch up with friends. Food is so good! Great coffee as well! Looking forward to next visit.

  • 5/5 Jacquelyn C. 2 years ago on Google
    Popped in here this morning by chance as I had time to kill before work. I asked the gentleman working to surprise me with coffee - something sweet and not too strong. He made an oat milk latte with a little brown sugar & it was so lovely. He provided great customer service. This rating is based strictly on this one experience.

  • 5/5 Jen R. 2 years ago on Google
    Just had a great vegan lunch. We got a tandoori tofu wrap and tomato on house-made focaccia along with a double chocolate cookie. Please have more gluten-free options and have the jackfruit wrap back. The meals are nicely packaged in plastic containers made out of plants. We appreciate your establishment doing these initiatives to be green.

  • 5/5 Hari A. 2 years ago on Google
    Food is great here, amazing that some produce used is grown on site!

  • 5/5 N M. 2 years ago on Google
    Loved the outdoor seating area in the back. I ordered a smoothy and vegan patty. Delicious!

  • 5/5 Justin H. 2 years ago on Google
    Good vegan brunch. Very tasty burrito with turmeric tofu scramble. They have a quiet outdoor patio in the back with lots of greenery and a small pond. Lots of good vegan snacks. I got some free seeds from their seed library/exchange here.

  • 5/5 Chris A. 3 years ago on Google • 4 reviews
    Last week I ordered the Fancy Toast for the first time and was BLOWN away! They served a fluffy and thick slice of toast to me, topped with so much creamy avocado, sun dried tomatoes, sesame seeds, leafy greens and this lovely tahini turmeric dressing!! IT WAS SO GOOD. I know they grow produce on their rooftop so I'm pretty sure the tomato and greens where grown in house which is so amazing, I love hyper-local!

  • 4/5 Yashy M. 2 years ago on Google
    Cute cafe with a hidden garden patio at the back. Self serve .

  • 5/5 Chris P. 2 years ago on Google
    Hidden gem on this strip. Lived in the area for 3 years but just tried it out. Excellent vibe on the inside. Smoothies are excellent as well as the treats. Going to come back again for sure.


Call +1 647-925-3094 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Kerbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery
  • From the business
    • ✓️ Identifies as women-owned

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