Shmooz Cafe on Pape is definitely our local favorite. It’s less well known than the Rooster that faces Riverdale Park on Broadview which means it’s less packed. It’s close to Withrow Park and the folks who run it go out of their way to chat and make you feel you’re a part of the community.
We go there pretty frequently and today ordered ahead on their website. You get to pick the time for the pickup, and when you get there, all you have to do is go to their window and pay. It’s super easy, and contactless!
Today’s order was a cappuccino for Sylvia (with oat milk for an extra 60 cents), a cortado for Kevin (with soy milk for an extra 60 cents), and 4 croissants. One for each of us, because we cannot ever share these. They literally are TO DIE FOR. In fact, they are the best we’ve ever had. Friends from Montreal have said they are better than ones they’ve ever had in Montreal too. But who are we to judge. It’s best that you don’t storm the place; we rather like having these croissants for ourselves. They’re light and flakey, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
The flavored ones are great too. The chocolate croissant is simply stuffed with chocolate, and salt on the top elevates it to a new level. The gruyere one with caramelized onion is Sylvia’s favorite but was sold out this morning.
[Kevin] These takeaway cups are pure plastic waste. What garbage.
[Declan] Daddy come on, there’s covid-19 and we want to support local businesses.
[Rowan] Never post that plastic thing on Twitter.
[Sylvia] You mean the photo of the cup? Why, Rowan?
[Rowan] Since people might think you’re mean.
[Sylvia] That’s okay Rowan, Daddy’s trying to support the environment.
[Declan] Well I’m trying to support local businesses.
[Kevin] And that is the challenge. We need a win-win solution for people in the world.
[Sylvia] Aren’t these cups getting banned anyway?
[Declan] No. But stir sticks will be. [Declan has just finished a project at school on the upcoming single use plastics ban in Canada]
[Sylvia] I think the Shmooz will definitely survive covid. Their coffee is good. The croissants are to die for. Whenever we go there are other customers. They’ve even given us free cookies to try as they test new flavours. What was the last flavour that we tried Declan?
[Declan] It was cranberry or something.
[Rowan] I think it was something plum.
[Sylvia] No I think there was marshmallow in it, I remember it being sweet.
[Kevin] How come I didn’t have any of this??
[Declan] Because you sacrificed Daddy. Remember? Me and Rowan were starving and fighting each other, and the cookies came first. We ate them all.
[Kevin] ….
If you go to Shmooz with somebody else, do not just buy one of anything. Sharing does not work.
Overall: 5/5 stars
Just note that these croissants are not the things you want kids eating in the car. The crumbs go everywhere. But, we are the Wongs. And Wongs Eat. If anybody knows of good and cheap interior car cleaning services, please send our way.
Oh, and Shmooz has a cute outdoor patio. Picture doesn’t do it justice since it’s early Dec now, but it’s definitely great for catching some sun in the summer. The wall art inside the cafe is a unique illustrated map of the area and also worth a look.
wongseat.ca 