You Made It Cafe

Really tasty food, well presented and prepared. Really good prices. This socially conscious business assist youth in retraining and breaking down barriers to employment.

This review will be a bit different since I haven’t attended the café to eat any soup, sandwiches, or salad, but instead we hosted a business event. Let’s just say, if you have under 60 people and you need a beautiful, local spot, book it here ASAP.
If you are not aware, You Made it Café helps youth in the community learn new skills which eventually may lead to having secure and stable jobs when they are ready.
Every year our company sponsors a national conference and it just so happens that this year it was located in London. We get a chance to host a dinner for our clients and some guests so we wanted to choose a place that meant something to our community instead of taking them to a fancy restaurant. We work with Youth Opportunities Unlimited in another capacity and we know they host their own dinners, would they host one for an outside business?
We were able to get a hold of someone right away at the café and we began the planning process. Chef Ricardo was given a price range per plate and came up with 3 great meals that our attendees could choose from. They were fantastic. We had a warm spinach salad with pear dressing and walnuts, chicken with a wonderful sauce, beef short ribs, and a flour-​less chocolate cake for desert. All wonderfully prepared, fresh, and tasty.
We were excited that they just opened a rooftop terrace on the top floor so we decided to also host a wine and cheese before dinner to show off the great 360 degree view of London, and their soon to be gardens where they will grow veggies for the café.
Kathryn, the business development leader was crucial in planning our event. She ensured everything was taken care of from the entertainment to the special occasion permit we had to apply for. When it came time for the big day, everything went so smooth.
Our attendees had perfect weather for the terrace so they got to see amazing views of One London Place and downtown, but also the more industrial areas like the Labatt Brewery. They presented the cheese on the cutting boards they sell downstairs as well as the jams that they prepare and sell. The apple butter was so good, I kept going back for more.
We ensured that our event included some of the youth who were involved with Youth Opportunities Unlimited. The guitar player and singer on the rooftop was OUT of this WORLD. The talent he had, WOW, and he was at OUR party. Kathryn also organized to have another youth say a few words before dinner to explain to our clients what YOU means to those who attend the program.
The feedback I received for this event was so unbelievably positive. For my first time ever planning something of this scale, I think I really got to hand it to Kathryn, Chef Ricardo, and the team at the You Made it Café. They made everything so easy and it went so smooth, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

If there’s one thing I like as much as food (or maybe even more than food), it’s socially conscious businesses and organizations. YOU Made it Café is a social enterprise run by Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU). They aim to provide youth with opportunities for training and career building through servicing the community with their yummy assortment of café goods. Open M-​F from 7:30am-2:30pm (&full catering 7days/​wk), the café is a great example of how local businesses can empower those in the community in which they serve through community economic development.
The service is great and friendly — I was greeted by a couple of hellos and open smiles. When I asked for recommendations, the staff knew what to say. I popped in for a quick snack on a Thursday afternoon and got an iced chai ($ 3.75) and a butter pecan square ($ 3.50). They were delicious — the iced chai was nice and smooth, not too sweet, a bit creamier than I expected but still good. The square was nicely textured — the filling was smooth, on the sweeter side, and creamy with crunchy pecans to complement each bite. The base of the square wasn’t dry, it was a good balance for the filling. I need to try their heavier items like the Biting Pig grilled panini (pulled pork, cheddar, caramelized onions, house-​made jalapeño mayo — $ 8) and the Peta Pita (grilled pear & eggplant, roasted sweet potatoes, arugula, & candied shellots — $ 6.50).
I really want more people to know about this place — not only is what they’re doing awesome, the quality of food and service make it a great café (to study in too — it doesn’t get too loud). For students who frequent the Via and Greyhound, make this your stop for a take-​home snack during your next departure and arrival. You won’t regret it. Have a l’il bit of social and delicious good!

Sarah: You’re walking down richmond, past Dundas and it’s getting pretty sketchy. Then there’s a bright green corner looking out to an industrial intersection, You Made It Café. Entering this place is delightful surprise. Its well-​lit atmosphere shows off yellow-​gold walls and mosaic tile floors. You get the sense of being in a really well decorated fishbowl looking out at downtown.
The music is quiet, and instead of blasting out students with that same annoying pop station you hear everywhere else, they bring in their own light CD’s.
The coffee? Easily beats out any franchise you may find. It’s reeeally good. If you work in this area, you’d be crazy to give up this cup o joe.
I had carrot, parsnip and spinach soup and a spinach, blueberry and pomegranate salad.
Both were great.