Cafe Belong

This place is out of the way for sure but if you make it you will be rewarded with a great experience. The food and service were terrific. The ambiance is nice. I was there as part of an event but I will definitely check it out again.

This review is largely for their take away café counter.
NOT ALWAYS WORTH THE WAIT
On weekends, there is usually a substantial (15 min) line up just to order food and another 10 minute additional wait for most food. The line up is indoors which is nice for inclement weather. They post signs saying food is made to order, so allow 15 minutes for preparation — but this is only visible once inside by the register. So, really plan on not eating for another 30 minutes when you get in line on weekend mornings or midday (even when the farmer’s market takes place).
I think it is silly that they do not have a second cash register by now to expedite payment with this problem existing for years. I don’t mind waiting for freshly prepared food, but I do mind waiting in line that long unnecessarily because of poor planning. Perhaps they could post some of the popular menu items on a chalkboard stand outside or through the glass window to expedite decision making at the register on weekends. Maybe play music somewhat audibly to make the long wait more enjoyable. Perhaps try what other I have seen successful restaurants do: Have staff walk down the line to take orders to get food started since payment and menu decisions seem to be the real bottleneck.
FOOD
Somewhat sweet biscuit breakfast sandwiches are great and have improved since opening, with biscuits being larger and more tender now. The sausage in biscuit sandwiches is okay and obviously formed in house (don’t expect Egg McMuffin sausage, it’s much thicker, a bit sweeter, less spicy). Trout biscuit sandwiches are a treat and a good differentiator. Baked sweets (cookies, brownie/​blondie bars) are hit or miss; I have yet to have any that are truly craveable. Still, I really appreciate the effort of using real ingredients and making them from scratch. Owner, Brad Long, is big on buying local, being sustainable; so, you are paying a bit more for that.
DRINK
Espresso (Rufino brand) and cappuccinos are divine.
They don’t sell disposable plastic bottles of water, but rather sell reusable, collapsable (tap-​filled?) water bags with sipper spouts that have a caribiner attached.
They make their own syrups for Italian sodas, which tend be creative flavours. I was extremely disappointed in their hibiscus Italian soda. Hibiscus is normally tangy and refreshing; when steeped, it makes a rich, red colour. So, I can’t understand why the Italian sodas I ordered barely had a tinge of pink (¼ the color of blush/​rose wine); they tasted awful from being horribly diluted. I’m all about subtle flavours and not having something sickeningly sweet, but these were overly diluted. I felt ripped off since it cost $ 9.61 for a large and small drink, plus we waited thirsty in line after a long hike only to be met with disappointment. The drinks were not very cold and did not have any ice in them, so we had to ask for it and have further delay.
PARKING
Paid parking in the lot; don’t forget your license plate number since it is ticketless parking. There is often problems paying with credit cards in the parking payment machine, so allow extra time or bring cash. The machine by the farmer’s market seems to work better for credit card than the machine by the restaurant.
Free shuttle busses from select TTC stations, however, I have found them to be infrequent at times.
ACCESSIBILITY
Very easy access for wheelchairs and walkers. Slightly sloped from parking lot to the door. Chairs can pull out for wheelchairs. I do not recall arms on chairs, though. There are handicapped washroom stalls on ground level (no stairs).

A large and pretty restaurant at Evergreen Brickworks. The large windows let the light in and the small fresh flowers on the table are a lovely touch. The service was ok, the waitress was really trying to upsell.
Had lunch there and got the fish and chips, they were tempura battered so it was light and the fish felt fresh. It came with two pieces, the portion looked small at first and ended up being fine for myself. It also came with slaw, it was a nice brightness to the deep fried fish however the carrot strings were so long and oddly cut it was hard to eat without getting it everywhere. Their house pickles were good and had variety of pickles, onions, beets, beans etc.
I also got the chocolate raspberry jar for dessert, it was beautifully presented with edible flowers, caramel layer, chocolate crumbs and topped with whipped cream, it was really (really) delicious! Their sodas are also great, they have house syrups and you can mix flavours (I usually go with ginger jasmine)

Food presentation is nice, taste is good and service is really poor. Would not come back here.
Atmosphere: ⁵⁄₅
Price: ³⁄₅
Presentation: ⁵⁄₅
Taste: ⁴⁄₅
Portion: ²⁄₅
Service: ²⁄₅
Atmosphere: Very nice and relaxing atmosphere at Evergreen Brickswork. The interior is nicely decorated with industry/​rustic look. There is an outdoor patio area as well with umbrellas, perfect for a sunny day. Larger group tables are harder to seat so this place is probably ideal for groups of 4.
Price: This is an upscale restaurant so it is priced on the higher side. Had brunch here and was over $ 30 for poached eggs benedict and around $ 20 for blueberry pancakes.
Presentation: Everything was beautifully presented and instagram worthy!
Taste: Taste was pretty good.
Portion: Portions are on the smaller side.
Service: The wait for a table here on a Sunday afternoon was extremely long (45 minute wait). Service is also very poor. The staff were friendly but not too helpful or knowledgable.

Amazing food, love the ambience. The server Evan (I think that was his name, something with E) was very knowledgeable and attentive to my dietary needs. I wish I could have spoken to the manager to tell him how pleased I was but it was very busy. I will be back again and have told several friends about my amazing experience.

Beautiful setup, terrible service! And by terrible, believe me I mean it. We were encouraged to leave by two members of staff even before we have a chance to try their food only because we were there by 9:57am and they were supposed to open at 10am! I’m now happy that we didn’t waste a dime anyway. When a business feels comfortable with a line up at their door, it takes a prudent management to invest even more in service and unfortunately that was not the case for them. It doesn’t take that long for Café Belong to be long gone!

Worst experience ever! Have never seen such rude staff anywhere else! They hate their jobs I guess! This happens when you are the only café at EBW farmers market with no other competitor!

The food we had was quite good. I had the smoked trout, served on some sort of fluffy, whipped cream cheese and rye bread. The portion looked small but was actually filling. The side salad was very fresh — the dressing just right and the roasted heirloom tomatoes were the best part. My friend had the lemon ricotta pancakes, which is a nice change from typical flavours for pancake.
We were a bit surprised that there was an extra $ 4 charge for maple syrup (the pancake was $ 15) — feels like being charged extra for ketchup with an order of fries. She didn’t end up getting the maple syrup, but I can’t imagine eating pancakes without it if it were me. Overall, the menu was pretty expensive — perhaps best for special occasions.
The ambience is excellent — the décor very in tune with the surrounding Evergreen Brick Works. Although when my friend and I went for Saturday morning brunch (in the summer), we were seated in the back and there were 2 fans blowing right at our table — when the waitress was sprinkling ground pepper on my food, a lot of it was blown onto the table. Overall, the service was good — the waitress could have been a bit more knowledgeable about the menu.

I was at Evergreen Brick Works for a Craft Beer event and spotted this Café packed with people over a weekend. Hence, I went to the full quick-​service take-​away counter and grabbed a bite size burger, soup and coffee to go. It was absolutely delicious and tasty!
There is much more to offer in their restaurant but if you’re on a time crunch, the grab and go take-​away counter offering refreshments and nourishment is not disappointing
for your visits to the Evergreen Brick Works either for work or for play.

I am extremely picky, and this place hit on all cylinders. Our waiter, Stefan, was extremely friendly and knowledgable.
The trout was fantastic and light. The scrambled eggs were masterfully cooked and my chorizo hash was the best chorizo I have had. We were treated with super fresh asparagus and hollandaise sauce that was perfectly balanced.
Their attention to their ingredients show up in their food. Their kitchen is small for their seating, but Stefan acknowledged the time, as they got backed up and it gave us a needed pause we deserve in our Sunday anyway.
When the food hits the palate, you will understand why this brunch deserves the rating I hold for a select few. I can’t wait to come back to TO and have brunch here.
Thanks Belong for making our Sunday special.
Oh and Stefan treated us to a blueberry scone. Epic and use your sugar allotment for it, please I beg you.

I’m going to rate this experience solely on service. I was with my wife and daughter and decided to stop in for some refreshments on a hot summer day. Upon arriving here the first thing I noticed was how angry all of the staff looked. No one was helpful at all, and trying to get some help was near impossible. We decided to simply order two iced teas to go. The gentlemen that served us was obviously tired and in a bad mood (maybe because it was near the end of the day and he just wanted to go home), but trying to get him to help us was near impossible we finally got our two iced teas, which tasted like lightly flavored warm water and left — never to return again.
Management here needs a serious overhaul as the staff obviously don’t care, which is a serious problem when it affects all staff members.
Best of luck…

cute place to go on a date or to catch up with your friends! This place has the most down to earth and hipster vibe to it. There are more windows than brick walls in this restaurant, allowing sunlight to beam through the restaurant on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
When you first walk in, you noticed alot of dogs at the front and then the crowd of cyclists and joggers lining up at the café before you can reach the host.
The good: delicious local food, comfortable atmosphere, lots of vitamin D.
+ you can shop around and/​or take a hike after filling up your belly!
The bad: there’s not much bad since everything was good but couldn’t wrap my head around the pricing… why would pancakes + syrup cost more than a charcuterie board…
Recommendation: Make reservations! order the charcuterie board!

Definitely a good place to stop by after hiking the Don Valley Trails. The interior was welcoming and bright. I loved the feel and look of the place with the simple designs and exposed kitchen. Plus the displays of the pots and industrial lighting made it a very casual ambience.
The lunch menu, although small seemed varied for everyone’s palates, but found it a bit heavy and pricey which would be more suitable for a dinner menu.
We were hoping to have brunch, but it wasn’t offered during the weekday, so we opted for the Bricklayers Board which consisted of various charcuterie and pickled goodness. Presentation was very lovely and the server explained everything on the board. Plus it was served with more than enough flatbreads which was a nice change to see. It was exactly what we needed as it wasn’t too heavy and we were very satisfied.
Our server was friendly and attentive, but not intrusive and always came at the right time to refill our water glasses. The glasses were never empty.
Overall, a nice and relaxing break from the city. Going during the weekday was definitely lucky for us since the place wasn’t busy compared to during the weekend as it can be extremely busy and noisy.

I love the industrial lighting, the patio with the rustic hurdle enclosure, and the huge windows that seem to bring the outdoors in.
My favorite way to enjoy Café Belong is after skating at the Brickworks rink or hiking around the trails and paths and visiting the farmers market – we like to take a rest with a couple of drinks and a snack.
We go during the «shoulder» hours, that spot between lunch and dinner so we get a table and don’t feel bad for ordering lightly.
Yummy fries. The boys like hot chocolate and the servers kindly bring them a cookie from the counter-​side, even though it’s off menu. The guy usually enjoys a beer and a whiskey. I opt for my favorite drink: an flute or two of 13^th Street 2006 Grand Cuvée Blanc de Noirs.

Wow quite a busy place… but lots to choose from they have eggs, pancakes, french toast, Lattes, fresh juice and much more.
If you’re Evergreen Brickwork, its worth a stop.

Had brunch there this morning with the family. The food itself is mixed, some dishes where pretty good, some were just outright bad. At the price they were charging though, I would have expected a lot more.
My wife ordered the Pancakes and Mac and Cheese. It was $ 19 for three pancakes with whipped cream and compote. That’s it, nothing else on the plate. More importantly, I’ve ordered better pancakes at a quarter of the price. The Mac and Cheese was dry and had no flavour, it would have tasted better if I just boiled some pasta with salt water.
I ordered a quiche which was the Savoury Pie of the day. The quiche itself was quite tasty, so no complains there. At $ 15, it was reasonable, but not a bargain by any stretch of the imagination.
I thought it took longer than expected for the dishes to be served, bothering on unacceptable wait. Service itself was ok, no real complains but nothing special came to mind either.
If you go there, expected to be overcharged and underwhelmed,

Lots of great options for omnivores and a lovely wine list, I won’t rate this place based only on their lack of veg options.
Not good for VEGANS, even though this place preaches sustainability, meaning they should have at least 1 vegan option :).
We ordered wine on empty stomachs and waited forever to get our bill.

We came here on a recommendation from a local friend. This was quite the experience and would highly recommend it for a relaxed brunch /​date.
Why it’s amazing?
1. It’s located in an industrial complex of sorts beside an old brick making factory (so, go check out the history when you’re done eating ok?)
2. Super friendly service — i wanted a spiced caffeinated tea and she told me that their chai was a bit boring. Instead, she found me a spiced rooibus and gave me a side of cinnamon (yes, wow)
3. We split the pancakes and the 5 point burrito which was more than enough food. It was a great combination of sweet and savoury — the pancakes were very light and not too sweet. The peach compote on the side really worked as well ! Wow.
4. These folks basically make everything on site and are certified ocean –wise with their seafood. Gotta love local
5. They make their own syrups and you can get «soda pop» made with any if these syrups where they bubble in CO2, alternatively make an Italian soda.
Side note: they have a family style type dinner experience (prix fixe) which I would definitely come back for.
Side note #2: there is an amazing store across from the café which is worth a look (see artisan soaps, incense, cooking supplies, spices etc)
Go, soon!

3.5 star
I just love the set up at Café Belong.
The decoration makes me feel like I am in cottage country somewhere, not in the middle of Toronto right next to DVP. Just love those huge windows letting the sunlight shining in on this warm winter afternoon.
Eating here at Café Belong should makes me feel good and healthy as all the ingredients here are local, organic and sustainable.
We shared:
Croque Ravine ($ 23)
— I just love everything even the fried mixed green on the side
— Pork was tender! love the caramelized onion
French Toast ($ 16)
— Am I going to eat that? 3 huge piece of banana bread a little crispy outside but still soft inside.
— I found this a little bit too doughy for my liking
— The syrup just add a little sweetness to the already sweet bread
The service though was definitely lacking! My coffee was served in a smallish cup so I ended up have to keep waving down my waitress for a refill while she was just busy chit chatting with the staff at the back. –0.5 star
I definitely will come back to have a bite at Café Belong next time when I am visiting Evergreen Brickwork. But it is not worth a special trip.

An update to call out several items on the Café Belong menu specifically:
THE FRUIT AND NUT SALAD IS BONKERS. Bonkers. Based on what’s fresh and available, yesterday’s version featured toasted almonds, plums, peaches, beautiful greens and a brown butter vinaigrette.
Café Belong has a «brunch master» (official title) on staff, so you know they do midday weekend eats right. Downed with some house-​made fizzy water and a blueberry vodka cocktail… it was a perfect summer meal.
Unilocal note: the staff here is great, and they’ve really hit their stride on the service front. I showed up with a dog, and they helped find him a shaded place on the patio, and moved my table so that I’d be sitting close to him. Double shout-​outs for the Evergreen Brickworks volunteer who supplied him with a bowl of water. Happy dog = happy me. I’ll be a regular bruncher here, trust.