Starbucks

A solid offering with a good people-​watching patio.
I can be bought. This is probably a 3 star place, and certainly setting up shop next to Le Gourmand doesn’t do them any favours in terms of the invited comparison.
But I’m sitting here on the patio, under an umbrella, watching Spadina go by with its mix of Chinatown shoppers, club district fashion tragedies, and Queen West hipster kids. I’m drinking a tasty iced beverage prepared by a barista who seemed pretty happy with life and competent at his work.
And I’m thinking, okay, fine. Have the extra star.
Also, there is a giant thimble statue here. So that’s a thing.