Through Being Cool

Their selection of baked goods is really awesome and their sandwiches are really yummy but the customer service is definitely lacking. There are some friendly employees but majority of them are not very personalable.

Hm… the last time I had their doughnuts it was pretty disappointing. Didn’t taste fresh and the flavoured doughnuts (e.g., Earl Grey) had zero flavour!
To top it off, there have been a few people (long time vegans) who have consistently received terrible service. I’ll stick to Tori’s in the east end instead, or go to D-​Beatstro across the street. I hear they have great baked goods and that they are very friendly!

Instead of writing a review, I’m going to post a video of me wringing out a measurable amount of oil from a donut from TBC.

I really really really want to give TBC 5 stars, and if I was reviewing the baked goods alone I would without a single doubt. But guys, PLEASE, PLEAAAAAAASSEEE, make a better seating area! I beg you! There is so much poorly used space in this bakery and the few little seats are always full. Even two little tables, no matter how rickety, would suffice. I travel a good distance for their incredible vegan croissants and sometimes wish I could just sit and eat one right there and there with a nice coffee or one of their house-​made sodas. However, I usually have to resort to eating it outside or dragging my goodies home as they get cold and soggy during TTC travel time. I have yet to try their sandwiches for this reason. there is just nowhere I can sit and enjoy one. This especially sucks on a cold snowy or very rainy day.
Anyways, enough of my whining. The staff is great and everything there is just so delicious. The donuts are huge and the flavour selection is overwhelming. The croissants are my favourite as well as the different kinds of pizza rolls. It’s hard to pick just one thing because nothing ever disappoints. The prices are also very reasonable for handmade quality vegan baked goods.

My friends are vegans and brought me here. I lived in Davenport for years and never made it. What a numptie I am. I was always attracted by the name (hello, Saves the Day fan here!) and they love the raised donuts.
For nine bucks I picked up an enormous blueberry scone, a chocolate coconut donut and a pretzel — treats for days. The pretzel in particular was amazing. Décor is thoughtful vintage with gorgeous window seating at the front of the shop. They also sell lots of frozen vegan eats, zines, too cool for school stickers and wait for it, Anchor Coffee all the way from Dartmouth, NS.
This place is a winner through and through.

Got a grapefruit eucalyptus popsicle and was pretty grossed out by it –and I actually like both those flavours! It tasted like it had way too much sugar to make up for the assertive ingredients. I also grabbed a scone for my mom which ended up being raw in the middle. It’s also kind of a bummer that they don’t do anything gluten-​free but I guess that’s too «cool» lol but hat being said the popsicle was all I could get for myself

We randomly found this vegan bakery while driving from downtown. We were not disappointed. The service was excellent. Although the menu is limited the food is delicious. I haven’t had a donut in years since changing my diet. Amazing!
There isn’t much in the way of seating. So it’s a better spot to pick up lunch and go. Would really recommend stopping in and grabbing a bite to eat.

I stopped by here the other day — it caught my eye because I noticed it was vegan and I’m very into vegan alternatives. I grabbed a latte and a coconut pecan square which was DE-​LISH! The gentleman that helped me out was very kind and friendly as well. Great service. It’s always nice to see vegan shops and restaurants around, I will definitely come back to this place for another drink and snack and would love to try some of their lunch items as well.

OMG, I wish I lives closer to TBC! I just happened to notice this place as I was walking along Bloor and decided to pop in and see what it was all about. It’s a über small space with not really any seating. The food was by far the BEST vegan food I have had. I still can’t get that homemade mustard out of my dreams. Best! I had a sandwich, and a donut. The sand which was ridiculously big, stuffed to the Max and amazingly scrumptious. The donut was fluffy and a decent size. I scarfed it all down in a matter of seconds. I will definitely be coming back to try their other sandwiches and maybe even try some of their frozen goodies!

Oh TBC how I love thee.
This spot is a weekend ritual for my bf who is not vegetarian at all, and myself, a vegan. I have eaten most things found in their glass case of deliciousness, but the most underrated TBC menu items? Their sandwiches! When Bf first tried the Widowmaker a few months back, he had to take a moment of pause before exclaiming «This is the best sandwich I’ve ever had!». Not the best VEGAN sandwich he’d ever had, but the best sandwich, period. For starters, the bread is amazing; a mini baguette for most options, a round bun for some. We’ve asked if they sell it before and were told it was possible if we called in a day ahead. The Widowmaker features juicy seitan pieces with a mix of sweet & savoury flavours. I usually go for the Buffalo «Chicken» sandwich which is equally delicious. Really, any of the regular options and the rotating specials are winners. The ingredients are always fresh, the sauces and seasoning on point, and because it’s all vegan, your belly won’t feel heavy and beg you to take a nap afterward!
Other favourites: Caramel-​Apple Crumble Tart, Pretzels, Pizza Buns, Apple Fritters and the changing cast of limited time doughnuts. The one’s we picked up this past weekend were among the best: Vanilla Bean, Key Lime Pie (with filling) and Peach Filled (with powdered sugar on top). As other reviewers have mentioned, most of the doughnuts here are dense monsters, they carry some weight when picked up. So, if that’s not your thing, maybe choose something else.
The staff have always been friendly, the kind who remember you when you come back. The only thing that’s stopping me from giving 5 stars is the lack of comfortable seating/​tables to eat at. The space is massive and with a little reorganization there’s more than enough room to accommodate a dining area up front.

For my first visit here, I split two different doughnuts with my friend. The first was peanut butter — the glaze was very good. The second was the crunchie doughnut — we found that it lacked flavour. Overall we were disappointed with the doughnuts and found them too doughy. Neither of us was able to finish a whole doughnut, because it got to be too much greasy dough.
The costumer service was very good. The girl who was working there was very friendly and helpful. We wish there had been more room to sit and enjoy the food there!
I would like to go back to TBC to try their frozen selections, however I will not be going back for a doughnut.

I feel badly writing a mediocre review but if I were hunting for good gourmet doughnuts in Toronto, I would want to know this stuff before making my way to Landsdown.
I went to TBC a coupe of days ago and I went for the doughnuts. They looked very nice, huge actually (too huge) and there were so many kinds to choose from so I asked for some recommendations from the lady working there. I picked up 4 doughnuts which I shared with some people I was able to try all 4 kinds.
The lady recommended the apple bourbon doughnut which was the first one I tried. Since it was her personal recommendation, I had high expectations… I do NOT get it. It was too big, super squishy with way too much dough and it was filled with a completely unexciting apple sauce. I got no bourbon flavour. The only thing good about it was the candy on top. I did not enjoy it and didn’t finish my piece.
Next, I had a bite of the eggnog (seasonal obviously) doughnut. It was really not good. The spices did not work at all and there was something actually kind of gross about it. Again it was also really doughy and not enjoyable. I didn’t finish my piece of this one either.
I did not like the cream filling in the Boston Cream at all and it was the same too squishy giant dough ball that I didn’t enjoy.
The berry one I tried was the best of the 4. The icing was nice so I ate the top and tossed out the doughnut.
I’m so sorry, I like to support small businesses and it’s cool that the bakery is vegan, but I just didn’t like what I tried at all. I’ve had great vegan baked good from Bunners and Tori’s so it’s certainly possible. If I do go back to TBC, I’ll try something other than a doughnut but I’m not really planning to go back.

Went in for a chocolate glazed donut. It was not good. Very dense, doughy, and did not taste like chocolate. Didn’t really taste like anything. I don’t see how that’s possible. For $ 3, I could have had 2 Tim hortons chocolate glazed donuts.
The girl working was very nice though!

awesome assortment of massive donuts– I had the boston crème and chocolate coconut. both very rich and sickly, but in a good way! I also got a pizza roll which was insane– really cheesy and a little bit garlicky– either way it was perfect and one of my new favourite treats. the display cabinet was full of all kinds of things– huge cookies, cinnamon rolls, etc. I also got a homemade cream soda which was lovely! totally worth the 45 minute walk.

Food was good, we had a cinnamon roll donut and a berry scone with coffee. They were both fresh and delicious. However, there wasn’t any seating for us to enjoy our snacks :(
The staff were less than impressed with most people who came in. When asked about the different types of baked goods, they would point to a somewhat hidden sign and claim, «They’re all there.»
Not even a smile! We felt like we were getting in their way just for being in the store. I guess these people really are «Through being cool»
I guess if you’re not staying in to eat, (cause you can’t) this place is alright. I don’t think I’ll go back tho because I like to feel welcome in the morning when I get my coffee.

This was my first time going to a vegan bakery and I was very pleased! The girl at the front was very friendly & everything just looked delicious! My boyfriend and I got 3 different doughnuts plus a brownie and after we finished it all we wanted to go back for more lol!

Made a 30 minute trek in the snow specifically to try TBC’s famous baked fare.
I came after 3pm on a Saturday so the case was half empty (my fault, popular place!) I tried their pretzel and their gingerbread cookies — both fantastic. I can’t wait to get back in to try their pizza buns and a donut. Their bread looks excellent too.
My only complaint — the girl who served me was pretty unfriendly and wasn’t interested in making any suggestions. Maybe she was hungover from the night before.

I am not vegan, but their doughnuts were pretty darn good and had I not known they were vegan, I wouldn’t have been able to guess.
Minus a star for cash only and stacking my large ish order, doughnuts should not be stacked — the toppings get all over the bottoms of the doughnuts on the top row. Do I sound too picky?

NOW WITH DEBIT. This interview is over. Go eat a doughnut or ten. Did I mention peanut butter crème-​filled doughnuts? Because I am mentioning it now, and planning my morning around getting one of them.
Good day to you.

Oh, I just giiive 5 stars to every place that’s vegan, right? Wrong! I give 5 stars to places that are vegan, awesome, AND have *#%$ing donuts.
If you know me well, you’ll know that whenever the discussion of what Toronto lacks comes up, I talk about two things: bike lanes and vegan donuts.
Other than the par excellence vegan and gf Homer Simpson-​style cake donuts produced by Tori’s Bakeshop in the Beaches, there was no one place you could go to any day of the week and buy a vegan donut in this city. Nadda one!
Toronto being the unhip brother to NYC, SF, Austin, and Portland, means that when someone opens a hipster donut shop here, not only does it pale to it’s southern neighbours but it never has any vegan offerings. Just tired old bacon, which has been played out so many times I’m starting to wonder how much the pork industry is paying people to make their Twitter bio about it.
The problem with Tori’s is that if you live anywhere other than the Beach, you’re unlikely to get one of those donuts before they sell out (roughly 2pm people). Bunner’s decided to only make donuts on Saturdays (which makes me sad), Snakes & Lattes let go their best vegan donut girl and espresso guy, so they’re dead to me, Urban Herbivore discontinued their vegan donut after a month, and Sadie’s gets a very bready tasting donut delivered from, get this, St. Catherine’s every Thursday at like 2pm, which is way too late for donut-​coffee-​newspaper (digital, of course) business like I was taught by Lady & the Tramp.
Toronto is so hard up for vegan donuts that we have to import them from St. Catherine’s of all places? Hot Beans got rid of their boston creams and I actually haven’t set foot inside the place since. The owner even messaged me to have me remove my photo of them, like they never existed!
Well, this is where my griping and donut dearth ends forever, hopefully! In comes Through Being Cool (named for Save’s the Day, not Devo) and in Bloordale no less, an accessible neighbourhood to people that are not millionaires, where the rent is still low, but things are looking up.
They’re selling frozen pierogies stuffed with potato and cheddar, or mushroom and sauerkraut, pot pies, enchiladas, and ravioli with tvp or ricotta. Gluten-​free mac ‘n cheese in the fridge, and fresh baked pizza buns, pretzels, (if you’re lucky) pretzel dogs (if you’re luckier), cupcakes, brownies, scones, cookies, preserves, pickles, dog treats, coffee and did I $%^ing mention the donuts? God. damn. vegan. donuts. And they’re fried, not baked.
I didn’t become a vegan, because I have an allergy or I’m a health nut. Finally, there’s an amazing vegan bakery that practically oozes sugar and wheat! Thank you donut gawds for smiling upon me!
Update: I was the very first to debit machine. There is one now, but it’s more important that you know that I won that race.