The Slow Room

Walked by here on my way to the lit espresso bar, but the small cute café drew me in. It seemed like the perfect place to pick up a coffee on the go, and with it’s 10 or so seating capacity it’s best you don’t come in here with the hopes of finding a comfortable spot to spend hours at.
At first glance it’s not obvious if you should make your way deeper in to the café to place your order or just hang around until you’re up. I found that the few food options are visible if you make your way in a bit but if you wanted just a drink then it doesn’t matter where you end up.
The barista was very friendly and she was the only one working so I had to wait a bit longer than usual while she was finishing up preparing a sandwich for a previous customer before she got started on my latte. I suppose with a name like «Slow Room» I shouldn’t have been too surprised to find that this is not the place for a rushed cup :) I was fortunate enough to capture the last seat while I waited and was able to catch a good look of the place. Despite it’s size it does not feel cramped up.
My latte was very well done, it could have been a bit stronger but I blame myself for turning down her request of a double shot. I would definitely come back here to try out more of their cups and recommend it to anyone.

Dear Americano —
I know how you came to be. American soldiers were fighting for democracy, and hindered by the innate need for sleep. Coffee was of course there to help, but disguised as an espresso, it had to be watered down. The point of this digression is simple — order the Americano, learn about what dilution does to taste, and experience a peaceful truce between our European comrades.
Also. Eggplant sandwich. If you appreciate the fact vegetables can save your life, order this.
Wait… I don’t usually do this, as I am one of those competitive types, but… Gentlemen: take a lady here, teach her about the Americano (I suggest a double in a short glass with a splash of steamed milk), and order the pistachio cookie.
When you have the supplies and the scenery ready, it goes a little something like this:
«Do you trust me?» whatever answer she says, you say «Perfect, that’s why we are here». Take the cookie, teasingly dip it in the coffee, and tell her to close her eyes. I think you know where this is going… It’s okay to be romantic once in a while.
Bonus: after her face is glowing and her knees are pointing inwards, she may ask you, «what was that for?» you say, «because it’s Tuesday, and I love you.»
Sincerely yours,

I adore this place… fresh ingredients, clean and inviting décor, coffee done right. Simple components really, but what so many places have yet to achieve.
It’s tiny but they have recently renovated the counter area to allow for more space. The Eggplant Meatless Meatball sandwich is what I usually go for. The half is enough to fill you up, but the full is a treat if you’re feeling indulgent! Obviously the Porchetta is what everyone raves about. I’ve heard great things. The prices are very reasonable too.
Throw in a small, yet delicious selection of baked goods, wonderful espresso, specialty ice teas, and some of the most genuinely friendly service I’ve had in awhile. I would highly recommend checking out The Slow Room!

this is a nice neighbourhood place that happens to be doing something that nobody else is doing — Italian Café/​Meat Place/​Purveyor of unexpectedly fine French Croissants (pronounced Kwa-​Sint for all you Anglophones)
I have only tried their fine cappucinos, the aforementioned excellent croissants (of the extreme buttery but still very crunchy variety), and their pretty good Porchetta (which is available only on Saturdays and is made by an old man from way up north somewheres.)
The Porchetta is very nicely spiced and has a good mix of different textures, sadly (because it cannot be made in such a tiny shop) it does not have a crackling texture.
Oooooh! I have forgotten… they do also sell fine dried salami from a little jar – made (also) by an old man from way up north who’s been doing it for a million years blah blah blah. Slice those puppies up and you are in for the easiest, most bargain priced trip to sophisticated Italian meat land that I know of.
It remains to be seen whether this enterprise can do all of this stuff consistently and at that next level where you transcend neighbo-​weighbo and take it world wide, know what I mean? I don’t know!

Went back in for the eggplant meatball sandwich — I asked them to give me the large serving on eggplant on the small serving of bread. It was a good move. VERY TASTY AND NOT TOO BREADY. Although some focaccia would be nice.

The Slow Room is a great little place that makes me wish all cafes had such class. Bright, simple, clean food that proves that all you need are some great ingredients and a little imagination to make a great meal.
I went with my friend and we shared the Eggplant Meatball sandwich. Soft, pillowy bread with a hearty eggplant filling. If you are a vegetarian and secretly wishing you could eat meatball sandwiches, this comes pretty darn close and is absolutely delicious in its own right.
We also had the amazing speck, fresh mozzarella, pear, honey and walnut pesto sandwich. A perfect salty/​sweet combo that was both light and satisfying.
It makes me wonder how other places can get away with boring stuff like egg salad when people like the owners of the Slow Room are around? Plus, I hear the coffee is out of this world.
Tip#1: don’t come here with more than 2 or 3 others if you plan to stay. It’s tiny and has only 4 chairs.
Tip #2: Cash only.
Vegetarian score: ⁸⁄₁₀. While it advertises itself as a meat spot, the veggie sandwiches are delish and just as good. Plus, I’d bet they’d make almost any sandwich veggie for you if you asked nicely. They make it all to order.

Feeling ravenous and absolutely flying off a caffeine buzz, I decided I was passed-​due for lunch and strolled down College St. to The Slow Room. A friend of mine is pretty keen on the place and insisted I try it out sometime: today was that day.
I was a little caught off guard upon first entering the shop. A simple bar and small pastry display gave the impression that this was it. Had I not known through my friend that they made delicious sandwiches, I would have walked right by. A glance over at the side wall displayed a delicate, yet satisfying menu. I opted for the P.L.T. — Pancetta, Arugula, and Heirloom tomato sandwich with a paprika aioli (P.A.T.?), it was just what I needed. The bun was fresh and light; thinly sliced pancetta made it easy to bite in to, and the paprika aioli gave this sandwich a little bit of something extra. In my opinion, a cayenne aioli would be a better match with this sandwich to give it a little more panache.
For $ 6.75(w/tax) it’s a pretty good lunch option. 3.5/5*
Honourable Mentions:
— made fresh to order
— A very friendly and chatty staff member (owner?)

I’m a sandwich shop fan, but this one is so charming!
I’ve tried the PLT (procuttio, lettuce, tomato) and the Cabrese — isn’t going halvsies the best? — both were yummy and I’m looking forward to trying the porchetta.
**UPDATE: Tried the porchetta, it was amazing.
***NEW UPDATE: Okay so I’m becoming a regular but how could I no?, The Slow Room quite possibly makes the best cup of coffee in Toronto.

A warm, charming, friendly place — these folks understand what hospitality is. The tasteful décor blends early 20^th century Toronto with Italian postwar industrial, chamber music in the background just added to it. If you grab a seat in the window on a sunny day you might just get a tan. Savoir vivre.

Swaaaeeet!
There’s a new kid on the College Street block. The Slow Room is a twist on the traditional espresso bar, serving sweet and savory items that change daily. Its owners, Sandra and Roberto Mandarino, are proponents of the slow food movement and are one step ahead of the soy nation (you won’t find any here. The eatery sticks to almond milk). So what should you order at Slow Room? The porchetta is a neighbourhood fave, as is the eggplant meatless meatball sandwich.
The Slow Room takes its espresso seriously, too. Resident barista Drew Randall is a veteran of Bulldog Coffee, who does his thing on a shiny new La Marzocco Linea espresso machine. He’s also a classically trained cellist, so it’s not unusual for him to pop in a latte-​sipping soundtrack of Italian baroque.
Seating is limited in the closet-​sized space, but owners are going for a friendly, cozy vibe anyway, and hoping to pull it off without depending on Wi-​Fi. Accompanying the sandwiches is a modest selection of pastries, some made in-​house, like the gluten-​free pistachio or almond cookies ($ 3 and $ 2, respectively) and others from La Strada Bakery.
Décor is trendily vintage, with tributes to the motherland thrown in here and there (red pepper garlands and a rather ferocious boar’s head known as Hugo). With ingredients this fresh, supplies are often limited – «when we’re out, we’re out,» Roberto says – but that’s OK, because as the closed sign eloquently points out, «shut happens.»