Eat local: Coffee Time

Queens Quay is home to about 37 eateries -- we'll loosely define them as places where you can pick up a bite to eat. At Queens Quay Life, why not try to give a good idea of what each has to offer. Today we continue with coffee and donuts.

Coffee Time 10 Lower Spadina Avenue

Clearly the poor cousin of the more upscale options, this big space but low traffic coffee shop reminds us of the donut shops that popped up all around Toronto in the 80s. (We know, donut shops were in the family business during the 80s recession).

This is at the corner of Spadina and Queens Quay, so it's really really geared to the local crowd, not as much tourist traffic makes it out here compared with Rees to York area.

The food: Well, we suppose we should grade the coffee. It's fine. The worry with any place that has low traffic is how fresh it would be but a medium regular went down smoothly the other day. We haven't even bothered looking at the menu in search of Americanos or lattes.

The donut selection is pretty dire. We had a double chocolate with our coffee on a weekday late morning and there were probably two of every donut left. That was along with two or three of each selection (muffins and other pastries included). The double chocolate was fine, even as good as you'll find in Timmies. You know they don't sell much of them. Also on the menu: Breakfast specials all for under $6 we think, including sandwiches. Soups and other specials such as terriyaki chicken (an odd choice, yes).

Eat in: This is either a dash in or linger with a friend for a long conversation type of place. You'll probably have tonnes of room to talk and it's laid back. More than likely, people tend to go in there for a quick coffee.

What should locals know: If you go there, you're probably a local. Fine coffee if you're looking for Timmie's variety. Fear much because the nearest coffee shop is up Spadina in the CityPlace complex (near Rogers Centre) or the Starbucks and Second Cup on York, which is a full kilometre away!