I’ve been to Celestin during the holiday season a couple of years ago. I remember that they had the prettiest window display ever! Little Eiffel Towers made of wire hung in the window, inviting the passerby for a cup of coffee. I think they were blue, but I might be wrong. This year the ornaments were not there, but the food was just as good as I remember. As was the coffee.
Celestin is a chic little cafe in the Yonge and Eglinton area, with an authentic French menu. There’s Croque Monsieur, Pain au Chocolat, and omelettes avec salade for brunch, and lamb, canard, escargot, and many more for dinner or lunch. Le boyfriend and I opted for the very French Croque Monsier for moi, and Croque Madame for him. The simple combination of cheese, bread, and ham (and eggs in Madame) might’ve sounded easy-peasy and slightly boring, but au contraire was very tasty and flavorful.
The service and ambiance were also up to par, with our coffee cups refilled often, and the hostess very friendly and apologetic for not seating us right away. A little piece of advice: avoid the wait and make a reservation. We noticed the “Open Table” terminal at the front, which makes online reservations a breeze. All in all, a visit to Celestin was like going back to Paris for a quick bite, without being stuck with the expensive plane ticket. Charming, tasty and chic! But if you want a full French experience, make sure to save some room for desert! La Bamboche pastry shop that sells deeelicious macarons is just a few blocks down the road.
More pics after the jump!
Celestin 416-544-9035
623 Mt. Pleasant Rd, Toronto ON