Restaurant Review: Boxcar Coffee Shop
BOXCAR COFFEE SHOP 11926 129th Avenue Instagram: @boxcarcoffeeshop Co-Diners: The E.A.T Crew
I love a cafe. LOVE! I don't let many (or any) weeks pass by without stopping in at a favourite cafe for a cozy seat with a latte (or similar beverage). Doing so might be one of the nicest simple pleasures that I can think of. As such, I am always on the hunt for new great cafes to try so that I can add to my roster of spots to visit regularly. I'd been hearing a lot of buzz around Boxcar Coffee Shop but had never made it over there due to their "north of the wall" location (which is quite far away from me). But then EDify Magazine named them Best Coffee Shop 2024 and that was exactly the push that I needed to get me over to Calder. Located on a quaint and adorable street in a part of the city that I'd never been to, Boxcar Coffee Shop couldn't possibly be more charming. To enter the cafe you must first walk through the patio area which boasts plenty of outdoor seating. I can only imagine how stunning this area must be in the summertime, with their twinkling string lights. Entering the small space, I was impressed by the gorgeous design. Clean, cool, and modern, yet full of light and fresh greenery. It reminded me a lot of a bar car on a train in the 1920s. Someone with good taste was in charge of this project and it shows. The staff was friendly and welcoming on my Saturday morning visit. After placing my order (and gazing at all of the pretty pastries in the glass case) I found a comfortable table by the window and settled in. Our items were delivered as they became available and before long we had a table full of delights. Obviously, as this is a cafe, I wanted to try the coffee. But there's a whole lot more to discover at Boxcar and I think that this is what sets them apart. Sure, you'll find americanos and lattes on the menu but you'll also note their horchata - your first hint that this cafe offers a Latin flair. Not sure which drink to order because you want to try them all? Boxcar has got you. I ordered the Boxcar Hopper ($14.00), an incredible idea which provides a tantalizing flight of beverages.
Served on a slice of wood, I could not imagine a cuter presentation. Four small and delectable mugs sat before me and I couldn't wait to try each one! First, the Mocha, made with a double shot of espresso with steamed milk and chocolate. This was one of my favourites overall because it was rich and robust in flavour. It was just a very good mocha! I could taste the coffee and chocolate in harmony and I loved the whipped cream and added chocolate drizzle on top. Next, the Caramel Macchiato, made with a double shot of espresso and steamed milk with a vanilla and caramel drizzle. I didn't like this one as much because while the coffee was good, I didn't get much caramel flavour. Again, I liked the whipped cream and caramel drizzle on top but I wanted the caramel to work harder. Next, the Chai Latte, made with housemade chai and steamed milk. Boxcar's chai blend includes cardamom, star anis, fennel seeds, clove, black pepper, turmeric, cinnamon and fresh ginger peels. I loved this and I think that it was my favourite one! A really, really good chai that was full of warm spices and big flavour - I could really taste the ginger. Much better than the concentrate-made chais that most cafes sell. Lastly, the Horchata, made the Mexican way with rice, milk, toasted peanuts, toasted pumpkin seeds, vanilla and cinnamon. I absolutely LOVED seeing a horchata on the menu, full stop. I also found it interesting to try a hot version as I am more used to having it served cold. Unfortunately, I found this version much too watered down. I didn't seem to get the creamy nuttiness that I was looking for. The food and pastry offerings at Boxcar are far beyond what most cafes are doing and this is another huge factor that elevates the entire experience. It was breakfastime so the Breakfast Sandwich ($5.85) seemed like a sure bet!
And it was served with ruffled chips?! I am never upset at this development! Each bite of this warm and gooey sandwich was a delight. The tender chunks of homemade turkey were plentiful and the egg was cooked nicely with spinach folded in. There was a ton of cheese to bind everything together in the best possible way. Plus chips! At only $5.85 this sandwich is a complete steal. Other food items include a croque monsieur, a quesadilla, and a PB&J sandwich which I hear is incredible because they use whipped peanut butter fluff and actual slices of strawberries. But there's so much more. The pastries are unlike anything that you'll find elsewhere and I was so excited to try as many of them as I (un)reasonably could!
First of all, the Rosette Cookie ($2.45) AKA the "churro cookie," was a must. Crunchy and coated in cinnamon and sugar, and formed into a beautiful design. This ultra-light cookie comes in two sizes (I got the big one) and is so much fun to eat. It reminded me a lot of the cinnamon twists that you can get at Taco Bell, except that this is the much nicer, real version. Every visit to Boxcar must include one of these. I'm pretty sure that it's the law. Next, I really wanted to try The Chonky Caboose ($3.75), a chocolate and hazelnut praline cookie. Made with dark chocolate chips, this cookie sounded pretty incredible and it lived up to expectations. Dense and hefty, this is the type of cookie that eats like a meal. I enjoyed how well all of the flavours came through. A winning and delicious treat! Last, there was The Train Wreck. I couldn't miss it. It's a tres leches cinnamon bun topped with custard, whipped cream and fruit. Certainly one of the more over-the-top items, I've also never seen anything like it. As a huge fan of tres leches cake (which they also have on the menu) I needed to taste this interesting fusion. I loved the concept a whole lot but I'm not sure that the execution lived up to my expectations. There are a lot of fabulous cinnamon buns in this city and this one didn't have the same warm, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Despite all of the custard and whip, I actually found the bun itself somewhat dry. It's a pretty big dessert with a lot going on and I think that the quality of the cinnamon bun itself needs to be improved before this item really nails it. I didn't order it but they may also have jello on the menu. I dunno, I'm just saying.
Boxcar Coffee Shop is the definition of a neighbourhood gem. I'm envious of the Calder area and wish that something like this would pop up where I live (it's Allendale, if you're looking to expand). I loved this unique experience which included tasty coffee, beautiful decor, Latin flavours, and train stuff. I mean, what more do you need? This cafe is worth the trip from wherever you live in the city and I can't wait to return (today?) to cozy up in their lovely atmosphere.