Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Queen Street Commons Cafe

    4.7 (15 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafes, Vegan
    Open 8:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Queen Street Commons Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    Recommended Reviews - Queen Street Commons Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    a view of the street through the door
    Felicia Y.

    I've been looking forward to checking this place out and today, I finally had the chance! It is a special space with lots to see, eat and do. It is run by friendly volunteers who keep the place very clean. They have a coffee bar, kitchen/sandwich bar, and shelves of handmade goods, books and board games. Their food is absolutely delicious at more-than-fair prices! Me and my boyfriend had 2 large coffees, an oatmeal raisin cookie and a chickpea burger with a side of quinoa salad all for less than $10! The chickpea burger came with four toppings and I'd highly recommend trying their spicy hummus! With such good food and good vibes, I just can't wait to go back!

    Tomato peanut soup with a lemon ginger tea. Just what the doctor ordered ;)
    Laura Q.

    Such a wonderful idea, having volunteers run a cafe that is accessible for all in a relatively low-income community. Food ranges from $2-6 which is incredibly cheap and its delicious too! So far I've been 3 times and each time has brought with it fantastic food and a warm welcome. The first time I had the chickpea burger (it was my first time having a vegetarian burger so I wasn't sure what to expect). You could tell they were homemade and had excellent flavour, almost like hummus but more spices and a different texture. Very enjoyable :) The second time I had Ethiopian lentils with rice which was deliciously spiced and flavoured, and even the basmati rice was perfectly cooked. Today I had the tomato and peanut soup which hit the spot on a cold day, especially when I was feeling a bit under the weather. Each time I've been here, the staff have been very friendly and the food comes within 5 minutes even on their busiest days. The restaurant is very clean and they provide board games, cards, and books. There's an espresso bar which I have yet to try out but it looks great too! Overall, I would highly recommend this place. They've got a great selection of vegetarian food at fantastic prices, and you're also supporting a good cause, helping low-income people in the community to eat healthy, affordable meals.

    Interior

    See all

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Min Min I.
    74
    297
    423

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen S.
    3
    21
    2

    7 years ago

    I love this place. They have so many choices for food. I go there all the time even when i don't have much money.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S S.
    0
    54
    192

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Review Highlights - Queen Street Commons Cafe

    The chickpea burger came with four toppings and I'd highly recommend trying their spicy hummus!

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Cafe Pyrus - Outside

    Cafe Pyrus

    4.1(60 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$

    This review is for the Cafe Pyrus Outpost location. Also, Cafe Pyrus has moved to a new King Street…read morelocation recently. I came across the Outpost location while walking along one of KW's many walking paths and had to check it out. I've been following Cafe Pyrus on Instagram and had the restaurant saved on Yelp for a while but hadn't had the opportunity to go since I'm never in that area. I think the new location is a lot more accessible and the outpost is really great. I also discovered it's the meeting place for a community walk and talk which is nice. I was out walking my dog and the staff offered her a treat which I though was so kind. Definitely is a dog friendly spot and they have picnic bench seating available if you choose to stay there to enjoy your treat(s). The Outpost had drinks, snacks, and assorted baked goods. It can be a little difficult to read the board, but the staff are very friendly and will help recommend something great. I opted for a coffee and a Nanaimo bar which was heavenly! Usually I stay away from Nanaimo bars (even though they're my favourite) because of the insane amount of dairy in them, so finding a vegan option made me so happy! My boyfriend opted for the sausage roll and he couldn't even tell it wasn't meat. He loved it so much he went back and got a second one. Since then, I've been back once again and opted for a chocolate croissant and coffee the second time. The chocolate was amazing and the croissant itself was flakey but the flavour wasn't my favourite - just a personal preference, you may love it! If you're looking for a vegan and/or gluten free option, this is the place for you! Even if you're not, everything is delicious and you should check it out!

    This place has lost the vibe it had at the last location. Very sterile, no interesting current…read moreart. Very different from what it used to be. Won't be returning.

    Photos
    Cafe Pyrus - Outside

    Outside

    Cafe Pyrus - Order counter

    Order counter

    Cafe Pyrus - Very good cafe ambiance

    See all

    Very good cafe ambiance

    Copper Branch - Pura Vida tacos chicken "strip"

    Copper Branch

    3.6(17 reviews)
    3.0 km

    After visiting the Waterloo Region Museum, it was around 2 pm and I needed to get some lunch. With…read morethe recent heatwave affecting Ontario, I have been eating fairly light and surprisingly healthy. I decided to check out uptown Waterloo. I didn't know much about it and decided to drive around. I saw Copper Branch and knew that I needed to go there. I saw the flashing neon open sign, found a parking lot close by, and pulled into it. The closest Copper Branch to my home is in Brooklin. I was thrilled to find that there is one in Waterloo. I was quickly greeted by a friendly female at the counter. I knew what I wanted to order. I got the portabello burger (I have had it before and have a weakness for all things portabello) and nachos (my good friend let me snack on a few a while back, but I wanted to experience the whole enchilada... or should it be nacholada?). I then needed a drink. I normally get one of the natural colas, but I didn't feel like a sugar rush. I asked the woman if she knew which beverage had the least amount of sugar. I knew that San Pellegrino would be fine, but I didn't feel like fizzy water. She recommended the coconut beverage. As much as I love all things coconut, I had a feeling that it had sugar in it. Sure enough, it had 19 grams! Luckily, her colleague came to the rescue and suggested getting the Steaz iced peach mango green tea. It is sweetened with stevia. Yay! At any Copper Branch, you order, pay, and find a table. Your food comes to you. My meal, including tip, came up to $30. It does get a bit pricey for decent vegan food. I don't mind it. Sure enough, the woman who helped me with my sugar-free drink came with my nachos and portabello mushroom burger. The burger was fabulous. The portabello was meaty and grilled to perfection. I loved the garlicky mayo. I am not a huge fan of zucchini, but grill them as slices in a burger and I'm fine. This burger was scrumptious. The nachos were amazing. I loved the cheeze, black beans, and cubed veggies. The dairy-free sour cream and guacamole were amazing with the nachos chips. I ate everything up. The place has a relaxed setting. It was nice to unwind and enjoy my food. The washrooms are clean. Essentially, they are gender-neutral. I am so happy that Copper Branch is close by the hotel. I am definitely coming back when I crave decent plant-based food. (245)

    The food is expensive & mediocre. My vegan chicken tacos had barely any pieces of chicken. They…read morewere tiny cubes hidden under all this sauce and majority of it was coleslaw. My smoked tempeh sandwich had none of the provolone cheese it was supposed to have. They forgot my cinnamon bun and the pumpkin spiced latte was bland with no sugar. I paid over $50 for this meal and honestly I should have just ordered from cafe pyrus...

    Photos
    Copper Branch - Smoked tempeh sandwich

    Smoked tempeh sandwich

    Copper Branch - Pipes - different!

    Pipes - different!

    Copper Branch - Mediterranio with quinoa and shiitake teriyaki

    See all

    Mediterranio with quinoa and shiitake teriyaki

    The Yeti - Cold smoke salmon Benedict

    The Yeti

    4.4(59 reviews)
    0.4 km
    $$

    Wow. What a great way place…read more Down to earth, eclectic, great food and truly a great dining experience. Wouldn't change a thing. Love the cozy feeling, the sixties tables, the mismatched plates, the local farm to table suppliers and awesome service.

    We stopped by for a quick drink and bite after seeing this place recommended in the Coffee Passport…read morefor K dubs, but unfortunately it ended up being a major letdown. We ordered two iced lattes: raspberry and lavender. They were ok, but nothing particularly memorable regarding the roasted beans they used. The bamboo straws were also frustratingly flimsy and kept breaking, which was especially annoying since the syrups settled at the bottom and you really needed the straws to mix the drinks properly. The major issue was the food service. We ordered a cinnamon bun and the Pregnant Sasquatch sandwich alongside our drinks, then waited nearly 30 minutes while watching people who ordered after us receive their food. When I finally went up to ask, it turned out the cashier had forgotten to send our order to the kitchen. This was stressful since we had an appointment in Toronto later in the afternoon. The cinnamon bun was then handed to us, which was sitting on the counter the whole time. Another 15 minutes later, a staff member came over to tell us they had run out of the artisan bun for the sandwich, so we had to choose an alternative. At that point, after all the delays and confusion, it honestly felt like some kind of compensation would've been appropriate. I ended up switching to sourdough bread. After waiting yet another 10 minutes, I asked if we could just cancel the sandwich altogether. The cashier assured us it was coming, and it finally arrived about 5 minutes later. To be fair, when I asked what happened, the cashier explained that they were very busy. But - there wasn't even much of a line when we placed our order, so the explanation didn't really add up. And unfortunately, after nearly an hour of waiting and spending around $30 on drinks and food, the sandwich itself was mid at best, Overall, the experience just didn't live up to the hype, and we probably won't be back.

    Photos
    The Yeti - Flimsy straw

    Flimsy straw

    The Yeti - Salmon lox

    Salmon lox

    The Yeti

    See all

    Plant Matter Kitchen - THE IMPOSSIBLE

    Plant Matter Kitchen

    4.1(77 reviews)
    81.4 km
    $$

    We stopped there on our way to Toronto. Very cute, little place in the suburbs of London. It has a…read morelittle upscale vibe which we weren't expecting and looking for as we were in a rush to eat dinner and get going. Despite that, we decided to stay hoping it will not take long to get food, eat and go. The server was very nice, he provided us details on current specials and have us time to decide. I believe they change menu seasonally as some of the items I did see online were not on the menu. I went with the wild mushroom Flatbread and husband got their burger with fries. Food came out pretty quickly and it was delicious. The Flatbread had a nice and strong mushroom'y flavor, fries were fresh and nicely seasoned and the burger was amazing. The sauce that they gave worn the fries was delicious. You could really taste that the food is higher quality. We also got two cheesecakes to go (espresso and vanilla with berries) but these were a disappointment. Not sure if because they were in the car for 3h (I still put them in the fridge for 30 minutes before we ate them) or they are just not the best. Not sure. They were also very tiny pieces for the price. The entire dinner was on a pricey side but we enjoyed our and I would recommend this place for a date night or if you want to get something more high end.

    We were passing through London on our way to Niagara Falls, looking for a dog-friendly place with…read moregood vegan food. Based on reviews, we decided to stop at this wonderful restaurant in this charming (and hopping) neighborhood. The food was excellent! We especially enjoyed the beef bourguignon and the brie en croûte (although the brie could have been just a bit more melted). My oat latte was superb. But the thing that made our visit particularly special was the service. I called ahead to see if they had a patio so we could dine with our dog. I was told that although they have a sidewalk patio, it was closed because of inclement weather, but if we were willing to chance the weather, they would set up a table outside so we would be able to dine with our pup. We showed up and they pulled a table outside, and the server was a good sport about serving us in very windy weather. At least the rain stayed away!

    Photos
    Plant Matter Kitchen - Vanilla berry cheesecake

    Vanilla berry cheesecake

    Plant Matter Kitchen - Espresso cheesecake

    Espresso cheesecake

    Plant Matter Kitchen - WILD MUSHROOM FLATBREAD

    See all

    WILD MUSHROOM FLATBREAD

    Zen Gardens

    Zen Gardens

    4.2(152 reviews)
    66.5 kmMeadowvale Village
    $$

    Ok, so I rarely write reviews. I find them a bit of a waste of time, and I'm firmly against writing…read moreone if you dislike the restaurant. Hence why we're here. Well, at first I was a bit on the fence about ordering cause of the vegetarian/vegan menu, I like my meat, love meat, got to have my protein dammit! But wow! was I ever surprised and happy about following my gut and choosing to go there. You see, I'm from Vancouver, and if you know a bit about my hometown is that you know we have a very large asian population. Heck, I'd even go as far as saying it's my second language, (my first language is English and my parents are Chilean...never spoken a word of it) but I've been around it so much somehow, I feel I could get by given the chance. So, by examining the pictures from the online menu, I thought to myself; If the food is anything remotely like the pictures, it looks exactly like my fav spot in Vancouver - Congee Noodle King- also a must try if you're in east Vancouver. Just trust my absent Asian ancestry ok?! I ordered the N65. Fried Noodles with Steamed and Stir-Fried Bean Curd, and as a request asked them to make it spicy to which they happily and kindly obliged. This dish was packed with flavour. Oh em gee! Loaded with fresh crunchy veggies, the noodles were spot on: thin, velvety and a lot of them. Makes for some healthy slurps! Oh, did I mention the meat? No, I didn't, because it didn't have any, and I have never not missed something so much. The crispy fried bean curds tasted like deep fried spare ribs. My pupils dilated a bit. And that's ok cause I went into a food coma, got to heaven and wrote a review about the very first Asian restaurant I try in Toronto and I'm already planning to go back. If you give this place less than 5 stars you don't know food, Asian food or how to speak it so go on and chew on some meat! Thank you for the wonderful and friendly service as well. I shall return. How do you say that in Mandarin? Cheers! - Patricio

    Stumbled upon this restaurant as I was looking for vegetarian restaurants and thought the food was…read morepretty good! I tried their soy chicken drum sticks, kim chi, dumplings, siu mai, and radish cake. My absolute favourite and would recommend is the radish cake!! It is so good. The kim chi was off-putting and was drenched in whatever sauce. The dumplings are also really good as well. I like the layout and aesthetics of the restaurant. One thing to note also was that the employees just seemed miserable. I understand we came an hour before closing but they just seemed miserable and sort of ticked off that we were coming an hour before closing.

    Photos
    Zen Gardens - Branding between the doors

    Branding between the doors

    Zen Gardens - Cross-section of my pork pastry

    Cross-section of my pork pastry

    Zen Gardens - Root beer

    See all

    Root beer

    Queen Street Commons Cafe - cafes - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...