Nice mirror reflecting the open kitchen

Meetpoint has an open concept kitchen where you can see the chef making dough and frying meat. I like that very much, nothing smells as good as the fragrance of your almost-ready-food.  There is a huge flat screen TV in the restaurant, usually showing the Food Network. Seats are cozy but perhaps arranged a little too close for comfort. On the other hand, this place is rarely packed so typically, the table beside will be unoccupied.

Definitely try out the Meetpoint Pizza ($10.95). The veal is roasted over a vertical rotisserie and the dough is freshly made when you order. They also offer a smaller size, which is very convenient for a smaller company or those who would like to try out other dishes.

Thin crust pizza!

I am always too easily filled by carbs so I tend go for The Meetpoint ($10.99) instead. It is basically the same as the pizza, just without the dough. The main difference will probably be its ketchup base rather than their special spiess sauce.

Recently, they have also started a breakfast menu with interesting items such as Kuku $4.99 (eggs, scallion, parsley, chives), Menemen $6.99 (3 eggs with peppers, onions, tomatoes) and Scrambled Tofu $6.99. Generous portions with fresh bread. Their small selection of dessert crepes are also pretty good – soft and fluffy!

However, as a frequent customer, I was sorely disappointed on my last visit. The owner was not around so a server doubled up as the chef. I was keen to try the scrambled tofu but was informed that they do not have tofu when I made the order. Hence, I changed my order to the spinach crepe but again, was told that they do not have spinach in the restaurant. After several attempts at ordering, the server finally decided to tell me what they have in the kitchen and told me to order from that limited list.

By then, I was a little annoyed while he explained that they are extremely unprepared that day with a serious lack of ingredients. WHY open for business when the restaurant does not have the ability to satisfy the customers’ orders?! Luckily, the meetpoint pizza was still available so I ordered that.

Due to the lack of help in the restaurant, I waited more than 30 minutes for the order and it came tasting totally different from what I had before. The meat was dry and the pizza was drenched in sauce. The server/cook also took a wrong order for one table and decided to offer the wrong order to another because the customer was getting impatient with all that waiting. I sincerely wish it was just a really bad day for them.

I am willing to give Meetpoint another chance but I really hope by then, they will have fresh ingredient ready in the kitchen and be ready to actually offer every item they have listed on the menu. It might also help if they actually have the real chef preparing the food. I look forward to my next visit and the scrambled tofu.

The Commons

First and foremost, it’s simply the least expensive place to get a warm meal in an inspiring atmosphere downtown.  It’s inexpensive for a few good reasons:  the food is vegetarian, it’s staffed mostly by young volunteers, and proceeds from the restaurant fund a local community organisation, The Working Centre.

You win friends with salad.

It’s very nice inside.  Tall ceilings, wooden furniture, a piano, a huge storefront window.  You’re surrounded by eclectic people, and definitely feel that you’re participating in something meaningful.  There are books about gardening, bicycles, and disabilities. Obviously, the coffee is fair trade, the tea is served in ceramic, and you put your own dishes away.

The Meal

There are too many dishes on the menu (rather, on display), but my personal favourite is the pizza.  They have a soup and salad combo for under $4 (!!) but the salads are touch-and-go depending on the day.  The pizza, on the other hand, is consistently delicious.  It’s baked when you order it, the dough is soft, the toppings are delicious, and there is usually too much for me to finish.   This time I got a mint tea to go along with it.  Total cost of the meal with a light tip is $6.

Pizza, Mint Tea, Great Deal!

If you’re feeling bored with local coffee shop culture (no dig at the awesome, brand new Coffee Culture just down the street! Heck yes!), give the Queen Street Commons a try. You’ll end up having business lunch there, seriously.