Description
Knock me over with a hazelnut biscotti, baby, but I'm ignored in some of Toronto's finest dining establishments on a regular basis. I've stood in the middle of a completely empty Amuse-Bouche twice and had an entire phalanx of extremely professional staff act as if I didn't exist. And I had reservations! So you can understand my initial surprise upon entering L'Espresso Bar Mercurio, the newly launched off-shoot of Bar Mercurio across the way, as I sink into an oversized ultrasuede-upholstered armchair and check my bearings. Situated on the ground floor of U of T's new Woodsworth College tower, L'Espresso's only been open a few weeks and is already doing a roaring trade. Students mix with academics on classic black-lacquered Parisian cafe chairs, while locals linger over small creme brulee lattes at marble-topped tables. During the week, customers place orders at the counter, then have them delivered to table from a very busy open kitchen. On the weekend, there's table service.