Boxcar Social Harbourfront

the vibes are on POINT! whether it’s a date, study or hang out!! the food… especially those russet fries.. THEY ARE AMAZING!! the chop salad is literally so amazing too. plus the staff are literal angels, especially the one with the wavy hair and blueish eyes i literally luvvv her vibes <3

Follow @bredgyeats for more food photos! A simple but tasty combo of a savory chicken pesto sandwich with a peanut butter brownie to end off the meal. The chicken is grilled for a moist texture and infused with an herby pesto sauce, along with a slight sweetness of the bell peppers and tangy feta cheese. The foccacia is toasted for a crisp bite and a distinct olive oil aroma. The cakey brownie texture has a familiar chocolatey taste with the creamy savoriness of the peanut butter.

When they say that Canadians are nice, well they are not kidding. What a bunch of lovely ladies took care of us! And plus, our lunch tacos were on point 🤤 and we could’ve not picked a better place to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather on Canada Day! 🇨🇦

October 2024. Very recent review(only based on hot drink but not on food) I am taking down the review from 5 stars to 1 star. Had the worst hot chocolate ever. It was not hot, but cold. Not enough chocolate, I couldn’t taste any chocolate. The barista took 5-10 minutes to make it. We were the only customers waiting for the hot drink to go. I couldn’t sip more than couple times, had to throw that thing away. Worst hot chocolate of my life. Old review : Lovely spot to sit, chat and enjoy coffee & food. With the breathtaking view of the waters and mouth watering lattes/pastries/food - I would highly recommend to experience this. Needless to say, perfect & proper service. You can scan the QR code, order food, enjoy and pay the bill without an hassle.

We went there for lunch and the staff were nice and polite. After we placed our order a huge group of students arrived and it took very long to prep our meals. They said it’s because of the huge group (although our order went in before they arrived) The atmosphere is nice and pretty laid back. but they only had a very limited options for dining (the whole menu was like half a page) and I wish they had a kids menu as well.

I have heard about this one and saved it long ago and didn't have any chance to come here. Yesterday I came with my friend to do deadlines for class assignments and was truly in love with the vibes here. The decoration fully is cozy and so nice as well. They have a patio with a gorgeous view out to the beach near there. But I got a cold feeling so I and my friend chose to stay inside for convenience for charging. Because of focusing and 100% on work so we totally didn't have any hungry feeling at that moment, but I can tell their food is so so delicious (I guess so cause the smell is so good then). Drinks is perfect! I will be back for sure for the food and cocktails next time 🫶🏻✌🏻

Our recent experience at Boxcar Social at the waterfront, unfortunately, didn't meet expectations. While the servers were attentive and accommodating, even providing crayons and a coloring page for our antsy toddler, the overall meal was underwhelming. The food menu was quite limited, offering only a handful of options, which was disappointing given the scenic location. Although the food came out quickly, the price points were high, and the portions did not justify the cost. The protein in the dishes was noticeably lacking, and the condiments, particularly for the fries, were not substantial enough. For a restaurant with such a prime location, I expected better value and variety. The beautiful view and excellent service couldn't compensate for the underwhelming meal.

I took my dog w me. The host lady led me to the table next to the doggie water bowl! So sweet! Food is nice!

I had the best latte ever here! Sparks fly in tribute to TaylorSwift has an ube and coconut flavour to it! Absolutely delicious, highly recommend. You can also co-work from this spot. Make sure try it while it's available!

Was on a walk this morning and decided to stop in for a quick bite and coffee Got an Americano and the breakfast eggs which is two eggs, some salad, two slices of sourdough, a few potatoes and we subbed the bacon for their veggie patties. Really tasty, only complaint is the portion size is quite small for what you pay for. Very kind staff

Review is based on their venue space alone. I've been here twice already for private parties so the entire space is booked out and clear of tables/ chairs. It really is a large space you can use for whatever the event may be. The event I attended was a birthday and for night time, so the entire space as booked out and for our friends only. They do your regular bar rail drinks that you can order or get a bottle. The space is spacious and can easily holy over 100 people. We had about 50-60 at the space and there was still a lot of room left for others to join. The best part is that the outside is overlooking the waters, with a skating rink in the winter. If you're looking for event space in the future, definitely consider Boxcar Social. However, since it's at the Harbourfront, the parking is quite expensive and is underground right beside the Harbourfront Centre.

One of the few waterfront restaurants I have ever been to that lived up to its location. Go for the view and stay for the great food and service. Our server was absolutely lovely and we enjoyed all of the drink options. The fresh lemonade was so good on a very hot day. They have a full bar and also operate a coffee bar. The lunch menu was somewhat limited, but offered some nice lighter options for a small meal. Great open air atmosphere with beautiful views of Lake Ontario.

The location is super with a great view on the patio. but I think they use it for private events often. I've tried several times to go and have been closed for an event. Finally got there for drinks and the service is great, they don't offer coffee in the evening, too bad. The drinks options are good but we didn't have any food. Will go back to try that next time.

Not going to lie, based on purely the food and drink it might be closer to 3 stars - there are maybe two or three items on the menu that I would consider ordering as a main; the burger I did order was very good. The "Boxcar Martini" was kind odd, with the froth and almond milk creating a texture that only vaguely resembled that of an espresso martini (let alone a regular martini). (In the past I've ordered a Yuzu beer that I quite liked.) But the wonderful location overlooking the harbour boardwalk seals it - few other places in the area can offer the same sort of gorgeous views. Will be a frequent repeat customer for this reason!

Boxcar social is one of the only few cafes situated on the waterfront which serves light bites and coffee. Whilst it's a little difficult to find due to the construction going on, it's just round the back of the harbour front centre with a slightly instructed but pleasant view of the waterfront. The interior is super trendy and huge, with options to sit outside on some benches as well. The menu is quite limited but with a focus on the coffee, it makes sense. Staff are super friendly but are limited in what they can do, my friend just wanted a grilled cheese and whilst they had the ingredients, they can't offer options. Saying that, there is some options for breakfast including a vegetarian option. I opted for the flat white and an almond croissant. The almond croissant was a little disappointing, tasting a little stale and chewy. However the coffee definitely made up for it - smooth and creamy, it's exactly how I love my flat whites. Definitely will come here again for the coffee, it's ace.

A fantastic spot for a drink or coffee by the water. The outdoor patio provides a nice view of the lake, while the music from nearby areas contribute to the ambience. We tried the hummus platter which was delicious! It comes with three different versions that are incredibly unique and flavourful. Highly recommend the beet one as it brings a nice tanginess. An awesome dish to share as a group!

Poor service every time I visit, in new unique ways. Staff are always extremely friendly, but everything is slow and disorganised. Coffee and food are unremarkable. If it wasn't for the location, I wouldn't even consider this place.

Great alternative to the chain coffee shops in the area. This is a vast improvement from the cafeteria that was previously here. Prime location overlooking the Harbourfront Centre and lake. It's right next to the skating rink (in the winter) and pond thing (in the summer -- which people hilariously try to "canoe" in, even though it's about 1 foot deep!). The decor and vibe is similar to other Boxcar locations. It's a great place at any time of day, both as a coffee shop, somewhere to eat a meal, or for a drink. There's plenty of seating, including several long communal tables and patio seating. There's wifi and in the quiet parts of the day, it's an ideal place to read or get some work done. Food options are much more robust compared to most cafes. They have a nice selection of paninis and salads at lunch. The fries portion is huge! Unfortunately, I found the fries super salty and their seasoning was overpowering. I've been here for dinner and they have a few small plates/sharing items. There aren't many "entree" type dishes, but there is a cavatelli dish that could be a main course and it was delicious. This area is such a culinary wasteland, so Boxcar is very much welcome here and definitely my go-to for Harbourfront eats.

Overpriced and cold food. I was asked to come back and have something on the house but they are unreachable!!

Excellent coffee and breakfast was also good with both traditional bacon and eggs and some healthy options. Nice location even on a cold day with sun streaming in through the windows. Service was excellent although it was quiet which I don't understand... need to support these places if we want the inner city vibe of similar waterfront places in other cities.

This place is one of the biggest tourist traps I have ever been to. The food is decent but extremely overpriced. The bathrooms are some of the dirtiest I have ever been in. The food came out piece by piece with no rhyme or reason. I noticed a girl asking other tables if the food was theirs. I had to stand up and ask for manager to have my wife receive her food after 30 minutes of everyone else receiving theirs. Do not bring children to this establishment as there is no kids menu. I was able to have my kids share the fried chicken sandwich. Stay away - if their kitchen is anything like their bathroom I'm worried

Cool coffee spot by the water. Grab some iced coffee and enjoy the views Go all the way into the bar for takeout. Other wise they have table service.

Excellent staff, coffee and chai tea. Lovely establishment to stop in before a sailing in the tall ship Kajama.

This is a solid 3.5. The view is absolutely beautiful. Can't argue with this place for the water front setting. It's busy but there's always space somewhere. So props to the designers for accommodating throngs of tourists, locals and lakeshore lovers. We came here for coffee. The first attempt at a an americano was not too good. Too much water so I was happy to see they accommodated us with another cup. I ordered a london fog latter which stranglely enough tasted spot on with a starbucks version. A compliment or not?I am unsure. I can say, I loved the setting. Very relaxing. The customer service was okay. Not a smile or a wee bit of positive energy from the three that worked there. I was hoping maybe at least 1 out 3 might crack a smile or maybe something that said they liked being there. It's better coffee than the usual in the area but by no means is it say, a destination coffee house. Which is disappointing considering they featured phil and sebastian.

Boxcar Social is a great place to sit down and work when you need a change of scenery. I come here on occasion when I want to avoid being interrupted and need to get things done. I enjoy the natural light shining through the large windows and the view of the inner harbor. Even with music playing in the background and the idle chatter, the only thing that distracts me from my work is watching people ice skating outside. The coffee is great. The wifi is fast. Come here for the coffee, come here for the view. You won't regret it.

Boxcar Social is so many wonderful things. An open-air event space, a waterfront patio, a communal work space with a badass coffee bar and a restaurant. Seriously, what more could you ask for? I've popped in twice. Once for patio cocktails and once for a little laptop and beer time. The food menu looks great, and people rave about the coffee, so I'll be back again soon. Plus, whenever I say the name of this place The Pixies pop into my head. Bonus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dIOYjnTxNk

This is nice cozy spot next to Natrel Rink. It has good ambiance, nice music and decor. I ordered Cappuccino and cheese croissant. The coffee was overly milky and lacking coffee flavor. The cheese inside the croissant tasted weird. I may try this spot another time for drinks and meals, but for now its fail.

Went here while I was visiting Toronto. The area is gorgeous, but the food is overpriced. I thought that the portions would be larger, seeing as they were expensive and it's a social type of setting, where one would think they would have shared portions. But they don't, and they also don't split anything between parties. So if you're traveling, just note that one person will have to pay. Also, I got the shrimp, which wasn't really that flavorful. But my friend got the Buffalo cauliflower and she really liked it, just in case you're interested in those dishes. The service wasn't great. Our server took 20 minutes to bring our drinks. It was a Thursday afternoon and was kind of steady, but not too busy. He refilled our water once, and that was the last time he came to us. When we finished, he never came over. We were trying to get his attention for about half an hour, but he just kept dropping things off and disappearing. We just asked another waiter for the check. Not the best service. The view is amazing, right on the harbor. If you want something scenic, it's beautiful. This place isn't my cup of tea, but I think if you just want some drinks, it should be fine.

The location and establishment are actually quite lovely but the hipster-style atmosphere unfortunately make this place quite overpriced. The food is nice, fresh and simple, but it's your typical $11 avocado toast that you could easily make for $3 at home. Service is just ok and coffee takes a while because it goes in order of who ordered which includes food orders. The patio is the selling point here and when the weather's nice, you can sit right out on the harbour.

Gotta love a place where you get both Coffee and Alcohol.but I feel this place is lacking on good food options... Very limited menu. I must say the ambience is very delightful and has best sitting area though a bit far from the waters.. the drinks taste great, they know what they are doing! I would mostly recommend this location for their cocktails :)

This place is right on top of the harbourfront skate rental. So while my friends are off skating, I had time to sit and relax to enjoy cup of beautiful cappuccino! I sat in front of the large glass windows that's facing the line up right in front of skating rental. The menu has variety of specialty coffee and beer. There's also a menu of appetizer and full size meal entrees. Some of the options look delicious like the Brussels sprouts with poached egg. Next time when I come I will be sure to come on an empty stomach to try the delicious sounding healthy options.

Boxcar Social looks like a coffee shop, but it is also a wine bar. The atmosphere and aesthetics is modern with a hipster vibe. The prices are comparable to other coffee / wine bars which is to say there's a small "hipster tax". On the weekends, the coffee and wine bar is quite lively. I ordered the london fog with almond milk. It was pretty good, but portion was small for the price paid (again "hipster tax"). Boxcar Social also has a small menu. The items on the menu is light and fresh. I had the Avo Toast with salad. It was delicious. I would recommend it. However, the portion is small for what you are paying. The service is mediocre. Overall, I would recommend this place if you are by the harbourfront. It is a great pitstop.

(Ex) Barista approved! This place is the perf spot for studying, a date, dinner or to people watch (and see people slipping and sliding on the ice in the winter). It's absolutely beautiful and the interior is quite large even though it has a very cozy feel. The aesthetic is dark, romantic and intimate. It closes late-ish and it was my first time there and I can definitely say I'll be back even though it's not close to where I usually am downtown at all. I parked in the underground that's right there (cheap in the evenings) and it was a 3 minute walk from there. Easy peasy. I suck at navigating the ttc other than the subway but the streetcar stops right in front of the harbourfront centre too. When people say 'you're fine like espresso', this is what they meant because this espresso was the finest, smoothest thing ever. Each drink was made to perfection and my espresso machiatto was deliciouso. They also have dairy free milk alternatives, which any coffee shop should have by now. I was taken here to try the vegan bars they have because apparently they're delicious, but they were out by the time it was 8pm-ish. Will need to satisfy my tummy another time. They also have alcohol. I felt like that had to be it's own sentence ..anyways! I can't wait to visit this beautiful coffee joint when it doesn't feel like my bones are going to freeze and crack anymore. Winter, go away.

Amazing patio view of the waterfront. All I have to say is bring back the Friday fried chicken specials! Why was that ever taken away? I found out about this place when I was supposed to do a coffee meeting here, and then realized oh! they serve beer, and they serve fried chicken sandwiches. I was glad my coffee meeting got cancelled last minute because I then continued to wolf down the fried chicken sandwich in peace and not with the watchful eye of a business contact. When I came back again, i was disappointed to see that the fried chicken sandwich was no longer available, womp womp... I remember having a sandwich with fries but it just wasn't the same. Patio was still great though. I also passed by once and saw that they were holding a private wedding. What a cool venue I thought! I'd get married here, right by the lakefront. Parking might be a bit of an issue for guests, but surely it can't be as expensive as a regular banquet hall venue.

I love coming here on a brew-tiful day! Boxcar Social has now become my #1 place to work, hang out, meet friends, or even just admire the beautiful (I mean brew-tiful) view of Harbourfront! The ambience of the place is perfect and transitions seamlessly through the evening from a chill bar to one that is full of energy and bustling with people moving in and about! During the day, it's a perfect place to work, kick back with some good tea or coffee and watch the ducks fly in to swim on the pond in front. During the evening, it's a wonderful place to relax with some friends over a couple drinks and catch up on the day's/week's happenings The patio is accessible (although the inconvenience of the ramp is slightly off putting) but the marvellous view tends to make up for any ill will. Moving on to the actual menu, the drinks are reasonably priced (Half bottle wine on Tuesdays!!!) And the food is actually fairly delicious. I would recommend the Peach Blossom Tea with it's scented aroma and it'll leave you in a very relaxed state. Combined with the Patatas Bravas, which has a sour taste but very delicately made and the potatoes crispy, it's a good light bite to get you through the day! Other recommendations also include the smoked salmon and the seared tuna (only available after 6pm at the Harbourfront Location, aren't you lucky?!) The staff are friendly, nice and not to mention, extremely accommodating and incredibly patient (a virtue I highly admire in any restaurant staff!) I love this place too much (not to mention come here to work and chill) to give it anything less than a 5 Star Review PS Great date spot!

Would really give it a 4.5. It's a great space on the water with really cool atmosphere. The food was really, really good and loved the IPA beer we had too. Didn't have to wait long for food and our wait staff was super friendly and attentive!

So, going in we had no expectations at all, and definitely no intention of getting a bite to eat. Well, om*g the fries here are easily the best in the city. I am assured by the wait staff that is how they always come out. Order some fries when you come here for a beer. You will not be disappointed.

It's boxcar social!!! They carry Sey!!! Tim Wendelboe!!!! Lacabra!!!! Coffee collective!!!! Lüna!!! 5 elephants!!!! And.....the OG George Howell What more could a coffee lover want??!!!

I've been here multiple times - maybe too much (check my Yelp check-in LOL), but I can't help it, this Boxcar location probably have the best view of the lake for me! It's difficult for me to write this review as I truly enjoy enjoy this place, however the service & quality are going down ... I honestly don't know if the barista even care anymore. On multiple occasions, I noticed they only fill up half of the glass with my iced latte. Seriously? If you are charging $5 for a latte, I do expect to get 3/4 or full glass of the latte. One time I ordered the smoked salmon sandwich, that took 30 mins to arrive and I had to remind them twice. Mind you, there were only 4 customers in the cafe and all of them received their respective orders. I even noticed customers who arrived after me received their smoked salmon sandwich first... When I reminded the server/staff on the second time, she even said "Oh we probably couldn't find you." UH excuse me, you didn't even walk around to ask each customer if he/she ordered the sandwich. Also, even if you couldn't find me, what did you do with that sandwich then? Did you throw it away? Or serve it to another customer??? They used to have a number system - meaning if you ordered food, you would be given a number so the staff can find you - I haven't seen that system being used for a long time so I assume they removed it. Would I come back? Maybe, maybe not. I might go to their other locations instead, and you guys should be aware of the terrible services here. Also, I noticed Zeel's review below regarding her experience, I was there and can vouch for her story of the customer service here.

If there's an option to give half star, i seriously would. My boyfriend and I were strolling around in the area over the weekend and we decided to check this place out for a quick beer and snack. Instead, that turned into an hour of sitting in the sun for beers that never made it to our table. We waited in line for 10 mins before we get seated at the patio which is fine considering it is the Canada day long weekend. We waited at least 20 mins before our waiter, Carlos, came to our table to to greet us. He recommended us two beer samples for us to try before ordering full pints. We agreed as the restaurant does not carry the beers that we normally order as they only carry local beers. We also ordered a poutine as a snack. Another 20 mins of wait before our poutine came(with no utensils), but the beer samples never made it to our table..... We had to ask another staff to follow up on our beer samples as we were just too thirsty (imagine eating poutine in the heat without drinks being served). The beer samples finally came when we were already half way into finishing up the poutine. We did not like the taste of the beer samples that they gave us at all.... we wanted to ask for other samples to try but our waiter never came back to check on us. It came to a point where my boyfriend got fed up with the terrible service that we got up and went to the cash register to ask for our bill. This was when our waiter, Carlos finally came to us and asked if everything is okay. Why is that even a question? I told him how disappointing we were due to the lack of service. Carlos apologized and said he would take care of our bill but my boyfriend insisted and paid for what we had and left no tip (first time ever). All in all, we spent an hour and 15 mins at this restaurant for a poutine (which was alright) with no water/drinks being served. Never coming back again and would not recommend to anyone.

This café is so Toronto. I was there on Monday and they close at 5:00. I don't know what to say about Toronto. Unless one wants to go through a McDonalds drive through (yuck) everything in this town is closed at night. There is a grill restaurant near my house that starts putting up its chairs at 8:00 PM! No wonder the riff raff and their polluting cars get together in the parking lot of the doughnut shop every night (car fascination is so 1999). With that said, why the four stars? The beverages are quite good and rich. They use real and authentic ingredients. The view is fabulous looking onto Lake Ontario and the islands. The waiter and the person behind the counter/cash were quite polite and friendly. They have wifi and the premises are clean. Yes, the beverages are $1 more expensive than elsewhere, but given what I just wrote it is worth it. With that said, five o'clock??

WORST SERVICE EVER. Absolutely ruined Mother's Day. Probably should have read the reviews about their terrible service before coming. Just walked out of this place with godawful service. Came in for mother's day today to treat my mom and we had been walking around so we had 2 Starbucks fraps. We walked in and ordered fries and avocado toast. At no point did the cashier or any of the waiters mention that outside food was not allowed. As we were enjoying our food, the "manager" (the quotations are my expression of shock that someone with such an awful disposition could ever make it as a manager in the service industry.. Or any for that matter) Miles abruptly approached us at our table on the patio and said that he would have to get rid of our drinks as it was against policy- EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO SIGN OR INDICATION OF SUCH A POLICY. I told him that and he continued to say that because they were a fully functional cafe, outside drinks would not be permitted. He actually tried to physically take the drinks from us and created such a scene (even though we were paying customers) that other patrons of the patio were looking at his behaviour. I offered to give him our drinks so that he could put it behind the counter if that really was the policy. He was absolutely rude and said he would have to throw them away. The couple sitting next to us intervened as well because Miles was absolutely awful and terrible. He absolutely ruined the dining experience for me and my mom for Mothers Day in addition to the dining experience of other people on the patio. His behaviour was appalling as he attempted to humiliate us further. I spoke to someone that allegedly is his boss even though somehow he's the manager. She was a short woman and was somewhat nicer than him but continued to defend his actions. She said that because they had redone the patio, the sign was not currently up. She did not apologize for his rude and callous behaviour. I fail to see how its appropriate to harass paying customers for their drinks while they're trying to enjoy their paid for meal in peace in middle of the entire patio. If this really is a policy of the patio, they should have let us know as we approached the establishment or even when we went to pay for our meal and not attack us while we eat. Miles, along with the entire establishment, need to learn a few things about appropriate social behaviour and how to treat paying customers. Will not return due to this awful experience on Mother's Day.

Walking through harbourfront my friend and I decided to stop by for drinks. I wanted a mojito and she wanted a sangria. They didn't have either which I thought was a little odd. We both settled for wine (5oz) which was basic. Can't remember the names but she had red and I had white. Our server switched midway through without telling us so we had to ask a different server for our bills etc. Neither were very friendly and seemed a bit standoffish. Also we weren't seated for a good 5-10 minutes when we walked in and had to ask someone if it was okay to sit anywhere. Not a welcoming vibe at all. I doubt I will be returning.

Location is nice. Not much to eat. We went for a birthday gathering, after spending $1500 for food & drinks with almost $300 in service fee, they charged us an additional $80 for cutting the birthday cake we brought ourselves... I respect restaurants' decision to charge a reasonable fee for outside food. But charging $4 p.p for 20 people ($80 total) for cutting open a cake is just ridiculous. I will not return again nor recommend large parties coming here if you want to bring your own birthday cake.

Great local craft beer selection and WiFi - what more could I ask for? Lots of families come here since there is a skating rink and the Harbourfront right in front of it. It's a great place for dads tired of being dads, or moms tired of being moms, just needing a beer to take the edge off of parenting a screaming tot. They do serve bar snacks like fries and so forth. Stop in for a latte too if you're needing some caffeine. Come here to watch the sunset too. So romantic. Oh, and a story that actually happened at this establishment: Two guys (that didn't know each other) were on their laptops and one guy removed his power cable from the power strip. But before he did, he SWITCHED OFF THE POWER STRIP. The other guy was like, WTF?! And apparently he didn't have a battery in his laptop and was using the power cable as his primary source of power, so he lost all the tings he was working on on his computer. But like, YO MAN! If you're going to work on a masterpiece, HAVE A BATTERY IN YOUR COMPUTER or like DON'T USE A PUBLIC SOURCE OF POWER AS YOUR MAIN SOURCE OF POWER. And to the other dude: WHY ARE YOU SWITCHING OFF THE POWER STRIP. CLEARLY THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE PLUGGED INTO IT. You were both stupid and if you are reading this, I hope you learned your lessons.

I've been here a total of three times. Each time is pretty much the same as the previous. First off the location is stellar ! Views of the lake and island, and the proximity to the foot traffic along the lake, etc. Hard to top. I've only come here for drinks. I've looked at the food menu and it does have a few items that look like more pub food, but with a twist. If I was hungry I'd probably seek out other places in the area. Every time I've been there is always a section to the west that is blocked off for groups (looks like mostly office functions). The food that gets served there doesn't look anything like the food from the menu (it looks much better). Boxcar has a great selection of beers on tap as well as some high-end spirits. The place is always loud, but in all the times I've been there, there hasn't been any music playing, it's just loud because of the people in there and the acoustics. The tables on the patio are much quieter, but on a nice day... well, Good luck ! All of the above would have netted this to be at least a 4 star place. However the service or lack there of is the downfall here. If you manage to find a table you are more than likely having to go to the bar yourself to get your own drinks. Which usually means queuing up behind the table servers (yes the ones that should be getting the drinks for you). The Bartenders are very personable, but clearly understaffed. I've often seen staff just standing around behind the bar. Not really sure if they are servers or what. Even if you do get a table and a server, don't be surprised if you have to flag down other servers to get fresh drinks. Attentiveness isn't something practiced. Overall, because I like the location, and the selection of beers, I'll go back, but I know the expectations for service, so I won't really be disappointed. It could just be so much better.

I was surprised to see such a low rating for this boxcar location. They have a fantastic beer and whisk(e)y selection, and a solid food menu with pretty much everything, from the jams to the mustard, made in house. The fries are delicious! Besides, you can't beat that view over the lake. When it's a normal day, service is friendly and on point. Ive had fantastic recommendations and samples of beers I'm not sure about. However during festivals I bet they get slammed, which might impact service.

Love this spacious cafe / bar! Nice vibes!!! I got the matcha latte - perfect for a cold day in Toronto

@boxcar_social @HarbourfrontTO #YELPTO #TORONTO #COFFEESHOP #COFFEEGEEK This was my alternative for Amsterdam BrewHouse on Queens Quay because it was full as usual. Boxcar was a pleasant surprise. I have been writing it off as a coffee shop and would've never thought to wander there in the evening, but boy was I missing out? Glass exteriored Boxcar offers an amazing lake view for all. The interior is large yet cozy. I am thinking this is due to the dim lighting - it feels quite intimate. I'd say it's a great place for a date but I'd totally even just crawl in there by myself. I didn't eat there but the bites that I saw made me want to try some and I am probably going to go back soon. However, I did sip on a few glasses of light white wine and it was lovely. The wine, I believe from what I remember, ranges from $12 to $20 per glass. My friend ordered whiskey. And I know they serve beer too. And ofcourse, coffee. Can't wait to go back for some food and coffee next time!

Round 2 So, I've been back a couple of times since the last review and I'm happy to say service is much better (more trained staff and attention to detail - cleaning up tables and following up on food, etc). I came back for the beer and delicious food - now the staff is slowly matching the food quality. Win-win!

Always a pleasure visiting this artistic masterpiece of a coffee shop..amazing coffee, warm vibe, and smiley staff. You can not go wrong!

I'm a sucker for a coffee shop that also serves alcohol. Buffalo doesn't have NEARLY enough. The vibe is always good...almost by definition. Wanna make a lot of money? Open something similar in the Queen City. I digress... Combine a great drink menu with wonderful lake views, big bright windows, friendly staff, delicious looking food (can't comment on taste...) and fantastic unlimited wifi, this is a perfect spot to work when visiting Toronto. They have a few locations in the city, but this one is located just down the road from the main tourist hubs and many hotels (CN tower, aquarium, stadium, etc). I suspect that locals prefer their other locations, but this worked just fine for me! Visiting in March meant it was pretty dead. Too warm for tourists to ice skate; too cold for tourists to walk along the lake. I'd imagine the place fills up during most other months, but I liked the quiet, chilled out vibe. Great music selection too...I don't go to coffee shops without my trusty headphones, but they actually were NOT needed here. Not bothered by anyone for the few hours we were here. Great spot overall! Will be back!

Great if you want to sit here and enjoy the atmosphere. Terrible if you actually want to get something. Servers are excellent at avoiding eye contact and talented at zooming past you before you can even begin to say "excuse me". Once you manage to catch a server they will begrudgingly take your order. If you an actually manage to get a drink, it's pretty good. Hipster scowls are free with every order.

They claim to have WiFi but it doesn't work - like, at all. Speedtest can't even connect enough to test the speed. The staff are nonchalant/indifferent about it. Ownership seems to think this is ok - well, I'm never coming back because you're too cheap to provide WiFi to your guests.

Right from when we entered this place it was a total waste. When we entered there was no one to help us with the table or get us seated. We found a table ourselves and sat there for like 20 mins and no server came to our table with menu or water. So I decided to go to their bar and get some menus and when I got there all their servers were busy chatting with each other and 5 mins later they realized I was standing there seeking their help to get some menus and water. They handed me the menu which was too small and the entire menu was divided in time slots with nothing special on the menu at all. When you go there beware that their service is really poor and food is not that great. I am definitely not coming back to this place.

Once again, the service is lacking to where I have had to speak about it again. I'm here right now in the daytime. There are more servers and they are a little more attentive. But not much. We ordered our food around 40 minutes ago. It felt like forever, though. And it still hasn't come yet. Turns out the system for the iPad ordering messed up? But still, wouldn't you think that the food should have come out within the first 10 to 15 minutes? You should check if the food is being made instead of making cutlery rolls. I am very disappointed in the lack of communication. They're making a rush order for us as I type, but this sucks. Not what I expect for what I'm paying for my meal on the Harbourfront in Toronto. Atmosphere is nice, nonetheless. Good for sight seeing and people watching.

This place for me is more about the location than the actual dining experience. I recently went to the Harbourfront location on a very nice, sunny day and thoroughly enjoyed sitting out on the wooden patio. The food was definitely not bad but their selection is very, very small. This isn't always a bad thing but I think they could expand their options a bit. They had a decent beer selection and prices were pretty standard. The overall quality of the food was quite good but again, my only real motivation to return would be for the lakeside view.