Chachago - New Kid on the Block

If you haven't been downtown near Eaton Centre lately, you'll be surprised to find a number of bubble tea places have opened within a 5-10 minute walk of Eaton's.

Chachago, a franchise from Taiwan,  recently opened on Elm St.  I'm not very familiar with this franchise but it seems like it'll be an okay place.

Signature drinks include a fresh taro milk tea which was recommended, so I went with it.  My first bubble tea ever was a taro milk tea and I loved it.  But, fresh taro milk tea is a little different from the powdered kind.  More "starchy" and definitely tastes like it should if you were to boil and make fresh taro root yourself.  It was good and I liked the milk tea (the powdered taro milk teas usually lack tea taste), but it was a bit chunky and I would have preferred it to be smooth.

I also got to try their regular bubble milk tea because now until the end of the month, they offer a BOGO; if you buy one of their 5 signature drinks, you'll get a free bubble milk tea.  They seem to only have one size drink, a large size at other places.  I liked their milk tea, it was flavourful and perfect for me at half sugar (I think full would be too sweet though).

Seating available and service was nice.

Chachago
3 Elm St.
Toronto, ON M5G 1H1
T: 416-591-7109

 

Figs Breakfast & Lunch - Basic Breakfast Place

344 Queen Street E. Unit 4
Toronto, ON M5A 1S8

(416) 913-7205
www.figsbreakfastlunch.com

First impression: Local, home-cooking type breakfast place
Second impression: Ok taste wise, but why so little potatoes?!

Last weekend I had to pick up something downtown in the east end so we decided to have brunch in a part of town we do not frequent often. Thanks to Yelp, we found Figs Breakfast & Lunch.

It definitely had that local vibe to it and luckily there were still a few tables available. Menu selection was pretty good and they offered a special Meat Lover's plate for $9.99.

Main
House Omelette - $9
Swiss cheese, peameal bacon, and mushrooms (mmmm, mushrooms!)

Comes with toast, potato hash and a bit of roasted potato. The omelette tasted great but I was surprised at how little potato was served. I'm quite accustomed to breakfast places serving a decent amount or huge amount of potatoes but this was new for me. However, if you're concerned in any way about carbohydrate intake, then this would be the perfect amount! For me, I was full so I really shouldn't complain...I guess I was just surprised and my preference would be more potatoes and only 1 slice of toast.

No decaf coffee available, ended up having earl grey tea. Basic Twinnings tea but I do like the little stainless steel tea pot you get at places like this.

Unfortunately no pics of the meat lover's plate. It consisted of different kinds of breakfast meats (sausage, ham, peameal bacon, bacon), choice of eggs, toast, baked beans and the same potato sides. One thing to be aware of though, you only get 1 piece of each meat which also is surprising but once you're done eating, the amount is okay for the price.

Would I come back? I would...if I was in the area. But, since I'm rarely in the area, I don't think I'll be back any time soon. There are a few breakfast places near my place that I think are the same or better.  Breakfast places like Figs should be that place that a local resident would say "hey, let's walk over to Figs, I have a craving for their (fill in the blank)".