Have you ever had a very strong urge to overpay for mediocre products?! Well if that’s the case, Nadege Patisserie (Queen West between Bathurst and Ossington) is the place for you. With clinically white walls and bare decor this cafe offers its patrons almost as much warmth as the Mental Health Ward of a hospital. A bare room, what could be considered a cheesy take on sleek and fairly dismissive staff are definitely the reasons that kept me away for so long but I finally took life into my own hands and decided to give it a try.
Before I get to talking about the food, I’d just like to mention that I’ve never stepped into a cafe where I’ve felt like I was more of an imposition in the place than actually a welcome customer. This is not based on the staff but the horrible design of the interior space. The display counter that runs the length of the cafe is a stark white and although in most places this would stand out, at Nadege they’ve done the walls and the chairs in the same blinding shade. Luckily, for those prone to epileptic seizures, you have the floor to stare at (it’s just good ol’ fashion wood). And, just in case you’re too shocked by the decor to remember where you are, the owner (Nadege Nourian) ensures that her name is plastered on everything the store sells and more. In my opinion, I’d rather not be overwhelmed by the chef’s ego before even tasting their food!
Speaking of which, I felt completely ripped off by their products. My bill for two croissants and four fairly small macaroons was over 15$ and to add insult to injury, their debit machine was pre-programmed to ask if you wanted to leave a tip. I know it’s now common to have tip jars by the counters of cafes but this just seemed completely out of place, almost as bad as including it on the bill (correct me if I’m wrong on this). Anyways, the croissant was pretty boring, well cooked, tasted good but definitely not worth $2 and change. The macaroons, on the other hand, were a complete disappointment. I’m aware that Nadege has become known in Toronto for their macaroon flavour innovation but I didn’t think the taste of freezer was something she was going for. The four I tasted (blackberry, peach and two I really don’t remember) also tasted fairly artificial and more than definitely will never bring me back for seconds. One remarkable element of the food was the presentation which was truly outstanding. The chef’s imagination did shine through and the cakes was beautiful but unfortunately I was not willing to pay $9 for an individual cake unless it came with at least another portion on the side.
Overall, I really don’t recommend this place for anyone. It’s trendy in its minimalistic decor and flashy in its food presentation but definitely not worth spending a whole paycheck on a let down.