The Island Cafe

Erin was just fab, there’s so much energy and genuine helpful attitude. The cinnamon bun was good and they are able to warm it up, my mocha was delicious but it taste more chocolate than coffee but I am not complaining. This place is amazingly cute, it’s an experience being here.

Great coffee and team. Visited twice in the past few weeks and the team members are super friendly. There is a vegan wrap and salad. It’s a lovely atmosphere, I’m really grateful the café is back. BYO containers and coffee cup to avoid waste :)

The staff is unprofessional and the food is way overpriced. To answer Paul W's question from the previous review: they absolutely serve hotdogs cold and they are as disgusting as one can imagine. My question then is, how do they make hot drinks if they don't even have a microwave to heat up food 😒

The Island Café has recently re-opened on a smaller scale after the fire, with two quaint counters offering coffee and pastries on one side, and Chapman’s ice cream on the other. The menus are surprisingly long and diverse, with high quality croissants including a tasty spinach and feta, sundae toppings like maraschino cherries and Oreo crumble, and two signature kale items (wrap and salad) with kale straight from the nearby gardens. It’s so nice to have them back and hope they continue to expand their menu and space!

Update: The Cafe is back and better than ever! New Taqueria addition really hits the spot. I got the sauteed oyster mushroom burrito. Enough for one person to fill up or as a snack for 2 to share. Great customer service. Definately the best place for food on the island.

Fast service, fresh hot coffee and a great location! My family and I hopped right off the ferry about 9:45a and we're so glad to see something within eye shot of the wards island dock. Staff was friendly and prompt. Try the almond pastry!

Wonderful place! Delicious and very affordable food. I had a super tasty and filling burrito (with fried egg, beans and cheese) costs only $8. Outfoor seating, lots of tables and chairs, in shade or in sun. There are also sweet treats and espresso bar coffee. Amazing!!!! I can't wait to visit again!!

my best friend’s family lives on the island and all our friends go up on weekends with them whenever can and the cafe is always our favourite stop! the food is delicious, the staff is always so friendly, and the space is beautiful and perfect for eating out in the summer. gorgeous at sunset!! some of my most cherished moments are laughing with friends in the gazebo or sitting all together in the grass beside the cafe with our food :) always worth the trip.

Surprisingly good! We stumbled along this place while staying at Ward's island. I ordered a coffee and pastry, and it tasted really fresh and delicious! I wasn't expecting much from the outside, but the breakfast croissants and pastries looked amazing. Service was really friendly and a little laid back than in the city, but it taught me to slow down and enjoy more. Nicely decorated cafe with island touches.

Had Fish Bowl. It was the healthiest option. Not bad, not good. They have a few menu options that are different from the Pizza and burger dominated cafes on the yak and. Located in Ward island. The patio is cute and it was a relaxing lunch. Service is friendly. They also have water for patrons. No washrooms but there are washrooms at a 5 minute walking distance. A tad pricey for comparable food off the island but understandable because of the location. I will try the tacos next time

Solid lunch option on the islands. Way better than getting fast food on center island! We opted for to go food to enjoy a picnic but there is ample outdoor seating. Salad was fresh and tasty. Fish and chips hit the spot. Love that they have so many popsicles to choose from! I'll definitely eat hear again the next time I'm out on the islands.

I would give this place Zero stars!!! Terrible service, burgers were burnt, fries were soggy, the amount of time to get our food was so long that other tables that arrived after us finished lunch before ours even arrived. One of our friends ordered a beer that never arrived. This was a terrible experience. Terrible servers and terrible food. On the contrary, the setting was nice.

I would give 6 s if I could. An annual tradition, visiting Ward's island and having lunch at the Island Cafe! Food is amazing, garden on premises with fresh kale . The staff is super friendly.

Food is okay (they sort of burned my vegan wrap), but the wine is terrible. I think they serve from bottles that have been open for days or just add lake water to the mix to save costs. Location is a 5 star!

There aren't two many choices for restaurants on Ward's Island so Island Cafe is like an oasis, close to the ferry dock. They have a good sized covered patio, surrounded by lush gardens. Their bright colours gives it a tropical look. Their menu offers a nice selection of light and medium fare - Nachos, Fish & Chips, Quesadillas, Burgers, etc. They also serve brunch, with some classic and popular items - Waffles, Huevos Rancheros, Croque Monsieur, and more. Their bar menu offers a decent selection of wines and craft beers. Prices are reasonable, although one of the locals I spoke to considered it expensive. He probably doesn't eat out much. They have a quick-serve takeout counter, serving beverages, pastries, and snacks. This is where I ended up since I had already eaten lunch recently. Their pastries and fruits looked fresh but I settled for an orange-mango smoothie. It had a nice flavour, without tasting too sweet or artificial. It was perfect! The food that I saw being served looked very appetizing. I would definitely consider eating here on my next visit to the island.

I like this place. Have been here many times before. Always a little slow but nice. We stopped in while on the island a few weeks ago just to grab a coffee and a few treats for my girls. Well. It was busier than usual. Ok. I accepted waiting for a bit in line. However that took an inordinately long time. But I figured I'm ordering simple stuff so that should be it. They had two people on cash doing their best. Well. I ordered a plain coffee to make sure I did not have to wait for the cue of espresso drinks and a freezie and a ready hot dog. Specifically asked if the hot dog was ready to go. Got the freebie and the hot dog. But the coffee took another 23 minutes. The one person on the coffee machine was doing their best for the resto and takeout but that is just ridiculous. I asked why I had to wait while they made frothy drinks and they just kept saying everything is in order. I will not order anything that needs human touch there next time. And make sure I clarify if a simple coffee is expected to take 23 minutes to make. Understaffed. Still nice but make sure you budget your time accordingly.

Why all the haters? The island cafe is not fine dining and you're not in a big city resto. Relax enjoy the slower pace (that's why you came to the island today isn't it?) and be thankful you don't need to rush to get back to work after you gobble down your quick lunch at your desk, like you did for the last five days. We stopped in after a day of biking on the island and had lunch. Reasonable food (club house and kids grilled cheese sandwiches with salad and fries) at reasonable prices. Given that there is virtually no competition the fact that you can sit on their patio and sip a cold lemonade for $2.25 was completely unexpected. Sure it was a bit slow getting the bill. The place was super busy and the waitstaff have to navigate some pretty narrow walkways between tables. Those 10 extra minutes waiting for the bill was just another 10 extra minutes enjoying the beautiful weather. I go there every time we go to the islands if not for a meal then for some of their awesome ice cream.

Good choice for a lunch/dinner on the islands. They have a spacious patio outdoors and I was very glad that they let my dog stay on the patio. My fiancee ordered the moules frites while I ordered the Island burger. It was a good size gourmet burger, not super huge and clunky like you sometimes see in restaurants. The fries were quite salty though not overly so and were quite addictive. For drinks, we ordered a pitcher of sangria. It was decent, good for a summer's day. The servers were also quite friendly and the food did not take too long.

We saw this cafe right after we arrived the island and it was hot afternoon so we decided to have couple drinks before we explore the island. We had only snacks (nachos and fries) and sangria and even though fries weren't very good(not crispy) nachos and sangria were pretty good. We didn't stay too long but it is conveniently located and it's nice spot to have quick drink on the island.

We stopped here for a short break while biking through the island. Really cute, rustic place for a sunny, summer day. The patio is large, and there are many benches strewn about if you are just having a snack. We had one of their all-natural popsicles - pina colada flavoured. It was good, but a bit expensive at $4.75. But, it's the island and we expected food to come at a premium anyways.

Had the chance to eat at this lovely cafe when visiting in the summer. One of the only restaurants on Ward island, this little cafe is conveniently located near the ferry drop off and has a homey, garden feel and the restaurant sources the produce locally. We both got the grass fed burger with fries and the side salad with home grown kale. The food was really good, fresh and had great portions. The servers are super friendly and hospitable and it's a great option before island exploring!

Woahhh...there's so much anger in the other reviews. Close your eyes and listen to the lake waves and chirping birds on this scenic island landscape. Look in front of you. It's a homegrown garden in a little bathtub against a backdrop of floating boats. How can you get angry? So there seems to be a trend here that says the service is horrible. I don't know if the weekend staff is different from the weekday staff (went on a Thursday afternoon), but whaaaat? These guys were some of the nicest, most mellow people that I've ever come across in a restaurant. And this place was bustling (there was an event on the island). They forgot our items a couple times and we had to remind them, but each time, they had a great attitude about it. Everyone was very polite about any questions we had. The ice cream guy asked twice if there was anything he can get for me. Can't complain about the food either! Ordered a smoked fish board expecting the regular slices of grocery store smoked salmon. It came out as a beautiful filet on a bed of homegrown kale and pickled onions. The only thing that made it better was my iced latte, which was deliciously creamy. They even have a finishing station with all types of sugar (simple syrup and honey included) and milk, perfect for any drink. Honestly, this was a perfect island escape across from a city that is riddled with transit troubles and housing headaches. My advice? Take your date here. Too bad this place is so far from me, but I'm willing to keep up this long-distance relationship. Wait for me, Island Cafe, I'll be back to to sip coffee by the lake and eat your freshly grown veggies soon. (60/100) - 2016

This place is conveniently located on one side of the island and has the cutest garden surrounding the restaurant. The patio was especially cute and has great views of the garden. It was late evening and luckily there wasn't a wait to get seated but service was a tad slow. In all fairness, it was slow because there was a wedding on the other side of the restaurant which is catered by them. Anyway, back to the food... We ordered the patatas brava, garden basil fritters and fish tacos. All were tasty and washed down with the homemade kombucha.

While the surrounding and locations are certainly gorgeous, nothing redeems a poorly made, over-priced hot dog and greasy fries. I ordered the all-beef hotdog for $4 and side of fries. While $4.00 on Centre Island seems reasonable, wait until you see what you get at the Island Cafe. Grocery-store untoasted buns and a microwaved beef dog. Looking for pickles, onions, vegetables? Nah. But here is some lukewarm ketchup packets and Kraft relish. Quite possibly the laziest hot dog I've had in my life. Fries were more redeeming, but they too were poorly seasoned and overly greasy. The irony is that there's a run-of-the-mill hotdog vendor just 100 metres away. Do yourself a favour and walk just a bit further.

Stopped by for lunch on a Friday afternoon while visiting Toronto islands. The place wasn't very busy, with only a few tables occupied. Our food came out fairly quickly, we tried the quesadilla and the beef burger, both were pretty decent. What I actually enjoyed about this place was the amazing outdoor atmosphere and the friendly staff. Each table had fresh flowers on it and they had a really cool outdoor garden. You also get a great view of the water and the city skyline.

The perfect stay-cation destination! I love this place! Island Cafe is a little outdoor restaurant on Ward's Island, just across the way from the ferry dock. The vibe is so laid back and breezy that you really feel like you're on vacation somewhere down south. My favourite routine when I'm making a day of it at Ward's Beach is to head out on the ferry early, come here first for breakfast (and mimosas of course), and then head to the beach to post up all day with a full belly. Everything is farm-fresh (or at least tastes like it!), including some of their veggies which are grown in a garden right next to the cafe. You can literally look at the kale growing in the garden as you eat! They also have a takeout counter for coffee, drinks, and ice cream. There are so few dining options on the islands so it's worth a visit to Ward's to try something homegrown and super tasty.

One last chance for redemption, and sadly they failed miserably. 15 min. in very small line to get to the girl taking orders, only to be informed they 'couldn't do' burgers today. So I opted for fish & chips (she had to inquire if they had any). 25 minutes later, a cup of grease with some under-cooked fish and some over-cooked bits of potato. Most went into the garbage bin. Most frustrating of all was the girl taking orders....I paid in cash and she short-changed me by nearly $5.00. I very politely mentioned there was an error, which she immediately recognised (this was not done on purpose).....but she literally could not make change. She fingered the quarters, the dimes, the loonies.....the confusion on her face was truly sad....and she finally just gave me a $5.00 bill. A great location that is unfortunately going to waste. I'd suggest the management do a complete 'do over'....but apparently there is no management.

Service: The service is absolutely terrible. We needed to ask the server repeatedly to bring basic items to our table (i.e., salt, a plate, coffee). We order cake and coffee for dessert but the coffee was served 10 minutes after the cake arrived and we needed to remind the server to bring the coffee! The toilets are disgusting. Food: The food is overpriced and basic at best. We paid $15 for a BLT which was cold when served to us and contained two measly pieces of bacon. The bread served with the mussels was stale. The key lime pie contained very little pie and consisted mainly of a bowl of cream. If you are on Ward Island skip this place and try the Riveria Café.

Everyone leaving bad reviews because of quality of coffee & service need to chill out. It's an island cafe run by 20 year olds who are doing their best. It's a great time, good drinks, and fabulous food. Who cares if it takes too long, island time baby. Would recommend, be nice Karen's.

Zero stars. Be prepared to wait 45 minutes for a cold cup of gross coffee and wait 60 minutes for your food order to be taken on a day that's not busy. Terrible service, rude staff, overpriced. Don't fall for the gardens and convenient location- walk down the street for much much better food and experience.

*3.5 stars I had the opportunity to visit this place in the peak of summer and it sure was packed! It's got a great location and the staff is very friendly, the food itself is not the best you'll have (very pub like..) average tasting at best but it's the ambience that gets to you and makes it all better. It's a great spot to visit in the summer and they do not rush you, so gone on in and enjoy a leisurely lunch.

Went here with my cousin during my trip to Toronto. We came here around lunch time on a weekday, so we were seated immediately and had the option to choose our seats as well. Service was amazing--our waitress was extremely patient and helpful with the menu. The place overall has a really nice aesthetic as well--located on Toronto Island, with beautiful seats and a very homey vibe. Now, what makes me give it 3 stars is the food. Yes the service and environment is important, but the food is what MAKES the restaurant. We both ordered fish and chips just to keep things light and were greatly disappointed. The. fish. was. so. dry. OMG. I have never had anything so dry it was as if I had consumed the Sahara or something. The chips were also just basic fries--nothing special there. For the price, I was definitely expecting more. We skipped on dessert just because we didn't want to risk it. However, we did get a sangria which was quite nice. Overall, nice vibe, cute place, terrible food. I really hope they work on the food because this place as a lot of potential.

A really stunning view of the Toronto skyline with magical sunsets, in a stunning garden setting. The food is delicious. Yes, a bit pricier than what you would pay for the same quality on the mainland, but keep in mind that it is very expensive to ship supplies onto the island ($100 per vehicle). And it is a seasonal business heavily affected by weather. With that taken into account, this is one of my favourite places to eat in the city, and I adore everything about it. Definitely stop in the next time you are on the island!

The food wasn't too bad and at first you think it's good prices for center island but the portions are extremely small . They weren't too busy they didn't even have a line up out the door but our drinks took 20 mins and our food 40 mins to come. We got the fish and chip and jerk chicken which was okay but again portions are extremely small. We were only gonna tip the standard 15% because of the bad service but they autograted us 18% without even letting us know. Also the waitress basically yelled at us cause we asked to get our bill twice since the first time they didn't listen. All in all for a "family run" restaurant they should put way more effort in. Of course there's another cafe beside it that maybe a better choice.

The Island Cafe is a cute little place right off the path from the Ward's Island ferry dock. It was recently featured on CBC radio but I came across it on a bike tour around the islands. It's only been open for a couple months and is under new ownership by a local Ward's Island family. The cafe is situated on a porch facing the north shore of Ward's Island. There is covered seating and couches on the porch, plus picnic tables and chairs out on the lawn. The place has a very campy feel to it. Ward's Island is the main neighbourhood island of the Toronto Islands so this cafe attracts a mix of locals, city folk and tourists but definitely nothing compared to the hot mess of tourists on Centre Island. I opted for a veggie dog which turned out to be one of the sausage-sized variety that looking very much like a real wiener. It came in a massive bun and was accompanied by your basic toppings of relish, mustard, and ketchup. At $4.20(taxes included), it was great value for the money and decently filling. The next person to order one at my recommendation was really taken a-back when she saw it, asking if it was really a veggie dog. The Island Cafe also has a good selection caffeinated drinks but it was way too hot for me to even consider an iced coffee so I went for the natural selection of the white jumbo freeze pop and was off on my bike adventure again. I would come back here to try the veggie burger or the burrito and some of their drinks.

Very nice place and decent food. Menu choices are limited and the place is packed and busy (especially on a clear day) give yourself enough time. When you get here, there are two options take away or sit down service, since the take away line is first most people invariably stand in that while waiting for a table. Make sure you check and ask.

Terrible customer service. Grumpy wait staff. Argued with us when we did not receive what was listed on the menu, and didn't waive the charges. Totally ruined our experience but the food was mediocre anyways. The only redeeming quality is the patio. Hit the rectory instead.

We had about 40 minutes until the ferry back to the city. Saw the sandwich board on the dock and decided to stop in for a drink. The sign said wait to be seated. We waited and for awhile and no one acknowledged us so we went and sat at the bar. Staff weirdly avoided eye contact and one was dancing to 90s rap. We smiled and waited patiently and were totally ignored. They were not busy and certainly saw us but 6 staff members ignored us. No "we will be with you in a sec" they just stood around talking to each other and ignored us. After about 10 minutes of this we left. Seems like a nice place, too bad the service sucks. We were talking about going there for dinner sometime. The food looked good. No way I'd set foot in there again.

In my opinion this is your best option to eat on the Islands. This is a family-owned restaurant who sources their products locally. The location, authentic and decorated like a beach hut, is very close to the ferry terminal. They grow their own kale, aromates and some vegetables. The menu is composed of simple dishes such as burgers, fish and chips... but they are better than expected, there is an effort made on the quality of the products especially fish and meat. I recommend the salmon gravlax and the homemade slushies in the summer (watermelon)! 4.6 stars rounded to 5

Brilliant buzzing busy!!! Just on approaching the cafe...it is buzzing with people either waiting to get served for take-out or waiting to be seated for table service. I opted to take-out because it was very busy & the sun was pounding down on me. Expected high prices but good quick service nonetheless - would visit again!!!

Walk a little further to The Rectory, it's not much further and has a clear leg up on the deal pirated "Island Cafe" Unfortunately the island cafe has little to offer for people who want good food or good service. Service is slow and not very knowledgeable, lazy and needs to be prompted for things like cutlery or which food belongs to which customer (was served a meat filled burrito when I ordered vegetarian, had to find out the hard way) food is meh, nothing special, but at least you have time to digest it while you wait 20 minutes for the server to bring the bill.

Looks like most of the negative reviews here are by obnoxious tourists with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement. I'm a local who visits the island generally every other week in the summer and I love to pop in to the island cafe for lunch/dinner before/after hitting the beach! Yes, it can get busy, but the food is great and I've never had lousy service. In fact, the servers have always been very laid back and friendly to me, even when the place is packed. The beer is very reasonably priced given they have a near-monopoly on booze on the island. I love the tamarind shrimp, and the vegan burger is uhhh-mazing. Sure, the place isn't as spotless as the Four Seasons, but the patio is super cozy and it's rough around the edges in just the right way. Plus, these folks grow a TON of their own veggies on-site - their gardens are UNREAL. If you want to eat at some glib, gentrified "gastropub", this isn't the place for you. If you want to grab a meal on a cozy patio that matches the quirkiness and whimsy of the Toronto Islands in general, then it's worth a visit.

Subpar experience. We stopped by for take out at lunch. Take out options are very limited. Tried to order an island salad, but was told it was unavailable. No gyros either. Got a chicken salad sandwich and ham sandwich, both of which were just ok and overpriced at $8. Perhaps the sit down experience would be better.

First things first... You're on the island. Your day should be a leisurely exploration of outdoor space and not rushing around with timelines. So with that being said, yes, the service can be a bit slow here. But given there is literally only this or the Rectory Cafe to choose from on this stretch of the island, it should be no surprise the place gets busy and servers may be more tied up that one would hope... So my advice is to chill out and take this in stride rather than being impatient. Once you get past any initial wait for a table and then subsequent wait for the waitress to actually tend to your table, things will turn around. The food is good (burger and fries for $15 was a very satisfying lunch, and nothing on the menu is over $18), the beer is reasonably priced ($6.50 + tax for a craft pint of Mill Street or Sidelaunch beers), and the atmosphere is lovely. Also, to correct the review below - there are washrooms, they are around the back of the place near the lawn bowling. If you're really impatient, just go to the takeout section. While the menu is different and it can also get busy, they do seem to work through the line pretty efficiently. Otherwise, take your time, chill out and enjoy your day with a stop into the Island Cafe.

Since my first review there has been a significant improvement to this seasonal restaurant. The food is still very much cafe fare but the fish and chips is a favourite. Reasonable selection of wine by the glass. It can get very busy during sunny evenings. Their early closing and limited opening days in Spring and Fall can make it a challenge. The kitchen closes early except in high summer. There is no indoor seating so it's weather dependant. It's a fun place to while away a warm evening. UPDATE this season 2018 we have been going regularly during the week. The staff a really friendly and the basic menu is pleasing. The quesadillas with guacamole are good. And they grow their own vegetables and herbs. Now that the Rectory has downgraded to beer and pub food this is the place to go on the Toronto Island.

I think the staff have a serious case of grumpy. I came in and asked a few people if they were in line. Turns out they were employees, and instead of answering "no" they just huffed at me and walked behind the counter. Sorry... Then I asked the lady at the takeout counter if they did takeout. She rolled her eyes and said "yeah". When I asked for the menu, she motioned behind her to a messy chalkboard sign and said "um, it's right here..." Rude. I wasn't super into any of the takeout meals, so I asked to see a dine in menu. They told me they don't make anything on the menu for takeout, so I could only see it if I waited for a table. And then she walked away, shaking her head obnoxiously. I totally would have dined in had I been treated with respect. Instead, I waited for the next grumpy staff member come to the counter and I ordered a hot dog that took 20 minutes to cook. Had I not been starving, I would have left. It cost way too much. Learn to smile, Island Cafe! You're in one the most beautiful parts of the city!

Wow I wouldn't have guessed there would be so many horrible reviews based on my experience there. Visited in the middle of the afternoon so it wasn't too busy and we were seated right away. The hostess was nice enough, but our server seemed a little out of it.. not too friendly, took forever to get back to our table... a little hazy if you know what I mean.. The food was good, fish and chips was not overcooked. Really good tartar sauce. The patio is ADORABLE. Like if you're the person to just go somewhere for the aesthetics- go here. Sunflower print tablecloths, umbrellas, sting lights, fresh flowers on the table, a garden behind the dining area. The ambiance and the views plus the good food made me not care about the subpar service. Would definitely return.

Definitely a cute cute cute atmosphere. Nice big veranda with couches tables and chairs. Have not even seen the inside yet. But I ask you Island Cafe, why are the grilled cheese sandwiches ONLY for children?? But if you add a tomato slice onto the sandwich and a dollar onto the price (you seemed to just make this weird rule up on the spot) then it is suddenly fit for adult consumption? This is wacky and makes no sense. I hate things that don't make any sense!

The cafe is in one of the most beautiful spots in Toronto. They are growing most all the greens they use right in their garden, any other produce from Ontario Food Terminal and meats from Sanigans. Great sangria and the Jimador is refreshing. Daily specials are the best - fried chicken, chicken dinners, pizzas, fish. Every thing is done in beauty and they make every effort for a light footprint and to improve the community and place that supports and sustains them. Free kale on Tuesday harvests from a pilot project with the city to see how many pounds of kale can be grown in a city park on 1/100th of an acre. 5-7pm I think. Just beautiful. I love having a morning coffee there early before it's too crowded on one of the many benches trellised with sweet peas and other gorgeous blooms.

Delicious! Great atmosphere, great food, friendly staff They grow their own greens!! Highly recommend a stop here!

Lovely location but oh so pricey, and the portions were oh so small. The waiter was a nice guy, but did I mention that we got 12 chips for $10. And the dessert was the size of a toonie for $10. If you are going to Ward Island, pack a lunch.

I expected the prices to be much higher since there are not that many other places to go to once you're at the islands. but the prices are great! couches on a veranda is a win! also chess tables, yard tables with a cute front yard garden, bicycle parking and lounge chairs! and a good ice cream and lots of different types of coffee and tea. the staff wasn't super excitingly friendly but not rude either. Nice spot.

We arrived here by accident. We took the Wards Island Ferry because it was the first one to arrive, and we wanted to get out of the city. On the island, the sign at the ferry dock announced that there was a music festival at the cafe. The food is real. Full of flavour and fresh things, beautifully laid out. They were totally welcoming of a tired grown person and an overly energetic small person, and the wait staff were charmed by his ordering. Warning, the chipotle humus is hot - I loved it, but it was too hot for the two year old. Every thing else was excellent. If they have the white chocolate coconut cake, get it. We watched two other tables order pieces, and based on their facial expressions we ordered one. It really was fabulous, and I don't like white chocolate. Two tables later they ran out. Don't be the one who does not get cake. Also, the red sangria. If you drink alcohol, drink the red sangria. The white is fine, but the red is what you want. I'm plotting a return, which is saying something considering the ferry and all.

visited on a Saturday, loved it so much came back on the Sunday and loved it again Tried various items over the two visits, but what really made a difference especially when compared to the nearby Rectory Cafe, 5 minutes away was the staff, it is a family owned and run restaurant, it shows Home Smoked Fish board WOW $11, and great starter the Kale Salad, Fish Tacos, Chicken Mole, all great, Deserts really brought it home. Tarts layer cakes $6. and great fine selection of wine and biers, light and dark The Island Cafe is a folksy place right off the Ward's Island ferry dock

My experience here was terrible from start to finish. First, the host (who also ended up being our server) needs a major attitude check. She acted exasperated when we asked simple things like where the bathroom was located, etc. They were out of literally all alcohol listed on their menu except what they were calling a "margarita." Every surface I touched seemed to be sticky. The nachos my mom ordered looked like Tostitos scoop chips with sprinkle cheese that was nuked in the microwave...for $15. Such a bummer for our last meal while visiting Toronto. I am not usually one to write reviews, but I don't want other people to waste their money here!

This restaurant is family owned, they grow a lot of their own food and give away kale on Tuesday nights. Customers are able to walk through their gardens. Sit on the patio for full service or get take out and have a picnic either on or off their property. They do have seating around the property so you don't have to sit on the ground if you opt for the faster, "to go" service. Do go there if you want to sit and have a leisurely meal and try their sangria. Do not go there if you are in a big hurry. Vegetarian options. They have a kids menu, don't serve colas, do serve ice cream. There seems to be some rotation of staff which is to be expected at a seasonal venue. They have always been friendly to me. I can't imagine how anyone could complain, this place is busy and people work hard. They are frequently playing jazz music (which makes me very happy) and sometimes have live bands. I have seen some beautiful weddings held on their grounds. It's right next to the ferry docks and you can't beat the view of the skyline.

the spot is no doubt picturesque and it's a lovely place to relax. the food, drinks, service and value aren't great though. even all this is forgivable given the island location, but i've concerns about food safety. there are flies swarming about the fruit, blenders and garbage. seems like a disaster waiting to happen.