TORONTO — High 5 — a brand-new café and grab-and-go destination in downtown Toronto — will officially open April 11 next to The Fifth Pubhouse. The café will offer fresh coffee and espresso; a rotating selection of house-baked goods, breakfast items, sandwiches and seasonal salads; and a carefully curated selection of affordable local, organic produce and other kitchen staples, alongside healthy drinks, snacks and ready-to-eat meals.
The café will feature a Bitcoin ATM and explore other emerging technology options for payment. “Over the next three years, more than 22,000 condo units will be built in this neighbourhood, there’s a huge number of office spaces nearby and there’s virtually no grocery stores or shops where residents can grab homemade meals or grocery basics on their way to or from work,” says Oliver Geddes, co-owner of The Fifth Inc.
The breakfast menu includes house-baked, flaky plain and almond croissants or pain au chocolate ($3.25 to $3.75); a protein-rich breakfast wrap with locally sourced eggs, Monterey Jack, salsa and guacamole ($5); and both sweet and savory scones and muffins ($2.50). Lunch offerings include gluten-free seasonal salads such as broccoli with parmesan, pickled red onion, pomegranate and chili ($5.50); and triple kale with avocado, spicy cashews and pancetta ($5.50), as well as a rotating selection of sandwiches, such as the Eggplant Parmigiana ($6.50), Maple-Roasted Butternut Squash ($6) and B.L.T.T. (bacon, lettuce, turkey, tomato, $8).
High 5 will also carry a seasonal selection of fresh, local organic produce, eggs, bread from Blackbird Baking Co., health-conscious drinks — such as kombucha and freshly pressed juices — and snacks.
The Fifth’s culinary team, headed by Robert Toppan (The Fifth Grill & Terrace) and Brad Livergant (The Fifth Pubhouse), will stock the fridge with ready-to-eat items such as house-made lasagnas, three-cheese macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie and their signature 8oz. hamburger patties ($18 for four patties), made in house with beef sourced from a local farm in Wellington County, Ont.
In the warmer months, High 5 will offer produce, snacks and to-go items from sidewalk farmer’s-market-style carts.
