Cool Hand of a Girl is a café & brunch spot located in the Junction Triangle at 2804 Dundas St W. The café has been in the area since 2008 & since then, it has stuck to its roots with a menu that boasts local, organic & seasonal ingredients with a Mexican flair. Cool Hand of a Girl is open for take-out from 9am-3pm daily*, and both its coffee/brunch menu is available for order.
I love both the food and beverages at Cool Hand of a Girl, but there is one drink on the menu that owns my heart – their iced chocolate. For those who don’t know what that is (I’ve gotten a number of odd looks from baristas in trying to order this drink in the past), it’s basically an iced hot chocolate. I fell in love with the drink through my past visits to Japan (they can be found in coffee shops and conbinis – convenience stores – everywhere).
For coffee lovers, the shop sells all your standard coffee fare – drip, americano, cappuccino, latte, you name it! For warm days or for you cold coffee lovers, the café also has a decently large iced menu. It includes drinks like homemade herbal iced tea and Mexican ‘Café de Olla’.
As dominantly a restaurant, you shouldn’t miss out on ordering food when visiting. From its small selection of pastries, to its all-day breakfast, to an array of sandwiches – you can’t go wrong at Cool Hand of a Girl. On my last visit, I got their bestselling sandwich, the avocado parmesan, and it was great! The fresh ingredients shine and its unique homemade sauce is incredible. And don’t worry, they don’t skimp on the avocado like some places. Another tasty option: the tarragon chicken sandwich.
P.S. For $2, you can substitute for gluten-free bread on any of the sandwiches.
All of Cool Hand’s food menu is reasonably priced - I’d pay $12 for their sandwiches any day! As for its beverages, these range from $2.50-$6, so it can be seen as slightly on the higher side. But keep in mind, you are paying for its high quality ingredients.
Along with its drink & food menu, Cool Hand also sells merchandise (ex. hats), homemade hot sauce and coffee beans (from local roaster Reunion Island).
In response to the pandemic, Cool Hand of a Girl has restructured the layout of its restaurant by using its tables to create a barrier between customers & the kitchen. With the lovely owner Lucia prepping your order & handling patrons’ needs, along with the café’s tap-enabled debit/credit machine, ability to order on Ritual, and hand sanitizer available for customer use – visitors can ensure a seamless, contactless and overall safe checkout.
Cool Hand of a Girl has become a go-to place for quick lunches and delicious chocolatey beverages. I hope we can return to eating in cafés soon because I would love to dive into brunch in its cozy space with friends. Until then, if you’re located near the Junction, I hope you’ll visit Cool Hand and continue supporting local businesses.
*Given the COVID-19 pandemic, hours depicted in this post may be skewed as businesses adapt to better serve its staff, customers, and community.