Despite the fact that Leslieville is an up-and-coming Toronto neighbourhood, the south-east corner of Logan and Queen Street East has been bad luck for business. Bero, which offered a Spanish-style tasting-menu, closed its doors after just over a year in operation—despite four-star Yelp reviews and much acclaim from the Toronto Star. Prior, a small French-style bistro closed up shop, although I’m not sure why (brunch crowds tend to favour Lady Marmalade and Bonjour Brioche.)
A new cafe is trying to break the bad omen that comes with settling in at 889 Queen East by painting the town… purple.
With Mercury Espresso, Te Aro Coffee Roasters, Tango Palace, and the original Dark Horse all a short walk away, some may wonder if Leslieville needs another independent cafe.
So what makes the Purple Penguin Cafe competitive for your caffeine dollars? The quirky atmosphere, lovely owner, and deep-fried fritters are a good place to start. I swung by on a brisk Friday morning to check it out. I met owner June (didn’t catch her last name) who is from Thornhill. After operating her business in Leslieville for only a few short weeks, June is keen to move to town.
The coffee is good (a large latte is around $4.50) but it’s going to take a LOT to pull me away from my daily Mercury Espresso routine.
What’s worth going out of your way for is the cafe’s deep-fried desserts, like these homemade, melt-in-your-mouth apple fritters ($1.50 a piece)
Or if you’re really digging dessert, go for their banana fritter: a whole banana battered in deep-fried goodness is served with dollops of fresh whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and icing sugar. 
Other offerings include hand-pressed orange and grapefruit juice ($5) and homemade baked goods such as muffins and scones ($3-4). June tells me these treats are made fresh each morning by their talented chef.
The cafe itself is quaint, quirky and pleasant—all characteristics that do well in Leslieville. Local art is featured on the walls and once a week on Sunday afternoons there’s live jazz music. 
The Purple Penguin is at 889 Queen Street East and open daily from 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
