Name: Pablo Canada Contact: 116 Dundas St. W., pablocanada.com, @pablo_cheese_tart_canada Neighbourhood: Downtown Core Previously: Spadina Garden Owners: Ken Liu and Hugo Lin
The food
Pablo is the newest import to attract a lineup along the stretch of Dundas that’s quickly becoming the core’s Little Japan. The Osaka-based bakery is giving nearby Uncle Tetsu a run for its money with their signature Japanese cheese tarts baked to a super-wobbly medium-rare. There are two styles available: pastry shells with cream cheese filling (in original, chocolate and matcha flavours) and a premium New York–cheesecake style with a brûléed maple sugar top. Due to Pablo’s popularity, there’s a one-tart-per-visit limit, but there are other treats to buy, including cream cheese pudding, shaved ice and soft serve (cream cheese-based, of course) that comes served in a cone, as a sundae or as a shaved ice parfait.
The original cheese tart uses a proprietary cream cheese blend that’s baked to a medium rare in a flaky pastry shell, stamped with the logo and finished with an apricot jam glaze. $14.99.
Here’s a closer look at the tart’s semi-set centre.
And an even closer look.
The chocolate cheese tart contains a layer of chocolate hidden below its filling. $16.99.
The matcha cheese tart features a matcha cream cheese filling that hides a layer of red bean paste and shiratama (sweetened glutinous rice ball). $16.99.
The premium tart uses a blend of cream cheeses and is baked longer than the original tarts. It’s topped with a crisp layer of brûléed sugar. Limited availability. $24.99.
Dine-in customers who don’t want to commit to a whole tart can order a slice. $3.99/original and $5.99/premium.
A mountain of shaved ice is topped with matcha syrup (shown here), whipped cream, shiratama and sugar-coated cheese tart pastry bits. It comes with a cup of tea, and is also available in strawberry and classic cheese flavours. $12.99.
Packages of bruléed cheese pudding are shipped from Japan. $3.99 each, or $19.99 for six.
All of the tarts are made in-house.
Here the tarts are getting the signature Pablo brand.
And the final touch: an apricot glaze.
The drinks
Coffee- and espresso-based drinks, made using Pablo’s exclusive blend of coffee beans; teas; and cream cheese-based smoothies.
Coffee beans used in Pablo’s coffee products are an exclusive blend from Brazil. They’re roasted in Japan before being shipped to Toronto.
Staying true to the brand, Pablo Canada also offers the sweetener carried by its parent company for the coffee-based beverages.
The space
While Pablo’s bakery operation flanks the shop’s front window, there are 22 seats in the rear café for dine-in guests.
 and a premium New York–cheesecake style with a brûléed maple sugar top. Due to Pablo's popularity, there's a one-tart-per-visit limit, but there are other treats to buy, including cream cheese pudding, shaved ice and soft serve (cream cheese-based, of course) that comes served in a cone, as a sundae or as a shaved ice parfait.
[caption id="attachment_431989" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] The original cheese tart uses a proprietary cream cheese blend that’s baked to a medium rare in a flaky pastry shell, stamped with the logo and finished with an apricot jam glaze. $14.99.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431983" align="aligncenter" width="1145"] Here's a closer look at the tart’s semi-set centre.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431995" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] And an even closer look.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431984" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] The chocolate cheese tart contains a layer of chocolate hidden below its filling. $16.99.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431988" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] The matcha cheese tart features a matcha cream cheese filling that hides a layer of red bean paste and shiratama (sweetened glutinous rice ball). $16.99.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431993" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] The premium tart uses a blend of cream cheeses and is baked longer than the original tarts. It's topped with a crisp layer of brûléed sugar. Limited availability. $24.99.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431992" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] Dine-in customers who don't want to commit to a whole tart can order a slice. $3.99/original and $5.99/premium.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431998" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] A mountain of shaved ice is topped with matcha syrup (shown here), whipped cream, shiratama and sugar-coated cheese tart pastry bits. It comes with a cup of tea, and is also available in strawberry and classic cheese flavours. $12.99.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431994" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] Packages of bruléed cheese pudding are shipped from Japan. $3.99 each, or $19.99 for six.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431990" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] All of the tarts are made in-house.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431981" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] Here the tarts are getting the signature Pablo brand.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431982" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] And the final touch: an apricot glaze.[/caption]
The drinks
Coffee- and espresso-based drinks, made using Pablo’s exclusive blend of coffee beans; teas; and cream cheese-based smoothies.
[caption id="attachment_431985" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] Coffee beans used in Pablo’s coffee products are an exclusive blend from Brazil. They're roasted in Japan before being shipped to Toronto.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431999" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] Staying true to the brand, Pablo Canada also offers the sweetener carried by its parent company for the coffee-based beverages.[/caption]
The space
While Pablo’s bakery operation flanks the shop’s front window, there are 22 seats in the rear café for dine-in guests.
[caption id="attachment_431986" align="aligncenter" width="1593"] The calm before the storm.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_431987" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] First customers of the day.[/caption]){kind=link}