Introducing: Sadie’s Juice Bar, Kensington Market’s vegan-friendly drink spot and ice cream parlour
Sadie’s Juice Bar, an offshoot of Sadie’s Diner on Adelaide, has finally opened in Kensington, after months of papered-over windows and anticipatory whispers in the market. Given the other options in Toronto’s steadily growing vegan scene, owner Al Ridley elected to focus mainly on drinks and desserts, with the hope of complementing next-door neighbour Hot Beans’ menu with some sweeter offerings.
A vegetarian for most of his life, Ridley has a background that’s “all over the map,” having worked as a house painter and a punk rock promoter and been the brains behind Toronto’s first three tattoo conventions. Keeping in step with the diner’s ’50s decor, Ridley imagines the juice bar as “Sadie’s on vacation,” with cheery colours, playful tableware and cheesy souvenirs accenting the walls (a huge ice cream cone, pennants from U.S. tourist attractions). With limited seating, the tiny space is more of a grab ’n’ go spot than a place to linger.
Patrons may be tempted to slurp down a vanilla float made with Boylan’s creamy red birch beer ($5) or opt for an indulgent smoothie, such as the chocolate banana peanut butter version ($5.65). “Ice cream” from Tofutti is available in flavours like chocolate and vanilla almond bark ($4 for a cone); Ridley hopes to have his own vegan ice cream in-store within the next month. Cupcakes and muffins from local vegan bakery Sweets From the Earth are also featured, and there are plans to carry donuts from Rise Above in the near future. Come fall, hot chocolate and cider will be added to the roster, alongside heartier fare like soups and chili.
Sadie’s Juice Bar, 146 Baldwin St.
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