Restaurant Review: The Sweet Oven… New Toronto Beaches Location

I noticed a new bakery was going in at 1911 Queen Street East, which was very exciting. What I did not realize at the time was that it was going to be the famous The Sweet Oven bakery. A bakery that makes the audacious claim to have the best butter tarts in Canada! I of course had to check it out for myself to see if that claim was in fact, true.

The Location

Just east of Woodbine, this originally Barrie bakery is a family owned and operated business. Word has started to spread about their new Toronto location because by the time I arrived, the dozen or so flavours that they offer had been nibbled down to just three!

The Food

Plain, pecan and raisin was what was left but they usually have flavours that range from blueberry, cocoa, mint Oreo to Skor Bit. In fact each month there will be a butter tart of the month available on Fridays and Saturdays. This month it is s’mores!

I highly recommend going early in the day if you want to try one of their more unusual flavours or their butter tart of the month.

The Drinks

You know how sweet butter tarts are so I was relieved to see that they offered beverages as well. Currently you can get water and some cans of pop, as well as hot coffee but no decaf. They said they are taking what the community is asking for into consideration so I hope they bring in some decaf soon. Especially decaf iced coffee for our crazy hot summer days.

The Space

I always love seeing Toronto red brick maintained at any building. Even though this is not originally a Toronto business, they have maintained that historical urban feeling and have made the space modern at the same time.

The Cost

One tart is $3.50 (plus tax) and half a dozen standard tarts is $18 (no tax). A full dozen is $30 (no tax) and the mini butter tarts are $10 for six or $18 for 12. There is no tax on minis.

I hope they reconsider the six minimum on mini butter tarts. I would have loved to have bought just two or three minis so I could have tried a few flavours without investing in six tarts!

Please Note…

FYI there is no seating at all, which is a shame. I understand considering the location why there wouldn’t be because there are so many parks and a quick walk down to the beaches. Still, as someone with mobility issues it would be nice to pick up a butter tart and do some people watching while sitting down and enjoying my sweet treat.

The Picnic

I ordered one of the gooey-er pecan butter tarts. I was going to just walk down to the water with it in a napkin but the lovely server there suggested I put it in a box. Considering the impending flow of butter tart goo… this was a very wise choice!

I carefully jumped from rock to rock so that I was surrounded by water and light waves as I opened the box to my generous Sweet Oven pecan tart.

Watch it actually ooze here…

I sat down under the infamously powerful Ontario August sun and took a bite. Then watched my pecan butter tart slowly but surely ooze away… Eventually all over my hand and then fingers!

How supremely decadent and beautiful a foodie experience this was! It was absolutely delicious and I licked my fingers clean before heading down the boardwalk to work off all those calories.

Foodie Conclusion

I think The Sweet Oven Toronto is going to do very well in their new location and I give them a warm welcome to the big city. Not a lot of places with one product can do well in such an expensive Toronto location. At almost $4 a butter tart and the already strong demand people are making to clean them out of product by early afternoon, I have a feeling they are going to do well in their new home.

To answer the question, was it the best butter tart I have ever had? I will answer, it was one of the best I have ever had. But, I have had better when it comes to pastry. I have had flakier. But! It was freaking fantastic.

Thank you The Sweet Oven Toronto for inspiring us to have yet another amazing reason to go to The Beaches, all year round. I can not wait to try more of your fantastic flavours. I will be back.

I give this foodie experience four out of five wooden spoons and hope that they consider adding some stools and let us buy just a couple of mini tarts so I can give them a five out of five.