Located just east of the Eaton Centre, the Old Bleu Café is part coffee shop, part French fusion hot plate, part salad bar. Lunch combos offer-up a variety of  everything. Choose any 2 hot dishes, a starch and any 3 salads. All meals are served in either small ($6), medium ($7.50) or large ($9) take away containers (taxes included). There are 3 seats in the front window, providing an entertaining view of all the goings-on in the park across the street. This is people watching at its best (IMO).

Chef Gong Zan Shen is a man of many talents, including the ability to speak 5 different languages… a skill which has obviously transferred into the kitchen. There are usually 4 daily specials written on the chalkboard outside the entrance. You can actually read it from the streetcar, and I often head back at lunchtime if I see something I like on the board on my way to work. The daily hot plate ranges anywhere from Jerk Chicken to Five-spice Beef to Southern Fried Chicken Thighs. Salads include Coleslaw, Fattoush, Pasta Salad and Steamed Veggies. The Old Bleu Café is a win in both the quantity and quality departments. It has quickly become a once-a-week habit for me.