Parkdale's local grilled cheesery (Image: Jon Sufrin)
When young entrepreneurs Paul Stavro-Beauchamp and Mike Scrimshaw set up newly opened Mangez (as in French for “eat!”), the idea was to address at least two deficiencies of the west-of-the-tracks bit of Queen West: the neighbourhood’s curious ice cream void and the limited grub options for late-night revelers. By day, Mangez is a quaint place to grab a sandwich or sample some ice cream from the east end’s Ed’s Real Scoop. Scrimshaw is particularly passionate about the French mint, which is drizzled with chocolate by hand as it’s crafted. The sandwiches are simple with gourmet touches, like the grilled portobello on ciabatta ($9) with aïoli, arugula and hummus. Add a leek and potato soup for $3.50.
That’s during daylight hours. When Friday night rolls around, the movable menu chalkboards flip and Mangez’s focus changes to the inebriation recovery food that looks like it might be the next poutine: grilled cheese. “When you’re coming out of a bar or a club at 3:30 in the morning, you don’t want to sit down for a proper meal,” says Scrimshaw. Adds his counterpart: “You want to go through your pocket change and grab something you can stumble home with.” Something like a straight-up, aged cheddar grilled sandwich with bacon and tomato.
Mangez is still finding its foothold, but the owners are locals (they live above the Parkdale Drink) and understand what the strip needs: something closer than Poutini’s that isn’t yet another falafel.
Mangez, 1320 Queen St. W., twitter.com/mangez_parkdale.
oh man, i hope they deliver!
August 13, 2010 at 11:25 am | by whistler 99Sounds awesome. Will def be going to check this out.
August 13, 2010 at 12:56 pm | by TugboatI ate here on the first day and the sandwiches are fantastic – try the buffala mozzarella with plum tomato, basil and balsamic, it was INCREDIBLE! Especially followed by some burnt marshmallow ice cream :)
August 13, 2010 at 2:11 pm | by LoloGood luck guys – though I’m not sure you’ll need it!!
Rediculously overpriced. $12 for a grilled-cheese sandwich and a pop? No thanks.
Not to mention that they take the sandwich out of the chiller and then don’t even “grill” it properly. They just use a sandwich press thing so it’s hardly a grilled-cheese, and who knows how long it’s been sitting in the chiller up front for.
I won’t be back.
August 14, 2010 at 10:06 pm | by Ryan Johnsoni have heard nothing but huge support for this place from everyone who tried it….cannot wait to do the same
August 15, 2010 at 6:18 pm | by CL KushA HUGE disappointment.
Stopped by today and the staff spent the visit apologizing for being low on “food”. “We stayed open last night to 4AM and we got wiped out.”, they said.
So?? Not my fault, I came for your food. Don’t bother opening if you’re not going to put your best foot forward. First rule of a new business.
Cmon’ guys there are 24 hour markets all over the city. Be glad you sold a lot the night before – but make damn sure you’re stocked up and ready to go again for NEW customers.
I’m a Grilled Cheese fan, but these were truly disappointing. Dry bread, uneven slices, and they were left unwrapped in cold case? Plus, I agree with @Ryan Johnson – they were poorly grilled.
Soups were worse. Butternut Squash Curry, had no curry – and really watery. The Mushroom was as bad – a watered down puree of mushrooms. Pretty weak.
Plus – who “merchandises” bowls of soup in advance in a display case? Very odd.
If you’re drunk and don’t know any better – than sure it’s food. But if you actually go for their “gourmet credentials” it’s a sad offering.
I won’t be back.
August 15, 2010 at 8:13 pm | by taysdadSounds like a great addition to the ‘hood – can’t wait to try it! Parkdale’s culinary offerings are getting better by the day!
August 15, 2010 at 9:08 pm | by local foodieSo not ready for prime time. Based on this blurb (as well as the one on blogTO), I headed over there for lunch on Friday. I was told they opened at 11am, but the sign in the window said they open at 11:30. It was already 11:45 at that point, and the guy tried to wave me away.
It was stupid hot inside, half of the sandwiches weren’t in the display case, and when I paid for my order he had to go next door to get change. And the sandwich… was really not an $8 sandwich.
I may give them a couple of weeks to get it together and try it again, but so far, not impressed.
August 16, 2010 at 1:51 pm | by CultureVultureIt always amazes me how wildly varied the comments here are…”loved it”…”HATED IT”!!! “Best ever”!!! “Worst in the city…”!!! How……disparate! Sadly, I’ve come down on the side of “hated it”! Overpriced, and just plain poor quality. Needs a major overhaul if it’s going to survive…I mean, who doesn’t love a good ‘ole grilled cheese?!?! Comfort food supreme! Unfortunately, this ain’t comfort food…it’s distinctly uncomfortable…..but who knows? Maybe they’ll turn it around and get their act together before we bid adieu to Mangez. I, for one, hope they do turn things around. I’d walk a mile…well, a few blocks anyway…for a good grilled cheese!!!
August 17, 2010 at 11:05 am | by Don MitchellGoing here was a disappointing experience. I had the buffala mozzarella sandwich, and it was okay. For $9 I expected it to be fantastic. This area could really use a place like this, so I hope they improve. I’m willing to give it another chance to see if things get better. Great industrial lights inside, though it feels a bit spare.
August 22, 2010 at 11:24 pm | by MikeyI’m shocked and yet somewhat sad to read some of these reviews.
I for one had a great experience at Mangez. The food is fresh and of high quality. The atmosphere is clean, friendly and pleasant. I’m super excited for this addition to the Parkdale neighbourhood! I will definitely be back there! Oh, and there lemonade and ice cream is phenomenal! I’m also looking forward to trying their late night menu (open late night Friday’s and Saturday’s).
-Mangez Fan
August 23, 2010 at 11:13 pm | by Kiehl1851I’m a local and I will not be giving them my trade.
The two owners are assholes of the highest order… I entered to ask what they were doing with the space and they were downright ignorant and rude in their responses.
I give it 6 months.
August 24, 2010 at 5:58 pm | by Betina DunnWe all have our own expectations for a grilled cheese – me, I like classic. Today, I ordered the cheddar with tomato and proscuitto (sp?)! It was perfect! Excellent old cheddar, with just the right amount of tomato and proscuitto! Others had the ham & brie, and the tuna with capers…I definitely will go back – often!
August 25, 2010 at 6:38 pm | by ElspethI heard that the grilled cheese, the first all grilled cheese place is moving into that area…sucks to be them.
September 22, 2010 at 1:02 am | by eliteEither people don’t know good food when it hits them, or it just pays to be a hater of anything new or different. I went into mangez late at night and completely sober (for those who think that late night gourmandizing is only for drunks or fatties), and the emmental with ham and peppers, was absolutely perfect. Actually it was to die for. It was just enough food to fill you up without making you feel sick. And, the price point isn’t bad at all. If you’re some indie skid with no money, go to the Pizza Pizza on Queen, but if you’re consuming aged cheddar, emmental, prosciutto, or the like, than you’re paying for the quality of the product consumed. And, I spoke candidly with the owner and chef Paul, and he was the nicest and most pleasant person I could have ever met at 3:30 in the morning. Also, what pre-made sandwiches are people talking about, I watched from the counter as my sandwich was made to order, from Paul gently brushing the bread with butter to putting the toppings on with care. My only critique is that they don’t advertise enough, and aren’t catching the late night wanderers coming out of the Rhino or Stones,etc. Other than that, the haters can hate, but I for one will return time and time again, for a great classic sandwich served with a touch of class, a touch of the epicurean, and a touch of humility.
October 2, 2010 at 4:33 am | by Sara