T.H.I.S. Place

Was driving downtown and came across T.H.I.S Place, which I’m sad to report has closed. I hadn’t been there in a while, but I always liked coming to T.H.I.S Place while I was studying at MacEwan. It was a simple little coffee shop that had expanded to a nice little lunch spot. The tea and coffee were good, and the staff were friendly.
R.I.P T.H.I.S Place. Your coconut popsicles were amazing and I’ll never forget your delicious teas and that spicy hot chocolate.
For those looking check out Lan’s Asian Grill up by Kingsway. The same owners of Lan’s owned this place and if you’re looking for some awesome Thai food it’s a good spot.

Closed forever. :-(
Please update.
On January 19^th, I then received an automatized message from Unilocal,telling me how fantastic my input is! :-(
Showing that Unilocal does not proofread their contributor. So? This coffee plae is closes and nobody updates it to reality.

This is my second review of THIS Place. A little gem right in my neighbourhood and across the street from MacEwan. My boyfriend and I received very friendly service again and this time, decide to try their selection of food because delicious bowls of Thai curry and Vietnamese Phở are perfect in this cold, wintery weather. My boyfriend tried the beef phở with a veggie stock (they ran out of the beef stock) which was full of flavor and very yummy. I on the other hand tried the green curry bowl which was a bit too spicy for my palette, but full of flavour nonetheless. The side of rice could’ve been warmer but once you mixed it in with the curry, it seemed to be better. We both ordered the limenade (they ran out of the lemonade) and it was perfectly tangy for me. Come check out this hidden spot downtown, they have a wide arrange of hot drinks too that look wonderful.

What a find! haha. Instant smell of a lemongrass and cappuccino. Clean, modern, if your looking for a tastey snack downtown –THIS is the place: P

Third time is the charm, T.H.I.S. Place, why can’t you be open on the weekends like any other normal restaurants? I finally was able to check out this small but cool café/​coffee shop/​restaurant on a Wednesday evening. There were only a few customers inside but the staff is very friendly and fast. All their offerings is up on the chalkboard walls along with local artist paintings and comfy booth seats to sit and relax in.
Apparently, they change their menu every few months (or at least when the seasons change) so when we were there, it was their new fall menu. We ended up ordering:
— Limonade ($ 3.00) — slightly on the sour, tart side but refreshing. You can tell it’s freshly squeezed!
— Lemonade ($ 3.00) — my friend found it on the sweeter side but I took a sip and thought it was good. Could have used even more lemonade-​ness, in my opinion.
— Green curry with chicken ($ 12.00) — I had a nice discussion with one of the workers who explained that they can customize the level of spice that you want. As it was my first time, I got a level 2 spice level which gave it a slight level of heat to the dish. I would probably get a 4 next time (apparently someone has ordered 8 which is a lot). Anyways, the green curry came with zucchini, red peppers and bamboo shoots for vegetables and rice. Green curry is my favourite and T.H.I.S. place’s version was delicious. Gobbled up the whole bowl.
— Chicken phở ($ 10.00) — they don’t normally do chicken phở but they were very accommodating for my friend. It was her first, yes you read that right, very first time trying phở. Sad eh? I guess better late than never. She’s one of those picky eaters but guess what — she loved it! Success. The phở bowl was smaller than what you normally get at other phở restaurants but this one was the perfect amount for my friend.
Overall, I’m happy that I was finally able to try them out. T.H.I.S. Place has a very calm, friendly vibe to it and obviously, G. Mac students must love this place. Looks like a solid place to study or even just to go and have a few drinks (coffee, tea, fresh squeezed juices — they have it all). Their name is kind of cheesy name (kind being a nice way to put it) but the food is good (which is all that matters), so they can cherish it for all it’s worth.

The guys I work with suggested that I try THIS place as it is their new Monday hang out for lunch (their normal place is closed on Mondays). They rave about the real fruit Popsicles and curry bowls.
I didn’t realize it was a tea/​coffee bar do I was quite surprised when I walked in. The sign board with the food specials sign was large and easily noticed so you could tell that there was food available, but it took a few minutes of searching to find the everyday menu as it is quite small and just sitting on the counter rather than written on the large drink menu on the wall. If I hadn’t previously been notified i may have thought the only food were the specials.
We ordered the special red curry wrap, veggie salad rolls and green onion cake. Not the cheapest lunch I have had but the serving sizes were decent enough.
I really liked that there was a water jug available to drink from so I didn’t need to feel cheap if I want water with my meal rather than a fancy drink.
The wait for the food was a little longer than what I would have expected, but then again it is a small coffee shop that are serving full meals.
The food looked delicious when it came out so we dug in. The red curry wrap was awesome. It had a real Thai curry flavour none of the fake curry taste we often get here, the wrap was toasted and warm. It wasn’t overly saucy and it didn’t feel dry. The perfect consistency of liquid for food that you eat with your hands. (As a curry bowl i may have wanted more sauce). I’m not a huge salad roll fan to begin with, and these ones were what you would expect. Nothing special but tasty to those who enjoy them, I was impressed that they used sweet Thai basil however. Too often the wrong basil is used and can ruin the experience. The peanut sauce that accompanied did add a nice something extra as well.
I didn’t try the green onion cake. But they looked good and my guest said they were tasty.
Overall, decent lunch for a decent price. The seating is limited, but open and comfortable. I will definitely be back to try the Popsicles and maybe a curry bowl too.

I was introduced to this place by Alouise D. As many of you probably have read many of her reviews or blog. We met up for a tea since my return back from Overseas.
It was a pleasant little place, clean, calming music. Could defiantly sit there for hours writing, or work on your homework and lose track of time.
The food ain’t that bad also. Not too heavy that makes you so full you can not move.
overall, nice place just off the university of macewan.

My first visit was awesome. Went with a group of co-​workers on lunch and it wasn’t super busy. The food was fantastic, I went for the chicken vermicelli bowl and fell in love with it. At first I thought the food was a little pricey, but after my meal I was more than satisfied. The server at the counter seemed knowledgable about the food, but a new vicinity rewards service had just been introduced and she didn’t explain it very well and I ended up having to look up what the service actually was. I still signed up though, because I plan on spending a lot of time there!

First time visit, which is a travesty considering I live in the building above.
Ambience was pleasant… clean, music wasn’t blaring, and lots of natural light.
The salted caramel hot chocolate definitely lived up to the hype.
Salad rolls were a disappointment. I’m used to them bing with veggies and meat. The chicken was tasty (great seasoning) but dry. The peanut sauce was amazing. Will definitely go back to try the green curry.

⁵⁄₅ service
⁵⁄₅ taste
⁵⁄₅ atmosphere
Tom and trudie are the fabulous owners of this gem of a place.
Everything is made from scratch and if you’re feeling adventurous, try the fresh durian Popsicle in the summer. You’ll be surprised how creamy and delicious it tastes!
My go to in the summer is always the coconut mango Popsicle and in the cold months the five spice hot chocolate isn’t far from my hands.
Don’t be shy when you’re walking by to grant Mac, abandon the Starbucks and head into T.H.I.S place!

This place, ya know, called T.H.I.S., is everything it says it is, and more. Quaint little shop with quirky art, comfortable furniture and good natural light, serving up an array of coffees, teas, Bubble teas etc.
The food department isn’t big. I believe they’ve got a couple of sandwiches on the menu but mostly just cookies, rice crispies and other such stuff. Nothing fancy, nothing out of the world, but not trying to be any of those things either, which in my books means it’s great!
It’s a nice place to hang out and a great place to spend a few hours on a rainy day (as was the case when I went there). Definitely will go back!

I really like this place, although the location isn’t ideal unless you go to Gmac. The lovely lady working there was amazing and super friendly and she gave great recommendations! The café was quiet, very quaint and beautifully decorated! This made it ideal for meeting with a friend!
My salted caramel hot chocolate was definitely dessert in a cup and a warm hug on a blustery, cold day! My friend ordered a Vietnamese coffee and he said it was great and he also enjoyed a peanut butter rice crispy square… yumm! I do wish the café had more lattes though as I love them with my whole heart! I would totally give T.H.I.S. Place 5 stars if there were more lattes!
I will definitely be back here, I can’t wait for it to be warmer so that I can enjoy a popsicle or iced coffee!

Cute café with super-​friendly staff. I dropped in on a Saturday for a study session with a friend after Roast was too full to find a seat. T.H.I.S. place provided a great cup of coffee and some delicious popsicles, which were just right on a spring day. I’m sad there wasn’t a real food selection though, since we were starved, but I’m hoping that’s something they add in the future. I love the modern minimalist décor, but the wooden stools are probably best if you’re just stopping for a quick drink and not planning to spend the entire afternoon seated here. I’ll drop by again just because Trudy was super nice =)

To be Happy Is Simple (T.H.I.S) Place is the next place in Edmonton where you’ll think to yourself, «This place is cute!» I lump it along with my favorite hang out places, the likes of Duchess Bakery on 124 St and ROAST Coffee House, a place where you can order something to nosh on and just relax. Although both Duchess and ROAST have become crowded on most days, T.H.I.S Place seems to be slowly settling into the area. Most definitely underrated and waiting for the crowds to hit!
With great press on the place in the last few months of 2012, it was on my list to visit but I never got a chance to until last week. Located near MacEwan on 105 St and 104 Ave, the space is below the Quest condo, hidden away on the southeast corner of the building. Joe and I had time to kill so I mentioned about T.H.I.S Place and how I wanted to try the hot chocolate. Joe responded with, «What place?» and I repeatedly said ‚“T.H.I.S Place. This place… is called THIS Place.” A look of confusion told me that I wasn’t explaining myself very well. Anyways, getting over the name. they specialize in homemade hot chocolates to fresh fruit popsicle, coffees and teas.
With such a small exterior, I was expecting a small space. Not so! High ceilings lined with concrete walls give the place an airy industrial feel. Large abstract local art line the space and unique light fixtures create a gallery persona.
Although contrary in a majority of the country, it’s still winter here. I didn’t try the popsicles although the flavors sound delicious! Instead, I opted for my favorite warm beverage of all time: hot chocolate. Fact: I started off on hot chocolate during the first month of my university years in an effort to not be a caffeine addict (failed miserably, I eventually moved to mochas). Since graduating though, I’ve cut back quite a bit and only drink coffee on morning shifts now. Everything else is hot chocolate! Boasting homemade hot chocolates which you can purchase to drink or purchase to take home, this was heaven for me.
Super cute! And so simple too. I bought a dark hot chocolate to try at work in attempts to cut my Starbucks consumption. Delicious! Although I followed the instructions to the recommended 6oz of hot milk, I found it a bit too rich and creamy. 7oz — 8oz of milk did it for me, which only means more hot chocolate! Can’t wait to go back and try the other flavors.
They were offering a salted caramel hot chocolate that day, topped with green whipped cream in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. YUMMY. One of the best hot chocolates I’ve had yet! And gigantic too, making it ideal for lounging and relaxing in one of the many seating areas they offer. If you’re bored with browsing your smart phone, they offer the latest of most of the local magazines, such as Avenue, The Tomato, and Vue Weekly. Other magazine subscriptions are there for your reading pleasure as well and a mishmash of travel and art books.
Most definitely my new favorite place if I want a quieter area to relax in. Hot chocolate for winter, popsicles for summer. Perfect! Next time you’re in the area, be sure to drop by and check it out. T.H.I.S Place is super cute!

I am sipping away on an almond hot chocolate reading about activity based costing and a funny thought comes into my head. Would I kill for this drink? And after much contemplation (more than I thought it would take to come to a resolution) I decided no, because that would be crazy, but I might nudge an old lady out the way to get it! Kidding aside, the drinks here are good. And not like 2006 Oilers good, closer to 1984 Oilers good.
This is not a place that automates drinks, they craft them. So expect to wait longer than usually to receive your order. It’s worth the wait. The almond hot chocolate was a reasonable $ 4 (for 473ml). That price is amazing given that I have paid more for comparable quality drinks elsewhere. Free WiFi available.
Through a UYE held by Karlie «the rambler» M., I did get to meet the owners of this place. Trudy and Tom are pretty passionate about their products. I have been back a few times since and the quality has not declined.
If I were to make a suggestion, a few hooks to put jackets on would be nice. Also a larger tea menu wouldn’t be bad either. But what can I say, there is quality here in a wonderful atmosphere. We need more places like this in Edmonton.

I have heard of this new coffee shop from a couple of friends, and have been looking forward to trying it. I got the chance a couple of weeks ago at Karlie M’s UYE and it was definitely everything I had heard and more!
I really like the minimalist feel of the décor and furniture. The only drawback is the the stools along the window bar were a bit uncomfortable. That would be an easy fix and is a small price to pay given everything T.H.I.S. Place has to offer. The space is inviting and comfortable due to the warmth expressed by Tom & Co. In addition to making everything from scratch to order, they are friendly and chatty so the environment is fun and social. :)
I had an iced coffee that was beyond delicious. It was perfectly chilled, not too sweet, and very strong (how I like it!). After a couple of Unilocalers were kind enough to let me try their HOMEMADE POPSICLES (yes!!!), raspberry lemon and blueberry, I had to have a whole raspberry one of my own! There is so much more on the menu I would like to try, and I think I’ll be coming back for more popsicle soon despite the freeze!

I want to extend a huge thank you to T.H.I.S. Place for introducing me to Vietnamese coffee. Before trying it here, I didn’t even know it existed. It’s amazing. Normally I prefer my coffee sans milk and sugar, but the combination of an espresso-​strength brew with condensed milk was divine. Not only was the coffee delicious, it’s perfect if you need a good pick-​me-​up. The first sip was a bit of a shock to my system.
When I decided I wanted to try their homemade popsicles, one of the owners suggested that I try the roasted peach flavour. I always appreciate it when people make suggestions as I’m notorious for being indecisive. I’m glad I went with her recommendation because it was amazing. I love that they use fresh fruit ingredients to make their treats. Major yum! I was also intrigued by their sweet corn flavoured popsicle. I heard good things about it from other people so I will have to try it next time.
Besides the food and drinks, the atmosphere at T.H.I.S. Place is lovely. The staff are extremely friendly and attentive and the café itself is cozy and inviting. I’m so glad I found out about T.H.I.S. Place and I will definitely be returning soon.

THIS Place is a super cool little campus café with killer homemade Popsicles! Ya, I know popsicles in the winter?! Well I went in and had the worst sore throat, I ordered a delicious traditional Thai tea (that was orange!!) it was super hot, super sweet and absolutely delightful. Especially so, after I devoured the creamed corn popsicle. Which for the record, was crazy good, full of flavour and really helped soothe my dry scratchy throat!
THIS Place is the kind of locally owned, owner ran establishment that makes you happy every time walk through the door. On my second visit I was already a regular! The space is smart with minimalist, sleek furniture, unique art from local artists and touches of zen Asian décor.
The key to Happiness Is Simple — just stop in for a mug of anything on the menu!

My first visit to T.H.I.S. Place was for a Unilocal UYE and I was pretty impressed. I’m not a guy who frequents coffee shops, since I don’t drink coffee and only drink tea when I’m sick. I really like the space. There were lots of interesting books around that caught my eye and some pretty cool local art on the walls.
Since coffee isn’t my thing, I had a hot chocolate, and it was excellent. It was made with real melted chocolate, not some gross powder, like other places use. I had the dark chocolate and peppermint. A great mix. I originally wanted peppermint with white chocolate but Tom steered me towards dark chocolate, as it goes better with the mint. It was good advice. You can also buy the hot chocolate to make later — it comes in a little cube of chocolate, just mix with warm milk.
I also had a blueberry popsicle. I grew up eating wild, hand-​picked blueberries from my cottage and I’ve grown very picky when it comes to blueberry based foods, since I’ve always had the best. There’s a lot of blueberry products that probably aren’t much more than sugar and blue food colouring. So I was very pleased when I unwrapped the popsicle and saw there were real blueberry skins inside it! It was great and tasted fresh and wasn’t loaded full of sugar.
Cool space, great treats. I’ll be back.

Lovers of Lan’s will be happy to hear (but probably already know) that Tom & Co. have opened up a new coffee shop in the heart of downtown. Called T.H.I.S. Place (to be happy is simple), they offer up coffees, teas, iced drinks, and snacks.
They’ve been open for at least a couple of weeks and I finally made it down last night. I suppose I didn’t know what I was expecting, but the space is beautiful and inviting. The décor is on the minimalist side but done very well. I think it’s only going to get better as I was talking with Tom and he mentioned a few more things he’s going to do with the place. It would be a great place to have chill acoustic nights, too.
For my treats, I had a homemade creamy coconut popsicle (!!!) ($ 3) and a freshly-​squeezed, right in front of my eyes limenade ($ 3). There were other flavours of popsicles available in the $ 2-​$ 3 range but I had to have the coconut. Holy man, it was delicious. I’d never had a homemade fruit popsicle before and I know that will be my new weakness every time I visit. It was creamy and delicious and full of real coconut chunks. The limenade was also super refreshing and great. They had some banana bread on offer, but I hope to see some more Asian pastries and desserts in the future.
Me and my girlfriend lingered for a couple of hours. T.H.I.S. Place is cozy and inviting, which is really welcome in a world where everything and everyone is rush rush. Check it out!