Blue Collar Bakery is a venture from the team behind brunch destination Cafe Neon, nestled in Bloordale Village and conveniently located next door to sister shop Bar Neon. 

Restaurant partners Niki Tsourounakis and Katy Chan have created a menu that draws on classic Greek and Asian flavours across their breads, pastries, and coffee offerings.

The space is compact, complete with a shale exposed brick wall that adds a homey touch to the bakery, which sees a lot of foot traffic from local residents during the day.

The bakery focuses on freshly made breads that use only organic Canadian flour, and you'll be able to find all the same slices that are served at their restaurant locations here.

While all the doughs are mixed by machine, there's still an appreciation for the craft of baking. "Every step after mixing is made by hand in our kitchens," the team tells blogTO.

The Seeded Sourdough ($6.50) has a great crust and an airy interior. Most of their breads are certified vegan, like the Traditional Baguette ($5) and Wallace Sourdough ($6). 

Their popular Pita ($4.50) uses the same sourdough starter as the others, which adds a fluffy, tangy flavour. 

Interestingly, they have a shelf marked "Yesterday's Bread" where you can get bread from the day before at a 25 per cent discount, plus pastry bundle packs of three for $6.

Beyond your typical caffeine offerings, Tsourounakis has added three Greek coffee drinks you normally wouldn't find in the city. 

My personal favourite, the Frappé ($4), is the ultimate Mediterranean drink. Sweet milk foam is poured on top of espresso over ice, creating a frothy and indulgent coffee.

There's also a Freddo Espresso ($3.75) and Freddo Cappucino ($5), the latter of which incorporates a milk foam.

The tiny shop wears many hats, offering a selection of baked goods and pastries that often sell out by lunch, plus sandwiches that are available throughout the day. 

The Breakfast Sandwich ($8.90) is available until 12 p.m. and features a crisp fried egg, chipotle mayo, and your choice of protein or kale in an English muffin.

Their lunch sandwiches all come on housemade ciabatta and there's a variety of options like a Chicken Kimchi ($9.20), Mortadella Kasseri Pesto ($10.25), and Tahini Mushroom ($7.75).

For sweet tooths on a budget, there's a gooey Maple Butter Tart ($3) that has a puff pastry shell and a Sweet Scone ($3) whose flavour rotates according to the fruits in season.

Croissants are one of the best-sellers at the shop, with the Almond Croissant ($4.95) being the most popular; it often sells out early in the day. 

The rest of the shop stocks fun packaged goods from the Neon Commissary in the Junction Triangle, like this vegan Cocoa Buckwheat Granola ($8.25).

In the warmer months, there's a huge patio in the backspace that's shared with Bar Neon that would be a perfect space for lunch dates and work meetings.

"We noticed there was no proper bakery in the area and we are excited to be here," the team says. "The neighbourhood has been amazingly welcoming since we've opened." 

Blue Collar Bakery is located at 1230 Bloor St W.