Bob Coffee Bar comes to us from the folks behind Lil’ Baci, run by co-owners Mark Bacci, Suresh Singh and Riyaz Somani. It’s a cafe that also serves drinks, baked goods and light fare like soups and sandwiches across the street from Hillcrest Park.

The name is meant to evoke an everyman vibe, and Bacci’s first motorcycle was a “bobber.” You might notice some motorcycle imagery throughout the store.

It’s changed a lot from the humble convenience store at this corner, where I used to get sodas and popsicles while hanging in the park. It’s been outfitted with sleek decorative tile floors, cool hanging lights, and rustic shelving.

Unlike many cafes, Bob is offering multiple roasters to choose from for espresso-based beverages. The main brew is a “Bob’s Bold” designed by Hale, but when I was in you could also opt for Pig Iron, and drip by Las Chicas.

This latte ($4) made with Bob’s Bold tastes balanced and the layer of foam is thick and creamy.

I love how they have their own custom rainbow of mugs here, designed to look sort of like camping mugs (available for purchase for $14).

Baked goods are by Petit Thuet, like sweet and flaky almond croissants ($3.25).

Uniquely, Bob is also selling books of an appropriately angsty tone, such as works by Charles Bukowski and Roberto Bolano.

In addition to that, they also selling a range of vinyl (around $22), again with selections from Nirvana and Wavves showing off just the right level of cool.

Drinks here are signature spins on classics, like this rose negroni that uses rose petal gin and blood orange instead of their regular counterparts. Cocktails run around $10 - $12 here and wine around $9 - $12. Beer from local breweries like Wellington and Blood Brothers runs around $7 - $10.

I try their faithful version of a cubano ($8), a pressed sandwich of cured ham, pork, pickles and Swiss cheese that hits the spot without being too heavy.

I grab a soup on the side, and today’s is white bean and kale ($5 on its own). I love the plating in a little glass jar, and it feels nice and healthy and warming.

For something sweet to drink, grab what Bob Coffee Bar is calling their “bad ass hot cocoa” ($4.25), made with ganache, walnut bitters, and organic vanilla syrup, and topped with aromatic nutmeg and cinnamon and a toasted marshmallow.

There’s ample seating in this place, and it’s likely to be utilized by many local cafe lovers who don’t want to make the trek up to St. Clair or down to Dupont or even further to Bloor.