What began as a medical student selling chocolate-covered strawberries to make ends meet has blossomed into one of Toronto's most enchanting neighbourhood cafés. Strawbella, the cottagecore-inspired haven just south of Corso Italia, proves that sometimes the sweetest dreams come from the most unexpected places.
Owner Maddie Kilci never planned to open a restaurant. While studying medicine at a local university, she started selling artfully decorated chocolate-covered strawberries as a side project. The positive response from customers was overwhelming, and in early 2023, Maddie took a leap of faith and opened a brick-and-mortar storefront.
The café's evolution since then reflects Maddie's remarkable ability to listen and adapt. When her landlord suggested expanding beyond desserts to include salads and sandwiches, she embraced the idea. When neighbourhood children started showing up after school, drawn by the sweet aromas and whimsical atmosphere, she transformed Strawbella into a beloved community gathering spot.
Today, Strawbella hosts birthday parties and creative workshops where children decorate cookies and do arts and crafts. The café collaborates with Ever a Surprise Productions, bringing storybook characters like Cinderella to life for special events. It's become a magical place where childhood imagination flourishes.
The menu marries Italian-inspired savory dishes with Strawbella's signature sweets. The strawberry risotto, tinted red with strawberries, carrots, and tomatoes, offers something genuinely unique. The linguine pollo pesto and Calabria pizza satisfy heartier appetites. And of course, the chocolate-covered strawberries — available in boxes customized with icing, pearls, and floral patterns — remain the heart of the operation.
Maddie dreams of telling a larger story through Strawbella, complete with characters including her own pet rabbit "Bunnybella." But for now, she's content watching her café become exactly what the neighbourhood needed: a place of sweetness, creativity, and community connection.
Strawbella stands as proof that following an unexpected path can lead somewhere truly wonderful.