Finding hidden treasures at Toads

If you need a break from chain cafés, look no further than Toads, a rustic-looking hole in the wall in the heart of downtown Grand Ledge. 

It’s not a large establishment — the tables seat roughly 20 people. Most of the space is taken up by several couches and a souvenir shop in the back where guests can purchase merchandise featuring the café’s amphibian mascot. Although it’s obviously a popular destination for all kinds of customers, the campground theme seems to draw a younger crowd. There are even board games for children to play while they’re waiting for their order.

That being said, the café caters to customers of all ages and palates. There’s a wide array of specialty lattes, teas, milkshakes and other cool beverages for the hot summer months ahead, which have some hilarious names. For example, a chai latte is called “The Politician.” 

On top of that, you can get an array of bowls, paninis, burritos and sandwiches at incredible prices. I tried build-your-own breakfast burrito combo, which came with a side of hash browns. 

As the name suggests, you can customize your burrito with any item for an additional fee. Options include bacon, ham, spinach, avocado, tomatoes, several kinds of cheeses and Toads’ house breakfast sauce. Since I don’t eat bacon or ham, I went with spinach and feta cheese, also ordering a small hot chocolate to drink ($3.75). 

Though there was a bit of a wait, the food arrived hot and fresh — so hot that I wished I’d gotten water instead of hot chocolate. The burrito was smaller than expected but still managed to be very filling. The kitchen staff must grill the burritos and paninis the same way, because the tortilla was nice and crispy. The egg, cheese and spinach mixture inside was a little plain, so I probably should have ordered some of the breakfast sauce to spice it up. 

The potatoes were also hot and perfectly fried. However, a word of advice: If you want ketchup, be sure to ask the server.

I can see why Toad’s is so popular among Grand Ledge residents. It’s a fun little place, and it’s always nice to see an independently owned café doing its own thing.