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Brioche Urban Baking & Catering
Categories: Food Bakeries Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Soup Bakeries, Caterers, Soup [Edit]
401 W Cordova StVancouver, BC V6B 1E5
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Gastown
(604) 682-4037
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 7 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 6 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
61 reviews for Brioche Urban Baking & Catering
Review Highlights
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"green bean & asparagus salad with feta." In 4 reviews -
"...a slice of French bread drizzled with olive oil, and a bowl..." In 3 reviews -
"Extensive menu and licensed to boot." In 4 reviews
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61 reviews in English
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Review from Nathan H.
Burnaby, BC
12/29/2011
I have returned to Brioche on numerous occasions for brunch and am always delighted by the excellent combination of flavors instilled into their omelets and fare. They also make an excellent cafe Americano with great crema.
The location is in a lovely part of the old city of Vancouver and the bare interior red brick walls are really wonderful. However, the decoration consists of ill-fitting cultural artifacts from numerous continents that have the look of having been thrown on the walls. The interior has ample character without these lack-lustre embellishments. -
Review from Michelle M.
Port Moody, BC
3/26/2012
I'm going to look like the evil enemy with my review of Brioche. The counter has a sign saying "They Love Us on Yelp" and my thoughts are nowhere close to love. Granted, it's a hip atmosphere with great service, but my lunch was one of the most dissapointing I've had in a longtime.
I had the Quiche, and side salad. The Greek salad was very nummy, but the quiche was the worst I've ever had. I grew up on quiche, it was a staple in my house. This quiche was a fantastic idea in theory, and a stunning visual, but taste was seriously lacking, and the quiche was so watery to the point I thought they didn't use real eggs because of the structure of the quiche was loose, and flavourless.
Based on other reviews, I'd consider going back, but based on experience I never will. -
Review from Gina I.
11/24/2011
After a rainy jaunt downtown to Dressew, I walked to Brioche to have a... what I thought would be an exceptional mocha.
No. I should have known that taking a minute to get me a drink would mean something was up. Meaning it was WARM. But I didn't try it until I got to my car. So I drank it. I wasn't happy. The cookie was good though. -
Review from Subie O.
North Vancouver, BC
4/20/2012
Very yummy. Happy staff.
-1 for price. Not the cheapest but worth it. Very small dinning area. -
Review from Deja S.
Vancouver, BC
2/28/2012
The butternut squash ravioli, brownie (heated and with whipped cream), and asparagus & green bean salad were all delicious.
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Review from Rich J.
Vancouver, BC
4/17/2012
coffee and a cannoli is all I had. Coffee was okay. Cannoli taste stale and kind of like the fridge. gross. it wasn't cheap either. boo...
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Review from Ashley B.
Vancouver, BC
11/11/2011
Great soup, good bread, lack of ingredients in sandwich and a tad overpriced. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff.
Ate Brunch here the other week, and although it was good it was not worth the $13 when I could walked next door and got the same eggs for $7.50. -
Review from Yvonne H.
Vancouver, BC
6/2/2011
When I think of brioche, images of decadence dance in my mind. Though the atmosphere is chic casual, the food was nothing short of decadent. They stuffed that omelette with pillowy soft goat cheese and veggies like no tomorrow and accompanied it with a complimentary bowl of fruit and bread that was lightly drizzled with olive oil. My perfectly brewed london fog, with just the right amount of fog and froth, completed my meal. Oh and they serve breakfast all day to boot!
I was also able to feast my eyes on the lovely sights beautiful gastown Vancouver offers. We seated ourselves at the large window which provided us the perfect vantage to people watch. The ambiance was relaxed with pretty decor and pretty people.
My only gripe is why haven't I stumbled upon this Gastown gem sooner? Brioche hasn't seen the last of me! -
Review from Kimberly W.
1/29/2012
Excellent lobster ravioli! Nice atmosphere and great location. If I lived anywhere near, I would go again in a heartbeat.
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Review from Nikki W.
Vancouver, BC
3/25/2011
After hearing great things about Brioche, I decided to stop by for lunch. I ended up ordering the eggplant parmigiana to go.
When I opened it up to eat back in the comfort of my office (only about a 3 min walk away), my eyes were assaulted with the yuckiest looking lump of gray stuff SWIMMING in oil. Umm...what IS this?
Upon tasting, I determined that it was, indeed, eggplant. But it was soggy, oily, unappealing, there was no cheese to be seen, and it was lukewarm. After a 3min walk, it should still be piping hot. Plus, maybe I'm crazy but isn't eggplant parmigiana supposed to have breaded eggplant? This was so soggy there's no way it was breaded and crispy at any point in time.
I am majorly disappointed! I would have sent it back if I were eating in the cafe. Even though lots of things on their menu sounded great, I'm really hesitant to try my luck there again. -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
5/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I am in love with Brioche - how did I only just discover this Gastown gem?! It's a little pricey, but worth it just for the cute atmosphere alone. I visited Brioche for breakfast with a pal and we had omelettes - big lovely wonderfully oily-in-a-good-way omelettes absolutely stuffed with avocado, red onions, boconcini and marinated portobello mushrooms.
Excuse me while I mop up the keyboard.... ahem.
I want to visit again for its chic cafe atmosphere - this seems like an amazing place to show up early, read the paper and linger over a big-ass cup of tea and delicious baking. And I gotta try this green bean and scallop salad! -
Review from Pia W.
Note: When a big guy with an Italian accent wearing an apron from the kitchen suggests that you should try something on the menu, most likely, that item is very, very, very good!
Here's a clip of the conversation I had with, I suspect, the owner:
Guy from the kitchen [in Italian accent] "Oh and you must try-a dee cappuccino he makes (points to the guy at the counter), it is to diiiiiee for!"
Me [with a mischievious grin]: "Hm, well I'm not so sure I want to die just yet..."
[Guy from the kitchen roars with laughter]: "Non, but I am cee-rious! You should try it!"
Before that, he had already convinced me to order the Cioppino soup -- sauteed fresh seafood, penne noodles, veggies all simmered in a garlic tomato broth. But having just met him, I thought it safe to just go with one of his recommendations first...
...And true to his word, the Cioppino soup was AMAZING (and pretty good sized portion -- even the one-person portion can be shared among two people)! The side of Greek salad was fresh and crispy, not too overloaded with feta cheese. But the soup was just sooooo good!! We also ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana and the Salmon Quiche, both served with bread and salad, both were pretty good (fresh) as well...but the soup!!! The Cioppino soup is a must-try here: Everything in that white ceramic bowl is like a symphony all working in harmony between the fresh seafood and the broth...YUM!
So now I pretty sure I am going to go back to try their "to diiiiiee for" cappuccino very soon! -
Review from Melissa K.
Vancouver, BC
10/28/2011
Great place to go for brunch. Their ingredientsmare fresh and portions are big. They make all their desires in house. They have different lunch specials all the time and their pastas are delicious. Their mushroom gnocchi and butternut squash ravioli are the best. I had the trio salad today with salmon, prawns, and king crab over three types of salad, it was well worth the money.
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Review from Jon S.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2011
Yes...I'm giving this place five stars. Why? The lasagna. The best lasagna...ever.
This place is small, but if you want knock your socks off pasta, this is it. My lasagna was messy, saucy, full of surprises (corn!), and the ground meat picked up all the good flavours and was tender. My partner got something that looked good, but all I remember is the pasta.
Oh...and it's a warm little friendly place. Order at the counter and they bring it to your table. Bet this place is busy at weekday lunches. -
Review from Amy R.
Vancouver, BC
12/30/2011
Amazing ciopino (seafood soup) here today. Bit expensive, but it came with a side of greek salad and bread. I couldn't eat it all! It's a cozy, warm atmosphere, busy but you can always squeeze in.
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Review from Sarah H.
5/5/2011
This is probably my favourite place to go for a sandwich in Vancouver. The Ham and Bree is amazing. Now that I've moved across the country, it's very difficult to deal with the cravings that I get for this place.
Every time I've been in this restaurant, it's been packed. Ambiance is great. I agree that it's a real gem for Gastown. -
Review from Raza M.
12/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
I can't say such about their baking and catering, but they also have a cafe on the other side of the street. And it's a small, clean space, very Gastown-ish with exposed brick walls covered with artwork. They have a whole neighbourhood cafe vibe going on, there are newspaper, coupons and print ads for events and places, with notes saying "Share table make new a friend". There are spices and drinking water in a corner. There is also outside seating.
The goods: excellent food, a huge menu, and tasting looking desert.
The not so good: coffee instead of being rich and having texture was bitter and had a lot foam on top but actually coffee was dull, the desert I tried was ok-ish. -
Review from Zoe P.
6/9/2011
A little overpriced, but almost worth it.
I had a hearty, healthy-ish spinach salad topped with a warm mix of seafood. Oddly enough, the seafoods (so to speak) were of variable quality - yay on the salmon, nay on the shrimp. There was a tasty, crispy briochesque toast to go with it and I had a glass of the house white wine which seemed utterly delicious to me.
And the atmosphere, on a rainy afternoon, was perfect in a quiet way and quiet in a perfect way. I listened as three old friends caught each other on their yoga and bodywork careers. -
Review from Catherine W.
New Westminster, BC
11/2/2010
I have only been here once about 5 years ago but just the other week I was tasked to look into breakfast catering for my office so I thought I would check them out again.
I was impressed. I was able to download their form from their website, check off what I wanted, add little side notes and fax it on in. Within 10 minutes I had someone calling me to confirm the order and discuss exactly what I was looking for. It was easy peasy lol. I even had to call back with a special request for just egg whites for a co worker and they were pleased to do that for me. Needless to say I can't complain.
The day of the breakfast meetings they were here on time. Something you would expect but not always accomplished by other places we've ordered from. As I don't eat eggs I didn't eat the breakfast wraps but the reviews were good. Out of 13 people only one thought it was too eggy but that's their preference. Everyone else said they were fantastic.
I also ordered bakery and fruit platters, which I did partake in, and they were so delicious I had to go back for more. So much for my diet. They also offer coffee, tea and assorted beverages as catered options. The only downside to all of this was that there were no wraps without eggs for breakfast but that's just for me and I don't want to be too picky lol.
What I can say is that my office will probably use their catering services again. -
Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came by and ordered some baked goods to go. I tried the apple-pear tart, which is MASSIVE, for $7. I also picked up two cookies: a chocolate chip and a macadamia nut. The cookies were fantastic, you can tell they were fresh baked and they had a savoury flavour. The tart was okay, but $7 was a bit much for it. The place looks nice and comfy for a comfortable coffee, and the cooked food looks quite yum (but I just didn't have time). I gave it a two star, but it's still on my list to try again for some savoury dishes.
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Review from cat h.
Vancouver, BC
12/5/2011
I come in here to get away from the starbucks and blenz type places that are offending the streets of north america.Great atmosphere, warm and inviting and welcoming with homely aromas of fulfilling food. Every plate I see looks and smells rich and hearty; no shy portions either. Love the furniture, old country farmhouse feel. The coffee is excellent and the sweet cakes at the front good. Why does it lose a star then....its the miserable face that i always see on the guy at the front in the apron. I'm assuming he's the owner and would look much cuter if he smiled more....he has a great spot,whats the issue?
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Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
8/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Fresh orange juice and the green bean and asparagus salad makes me feel zippy, full of pep, and well, just about as fresh as fresh can be.
Brioche is a fantastic place for a lunch meeting or a bite to go. The choices are plentiful but we kept it simple: sharing a prosciutto, tomato and boccocini panini and said salad. If you're sharing a salad, go for the large. The girl at the counter filled me in on the salad portion: They vary. Sometimes the small is in a bowl/plate that's an inch in diameter (she showed with her hands) and sometimes it's bigger. Uh, okay... I'll just get the large, I guess. Luckily the sammies are easier to see as almost everyone eating seems to be eating them in one form or another.
The crust is flaky but can cut like a knife -just be prepared to ravage your food while fanning yourself on a hot day, this space makes an oven feel like a fridge. -
Review from Allison F.
11/23/2010
This has been my go-to spot for when my mom's in town and wants something delicious for lunch. There are two entrances and eating areas to this restaurant and if you come in off of Cordova St, just be sure to follow the signs through the hallway and you'll make it to the ordering area without a problem.
The menu is super extensive and daily specials are written on the door leading to the hallway. We went for cups of the daily soup special, shrimp bisque, and shared a large green bean and asparagus with seafood salad. We thought we ordered a beef and gorgonzola cheese pannini, but after it didn't arrive and the bill didn't add up to have included it, we concluded that it had been missed.
The soup arrived first and was lukewarm. But it had a very flavorful broth, with a strong presence of lemon. Salad shrimp were garnished throughout it and a small piece of crusty bread with olive oil accompanied the bowl.
The bean and asparagus salad was good. It was on special and had the addition of scallops, prawns, and crab. The scallops were crusted in cornmeal and were slightly undercooked. They also weren't seasoned. The prawns were nicely marinated and the crab was loosely placed under the prawns. Feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, and a big blackberry were also mixed on the plate and it was definitely a large portion. The soup and half of the salad were definitely enough for lunch.
We chose to sit on the Cordova side, as it was empty and the other side (by where you order) was packed. This gave us a nice view of the people milling around outside, though we were approached by a man begging for change, in the restaurant. He then proceeded directly in to the kitchen, where he asked there as well. Awkward. This side isn't paid much attention to by the staff and so it's good if you want a quiet area, but not so much if you need assistance with anything.
Overall, good food, good prices, and usually a good place to take Mom. -
Review from Laura D.
9/1/2010
I'm always on the lookout for great places with good food and friendly staff that I can sit and spend some time with my lover or friends.
Café Brioche is defiantly one of those places. Don't be deceived by the size of the café or minimal amount of food on display, their menu is vast and written all over the doors and walls.
Tasty fresh salads can be followed by delicious cakes, tarts and pies (just to name a few!) which are all baked on site. The apple pie is a must have!
Get in early on weekend mornings as the queue can be all the way out to the street.Listed in: Baked To Perfection
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Review from Jonah L.
Vancouver, BC
2/21/2011
Cozy inviting French cafe, when you want to escape the norm. The specials are really good. Like the Italian burger with chicken, bacon and sausage I had. It's a lot like a hot sandwhich. Very delicous!
http://www.flickr.com/... -
Review from Ashley D.
Vancouver, BC
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I lived in Gastown I loved this place. They do amazing wild mushroom gnocchi, ham, brie and mushroom omelets, almond croissants to name a few things. It is isn't the biggest place but it is always busy. Just remember to order at the till otherwise you might be sitting there for ever wondering what the hell is going on. Never been there for dinner but the food is definitely worth the trip if you like excellent Italian pasta dishes.
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Review from Patrick L.
8/26/2011
does canada not have fresh croissants? the croissant tasted nothing better than something from a supermarket. i asked whether it was fresh..he said yes..it was neither crispy nor flakey.
bottomline: go elsewhere. IF I WANTED A SOFT, NONFLAKEY CROISSANT, I WOULDVE GONE TO A SUPERMARKET AND SPENT A THIRD THE PRICE. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 10/10/2009
This is a 3.5 star rating for the following reasons:
1. For those who have eaten here, most would probably agree that the food is better than good.. soooo
2. when you find out that they cater - that's even better :)
The prices are a little higher than average but for the quality, I think it's worth it for special treats. The people on the phone are super nice, and they are prompt on delivery time. You get free delivery after spending $35.00 and there is even an online form that you can send in.
Why only 3.5 stars then? The order that we places was partially wrong... and since they had to deliver, there's no point asking them to replace the mistake. I thought that the salad we ordered with the chicken on the side was delicious, but the chicken portion was smaller than expected. It also came with bread on the side which was a nice touch.
I will keep coming back to this place and may reconsider catering again.Listed in: World away from Starbucks.., Let's go to Gastown Instead...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/15/2009
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Review from Janice F.
9/28/2009
Cute place! Stumbled upon here after a failed attempt at Cafe Medina for brunch.... waaaaay too busy there!!
Seating is at a premium at Brioche, but I love the bright and cozy decor. A surprisingly large menu for such a small place.
Ordered their soup of the day ($5 for a bowl), a potato beef parmesan truffle oil soup.. thick and luxurious, served with a chunk of bread - perfect for dipping. Also had a make your own omelette, $10, generous servings of Brie and chorizo.. and a yummy fruit salad that included blueberries, mangos, raspberry and blackberry (singular, but still appreciated!) -
Review from Alexis L.
9/6/2011
We were pleasantly surprised to stumble across Brioche one street away from the touristy main drag in Gastown (Water Street). We had the seafood quiche that was textured like a light custard (delicious!). I also had the green bean and asparagus salad and really enjoyed the crunchy texture and the slight sweetness from the fresh black cherry and burgandy grapes. The little dessert cake (triangular shaped) with chocoloate on the outside was a bit dry, but they compensated by serving it with fresh whipped cream. The service is friendly and the colorful eclectic art and funky music (obscure Prince songs) was a nice touch. As a tourist, I highly recommend that you walk off the beaten path (one street over) to find this place and a few others (eg: Meat and Bread) that are frequented by locals.
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Review from Whitney L.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2009
Charming and delightful is how I would describe this neighborhood spot.
Located in historic Gastown and frequented by many during the lunch hour. Seasonal menu adapts and is written on a chalkboard staight ahead as you walk in. Atmosphere is urban meets quaint cafe- includes dishes that range from sandwiches to crisp inventive salads to quiches and finished off with gelato or baked goods. I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected Mediterranean squid.
Worth the visit and the line up. Expect a crowd and trouble finding seating. The secret is out about this place! -
Review from Andre S.
Vancouver, BC
5/5/2010
I lunch here regularly, and the place is always hit, never miss. I even held a business lunch meeting at the more quiet back, which is quite a compliment for a casual lunchtime eatery.
The food is reliably good and the staff competent. Not one specific dish to recommend: the paninis, pastas and salads are all well-prepared and tasty, as you would expect from their slightly-higher price. The deserts are tasty as well, though this may bring your meal to over $20/person.
P.S. It may be an un-Yelp thing to do, but I like going regularly to the same lunch spot, as opposed to flitting from place to place, following someone's recommendation. When I started my new job downtown, I tried many different places before settling on Brioche. Nuba is closer and highly regarded, but I was treated with contempt by the owner when I mistakenly sat in the self-serve section, and I will not return. There are other funky places in the downtown East side, all worthy of a visit. Nonetheless, I feel that I gain something beyond the food I eat when I become a regular at a lunch spot: I forge a bond with the staff and bring greater humanity to my daily life. -
Review from Jen A.
9/9/2011
I had the butternut squash ravioli, delicious and plenty of food. It is in a cute part of downtown and I enjoyed the environment. The reason I'm not giving it a 5 is because I didn't think the ravioli was so amazing that it was worth what I paid. However, the people I was with were not vegetarians and they absolutely loved their meals. I think its pretty good, just a little overpriced.
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Review from Ramon V.
4/12/2010 5 Check-ins Here
With lunch places a-plenty within a block or two from the office, it's difficult to choose sometimes. But when Brioche comes to mind, it's difficult to choose anywhere else. An extensive menu greets you loudly, and offers almost too many combinations of salads, pizzas, pasta, sandwiches and other treats such as cioppino and lasagna.
A small but busy place, and I often wonder how the kitchen is capable of handling the size of the menu, but it works well. The side menu changes often, so make sure to take a good look at all of the rotating options.
I'm a fan of the green bean and asparagus salad, the filling pizza squares, and the seafood salads. Quick service, quality preparation and decent pricing. Just what I need for lunch. -
Review from Claudia L.
Burnaby, BC
1/28/2009 1 photo
You can smell the culture off of the menu. I love coming to Brioche for a coffee break or lunch. It is rare to find a cafe that executes well with such an extensive menu. It is truly impressive.
The bean and asparagus salad is uniquely yummy, the have the perfect paninis, they make the freshest and scrumptious pastries and desserts and offer a selection of teas and coffees. They have great vegetarian options (eggplant lasagna is my favourite!) as well.
It stays busy late into the end of the lunch hour. So if you want a seat you should plan ahead to come around 11 or 1:30. -
Review from Steven M.
Vancouver, BC
8/10/2010
Whenever I come here I always think "darn. why do I bother going anywhere else?"
Then I remember - My yelp profile would be pretty lame if it was just one restaurant review continuously updated.
This place never ceases to amaze me with the assortment of dishes they are able to serve.
Today I had a seafood stew, which was just spectacular. The guy I was with had the lobster ravioli.
The service is good too. The waitress even asked if she should pack my broth (from the stew) to go. Clearly not, but appreciate the effort! -
Review from Andrew B.
10/18/2008
I was taken to Brioche by my Vancouver host for breakfast (she works just down Cordova), and settled on making my own omelet. Eeeeeeeexcellent choice. Mozzarella, spinach, and ham, with a slice of French bread drizzled with olive oil, and a bowl of fruit. The omelet in particular was FANTASTIC. Big with just-melty-enough cheese.
Perfect fuel for a day of photographing the hell out of Gastown. -
Review from Megan S.
12/3/2008
A quick skim of Brioche's reviews reveals that most everyone is in love with this place. I'm sure it's not a love potion in the food, because I was charmed before anything touched my mouth.
It's just cute. I love their chalkboard menu, which does seem to change frequently. I've stopped in a number of times just for a raspberry italian soda. Wonderful! This is also a quick and great place to stop for soup and salad. The salad veggies are crisp and fresh. No brown soggy leaves anywhere to be found.
Great crowd on top of everything else. Sometimes packed around lunch time. -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
3/15/2009
This is a small cafe with an almost too extensive menu and a limited amount of space - therefore requiring catlike reflexes and ruthlessness when it comes to snagging a seat. Was I glad I brought a friend with both those qualities, plus a dollop of chutzpah to resist the glares of those in line who didn't think to divide (lining up and seat holding duties) and conquer (we got a seat and you didn't. Nyeah, nyeah, na na na.) themselves.
That taken care of, it's a lovely space in which to savour both your victory and your food. Which is delicious, and generous - my tuna melt with smoked salmon was falling out all over the place as I ate it. Glad my ruthless friend was also tolerant of messy eating.
They're also licensed, which is always a nice bonus in a cafe. I love having a glass of wine with a sandwich once in a while.
Can't think of much else to say besides Yum! and Elbows Up! -
Review from PaulSEGAL ..
7/4/2011
great cappuccino, Croissant with salmon & eggs was supper. Omelet with mushrooms, brie & ham was huge and very tasty. food was 4+ the location was 4. Guy behind counter was a 2. he was cold and offish. The tiny inside area was SUPER hot and the crappy outside tables were noisy and bad area worth of a 2. Average was 3. AND, they didn't have any BRIOCHE??? Who does that??? try another place... plenty other joints...
