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Café Medina
Category: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
556 Beatty StVancouver, BC V6B 2L3
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 879-3114
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 4 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
299 reviews for Café Medina
Review Highlights
"White chocolate pistachio rosewater latte."
(in 45 reviews)
"Their lavender latte is also highly recommended."
(in 46 reviews)
"The fig-orange marmalade topping was delicious."
(in 15 reviews)
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299 reviews in English
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Review from L J V.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 2/3/2012
So I DID take my (very picky) mother here on Wednesday and she loved it!
Tried a bunch of new things...
Celeriac and fennel soup with a poached egg...6/10. This was a bit too "conceptual" for me.
La Salade Verte (Artisan mixed greens, vine tomatoes, house made pickles, balsamic onions, Parmesan crisps. Sweet Dijon dressing)....10/10 FANTASTIC!
La Tartine ( Marinated shredded carrot, grilled halloumi cheese, tabouleh, houmus, olive and rosemary sourdough.).....8/10
Les Boulettes (Spicy Moroccan lamb and beef meatballs, roasted vegetables. Houmus, raita. Grilled foccacia).....10/10
Morrocan Mimosa (Fresh OJ infused with Sumac, star anise and fig mixed with sparkling wine).............10/10
Chambar Ale.......6/10. They said this was a belgian ale, which made me think it would be more malty and/or cloudy, but it was actually more like an American/West Coast IPA, hoppy, dark, and clear. It tasted like a typical Russel beer, which is who they've commissioned to produce it.
This time, we sat in the back room, which I'd never been to before...it was very nice, quiet, and tastefully decorated. MUCH quieter than the main room, so it's perfect for catching up/bringing parents etc.
Going back for waffles and coffee in about....16 minutes!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/26/2012
Hands-down the best place for impromptu afternoon dates.
I wasn't sure if my girl had time to stay or… Read more »
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Review from Cyrus G.
Vancouver, BC
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm so glad I looked on yelp because I loved all the recommendations.
The waffles with orange peel marmalade was amazing and I'm still craving the lavender latte!
The food that I tried was excellent too! I've heard the wait times are crazy on weekends, so that's something to watch out for. -
Review from Julia W.
My husband & I came here for breakfast after reading so many reviews on Yelp.
I was really looking forward to some waffles as well as to try out the drinks here (I don't do coffee so I went with the hot chocolate while my husband ordered the lavender latte).
We both ordered a waffle with 'topping' and one side of bacon and one side of fruit.
The waffle itself was very small (as other reviewers noted) and I personally didn't care for the milk chocolate lavender as I found it very overwhelming. My husband had maple syrup so his wasn't too out of the norm.
The order of 'bacon' came and it was a moment of confusion as it was definitely very fatty and didn't taste like "American" bacon. We weren't able to finish it as it wasn't to our liking at all.
The side of fruit wasn't too bad but it did have a lot of pineapple (which isn't my fave) but a nice compliment to the waffles.
Cute cafe and definitely on the busy side but it did not blow me away. -
Review from Emily C.
2/6/2012
I think 3 stars is fair,considering I was incredibly underwhelmed by their brunch/lunch and the price, in my opinion, is far too high. The reputation for this place is amazing though -- people do rave about cafe medina. But if it's going to be $20 something per person for just lunch?? it needs to be AMAZING.
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Review from Tom B.
1/23/2012
In some ways this was the highlight of our entire weekend in BC this weekend. We have Yelp's high score to thank for pointing us in this direction.
We needed a place with good food, not far from Rogers Arena, and it's hard to imagine anything surpassing Medina on either score. We got there a couple hours before puckdrop, given the somewhat unusual pleasure of going out to brunch rather than dinner before an NHL game. The more efficiency-minded among us immediately said he'd rather find someplace else when he saw the line, but the host affably assured me we'd wait only half an hour. That was a little optimistic, but the wait was easily worth it.
This is what I think of as a classic downtown metropolitan restaurant, with exposed brick walls in a long narrow space. Old construction. Beautiful. I managed to literally bump into half the people in Vancouver trying to navigate the narrow space while I got us on the list and got myself an Americano. But that's on me, not them. The coffee turned out to be absolutely brilliant, with rich and complex flavors and not a trace of any unwelcome bitterness. We, with our shirttails hanging out, joined the impeccably dressed Vancouverites on the sidewalk while we waited for them to call our names.
Wedged in a display area inside the window is a hustling, sweaty, nice-looking kid manning multiple waffle irons. He's cranking out waffles faster than the baristas are cranking out drinks, and that ought to tell you something. The smell is overwhelmingly good, between the toasty waffles, hot coffee, and interesting spices wafting out from the kitchen in back.
We got a table under a beautifully executed abstract landscape oil on canvas. Really a welcome creative touch to the room--one of several canvasses in the series. Every bit of furniture and decor was clearly chosen with taste and care, but nothing's flashy or overbearing in the slightest. They had Traffic on the speakers--Steve Winwood's beautiful voice is a great accompaniment to breakfast, but putting on one of their records and letting it play to the end was a highly unexpected and very hip call on somebody's part.
We got more coffee and she was smart enough to order a waffle with salted caramel dipping sauce. These come out before breakfast. She let her beau and me try bites, and we damn near tackled the waitress putting in orders for waffles of our own. I told her to surprise me with whichever dipping sauce sounded good to her, and she brought out dark chocolate. Delicious, and classic. God, those are good waffles. 3.5" or so, crusty outside, chewy inside, rich nutty toasty flavor. Other waffles probably feel bad about themselves when they find out.
The menu is reasonably focused, offering a dozen or so dishes mostly served in skillets. The names are all in French, but the cuisine is virtually all Moroccan, at least in origin. She had the short ribs with poached eggs and greens. He had the breakfast cassoulet with thick-cut slab bacon, cooked twice. Breakfast cassoulet? That's one of those brilliant ideas that somebody must have thought of before, but is still brilliant here whether they're the first ones to do it or not. I wish I could have that any time I wanted. I had the lamb meatballs, which aren't very breakfasty, but are good 24 hours a day, so stop looking at me like that. They were on the breakfast menu. He and I kept chugging Americanos, but she had a Moroccan mimosa, which had shredded figs and delicious spices in it. Beautiful breakfast drink.
This is a great breakfast spot for a romantic morning together, or to spend with friends. I would damn near drive to Vancouver from Seattle to have breakfast here. It's truly spectacular. -
Review from Ashley L.
1/29/2012
I came here and had an excellent waffle with dark chocolate, a strong mimosa and the most amazing bacon I've ever had in my life.
They give you one waffle and it's a little small but it's surprisingly good. How much can you expect from a waffle? The dark chocolate sauce was served cold (I thought it would at least be warm) but it was also pretty tasty.
They have two types of mimosas here. Regular and a Moroccan, which has an assortment of other flavors. I got a regular one and it was decently strong. I think next time I'll try the Moroccan.
The bacon, good Lord, the bacon. Probably the most delicious bacon I've ever had in my life. It's thick cut and meaty and really flavorful. You get three big pieces; definitely worth five dollars.
This place is a little pricey. But you do get what you pay for. The food is amazing. -
Review from Tim L.
1/20/2012
Cafe Medina deservedly sits with its solid rating here for the sole reason that it offers up a great atmosphere in an unpretentious neighborhood with reasonable prices.
Despite the small space, Medina does a pretty solid job of handling the vast amount of people that try to get a table here.
The lavender latte seems to be the most popular and for good reason. It's an absolutely smooth comfort drink and goes perfectly with any brunch item you might go for here.
The use of fresh ingredients that are top notch results in a perfectly constructed dish with each piece both standing out and blending together perfectly. Prime example? The paella dish here is absolutely amazing. From the egg that is cooked just right, to the proportionately appropriate vegetables and chorizo.
Staff are patient and friendly and extremely effective in being around to serve you. Go on a weekday lunch for easier access and less frustration. Two is the perfect number here and any group larger than 3 is probably going to be a bit of a wait.
Vancouver certainly needs more quality places like this and Medina does a solid by being a prime example. -
Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
I came here a numerous times and was long line up each time on weekend. My hubby refused to wait for 30 mins to try.. I finally tried this out today!!
I have quite high expectation of Cafe Medina coz I have been Chambar so many times and would expect the same quality of food and taste fr Medina.
3.5 star for food:
With beautiful flavours, presentation and nice touches. The tagine was good, the poached egg was overcooked a bit but the paella was to die for.....
However, the lavender latte was just warm and a bit sweet for me. The matcha latte was ok a bit too powdery.
4 star for service:
Our waitress was very friendly and always came back to check it out of our food and needs. -
Review from Karen L.
1/4/2012 7 photos
WOW, I was pleasantly surprised. My Canadian cousins took us here, and we are so glad they did.
We ordered the fricasse, paella, some waffles, and some lattes and mochas. Everything was delicious and flavorful! I especially loved the waffles. So light and moist and buttery.
Our wait wasn't too long for a table for 4, and our server was super friendly and helpful.
Cafe Medina, we will be back!Listed in: Vancouver Eats!
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Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
1/14/2012
I love Cafe Medina.
I love the food, the atmosphere, the staff, the location. I just really enjoy having breakfast here. I don't go to Cafe Medina all the time, it's a special breakfast place for when I'm feeling like I need to be totally wowed by food.
Love it. -
Review from Miss Bonnie B.
1/5/2012
The wait can be pretty horrendous... especially on a cold day. The service was a bit spotty too... enough to drop my rating half a star. But I feel generous today so I'm going to round up.
The food totally hit the spot in every turn. I devoured my Fricasse PLUS the side of waffles with the White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater "Topping" and washed it down with my Lavender Latte. SCRUMPTIOUS.
If I'm ever back in the area, I'll be sure to make a stop here once again. -
Review from Wayne E.
1/3/2012
It has been months since my teenagers and I were exploring Vancouver and stumbled into this amazing find.
The restaurant is absolutely warm and inviting and all the staff seem completely focused on making sure the experience with them is a good one.
We were seated in the back of the restaurant, where the light from the windows gives the room a great feel.
The amazing flavored hot cocoas, the decadent waffles, and the complex skillet dishes are fabulous in the moment, and as you can see, a vivid memory you can recall months later.
I can't see any future trip to Vancouver not including dedicated time to savor an amazing meal here!
If you go, try it. If you are a local, I am envious. -
Review from Ashley B.
Vancouver, BC
1/4/2012
Went to this place for brunch and it was 4.5/5.....it was delicious to say the least! Bottom line it is top quality brunch and coffee but you are paying for it. There is a reason why there is a line out the door every weekend. BONUS: they came outside and gave everyone a piece of waffle to curve our appetite.
If you want to treat yourself to a "Top Spot" go here, or there's a Ricky's next door with pancakes and bacon for $7, it really depends on the mood and wallet. -
Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yah, I see a lot 4-5 stars for this place, but the staff ruined my experience here.
So we show up here at about 11:50am, and the manager (at least we assume he was) informs us that they'll be having another larger group in there at about 1:30. Ok, we are still waiting on 2 more, but that gives up plenty of time to eat still.
I ordered the dark chocolate mocha, which was delish, and the Fricassé. Two eggs (sunny side of course), braise short rib, potatoes, arugula, apple, cheddar, and a grilled foccacia bread served in a mini hot cast-iron pan. I quite enjoyed their rendition of steak 'n eggs, it was very light and just hits your palette on many different notes...... And then the manager comes by and lets us know that they need the table for the party. This was at about 12:45 which was also the time the remainder of our party arrived.
My friend took liked what I had so ordered the same thing. About 15-20 minutes later his food arrives and as the manager puts the food down.. what does he say?? "Just to remind you guys, we need the table at 1:30."
"Well, if the food didn't take so long we wouldn't have to rush," we replied, and he just looks away and walks off. I've have never been rushed out of a place in my life before, usually it's the guest rushing the kitchen so they can have a quick bite.
Yah, I we got the idea, you want us to get the fuck out! -
Review from Mae J.
1/16/2012
Yum for the waffles. Yum yum for the fresh omlette in the pipping hot cast iron pan. Came to vancouver after the holidays to relax and eat good food. Cafe Medina didn't dissapoint. Will definitely go back.
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Review from Nick R.
Burnaby, BC
12/21/2011
I haven't been to Café Medina in a couple of years. Last time I went, my wife and I had really poor service, and the food wasn't worth the wait. I was irritated that the pretentious bastard of a waiter had treated me like crap for no reason, so I held a grudge for a while, haha
Time has passed, and the lineups are still as long as they've always been, so I thought now was a good time to give Café Medina another shot. Basically, they've won me back over. *high five*
This was my first time in that back room, and I'm a big fan. I'd hold an intimate event there in a second. Great atmosphere and crowd.
Tried two things on the menu that day: the Paella and the Fricassée. Both were really tasty. Note: the Paella is made with orzo. I was particularly digging the spicy chorizo... At first I thought the serving size was a little small, but I was wrong. It was the perfect amount of food.
I enjoyed the lavender latte. I like it slightly less sweet, but even after drinking a large one, it wasn't overly cloying. I'd definitely order it again.
Overall it was a great experience, but I would never go on the weekend (well, maybe in the Summertime when it's gorgeous out). Trust me, you'll be standing outside forever. Skip work, hang out with someone you like, have a great brunch.
Nice work Café Medina! -
Review from Alex H.
12/22/2011
Want breakfast? Not hungover? Then go to Cafe Medina (ok to go hungover too, but I prefer pho for those mornings)
The fresh cooked waffle with a buttery chewiness and light maple syrup is awesome, as is the skillet with braised short ribs, browned home fries, watercress, and two sunny side up eggs. Flavor explosion in your mouth. -
Review from Natasha C.
Vancouver, BC
12/10/2011
Stopped by this place twice in the past few weeks because it's right by my internship. I originally just wanted a cup of tea, but ended up getting a waffle to go along with it. For both it was about $6, which was expected for a cafe.
I didn't think the waffle was anything great... until a few days later. I just craved it. I realized it was so simple, yet the taste was perfectly sweetened. I want one right now!
I went back the next week and had a lavender latte which was recommended to me on twitter. It was also yummy.
I will definitely go back to try their breakfast/brunch meals one day! -
Review from Eva G.
11/1/2011
It's a cool place to take visitors from out-of-town. It's a good thing we're patient. They don't take reservations for small groups, so there is a list you put your party down for, and you wait outside, for up to an hour. You can sit and try some coffee while you wait.
We had the white chocolate pistachio mocha, along with the waffle topped with white chocolate pistachio rosewater. Even though I can never have enough pistachio, the slight hint of sweet nuttiness in these crafts was just right.
The canard de confit is a stellar sandwich with tender strips of succulent duck. The cherries and pears added a necessary note of sweetness and sourness to balance the rich red meat. You MUST order this one.
The paella is not a typical Spanish paella; it uses orzo instead of rice, and that makes resemble a Mediterranean salad that contains eggs and chorizo.
Thanks George and Jen for taking us here. -
Review from Diana L.
Vancouver, BC
12/6/2011
I sought out this place after seeing all the amazing pics on yelp with an out-of-town friend.
This was worth the -at times sketchy- trek to Gastown. We went for a late brunch and lined up for a chilly 25 minutes. But it was so worth it! The food came in the cute little skillets and we had a great time. They had a dining room at the back that had plenty of tables, so I don't know what the long wait was about, but it sure helped whet the appetite and the feeling of being at a "cool" place to eat (maybe that's the plan?).
This is a place to go for atmosphere. High prices and hipsters/yuppies/metros (my friend Loved the view) alert. -
Review from Joanne M.
Vancouver, BC
12/5/2011
Meh.
I'll have to say that I am always disappointed when I go to Cafe Medina. For some reason all there savory dishes taste really salty to me. This place takes savory breakfast to a whole new level. It's really like having a dinner entree with eggs on top and toast on the side. If I wanted dinner for breakfast I would just eat my greasy left over pizza. And for the price (one of the most expensive breakfast places) and breakfast competition all up main and granville, I will probably pass.
Perhaps it's just me and my salt palate. The waffles are quite tasty and the decor is out of this world. So give it a shot if you're interested :) -
Review from Olu K.
12/26/2011
I now understand why there's always a line in front of this restaurant every time I visit Vancouver. When I finally got to check it out we only had to wait 5 minutes for a table for two. The breakfast dishes we ordered were fresh and delicious. The waffles came in small sizes but they were packed with flavor accompanied with a variety of tasty syrups. The cup of coffee I ordered was one of the best cups of coffee I've ever tasted.
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Review from Rebecca C.
Vancouver, BC
10/27/2011
Medina has a nice classy-but-casual vibe, making it an ideal spot for lunch with coworkers.
Even though I'm not usually a waffle fan, their pistachio-rosewater-white chocolate sauce is really heavenly.
I stopped here yesterday for an early workday lunch and ordered the paella. It was delicious, but be warned -- it's not a traditional version. While I certainly can't call myself a paella connoisseur, Medina definitely makes a loose interpretation of the dish. Theirs consists of chorizo, watercress, avocado, and a fried egg on a bed or orzo. The orzo really surprised me, as I didn't notice it when I read the menu, and I wasn't expecting to have pasta for lunch. Also, the big chunks of watercres were awkward to eat. But hey, it was really yummy in an upscale comfort food kind of way! -
Review from Jennifer Y.
11/18/2011 3 photos
Café Medina was recommended by the front desk at my hotel during my visit to Vancouver. I didn't expect too much until I arrived. The wait was over an hour for a two top and the line does not go down! At first glance the restaurant looked very small however there are table tops in the back that you can't see. Let me just say, the food and coffee is worth the wait.
For starters, I had the white chocolate pistachio rose water mocha and although I wasn't able to taste the pistachio, this does taste like a white chocolate mocha with a rose water after taste. It's interesting, but I am not head over heels for it. My friend ordered the lavender latte, which was delicious! I am always hesitant about lavender flavored foods as the lavender is always so over powering. Although on a separate occasion I ordered the lavender latter to go with soy milk, the lavender was a bit over powering... I wonder if it is because I ordered it with soy milk?
I always order the waffles when I visit. Although it is pricey, $3.15 a waffle, $1 per topping, it is a good indulgence. The liege waffles were the best I've ever had! Not too dense, buttery, and sweet! I can eat the waffle all by itself without the toppings. However I have tried majority of the toppings. The toppings come in individual containers that you can dip your waffles into. I recommend the white chocolate pistachio (although I still can't taste the pistachio), the lavender milk chocolate (very delicious, lavender is not overpowering), and the raspberry caramel (although I wish I can drizzle this on instead of dipping it, it's too much when you dip it).
For the main course, I always get the fricassee, which is short ribs with two over easy eggs, watercress (I think), apples, among other things. It comes out in its own little cast iron pan (which is super cute). The short ribs are shredded and very flavorful, the apples gives this dish some crunch, and the watercress makes it fresh. The portion size is just right, not overwhelming, and this doesn't go through my system too fast, as in I don't get hungry an hour later.
Overall a must visit, I would come here every time I visit Vancouver if the wait wasn't over an hour long each time. It just seems like such a waste of time to spend 2+ hours just on brunch when on vacation... -
Review from dan k.
1/21/2012
flawless !!! this place has DELICIOUS breakfast,, the waffles are amazing !! great service, great location -- Latte is yummy !! Cant get better than this -- GO HERE !!
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Review from John N.
9/14/2011
My first yelp review. Of course it has to be a bad one. I visited downtown for the first time on vacation. It was a Wed around 11:30am. Place was pretty busy. We sat in the back room all the way in the back of the restaurant. My wife ordered the paella. It looked pretty good when it came out 20 min later. There were some brown little bugs in the water crest. We found 2 live ones and about 4 dead ones. Total turn off. We cancelled both orders and just ate the waffles.
Recommendation: please wash the water crest and all the greens please. You charge enough for the plates. -
Review from Mike S.
Vancouver, BC
10/22/2011
Solid 4.5 stars... I really like this place. It's about a 2 min walk from my building and I get cafe' here everyday which has been the best tasting Americano I've had in YVR to date...
The staff is friendly, attentive and knowledgable. So a friend and I went for brunch today which is the first time I"ve eaten here. Normally there is about a 20 min wait or so but this morning we got in under 5. Both dishes were excellent and were followed up by the star of the day, the waffle - wow! That may be the best waffle I've ever had - and I'm no spring chicken...
Space is a little tight but hey, where is it not. Overall a top tier establishment... -
Review from Bobbin W.
9/14/2011
At first Mexican-style breakfast blew my mind, forcing me to grow weary of basic eggs and toast, demanding huevos rancheros or habanero-infused omelettes instead. My gastronomic brunch bar has been raised again, thanks to Cafe Medina's Tagine. My beliefs on morning meals transformed with a pan of tomato stew containing chickpeas, fresh cilantro, Moroccan olives and merguez sausage, topped with two poached eggs. I wiped up every bit of stew with my grilled focaccia bread, ignoring the cup of hummus - more like sour cream than the hummus I'm used to.
When asked about my family's heritage, I once said I'm mostly hillbilly with distant German descendants. Now I believe I might be one-eighth Moroccan per my stomach's primal connection with this meal. -
Review from Kim G.
12/30/2011
A 45 minute wait on a Friday was not what I expected, but sharing a coffee and an amazing waffle with caramel raspberry sauce helped the time pass nicely. Once seated things progressed fairly well, the staff were swamped, but handled things as well as they could. The food was excellent, the paella for him, the tagine for me, both packed with flavour and generous of portion. The coffee was strong, and the unique flavored mochas worth a try. Definitely worth a visit if you have the time to wait.
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Review from Ayaka H.
Vancouver, BC
8/4/2011 ROTD 12/10/2011
I love Cafe Medina..I need to come here at least once a week!
I suggest you try Paella (baked egg, curried orzo, Hungarian chorizo, zucchini, red pepper, roasted corn, grano padano. Watercress, avocado, and tomato salad) which is heaven for my tongue and the raspberry latte / sencha tea is DELICIOUS. Also the waitors/waitresses are VERY nice and attentive here so I'm all smiles.
I also love how it's only a 30 second walk from the Chinatown Station..perfect.
The fantastic reviews here speak for themselves................ -
Review from Edda O.
10/12/2011
The bill was tad hefty for 2 tiny waffles and 3 drinks. The waffles were not as amazing as I thought they would be; they are good but a tad too pricey for what you get. The beverages on the other hand, did not disappoint - they were made well and tasted amazing (the americano & green tea latter were one of the best i have ever had!)
The service was not too bad for a busy place. We got seated at the bar pretty soon after we walked in, were given menus and ordered in about 5 minutes and our drinks shortly after.
The next time I am back, I've got to try their breakfast, brunch or lunch menu! -
Review from Paris S.
Vancouver, BC
12/21/2011 5 photos
My friends and I waited about 1 hour to get in for a 10:30am Saturday morning seating.
I had the paella - which I thought was really bland.
My friend's healthy platter was also bland and tasteless.
Another friend had the plate with the chorizo and that was good but not "wow".
The only saving grace was the very unique lavender latte.
The waffle was also a pass for me. The pistachio sauce just tasted sweet. Again, nothing special. If you were blind-folded, you wouldn't be able to guess "Pistachio!"
I'd come here just for the lavender latte but b/c the lineup at this restaurant is so consistently long, the latte would not be worth the time.
Another plus about this place is the ambiance. We were led to the back room and it was very bright and loft-like. -
Review from Purdy J.
8/15/2011 3 photos
Cafe Medina is a busy, bustling restaurant filled with locals and tourists. I saw many people taking photos outside the restaurant to record their culinary experience. I arrived on Friday morning at 10:20am to a packed restaurant with a short line up outside but fortunately the wait was only 10-15 minutes. They have a list just by the entrance where you can add your name to the line up. They opened up the dining room in the back and sat all the waiting guests quickly.
The restaurant is small with tables that are quite close together. Nice artwork on the brick walls and roomy bathroom. Service was quick and although they were busy, we did not feel rushed.
Food: The Paella came out beautifully displayed on a iron pan. It was good but a little bland but the Hungarian chorizo added some flavour! Their waffles are a little pricy at $3.15 each + $1 for each topping but definitely a special treat. The milk chocolate lavender is quite sweet but the White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater was surprisingly delicious and not too sweet. Their lavendar latte is absolutely a must - I could drink it all day. It's so rich, creamy and not too sweet.
I have tried their tagine in the past, I loved it - very flavourful.
Note: Breakfast is served only until Noon. Lunch is served only from Noon-3pm. -
Review from patricia l.
Vancouver, BC
A great place to hang out with family and friends. Service is great and the food is fantastic. I always get the Fricasse and then I get whoever else is with me to get everything else on the menu so that I can try their dishes too!
I could go on and on about how delectable the Fricasse is, how tender the beef is and how noms it all goes together with eggs, apples and watercress, but you really should just go and try it yourself.
I love the Fricasse so much that I've actually had a server laugh at me for cleaning my cast iron serving plate brand-spanking clean with the fresh focaccia bread they serve on the side.
Did I mention already how much I love the Fricasse here? -
Review from Brent F.
8/31/2011
Solid breakfast for sure. Could be a bit of a line-up on a busy morning. And the coffee service is totally solid, better than most other bfast places.
I'm writing this review mostly so I can remember the great places in Vancouver to go for eats. :) -
Review from Andy W.
7/30/2011 4 photos
Decent brunch spot.
I'm not a coffee drinker and I've never liked chai much but since everyone had lattes I ordered one too. So I ordered a chai latte ($3.60/large). My feeling after the first sip was that it was not strong enough. After sipping on it for a while it started to taste better and better. Long story short, two months later, this chai latte turned me into a chai fanatic.
The food was good but overrated. We had the fricasse ($16) and the saumon fume ($12). The saumon fume was better out of the two. The fricasse was not bad but not great. We also had waffles ($3) with white chocolate pistachio rosewater sauce ($1). They were good.
It's a small place so be prepared to wait. Weekdays seem to be less busy. We went on a Friday morning and we only had to wait about 10 mins. -
Review from y c.
1/6/2012
pistachio latte was delicous...as was the waffle with orange fig...entrees were spot on..and we saw dr. yang (from grey's anatomy)
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Review from Piyusha P.
7/4/2011
It's Sunday morning, the weather screams "BRUNCH!" Cafe Medina answers to the scream. Be forewarn, you are going to have to wait if you don't get there early. For first-timers, don't fret, there's a larger backroom so the initial space you see isn't the only seating.
The outside patio is not a part of the wait-list seating. So if you don't mind sipping your cafe or indulging your meal on display (there's at least 30+ people just waiting for a seat) feel free to sit down if there's an empty table (and they don't tell you that either).
You can enjoy a cup of coffee while you wait for your table... Good thing too b/c it definitely holds the crowd over. The menu is not your typical pancakes and waffles brunch place. There's a certain degree of classiness to the menu and it leans more on the savory side.
The waffles are delicious but more of a bite than an actual meal. The fig-orange marmalade topping was delicious. I ordered the veg-tangine and it more than satisfying. The spices were spot on... I didn't even need to add hot sauce or pepper for an extra "kick." The bread was some the best bread I've ever had. The hubster had the cassoulet, which he really enjoyed and it was definitely on the heartier side of the menu.
The wait staff is very laid-back and it can come off as slow but it's suppose to be brunch.. .enjoy your morning coffee, sip on your mimosa. Did you really just wait 30+ minutes in line to rush through your meal?
My only down comment was that the lattes we ordered came out warm and 1/2 way through our meal, it was cold and not really enjoyable.
The food is worth the wait if you have the time... but as with most popular brunch places, go early and enjoy your Sunday! -
Review from ai cherie c.
5/18/2011
Definitely a great spot for brunch :)
White chocolate pistachio, rose water, and fig-orange marmalade is TDF. Goodbye Vancouver, i'm back in LA now. -
Review from Beata B.
11/5/2011
The waffles are out of this world! Honestly, the best I've ever had. No topping, no nothing. Just an amazingly fresh, yeasty, doughy goodness. The cassoulet was very good, but not as good as the waffles and the coffee, although not bad, was not served hot enough. The space is pleasant and the service is quick, so I would definitely go back whenever in Vancouver.
