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Dutch Wooden Shoe Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Creperies Restaurants Diners Creperies, Diners [Edit]
3292 Cambie StVancouver, BC V5Z 2W4
Neighbourhoods: South Cambie, Riley Park
(604) 874-0922
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for Dutch Wooden Shoe Cafe
Review Highlights
29 reviews in English
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Review from Patricia V.
Vancouver, BC
5/12/2012
I'm giving this place 5-stars just for the MENU and the HILARIOUS pictures of a man on a farmland or inside a giant dutch shoe. I think he's the owner, because there are also equally as funny and kitschy photos of him (and I think his wife) at the front desk. Here's the thing, I haven't been to this place since I was a wee lass; I remember coming here after sunday church with my parents and I don't think its changed all that much. I went here a few days ago in the morning with some friends, and I couldn't stop smiling. Its cute, you guys. There's pictures of people who ate there before with little handwritten captions and such
but I LOVE this place. I do. I'm a sucker for pannoekoken and this place gets it right all the time. Very cozy joint, a little dark inside but what still, very cute. -
Review from Kevin F.
Vancouver, BC
10/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sooooo much cooler than its boring, overly-sanitized chain counterpart De Dutch. Even if I didn't loooove the food (I recommend the Wooden Shoe pannekoek with apples, cheese, speck and sauerkraut), I would want to come just for the kitsch:
- beer glasses from around the word in display cabinets on every wall
- photos of past diners with brilliant hand-written captions such as "nice smiles" and "Bob and June with friends"
- free wooden shoe postcards
- photoshopped images of a man (presumably of the owner?) inside a giant-sized dutch wooden shoe splashed across the menu
Any brunch spot that can have a full house and still refill my coffee promptly wins me over. And then to serve the coffee in a bunch of random thrift-store "World's Best Grandma"-type mugs? It sets my heart aflutter (even before the four refills of caffeine...). -
Review from Justin L.
8/7/2011
Cozy, laid-back, not crowded on a regular weekday, this cafe feels like a visit to your Dutch grandma. I had my coffee mug (yes, everyone's mug is different) refilled countless times and the walls are littered with photos of little leagues and kids stuffing their faces with pannekoek. I hope those kids are also on the little leagues to burn off the calories...
My cousin and I were wondering why NASI GORENG and fried rice are featured on a menu of omelettes and pancakes... until we remembered that Indonesia was once ruled by the Dutch. I'm assuming such Indonesian dishes are as Dutch as curry is British. Interesting. -
Review from dZilla T.
Vancouver, BC
7/11/2011
So I went there on July 8th with my wife and a friend. The ambiance inside was mmmeeeehhh alright, but what do I care, I honestly don't go to restaurants to be all comfy. I go there to eat NOOM NOOM NOOM.
The place is seat where the seat is empty as long as the table is clean.
I ordered the apple and banana pannekoek. I sometimes find the 'meat' pannekoek to be really good and satisfying, but then I crave a sweet one.
It was a Saturday and was fairly busy but we got there pretty early 9ish.
Would I recommend this over say De Dutch sure why not. I would go to both though no particular reason why one is better then the other.
My only tip to the Dutch Wooden Shoe Cafe, get some windmills! -
Review from Ellie V.
Vancouver, BC
8/26/2011
I decided to take my parents to this cafe after I went with a few friends a while back. The interior is sort of small, but it's filled with photos of previous customers, chowing down a greasy breakfast.
The service was awful. The waitress was apathetic, and her service was slow. Heck, I think there were only two waitresses working at that time. I understand that the place was busy, but... she didn't really check up on us.
My parents both ordered pannekoeks, and I had the Dutch eggs benedict. Our dishes were all enjoyable.
The place just really reminded me of one of those small diners that are in remote towns. It's a nice and cozy place to bring friends... not at a busy time though! -
Review from Alex B.
East York, ON
12/3/2010
This place was a best kept secret for years but by now everyone knows about this place.
The story is the guy that started De Dutch owns this place and when he sold De Dutch he kept this location and works there occasionally.
The menu is very similiar to De Dutch but the prices are better and the atmosphere is just great.
The food has always been great here and I enjoy the random dollar store coffee cups too.
The location could be better but its not that bad considering how close it is to Broadway.
A great breakfast place, one of my fav whenever I make it out this way. -
Review from Kyrsten J.
New Westminster, BC
Updated - 4/29/2011
Went here with 8 others for a brunch on Easter Monday. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they would accept a reservation for a group that large, in such a small place, but we weren't the only large group there!
Two poor waitresses were holding down the whole restaurant, so service wasn't as good as it could be - having to flag them down for anything was not easy. However, they were awesome about accepting all the intricacies of our order (we had someone with a dairy allergy who needs gluten free, and another friend with gluten allergies) and making sure it came out as ordered.
It's just one of those places you don't go when you are in a hurry.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/28/2010
Been coming to the Wooden Shoe for years. Started going to De Dutch years ago, but when we found… Read more »
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Review from Cheryl H.
Vancouver, BC
6/3/2011
Almost forgot to write a review of this funky little Dutch breakfast restaurant that a friend and I went to yesterday (June 1). I believe this restaurant was the precursor to the De Dutch Pannekoek chain of restaurants. The menu is very similar, although there are even more items on the Dutch Wooden Shoe menu than de Dutch (if that is even possible ;) I was very happy to see that they had waffles on their menu because I was in the mood for fresh crunchy waffles... and they did not disappoint. I had their "Windmill" which was two waffles, topped with thinly sliced wild BC Salmon (think lox), Edam cheese, 1 basted egg, two slices of their Dutch sausage and hollandaise sauce (yes, I realize it was a very low calorie meal -- NOT!!) :)
It was delicious!! I will definitely go back again ... as well, as to de Dutch since both menus work for me :) I'm looking forward to trying some of their Eggs Bennies and, of course, if one is craving thing crepe-like pancakes, then their kajillion types of pannekoeks will hit the spot :)
The decor is very Dutch retro, if there is such a style! Someone compared it to someone's old rec room and I think that is a good description. The only minor complaint I have is that the room is very very dark... with a couple of high windows. My friend and I were sitting at a table under one of the windows (like I say, the windows are high, so it's not like we were sitting at a window where we could look out onto the sidewalk). My friend had his back to the wall/window, and I was facing him. Because the room was so dark, it made the window that much brighter, looking out to the sky as it did... which made it hard to see my friend. The old sitting in front of a bright light, you become a sillouette. Soooo, ack, we had to close the blind over the window, so that I could see him... which, you guessed it, made our little corner even darker!
Since there probably isn't too much they can do about the "natural light" without literally tearing down the outside wall and installing large windows, I think it would be cozier if they could put little individual lamps on each table. If they put a unique, different table lamp on each table, it would still keep the "funky" feel of the room... meanwhile, it would add lots more light to the room :)
Would I recommend this restaurant to friends and visitors? You bet I would!!! Rumour has it, it can get quite busy on weekends, so you might want to take this into consideration... but we went around 11am on a Wednesday and there were plenty of tables. I only saw one server and she was great!! Very welcoming, quick with the service and friendly without being in-your-face :) -
Review from Briana J.
2/5/2011 3 photos
The Dutch Wooden Shoe Cafe was one of my fondest memories of Vancouver, BC. I took a road trip from the Bay Area, CA up to Vancouver and stayed at a person's place that I had met through CouchSurfing. I am so thankful that I stayed with some locals who took me to restaurants like this! I never would have went there on my own as a tourist.
I loved the environment of the restaurant, the people I was with, and the food served. I don't have many Dutch eating experiences besides when I traveled to Amsterdam for a weekend, but this place was very authentic. And like it has been mentioned, everyone gets a different coffee cup which makes for great conversation pieces and jealously (aww, I like your cup!).
If I ever go back up, I want to remember this place and visit again! -
Review from Courtney J.
10/29/2010
This cafe provided food so delicious, so mouthwatering that I actually felt stoned after eating it. I feel deep sadness for those who have never had such a euphoric culinary experience.
I could very well end the review right here, but I feel that the superior service is worth a mention as well. Our server came over promptly, had a friendly chat with us before taking our order and swiftly returned with 3 cups of coffee. We all got unique mugs (I took the I Love Canada mug) which were regularly replenished, and I ordered #15 (the 'Crispy Spud' Pannekoek). The food came out quickly and I must admit, I almost wept when it was finished.
The ambiance is full of character as well and you can tell this place is owned and operated by someone who loves what they do. I'm not a native Vancouverite so I was brought here by two good friends who recommended we try it. I visit the city fairly regularly due to living in (relatively) nearby Seattle, and I fully intend to make this cafe a staple of each visit. Come to think of it, let me know when you're going and want some company--I'd totally drive 2.5 hours for this food. -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
2/17/2009
We dropped in here for a rainy day brunch. The big mocha practically called my name, so we ordered it without hesitation. Unfortunately, save the whip cream, I've made better coffees/mochas when camping.
The interior is dingy. The combo of wood paneling, limited light, and commemorative steins really give off that basement feel. Not so into that. Also not too keen on the carpet.
Brunch was decent. We left with full bellies and a reasonable cheque.
I have to say the star of the whole experience was our server. She played the perfect balance of attentive, relaxed, and genuine. -
Review from Matthew L.
Edmonton, AB
4/3/2010
After years of intrigue, I finally decided to give the Wooden Shoe a try. It did not disappoint, but it did not enlighten either.
I love that they serve fresh squeezed orange juice, just like the De Dutch chain.
But I find the outdated decor to be both charming, depressing, and claustrophobic. The room is dark, and on an oddly sunny Vancouver winter's day, you want to revel in it. But that may be why we did not need to wait (this was during the olympics, when it seemed we had to wait much too long to do anything in this down).
The omelettes are decently cooked but bland in flavour. My wife still ordered one, as she finds big, eggy dutch pannekoeks to be good for only a few bites.
She was disappointed that I went the savoury route instead of the sweet route. I enjoyed my cake thoroughly however.
But at the price, I can think of better brunch experiences, such as that at Aprodite's in Kits/Point Grey, which has a light, airy atmosphere, and resulting light, airy brunches. -
Review from Adelina W.
Richmond, BC
3/17/2010
I did not enjoy this meal at all. Everything was underwhelming and nothing stood out as amazing. I ordered a Pannakoek and it was a flop. The outside was a brown colour, almost burnt looking, but the inside was still half cooked. I ordered mine with apple bits in it and the apple chunks were too large to fit in the batter. They were falling out even before I cut into it. I lived in the Netherlands for awhile and this was not good. I can make better Pannakoek at home.
Also tried their breakfast platter and that was okay. We ordered the eggs over medium, but they came over easy. The hashbrowns were okay, but they were missing the crunch. The best part was probably the sausage but its pretty hard to screw up a sausage I think.
The highlight of the meal? The gigantic hot chocolate I ordered, otherwise the whole experience was disappointing. I will not be going back. -
Review from Brett C.
Toronto, ON
9/7/2010 2 Check-ins Here
For a late brunch I ordered French toast with strawberries and a hot chocolate. The French toast itself was very good. What was slightly disappointing was that the amount of strawberries given was extremely small and no where near enough for the amount of French toast given. Had I known how paltry an amount I would have received I would have skipped the extra side order of it. Hot chocolate, like the French toast, tasted great.
Service was friendly, but not overly attentive (the water glass test was not passed). -
Review from Dani B.
3/17/2010
The only place in Van I've been to that serves pannakoek!
This dutch treat is delicious but can cause heart attacks! It's basically mini (or big) fried pancakes and can be served sweet or savory.
If you are looking for a quick fatty fix to your weekend hangover, I highly recommend this place because of its traditional, family vibe. There are photos all around and the place tries to stay close to its traditional dutch roots.
I go for the sweet options like the ones with jams, yummy!
You can also go bare bones and just get it with powdered sugar.
The food is a culinary masterpiece but it gets the job done and the restaurant has a comfy, small town feeling going on. Good times, indeed. -
Review from Ken N.
Vancouver, BC
12/23/2010
Ok I don't know if everyone is out of town, busy with holiday shopping or if its because we beat the breakfast rush (slept in) since the place was not busy and there were tables to be had everywhere inside. I'm usually pretty content with chain restaurant breakfasts but our friend from Ottawa suggested this place and it was awesome! Tons of choices for breakfast, juice was cold and the coffee was hot. I highly recommend the "spek" - the Dutch version of bacon....and dammit who doesn't like bacon?!?! I had the Dutch Breakfast platter with the "spek" and eggs hollandaise. Came with hashbrowns and raisin toast but don't worry u can get regular toast. Not in the mood for regular breakfast or traditional Dutch, there are some Indonesian inspired/style breakfast options as well. Finally, don't be scared about street parking, its still civilized at 2 bux for 2 hours.
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Review from Alex G.
3/1/2010
Not sure what the hype is all about - the Pannakoek was alright tasting, but expensive. The other menu items looked like average greasy breakfast. We went when there was only one waitress for the entire restaurant and that didn't work out too well.
I'm glad I went because I liked my Hash and Pannakoek, but the other traveling partner I was with was real disappointed with the granola Pannakoek. -
Review from Jason D.
Vancouver, BC
Update: I returned after 8 years and was so happy to be back! Food was fantastic as always! I thought about all of the different people I had shared food with here and this time, introduced my wife. Love it! Thanks John!
I love the Wooden Shoe although I had to laugh at the guy who compared it to his "grandfather's dirty rec room" (it's true). I'm not a fan of the pannakoek (or whatever) but I really enjoy the rest of the menu. I used to go there all the time (ahem, photo accredited ;) and I haven't been there in ages but would recommend the Wooden Shoe for those who are a party of 2 or less or have lots of time to stand in line.
ps: you cannot leave without taking some salty licorice, mmmmm! -
Review from Evilyn T.
1/21/2010
Another one of my hungover Sunday spots. After working all night on Saturday in a bar, its nice to drag your ass out of bed, swallow an Emergen-c and staggering over to the Shoe for a greasy breakfast.
The omelette's are good, but come with so much food that I usually end up ordering a half order. I like the pannekoek's as well, especially the ones with fruit! Yum! They also used to have these amazing coffees and hot chocolates with Bailey's and whipped cream, but they aren't on the menu anymore. My only wish would be that they had real bacon, not Canadian bacon, and not "speck," real, greasy fatty, pig-farm BACON! Because nothing really cures a hangover like bacon. There should be a restaurant in Vancouver that serves bacon on everything. Bacon sandwiches, bacon burgers, bacon milkshakes.... okay maybe not milkshakes, but I heard they have bacon vodka in the USA!
The waitresses at the Shoe are usually smoking busy and run off their feet, but always take care of all of your breakfast needs. The Shoe is decorated with strange Holland photos and maps and pictures of old customers eating their breakfast. I have been meaning to take a picture of me and my crew eating breakfast and sneak it on the wall with all of the others, so if you notice my ugly mug on the wall one day, you will know I have succeeded in my plan. -
Review from Sheila W.
BC
12/8/2008
You'll likely wait in line in a narrow hallway and have to squeeze against the wall as people try to exit the restaurant. But it will be worth it once you are seated and get to eat your brunch.
There are loads of choices on the menu. They specialize in pancakes and the selection in this area is wide. I am a big fan of eggs, and they do eggs well too. Once we were seated, service was quick and our breaky arrived quickly.
If there is any possible way that you save room for dessert, they have these awesome, chocolatey, pastry-thingys that are to die for. It would be worth going there for coffee and splitting those with a friend.
If you get bored of conversation with your table-mates, there are loads of decorations, pint glasses, photos and other strange collectibles hanging around the walls. -
Review from Quentin M.
Vancouver, BC
5/19/2009
I'm a big fan of the Dutch Wooden Shoe Cafe - the home of the Canadian Pannacoek!
One of the best places in Vancouver for a casual brunch, and a "funky" restaurant done right. This place certainly gets an extra star for atmosphere! -
Review from Eliza W.
Vancouver, BC
1/6/2010
This cozy little eating establishment is not unlike a sweepstakes offer you get nestled in with 10 other pounds of junk-mail, rife with added bonuses and exclamation marks. BUT WAIT, THERE"S MORE! 2 for 1 pannekoek's if it's Tuesday!!! Free if you're over 80!!! The walls of the joint share this aesthetic. There are more tchotchkes than you can possibly absorb in one visit - hairy old Dutch ladies milking cows, Polaroid pictures of former patrons, beer advertisements (no they don't sell alcohol).
The food is good and there are more options than you could know what to do with. There is no way to miss the pannekoek's as they pretty much beat you over the head with them but there are dozens of other menu options, savory and sweet, all of which seem tasty (plenty of veggie options). Two kinds of hotsauce, plenty of condiments on the table, delightfully mismatched mugs and able servers. They don't have soy but they gave it a go and nobody ever asked for it so whattayagonnado?
Also of note, the owner lives just a few blocks from me and not too far from the restaurant - you'll know it's him because the business van is parked right outside his plant infested, cluttered domicile, complete with lawn parked boat. He pretty much lives on his front porch and attempts to engage anyone who passes. Don't look him in the eye and don't start a conversation, that's my advice. You'll be tempted to pet his floppy dog, "muppet" that he's always trying to whore out. Don't do it. You might be sorry.
Location: East 17th Ave @ Cambie Street
Princess Pancake's rating
egg: A-
sauce: A
muffin: A-
toppings: B
potatoes: B
Mister Coffee's rating
egg: A-
sauce: A-
muffin: B
toppings: B
potatoes: B -
Review from Odette C.
Vancouver, BC
8/8/2009 14 Check-ins Here
Breakfast is good! Wooden Shoe is a good place to go for breakfast on a lazy Sat morning. Funky menus with sauces like Nasi goreng. Please do try their holandaise sauce on their delicious sausage. They have dutch style paper thin pancake which fills up the whole plate. For a good sampler try the farmers platter with assorted meats, pancake and 2 eggs done anyway you like. I've been going to this place for years and I see the owner (this gentlan must be like 90 years old) hard at work.
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Review from Evan D.
Vancouver, BC
4/19/2009
This is owned by the guy who started the De Dutch Pannekoek House chain. Go to De Dutch and you won't feel that your eating in your grandpa's dirty rec room.
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Review from Dosh G.
Vancouver, BC
12/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
I have been going to the Wooden Shoe since 1994. I love that the menu has pretty much remained the same over the years and I love the variety on the menu. I find that this place is a good place to go with groups of varying sizes (be warned that if you are planning a large group, you will want to aim for after 1pm for a very late brunch/lunch). It's also a place that will appeal to all types of eaters (veg, meat eaters, somewhat restricted diets or just plain choosy) as well as the type of place to head out to with friends or your parents.
The food ranges from pannekoek with almost anything that you could possibly want on it/in it/with it, waffles, omelettes, bennys, hashbrowns,sausage, mushrooms... and so on. I find it to be a standard, dependable breakfast place. It's not fantastic food but it's satisfying.
There never seems to be enough servers or bus people but I find that they do the best job that they can. Overall, the service here is good but sometimes a bit on the slow side because they are so busy. They are definitely friendly and although I know it has nothing to do with my food, I like when I feel welcomed in a place.
Which brings me to my last point... the new owners might want to look at the sign that they put up on the front door which states that they are open until 5pm on Saturdays. Last weekend, we popped in shortly before 3pm or just after, sat down, were given menus and glasses of water when I noticed one of the cooks (and I think possible co-owner) standing in the doorway of the kitchen looking at our table. The server went into the kitchen, was intercepted by this man and then came back to our table to tell us that the kitchen was actually closed. There were 3-4 other tables already seated in the place that had already had meals. Perhaps their sign with closing time was wrong? Maybe they decided to clean up the kitchen early? They obviously didn't tell their server that they were actually closing up the kitchen. At any rate, such a small irritating thing that hasn't happened to me before going here but it made an impression. As I said, I like to feel welcome in a place and this just irked me that we were seated, given menus and then told the opposite. It was disappointing. We went across the street instead for brunch and I think while I work through my whiny, irritated thoughts about that one small incident at the Wooden Shoe that I will continue to go across the street instead of here solely based on that one fact.
Overall, food is good, servers are good, decor amusing but I find that since John (the original owner) went that the place just doesn't feel as familiar or welcoming as it used to. I will still give it three stars because of the attentive servers (no matter how busy), good food, general casual ambience/decor, group seating and location but it loses two stars for the one experience. -
Review from Mark W.
Vancouver, BC
2/13/2009
On the adamant recommendation of a local Cambie resident who has been "coming here for years" I rallied several friends visiting from out of town to descend for a, well, disappointing, to say the least, brunch. I had a savory pancake that just didn't cut it.
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Review from Terry P.
Vancouver, BC
10/1/2010
Good pannekoeken here. If you like DeDutch then make this your new place. They've got everything DeDutch has and much more plus its cheaper too. The decor is pretty cool, old style, european restaurant with tons of knick knacks in glass display cases. I'm pretty sure the owners are Dutch too, so its legit.
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Review from Stacey E.
1/6/2009
This is the very best place to have brunch in the city. Everything - and I mean everything - on the menu is good. The decor is quirky, they have their own way of doing things but they do it well and I have never had bad service here (and you should know from my previous reviews that bad service makes me crazy). Sometimes there's a long line. Try to beat the hipsters and arrive before 10 on weekends.
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Review from Tara T.
BC
11/12/2008
This is a Dutch pancake house that serves up yummy, puffy, Amsterdam-inspired Pannekoek (Dutch pancakes), in a fun-loving and excitable atmosphere. I love this little restaurant for its cosy, warm, and homely interior, not to mention their delicious menu items. The walls are plastered with photographs of previous patrons, posters of Holland, and elements of Dutch culture are everywhere. To be fair, my Dutch friend told me that this is not a bona fide Dutch experience, but being none the wiser I really enjoyed it. The interior is super kitsch and boasts an extreme charm that allured me from the second I poked my head inside. And their menu boasts an extensive display of pancakes- both sweet and savoury - as well as other, more traditional breakfast and brunch choices. I ate a banana and apple pancake that came with mounds of cream and maple syrup on the side. It was luscious but unfortunately I couldn't finish it all. When I've been here it has been jam-packed but only with a short wait of about ten minutes. It is certainly worth it, and I will definitely be going back again and again! This restaurant is also licensed for those needing a hit of hair of the dog.
