Cafe Medina @ Beatty Street, Vancouver

Restaurants that take great pride in their breakfasts have a special place in my heart.  The comfort and care it requires to service the grumpy, hungry, caffeine deprived customer such as ourselves deserves accolades and recognition way beyond a monetary tip.



Cafe Medina is a picture  perfect venue that provides a quaint, intimate setting, much like a cocoon, to gently arouse your sleepy disposition to receive the day...and in the case of Vancouver, that can be a cold, rainy and cloudy one!


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If you've been reading our food posts for a while, you'll notice that there's a preset formula: food photo, front facade pic, page cut and segue to interior shots.  However, in this case, it's most important to present to you the most important part of a breakfast meal: Coffee..

If you look at their menu, they've dedicated an entire section to Specialty Coffees-from Lavender and Raspberry Caramel Lattes to White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater Mocha; there's some seriously tasty choices that I've never seen and combinations that reel the imagination.  And unlike some flavored coffees that you get, the flavor were subtle and not sickeningly sweet, instead you got a mild flavor profile with subtle highlights of distinct nutty, floral undertones...

White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater Mocha.......Can't you tell?

I mean.....I could just show you anything and lie....anyways, here's the Milk Chocolate Lavender Mocha

The overall perception I get from the Pacific Northwest is this great, warm, rustic ambience that's absolutely perfect with the environment... exposed wooden beams, industrial ceiling pendants with naked bulbs, dark  mahogany bar and exposed brick walls.  The interior exudes a comfort cocooning you, steam from the coffee makers and sugary sweet smell of waffles wafting throughout adds to the warming if your soul...

Cafe Medina has managed to perfect it's relaxed environment with comforting yet exquisite food; it's been heralded as the best place for Brunch, and we agree.  The space is truly intimate, so be sure to get there relatively early, lines can easily trail out the door in a blink of an eye, and in this city, that could be disastrous!! Get there early, and don't be afraid to linger at your table, you deserve it!!!

To Accompany our delish cafe, the Belgium Waffle was an absolute must:  Buttery and crispy to a near crunch, you are an instant addict the minute you get even near the door!  (the from window has a display of waffles stacked up by the Bar, waiting to be eaten!

You get a choice of toppings, we went with the most exotic: White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater-super sweet and just the right amount of kick to jumpstart the cells with the unnecessary levels of sugar!

As we were so torn as to what to order for our mains, the only comfort was that we would one day return to order the rest of the menu: The Paella caught Rick's eye.  Served in a pipping hot skillet, the base being a curried Orzo, Zucchini, Red Peppers, Roasted Corn, Padano, a Watercress, Avocado and Tomato Salad with a Fried Egg on top.  It's about several dishes put together in one, but it works!  Combining the vegetable elements, both cooked and raw seem to balance the heavier protein and carb components well-we were surprised but really happy with this dish!

The most popular dish: The Fricasse was the choice of champions, namely me... A hearty dish to say the least: Braised Short Ribs with Roasted Potatoes, Pickled Pearl Onions, Apples, Watercress, Applewood Cheddar With Two Fried Eggs on top and a side of Grilled Focaccia, can anyone say; The New Lumberjack Breakfast?  I could have had this for Dinner! Packed with amazing flavors, it was definitely a heavy dish that you could live on for the rest of the day!  Loved it, but would be prepared to starve myself the next time before ordering it the next time!

I so wish to God that we had something like this where we live; in fact I wish there was a Vancouver where we live!  But until then, we'll have to visit as much as possible and make our way back to Cafe Medina as soon as we can!

Ratings (Out of Five Stars)
Food:            4.75
Ambience:    5
Service:        3