Agro Cafe Not so Agro

Typically when I see the colours of brown and orange in any decor I can't help but think of A&W restaurants in the early 80's. However when you throw in a few paper light fixtures and spot lighting into some cleaned up industrial venting and some exposed wood, mix in some stainless steel appliances and some white tile, you get a rather stylish little cafe. Agro Cafe located on Granville Island is tucked away in Railspur Alley. It has a great industrial loft feel with an open kitchen concept. There is a steady flow of people coming and going, but strangely you feel like you have escaped the busy crowds of the market place. The crowd ranges from False Creek residents to young families to artsy students who actually have money for a fancy coffee.

Agro serves up their own house roast. It has a deep full bodied roasted flavour and your coffee is usually served the way you ask for it. Agro serves up a variety of baked goods (usually organic and sometimes vegan friendly. Agro also has a light lunch menu but everything is made when ordered which takes a little longer but you know it hasn't been sitting in a display case for a few days.

Out of 5 Papa Burgers

Scene: 4 The location is great and the decor is tasteful. There are just enough chairs to seat people although they need to figure some things out with managing the line up entry and exit people flow.

Grub: 4 The food is quite good, but it does take a little bit of time to arrive, and for the time you wait you would expect there to be just a little bit more.

Coffee: 4 I do enjoy the coffee. They do serve a nice americano and will make it to your specifications, but the flavour still doesn't blow me away. It definitely gives me a nice little buzzy feeling that makes one warm inside, but just not that full blown crackling campfire complete with marshmallows and a blissful starry night kind of coffee.

Polly Wants A Coffee

The Blue Parrot on Granville Island offers a wide selection of sandwich bar items to have with your coffee. It probably has some of the best spaces to sit and enjoy the views on Granville Island, however, there are very few spaces ever available. If you are lucky enough to find seating and have the time to wait for your order, then you can sit down to some mediocre sandwiches (taking into consideration the fact that you are on Granville Island and have the choice of many different foods) and some coffees that you were misled to believe that you custom ordered. Despite the coffee, food and service, there is no denying that they have some prime real estate in that little locale. You almost forget about what you are putting in your mouth and become fixed on the people watching.

Out of 5 Parrot Feathers

Scene: 4 – How can one argue that when you have kick ass seating on a beautiful day on GI, with people streaming around you that you are in a bad place. The seating is old school wood chairs, some of which are those 70’s captain chairs that so many of us had growing up. The only problem is that because there are so many people who are looking for seating, one cannot help but feel that you cannot linger for long. The people are hit and miss. Mostly tourists, but it just means that the scenery is always changing.

Grub: 3 – The food is actually pretty good, but it does pale in comparison to everything in the market that you almost have to pass in order to get to the Blue Parrot. The fare is nothing out of the ordinary but there really isn’t anything that you can turn your nose from.

Coffee: 3 – Not quite utilitarian, because it does offer espresso. The people behind the counter probably have the best of intentions when they make your coffee, but they slump miserably in the delivery. Everything seems to be served in a pint sized mugs with either too much water, too much milk or both – despite your requests. However, although I have not tried it myself, I have been told by several people to try their hot chocolate. Some advice I think I will take up the next time I’m in the Blue Parrot’s cage.