Euro Breads, Bakery and Cafe

This is one of two cafés on Fraser that one can go to for an espresso that I know of. It is around Fraser and 27th Avenue and could be easily missed if you were not looking for it. The cafe is a decent size but appears small because there really is not too much to it. It has a few chairs and tables inside and out, but for the most part the cafe saves its room for the stand up glass door fridges and display cases. The people in there are friendly but are not really interested in having you stay, nor go. They are there to bake the goods and maybe serve some coffee. I would say out of the three things that they claim to be, they are definitely a bread place. They have an entire corner dedicated to breads they make which area combination of wheats, seeds, gluten and gluten free breads. They also have a Georgian flat bread that is worth noting. I have to say that one of the things I do like having when I go there is their Borscht. It is hot with a dollop of yogurt, and served with a piece of flat bread. Yum! The rest of the baked goods are okay by my standards (actual baked goods not including cakes) but I couldn't say that there was anything other than the breads that stand out in my mind. Kind of the same way the store front blends in with the rest of the neighbourhood.

Out of 5 European Slices of flax seed gluten fee bread
Scene: 2 pleasant enough and not disruptive. The people are very unobtrusive mostly because they don't really care if you are there or not. The people who go are usually locals or the odd person who happened to be on Fraser and found themselves needing a coffee. It's actually not a bad place to go and quietly escape to read a book or do a crossword.

Grub: 3 There are good select items, but for the most part the baked goods are inoffensive, and you know that they make it one the premises. I only sometimes wonder about the freshness and turnover, since the place doesn't always seem very busy.

Coffee: 3 I'm not crazy about the grounds. I think they use the Lavazza or something similar. The beans always taste a little bit over roasted and a bit burnt, but they serve it the way you ask for it. It isn't the fastest service in town either, so don't think you are going to be able to et out of there in under 10 minutes if you think you are just passing through - and that's if you are the ONLY one in the store.

Mazel Tov on the Matzah

If you’re feeling a little fress and are searching for a place to fill the void, head out to Solly’s. I can’t say that I have ever thought, “Hey let’s go there for a breakfast show.” It’s more like, “Do you want to go for a soup and sandwich and pick up a babka and a half a dozen bagels for tea later?”

Solly’s offers a scrumptious soup and sandwich offer, and for a little bit more they add a beautifully tart kosher pickle. Solly’s also offers a comforting bowl of matzah ball soup that sooths even the most restless of tummies. For dessert there are a variety of sweet baked goods. I prefer the mini babkas and the cinnamon buns. As for the coffee, they use Seattle’s best. It is all set up as a self serve utility station. You have to pay for refills but if you are there more for the baked goods and need to have that second cup, I guess you’ll just have to ante up. The shop seats about a dozen people inside and about as many outside, but the place always seems to have a line of some kind - people running in to pick up their favourite goodies, and then running back out before they are busted for their illegal parking job in the neighbourhood. One other note of interest is the shop’s support of youth art. Children are able to display a small number of pieces in the shop and people can comment on the work. The kids can even have a little art opening where they can invite family and friends to their art opening.

Out of 5 Matzah Balls floating in chicken broth
Grub: 5 - Yum! The food is delicious. You only need to be there early enough so your favourite treats do not run out.

Scene: 3 – Everyone in the ‘hood knows Solly’s. It’s an establishment. It has its stream of regulars. The people watching is fine, but you do have to wait a little while to get a decent seat.

Coffee: 2 – Seattle’s Best is okay coffee, but let’s face it. It’s utilitarian. It’s self serve. And you have to pay for refills. Not high on my list for going for a coffee. Lunch, yes. Coffee, not so much.