An endorsement for Our Town Cafe
It’s off the drive. Maybe that adds to why I like it so much.
The Our Town Cafe is just a cafe, but it has two things that make it worth blogging about:
1) A great practice of the Americano
2) Free Wi-Fi
(I’ll explain about the americano’s in a sec)
It also has pretty good snacks (as long as you’re not vegan) and quite a few comfy chairs. I rode past this cafe on the bus, on my way to work, every morning for the last year. It sits at the corner of kingsway and broadway, trapped in the little triangle where they slash across main street. Not a pretty location really. I never gave it a second look until delire gave it the thumbs up (not an actual gesture she would use) and directed us there as a work place because of the free access.
It’s a big space and pretty empty during the day and the music is usually good and of a reasonable volume. The spaciousness helps to ensure a little privacy from other peoples’ conversations but there really isn’t much seating for groups bigger than 3. Their coffee is organic, at least that’s what the sign says, and they serve one of the best americano’s I’ve had in a long while.
See when they make you an americano they run the espresso into the cup. It’s a very mellow espresso, sweet and creamy, and then they hand you a little pitcher of hot water to add as much or as little as you like. It’s my dream come true; no more having to say “lots of room for cream please” or generally being an annoying customer about not letting them water the thing down till it tastes like bath water and all the creme is washed away.
Need a little break from the drive? Want some quiet place to chat or read? I highly recommend it.
October 2nd, 2005 at 2:12 pm
Yes, great place - agree totally. In the morning, awesome sunshine comes in - perfect for a fall day.
April 23rd, 2006 at 2:49 pm
HI All
Yes the coffe and espresso is all organic, and not just because the sign says so….they use Cuppajoe Coffee, Songbird organic espresso, the mexican organic decaf, and all organic drips…I really like the idea of water with the americano!
very sensible, yet most dont do it that way?
wonder why!
good people work there, and customers are eclectic and creative folk!
I like it!
cheers!
May 23rd, 2006 at 7:50 am
It’s a nice place. However:
Not nearly as quiet: the place has gotten popular and cliquey
Music too loud and harsh on the ears at times. Music is on a tight loop of the same friggin songs. A person woking an eight-hour shift there should not have to endure hearing the same song twice given the advances and opportunities to download music these days onto flash or hd players that boast 20gb of capacity
They don’t shoe films on Sunday anymore
The turnover of the staff is high and unskilled and at times, understaffed during afternoon rushes. So much that i have to leave once the dishes start getting “tossed” rudely, clanging and banging, into the washing tub behind the counter
The wine bottles they store are left exposed to indirect sunlight all day, every day, high on a shelf where the air temperature is higher. I refuse to purchase wine there. The wine label looks ok but extremely limited in variety
The place is dirty, and disheveled, torn and ratty furniture, dust balls, trash on the floor
I don’t mind old furniture, but the springs-stabbing-you-in-the-friggin-back couch and hard-on-the-arse chairs have got to go, as with the drunken tables that wobble
The ceiling fans and light fixtures, especially above the counter where the food is located are thickly coated with greasy dirt/dust
The bathrooms are unsanitary as the staff do not replace soap in the dispensers on a regular basis, nor do they reload the paper towel dispensers, both important and proper sanitary measures for a place where food is handled by staff and customers
It appears that food safety measures behind the counter are poorly exercised - no aprons, greasy hair with no hat or hairnets, clothes with holes in them
The food for the most part is ok. great soups, pasteries, scones and savories.
Their muffins are done, on occasion, poorly: too much friggin oil. I have told them this and I see little change. Cut back on the friggin oil and the inside will not taste like soggy, uncooked wheat. I refuse to buy these any longer. Get a baker in the kitchen who know what the friggin hell they are doing.
Nice that they have vegan options. However, they need help in presenting their sandwiches in a way that makes them look appealing. They look like someone sped through their preparation, as they look limp, lacking style and care and colour. The sanwiches, when I bought them, tasted ok grilled, but lack complexity and texture. For example, if one serves “organic” coffee, why not offer organic food as well, at least the option. Get someone in there to to show them how to make, present, and preserve an excellent looking sandwich.
Get more colour in the place. White and grey are overwhelming. Get some other colours that make the place relaxing.
Move the friggin pop and juice cooler away from the middle of the floor. it is annoying in terms of noise, contents, colour, and the fact that it limits and imposes on seating and people nearby
Soften the inside of the place. All the hard surfaces help to bounce everyone’s conversations all over the cafe. Getting some curtains or tapestries or softer furniture - remember the hard-on-the-arse chairs, get rid of them
I am avoiding the cafe and only occasion it as necessary. one cup of coffee to go and i am out of there. people will catch on the business will suffer eventually. The owner needs to wake up and pay attention - maybe spending more than two or three hours there a day would help.
good luck.