After a day of eating at underwhelming restaurants, I finally made my way to Medina Café in Downtown Vancouver. I had read incredible reviews and couldn’t wait to try it for myself.
When I arrived, the first thing I noticed was the line outside the door. Luckily for me, they had one seat left at the bar and my friend wasn’t interested in trying it. I waited for a bit inside, but I finally got my seat ahead of the line.
I didn’t know what to order so I did what I always do: ask the waitress what’s good and trust her judgment. My first choice was a waffle with one topping ($4.50 CAD). This may look and sound basic, but it was hands down the best waffle I’d ever had. It really didn’t need any toppings at all. Nevertheless, I started with the white chocolate syrup, but unfortunately, it didn’t pack the punch I desired. I switched it out for the passionfruit topping and it was everything I didn’t know I needed. I would highly recommend it!

Up next to the table was my main course. I chose the Fricassée (two sunny eggs, braised short ribs, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, smoked cheddar, arugula, and grilled focaccia). If it sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. It had so much flavor and the serving size was more than enough for me to start out my day. It’s one of the more expensive menu items at $20 CAD, but in my opinion, it’s worth it.

If you plan to go to Medina Café with a group, plan ahead and make reservations. While I prefer to find restaurants that only the locals know about, I could tell this was a common place for tourists. Even the few people I met inside were all from the United States, but it’s a popular restaurant for a reason. Enjoy!