Looking to catch a break from your busy day? A pause, perhaps? Then comma over to Comma Cafe!
It's funny that my first post on a Vancouver cafe is about the one I've tried out most recently. I thought I would post first about Grounds for Coffee, one of my most-visited haunts in Vancouver, but alas, here we are, already making puns about Comma Cafe.
Located in the South Granville neighborhood on the corner of Oak and 16th, Comma Cafe is only about eight months old, just a baby. It has, however, already made its (punctuation) mark. The space was formerly Whitewood Coffee, a cafe that I found alright--minimalistic vibes with overpriced coffee, limited food items, and no wifi, so fine for a quick visit here and there. Now, Comma Cafe is a space with cute displays of knickknacks, a giant comma on the wall adjacent to the entrance, and a much more cozy feel to it.
Comma Cafe has a welcoming atmosphere, thanks to the friendly staff. The seating is pretty much the same as Whitewood's, though now there's a stooled seating are, a benched area, and a corner of fun crate-like seating as well. Comma Cafe offers its own wifi and plenty of charging outlets, which are always huge plusses for me, as someone who likes to work in cafes. The first day I was there, I brought with me a gigantic pile of grading, and I found it was easy to concentrate--the right level of music and chitter-chatter.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover, in addition to their in-house baked goods, they had a great selection of sandwiches and wraps. Perfect, since (as usual), I needed lunch and it was 3 PM. I got the vegetarian sun-dried tomato and bocconcini (so much trouble pronouncing this cheese, always) sandwich, grilled, and uhm, it was SO GOOD. For a decent price, I would say. That is the lunch order I've been sticking to for the two or three following visits! Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of the sandwich because I'm too hungry and have gobbled it up every time, BUT, I decided to also try out their beer bread. I did not make a mistake doing so! Both sweet and savory, the beer bread is a delectable, chewy/doughy treat.
Now, for le drink! The first time, I got a mocha. I would say Comma Cafe's mocha is good, though too sweet for me. Anyone who likes a hazelnutty tinge to their mochas would find Comma Cafe's mocha perfect.
The next time, I got their matcha latte. This, I think, superseded their mocha. The matcha latte was the perfect balance of sweetness and not too grainy or thin. Would absolutely get again!
During my first visit, I was feverishly grading assignments. Which, in retrospect, made me realize something. I'm hardly at cafes for the sake of being at a cafe. Not doing anything, just being there. Being. Most times, I'm at a cafe working, and if not, then eating and/or drinking a coffee and on my phone, or meeting a friend: always doing something. It's been a while since I went to a cafe to just relax--off my phone, as well--and read, perhaps. It's a state of being I would like to return to, since a destination like a cafe doesn't always have to harbor a great deal of productivity to justify my being there in the first place. So, I think the next time I go to Comma Cafe, it will truly be to take that break, catch a breath, and pause.
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