I recently wrote about a Burnaby restaurant closure that elicited a lot of response from people about the city’s best “hidden gem” eateries.
Hi Genki was known as a hidden gem because it operated out of a seniors care home, serving the residents and the general public.
Burnaby diners responded with other thoughts on so-called “hidden gems” in the city. One restaurant was cited more by people than any other.
It’s called Café at Mandeville and it’s beloved by people who love to garden.
Why gardeners? Well, because it’s located inside the South Burnaby Gardenworks store at 4746 Marine Dr.
I don’t often go there because I live in North Burnaby and buy my gardening supplies at the Gardenworks on Lougheed Highway.
But for the South Burnaby gardeners, they love sitting down for a nice breakfast or lunch at this restaurant, which is open until 4 p.m. each day.
The menu is split into two basic pieces, starting with all-day breakfast, perhaps the greatest three words in the entire English language.
The breakfast menu has a variety of dishes, including several versions of the classic benedict. I love that they put arugula on the California benedict because of the pepperiness it brings to the dish. You can also get loads of bacon and pancakes.
For lunch, you can choose from an array of traditional sandwiches, as well as paninis, including the lovely version that has apples, figs and brie cheese.
They also have a kids’ menu that they say is for “seedlings.”
If you aren’t hungry, the menu also has a whole list of coffees, teas and espressos to choose from.
There really is something special about discovering a hidden gem and who doesn’t live filling your belly while you are shopping?
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
