The Parsonage Cafe, Fernwood, Victoria

So, on a quick whim, I suggested the Parsonage Cafe for breakfast with my friends this Sunday. Immediately a debate started as to if the coffee sucked (Andrea was on the yes side, others on the no or unknown).  This obviously meant it was worth a visit so we can find out for sure.

The venue is just of Cook Street, near Logan's and had an eclectic bunch of people outside drinking coffee, chatting and petting their dogs.  One wolfhound, one pug, one bull terrier and a mongrel of inter-determinate parentage were all hanging around outside... with their owners.  This was not a cafe protected by a pack of wolves, ensuring the hipsters, homeless and hippies behaved.

Inside, there's a lot of varnished plywood.  A lot.  Everything is made from plywood, it seems.  The tables, the chairs, the cash register and the coffee machine.  It's a small space, crowded in with a line almost to the door surrounded by three booths, a snug area, a window bar and two tables.  The tables are constantly loomed over by the queue of patrons waiting for coffee and snacks.

I started out with an Americano.  They use Fernwood coffee,  which is not surprising, as Fernwood Coffee own the place and are housed just next door. It was good. Smooth, dark and just roasted enough for me.  No complaints from me, though Andrea's London Fog was a little odd tasting.  Not the worst fog ever but had a weird bitterness to it.  Better than a mouth full of razors blades, she told me.  A low bar for a cup of hot beverage to cross, but it sailed over.

My best friend and her partner (who is also among my top all time people in BC, just so he doesn't feel left out) then turned up, looking for some respite from the sun.  They went up to order while we chatted and then swapped over to order.  Bit awkward of a shuffle, but this place is tiny and doesn't really need a server.  I went for the Breakfast Sandwich and a round of toast. My stomach was groaning from running off the excesses of the week around Oak Bay. But that, and a another Americano was still under $12 with a tip.  Bargain.

The toast was a huge pair of doorsteps, with marmalade containing chunks of rind from three different citrus fruit. Good wholesome brown bread, toasted and buttered so you have that soft buttery taste rocking out with the crisp brown edges.  Mmmm.

The sandwich was bagel with a good slice of thick bacon and a egg done omelette style and a dose of mayonnaise. That might be a turn off to some, but I loved the creamy mouth feel with the bacon.  It added a little tang to the meal.  The cheese was melty on top, getting into the pores of the bagel.  You can get it with creamed spinach and tomato if you want, but that was far too much vegetables in my breakfast.  A solid breakfast.

Andrea devoured the lox bagel she ordered, so I assume it was good.  I haven't had text messages from her complaining of stomach cramps, or cursing my name for choosing such a stupid venue.  I class that as a success.  The huge veggies sandwich ordered was only half eaten. On account of it being huge, I think.  And the frothy coffee was served with a fancy fernwood leaf design on it. So that was good too.

Overall, it's good and cheap.  It's not the most comfortable place in the world, and in this hot weather was feeling a bit like a sweat box sauna by the time we left. However, as you can get it all to go, you can even solve that problem yourself.