Maxine's Cafe & Bar – Vancouver (Brunch Review)

Written by Ross Vance.

Maxine’s Café & Bar in Vancouver’s West End is a bright, stylish brunch spot that leans very much towards being a daytime restaurant.

We sat inside by the terrace windows, which were open, so it felt like being both indoors and outdoors. The service made a big impression: we’d noted our engagement on the booking, and the staff brought complimentary champagne and multiple members of the team came over to congratulate us. It felt celebratory and warm.

Drinks

Monika ordered apple juice, which wasn’t available. The server rattled off at least ten alternatives and she went with cranberry. It was good but very sweet — she’s started watering down juices lately even when abroad, so that didn’t surprise her.

I had a flat white. It was perfectly fine, but we’d just come from Revolver, one of the best cafés in Vancouver, so it didn’t stand out in comparison.

Food

• Rösti with Salmon & Avocado – This was beautifully presented: a golden rösti topped with avocado, herbs, and salmon. Monika pointed out that each bite was different — sometimes more avocado, sometimes herbs, sometimes salmon — which kept it interesting. She loved it, especially the crisp-soft rösti base.
• Beef Rib Croque Madame – At first it looked small, like half a sandwich, but it turned out to be exactly enough. It was dense and filling, with layers of beef, cheese, and an egg whose yolk ran through the whole dish. The meat was tender and the combination was excellent. It came with a cucumber, celery and rocket side salad with a plain dressing, which was fine but forgettable.
• Praline, Chocolate & Hazelnut Éclair – This was big and generously filled. The menu had listed the flavours in a way that suggested three separate options, but they were all combined into one. It wasn’t piped traditionally but sliced and filled, which made it less classic but still delicious. The praline-chocolate-hazelnut filling worked brilliantly, and the texture was varied rather than soft all the way through.

Verdict

Maxine’s is a proper “brunchy brunch” spot. The food is thoughtful, the service celebratory, and it’s worth booking ahead. Great for families or a holiday brunch.

• See also: Revolver Coffee Gastown Review
• See also: Nemesis Coffee Gastown Review
• See also: Maxine's Cafe & Bar – Vancouver (Brunch Review)
• See also: Popham’s London Fields Review