Cafe Collection #3

Ahhhh Monday. The start of a new week. I honestly don’t hate Monday (but that’s probably only because it’s summer right now, I’m sure once school starts I’ll be back on the I-wish-I-could-stay-in-bed bus). It’s also the last Monday before the start of school, so someone please take this down – August 27th, 2018 is the last Monday of summer before Monika is done her undergrad! How wild is that??

This blog series is going to be a constant on my blog from now on I think – I go to too many cafes to just not talk about them. Plus, I just love exploring what is probably my favourite city in Canada. But for this post, I’m going to focus on one of the places I love best in St. John’s, Newfoundland. It’s not exactly a cafe, but it has some of the best drinks I’ve ever had (and also delicious food!). I am talking about Bellissimo’s bistro. If you’re from St. John’s, you’ll recognize this as the old Gracie Joe’s, but with a face-lift and a change in cuisine. Brunch is fairly similar, but their specialty lies in their homemade pastas and Italian cuisine.

Now, I should start off by saying that I am not a coffee person. My go to drink in cafes is a London Fog or a tea. But oh boy you have got to try their cold espresso. I was reluctant at first, being sure that I wouldn’t enjoy it and it would be too strong, but it’s absolutely delicious. It’s almost a slushie which is a super fun texture, and its almost sweet. The other espresso drinks are the same way – a really nice roast with a great flavour, but not an overpowering taste. The tea selection is a little eclectic, so if you’re looking for like good ole regular types I would maybe suggest somewhere else. But if you’re looking to try fun new flavours this is a great place to go!

And don’t even get me started on the food. There are a lot of finger foods you can get, like scones, muffins and other treats. The baked goods are made in house most of the time, and wow oh wow. Don’t be deterred by the gluten free signs – those muffins are to die for and almost a meal in and of themselves. The scones are melt in your mouth, and even thought I have limited experience with the rest (I tend to stick to my favourites) I’m sure it’s also delicious. The cooking is also some of the best I’ve had, with great pasta and breakfast foods available. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the bruschetta eggs benedict – I can honestly say it’s the best eggs benny I’ve had. I’m a vegetarian so I haven’t had anything with meat on the menu, but everything smells divine.

The location is super convenient too. As someone who did rowing on Quidi Vidi lake, it’s a spot I would frequent for early morning snacks. At a 5 minute walk from Quidi Vidi, a 10 minute walk from downtown, and probably the same from Quidi Vidi Village, it’s a little removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown, which is great for a quiet evening outside meal, or a relaxing Saturday brunch.

I love this place, and it’s one of my staples for when I’m home.

If you’re looking for other places to eat, I HIGHLY recommend the Peaceful Loft (chinese food, and it’s vegan!) and the Afghan (afghan food, which is kind of obvious haha).

That’s all for now ducks, have a great day and I’ll be back on Thursday with another review!
~Mon