Author: Kimberly_Robinson

Jam Café first established itself as a breakfast heavyweight in Victoria (2012). Following a segment on the popular Food Network series “You Gotta Eat Here,” the line-ups increased tenfold and have yet to subside nearly a decade later. Indeed, given the success of Jam Café,...you’d expect it to expand – open more locations – and it did just that. In 2016, Jam Café opened a location in Vancouver on Beatty Street. Another location in the Kitsilano neighbourhood soon followed in 2018. This review will focus on the Kits restaurant, which I attended earlier this summer with the dear family. Those who follow me on this site know I’m not really much of a breakfast person but, when I’ve got a craving, I’m darn sure going to get it! That’s what happened when I was visiting Vancouver with the folks. They’re pretty big on breakfast, so it wasn’t hard to convince them to come out and try Jam Café. We arrived to the Kits location at mid-morning, on a weekday. As expected, there was a bit of a line; however, it was fairly small in comparison to what I’ve seen at the Victoria location. We ended up waiting for about 20 minutes before getting a table . . . that’s not a bad wait time! The Kitsilano location maintains the rustic, eclectic vibe of the other two Jam Cafés, though it is certainly much more subdued. The giant moose head and light fixtures in wire cages make up the brunt of “weird” and “Canadiana” here. I suspect this “toning down” was strategic and intentional; after all, we are in trendy Kitsilano – not near Chinatown in Victoria or Vancouver. As such, the restaurant is tailored to the neighbourhood and that makes perfect sense. Dining capacity has no doubt been limited by COVID, but Jam Café seems to be handling it in stride. All of the necessary safety protocols are being followed: Hand-sanitizer is readily available, servers wear masks, and diners are separated by plexiglass barriers. Given the eclectic nature of Jam Café, the barriers don’t actually detract from the dining experience, which is a definite plus. In any event, after consulting the diverse menu, we ordered the Blackstone Benny, Old Town Breakfast (x2), and the Apple Cinnamon Waffle. I won’t bother describing each item in detail, but will say the Kits location continues the tradition of offering large – high quality portions – at very fair prices. My grandmother thoroughly enjoyed the Benny, noting that the poached eggs were “perfect.” Likewise, my aunt and grandfather enjoyed their more traditional “Old Town Breakfast.” My Apple Cinnamon Waffle was good (crisp exterior, soft interior), but I do think they went a little heavy with the maple butter – parts of the waffle were awfully sweet. Still, everyone enjoyed their respective breakfasts. FOOD: 5/5 SERVICE: 5/5 VALUE: 5/5 RECOMMENDATION: Jam Café is a fun place. The décor, while downplayed at the Kits location, hints at the eclectic but tasty menu. If you want savory, you can have it. If you want sweet, there’s plenty of that, too. In that regard, I’d agree with Vancouver Foodster and say Jam Café is indeed “breakfast central.” Whether you visit the Victoria or Vancouver locations, you’re sure to have a good meal. Highly recommended! PS: If you found this review helpful in any way please consider hitting the "helpful" button!More