II – Café Rustico (Main and 15th/16th)

A nice day to start my search. I wanted to set-up shop in “Bean Around the World” but at 9:30 it was just packed and with only one electrical output taken by two different people, I had to move on.
When I saw “Café Rustico”, I immediately said “get the camera”. Not because I’m Italian… in fact I do believe that most Italians go a little overboard with their Patriotism, but this place has unique Italiano Cappuccino Café feel.

10:00am

I arrived and the place was just dead… not a soul except for the two girls working. I ordered the advertised special, and set myself up in the back corner on a sweet 70s couch with my Cappuccino. Sweeeet... Eat your heart out Costanza.

Had to get the Cappuccino… no sugar right? I guessed that that is how you are supposed to drink it, and I was right. The nice oriental girl told me that you aren’t supposed to put sugar in a cappuccino. She said it was especially imported coffee from Italy and the owner, orders the coffee especially strong. A little bland actually... better buy your own coffee roaster Mario.

But the placed was so nice to work in. There was only Italian music playing… mostly classical and opera which I didn’t mind but non-distracting and easy to zone out of... so no complaints there. The one complaint I had was that the ceiling fan was much louder than the music.
In this relatively small place, 10 tables with amazing Venice-like porch outside, there were only two electrical outlets to plug into. I was able to connect to the internet for free without any password… very cool!

12:48pm

The girls were nice. One of them told me to get the Caprese because it was spicy. But they were a little too shy. As I waited, I noticed that they call the Americano coffee… “Canadiano”. Right on.


It made me ask them about the owner, and apparently he works the night shift. Sometimes he closes at 9pm and sometimes at midnight... so it might be a nice date. But I like how the owner works at his own café. It makes me want to come back and get to know him.

The food tasted really good. The panini was different and probably homemade. It was a good price and this café has the potential to get me regularly.

At the end of the day…

My Bill

Special (Cappucino, Panini, and pasta)
With a Limonata 12.00 even (I love this tax included thing)

My Rating

Coffee C+
Service B
Atmosphere A-
Music B
free internet +1 bonus point

I - JJ Bean (with guest Jeff)

12:39pm
I’ve been here for about three hours now and Jeff will come visit me soon as I told him how good the coffee is. So let's start my review other than what I've said about the problems of the JJ Bean music in the Problogue.

It’s big. It has nice high ceilings where the birds seem to like to fly around when it’s raining outside. It’s nice and bright as the walls have huge windows. The coffee bean roaster is pretty cool (see pic).

There’s chessboards and a nice selection of seating from a booth in the back to big soft chairs by the fireplace, tables, window bar looking onto the street, and lots of tables outside covered by a roof so you can sit outside when it’s raining. I really like how there is so many electrical outlets so you have no problem finding a plug in, however there is no wireless internet so if you’re are a crackbook victim, you’ll have to log on to the Bell system from Starbucks across the street that has a weak signal.

1:07pm

While forced to listen to “Blame it on the rain” (milli Vanilli?), “Baby baby” (Amy Grant) and “Never gonna get it”, I ordered a sandwich that went surprisingly weird.
Knowing now that I would now be a critic, I decided to ask the tall blond girl with huge blue eyes what she thought about the sandwiches…

“What do you think about the Chicken Pesto sandwich?” I asked.
She gave me a snobby look and told me “I have no idea.”
“Well, what do you eat when you’re here?”
“I don’t.”
Awkward pause…
“Well can you recommend anything I could have for lunch?”
“People seem to be eating the sandwiches.”

I felt like telling her to go straighten out her panties, but I remained polite figuring it was probably just that time of the month, so I just smiled and ordered the chicken pesto. She grilled it for 5 minutes and it hit the spot… cheesy, big chucks of chicken, and a powerful dill pickle, but a little small and pricy for 7.50$.


2:00pm

Jeff finally arrives. He’s in a bad mood.

Jeff's Opinion
my americano was really good, lots of flavor, strong body, simlar to the one I had at the locust lounge on king ed, and main. I already ate if I didn’t I would have one of the pesto chicken sandwiches on a chili cheese bread. looks good!!!



At the end of the day...

My Bill

Large Americano 2.85
Croissant 2.00
Large Chai Latte 4.05
Pesto Sandwich 7.50
Limonata 1.50

(taxes included in the price… cool! No Pennies!)

Rating

Coffee A+
Sevice C
Atmosphere A
Music F-