River City Coffee Roasters, Bakery and Eatery — Restaurant in Powell River

The perfect marriage of food and caffeinated beverages. We've been going to RCC (That's what I call it, because I'm hip) for 11 years now and they have been my rock and foundation all that time. While other stores, good ones, came and went, RCC has stayed the course, providing constantly great coffee (a beautiful raspberry white chocolate mocha) and their staple, The Lumberjack, breakfast wrap. Besides those, which my wife and I adore, I've always been partial to a good Reuben and RCC makes a fantastic one. Only Magpie's Diner in Cranberry comes close to it (and they do come close. I'd love to see a Reuben-Off competition some day. But I digress). Well, I was positively gobsmacked to learn from my wife, who is The biggest lover of Benedicts I've ever known (Cumberbatch included), that our favourite coffee shop has done the unthinkable - put the Reuben into a Benny! Never have I ever imagined such a wondrous cohabitation of our chosen culinary loves. So we made arrangements and set off at the earliest opportunity - The next morning as it was late when the discovery made itself known through my darling wife's vocal apparatus. Now I was cautiously optimistic. I really didn't know if it was possible to capture the beauty of a Reuben in an egg dish, let alone a benny. So, I was prepared for a good benny that had some ingredients you also found in a reuben. I was not ready for what my brutish tastebuds encountered, which was perfection. I don't know how, but they magicked a reuben and a benny together and retained the unique qualities of both. Bravo. I provide pictures for visual, if not olfactory or taste-ory evidence. Incidentally, someone needs to make computers scratch and sniff.

Update: still awesome! Lumberjack wrap is still king...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Powell River and stumbled upon a hidden gem that I just had to share my experience about. As someone who follows a gluten-free and dairy-free diet, finding accommodating restaurants can be quite a challenge. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a place that not only catered to my dietary needs but exceeded my expectations in every way possible.

Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately greeted by one of the owners, who happened to be one of the friendliest individuals I have ever encountered. He explained he has the same dietary restrictions so they try to go above and beyond in this area. To my delight, he even offered me a complimentary muffin, which was absolutely delicious and made me feel incredibly welcomed.

Not only did the owner provide exceptional service, but he also shared valuable recommendations for other gluten-free restaurants in the area. This level of thoughtfulness and genuine care truly made me feel like a valued customer.

Now, let's talk about the food. Oh my goodness, it was outstanding! The menu had a wide variety of gluten-free and dairy-free options, making it a paradise for someone like me. Each dish was expertly prepared, bursting with flavors, and beautifully presented. It was evident that the chefs put a lot of love and attention into every plate they served.

Aside from the incredible food, the atmosphere of the restaurant was simply delightful. The funky and cute decor created a warm and inviting ambiance that made me feel right at home. It was the perfect place to relax, enjoy a meal, and soak in the unique charm of Powell River.

If you find yourself in Powell River, do yourself a favor and pay them a visit. You won't be...

We visited River City coffee on a nice day in late September, 2022. The location is in a mall. Lots of seating, both indoor and outdoors, which is a big plus for us. We had a couple of drinks - one large cappuccino, one small tea based drink, plus one muffin and a slice of cake. The drinks were average, the muffin was great, the cake icing was too sweet.

Unfortunately, what wasn't so great were the prices, $28. Worse, there were no posted prices. Afterwards I read that the owners are trying to pay their workers a living wage. I support businesses that do this. So why was I prompted to pay a 18-20% tip on top of what is suppose to be a living wage? That would have made the bill $33. Yes, I could decline to tip, and I did, because there was no table service, I waited at the counter. Every other business I've read about that has a "living wage" policy does NOT ask for tips, especially when there is no table service.

I wish the owners and staff success but we won't be returning. Is it really that expensive living in Powell River? I don't like being guilted into tipping, it spoils the experience. We regularly visit Vancouver, a far more expensive city but we have never paid anything close to what we paid at River City, despite patronizing high end coffee/bakeries like Thomas...