Strait Coffee Ltd — Restaurant in Sechelt

Just Gerald Magazine Reviews:

Strait Coffee — Wilson Creek: What It’s Like

Tucked into the strip mall at Wilson Creek, Strait Coffee is a welcoming, artisanal café + roastery that many locals and visitors alike appreciate. It has a lot going for it, though it isn’t perfect — depending on what you’re looking for, some things shine more than others.

What’s Good

Coffee quality & roasting One of the strongest points people mention is the coffee itself. Strait Coffee roasts its own beans, does fair trade and organic sourcing, and many reviews praise that the espresso drinks are very good.

Food & baked goods made from scratch The café isn’t just about drinks — there’s a solid food menu. Fresh ‘made-to-order’ sandwiches, soups, and baked goods from scratch are frequently praised. The curried lentil soup, for example, gets special mention.

Atmosphere & vibe Numerous visitors like the vibe: relaxed but lively, locally loved, with a sense of authenticity. It’s often busy, especially with locals, which tends to be a good sign. Tripadvisor

Fair trade / ethical considerations Many reviews and the café’s own description emphasize that they’re a certified fair trade roaster, use organic coffees, supply to other local businesses, etc. For people who care about the source of their coffee, that’s a big plus. British Columbia Local

Location / hours It’s in a convenient location (Wilson Creek) and has pretty generous café hours (early morning, open on weekends).

What’s Just OK or Could Be Better

Waiting / crowding Because it’s popular, especially with locals, things can get busy. That means sometimes there’s a wait for seating, food, or that your order might take a bit longer. If you go during peak times, expect that.

Price point Some reviews hint that the prices are a little higher than average cafés in the area. For the quality and the sourcing, many feel it’s justified — but if you’re comparing for value, this is something people notice. (Not every reviewer complains — more “for what you get” kind of comment.)

Food variety / kitchen closing times The kitchen has cutoff times (e.g. closes around 4pm) so late café-goers may find more limited options. If you plan to visit late afternoon, it’s good to check whether what you want is still served.

Space / layout I didn’t find a lot of major complaints here, but some mention that when it’s busy, seating becomes tight or there’s less quiet space. If you expect to work or sit for a long time, that might be a trade-off. (Again, this is typical in cafés that are popular and well-located.) — this is more an inferred “OK” rather than a repeated complaint.

Overall Impression

Strait Coffee is a standout café in Wilson Creek: excellent in coffee, ethical in sourcing, warm and friendly in vibe, and with good food. It’s a strong choice whether you’re grabbing a morning brew, having brunch, or meeting friends. The trade-offs are the crowds, sometimes longer waits, and a bit less flexibility late in the day on food. But for many people, what you get more than makes up for...

My personal experience at this coffee shop was poor. When entering the Strait Coffee Ltd. at 3pm the lights were turned off, seeming as if they were closed. The employees seemed hesitant to ask our order. When they did we asked for a few minutes to review their menu. Once we had come to a decision the employee informed us that the kitchen is closed. I would have appreciated some sort of signage that indicated the kitchen hours so that we wouldn't have wasted time deciding on food that we were denied. Paid over $3 for a 16oz cup of black coffee, which is more expensive than Starbucks. The lid was not secured onto the cup resulting in it falling off and onto the ground immediately after picking up the cup. Thankfully I did not spill the coffe on myself. The employee seen this happen and said nothing, nor offered a replacement lid. We asked for another lid to which the employee gave us another cup instead of a new lid. We asked again for a new lid to which we recieved. The coffee tasted like it was brewed early in the morning and left in the pot all day. It tasted burnt and not fresh. While in the shop, the employees turned the lights on and off several times, it was odd. In summary this shop has unfriendly and unwelcoming staff as well as overpriced products (example: a plain bagel with creamcheese sold for $4, or chicken salad sandwich for $10.50) that don't match up to the quality. For a small town coffee shop such as this, I expect coffee that can match a simple chain restaurant like Tim Horton's especially considering that they charge so much for it. As I left the establishment I thought, even though the coffee was unfortunately not drinkable, if the staff had treated us well it would have made this experience decent enough to give it another try. A smile can...

Hands down, the best café on the Coast.

You honestly can’t go wrong with anything from their pastry case, every single thing is pure magic. They’re always switching up flavours, so there’s something new (and equally delicious) to try every day, but somehow the quality is always perfect. I dream about their peach-ginger oat bars, it’s that good.

And that’s just the pastries. Their hot food menu? Also incredible. Any of the breakfast sandwiches will leave you satisfied, happy, and considering a second coffee just to stay longer. Speaking of coffee, also amazing (shocker, I know). Strait makes the best mocha I have ever had (especially iced mochas in the summer). Seriously unparalleled

The staff are also great, super friendly, and quick even when it’s busy (which it always is, for good reason). The vibe is cozy, welcoming, and perfect whether you’re catching up with friends or hiding out with a book.

Short story long: go to Strait. You...