Jam Cafe Kitsilano — Restaurant in Vancouver

Foods:

Pork Belly Benny The Pork Belly Benny is a dish that exemplifies indulgence at its finest. Generous slabs of thick-cut fried pork belly, perfectly crisped on the outside and tender within, rest atop a toasted English muffin. The addition of a subtly sweet red onion jam, two flawlessly poached eggs, and a drizzle of rich house-made hollandaise elevates the dish to another level. The final touch of chimichurri and chives injects a burst of freshness, while the accompanying shredded hash browns add a hearty component. The interplay between the crispy pork belly and the creamy, tangy hollandaise creates a symphony of flavors that is both indulgent and balanced. This dish is a triumph of flavor and technique, and each bite reveals a carefully considered element that contributes to its overall excellence.

Highly recommended Rating: 10 out of 10

Squash and Romesco Benny The Squash and Romesco Benny offers a refreshing, vegetarian-friendly take on a brunch classic, showcasing the kitchen’s ability to push creative boundaries.The combination is a delicate balance of flavors: the natural sweetness of the squash pairs beautifully with the tangy goat cheese, while the nutty romesco sauce adds depth and richness. The fresh radish slices and peppery arugula contribute a pleasing contrast, both in texture and flavor, ensuring the dish feels vibrant and well-rounded. It’s a sophisticated, thoughtfully executed choice that speaks to the cafe’s commitment to offering high-quality, inventive vegetarian options.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Cold Smoked Salmon and Avocado Benny For those seeking a more traditional offering, the Cold Smoked Salmon and Avocado Benny delivers a flawless execution of classic brunch flavors. Delicate layers of cold-smoked salmon are paired with creamy avocado and a spread of tangy cream cheese, all stacked atop a toasted English muffin. The two poached eggs, crowned with a silky hollandaise sauce, are expertly prepared, and their runny yolks cascade over the dish to tie the elements together. The smoked salmon’s gentle saltiness complements the smooth avocado and cream cheese, resulting in a dish that is both comforting and elegant. It’s an impeccable choice for smoked salmon aficionados and stands out as a beautifully balanced dish.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Banoffee French Toast The Banoffee French Toast is a delightful indulgence that captures the essence of a decadent brunch dessert. Thick-cut brioche, infused with banana, is generously topped with espresso cream, coffee syrup, fresh banana slices, oat crumble, and a drizzle of condensed milk.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Ambiance Jam Cafe Kitsilano offers a cozy and welcoming environment, despite its relatively small size. The decor is charming, with thoughtful touches that create an inviting and intimate atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely brunch. The ambiance is lively, and it’s clear that the cafe has cultivated a loyal following.

Service

Service is an area where Jam Cafe truly excels. The staff is attentive, friendly, and accommodating, consistently checking in with guests to ensure satisfaction. The level of professionalism and warmth exhibited by the team significantly enhances the overall dining experience.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Price The pricing at Jam Cafe Kitsilano is justified by the quality and portion sizes of the dishes. Given the creativity, execution, and generous servings, the cost represents good value for money, making it a worthwhile brunch destination.

Verdict

For those willing to brave the inevitable lineup, Jam Cafe Kitsilano is a brunch destination that lives up to the hype. Its menu showcases a level of culinary creativity and execution that is rare to find, with dishes that offer both classic comfort and inventive flair. Jam Cafe Kitsilano proves itself to be a standout in Vancouver’s competitive brunch scene. It’s a destination that warrants a visit for anyone seeking a memorable and elevated...

Would give them a 3.5 if I could. Came for breakfast on a weekday. We got here right at 8am and there was a line waiting to get in. We got seated in the first seating and there was still a couple tables available. We ordered right away and we got our drinks promptly. We had the retro mimosa which tasted like a Pina colada with a bit of sparkling. If you like sweeter and refreshing drinks this is the one for you. The Irish cream coffee was not my favourite. The cold cream on top was delicious and you could definitely taste the bitterness of the whisky but the coffee was not the best and kind of ruined the drink. It was kind of watery and didn't have much coffee flavour. We waited around 20 minutes and our food finally came. The smoked salmon benedict was okay. You couldn't really taste the smoked salmon as the hollandaise was kind of overpowering. The egg was perfectly cooked. I felt like the English muffin was kind of lost in the dish as well. The best thing about this dish is definitely the hash browns. So crispy and fluffy. We also had the gravy coops with pork belly and sausage gravy. The pork belly seemed like it was deep fried. But the top part of the pork belly (the skin) was very chewy and tough to eat. But the part underneath it was tender and soft. It went well with the biscuit. Felt like this dish needed some kind of veggie to balance off the heaviness of the pork belly and the biscuit and gravy. Maybe a pickled vegetable or cabbage. It just felt very heavy and I wished the pork belly was crispy so it would have added a bit of texture to the dish. The gravy coops also came with hash browns and again the hash browns were delicious. The last dish we had was the King Burger. The fried chicken burger was nice and crispy/crunchy but the chicken was kind of dry. Wish there was more sauce to go with it. The tater tots that come with this dish fell apart upon touch making them hard to pick up. They were nice and crunchy but just hard to pick up. Overall this is a good brunch spot as their dishes are huge and very filling. The prices are decent and the service is very attentive and friendly. Some of the dishes are a miss but they are all aesthetically pleasing. Between the three dishes we had, I would recommend the smoked salmon benedict and any of...

Rather disappointing. Luckily we were there early enough so that we only waited 5 minutes to get in. Ordered Farmers Benedict the most expensive item on the menu. Hash brown was overly salty, bacon had nice smokey flavour but it was hard and dry like overnight bacon. The slice of ham underneath was also dry and overly salty. The egg benedict was cooked perfectly to medium hard as I requested so it was still runny but can still captured most of it on the biscuits. My wife ordered the waffle w apple and cinnamon. The waffle was drowned in syrup and it was soggy even at sections where it's not immersed in the syrup. The cinnamon aroma was great on the apple slices. We've had much better breakfast in the same neighbourhood and you don't need to line up for it. The staff was great and courteous. The service provided was good. The hash brown was replaced within minutes and my coffee cup never got dried up. The coffee was so-so and ddodnt have the strong coffee aroma expected and the cream wasnt served . There was also no moist cane brown sugar available. The replaced hash brown was still salty. I was offered a substantial discount because of the inferior food quality and experience. That was fair and greatly appreciated. T preoved that the servers were great and sensitive to the customers experience. I'm sure Jam has earned its reputation from years of good food and services but perhaps it's peaked out and suffered from the overburdening long line up of customers. I have had a lot of great food at many different restaurants over the world without having to line up for any of it. I'd expect the food to be pretty damn good over the top of the world to make me or anyone line up for it. In other words, the longer the line up the less likely I'll be satisfied because it's less likely to be worth the wait. There are always a lot of other better or just as good choices even in the same neighborhood. So if you see a long line up, don't feel like you have to try it despite the long wait. You are probably overwhelming the restaurant and make its performance drop...