Nemesis Coffee GNW — Restaurant in Vancouver

We've eaten at Nemesis Coffee in Gastown and was not impressed with the food, coffee or anything else. The red tomato-shaped roof of Nemesis Coffee at Great Northern Way drew us every time we drove past. The sun umbrellas and tables they've placed outside seem to promise a leisurely coffee time in the sun under the shade, so we stopped by last Sunday. Our first surprise was the long line up to the order desk. With the offices in the area probably closed on a long weekend, we thought this location was out of the way enough that it would not be busy. The menu suggested that there would be a weekend special, our second surprise was that there wasn't any Weekend Feature that day. So, we made up our own a la carte plates: Plate 1: Toast & Butter with sides of poached egg and smoked salmon. Plate 2: Poached egg, bacon, hash brown and greens. Our plates turned out to be really well presented and a delightful treat. There were empty tables in the sun, but without umbrellas. So, we ended up with a table inside. The third surprise was that the service was exceptional. Two glasses of water were delivered to our table the minute we sat down. Our coffee drinks arrived shortly. We were able to watch the barista make the drinks with precision and confidence. As much as we are not fans of coffee drinks served in glasses, the drinks were well poured and the microfoam was excellent. The prompt arrival of the food was the highlight. Our food was so well plated. The eggs were precisely made, and not cold(!) My hash brown was so yummy I was tempted to order a second one – and would have done so if the lineup at the order desk wasn't so long. I was very pleased to be able to get some greens with my food. The sound level in the interior space was very 'live' – the hanging fabric in the ceiling was not quite thick enough. To describe the place and our overall experience, we both came up with the word 'CLEAN', 'PRESTINE'. Why? The food left us feeling really comfortable, without any nasty side effects even though we ate deep fried hash browns, bacon and toast, etc. The staff is very diligent in cleaning the tables and counters. The barista was very cool and controlled. We have been visiting this places almost weekly since discovered it. I finally gathered enough courage to try the Banh Mi Fried Chicken sandwich because it contains garlic and I didn't know how my body would respond. Well, it's easily one of the most tender, juicy and lightly crunchy fried chicken I've tasted, and thank goodness, the garlic was not noticeable, perhaps it was black garlic. But the sandwich was so huge and unladylike I felt kind of embarrassed. The potato bun was interesting. I was so full afterwards I decided that I would go back to my al la...

I recently visited Nemesis Coffee at their Great Northern Way location, and it was a good experience. I ordered the GUATEMALA | Maria Zelaya Aguierre - Villa Sarchi batch brew, which boasted tasting notes of milk chocolate, black currant, and vanilla. The flavors were rich and well-balanced, making for a truly satisfying cup. I opted for the large 12 oz serving, priced at $4.50. While the size felt a bit smaller than what you might expect for the cost at other places, the quality of the coffee is fine and I thoroughly enjoyed every sip.

The café was hopping when I stopped by on a Wednesday early afternoon, due to its popularity. One aspect that caught my eye is their seating system: you can’t just grab a table right away. Instead, you line up, place your order, and then either choose a table or have one assigned to you. It’s a bit unconventional, but it keeps things running smoothly despite the crowd. A nice feature is the glass wall behind the counter, where you can watch their roasting equipment in action—it adds a cool, "industrial" vibe the space.

The baked goods caught my eye, looking fresh and tempting, though I didn’t try any this time (they’re definitely on my list for next visit!). The décor is another highlight—spacious with high ceilings and plenty of natural light pouring in, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. The separate entry and exit doors are a smart touch, keeping everything organized, and there’s outdoor seating available if you’d rather enjoy your coffee in the fresh air.

The coffee was excellent, and the service matched it. The staff was friendly and efficient, handling the busy vibe with ease. The only disappointment I had was that they didn’t have an Ethiopian coffee on brew or pour over for me to try—I was really looking forward to that. Still, it didn’t detract from the overall experience.

All in all, I’d highly recommend stopping by Nemesis Coffee if you’re in the area. It’s a good spot for a quality brew and a relaxing café experience. And for those...

I had heard lots about nemesis coffee from friends and colleagues so I thought why not give it a try since I do love a nice pastry and cup of coffee.

First off I'd recommend that you get their early on the weekends. I got there 15 min before opening and was the first one there however by the time it was 5 min from open there were already 6 people behind me. By the time the doors open there was at least 12.

Throughout my visit there was a continuous line building around the round building that is the Cafe. Clearly a very popular place to visit. The decor was also quite nice inside.

Quality - the pastries were nice and flaky with good flavour. The egg sandwich I had was very tasty. Careful because the yolk is runny, and although tasty it was quite messy for me haha. The coffee was personally not to my liking but it wasn't because the coffee was bad. I personally just don't care for the more acidic style type of coffee which is what they had here today. My friend who does like this style of coffee loved it. (Ordered a flat white, cold brew & chai latte)

Service- the staff were helpful and knowledgeable about their product. I'd say half the staff were super friendly and the other half could use a bit more of a smile (I am aware everyone wears mask but I more so mean that they give a friendly tone and body gesture). This was just from observations. The 2 ladies and 1 gentlemen that helped me were super nice and made my day :)

Cleanliness - environment was organized and clean. Plexi glass setup was very purposely and optimized for customer capacity and their were sanitizer stands at the entrance and exit in case you needed it.

Overall the vist was great and lived up to the hype from my friends and colleagues. I will surely return in the future as there are still plenty of other things I...