Imagine Studio Café — Restaurant in Victoria

I stumbled upon Imagine while I was walking about one day and I was really excited because it looked so stylish and interesting inside. I just wanted a small snack and so I picked up 4 figs that were sitting by the cash register and ordered avocado toast. The menu said something to the effect of 'good food takes time, please leave us 15 minutes to prepare food items' and I thought that was a bit long for something as simple as avocado toast but I could handle it. When I went to pay, the cashier (who was quite unwelcoming and cold) rang the figs in at $2.00 each. That is shockingly steep for small, squishy little figs that looked like they were picked in a backyard earlier that day. The price should have been displayed because if it had been, I would not have purchased them. I sat inside and proceeded to wait for my food. 57 minutes later (I checked the transaction time on my bank account) I received the most pitiful attempt at avocado toast I had ever seen. It was two lightly toasted pieces of dry bread with half an avocado sliced and put on the plate next to it. There was no seasoning, no delicious drizzle or sauce of any kind, no butter, nothing. I waited almost an entire HOUR for it and they could not even be bothered to spread the avocado on the toast. I was so appalled that I could only laugh. I then searched around for at least some salt and could not find any. When I asked the grumpy cashier where it was she pointed at the little condiment stand and said 'there'. I looked and looked and it was not there. I told her so and she said 'yes it's there'. Turns out it was not and so she got me a salt shaker from behind the counter. In conclusion, I don't believe I need to even state whether or not I will be going...

If you are visiting Fisherman's Wharf in Victoria and would like a lovely place to have breakfast or a light lunch, just walk across the park above the wharf and you will come to Imagine Café on Erie Street. The café serves organic food and offers ' an experiential & transformative learning space designed as an internship business program for young adults, all cultures & all abilities.', which we thought was wonderful. We went there for breakfast and had their French Toast with whipped cream (hey we were on vacation!), which was delicious but had a tough time making that selection because we were so tempted by their selection of pastries (croissants, danishes, etc.). Finally we decided that in addition to our breakfast we would buy scones for breakfast the next day (and they were wonderful too!). We visited just as it opened at 10:00 and there was a steady stream of patrons the whole time we were there so it was terrific to see this initiative get such support from locals as well as tourists. Some people were just coming in for lattes, cappuccinos, coffee and tea, but the tables also filled up with other breakfast eaters. They were just starting to fill their display case with salads, quiche, etc. for their lunch offerings when we left. At one end of the eating area is a pizza oven and eating bar. In addition to the inside tables, there are some patio tables out front and along the side of the building from which you can see the park and the city skyline. This place is well worth the four minute walk...

I’ve passed by this place many times, always telling myself that I would like to try it “someday”. I have now been several times and it has become a favourite destination for hubby and me to go for our Saturday morning coffee date. The atmosphere is rustic, cozy, and charming. The in-house baked goods are phenomenal. The last two times I have had the raspberry scones - fresh raspberries and incredibly fluffy scones: perfection. Hubby has gone for the cinnamon bun. It’s beautiful (see photo), with a dollop of what I believe is buttercream, rather than the usual cream cheese frosting, and a spike of caramelized sugar on top. The buttercream is not as sweet as the usual frosting, which makes a perfect complement for the sugary pastry. I really want to try the pizza; every time we come, we see the ingredients sitting out in front of the pizza oven: purple and Roma tomatoes, cheese-laden flatbread, and a huge tray of chanterelle mushrooms. The display case of lunch items is tempting as well. Of course the coffee is wonderful as well. The mocha and flavoured latte is much less sweet than that big coffee chain, so you actually taste the perfectly roasted coffee. The latte art is so skillfully done that it lasts all the way to the bottom of the cup. The only downside is that it opens later than most: 10:00 on the weekends and 9:00 on weekdays. Come when they open and you get warm pastries, so that makes up for it! I highly...