PlanetEye

I spent a great portion of the early afternoon, looking for a coffee bar that had free wireless.  I didn't look too too long.  I had started out with a plan of where I was going to end up - but from where I started walking to my final destination, was about 12 blocks.  I must have passed at least eight different coffee houses.  Almost all of them had huge line ups, and completely packed seating areas.  

I understand that it is Mother's Day today, but seriously.... line ups that go out the door, and down the block - is a little ridiculous, when there are tons of other great places to have coffee in this city.

 When I finally got to my original destination, The Paradise Cafe, not only were there no line ups, the patrons were having a grand old time.  There are large television screens up, on every corner, and you could choose to watch the baseball game, or the hockey game.  Since we are in Vancouver (a hockey town) - the hockey game was the one with the volume turned up.

The Paradise Cafe is very much a family place.  The patrons are obviously regulars, and definitely feel like they are "at home".  I love that a coffee place has regulars - it makes me feel good when I enter a place.  I also love that the owner/mgr recognized me, and it was the only the 3rd time that I had been - the last time being over a month ago.  Says something - and not that they don't do any business, because, I have walked past that place many times when it was packed....especially on game night, when Vancouver was actually playing real hockey.

Their espresso, is rich and thick - just like how espresso is supposed to taste  - and the double chocolate biscotti is to die for....and so is the chocolate gelato (at least that is what I overhead).