Restaurant Review: Matchstick

MATCHSTICK

639 E 15th Avenue ~ matchstickyvr.com Twitter: @MatchstickYVR ~ Instagram: @matchstickyvr Co-Diner: Tim Golem

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no coffee connoisseur. I don’t even drink very much of it. On the other hand, I do like to be aware of where good coffee can be found. Such a place is Mount Pleasant’s Matchstick. I saw them on the hilarious Day of Gluttony: 24 Vancouver Restaurants in 24 Hours. Not only is this place a wonderful cafe, but they are also proud roasters, which makes all the difference.

We stopped in around lunchtime on a Saturday and the place was busy. They actually have three locations but this one (known as the “Fraser” location) is the original one, found on a particularly adorable block. They opened in 2012 and the style of the cafe is very fresh, bright and clean. One wall is entirely white subway tile, while the natural wood tables add a rustic touch. It’s a large, airy space complete with the vault door from the room’s previous life as a bank. Approaching the counter, we were obviously looking forward to sampling their coffee. The staff is friendly and efficient, important qualities when running a coffee empire. They impressively roast all of their own beans on the premise. I chose a Latte ($4.70).

I also really liked the sound of their seasonal Iced Horchata Latte, but was in the mood for something hot on a cool fall day. Plus I wanted to experience something as close to their straight coffee as possible. Like I said, I don’t know much about coffee, but I loved this latte. I would even go as far as to say that this is the best latte that I’ve had in Vancouver. I added a little bit of sugar to it, but it tasted very good without any at all (which is very rarely how I feel about coffee). I really liked that the flavour wasn’t too strong or bitter or muddy. It was a great way to experience the beans enrobed in a delicious creaminess. I loved the velvety foam and of course a little bit of cute latte art never hurt anyone. They don’t offer a mocha on the menu, a usual go-to of mine, but this forced me not to fall on my usual chocolaty crutch. The quality of Matchstick’s coffee is extremely evident.

They also serve food, from pastries to more substantial dishes. All of their pastries are baked fresh in-house. I opted for the Ratatouille Sandwich ($9.00).

Mozzarella & salsa verde.

Served on their house-made bread, this sandwich was warm and delicious. I loved that the bread was crusty and delicious without being too bready. This allowed the contents to shine, which were fresh and stewy, bursting with flavour. The tender tomato and eggplant matched perfectly with the pesto-like salsa verde and the melty mozza. This sandwich packed a big punch and I loved it! I also grabbed a Toasted Rye and Oat Cookie with Raisins. I liked the looks of this cookie because of the sprinkle of fleur de sel on top. The cookie was okay, but found it a bit dry and one-noted. Not enough raisins!

I’m looking forward to returning whenever I’m in the mood for a good coffee. They also serve a great-sounding array of brunch and toast items which would be perfect for breakfast. This place is worth the drive for me!