By Amy Van Veen (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: October 24, 2012
29985 Downes Road, Abbotsford, BC
604-856-9339
Hours: Monday to Saturday,
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: under $18
There’s something about the use of the word “bistro” that’s supposed to conjure up images of sidewalk seating and pinkies raised while sipping cappuccinos with a distinctly European vibe and, for the most part, this is not a true representation of places that call themselves bistros. While Brambles Bistro in Abbotsford has no sidewalk seating, since its location is down the gravel road of Tanglebank Gardens off a sidewalkless Abbotsford back-road, it does have cappuccinos and that European vibe.
For most restaurants, a coffee ordered is a mildly offensive mug of drip that has to be improved with a couple of sugar packets and more than a dollop of cream, but at Brambles Bistro, the drip is replaced with crema-topped Americano goodness and the goodness only goes up from there.
Opened this summer, Brambles Bistro offers diners a chance to sit among the flowers as it’s situated in a recently constructed building within the surrounding nursery. After driving into the gravel lot, you get the chance to walk past potting benches lined with flowers, shrubs and garden décor and into the part shop, part bistro building. To the left is Brambles Bistro, a sit-down or take-out eatery where coffee is fresh and the food is sublime. To the right is the store where locally made products, soaps and chocolates sit amidst Christmas decorations, cupcake dishes and cute little gifts.
When I say the food is sublime, I find difficulty in convincing you the degree of goodness it offers. Their menu includes all day brunch options such as $5 waffles and lunches from salads to tandoori chicken wraps, but my eye was caught by the grilled Mediterranean vegetable panini. For whatever reason, that day my usual aversion to mushrooms and onions didn’t voice itself to the waitress and my toasted ciabatta sandwich arrived with the umami flavours still packed inside. In addition to the mushroom and onion, the sandwich also included tomatoes, spinach, feta and a garlic aioli. Like I said, mushrooms are usually at the bottom of my list of ordered foods, but this sandwich was constructed with such attention to complementary flavours that even the mushrooms danced around on my taste buds with glee. Every sandwich or wrap comes with a house salad or the option to upgrade to Caesar or soup of the day and the lack of French fries as a side option was a healthy—and welcome—surprise.
Some of the other sandwiches I hope to return to include classics such as their Reuben and croquet monsieur, and with such accommodating weekly hours, such a calming country-chic décor and such friendly staff, that hope will no doubt be realized. Friendly staff may be an overused way of describing the service I received, but they really were nice. The server was excited about the menu and when I got my triple chocolate brownie to go, it was warmed up and topped with fresh grapes and strawberries – a touch that did not go unnoticed.
