By Amy Van Veen (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: November 30, 2011
206-21183 88 Ave
Langley, BC
778.298.1332
Hours: 8:30-5:30 Mon-Fri, 8:30-3:00 Sat, Closed Sun
Prices: up to $8.99
In Walnut Grove, on 88 Ave, in the same parking lot as Panago and Videoworks (yes, they still exist), there’s a little spot called Bagel Classic Café.
Before even entering this little eatery, I had a vision of walls upon walls of bagels and a mosaic of cream cheese flavours. The only bagel places I know of are the quintessential New York ones—like H&H Bagels—and that one on Robson Street in Vancouver, though now I think it’s been turned into a cupcake store. Unfortunately, though, bagel meccas of yore no longer have a place in our Western, no-carb, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free obsessed trendiness.
It is understandable, then, that the Bagel Classic Café had only five different kinds of bagel to choose from, and bagels were only a portion of their menu. There is a large selection of all day breakfasts, a number of different sandwiches (which can obviously be made with a bagel instead of bread), soups, salads and pastries. Most interestingly, though, are the four different “hot food” options for under $8: spaghetti with garlic bread, chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki and coconut curry chicken. To say this little shop is a renaissance restaurant would be an understatement. The name doesn’t do it justice.
I ordered the clubhouse sandwich on an everything bagel and, since all sandwiches come with either soup or salad—for only $6.99—I also ordered the clam chowder. The bagel, though oddly untoasted, was fresh and not in the slightest bit stale, and the ingredients were obviously fresh: the turkey consisted of real chunks, the bacon was crispy and the tomato was just juicy enough. The clam chowder wasn’t anything spectacular, but the inclusion of cheese melted on top was just the right touch and just the right complement to my bagelwich.
The atmosphere in this café is cute, but about as much of a mixed bag as their menu. The walls are painted two shades of green with birch tree wallpaper on one and adorned with hotel art of flowers in vases. It’s not tacky, but it’s not anything extraordinary, either. There are a fair number of dark wood tables with black leather chairs, as well as a couch and four black leather armchairs – all in all, they make an excellent use of space. The large windows facing south let in quite a bit of natural light, so it’s not like eating a bagel in a cavern, and—bonus to all students—they have free Wi-Fi.
The service was also adorably friendly and the proprietors obviously have a good relationship with their regular customers, calling several by name and having sincere conversations with them. It seems like one of those cafés where, if you go more than twice, you’ll quickly rise up to “regular” status and have this same kind of back-and-forth every time you come in.
Although “Bagel Classic Café” is a bit of a misnomer, the service, food quality and definitely the price all make me a repeat customer. Next time, I’m definitely going to see what their coconut curry chicken is all about.
