Bel Cafe is a popular shop located in Downtown, near Hawksworth restaurant (they have opened a 2nd location in Kits). Their menu consists of breakfast/lunch items, cakes, pastries, and drinks. I had their PB & J Croissant and Dark Chocolate Espresso Orange Opera cake.
PB & J Croissant ($4.50):
3.5/5
The croissant is a little oddly shaped since it’s actually rolled up into a spiral rather than the classic crescent shape. Regardless, it was still quite flaky and buttery. I really enjoyed the jam, which had a great tartness. Unfortunately, I wasn’t really able to get much flavour from the ground peanuts inside.
Dark Chocolate Espresso Orange Opera ($6):
4/5
The cake was tender and moist, and had a great bittersweet flavour. The espresso and the orange both provided a great fragrance that complimented the chocolate. I did find the mousse to have a rather greasy texture, however.
I’m pretty lukewarm on Bel Cafe. The treats are fairly good, nothing mindblowing. The prices are a bit on the high side, especially seeing that the portions aren’t large, but not outrageous. This isn’t anything outstanding, but still worth a trip if you’re nearby.
Summary:
Food: 3.5/5
Price: 3.5/5
Service: N/A
Overall: 3.5/5
Recommendations: Dark Chocolate Espresso Orange Opera