Darwin's Cafe Temporarily Closed

My daughter and I had an impromptu Breakfast here...best version of impromptu ever! WOW gorgeous presentation and delicious. Super casual and very lovely relaxing setting sitting int eh gardens.

An interesting place, worth a stop for a snack, coffee and a look around the gardens. We had an interesting chat with the knowledgeable owner about Darwin

My intention for this review is not to be rude. I'm usually easy to please, but this place is too pretentious for what it is, really. First of all, be quiet while you're there. This is a library, no skyping, don't use your cell phones. Fair enough - that's not an issue. For those who like music: there's also a piano you can play. The food mediocre in display as well as quality. The Mexican soul was not only not Mexican, but also extremely plain in flavour, made of the simplest ingredients ever. I didn't want an MSG soup, so I was okay with it not ring overpowering in flavour, but it was really just water. The rest of the family had breakfast that consisted of eggs sunny side up, ham, bacon and hash browns. All of that stuff looked like it had been fried before and wasn't arranged in any particular way. I don't know if Darwin was this disorganized. But ok. The staff were friendly, asked if there was anything else we needed, and if we wanted some bread along with the soup, which would have been nice given the plain flavour, but they forgot. I would go here again for a cake or coffee, maybe. Just not breakfast or lunch.

This café is in the Botanical Gardens - and I cannot believe that there are not more reviews - we enjoyed the gardens and decided to have lunch --- relaxed and comfortable - staff was very friendly ---- and the food was a pleasant surprise - Darwin Breakfast was hardy with ham and sausages, roasted tomatoes and smashed potatoes - very good ----- but the star was the salade nicoise - sophisticated - well put together with a very good vinaigrette - a great lunch at a good price. Also liked the idea of device free tables - time to relax and smell the flowers

We went to the Tofino Botanical Gardens that is located in the same place. I read the reviews of the Darwin's Cafe so we were looking forward to having a latte after our walk. To our dismay the young man behind the counter said he didn't know how to operate the latte machine. He apologized and felt bad. He said he could make an Americano instead. After we had our Americano and sat down, he asked if we needed anything else because he had to leave. We asked him if we needed to leave the cafe but he said no, that we could stay and enjoy our drink He said the cafe doors will be open so we can stay as long as we wanted.