Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe

Perched on 4th in the heart of Kitsilano, Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe is a popular brunch spot all through the year. It typically takes a few minutes to get a table, and longer waits are common on the weekend. When you are finally seated, chances are you will find yourself wrapped in a funky red booth, in a room filled with so much diner kitch that you may become slightly dizzy. If you are extremely lucky you may end up on the small patio. The music is very present and retro classic, and the hardworking waitstaff are friendly, if hard to track down when you want something. There is no pressure to turn the table, and you can drink coffee for hours if you have the stamina for it.

$Sophie\'s Cosmic Cafe by contraversion on flickr (CC-BY)$

Photo by: Contraversion on Flickr

The fare is cheerful, and the menu accomplishes a mix of breakfast and lunch. Oddly for a brunch place, they won’t accept any changes or substitutions to the menu dishes. (As in, “no you cannot have that scrambled”). The coffee is weak diner drip, the milkshakes are decadent, and portions are huge. They make their own hot sauce, served in wine bottles (pictured).

In a few visits I have enjoyed a burger, been reasonably happy with a chicken wrap, and totally underwhelmed by an eggs rancheros. I was served a pile of broken and stale chips on top of an improbably large dollop of sour cream, a faded tomato salsa of an age I don’t wish to know, and three nicely fried eggs atop a couple of chewy flour tortillas, and some nice brown toast rounding out a truly bizarre plate of food. You will notice that I decided not to mention the presence of the “beans” at all. This dish had nothing in common with what eggs rancheros is supposed to be, and worse, it wasn’t good.

The “cosmic” element of the restaurant will probably add a good 150% to your hangover, and getting your bill to leave is always impossible, which is a personal pet peeve in brunch establishments with huge lines of people waiting.

In summary, Sophie’s is a lot more fun than it is good eating. Novelty value abound, and great for kids and other people swayed by knicknacks and beatles tunes. I expect the line-ups will continue, and I am sure I will find myself in one again one day, although chances are I’m ordering the burger, and asking for the cheque half way through the meal.