I used to come here quite a bit. It was always a nice place to catch up with a friend over a hot mug of hot cocoa or a cappuccino. I've cut my visits down to once a week now, because of the change in ambiance since they became 24hours, free-wireless, and morphed into an extension of Kwantlen College study hall.
The bad
WARNING: don't go on a weeknight after 7 pm. The place is overrun with cafe-rats. When I was a teen in the nineties, bored teenagers aka mallrats (guilty!) would roam Richmond Centre without really buying anything but just to see and be seen in that angsty, pimply promenade. With the advent of social networking via Internet, a new species has evolved. Cafe rats are pretty much the same thing, except they're older (18-21) and trawl the net rather than the mall. You'll see them in their element at Blenz, nursing a long-cold/empty cup for 3 hours as they pretend to study, textbooks piled all around, but the browser window is on facebook. C'mon. You can "fake study" at home. I can't go to YOUR house for my Blenz Latte and banana bread.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind if you're a college student studying in a cafe. That's cool; we're cool. I did the same thing back in my UBC days. What I do mind is when the place is packed, and each student takes up two tables and 3 chairs because they feel they need space for their cell phone, laptop, backpack, fake-LV purse, jacket, and laptop bag. A little etiquette would be nice. If you see people needing a seat, offer them a seat if you've got one to spare. I've actually stood in line for a coffee and seen a couple take up 2 tables and 4 chairs filled with their belongings as they glanced up once in a while and deliberately ignored the several people looking at them pointedly as they needed seats. I guess these particular students think chairs were designed to hold bags, not human derrieres. And no they weren't saving the seats for anyone else. This type of scenario happens EVERY school night, so, best to avoid this time if you don't want to get ill-tempered. It always puzzled me that Blenz management doesn't mind this, especially when patrons end up leaving without buying anything because of all these school-supplies-filled chairs.
With that warning, I would still advise a visit if you're in the neighbourhood. A good time to go is on weekends, especially in the late mornings. The place is quiet and there's lots of room, and it's a nice atmosphere with a cozy community feel to it as people of all ages pop in on their morning walk with the dog or the grandkids.
The good:
The café. Surrounded by mostly glass walls, it's filled with natural light. They offer specialty teas including the type that have a flower bloom in the teapot once you've filled it with water. Neato!
The staff. I don't know what it is but they have GREAT staff at this Blenz. Unpretentious, genuinely friendly and they don't take themselves too seriously. Always a nice vibe with them!
The coffee. Blenz Coffee is never over roasted. I love Starbucks too, but often it hurts my tummy and tastes a little burnt sometimes.
Recommendations:
-Dark Belgian hot cocoa:
Made with real pieces of Belgian chocolate, so rich and thick and delectable. Deadly good! They also make it in regular milk chocolate as well as a white chocolate version.
-Caramel Macchiato
To die for as well. I have a certain weakness for caramel. They do it beautifully here!
-London Fog Latte
Soothing, blend of Earl Grey and steamed milk, very nicely done, perfect for fall weather especially
-Mango Rooibos
This decaf tea with a touch of honey is great when you're feeling a little under the weather
-Vanilla Steamed Soymilk
For the lactose intolerant like myself, if you don't have Lactaid handy, get a steamed soymilk with a shot of vanilla (there are sugar-free versions of their syrups too) and a sprinkling of cinnamon
Summer Drink:
Iced Peach Green tea with honey. Refreshing and tasty without being too sweet.
Eats:
Their cinnamon buns are pretty good, so long as they are warmed up enough to ensure you don't get chewy/tough spots. Banana loaf is always moist and tender. Excellent warmed up with a slathering of butter
They usually have several types of pastries and sandwiches available. They get their baked goods from a bakery somewhere off site and their stock changes from day-to-day. Samosas and sausage rolls are also a couple of mainstays. Sandwiches are good enough, but do you really want to pay six dollars for a day-old sandwich when Subway is just a few steps away...?
There's always a good stack of newspapers and pseudo-newspapers like the Metro and 24. They carry the National Post and the Globe and mail along with the Sun and the Province as well.
All in all, still a nice café, just not on school nights! read more