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Review based on hot chocolate only. Got a hot chocolate here since my partner was craving! It was $6 flat for a large hot milk chocolate. Cash only. The hot chocolate was okay--hit the spot enough. But it was way too milky and not very dense with chocolate flavour. Perhaps on the sweeter side as well (but not sweet with chocolate, sweet with sugar). Service was quick and friendly. It was a bustling café with all the seats filled up on a Sunday afternoon. They also serve gelato, which is neat!
The second time was as good as the first. I went out of my norm and I induldged in a Rum & Raisin Gelato absolutely delicious.
Finally found a place where I can speak Italian! Be prepared, cash only but there are a ton of banks nearby. Coffee is really good and such good prices! They also have a ton of seating inside. I have to come back to try all the bakery items. They looked seclusion's. I got a latte macchiato and loved it.
We had lunch here and it was a pleasant surprise. The sandwiches were huge and the bread was fresh and toasted. Frank was friendly and the service was quick and efficient. We will be back.
BONJOURNO! I scream like a little Italian kid every time I walk into this amazing place honestly. The Boys are always smiling and the customers are equally as pleasant. This is the real Italy of Vancouver folks! Eat & drink everything they offer & take some coffee home trust me - you'll be craving more! CIAO CIAO! Xo Duran
One of last true Italian coffee bars. I love this place and when I am I'm the area I always drop in. Great selection and true Italian espresso.
I was brought to this cafe first by my Italian in-laws who kidnapped (oops! Invited) me to have some Italian experience while in vancouver! And they described the place as an authentic italian cafe. And since that first time I became a regular customer whenever I'm around the area! So I've been to this cafe many times now and what I like about the place is that you get good coffee, nice panini with flavourful cold-cuts and you can enjoy a clean sitting space! Also I think that the guys who run the cafe are funny and cool, but this is applies to them when I have my Italian in-laws with me! otherwise, I'm completely anther customers! What I don't like abou this cafe is that you need to get cash to pay for your coffee! come on that's far from being comfortable Cafe Calabira. I don't know who carries cash in his/her pocket! (no seriously who got cash in her/his pocket now?, I don't). So several times I had to go out of the shop, walk across the street to get some cash and come back! some other times I just went to another cafe in the cafe-full street! I aslo don't like the cafe when it is not that busy, because they shot the lights off on the unused side of the shop, and that turns the place into a haunted house, esp with the distinctive decoration and statues that have in place :S not always inviting! But during busy hours, this place has a special character that worth checking out while you're in commercial drive!
My sister and I were walking along Commercial Drive and were hungry for lunch. Good thing we stopped inside of this place. The paninis are amazingly delicious. We were told The Frank Sandwich is a popular one so we had to try it. I understand why it is a popular sandwich. The meat slices are flavorful. The melted cheese and the toasted bread is like icing on the cake. My sister also had a cappuccino and was in love with it. If bold coffee is your liking, this hits the spot. The decor it wonderful too. Sculptures in the dinning area. The dinning area is a little tight, so don't fret if you are almost shoulder to shoulder with your neighbors =). Service was great. They were friendly and though there was a bit of a lunch rush, service was quick!
The Frank's Special is amazing, as is the Tasty Turkey. The crowd is diverse and the coffee is excellent, as is the service. We feel really comfortable here! 2 sandwiches and a large mocha was $20. That's a lil pricey but we were very satisfied.
Great atmosphere, coffee and Service. I Spent the afternoon at the Drive and had to make sure I checked out Cafe Calabria and say hi to Frank. I ordered a cappuccino and was served quickly with a smile. The cappuccino was great and I loved the atmosphere. I said hi to Frank, the owner and had a nice chat with him. He's always there making sure his customers got great service. saying hello to all those who walk in. I would always recommend to anyone to check out the place enjoy a coffee and say hi to Frank.
I found myself down on Commercial Drive this afternoon. I guess in the day it would be referred to as "Little Italy". After I parked I asked my friend where do you want to eat? He said what about the Japanese restaurant across the street? My reaction... 'When in Rome....' (we're in Little Italy why are we going to a Japanese restaurant?). Anyways I convinced him to try something more congruent to the environment we were in! Some how we ended up at Cafe Calabria. This place is a coffee shop/sandwich shop. When one walks in one is immediately struck by the authentic Italian decor and atmosphere. I think the guy who served us was named Tony! He has a receding mohawk and gold chains on his chest. I'm sure Vito Corleone, Frank Pentangeli, and the rest of the cast of the Godfather we're having coffee in the back! Haha Well this place is a gem! I had the tasty turkey sandwich, and a coconut cake. Both were fresh and very good! I'll come back soon to sit and have a coffee at one of their outdoor tables! Pretend to myself that I'm in Italy! Arrivederci!
I'm so glad to have found this gem! The place is oozing Italian charm, from the gratuitous decoration to the music to the selection of Italian cookies and gelato. The owner is so nice and obviously has poured a lot of love into the place. I came around 7 for dinner and the shop was initially empty except for myself and one other person, which surprised me, but soon after I sat down, customers started trickling in, many of whom seemed to be regulars. Regular or not, everyone was given the same attention and amiability from the owner. I had a decaf almond milk latte, a vegetarian panini, and some gelato. The latte ($4) was simple and done just right, the espresso had a pleasant taste. The panini was great! Lots of vegetables, fresh and flavourful, and I loved the optional hot pepper relish. This was $10 but it was pretty big! I was also very happy with the gelato! I ordered 2 scoops, spumone and rum raisin, expecting the scoops to be about the same size as they are at most gelato shops in Vancouver (tiny), but the owner looked like he was actively trying to get as much gelato as possible onto the scoop when he served me, and the scoops were probably twice the size that I was expecting for about the same price ($7). The gelato was delicious and had a good consistency. It's super rare for me to be in the Commercial Drive/Little Italy area, but I really hope to be back here some day! read more
Lovely Italian coffee shop that also serves sandwiches and gelato. It was my first time there but from the interaction of the staff/owners with other customers, I can tell it's a popular establishment in the community with a lot of loyal customers. I tried the Frank's Special Sandwich which had cappicollo, mortadella, mozzarella cheese, eggplant (pickled), lettuce and tomato in it. The sandwich bread was soft but also toasted to a nice crisp. The filling was pretty generous. I also tried their mocha with whipped cream. It's heartwarming. Cafe Calabria's interior design is quirkily maximalist. There are a lot of white statues and their ceilings are painted. There's a fountain inside the cafe too. It's fun to spend an hour there sipping a coffee while enjoying the fun atmosphere. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
Review based on hot chocolate only. Got a hot chocolate here since my partner was craving! It was $6 flat for a large hot milk chocolate. Cash only. The hot chocolate was okay--hit the spot enough. But it was way too milky and not very dense with chocolate flavour. Perhaps on the sweeter side as well (but not sweet with chocolate, sweet with sugar). Service was quick and friendly. It was a bustling café with all the seats filled up on a Sunday afternoon. They also serve gelato, which is neat! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
The second time was as good as the first. I went out of my norm and I induldged in a Rum & Raisin Gelato absolutely delicious. read more
Finally found a place where I can speak Italian! Be prepared, cash only but there are a ton of banks nearby. Coffee is really good and such good prices! They also have a ton of seating inside. I have to come back to try all the bakery items. They looked seclusion's. I got a latte macchiato and loved it. read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
BONJOURNO! I scream like a little Italian kid every time I walk into this amazing place honestly. The Boys are always smiling and the customers are equally as pleasant. This is the real Italy of Vancouver folks! Eat & drink everything they offer & take some coffee home trust me - you'll be craving more! CIAO CIAO! Xo Duran read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
6 years ago
One of last true Italian coffee bars. I love this place and when I am I'm the area I always drop in. Great selection and true Italian espresso. read more
4 years ago
I was brought to this cafe first by my Italian in-laws who kidnapped (oops! Invited) me to have some Italian experience while in vancouver! And they described the place as an authentic italian cafe. And since that first time I became a regular customer whenever I'm around the area! So I've been to this cafe many times now and what I like about the place is that you get good coffee, nice panini with flavourful cold-cuts and you can enjoy a clean sitting space! Also I think that the guys who run the cafe are funny and cool, but this is applies to them when I have my Italian in-laws with me! otherwise, I'm completely anther customers! What I don't like abou this cafe is that you need to get cash to pay for your coffee! come on that's far from being comfortable Cafe Calabira. I don't know who carries cash in his/her pocket! (no seriously who got cash in her/his pocket now?, I don't). So several times I had to go out of the shop, walk across the street to get some cash and come back! some other times I just went to another cafe in the cafe-full street! I aslo don't like the cafe when it is not that busy, because they shot the lights off on the unused side of the shop, and that turns the place into a haunted house, esp with the distinctive decoration and statues that have in place :S not always inviting! But during busy hours, this place has a special character that worth checking out while you're in commercial drive! read more
My sister and I were walking along Commercial Drive and were hungry for lunch. Good thing we stopped inside of this place. The paninis are amazingly delicious. We were told The Frank Sandwich is a popular one so we had to try it. I understand why it is a popular sandwich. The meat slices are flavorful. The melted cheese and the toasted bread is like icing on the cake. My sister also had a cappuccino and was in love with it. If bold coffee is your liking, this hits the spot. The decor it wonderful too. Sculptures in the dinning area. The dinning area is a little tight, so don't fret if you are almost shoulder to shoulder with your neighbors =). Service was great. They were friendly and though there was a bit of a lunch rush, service was quick! read more
12 years ago
The Frank's Special is amazing, as is the Tasty Turkey. The crowd is diverse and the coffee is excellent, as is the service. We feel really comfortable here! 2 sandwiches and a large mocha was $20. That's a lil pricey but we were very satisfied. read more
13 years ago
Great atmosphere, coffee and Service. I Spent the afternoon at the Drive and had to make sure I checked out Cafe Calabria and say hi to Frank. I ordered a cappuccino and was served quickly with a smile. The cappuccino was great and I loved the atmosphere. I said hi to Frank, the owner and had a nice chat with him. He's always there making sure his customers got great service. saying hello to all those who walk in. I would always recommend to anyone to check out the place enjoy a coffee and say hi to Frank. read more
13 years ago
I found myself down on Commercial Drive this afternoon. I guess in the day it would be referred to as "Little Italy". After I parked I asked my friend where do you want to eat? He said what about the Japanese restaurant across the street? My reaction... 'When in Rome....' (we're in Little Italy why are we going to a Japanese restaurant?). Anyways I convinced him to try something more congruent to the environment we were in! Some how we ended up at Cafe Calabria. This place is a coffee shop/sandwich shop. When one walks in one is immediately struck by the authentic Italian decor and atmosphere. I think the guy who served us was named Tony! He has a receding mohawk and gold chains on his chest. I'm sure Vito Corleone, Frank Pentangeli, and the rest of the cast of the Godfather we're having coffee in the back! Haha Well this place is a gem! I had the tasty turkey sandwich, and a coconut cake. Both were fresh and very good! I'll come back soon to sit and have a coffee at one of their outdoor tables! Pretend to myself that I'm in Italy! Arrivederci! read more
8 years ago
What a pleasant surprise. Didn't expect to see such rich culture just inside. When we walked inside we see the statues, the paintings on the ceiling, and Italian music as if you're in an Italian museum. I said this reminds me of Italy I traveled there in March and (I think he was) the owner told, "me you are in Italy!" I asked him where he's from, he said Calabria --which makes sense now why it's called the Café Calabria I asked for an espresso sized coffee but a larger size than just a single shot and it came in this perfect medium but still very Italian and still small size cup (it was double espresso) The kind of place where everybody knows your name and the gentleman drinking coffee there all seemed to be regulars who all know each other. Warm friendly feeling. When my boyfriend went to pay we realized it's cash only and he thought he only had a five dollar bill... the total came to nine dollars and believe it or not the owner told us to don't worry about it but luckily we had enough extra change between us to pay the bill. Be mindful that it's cash only !!! Do NOT count on the owner telling you it's OK even if he does haha read more
I LOVE this place. For many years I've walked by and just peeked inside after noticing it looked like a piece of Italy was stolen and place inside the building. Seriously, does Vector work here?! ( That was a despicable me reference...lol) Such an interesting place with many statues and even a water fountain in one spot. Anyways, one day my GF and I were making random lists and needed a place to just sit and have a coffee but couldn't think of anywhere until we drove by and decided we'd see what it was like. The place is massive, tons of seating and beautiful rustic Italian music playing mixed with oldies, it legitimately felt like we were in a small cafe in Italy. The menu is huge with lots of specialty coffees, sandwiched and even gelato. The only thing that is confusing is that there aren't any prices listed beside the items so when we ordered we had no clue how much it would be until he told us and that kinda sucks because it's CASH ONLY. Luckily we pinched our pennies together and had enough for 2 drinks and a biscotti (Prices vary from $3-$6ish for drinks and $3 ish for a biscotti). The coffees are made extremely well and tasted really good but the biscotti was the main attraction, it was beautifully soft and have a really great chocolate flavor. I enjoyed the ambiance of this place and the products they serve, can't really complain. The one thing I will say is that if you aren't paying attention when you choose a table you might see yourself at eye-level with a sculpture of David's wang in your face...yea even though it was just a sculpture I decided we had to change seats in case someone got a picture of my head eye-level with ...it's head. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY MEMES COULD BE MADE ?! read more
18 years ago
Full of elderly well-dressed professionals, this classic coffee shop caters to those who enjoy thorough ambiance with their latte and biscotti. With the David-eque statues and high ceiling mirrors, it aims to reflect a European museum, perfect for those willing to pay out a little extra for some textbook culture. The baristas are a little smug, and the music is mostly Euro-pop, but the little water fountain on the upper level makes all of the detractors forgivable. Classy and thick, most of the clientele are wearing leather shoes and speaking in foreign languages, but it adds to the overall feel. Aside from coffee, customers can also get Italian pastries, gourmet ice cream, and high end sandwiches. A nice place to have a conversation while feeling as though you're backpacking through Venice. read more
4 years ago
15 years ago
Nice atmosphere, really reminiscent of an Italian bar. Just a few notes: there are no prices on the menu so who knows if they are consistent with each customer. I didn't care for their menu style at all. I ordered a caffe latte and a pizza taglio. Caffe: fresh pulled shot - yay, but still not sure how much it cost me. wish they had raw or brown sugar, but it was good. Pizza/focaccia: They put cheese on their calabrese (Focaccia with tomato sauce) and called it a Margherita pizza. The cheese wasn't entirely melted, and even though there was very little sauce (the bread was practically dry, except for a stain of red on top), it sure left a lot of oil on my hands. Meh. Would not get this again. Maybe their sandwiches are better. Total bill: $11. Not worth it, but the brothers were polite & prompt and their restroom was clean. read more
8 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
No offence but I've had better coffee boiled in a pot while camping. Time to get better beans and get with the times otherwise, fuggettabouit! read more
That's Amore! This truly Italian cafe is an institution on the drive. If the elaborate statues and Italian flags don't catch your eye, surely the sandwiches people are scarfing outside this joint will have your mouth watering! I have been to Cafe Calabria more times than I can count and I'm never disappointed. Before you head here, hot tip: get cash! They don't take anything else. There are two things you have to get when you stop in, a cappuccino and a sandwich! Both together are exquisite. Today my mom and I shared the sandwich called "The Bun" which had three meats, eggplant, banana peppers, lettuce and tomato and cheese. The sandwich is packed with flavour and they warm it up in a press so you've got some heat to it. A perfect snack and afternoon bite to share. One sandwich to yourself will have you satisfied and full! For the perfect combo I ordered a cappuccino - the foam is out of this world exceptional. What I remember my cappuccino to be like in Italy! Forget your franchise, they don't know what's up like these Italian brothers. Thanks again Calabria, will be back in no time. read more
17 years ago
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