"Has this place always been here?" My boys asked, when I brought them up to the top floor of Village Books and instead of heading to the shelf of graphic novels turned left to find evolve chocolate and cafe tucked away behind the rows of bookshelves. Well, yes and no. There has been a cafe for years, but Evolve are the new owners, and wow what a treat! From savory breakfast sandwiches and GF/DF superfood smoothies (blueberries, ginger, turmeric all blended deliciously together), to pastries, cookies, homemade pies and more... you shouldn't pass on the chance to grab a bite or a treat anytime you are in Fairhaven. There are also weekly multiple course dinners... one of my achievable resolutions for 2019 is to make it to at least one! A peaceful cafe setting with views of the Bay, delectable eats and floors full of books to browse when you've been fed. Evolve Chocolate + Cafe inside Village Books in Fairhaven (Bellingham) is a little corner of heaven. read more

Evolve Chocolate + Cafe - Big portions! This is half of the hearty breakfast sandwich. Great view to enjoy breakfast, with the view of blue skies over the Bay. - Cafes Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

I came here mid afternoon looking to have a coffee and work on my laptop. The location used to be one of my favorite spots in Bellingham, good coffee, space to work or talk, good lighting and a view! The new space is now very unwelcoming, with limited seating, and frankly, rude service. I was even disappointed in the new decor. I was told by a staff member that they would be "serving supper", another customer asked what that entailed and received an unpleasant response. read more

The menu said the tea was $2.50, and I ordered it iced which brought the total up to more than $4. When I asked why, the woman behind the counter snapped at me and told me it was for the extra labor of making the tea iced (so pouring the hot water over a glass of ice) and the extra resources it takes to make the drink (ice) and she said this to me pretty defensively and rudely. It's a small thing, but to me, that's a massive up-charge that I wasn't warned about, it almost double the cost of the drink. The staff isn't as friendly as the previous team were, and the whole cafe just doesn't have the same charm it used to; the environment isn't as welcoming to be in anymore. read more

Great. Everything I've ever eaten here is excellent, yet today's Crispy Potato Cakes were astonishing. Whatever glaze they used on this gluten-free wonder sent me into paroxysms of delight. My tastebuds were dancing like nobody was watching. I have Evolved. I suggest you do the same. read more

Was really looking forward to experiencing this new place and especially looking forward to some great chocolate. The choices in truffles were not at all appealing. Combinations that sounded dreadful. So I ordered hot chocolate and a gluten free chocolate chip cookie. The hot chocolate was awful; more like packed that you buy at the grocery store. The cookie equally unappealing with melting chocolate that made eating it a mess. I do not like to write a poor review; much prefer to laud a place than 'dis it. Just a disappointing experience. The help was meh! Maybe it was Sunday and just not the right day. My party and I agreed, we'd tried it and probably wouldn't do so again. Too bad. read more

I've been by twice late in the evening just to get a little quiet and a little sweet. I've had the ginger lemon tart both times and it is pure joy. I was too close to closing one night so I didn't get the coffee but I look forward to indulging my sweet tooth here again. Really hoping to stop by earlier in the day to try their savory meal items as well. The people behind the counter seem sweet too. read more

Super impressed with this new addition to Fairhaven. A much more interesting menu than the venue that occupied this space before. They even have an interesting cocktail menu! I had the grits with avocado, goat cheese and roasted beets. It was phenomenal! Will be back. read more

Pretentious, overpriced, rude management (Shannon Fox), and you're paying $5 for a cup of coffee and $13 for a tiny plate of food at a restaurant/cafe (can't make up it's mind) wherein you have to bus your own table. Bring back the old cafe with good prices and a nice atmosphere, this place is horrible. read more

Rude customer service. The hosts are not at all gracious, and quite elitist. Unless you are paying for their five-course dinner, they don't seem interested in treating you like a customer. Their truffles are questionable at best. Chocolate and wasabi? Chocolate and ginger? I bought a batch to try them, and we never even finished the box. Those were their only vegan options, and they were very disappointing. Once their dinners get started, they become quite disruptively loud for a bookstore. Everyone else is sitting and trying to read while they are filling the whole store with their chatter. As a regular patron of Village books, I would really rather have the old bookside cafe back. read more

This is a nice place to have a cup of coffee or some food. But it is also the most expensive cup of coffee in Fairhaven! Even the first refill costs $1.00 after paying $3.43 for the first cup! The seating area is cramped and does not offer any outlets. At Tony's just around the corner, you can get unlimited coffee for $2.30 (and they offer a variety of roasts). read more

I wanted to like this place, as I consider Village Books and Paper Dreams one of my favorite spots in Bellingham. But they are just too pretentious. Get over yourselves and let college students study in the cafe. read more

Extremely rude owner. Unbelievably high prices, especially for a cup of coffee. Bring back the reasonably priced cafe with a warm vibe and ownership before this expensive, poorly run establishment came along! read more

The first thing I noticed was how unwelcoming the hostess was to me, although the woman who served me was very kind. I wasn't thrilled with the fact they charged you a dollar for coffee that is originally $3 (and under-filled!) The yogurt served with the granola was the consistency and taste of thickened half and half, and the granola I was served was extremely stale to the point where I couldn't finish it. Lastly, one of their smoke alarms obviously needed a battery change and was beeping loudly every few moments. I left a few moments after receiving my food, which went into the compost. I'm disappointed as I loved the last cafe that was here. read more

My partner liked their beet shrub but my frittata came cold in the middle. Disappointed with their customer service and the method for rehearting prepared food. read more

Wow, awesome restaurant... the best food in Bellingham! We went Saturday night and enjoyed the Pre Fix dinner menu. Every bite was a taste explosion to satisfy the senses. Shannon and Christy are amazing chefs and restauranteurs. read more

Pretentious prices ($5 cappuccino???) and pretentious attitude. The folks who gave 5 stars obviously have never visited the Village Books Cafe before it was Evolve. This is an order-at-the-counter, bus-your-own-table space that has always offered an open, inviting, student-friendly, work-friendly, read-your-book-that-you-just bought-with-a-coffee atmosphere...until now. So I can't work on my laptop while sitting next to trash/recycle/compost bins? This is Bellingham, a laid-back, ultra-casual college/retirement town and Fairhaven is a quaint pocket within this town which is anything but pretentious. It appears my opinion is not in the minority as the day I visited was a sunny Sunday in May when it normally would have been packed (as it has always been in past years) and it was EMPTY. I suppose I will wait for whomever replaces Evolve because I refuse to support an establishment that apparently doesn't want to support the community it serves. Know thy customer. p.s. And if you want REALLY good chocolate and truffles, go to Forte in the BellisFair Mall or on-line - they have actually won INTERNATIONAL awards (gold and silver medals) for their truffles/chocolates. And, no, I do not work for Forte nor know anyone associated with them. read more

We've anxiously been awaiting their opening and our first visit didn't disappoint. I was delighted with my curried lentil bowl and my husband's pork mole sandwich on a house made bun with scrumptious. Prices are pretty much in line with this area, and our server was pleasant and food was delivered promptly. We stopped to look at the truffles - you can't leave a chocolate store without chocolate - the person behind the counter initially acted as tho we were bothering her, but perhaps caught my "look" and the transaction ended pleasantly. The truffles are tiny but, are literally, melt in your mouth to die for. Can't wait to return for a dinner date! read more

I have been waiting, waiting, waiting for this place to open, expecting great things from Christie and Shannon. Indeed the food is spectacular, with good vegetarian options. We shared a variety of things, including an incredible blueberry-cured gravlax with burrata, a fantastic Spanish-style tuna sandwich, and a delicious egg and vegetable pie. Dessert was a wickedly good lemon tart with a ginger crust. Sigh...it's just all exactly what one would expect from these two goddesses. We look forward to going again soon! read more

Found a beautiful little gem with this cafe above Village Books. We found out was a "soft opening!" You would have thought they had been open for years. The food was unique and full of tastes exploding in your mouth. Try the Federal Sazerac cocktail! The view is spectacular. I had the chicken mole sandwich and tasted the albacore sandwich! YUMMM!!! read more