Author: Adam Gottlieb,
Citizen Journalist

For a recap, we are talking about places between Royal Oak and McTavish, on East or West Saanich or within a stone’s throw of it, and whose main business is café-style drinks and snacks. Go with a few bucks, nothing more, and an appetite. Start at upper East Saanich and loop around to West. Ready… go!!

Spelt’s Coffee Shop
Since: 1971
Represented by: Ron
Address: 7856 East Saanich Road
Phone: 250-652-7609
Hours: M-Su 7am-9pm
Free wifi?: no
Drink to have 1st time: Coffee
Snack to have 1st time: Donuts (yes, more than one)
Ambiance: Average Joe
Favourite story involving a customer: The 9 o’clock gang, with their table – and the 10 o’clock gang – and the 11 o’clock…
Hardest thing about running this kind of business: Finding out what’s changing in what people want
Secret attraction: Fill up on gas in the same stop

Fresh Cup Roastery Café
Since: 2002
Represented by: Tyler
Address: 104-1931 Mt Newton X Road
Phone: 250-652-5678
Hours: M-Su 7am-5:30pm
Free wifi?: no
Drink to have 1st time: Latte
Snack to have 1st time: Grillen chicken & brie sandwich
Ambiance: Family-oriented, welcoming
Favourite story involving a customer: The couple who comes in to take care of us
Hardest thing about running this kind of business: Doing it right the first time
Secret attraction: House-roasted coffee beans brewed or bagged

Tonolli’s Deli
Since: 2011
Represented by: Sue
Address: 6991 East Saanich Road
Phone: 778-426-2822
Hours: Tu-F 8:30am-6pm, Sa 9am-5 pm, Su 9:30am-4pm
Free wifi?: yes
Drink to have 1st time: Raspberry Italian soda
Snack to have 1st time: Gluten-free chocolate torte
Ambiance: Small European scratch café
Favourite story involving a customer: Peter who kept asking for poached eggs til we put them on the menu
Hardest thing about running this kind of business: The long hours
Secret attraction: Fridge full of Hungarian meals to go

Georgie’s Café and Emporium
Since: 2004
Represented by: Georgie
Address: 2-4649 West Saanich Road
Phone: 250-479-6747
Hours: M-F 7:30am-4pm, Sa 8:30am-4 pm, Su 9am-4pm
Free wifi?: no
Drink to have 1st time: Latte
Snack to have 1st time: Breakfast bagel
Ambiance: Family-friendly, down-to-earth
Favourite story involving a customer: Getting to know all the regulars
Hardest thing about running this kind of business: Making money
Secret attraction: Scrumptious pet treats

Tia’s Heritage Café
Unavailable for interview
Address: 5303 West Saanich Road
Phone: 250-590-4912
Secret attraction: “Prospect Lake Reflections” beautiful local history book
JJ’s Coffee House
Since: 2008
Represented by: Jennifer & Alicia
Address: 7088 West Saanich Road
Phone: 250-544-4344
Hours: M-F 7am-7pm, Sa-Su 8am-6pm
Free wifi?: yes
Drink to have 1st time: Long-brewed americano
Snack to have 1st time: Fresh baked muffin or scone
Ambiance: Cozy, community-oriented
Favourite story involving a customer: pass
Hardest thing about running this kind of business: Staying fully stocked with top quality items
Secret attraction: TV & computer for customers

Screaming Bird Café
Since: 2010
Represented by: Logan
Address: 1191 Verdier Avenue
Phone: 250-652-5162
Hours: Tu-Sa 7:30am-3:30pm
Free wifi?: no
Drink to have 1st time: Strawberry milkshake
Snack to have 1st time: Ham & cheese croissant
Ambiance: Homey
Favourite story involving a customer: People coming in every day and saying how much they love it
Hardest thing about running this kind of business: Covering all the ground at once
Secret attraction: Homemade pizza

Honourable mention
– where you can also get tea or coffee and snacks:
R n R Diner, 7816 East Saanich Road, 250-652-9966
Prairie Inn Neighbourhood Pub, 7806 East Saanich Road, 250-652-1575
Red Barn Market, 5550 West Saanich Road, 250-658-2998
Sassy’s Family Restaurant, 6719 West Saanich Road, 250-652-1764
Bleue Coyote Bar & Grill, 7100 Wallace Drive, 250-652-3252
Zanzibar, 1164 Stelly’s X Road, 250-544-1475

With apologies for any errors or omissions. Send corrections to: [email protected]. This story was written on a volunteer basis and no freebies were received.