Café Replika
Informations
:With its inviting space and pleasant vibe, Café Replika is the perfect spot to sip a latte, read a book, meet friends, enjoy a meal, and just relax.
What she thought
Another Montréal day dawns sunny and pleasant for bike riding. We got on our metallic steeds and headed from Verdun to the Plateau and Café Replika. This café is just a year old and already enjoys an established clientele. When we arrived around 2 PM or so, the café was fairly busy with a good number of people enjoying a variety of activities.
- Coffee: A latte was not one of the Indie Coffee Passport choices at this café, so I ordered a cappuccino. (See photo above.) The barista told us that the café uses Espresso Godshot by local roaster Café Saint-Henri. I am not a fan of this roast; I prefer Holy Cow/Saint Vache by the same roaster. That being said, the cappuccino I had was very good, even if a fair amount of bubbles formed shortly after it was served. The crema was rich and tasty. The steamed milk seemed to highlight the bright coffee flavors, including a nutty zest. I mentioned to the barista that this was the best tasting Godshot Espresso drink I had ever had. After enjoying my cappuccino experience, I decided to order a latte which Michel and I shared. (See photo below.) As with the cappuccino, the latte was served in a glass, albeit a larger one. The latte was also well poured and had a good balance between coffee and milk. The flavors were not as bright or as evident as they had been in the cappuccino.
- Seating: Café Replika offers its clients a large, well lit space with different seating options. If you like bar seating, you can choose to sit in front of one of the large windows or along the opposite wall. If you prefer to lounge a bit, you can sit in the couch area. Shared seating is offered at 3 large tables, one of which is round. And for those looking for the more traditional café experience, there are smaller tables with chairs that will remind you of your school days no matter how old you are. Outside are 2 attached benches positioned in front of the 2 large windows (a reverse window seat if you will), offering clients the opportunity to take some sun while enjoying their latte, cappuccino, or Turkish coffee.
- Atmosphere: Warm and welcoming with a touch of whimsy (check out the 4 framed photos on the wall) is how I would describe the atmosphere. The knowledgeable and friendly barista staff graciously answered questions we had about the café, the coffee, and the food—we each had a Pom-Pom, an apple-walnut pastry that is part pie, part turnover, and completely delicious. What a delightful café!
Final Thoughts: With its inviting space and pleasant vibe, Café Replika is the perfect spot to sip a latte, read a book, meet friends, enjoy a meal, and just relax.
Ce qu’il en pense
On connaissait l’adresse lorsque celle-ci abritait la Brûlerie du Vieux Ste-Rose. L’endroit est toujours aussi accueillant et confortable. On a plusieurs choix pour s’asseoir : une grande table, des petites tables à deux, des bars, un sofa. Il n’y avait aucune musique lors de notre visite, ce qui n’était pas une vilaine chose. Les jeunes propriétaires sont d’origine turque, le menu a aussi une influence de ce pays : choix de mezze, sandwich simit sur bagel maison et, bien sûr, café turc.
Ce qui nous intéressait était le café latté, nous avons donc commandé deux cappuccinos, ce qui semblait le meilleur rapport lait/café. Le latté et le cappuccino sont préparés tout les deux avec un double espresso, le latté contient cependant plus de lait. Le café utilisé pour l’espresso est le Godshot, du torréfacteur montréalais Saint-Henri. Le café est bien extrait, le goût est même plus agréable que ce qui est servi au Café Saint-Henri, avec les mêmes grains.
Comme nous n’avons pas eu l’occasion cette fois de goûter au menu invitant de ce charmant café, nous avons l’excuse parfaite pour le visiter de nouveau. Peut-être que cette prochaine fois, nous aurons aussi le courage de tenter l’expérience du café turc!
- Le café (cappuccino): bien préparé, nous avons été surpris des résultats obtenus avec ce café que nous trouvons habituellement bien ordinaire (le Godshot de Saint-Henri). Je tiens à préciser ici que le Holy Cow de Saint-Henri est un de nos choix café à la maison.
- Les lieux: un grand espace confortable pouvant accommoder autant les habitués que les visiteurs de passage.
- Le personnel: nous n’avons pas rencontré les propriétaires, mais nous avons discuté avec les employés autant sympathiques qu’habiles à la machine espresso.