Finch's Tea & Coffee House

Sandwich should be a foodgroup.
If there was any logic in that sentence, I misplaced it.

Say hello to Finch's Tea & Coffee House. A quaint, dated little nook. A proverbial ray of sunshine on the border of the dingy and chic parts of Gastown.

Beautiful decor, beautiful menu, the only thing that stopped me from committing myself to traveling here every day to take in everything Finch's had to offer was the fact that it was ridiculously small and ridiculously busy. Try getting a spot to sit and relax here. (Okay, I was able to, but I felt really bad for taking up space needlessly while others stood and waited).

I placed my order, and waited, sharing a table for the first few minutes with another gentleman finishing up his lunch (crowded). It did take a little longer to come my way, but I was in no rush and the wait wasn't unwarranted by any means. The place was absolutely abuzz. My sandwich, the Fresh Apple -- applewood smokekd cheddar, apple, grapes and walnuts with a white balsamic glaze ($8.75), was one of the specials they had posted for the day, and along with my (blackplease) coffee, this was absolutely charming. Let's get a closer look shall we?

The presentation is beautiful. Look how carefully they layer the cheese and apples. The fruit is fresh, the cheese is smooth, the mix just works.

I was not the biggest fan of the baguette though. It was the traditional french baguette, with that wonderful crisp crust (hard enough to slice the top of your mouth), and substantial bready interior (served cold).
I shouldn't be complaining really. It was a french baguette, done correctly, and done well-- so this is on all account about personal taste. I would have loved these toppings and presentation on, say, a viet sub baguette, or a warm baguette, or a lighter baguette, anything.

I could also say that, minus the presentation, you could probably whip up something similar on your own.

BUT. Does a well accomplished chef say s/he'll stop going to dinner parties because he can probably out-cook his hosts? No. Because that would make him/her an asshole. It's more than simply the food, it's the atmosphere, it's the enjoyment you get from visiting, and I very much enjoyed myself.

In short, I would say visit Finch's. It may be your thing, it may not (and with the premium pricing, for some, it may really be not). But it's got a good thing going, a nice little variety (soups, baguettes, salads, cheeseplates, multitude of teas), and it is worth at least a try.