First Look: Sitka Cafe

A dish at Sitka Cafe. photo by Dean Azim. L to R) Cafe Manager Ashley Kazenbroot, Kyle Kellough, and Ali Snee. photo by Deanna Ladret

With all the recently opened shops popping up along gentrified lower Yates, it’s hard to keep up with what’s new. For those of us who watched Steamer’s close its doors a couple of years ago and wondered when the space would again be occupied, that day has arrived (well, actually, it arrived in October) with the unveiling of Sitka’s newly recolated retail space and their newest venture, Sitka Cafe.

Located within the same room as Sitka’s retail shop, Sitka Cafe is built in the same rustic, salvaged-wood design as the rest of the

space. The casual cafe serves breakfast, paninis, wraps, and salads, as well as espresso drinks and assorted cold beverages. The emphasis here is healthy, local and organic when possible, reflected in the menu created by Nutrional Chef Mikaela Reuben. A Red Quinoa Salad, Inca Porridge, the Reubeano Breakfast Burrito, and a Quesadilla with Fresh Pear Salsa are some of the culinary highlights.

A dish at Sitka Cafe. Photo by Dean Azim

Besides sourcing raw ingredients from Saanich Organics, SPUD, and Red Barn Market, Sitka Cafe also brings in products from local and regional businesses like Wildfire Bakery, cookies, The Granola King, and Natural Pastures Cheese Company. Discovery Coffee-trained staff, Discovery Coffee beans, and a no-nonsense Nuova Simonelli machine declares the cafe’s legitimate commitment to good java.

Sitka Cafe Manager Ashlee Kazenbroot was eager to emphasize Sitka’s commitment to the environment through their “no plastic” policy and implementation of biodegradable utensils, cups and napkins. Items like porridge and salads can be packed for takeout in a returnable mason jar.

Interior of Sitka Cafe (photo by Dean Azim)

With all the health food, salvaged funky furniture and copies of the International Socialist Review lying around, it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of one of Victoria’s favourite surf/snow/skate gear stores. In fact, it’s pretty effective cross-merchandising. Really, what could be better than browsing surfboards, coffee table books and west coast apparel while someone makes you a cappuccino?

570 Yates Street

Victoria, BC

www.sitkasurfboards.com