by Louisa Cohen

Start waiting in line now… yep … right now. That is if you want to get a table on Sunday morning. I may be exaggerating a tad, but the line-up is no joke at Medina Café on Beatty next to Chambar (both are blessings from the Chambar Restaurant Corporation). This narrow space serves up a brunch so good you get the evil eye from the passer-byers, and feel a sense of entitlement just for landing a seat in the joint.

Anyone that knows me knows I hate waiting in lines. I won’t wait to get into a club…I’d rather change in the middle of a store then get a change-room…but I have no pride, nor shame when it comes to waiting for food. I will starve with a Ghandi mentality for Café Medina.

When Medina originally opened they carried over Chambar’s Belgian theme and served only expert coffee and Belgian waffles for ‘sweet sustenance’ as they say. When I try and describe to people what the waffles at Medina are like, I say ‘its what you’re most likely served when you arrive at the gates of heaven and it happens to be morning…or time for a nosh’. I shouldn’t fail to mention that these waffles are served with your choice of topping be it lavender infused milk chocolate, yogurt, dark chocolate, or fig jam.

Before you run out the door, know that they now serve full dishes as well. My favorite is the Fricassé: 2 fried eggs, braised short ribs, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, arugula, applewood cheddar and grilled foccacia. Served in a cast iron skllet. Okay I’m salivating. You can be sure place will be even more packed during the Olympics now, so get your fill sooner then later. I always finish with a waffle, lovingly dipped into lavender milk chocolate. Mmmmm…delicious.

Now go, get out of here! Wipe the drool off your keyboard and go get a table…no ‘waffling’ about this decision.

Café Medina. 556 Beatty Street. www.medinacafe.com