Saturday afternoon when I was walking down St. George Street, I noticed a new café. I quickly crossed the street to check it out. Nothing excites me more than seeing one of the vacant store fronts in Moncton’s downtown filled with a new business.
The Clementine Café and Deli is a quaint little spot, with about six tables, some bar stools and a couple of comfy seats in the corner. It’s a brightly lit room, with well-worn hardwood and green and orange walls.
The café was doing a brisk afternoon business, and both people behind the counter were busy serving customers. I didn’t have time to wait for a bar drink so I grabbed a bottle of Coke from the cooler. It came in a refreshing old-school glass bottle. Before I left, I promised to come back soon to try the food and coffee.
Since today was a storm day, I decided to take a quick jaunt around the corner for lunch. I figured the bad weather would keep people away, but when I arrived shortly after twelve, I was pleasantly surprised to see the place hopping. There was only one employee manning the bar and sandwich counter, but he handled the pressure with a quiet confidence.
There’s a chalkboard menu featuring six different types of sandwiches, freshly made salads, quick breakfast items, a daily soup, desert and an extensive espresso bar. After some deliberation, I decided on a Smoked Meat Sandwich with a bowl of tomato soup and a double Americano to drink. The server quickly grabbed the pre-made sandwich and put it on the Panini press.
I took a table by the window and worked a little on my new play. The service was slow, but I wasn’t in a hurry, so I just sat back and soaked up the atmosphere. There was acoustic music playing softly in the background and none of the other patrons seemed to mind the wait either. It was a relaxing place to spend an hour.
When the food arrived, it was worth the wait. The sandwich was served on a rye bread that had been grilled to a perfect crunch on the outside, but was warm and chewy on the inside. There was a pickle on the sandwich, and usually I’d want the pickle on the side, but the salty crunch really added to the sandwich. The creamy soup was comforting and really hit the spot on a stormy day. The soup surprised me. I was expecting it to be bright and tangy, but the soup was reminiscent of the tomato and chickpea soup at the Asian Garden.
The double Americano had a robust flavour and gave me a nice jolt of caffeine to get me through the afternoon. It was also served with a small ginger cookie, which was a nice bonus. When I was ordering my meal, I also noticed that their cookies are made by Nick the Dutch Baker of Moncton Market fame. There also loaves of home made bread and baguettes available to take home.
The Clementine Café serves fresh food and quality coffee in a mellow atmosphere and it’s a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. So the next time you’re in search of a good cup of joe, a delicious lunch, or you just want a nice place to relax, you should stop by The Clementine Café at 241 St. George Street. This place deserves your business
Showing posts with label Moncton Restaurant Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moncton Restaurant Review. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
This Diner Can't Get Any Finer!
Diners are awesome. There is no denying that sometimes there’s nothing better than a clubhouse, home cut fries, or a hot sandwich. It’s food for the soul. Sitting in a cozy booth and biting into some greasy goodness is like a warm hug from a loved one. Fortunately, Metro Moncton has its fair share of diners to choose from. Hynes on Mountain Road has some of the best pancakes I’ve ever eaten. Over in Riverview, Steve’s Diner offers generous portions and lots of 50’s kitsch, and across the parking lot at The Homestead, you’ll find sandwiches and toast made with fresh and delicious homemade bread. But according to both my heart and belly, Jean’s Diner on St. George trumps them all.
On a Friday night, after enjoying a pint at The Laundromat, or when a Saturday afternoon craving hits, Jean’s is the spot for all your home cooked favourites. They have seafood fried to a perfect golden brown, gravy that rivals your grandmother’s, and amazing fresh cut fries. Monctonians love their Deluxe French Fries, but trust me; the local chain does not come close to matching the quality of Jean’s fries.
The service is also friendly and fast. This past Friday night Amanda and I popped in for supper and were shocked to be met by a gaggle of young girls. A troupe of Girl Guides had just enjoyed a special meal. They enthusiastically thanked their servers and left for an evening of fun. It was heart-warming to see the troupe at Jean’s. Too often large groups and teams flock to McDonalds or Burger King, but these children and their supervisors supported a local business and enjoyed a far superior meal than that offered by fast food.
Kudos to the troupe’s leaders for choosing to eat at Jean’s, and it was obvious by the smiles on the servers’ faces that they’d enjoyed the girls. They spoke enthusiastically about girls’ energy and how well behaved they’d been.
In no time at all the booths had been cleaned, our orders taken, and before we knew it we were eating our food. Not once did our waitress complain about being swamped. She was swift, friendly and courteous. It’s the kind of service I’ve come to expect after a number of visits to my favourite neighbourhood diner.
On one of my early visits I had a craving for a hot turkey, but didn’t want to be disappointed by a sandwich made with manufactured brown gravy. Our server went back to the kitchen and returned with a small sample of the gravy for me to taste. The sample passed the gravy test and I enthusiastically ordered the sandwich. When it came, topped with peas, I bit into it and it was exactly what I needed. When I thanked the server for letting me try the gravy she just shrugged her shoulders like it was all in a days work.
On other trips to Jeans, I’ve enjoyed their delicious seafood platter, which comes with deep fried haddock, shrimp, clams and scallops. I’ve also tried their clubhouse sandwiches, savoured the homemade beef soup, and even devoured the grilled hotdogs that are served on perfectly toasted buns.
Jean’s Diner is for anyone who enjoys wonderful food, in a relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by friendly servers, who really appear to enjoy their jobs. It’s a place you can really feel good about supporting. Whenever I leave Jeans, it’s with a full belly and a warm heart.
On a Friday night, after enjoying a pint at The Laundromat, or when a Saturday afternoon craving hits, Jean’s is the spot for all your home cooked favourites. They have seafood fried to a perfect golden brown, gravy that rivals your grandmother’s, and amazing fresh cut fries. Monctonians love their Deluxe French Fries, but trust me; the local chain does not come close to matching the quality of Jean’s fries.
The service is also friendly and fast. This past Friday night Amanda and I popped in for supper and were shocked to be met by a gaggle of young girls. A troupe of Girl Guides had just enjoyed a special meal. They enthusiastically thanked their servers and left for an evening of fun. It was heart-warming to see the troupe at Jean’s. Too often large groups and teams flock to McDonalds or Burger King, but these children and their supervisors supported a local business and enjoyed a far superior meal than that offered by fast food.
Kudos to the troupe’s leaders for choosing to eat at Jean’s, and it was obvious by the smiles on the servers’ faces that they’d enjoyed the girls. They spoke enthusiastically about girls’ energy and how well behaved they’d been.
In no time at all the booths had been cleaned, our orders taken, and before we knew it we were eating our food. Not once did our waitress complain about being swamped. She was swift, friendly and courteous. It’s the kind of service I’ve come to expect after a number of visits to my favourite neighbourhood diner.
On one of my early visits I had a craving for a hot turkey, but didn’t want to be disappointed by a sandwich made with manufactured brown gravy. Our server went back to the kitchen and returned with a small sample of the gravy for me to taste. The sample passed the gravy test and I enthusiastically ordered the sandwich. When it came, topped with peas, I bit into it and it was exactly what I needed. When I thanked the server for letting me try the gravy she just shrugged her shoulders like it was all in a days work.
On other trips to Jeans, I’ve enjoyed their delicious seafood platter, which comes with deep fried haddock, shrimp, clams and scallops. I’ve also tried their clubhouse sandwiches, savoured the homemade beef soup, and even devoured the grilled hotdogs that are served on perfectly toasted buns.
Jean’s Diner is for anyone who enjoys wonderful food, in a relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by friendly servers, who really appear to enjoy their jobs. It’s a place you can really feel good about supporting. Whenever I leave Jeans, it’s with a full belly and a warm heart.
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