I drive past Burnaby’s Mercedes Benz themed cafe almost everyday, so was surprised to see them boarded up recently, and potentially closed after only a year after opening.
However, today I would learn that they were just renovating. They have recently rebranded due to a change in ownership. Formerly, Benzo Cafe was owned and operated by a two man team. However their partnership has since dissolved and the Benz loving half of the duo remains, finding a new partner/investor to undergo this enterprise with.
Having visited the incarnation below, it was clear they kept the theme intact, but have toned the collection down in lieu of a more general appeal. The space now allows for more seating. They are known for their booths crafted from refurbished vintage Mercedes car frames. Now, there are less car booths taking up room, in their place a wall of benches with cubicle-like separators. The tables are covered with a pictorial collection of Mercedes models.
Their space has also been sectioned off to create a dividing wall with separate deli counter and a covered patio with access to the back alley. I eagerly took the pink Benz booth with engine made into a table, appreciating the hand bags hung on the wall in themed decoration. It gave the space a fun femme feel.
As for the menu. All their pastries and even the bread for sandwiches are made in house. The Cafe’s manager doubles as their in-house pastry chef. Everything is made in their commissary kitchen and then brought to the cafe the next day. They open at 8:30am and everything on the menu is available by 9am.
Today I would get a taste of their offerings through one of their savoury sandwiches, a sweet pastry, and a hot caffeinated beverage.
You order from the counter, looking up to to their digital menu. Benzx Lounge utilizes AI art and I found it made the menu busy and hard to read the fine print. They also used it to wall paper the cafe. Truthfully I am not a fan and feel this form of heartless art is void of soul and takes something away from the cafe, which is meant to be a hub of human socialization. Ironic.
For drinks, only their chai is machine made, everything else has coffee beans ground, milk frothed, and latte art poured by hand. I tried their Teddy Graham latte for the sheer novelty, but was disappointed that it didn’t include any actual teddy bears or even a cookie-like taste. A double shot of espresso, caramel, honey, milk, and cinnamon. Still tasty though.
For something savoury I went with the vegetarian caprese sandwich with housemade pesto, ripe tomatoes, mozzarella slices, fresh spinach leaves, and a generous drizzle of balsamic vinegar. The freshness of the ingredients made a difference. The bread was tasty, but in hindsight I wish I got it toasted and pressed instead as it was tough.
All desserts are presented behind the show counter glass. With croissants this large it is hard not to order with your eyes. The Dubai Chocolate one came highly recommended by the chef herself, so I gave it a try. Although apparently made on the day, I found the pastry tough and the product dry. Which only made the chocolate dense and the pistachio-tahini filling, mixed with crunchy toasted kadayif (shredded filo dough) ashy. In hindsight, due to its martial moisture the fruit and creme filled strawberries or passionfruit-mango would have been a better choice.
Overall, a unique addition to Burnaby Heights. You would come for the theme and potentially the patio (when it is done), but the food and drink are not anything I haven’t seen elsewhere, or would drive me in.
The Real BenzX lounge
4429 Hastings St, Burnaby, BC V5C 2K1
(778) 288-3047
benzocafe.ca
