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| - This place was not what I expected at all, in a good way! The last time I walked by this place they were still closed and I kind of just pictured it as a little average cafe. I mean, can you blame me when the subtitle in their name is "Bicycle Cafe"? I've never been to the original OTB, either, so I didn't have an experience there to give me any expectations about this place.
So today when I walked in after kayaking I was surprised to find a very chill and welcoming dining area with music playing near the bar and a bustling patio. The menu impressed me, too; I tend to expect fried finger foods from park dining areas but instead I found a full burger and sandwich focused menu with lots of vegetarian-friendly options. And there were tons of healthy side dish options on the menu, too.
Given how busy the patio was my companion for the day and I opted to sit inside, which really wasn't a problem; the patio and indoors area aren't really separated by much more than a roof over your head, so we could enjoy a great breeze and were still far enough from the bar and speakers that the noise of the indoor area wasn't a problem.
And not only was the atmosphere great, the food was pretty delicious. I had a slightly spicy and perfectly cooked turkey burger with fruit salad on the side; I also shared the black bean patty cakes with my dining companion and I thought they were absolutely perfect. (My companion thought they could have been a little crispier, but not me!) They were so tasty, especially once I added the amounts of Pico De Gallo, pinapple, guacamole and sour cream that I wanted. I partnered a Raspberry Summer Tea (Raspberry vodka and lemonade) with my meal and have to say, combined it was all a fantastic way to round out a beautiful summer day by the lake.
My only true complaint is with the bathrooms - the cafe's attached to the public park bathrooms, and, well...the public park bathrooms are as horrendous as you might expect public park bathrooms to be. I couldn't get out of there fast enough and it's a shame that those bathrooms have to be affiliated with this place at all.
But other than that, no complaints whatsoever - great atmosphere, great service, tasty food, and a nice place to relax after walking or kayaking in the park. I'd absolutely eat here again the next time I'm enjoying the area!
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