How long has Rise Bakery been the occupant of the main floor of Penn West Plaza? No idea! I've never even heard of it before today. But there it is, sitting, and waiting for you to come grab a coffee and a sandwich in its rather large extended indoor patio or hop up on a stool with your laptop by the window. Wi-fi? No idea, I'll try and find out next time.
I was expecting a Second Cup-ish place. And certainly, Rise does have a selection of coffees and sandwiches. But I wasn't expecting the baskets of baguettes and other fresh bread waiting to be consumed. Right there on 9th Ave? Yeah, I know! I guess maybe the word "bakery" in the title should have given it away.
I was expecting to visit the website and find out they have locations all across North America. Turns out they don't, these folks are Calgarian through and through with another location but a few blocks north on 6th Ave.
As a lunch spot for Penn West employees and passersby, it's a-ok in my books. My grilled tuna sandwich and regular coffee came out to just over $10 and I didn't feel like I was eating a sandwich made in a foreign land and shipped here in an awful plastic package and preserved a little longer than it should be. No siree.