From Melbourne to Surrey comes Ruex Cafe and Bar, a bright and airy restaurant in which I had the pleasure of a catch-up brunch with some of my former coworkers. I wouldn't fault you for needing a double-take that this is in Surrey. It's a true gem amongst the many chains you tend to see as you venture further and further from Vancouver and it's also not an Indian restaurant which Surrey sees a plethora of.

Food and Drink:

Team GlueGone came here for a weekend brunch and I had a great taste of the following:

1. Rose Latte ($7)
2. Brekkie Burger ($22)

It wouldn't be a transplant brunch from Melbourne without some good coffee and the rose latte delivered. Adorned with a beautiful dusting of edible rose petals and served in a clear glass, this was a sight to behold. On the tongue, the penetration of rose came in what I'm guessing is a house-made syrup and the tart-sweet tang danced with the coffee on my taste buds.

Moving onto food, the brekkie burger was a two-hand affair that was full of flavour when the sunny-side egg yolk wasn't running down my hands. I'm probably in the minority but I like the yolk to be closer to a ketchup-level of runniness and this one was more like a watery drip. That being said, the Two Rivers chorizo patty had a ton of flavour and I'm all for supporting a local butcher from North Vancouver. I also liked the coleslaw and house-made tomato jam which gave the burger a sweet finish to an otherwise very savoury experience.

And as if things couldn't be better, the fries were thick, crispy, and served with a house-made ranch sauce though ketchup was available on request.

Vibes:

Ruex Cafe is located in the recently-developed King Geroge Hub and as such, it's the first restaurant in a brand new space. They took full advantage of being the first tenants by building in some elegant fixtures like a hanging garden and entrance archway. All in all, the place feels airy, comfortable, and classy with a mix of bronze, pink, and beige tones in a consistent interior design language. It's not the biggest space as I only spotted seating for about 60 guests, but if there were a Surrey version of Cafe Medina, this would be it.

Service:

Service was fantastic at Ruex Cafe. Our server was extremely patient with us while we waited for one of our party to be 30 minutes late. The coffee came out quick and the food came out shortly after. I made a reservation for 6 people at 10am and the place was positively packed by the time we left at 11:30am. I recommend making a reservation for any party size above 2 to avoid disappointment.

Final Thoughts:

One-liner: Melbourne vibes with terrific coffee and brunch in Surrey of all places which is a huge and pleasant surprise for me
Highlight: Rose Latte
Price per person: ($28-$40)
Would I go back? Yes.