I’ve heard mixed reviews about the service.  Well, they weren’t mixed, they are universally so-so.   To be quite frank, it’s a cafe that deals mostly in dessert and sandwiches, so I don’t expect much in terms of service.  I’ve had coffee at a cafe in France and wanted to knock the server out with a punch to his mouth. I’ve dined in the Southern US where I wanted to hug everyone that worked at the diner.  Symposium falls somewhere in the middle, and that’s about right.

All Day Breakfast and Burgers, Together at Last!

Our table ordered two breakfasts, and I had the Symposium burger.  Everything was good-to-go, nothing to write home about, but the burger was much bigger and tastier than I expected. The fries come with some garlic mayo, and it’s a great touch.  I should’ve asked for more.  Jeff ordered a side of sausage, and he got a really tasty treat.  It’s not the lame, pinky breakfast sausage you get at most places, it was some sort of large, tasty, spicy sausage that he had wrapped up to go.  Get the sausage, skip the bacon, if you’re ordering breakfast!

The cafe is, of course, popular for its fancy coffee.  The cafe mocha I ordered was not what I expected .. much sweeter and richer (more rich?) than I was ready for.  If I can make one suggestion to the barista: unsweetened chocolate would take it down a notch and make the drink less Tim Horton’sy.

Cafe Mocha, Half-eaten Burger, Jeff with Breakfast

But yeah, overall the experience was positive (it has been every time I’ve gone).  Decent food, decent prices, decent coffee, decent service … the whole being more enjoyable than the sum of its parts.

The Loss of a Close Friend

As some people in real life (irl)  know, I have this favourite mug that I stole from someone some time ago.  The mug has a picture of Spongebob Squarepants going to the office, all disheveled and unshaven, toting his little briefcase.  He’s all fucked up, obviously had a big weekend.  On the other side of the mug, it simply says: Mondays.  This mug is perfect.

Correction, was perfect.  Until I dropped him down the stairs at the office, trying to get my stair-ercise in for the day.

Obviously, it happened on a Monday.  Have a great week everybody!

Rest in Peace, Spongebob Monday Mug

Location, Bam!

Lotus Leaf has these really cost effective $6.20+tax specials that many of my co-workers love: lots of options and combinations, all of which come in about 5 minutes.  Compared to King Wok, which costs a tiny bit less, the food is more generous, better prepared, but unfortunately more greasy and straight-up bland at times.  I’d like to try Lai Lai’s as well after hearing a stream of positive reviews.

But what The Lotus Leaf does offer is:  a really convenient location on 151 King St. [GMap] which is kitty-corner from Kitchener City Hall,  as well as a generous and tasty Mango Chicken dish for $7.50+.  Tea is free, bringing the total with tax and bad tip to just over $9.

Mango, chicken, rice, peppers.

To be honest, me gusta mango and find that fruit + cooking = great lunch.  The red and green peppers aren’t amazing, and asking for a little less sauce makes the experience better.  The pineapple equivalent of this dish was awful, and not worth experimenting with.

But to be honest, especially if you have a group of carnivores with you The Lotus Leaf is a good place for some old fashioned work-bashing lunch.  Don’t be afraid to shell out an extra dollar for what I think is their best lunch dish.