Cue the jazz hands. Fraser Valley’s Mission Springs Brewery unleashes the Jazzman Pale Ale: an easy drinking, copper tinted pale ale that finishes with some sweet notes. Seasonally available at select local independents.

Depending on how you look at it, Little Nest just off Commercial Drive could be a haven for road weary parents, or a nightmare of screaming rug rats for the childless diners. The open concept cafe serves egg breakfasts, lunch sandwiches and a variety of freshly baked goods.

Little Nest has a frequently shifting menu scrawled upon a large blackboard near the front. There’s coffee aplenty to recharge out of gas parents and a bevy of baked goods available — a nod to the chef and owner’s baking background. The lunch menu consists primarily of soup, salad and assorted baguette sandwiches.

I ordered the Eggs of the Day, part of a revolving menu of poached or scrambled egg — organic and free range, of course — with a beautifully rustic, toasted baguette. The eggs at Little Nest are perfectly scrambled: buttery, fluffy — not rubbery as is common at most restaurants. Today, those eggs were accompanied by a plainly dressed arugula salad and a lamb merguez sausage over chickpeas and a side of mint chutney.

For Case, the French toast: a light and fluffy brioche gingerly dipped with egg wash elevated ever so slightly with poached pears, crumbled nuts and a dusting of icing sugar. Our breakfasts were accompanied with a nice, re-energizing cup of Americano.

Be forewarned, however, unless you have kids of your own, you may be overwhelmed by the cacophony of high pitch squealing that echoes endlessly throughout the dining room. Beside the family style picnic tables is a play area where little ones have full license to run amok hewing books, blocks and whatever else isn’t nailed down.

Our meal including taxes and tips came to just over $35, which makes Little Nest a little pricier than most breakfast spots in Vancouver. However, given the quality of food and the sanctuary provided for children, this could very well be a parents’ oasis.

Perfect for: Meal and reprieve for parents. Freedom, sweet freedom for the kids.

The Details

1716 Charles Street
604.251.9994
littlenest.ca

Driftwood’s Fat Tug IPA is a hoppy little sucker that goes down crisp and kicks like a tugboat, but finishes smooth like an oversized Disney cruise ship drifting off into the sunset. Available at BC liquor stores and fine, local independent shops.

Chicken and Waffles is a soul food dish hailing from the United States and popularized by institutions like Los Angeles’ Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. This most unlikely pair of savoury, crispy fried chicken and light, fluffy waffle accompanied by syrup has made its way up North to the streets of Vancouver. Here are 5 places you can score a plate of Southern soul:

1. Havanas

The decidedly modern presentation from Havanas doesn’t detract from the down home flavour of the crispy chicken breast, served sliced and layered with quarters of fluffy waffles dusted with icing sugar.

2. Deacon’s Corner

The batter at Deacon’s Corner is thicker and less crispy, but the chicken is tender — stacked whole over a crispy yet, fluffy pancake. Served with a pat of butter, syrup and a generous dusting of icing.

3. Portland Craft

Portland Craft eschews the single breast meat, opting for the bone-in leg and thigh cuts. The batter was crispy and nicely spiced, while the cake-like Belgian style waffle played the sweet yin to the savoury yang of the chicken. Gravy and a slice of watermelon accompany the meal.

4. Rumpus Room

Rumpus Room takes the boneless approach, with a mix of white and dark meat pieces in a crispy seasoned batter served with a side of apple sauce. Unlike everyone else on this list, Rumpus shaped their waffles square, which had precisely zero impact on its fluffiness.

5. Two Chefs and Table

The single piece, whole chicken breast at Two Chefs and a Table is light on the seasoning. But sits atop a beautifully crafted artisanal waffle topped with candied pecans and syrup.

Bonus: Screen Door

Although nowhere near our city limits, we’d be remiss to not include Screen Door in Portland: two and a half pieces of crispy battered, tender chicken breast stacked on top of a sweet, fluffy waffle — served with a knife driven down the centre. It’s worth the 600km drive.

Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale is brewed in the style of the German Maibock. The deep coloured, malty ale packs enough punch to wake up the dead. Available at BC Liquor Stores or some local independents.