Sugarholic Cafe

Aberdeen Centre, 4151 Hazelbridge Way

Richmond, BC V6X 4J7

     I first noticed this cafe when I was at Aberdeen with a group of friends. I was drawn to the cute and cozy atmosphere, but we just ate, so I decided to try this cafe some other time. And that time was today! I was starving after attending a presentation in Aberdeen Square, so I though that there was no better time than now to try the cafe.

     I went with two others, so we ordered three dishes. I ordered the Miso cream risotto with salmon steak, and the others ordered the Rolled chicken thigh with spicy sesame sauce on rice, and the Rolled chicken thigh with basil lemon soy sauce on rice.

Miso cream risotto with salmon steak

Rolled chicken thigh with spicy sesame sauce on rice

Rolled chicken thigh with basil lemon soy sauce on rice

     As you can tell from the above pictures, the overall presentation was lacking. Although I did not walk into the cafe expecting to be floored by the presentation, I still feel that the colour combinations could have been much better. The food itself was fine, but wasn't anything special. The salmon steak on the miso cream risotto was lightly salted and peppered, but was slightly overcooked, causing a rather dry texture. The risotto itself, although slightly lumpy, was rather tasty. The distinctive salty taste of miso and the creaminess of the sauce combined well, resulting in a savoury taste. There were small pieces of tofu in the risotto which added a nice touch. I tried a piece of the Rolled chicken thigh with basil lemon soy sauce, and while the taste was, once again, fine, I couldn't taste any hints of the lemon soy sauce. I only tasted pesto sauce over crispy fried chicken, but the chicken itself was rather tough. While I didn't try the Rolled chicken thigh with spicy sesame sauce on rice, the others said that the dish was quite tasty, but rather spicy, and that the chicken in this was more tender than in the other chicken dish. 

     The service, like the food, was just fine. Overall, this cafe was "just fine" in every aspect. Nothing about this cafe, besides the decor, stands out. Nothing draws you in for a second visit. If you were already in the area and are just looking for somewhere convenient to eat, then this cafe would fit the criteria. However if you are looking for something special, I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to eat here.