 Cumberland Village Bakery, Carol Clemens photo
Cumberland Village Bakery At the Cumberland Village Bakery, the early morning crowd swarms the room for that much-documented Canadian passion, the doughnut. They sell out fast. Not to worry because visitors can always choose from a barrage of croissants - butter, smoked salmon, ham and cheese, chocolate and, get this, garlic and feta cheese. What a way to start the day.
Coffee Shops A few doors away, the Cumberland Espresso & Smoothie Bar goes creative with Canada Fog, a Chinese breakfast tea with steaming milk and maple syrup. Tarbell's Coffee Bar is the oldest cafe in the community, headlining organic coffee, Mediterranean tapas and big desserts.
Chinese Restaurant The Panda Gardens offers oh-so-familiar Cantonese - very good breaded almond chicken and fried rice - in simple surroundings, garnished with pandas of all kinds. However, beware: The kitchen closes at 8pm.
Waverley Hotel Pub The pub at the Waverley Hotel ranks as a local institution. The building is 120 years old and the pub has been nominated for best live music in Canada. The menu includes salads, sandwiches, pastas, fish and chips and steaks. Exotics such as spring rolls and gyoza - Japanese pot-stickers - are surprisingly good. The kitchen hand-cuts its own fries, always a sign of good intentions. Superior suds, too.
Gatehouse Bistro & Gallery The Gatehouse Bistro & Gallery breaks new ground with its marriage of gallery and dining room. The gallery features Comox Valley and international artists working in media from water colors and oils to iron and soapstone sculpture. The kitchen turns out European-style fare in the order of tiger prawns in garlic butter, Tuscan chicken and brandy-braised lamb shank. The building, incidentally, was the Leung Grocery Store and family home back in 1895. For more information on where to eat out in Cumberland, contact the Visitor Centre.
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