More Than a Café

Victory Coffee + Kitchen sits on 93A Avenue in Walnut Grove, and at first glance it looks like a bright neighbourhood café with a patio out front. The story behind the counter is what sets it apart. Victory is a faith-filled social enterprise run by the Christian ministry Go Victory Channel Society, and its stated mission is "to provide intentional hospitality by loving people through food and service."

In practice, that means a café that doubles as a training ground for people facing barriers to employment, with a menu made largely in-house.

Breakfast on House-Made English Muffins

Breakfast is the headline. The Montreal smoked meat breakfast sandwich stacks smoked meat, a fluffy omelette, cheddar, and tomato relish on a house-made English muffin, and there is a garden version with basil and spinach pesto and roasted red pepper. The menu also runs to frittatas, quiche, breakfast burritos, and a Belgian waffle with blueberries and whipped cream.

Lunch starts at 11 a.m. with grain bowls such as a Mediterranean bowl with roasted chickpeas and West Coast bowls with tamari or poke salmon, plus Gouda mac and cheese, a turkey cranberry sandwich made with turkey roasted in-house, and the Victory Smash Burger. Pastries come from an in-house pastry chef, there is a kids' menu, and the coffee comes from Caffè Umbria, a Pacific Northwest roaster.

The Internship Behind the Counter

After seeing a need in the community, Victory created an 18-month paid internship for people with barriers to employment, including people coming out of correctional centres and recovery programs. Interns get an individual mentorship plan with daily check-ins, one-on-one mentoring, and journal and reflection work. They learn food prep, cooking, coffee brewing, and hospitality, and they get help with résumés and interview coaching as they prepare for permanent jobs. The program takes referrals only.

Local businesses pitch in, too. North Langley Family Dental provides free dental care to the interns.

Catering, Meetings, and What Regulars Say

Victory caters events with Greek chicken, sandwiches, high tea pastries, appetizers, celebration cakes, and bowls, and it notes that every catering order gives interns hands-on experience. A meeting room with a 70-inch TV can be booked, and the café says it has other spaces with seating for up to 100.

The café holds a 4.7-star Google rating. Reviewers rave about a salted caramel brownie and a crispy hashbrown with flaky sea salt, and remote workers like the power outlets at the tables. One group booked a dinner meeting for 30 and called the plated lasagna excellent. Another reviewer praised a staffer named Trinity for handling a lost order "with grace." One diner said the smoked meat breakfast sandwich came on a "very fluffy English muffin." Not everyone loves the setup, though. One four-star reviewer liked the place but would rather tip after being served than when ordering at the counter.

Visit

Victory Coffee + Kitchen is at 20135 93A Avenue in Langley. It opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and closes at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Saturday is brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the café is closed Sundays. Friday hours differ between listings: the café's website shows Friday service until 8 p.m., while Google lists a 3 p.m. close. If you are planning a Friday evening visit, check the Victory menu and hours page or call (604) 888-6354 first.

Google's popular-times data shows Saturday brunch, from about 10 a.m. to noon, and Friday lunch as the busiest stretches, so come early if you want a table. You can also order online or buy a gift card through the website.