For an off the beaten path brunch, stop by House of Boateng in Langford. This café offers dishes from West Africa, the Caribbean and even Asia, so it is the perfect place to get adventurous and try new flavors!
The Atmosphere
Although House of Boateng looks like a regular coffee shop, its menu has a few exotic gems. You can try their African Bowl, Harissa Chicken Crêpe, Smoked Tofu Sandwich or Mango and Coconut Salad, just to name a few options. They also have several gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes, so everyone should be able to find what they are looking for.
The Food
Jerk Pork Belly Sandwich ($19.5)
My boyfriend went with the Jerk Pork Belly Sandwich. It was not the most exotic item on the menu, but I really enjoyed the texture and taste of the meat, which was delicious and really well cooked. The harissa aioli was also nicely done and brought the perfect amount of spiciness to the pork belly.
African Bowl ($18.5)
I wanted something a little bit more original so I ordered the African Bowl. The chicken sausage was nice — although it could have been baked a bit longer, but the chili and smoked shrimp aioli sauce was a tad too mild for my liking. The jollof rice was also a bit disappointing, it turned out to be a simple ketchup rice. I am not sure how authentic this dish was, but overall it was not bad.
Oat milk Turmeric latte ($4.65)
The Turmeric latte was spicy but not overloaded. It was a good pick!
Overall
The food was good and it was fun to see an off the beaten path brunch menu. However, the service was slow and we had to wait 25 minutes to get our drinks and 45 minutes for our food. Now, it is true that many restaurants are still understaffed as a result of the pandemic…
Unfortunately, even though we waited for so long, we had to eat really fast because we got surrounded by wasps as soon as our food came in. I know that this is not House of Boateng‘s fault by any means, but we were not the only ones bothered by them, so I think they should take some measures.
In conclusion: I would not go out of my way to eat at House of Boateng, but if I am near Langford I would be happy to stop by. I will however ask to be seated inside!
House of Boateng
Opening hours: open everyday from 9am to 3pm (Mondays to Wednesdays) or 9am to 9pm (Thursdays to Sundays)
Website: click here
Address: 2854 Peatt Rd 105, Victoria, BC V9B 0W3
Telephone: (778) 432-2233
Note that prices and information featured in this article are subject to change.
