Server Alisha Weng holds eggs Benny and chef John Michael MacNeil shows off French toast with carmelized apples.

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Vendome Cafe

Taking a seat below a massive black-and-white image of a distinguished older gentleman, my girlfriend and I soak up the winter sun pouring through the window in Sunnyside’s Vendôme Café. Formerly the home of Heartland Cafe, Teatro owner Dario Berloni and team have revamped the menu and modernized the space into a promising coffee spot for foodies.

There are lots of great choices on Vendôme’s chalkboard menu, such as free-range chicken pot pie with root vegetables, puff pastry and thyme ($10.95) as well as the spicy tuna melt panini with gruyère ($8.95 full/$5.50 half).

At our server’s urging, I go with the daily feature: braised short rib on polenta served with mixed greens ($12.95). My friend opts for a bowl of the featured butternut squash soup ($5.95) and the organic beet and goat cheese salad ($6.95).

We are astonished by the lovely presentation. The butternut squash soup is swirled with crème fraiche and accompanied by sticks of toasted, homemade bread. The beef short rib is neatly stacked on a creamy bed of polenta and topped with caramelized onions. We dig in voraciously.

The soup is absolutely divine. Thick and creamy, the texture is luxurious. Combined with the crunchy stick of artisanal bread, the buttery, flavour-packed soup is what you would expect from a five-star restaurant. The organic beet and goat cheese salad doesn’t have the same pizzazz, but it’s nicely executed with a light coating of roasted garlic dressing, red and golden beets and proportionate chunks of tasty goat cheese.

I can’t believe the braised short rib is a mere $12.95. The generous portion of beef is cooked to perfection, tender beyond belief and wonderfully complemented by the rich, dreamy polenta. Served with a side of fresh mixed greens with radishes, red peppers and grape tomatoes, this is one to look for when you visit.

Even though we aren’t hungry after finishing our meals, neither of us can resist the power of a seductive apple tart ($4.95) with our lattes (made with locally roasted Abiamo Angel’s Roast espresso). Vendôme offers a good range of baked goods and desserts, from pear and vanilla muffins to Teatro’s own tiramisu. For those looking for a morning bite, you may want to try the ginger and apple muffin, or opt for something more substantial from the café’s breakfast menu.

Like everything else, the tart is excellent. Nestled on a plate drizzled with crème caramel, it is light and airy, and even better with a dab of vanilla whipped cream served on the side.