Forecast Coffee

I've always wondering how Starbucks Reserve would fare at their Main Street location when it first opened.  Well, it didn't take long for the experiment to end.  Whether it be too niche of a market for their upscale beverages, too big of a space or the pandemic, it is gone.  Now in its place is another coffee shop in the form of Forecast Coffee.  They also serve breakfast, lunch and an array of baked goods, including Wilder Cookies.

We stopped by for a quick bite in the morning and started with a Latte and a Mocha.  Sure these aren't the typical drinks one judges coffee due to the addition of milk and chocolate.  However, that is what we got and for what its worth, they were pretty good.  I thought they were more mild-tasting than other versions I've had, but the flavour was there and it went down smooth.  I found them to be on the sweeter side, good for those who aren't usual coffee drinkers.

You may have noticed the Wilder Salted Caramel Cookie in the previous picture and here it is split open.  This was a fairly large cookie that was quite moist and had a nice chewiness to it.  The base cookie itself was pretty sweet and it didn't help that the salted caramel frosting on top was even sweeter.  For those who like it sweet, this would be for you, but for me, it was far too sweet.  So much so, I didn't even get much of the salt (or maybe it helped amplify the sweetness even more so!).

Off to something savoury, we had the Bacon Breakfast Sandwich that also had a fried egg, lettuce and tomato (hey a BELT!) on a toasted brioche bun.  As simple as this was, the execution and construction was on point.  Everything was neatly assembled where the bacon was crispy, egg still was a bit runny and the produce was fresh.  Loved the soft brioche as it hugged all of the stuff inside. 

On another visit, I picked up some quick lunch in the form of the Fried Chicken Sandwich (yes, I still eat those) with a side of Truffle Fries.  This featured an aggressively breaded and fried chicken breast which somehow remained moist.  The breading was firmly crunchy and well-seasoned.  Personally, I would've liked a lighter exterior.  The whole sammie ate well with some mustard pickles, cabbage slaw, spicy mayo and mesclun greens.  So there was some spice, creaminess, tang and crunch.  The toasted brioche was the right bun for this sandwich where it was soft and airy while retaining its integrity.  I thought the truffle fries were excellent being hot and crispy with just enough seasoning.  It didn't need any dip (as it didn't come with any either) because it was good on its own.

Ending off sweet, we had the Sweet Berry Croffle with berry compote, mascarpone whip and toasted pecans.  This was also good with a waffle iron-pressed croissant that was crispy and light.  In fact, even though it was compacted, it was still airy and not heavy.  I didn't find it buttery enough, but that was a minor point.  Berry compote was tangy and fruity with just enough sweetness.  Overall, Forecast Coffee is a cool space where you can grab a drink, cookie, breakfast and/or lunch.  Things are solid and lots of windows makes it a relaxing place to be.

The Good:
- Simple decor and relaxing spot
- Food is good
- Coffee is good

The Bad:
- Cookies are pretty sweet, but I'm sure some people like that