Orléans Food Spot Review - Cafe Latte Cino

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Cafe Latte Cino, located at 2020 Tenth Line Rd Unit # 2, across from the Farm Boy.

While many in Orléans know this spot well—including my wife, who has used it on more than one occasion to meet with friends and have a coffee—I had yet to frequent it until this week.

ATMOSPHERE & SPACE

Cafe Latte Cino is a sizeable space—definitely big enough to host the lunch-hour rush or bigger groups, but it still somehow maintains a cozy atmosphere. What contributes to that atmosphere are the numerous displays of food and drink in almost every nook and cranny. I’ve always enjoyed this sort of aesthetic, as it reminds me of how European cafés and shops are laid out—and this cafe is true to that form.

The layout features table seating that runs in a long row and turns into a cozier area with some admittedly beaten-up chairs around a communal coffee table.

To be fair, I’ve yet to visit during the evening, but I imagine that atmosphere remains warm, cozy, and a good place for conversation—or just reading a book. I’m also told that the patio is also quite lovely in the summer.

FOOD

This is where Cafe Latte Cino makes its mark. Most cafés—including the chain spots like Starbucks or Second Cup—are usually saddled with a limited menu of food and drink options. The exact opposite is found here. Seriously, just look at this menu: sandwiches, pastries, soups, desserts, crepes, waffles, coffee, teas, salads, oh my.

It’s packed with options to satiate nearly any craving, even some great lunch options.

And I won’t lie—I’ve only had the chance to try a few items, but of those I have tried, the food has easily been five stars across the board.

My first visit included a sampling of a blueberry scone and some simple Earl Grey tea. Both were excellent, and as a tea fanatic that likes to have a lot of milk with my tea I really appreciated the size of the tea mugs—they’re perfectly large!

Having looked through the Google Reviews, I was keen on trying their crepes and so upon my second visit I decided it was time to try their Strawberry Banana Nutella crepes… and folks, it did not disappoint. It was easily one of the most decadent crepes I’d had for a long time. And here it is in its full glory:

And they definitely don’t skimp on the portion size. After this I certainly didn’t have any room for that danish I just bought. That I went on to consume the next morning and it was nearly as good as the crepe.

NOTABLE TANGIBLES

At any food spot I always look for a few tangibles that matter to me. They may not matter to everyone, but I’m willing to bet that others have the same sort of small details that we notice—ones that either contribute to or detract from the quality of a place.

First, let’s talk about a few positives. For starters, unlike some cafés—Cafe Latte Cino provides a generous “dress up your drink” station with sugar, milk, and creme available. Now, that might not seem like a big deal to some, but if you like to make your coffee or tea just right, like I do, then this is a major essential.

I still rant and rave about the fact that Starbucks stuck with its decision to keep those stations empty far longer than necessary, even after the strict COVID-19 restrictions had lifted. Thankfully, the new Starbucks CEO seems to have recognized the folly of their ways.

Also, you’ll notice that they offer high-chairs for parents with little kids in tow. In fact I saw two young moms come in and use them, which simply makes the place feel more inclusive and inviting. So big thumbs up there. 👍

But there’s one thing I wasn’t a huge fan of, and that’s summed up in this photo:

Look, I understand why the owners or management of Cafe Latte Cino would want to do this… heck, if I were the owner, I’d probably do something similar. And yet, it still feels a bit customer-hostile—especially for a café or a place where people want to sit and work for a few hours without feeling the pressure of having overstayed their welcome.

I wonder what the research says about how much customers spend at a café like this if they are allowed to stay as long as they like without the fear of getting the side-eye after 90 minutes.

THE ORLÉANS CONNECT RATING

⭐️ 4.5 stars out of 5