A new modern boutique grocer and casual cafe has opened its doors in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant.
Oh Carolina - its name taken from the cross-street at its East 12th Avenue address - is a corner store for contemporary times.
Situated in the brightened up former Charles Grocery, Oh Carolina is the venture of Vancouver's Gooseneck Hospitality - the folks who brought us Bufala, Bells & Whistles, Lucky Taco, and the late (great) Wildebeest.
Shifting their focus to more laid-back concepts, Gooseneck's Oh Carolina packs a lot of energy - and top-grade local products - in its small space.
The counter-service all-day spot serves up an array of sandwiches and loaded toasts, salads, and pasta (in the afternoon only). In the morning, they're doing up a soft scrambled egg Breakfast Sandwich on a Livia potato bun. All-day sandwiches include an excellent pastrami on sourdough or a grilled cheese. As expected, they're doing an avocado toast, but don't sleep on the salmon one; it's got whipped sockeye and creme fraiche on a thick piece of Irish brown bread with briny capers. Salads focus on greens or pasta.
The cafe is also rocking a full coffee bar, using Timbertrain beans, and has a pastry case boasting a simple roster of croissants, savoury rolls, and Butterboom Bakery donuts.
You'll spy grocery items like Mumgry peanut butter, dumplings from Vancouver's Dumpling King, and frozen sauces from Bufala, but you can also pick up some sunscreen, Haribo gummies, or a box of kosher salt here, too. Their ice cream freezer is stocked with jars from Earnest and treats-on-a-stick from Johnny's Pops. Grab a Mexican coke or kombucha from the fridge to go, or pair your bev with your meal and take a seat on the outside benches or small patio.
Open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oh Carolina is located at 580 East 12th Ave in Vancouver.
