We recently tried out a new café, the Livery Yard, in Stratford. It is downtown and is a great addition to the already numerous good cafes in town. The beautiful light red brick building is on the corner of the Market Square on Downie Street kitty corner across from the Avon Theatre. Being on the corner the establishment is lovely and light inside with windows on two sides. The large fireplace looks like it will be nice and cozy in the winter months. The horsey them implied in the name continues in the décor inside.
The day we arrived for lunch their fridge was on the blink so they did not have their usual display of salads and sandwiches available. However, the helpful staff offered to make something fresh for us if we didn’t mind waiting. Then it turned out that they didn’t have the ingredients for what we had chosen as they had not got everything in stock because of the fridge being broken so someone else came out to discuss what they could make for us. I had ordered the ham and cheese croissant and they modified my order to a baguette but with the croissant filling. In the end, I did get what I had originally chosen and it was delicious. My lunch date ended up with a veggie wrap with hummus.
I had a latte and it was served in a Henckels thermal mug that was very deceptive. While the double walled mug did not feel very hot, the latte definitely was! It stayed toasty warm for the duration of the meal and for the pecan tart I had for dessert. The pastry was beautifully light and crisp and the filling was not sweet – perfect. The same can be said for the raspberry almond tart!
The fridge repairman was working when we left so I’m sure it wasn’t long before they were up and running with their full menu. We’ll definitely be back. The food was great and the staff couldn’t have been nicer.
It’s open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm except for Friday and Saturday when it’s open until 8:00 pm. In a town where many places close on Mondays, it’s nice to find a café that’s open seven days a week.
There is metered on-street parking around the cafe though I always park in the lot on Erie Street just behind the Market Square as it has a four hour limit.
