The Rustic Gourmet

Most arena-​cafes are sigh-​invoking, staffed by bored kids and managed off the corner of someone’s desk as a balance sheet to be maintained. The Rustic Gourmet is a delightful exception.
A hidden gem in the White Rock curling rink, staffed by friendly folks (a family? Seems that way) who clearly care about good food and positive experiences for their customers.
Every sandwich or salad goes that extra mile to be exceptional. The coffee is fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is… well, its a curling arena. Dont expect much beside old tables and warm conversation going on around you.
They could stand to improve their menu board, to offer choices instead of just catagories («Classic sandwich» includes tuna, egg salad etc… none of those are mentioned). But we’ll forgive them that. If you want a good meal in a unique atmosphere, go here.

Hidden in the Curling Club behind Centennial Arena, this café serves the best sandwiches in White Rock (lucky for me, I live close enough to walk). Homemade bread, high-​quality ingredients, and creative combinations make for unbeatable lunch deliciousness (and sandwiches all come with a great salad). I’ve had one brunch there as well and was just as impressed. The environment is quieter-​than-​quiet in the curling off-​season, but the quality of the food and the wonderfully friendly owners make this a must-​do stop whenever possible. I find myself scheduling trips to the nearby dog park or to the Sunday Farmer’s Market just to taste what the Rustic has on offer, and I recommend you do the same.

Stopped by the Rustic Gourmet’s unassuming counter at the Curling Club to pick up lunch to go yesterday. We had a reuben and a roasted turkey on their own cranberry bread. Awesome.
Sadly, these are possibly two of the best sandwiches we’ve had in White Rock or really, well, anywhere. Why sad? You’ll probably never find the counter. It’s so out of the way that unless you happen to know where the Curling Club is, you’re not going to find it. And that’s your loss. It’s hard to find food made by people that care about food. It’s certainly not a high speed assembly line, so if you’re looking for a an instant turnaround on food that tastes like the wrapper it comes in, you’re going to be disappointed. If you like to make every bite count, though, this is that kind of a place.
Note: Unilocal lists the business address on Anderson Street, but I think the actual building address is 14 560 N Bluff Rd.

My mouth waters the minute I walk in — all the smells from everything made from scratch are amazing! Love the grilled chicken salad & all the soups. The best baked goods around! It’s hard to decide what to eat when everything is THIS good!