SYNONYM

SYNONYM holds four things at one address: a specialty coffee counter, a Middle Eastern–leaning brunch kitchen, a working bookshop, and a natural-wine bar. Espresso runs from seven in the morning, the brunch service builds out by ten, sandwiches and small plates carry the afternoon, and natural wine is open alongside the food the rest of the day. Books hold the walls through every shift, and local art rotates above them. The James North storefront has held the same block since 2018, and the rhythm has not loosened: latkes and shakshuka through brunch, sandwiches at lunch, hummus and a glass of natural wine before closing.

The food spine sits on two brunch plates. The Breakfast Sandwich layers a potato latke, scrambled egg, cheddar, scallions, and spinach — brunch food engineered for a coffee bar rather than another egg-on-a-bun. Classic Shakshuka builds out the sit-down side: two free-run poached eggs in tomato with bell pepper, onion, garlic, paprika, chilli, cumin, tahini, house bread, and fresh vegetables. French Toast comes on challah with roasted pistachios and a berry coulis; Herb Omelet brings three free-run eggs through labneh, hummus, and bread. Small plates fill the spread — Hummus, Labneh dressed with zaatar and sumac, Bureka stuffed with feta, boiled egg, tomato, and pickles, Roasted Vegetables on a hummus base with eggplant, peppers, yam, zucchini, and zaatar. The sandwich line keeps the savoury lane sharp at lunch: Chicken with kale and aioli shug, Pulled Beef on a challah bun with parsnip butter and caramelized maple parsnip, Smoked Salmon on a bagel with labneh, latke, and capers. The coffee counter carries a Vanilla RAF, an Espresso Tonic, a pour-over, and Chocolate Babka — challah dough rolled with chocolate and cinnamon.