When Tino Ganacias relocated to Oak Park from Seattle, he knew he wanted to bring good coffee (something Seattle is known for) to the area. He started his coffee and espresso truck, named The 206 (Seattle’s area code), and developed a waffle recipe to help drive traffic. Set up outside of the local Farmer’s Market on Saturdays, The 206 quickly became the (coffee) buzz around town!
Earlier this year, Tino started a crowdfunding campaign to open an actual cafe. Knowing how great the product is he sells, it was no surprise to me that he was able to raise the funds and successfully open his cafe this summer. I have stopped by the food truck several times and recently visited the new location a few weekends ago.
Like I mentioned before, the menu is simple: coffee and waffles! He currently offers three different kinds of waffles: The Classic – Butter and Maple Syrup, The Gusto – Nutella, Bananas, Whipped Cream, and Sliced Almonds, and The Mixed Berry Compote – Mixed Berries and Whipped Cream. I have kept it simple and ordered The Classic every time which never disappoints! The waffle batter is light and airy and melts in your mouth. The batter is more on the savory side which pairs perfectly with the sweet maple syrup. I don’t know that I can ever eat waffles from anywhere else again!
What makes The 206 waffles unique is the batter. He created a batter made out of buttermilk, brown sugar, and cornmeal which makes for the perfect sweet and savory waffle.
The coffee he serves is Kuma Coffee which is a direct trade coffee roaster based in Seattle. I ordered an iced coffee on my last visit and it was good but a bit strong for my liking. I know I am probably in the minority of people who likes their coffee light. For real coffee drinkers, my guess is this will be right up your alley. Based on the amount of people piled in the small cafe, I think I can safely say it’s a hit with the locals!
The 206 is such a great addition to the Oak Park food scene and I definitely plan on being a regular weekend visitor when I need my waffle fix. 🙂 I HIGHLY recommend making a trip to Oak Park and trying one these waffles ASAP – you will not be disappointed!
The 206 is located at 818 S. Oak Park Ave in Oak Park, IL
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