You can grab a full breakfast for under $6 at this hidden cafeteria, but it might be costing taxpayers more than they bargained for.
New Westminster’s Five Eleven Bistro, tucked away in the basement of city hall, is now at the center of a growing controversy after a recent report from Global News.
While the cafeteria is technically open to the public, it’s primarily used by city staff and it’s been bleeding a lot of money.
New Westminster Councillor Daniel Fontaine recently called out the bistro’s financials, revealing that it’s allegedly racked up nearly $350,000 in taxpayer losses over the last three years.
Yikes.
And it’s not hard to see how that could happen.
The menu features breakfast combos like eggs, bacon, toast, and hashbrowns for just $5.75, English muffin sandwiches for $4.75, and a daily hot lunch for $6.25.
In an era where $15 barely covers a coffee and pastry, these prices are practically from another timeline.
But Councillor Fontaine argues that these low-cost meals no longer make sense when the city has experienced a 23% jump in property taxes in just three years.
With cafes, restaurants, and food spots surrounding city hall, he’s questioning whether subsidizing a somewhat unknown cafeteria should still be a priority, especially in today’s troubling economic climate.
And it’s not just about the food.
The debate touches on a much larger frustration: how public money is being used.
This scrutiny comes at a time when public trust is already very shaky, with recent controversies like the City of Richmond’s gift card fiasco and growing concerns about crime, safety, and inflation throughout province.
The City of New Westminster, however, says the cafeteria still plays an important role.
In a statement to Global News, a spokesperson from the city’s parks and planning department said the bistro meets “specific operational and community needs.”
But that might be a hard sell.
Five Eleven Bistro has only 8 Google reviews in the past six years, and many locals weren’t even aware it existed, as seen in a Reddit thread from two years ago.
That means it has been primarily used by those working in the City Hall building.
While the city stands by the value of the bistro, the optics of subsidizing budget meals for public staff during a financial crunch are raising eyebrows.
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