OEB Breakfast Co. — Restaurant in Calgary

After hearing raving reviews about this place we chose it for a weekend family reunion after ten years. Our family had flown from Toronto, Dubai, and the US. Since this is the only day we could manage breakfast together, i tried to call ahead to make a reservation. They told me that they could not take bookings directly, and I would have to do it through Yelp. As such, I made reservations on Yelp in advance to avoid wait lines/ last minute cancellation. Yelp allows 4 spots at a time, so we made three reservations (12people). I called them the morning off to request if they could pool the tables together but I was told that since it is a weekend, it might be tricky- which was understandable. However, I was grateful when they called back and were kind enough to reserve our tables together in a corner on the patio for us, despite the tables not being adjoined. Once we arrived and seeing many empty tables, I asked if it was alright if an additional two children (aged 4 & 5) joined us, and if the restaurant was able to accommodate them. Our server told us it was not a problem and only then I informed my cousin that it was okay to bring his children. As we were at the end of the patio, and seated on different tables, the kids walked from one table to another while waiting for food (extremely long wait times). We watched the kids to make sure they get in no one’s way.

Gabrielle Vandergrift then walked in and rudely announced asking us to seat the kids to the tables. Although a more private notice would have been appreciated, the kids were then strapped to their seats to avoid an inconvenience. After the food finally arrived, we were asked if we needed something else, and some people requested coffees. This seemed like an unrealistic chore had been demanded and Gabrielle was almost banging the cups on the table when bringing them. (Absolutely no one got any coffee refill’s) Despite constant impudent behaviour, we did not complain. However at the end, once the payment had been processed Gabrielle announced very loudly, as everyone in the patio hall turned and looked at us. She said she will not let us in again if we made individual reservations on Yelp (4ppl x 3 tables), or showed up with extra people (referring to the two children which I asked about prior to bringing), or welcome the kids walking around from one table to the adjacent one in the corner. It was immensely embarrassing so be humiliated infront of the entire patio. We went inside to have a talk- that had there been any issues, they should have been communicated in private. She explained that she announced it like that so that “everyone knows“ which frankly is extremely degrading. We ordered breakfast platters for the children aswell, so it is not like the children sat there for free. We were grateful to the OEB team for being able to reserve our tables close to each other, but the attitude we received while there offset any gratitude we had. This isn’t a diner- you pay a decent amount for food so being treated like this was insulting. Once again, had there been any issues to be communicated, it could have been done more respectfully. I appreciate the manger coming forth and offering to make our next visits better, however likely neither of us will be returning to Calgary in the near future. More than that, the next family reunion- which Ms. Vandergrift efficiently managed to ruin might be years from now. I will never come back to this location for as long as Gabrielle Vandergrift is working here. And I wouldn’t recommend it to people in a large group, families, people with children, people who want coffee during their breakfast, or...

OEB has been one of my family’s favourite spot to go brunch! Specially if there is a special celebration. We have been very lucky to always get the food perfectly done! Just look at the medium done eggs. Their seasonings and selection are fantastic! The food quality, taste and prep are consistent! A reason why I will come back and highly recommend this spot to others. Recommendations? Their potatoes are famous! They are fry in duck oil and they are great texture and flavour. Also, The Bennys are fantastic! You can’t go wrong. We often have the salmon and the classic Canadian ones. Recently we tried their poutines and they were pretty good. We tried the Korean style beef and the duck one. Both tasty. Although, the duck one barely came with the cranberry sauce. Our server recommended to go half and half with the potatoes and the greens as having potatoes only can get a bit too heavy. That is a personal choice but if you want make it lighter add the green. I promise you will still get a very reasonable amount of potatoes. We order the poutines both ways and having greens made a difference in flavour too. But hey that is a personal choice.

Gluten free? Yep! They have items that are gluten free and vegan. You can also ask to make your bennys gluten free as I did in the past.

Their waffles are fantastic and their pistachio crepe is amazing! Highly recommended.

A CON for this location is their reservation system and the service offered over the phone when attempting to make one. I tried to make a reservation over the phone but this location does NOT make any over the phone -that’s what I was told. Instead they ask the customer to do it on Yelp or to go to their website. The latter was incorrect, do not go to the OEB web. Is confusing, it is not a reservation program but a service called “wait list”. It is a useless wait list where you add personal info (name and phone number) and it “confirms” that it will text you on the day and time to remind you to add your name in their wait list at a specific time and date. Needless to say that is doesn’t works. Tried to use it twice and it never sent any reminders. I wonder what happens to the personal info data people leave there. I called the restaurant and there was no record of the wait list reservation. I even went there at the time I selected and they said to try again because my name wasn’t there. They pretty much ask the client to try again while they are looking at you and ask you to step aside and wait. Another 10 minutes and when you approach the employee again they tell you the name is not there and that they will see in their system - rolling eyes- and then you wait another 20 minutes for them to have a table open. A waste of time and energy.

Second, when I asked to make a reservation at 12:30pm and they informed me to do it in Yelp I was not told that they don’t take any after 10am. So if you see that Yelp does not have anything after 10am is not that they are booked or that the app has a glitch, OEB Mission does not take any reservation after 10am Monday to Friday. None taken on weekends. The app does not have that info available and often the OEB Mission staff do not inform that there is no reservation taken after 10 am Mon to Fri.

The area is great if you feel like Going for a walk - much needed if you have too much delicious food ;) - there are quite a few stores and it is nearby the...

So, I checked the nearly 300 reviews before submitting mine.

3 stars is correct as to this day (July 29th, 2018; 5th visit)

Food effectively is still good-awesome.

Chasing chickens my favorite (wondering if dish name is because you feel like wanting more chicken?)

Common complains are: Undercooked potatoes, low portions, frozen prawns used (seasonal matter), overpriced, overrated, no-kids friendly, unprofessional service, average coffee.

Major complians from people who live near or frequent this location are: Not friendly staff and "stupid" amounts of waiting time, even with the "No wait", yelp, etc, apps. Change of some ingredients, like type of cheese.

My particular complains: Uneven tables (today, 3rd occasion) Staff jolted EVERY ridiculously time at me (today, 2nd occasion) Undercooked potatoes, just some(1st occasion today, attached pictures)

My particular congrats: Masters of eggs, delicious sauces, great breakfast.

Conclusion:

Considering that this location opened "recently" and hasn't celebrated its first year in the area (Mission), service quality is slightly declining over time. Approximately, 5% of the comments particularly addressed service issues. Food is still on the good side mostly.

Based in an observed server-positive-mood-change in progress today, it leads to think that perhaps staff is under too much pressure to treat better its clients. No need to remind that competition is high in this commercial area too, and clientele is also random. Perhaps an incentive of some sort is needed. Innovation makes the difference and that goes to the management.

Since it is constantly crowded, and if the plan is to stay many years in the business, costumer satisfaction is the main factor to take a look from a different perspective/idea, before costumers start slowly heading to other similar commerces.

I will keep coming because of the food and check on your progress as a regular client. I am not looking for any special treatment, just trying to help. So, no need to reach out from OEB management for now, I took note of the mail you provided on the other reviews to make it up, but thanks for taking care and...