Eggspectation Richmond — Restaurant in Richmond

New location, apparently just opened Mid November 2018.

Had an omelet, which was very good. Price was fair, on par for restaurants of this type.

Service was a bit sporadic, perhaps due to the newness of this location. Had a long wait for a coffee refill... wait staff was delayed in sorting out the bill for a large table so very understandable. They were not at all busy, I suspect service would suffer greatly if they were. I’m sure as time goes they will improve.

Food was hot, and the staff was very friendly. Coffee was fair, not the best, not the worst.

They don’t have an “open” sign so wasn’t too sure they were open. A “now open” banner would help them.

Parking was scarce, I suspect adjacent office workers have gotten used to stealing parking space. They will need to address this soon.

Overall was pleased, will definitely return and recommend to others.

• 3 Month Update *

I’ve visited several more times in the 3 plus months since my initial review.

The overall quality of the food is excellent and service is good, but not outstanding.

Still a long wait for coffee refills, and the coffee itself is fair, but not great. If they are at all busy (and they weren’t when I was in mid week for lunch) don’t expect prompt attention from the staff. That said, the wait staff couldn’t be friendlier or more courteous.

The host that sat us does not appear to offer drinks while we wait for our waiter and look at the menu, this policy should be reviewed. It would help the wait staff...

The parking situation has been completely resolved and is no longer an issue.

I personally preferred the iHoP that used to be in this location, but the variety of eggspectations menu is also a welcome change.

I still recommend this restaurant, but 4 stars is all I can offer them in a review, 3.5 stars would possibly be a more accurate rating.

• 9 month update * I visited on a Sunday morning, just before the typical Sunday rush, and had a similar experience to what is described above.

The host does not offer drinks when seating guests, and in my case it took the better part of 10 minutes for a waiter to take my order and bring coffee. The server was very courteous and friendly, but is perhaps inexperienced and or unused to the pace of a busy restaurant. I get the impression that the service procedures and policies of this restaurant are quite inefficient. In all of my visits the service was disjointed and slower than the competition, regardless if they are busy or not.

The food is still excellent, it arrived hot and in good time despite their being busy. Coffee refills were again too slow, and the waiter did not check on how I was enjoying the meal. (I was enjoying very much, but if I was needing something there was no one there to respond).

They have dramatically improved the coffee, which was excellent.

I can still easily recommend this restaurant, their menu and food quality are excellent, and they are reasonably priced for this segment.

If management can streamline the service, perhaps augmenting their wait staff with people to assist with drink service, bussing and handling payment, they could earn a 5th star. As it is, they still get 4 stars from me, and that because of the quality of the food.

• 2 year update * In my most recent visit, Oct 2021, all of the above is still true. I was seated promptly, and my order was taken very quickly and arrived hot and in good time. The server was courteous and professional. Food quality is still excellent.

The server did not check on me until we’ll after I had finished eating. I was not offered a coffee refill until the end of my meal.

I feel the management of this location could stand improvement, the customers would have a better experience and they would show a better profit for their trouble.

I still give them 3.5 to 4 stars for food quality, clean facilities and decor, if they improved service and were prompter with the coffee (which is excellent by the way) they could earn...

I think I had high “eggspectations” when I first visited this new breakfast eatery that opened up in Richmond late last year. Originally hailing from Montreal, Eggspectation is located in the former Ihop location next to the Accent Inn. But trust me, when you walk inside, it looks nothing like an Ihop.

The interior is actually quite bright, open, and spacious (perhaps a bit too bright for those with sleep still in their eyes).

I decided to start my morning with a hot chocolate… but not just any hot chocolate. No, I went with the Nutella Hot Chocolate ($4.95). Truth be told, I didn’t actually find that the hot chocolate tasted much like Nutella, which was kind of disappointing.

Now, for my breakfast, I went against my better judgement and decided to order the High Rise Pancakes ($14.95) because it looked kind of interesting… a stack of 3 pancakes with sausage, bacon, and potatoes layered in the middle and topped with a sunny-side-up egg. However, I’ve never been much of a pancake person so this was probably wasted on me.

The good: the runny yolk makes for a nice pic. The bad: the pancakes weren’t overly fluffy and a bit too dry for my liking, the bacon was limp instead of crispy, and the sausage was a bit too dry and chewy.

Undeterred from my first visit, I came back the following week and stuck with items that I knew that I would enjoy… the Tropical Teaser ($6.45) and Blackstone Benny ($15.95).

The Blackstone Benny turned out to be a much better option for me. Perfectly poached eggs with a runny yolk perched atop toasted English muffin with grilled tomatoes, bacon, and avocado. They round out the dish with their usual Lyonnaise-style sliced potato coins.

Since my second visit turned out much better than my first, I decided to return for another revisit just to make sure. This time, sticking with their Eggs Benedict… specifically, their California Dreaming ($15.95) which had poached eggs, smoked wild sockeye salmon, asparagus, and sautéed spinach all topped with their hollandaise sauce and surrounded by multigrain toast. Instead of an English muffin, this was served on their usual Lyonnaise-style potatoes. The dish turned out pretty good with a nice runny yolk to the eggs. The only thing which I can say against it was that the spinached made the dish a bit watery and this dish was a bit messy to eat as the hollandaise sauce got all over the toast.

We also ordered the French Toast with the addition of Seasonal Fruit and Berries ($11.95 + $3.45). The brioche French toast was good and accompanied with maple syrup. Meanwhile, the Tropical Paradise ($6.45) was similar to the last smoothie that I had here… this time having a mix of banana, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, mango and pineapple and blended with hand-squeezed orange juice.

Given that Eggspectation is from back east, I figured it was only appropriate that I try out their Montreal Benny ($15.95) which comes with Montreal-style smoked meat, Swiss cheese, Dijon mustard and hollandaise sauce on an English muffin with a dill pickle slice. First off, the skinny and crisp fries that they serve with this dish are really good and I prefer them over their thick-cut Lyonnaise-style potatoes. The smoked meat was okay but I felt that they were a bit skimpy with just a single thin slice of meat underneath the poached eggs. The tartness of the dill pickle did help to cut through the richness of the dish.

Another weekend and another visit to Eggspectation… this time for their Southwest Sunrise Omelette ($14.95) filled with cheddar, Swiss and Gruyère cheeses, sautéed peppers, and then topped with strips of freshly sliced avocado, salsa and sour cream (served with their Lyonnaise style potatoes). I loved how cheesy this omelette was.

Overall, there are some good options here and a fairly extensive menu. A bit more refinement in some items and this could be a really great...

Eggspectation Richmond Location: 10551 St Edwards Dr, Richmond, BC V6X 3L8

On a pleasant morning, we decided to venture out for breakfast and chose Eggspectation, drawn by its reputation and convenient location. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by our waitress, whose welcoming demeanor set a positive tone for our visit.

Food: Our meal consisted of two main dishes:

Steak Frites: A 10oz AAA steak, accompanied by herbed garlic butter, fries, and a mixed salad with balsamic dressing. The steak was ordered rare, and while it was well-seasoned, the texture leaned toward being slightly tough. The portion size, however, was generous, which is always appreciated. The fries were passable but lacked any distinguishing features, much like the salad, which was standard fare.

Rating: 7/10

Eggspectation:

This dish featured a 10oz AAA strip loin paired with two sunny-side-up eggs, toast, and Lyonnaise-style potatoes. Once again, the steak was ordered rare, and though it was adequately seasoned, it was a bit challenging to chew. The toast was serviceable, and the eggs were prepared well, with a good balance of seasoning. The Lyonnaise potatoes were a highlight, adding depth to the dish. Overall, the meal was satisfactory, with portions that were ample and filling. Rating: 7/10

Drinks:

• Iced Tea: A refreshing choice, with a sweetness that will appeal to those who enjoy their iced tea on the sweeter side.

Rating: 9/10

• Tropical Paradise: A vibrant blend of banana, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, mango, and pineapple, balanced with orange juice. While the concept was appealing, the execution left something to be desired. The drink was enjoyable but failed to leave a lasting impression.

Rating: 7/10

Ambiance:

The ambiance of the restaurant is one of its stronger points. The space is both cozy and expansive, offering comfortable seating that invites you to linger. The decor is ok yet warm, contributing to a relaxed dining experience.

Service:

The service was a standout aspect of our visit. Our waitress was attentive, accommodating, and ensured that our needs were met promptly. Her professionalism and friendliness elevated the overall experience.

Rating: 8/10

Price: The pricing was reasonable, particularly given the portion sizes and the overall quality of the food.

Verdict: In summary, while the steak dishes were well-seasoned and generously portioned, the texture left something to be desired, even when ordered rare. The rest of the meal, though satisfactory, did not exceed expectations. However, the pleasant ambiance and excellent service made for an enjoyable dining experience overall. I would be inclined to return to explore more of their menu offerings, as there is potential for...