The Benediction — Restaurant in City of Industry

*Location Used to be Panera Waitlist recommended *Used web waitlist option for 10:30am table at 10:15am. Party must all be present to be seated.

Ambiance/Service/Food Welcoming ambiance. Buzzing with activity with servers busy attending to customers when we arrived. Walked up to podium to mention waitlist at 10:32am and was seated immediately by Christian at 10:35am. Outside patio was awesome in our perfect 69 degree SoCal weather.

Food: This by far was the best part of this visit, as it should. Kudos to the people preparing food in the kitchen. Party of 3, came to have an Al Fresco Brunch Dining experience. Left with happy tummies, smiles on our faces and feeling of having had an awesome family brunch, just as we had imagined.

Denver Omelette/$19/ Ham, onion, bell roper, Cremini mushrooms, sharp cheddar cheese + choice of side fruits *perfect blend of vegetables with right balance of firm outside/perfectly cooked soft (not too dry) inside this omelette. *Side of Fruits too small though

Bacon Avocado Benedict/$22/Hardwood smoked bacon (strips), avocado mash + choice of side Hash Brown Chips *Eggs cooked to perfection with hollandaise sauce and slight sprinkle of paprika. Hash browns fun to eat with the crunch like mini fries. Kid loved it.

House Benedict /$22/ Hickory smoked shoulder bacon, avocado mash + choice of sides Country Potatoes (with red and green bell pepper strips and onions) *Came for the eggs really. Video says it all. Avocado mash was so fresh with its light green color complementing the richness of the ham on slightly toasted muffins. Just magnificent simple brunch meal. *Ordered Lavender latte with Oat milk- divine!

At the end of our meal, we noticed the manager, Susie, working hard to get everyone seated as fast as the tables can be turned. She was very meticulous with the timing and organization of the flow of people starting to flood in. She even helped disinfect tables in the patio dining area to help with traffic flow efficiency. I approached her before leaving and told her what a wonderful experience we’ve had on this first visit. She smiled, thanked me for the gesture and went on with cleaning more tables. This is a great example of how managers should be. Her service is A+, no condescension on directing her team. Awesome professionalism and dedication to work and teamwork that her staff all clearly emulates. Well done Susie and team.

We will be...

Let me paint the scene: me, my family, 12 of us deep, two babies in tow, all hungry and definitely a little chaotic. We walk into The Benediction, and instead of getting side eyes or “Sorry, we’re full,” we get straight up hospitality magic.

This place didn’t just seat us. They made it feel like we belonged there.

The woman (pretty sure she was the manager) didn’t flinch when she saw our crew. She offered us options, rearranged tables like a brunch ninja, and literally swapped out a two person table for a four person table mid meal when she saw we needed space. Who does that? She made sure everyone was comfy and that alone deserves five stars before we even talk food.

But oh, let’s talk food.

So What Should You Eat at The Benediction?

Here’s the move: • Filet Mignon Bearnaise Benedict: Tender steak meets rich sauce on a brunch plate built like a dream. I didn’t know I needed filet mignon for breakfast, but now I refuse to go back. • Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast: Sweet, indulgent, and every bit as insane as it sounds. It’s dessert for breakfast without the guilt. • Perfect Avocado Toast: The name says it all. Crunchy, creamy, seasoned like it actually matters, this isn’t your average millennial cliché.

The coffee? Bold and smooth, the kind that makes you feel like the day’s already off to a good start. Add a light breeze from the outdoor seating and boom, you’re vibing.

Is It Good for Families? Big Groups? Actual Humans?

Yes, yes, and yes.

We had our infants with us and not once did it feel like a hassle. The vibe was laid back, the service was top tier, and somehow, even with kids, we felt relaxed. That’s rare. The Benediction knows how to make brunch feel like a moment, not just a meal.

Pro Tips Before You Roll In: • Show up early if you’ve got a crew. They’ll take care of you, but help them help you. • Share everything. I mean it. This menu is built for passing plates and trying bites. • Sit outside if the weather’s right. It levels up the whole experience.

Final Word: If you’re anywhere near City of Industry and you haven’t hit up The Benediction, fix that immediately. It’s brunch with heart, flavor that actually hits, and service that makes you want to hug someone.

We’re already planning our next visit....

Scroll to the bottom for my overall opinion.

Went this morning, it was pretty cool. Got the House Benedict and Pear Thyme Mimosa in a jar. Maybe my taste buds are too poor, but I didn’t really taste any pear or thyme, just “oh that’s champagne”. Which I wasn’t going to complain about, I like champagne, but I like pears too, and I ordered that mimosa because I like pears. Maybe the champagne just cuts through whatever juice or flavoring is added. I can see that. The House Benedict was good, but nothing incredible. I could have made it at home for a fraction of the price. Hash chips were just above school cafeteria level.

Maybe I got the wrong thing, but I kind of expected a place called The Benediction to have some fire eggs benedict. And I’m sorry, but it just did not merit the price tag. This might be the worst price-to-food quality ratio I’ve experienced, to be frank. It has a B rating in food safety, too, which is just a little off putting to me considering most places can eek out an A. They also offer all these vegan and alternative options, which is cool. Maybe I’m just not rich enough to appreciate this yet. I’ll amend this if anything changes when I return as a billionaire, but for now, I’m feeling pretty eh on this place.

Edit: went here again. Have nothing to say that would improve my opinion. Place is still just… eh. Got the smoked salmon Benedict, and it had the problem of the salmon just kind of overpowering every other flavor element in the dish. Arugula salad was good, but it’s literally arugula and a simple vinaigrette. And the price was just too much.

Overall, this place just seems like a hangout place/status symbol for rich white and Asian housewives with nothing better to do. If you have the time and money and talent to cook, there’s no reason to spend your money here. Just the worst food quality to price ratio I’ve ever experienced. Service was...