If you couldn't already tell by the disproportionate amount of blog posts I write, brunch is probably my favourite meal of the day. (I'm basic.) I would say Edmonton's brunch scene has definitely improved over the last couple of years, but it's about to get even better! Calgary cult favourite OEB (which stands for Over Easy Breakfast) has finally made its long awaited debut in Edmonton. With three locations in Calgary already, Edmonton's first expansion is located downtown in the Kelly Ramsey building on Rice Howard Way. A second location is also in the works for 124th street, in the space that previously housed North 53. With even more locations planned in Vancouver and Arizona, its eggsciting times!
As with anything brand new and shiny in Edmonton, expect lots of people to show up. (That's how sadly deprived we are.) It's been about a month since they've been open and I don't see the hype dying down anytime soon. If you haven't already, download the Yelp app and put yourself on the wait list if you want to even attempt going on the weekend. (I hear wait times can be up to three hours long and they shut down the wait list as early as 11:00.) Thankfully we visited on a Monday around 10:45 and got ourselves a pick of tables.
It's a bright and cheerful place, with colors of yellow, orange, and robin egg blue. Sunny side up eggs are painted on the ceiling and there are rooster motifs randomly throughout. It's not a huge restaurant, but it also doesn't feel too small or claustrophobic. There's a good mix of high and low seating that evens out the distribution of space.
So what's on the menu? Expect classic brunch dishes, but with some unique and creative twists. From breakfast poutines to croissant benny's, you're pretty much spoiled with choice at OEB. It's a good thing their entire menu is available online or everyone would spend ages reading it in the restaurant. Maybe that's why they have such a long wait list ...
What's a brunch restaurant without eggs Benedict? Well, OEB has not one, not two, but nine benny choices for you. We decided to go for the waterfowl option ($19.00). Two poached eggs on a toasted butter croissant with porcini mushroom-truffle ragu, smoked Peking duck breast, and brown butter hollandaise. Your choice of sides include twice-fried duck fat potato wedges, wild arugula, or olive oil roasted potatoes.
We got our eggs soft poached and they were perfectly done. Potatoes were also great -- crispy and well-seasoned. I thought they were a bit skimpy with the mushroom ragu, but the truffle flavour definitely came through. I'm also not sure if you can call duck "Peking duck" without any crispy skin involved but the meat had a good smoke to it. Unfortunately the pieces were quite dry.
Bennies also come with a side of market fresh fruit. Oranges, apples, kiwi, pineapple, strawberries, and even dragonfruit.
Probably what OEB is most known for are their breakfast poutines. Like their bennies, there's a wide selection of toppings and flavours. We ended up getting the hog & scallops ($20), which is available in limited quantities daily. Their signature duck fat potato wedges are topped with slow-cooked bacon lardons, Saint Cyrille cheese curds, brown butter hollandaise, two poached eggs, and two seared Digby scallops. We also opted to get the half spinach, half potato option for no extra charge (because health is all about balance).
The scallops were perfectly cooked -- fresh, meaty, and succulent. The rest of the poutine was also good, but maybe a tad too salty. If I ordered another poutine next time, I'd probably stay clear of the ones containing bacon.
It's pretty obvious that Edmontonians have taken a liking to OEB. I'm willing to put our hockey differences aside to say thanks Calgary!
OEB Breakfast Co.
10174 100a St NW
Edmonton, AB
(587) 520-0936
- CT
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