Over Easy Breakfast

Cross-Posted from Calgary is Awesome.

One of the biggest local news stories this week was that popular breakfast chain Nellie's was fined $61,870 for health violations that date back to almost 12 years. I'm sure this Sunday some people woke up unsure of where to go for their brunch fix. Well, if they'd been up to date with Ceci, they'd know that there are lots of places in Calgary that serve delicious breakfast/brunch, including Avenue Diner, Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus and AKA Winebar & Bistro. They even serve Sunday tea at Nectar! And now I'm going to tell you about another place - Over Easy Breakfast.

The area around Edmonton Tr & 8 Ave NE has been christened by local food blogger Andree (of are u gonna eat that?) as the Breakfast Belt/Bacon Block/French Toast Township/Huevos Hood as it probably has the highest concentration of brunch places in Calgary, with Diner Deluxe, Big Fish, and AKA Bistro all calling it their home turf. Over Easy Breakfast muscled into the competition only a few short months ago, and based on the lineups late Sunday morning, it seems to be going strong.

My perennial brunch companion Tiffany and I met at around 10 on Sunday morning (her strategy to beat the crowds) and the place was packed, though the line was short and moved quickly. Even so, the hostess offered coffee to make the wait more bearable. The vibe at Over Easy is different from most breakfast places in Calgary - instead of going for the cozy (and sometimes a little kitschy) diner atmosphere, Over Easy is bright and colourful without being retina-scorching, and features modern decor with clean lines, save for the chalkboard featuring drink specials above the bar and the chalkboard-like words on the ceiling (the only visually-overwhelming part of the restaurant, I think, which is fortunately quite out-of-the-way).

Over Easy's menu features a lot of different choices, including eggs with any side you can think of (such as the "Albertan favourite", steak and eggs), eggs benny in various forms (including what might possibly be the cheapest eggs benny with smoked salmon I've seen anywhere), omelettes, breakfast sandwiches, and even pasta! Both Tiffany and I seemed to be in a "sweet" mood so she ordered the French toast ($6.99 with strawberries or blueberries, $8.99 with both) and I ordered the CPS Special - three crepes filled with strawberries, banana and blueberries topped with a pile of whipped cream and sliced almonds ($8.99).


Doesn't look very special


SURPRISE!
Tiffany and I were too busy catching up on gossip for me to ask if she enjoyed her French toast, but it looked like it had been soaked in the egg before being fried up and its cinnamon scent wafted tantalizingly over to my side of the table - she finished her plate without any trouble. My crepe was delicious too, especially since it was bursting with fruit inside (though the whipped cream and almonds didn't hurt either!) It was just a smidge on the thick and dry side but I think I've just been spoiled from living in Montreal for four years.

The thing I was most impressed about was the service. All the staff were really friendly and our food arrived very quickly - I put in a last-minute take-out order (to feed B., whom I'd just woken up over the phone to ask if he wanted anything) just before the waitress put our bill down and when she came back with our new bill, she said, "Your order is going to arrive in... no time." I thought she was exaggerating, but less than five minutes later another waitress came with the food all packed up in a box and a giant paper bag. I was thrilled - despite being open only a few short months, Over Easy clearly has its system down and was ready for the Sunday rush.

Over Easy serves breakfast throughout the week as well, so if you're someone who can't trouble themselves to make breakfast and lives close (*ahem*, B...) you should pop by even if it's just for a simple organic coffee and a bagel.

Over Easy Breakfast
824 Edmonton Tr NE
Calgary AB T2E 3J6
(403) 278-EGGS (3447)
Open Wed-Mon 7 AM-3 PM. Closed Tuesdays.