OEB serves the most important meal of the day, all day, every day. Indeed, they may have perfected the art of breakfast. Their motto is “fill the soul” and their soulful breakfast and brunch food is satisfying and satiating.
There are three OEB locations in the Vancouver area now but their Yaletown restaurant is my closest. Their space on Marinaside Crescent is, as the street name would suggest, marina-side, with views of False Creek. OEB Yaletown has two patios from which to enjoy the view, as well as a large dining room inside. The design, both inside and out, is bright and cheerful. The colour scheme is very much egg inspired, with white and yellows used throughout.
The Breakfast Backstory
The chef behind OEB is Mauro Martina. He grew up in Italy with an appreciation for the local and fresh produce found at nearby markets. After moving to Canada, Martina climbed to the position of executive chef. All the while, he was fine-tuning a concept: farm to table breakfast.
The first OEB opened in Calgary in 2009, and the company has grown steadily from there. To be honest, I never really wondered what the initials stood for. In researching this article, I learned. It turns out it’s not the most elegant of acronyms. O stands for outstanding people, E for embracing evolution, and B stands for bold food integrity. Essentially, OEB stands for prioritizing people while pushing culinary boundaries and upholding food integrity.
OEB Does Breakfast All Day Every Day
Breakfast doesn’t have to be basic. There are many menu items at OEB that can’t be made at home. They offer decadent indulgences and mighty meals but also lighter fare, and they have options to accommodate dietary restrictions. You can go as small as one egg with fruit and toast, or as light as chia pudding, but there’s also a breakfast gnocchi carbonara and a truffle burger.
OEB serves six different versions of Eggs Benny. One of the many things I love about OEB is that you will always be asked how you want your eggs poached. Even if you order on Uber Eats, you will be prompted to specify. All of their Eggs Benny’s are served on butter croissants, the crisp crevices of which fill deliciously with hollandaise.
My favourite of the breakfast poutines is the Chasing Chickens which comes with smoked chicken. All the breakfast poutines are served with poached eggs and herb potatoes which are fried in beef tallow. Don’t worry, vegetarians and vegans can have their potatoes fried in a plant-based oil but as a meat eater I can testify that the beef fat fried potatoes are delicious. That said, my favourite move with the breakfast poutine is to sub organic spinach for half of the potatoes. This isn’t any kind of calorie conscious choice but the spinach and hollandaise combination is so perfect. All of the breakfast poutines are served with OEB’s brown butter hollandaise. There are more than a half a dozen breakfast poutine dishes alone, ranging from the classic Soul in a Bowl with bacon to the Lobster Scramble or Tuna Crudo.
The Sweet Stuff
OEB has sweet breakfast items as well. The Not So Boring Brioche French Toast is spiced with cinnamon and orange blossom and is best enjoyed with both berries and fresh whipped cream. Another notable sweet treat is the French Toast Trifle with lemon curd and torched pavlovas.
We all know that brunch is a three beverage meal and OEB has an extensive beverage menu. They are always coming up with creative, seasonal cocktails to go along with their juices, smoothies, coffees, teas, wines, and beers.
Brunch with a View
The Yaletown space is comfortable and relaxed, and the service is excellent. I visited on a Monday and the restaurant was bustling and both patio spaces were being utilized to seat customers. You won’t always find a line but it’s a very popular spot so be mindful of when you want to visit. They do have a virtual waitlist you can join. Although it’s hard to find a better location to take a walk while you wait for a table. The Yaletown Quayside Marina is home to some impressive boats, and the dock is also a water taxi stop.
OEB has grown to have locations across Canada and in the United States. Locally, there are five. Besides Yaletown, there are restaurants in Brentwood, Ambleside, Langley, and North Vancouver so if the craving for breakfast poutine strikes, you’re likely near an OEB.
