The Bro’kin Yolk

I have been here a few times. Fresh food. Great bennies. Lunchtime can get very busy so if going for lunch it’s best to go around 1. A little expensive though.

Good food — fresh ingredients. Service was a little slow the day we went but they seemed short staffed and very busy. Had the salmon eggs Benedict. It was served on a waffle instead of English muffin. Was a nice touch. All in all decent meal — not expensive but not cheap. Reasonably priced.

The food here was okay but the music was way too loud. We had to yell at each other just to have a conversation.

Heard about this place on Instagram and decided to check it out. After looking over the menu online and reading their story, I had rather high expectations, which were heightened further when I heard «You Gotta Eat Here» was going to be filmed there the following week. Unfortunately, these weren’t quite realized. The restaurant was a little difficult to find, as there wasn’t a sign at the entrance to the plaza and we weren’t quite sure which way to go. The décor was really cute and we had no trouble getting a table (but we did come early). Neither one of us was quite hungry enough for a big breakfast, so I ordered 3 of the mini waffles and my boyfriend got the french toast fondue. He also ordered fresh orange juice to start before his coffee, which never came. The waitress was very friendly but it looks like they’re still finding their groove on the staffing front, which is normally the case with new restaurants. When the food case, a different server brought our order and I ended up with 4 mini waffles instead of the 3 I ordered (which I did get charged for when the bill came). The cortado my boyfriend ordered (and talked the waitress through the process of making properly) also wasn’t quite what it should be. My waffles were ok but a bit dry because, it turns out, they only come with a sprinkling of icing sugar. I did order a fruit compote as a topping but it came on the side in a tiny little bowl and was only enough for one of the waffle pieces. This is not something the server advised me about. There was no maple syrup provided (it wasn’t even an option to order as a topping on the menu). Overall, I found the experience disappointing in light of my expectations. It was ok and we might give them another try for the eggs and duck fat hash once they get their groove a bit. For the time being, however, when I look at the type of food and the price range, I’ve had better.

Love their breakfast! I had the chicken and waffel! Chick crispy and waffle fluffy/​moist. Very good quality food. They have an app that will put you in line which is a time saver since they are usually really busy!

As far as breakfast places go, this one is really good. Menu is small but offers up a decent variety of breakfast goodness at a reasonable price. And the coffee keeps coming so that’s always a plus. The chicken and waffles caught my eye, but felt that maybe this might be too heavy for breakfast.
The place was packed so we sat at the community table, I don’t mind this concept at all, but others might not like the idea of sitting with strangers, we were seated by some new mommies and it was nice to chat up with them while waiting for our breakie.
Our waitress was quite nice however her eyebrows were so distracting, I mean how could friends and family let someone walk out of the house like that is beyond me, I don’t want to be rude but she is such a pretty girl that if I knew her I would be all, no… other than that she was efficient and did a good job.
I ordered the salmon eggs benny and my friend ordered this little skillet of eggs that was similar to an omelette in a mini cast iron pan, it looked delish, next time I will try that one. Both came with nice golden chunks of hash brown potatoes and a carb, mine was a half waffle and my friend had multi-​grain toast. They do offer GF options too so that was nice to see.
Loved that they give you ketchup in the mini bottles, so cute and liked the unlimited strong coffee, it hit the spot for a late breakfast and I made it to dinner without feeling hungry.
Will be back, so much better than Cora’s without the complacent wait staff. Owner was there too, I like to see that, means he actually gives a crap about how his business is run. Kudos

A couple of months ago we decided we wanted to have a nice breakfast out. After looking through reviews and seeing how much others enjoyed this restaurant we thought we’d give it a try. Upon arrival we found it to be jam-​packed to overflowing which was a good sign, with a 20 min wait for the bar or a 1hr wait for a table. We chose the bar, which gave us a good view of the cooks.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic but it was busy so that’s no surprise. The wall nearest the entrance had writing all over it and some of it was hard to read, but the place overall looked very clean. Our seats were announced via text which was great because we wouldn’t have heard our names called over the din.
After perusing the menu we ordered chocolate milks (because we saw someone else’s and they’re HUGE). Derek had the Upstream Benny and I got a House Cured Bacon Breakfast Poutine with the eggs scrambled because I don’t like poached (runny) eggs…
It was a little bit of a wait, so we were halfway done our delicious, enormous chocolate milks by the time the food arrived but I’d noticed something interesting. The first time the eggs were done and put on top of the hasbrowns, he spied something that he took out of the dish, along with the eggs, and had them re-​fired. I really appreciate that he caught whatever it was and replaced the ingredients before it could be brought to me.
Now the dish itself… The duck fat hash on the bottom was divine… Honestly anything cooked in duck fat has such rich amazing flavour that it just made the potatoes perfect. The eggs were well-​done just the way I like them with a dusting of something I think might have been paprika… the roasted garlic hollandaise was really creamy and blended great with the eggs and giant chunks of bacon. Part of me wanted more sauce, and part of me kept saying «no way, this is rich enough!»
It was so delicious I can’t wait to go have it again, when I’m hungry enough to handle it. The portion sizing had us leaving full, without any need for extra sides.
As we were paying the bill the waitress let us know that their text-​based table notification doesn’t just work when you get to the restaurant, you can call in advance and they’ll let you know in time to drive over. That’s so fantastic I wish more restaurants offered that kind of notification service.
We will definitely be going back.

This place is a real gem! It’s all the breakfast classics with a nice twist.
We were here on a Sunday morning, for a breakfast place, that means the busiest part of their week. We walked in with no reservation to find probably 30 people in the waiting area. We asked how long it would be and were told about 45 minutes, to which they also informed us of their table notification system.
There is a ton of companies and restaurants that use smart phone tech to make things faster and easier but due to poor implementation it usually is more of a pain than it’s worth. Not with this place! It is VERY well done and couldn’t be easier. We gave our numbers and were told that we would receive a 5 minutes notice for our table. We wandered around the complex a bit and after 10 minutes time we were notified and seated at a table.
As we walked I noticed the kitchen wide open and a number of young people working the kitchen (maybe 18 years old). For such an impressive menu, my heart did sink a bit assuming the average level of experience across the group. I know, I know I shouldn’t assume. After watching the kitchen crew for a bit I was quite impressed at the level of quality they were putting out. Their expediter was sending stuff back every now and then, stuff that I would have eaten just fine. High standards!
Needless to say our meals were fantastic.

Got chicken and waffles, there was only a smear of syrup on the plate.
Asked for more syrup. Well when the bill came the syrup was 50 cents. I can understand if I ordered a dish that isn’t typically served with syrup, but in this case it’s a bit ridiculous. I wasn’t informed of the additional charge either.
The first time I was there, I found HAIR in my plate and they took it away and charged me full price. No replacement was offered, I was only half way through the plate. Thought I’d give it another chance and the above happened.
I wouldn’t go back.

Breakfast and brunch is the most fast and furious time of the day, what with all of the people in a hurry to start their day, the prospect of a full day of work ahead, and the fact that most people haven’t eaten since the night before. In contrast, some folks, like us who are in the food industry, find ourselves usually off on Mondays or Tuesdays. We savour our solace, looking for the the perfect place to just chill while the rest of the world whips around us at breakneck speed.
It is comforting to know, that no matter what world I’m currently in, I can rely on brothers Gil and Jeff Carlos to deliver an experience that exceeds expectation and makes me feel right at home and perfectly content in my moment. Upon being greeted with a warm welcome, I pull up a chair and have a fresh cup of Fratello coffee, locally custom blended and roasted for the Bro-​kin Yolk. As I read through the morning’s emails or peruse the morning paper, the place is alive with conversation and banter from the customers and cooks in the open kitchen. Being a chef myself, I enjoy sitting at the bar so I can have a front seat to all the action.
The menu is a simple, yet solid breakfast and lunch selection featuring the classics like Farmer’s breakfast, homemade hash and sausage, to waffles, poutine, and eggs benny. All of these delicious selections feature super fresh local ingredients and the most beautiful eggs you will ever see. Such rich golden dark yolks that taste sublime, needing only a simple seasoning of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
From an industry perspective, breakfast is the toughest service of the day. It’s fast, intense, and unforgiving. It can eat a young cook alive and spit him out. Add to this the fact that you are working with the most delicate of ingredients… eggs. It takes a keen sense of timing, organization, creativity, and patience to do all the wonderful things you can do to a humble egg. Chef Jeff has a good crew that brings the utmost professionalism and attention to detail to every dish.
I support local businesses with all my heart. Passion really goes a long way when a business owner makes the huge decision to invest in a community and become a part of it, servicing and contributing to its whole and becoming an integral institution, whether its fixing cars, cutting hair, or serving up breakfast. On the other hand, I have seen business owners that come in with the wrong intention, finding the best place to make the most money, and wonder why a short time later, they’re finished.
It’s with a great sigh of relief that I can say that I’m glad that Gil and Jeff have found a home in their community to operate and grow their business. And it is my recommendation that if you are lucky enough to live here, to take advantage, drop in, have a cup of coffee, and find your moment here at The Bro’kin Yolk.

Bro’kin Yolk Café, what a great new brunch spot to open in the NW. We need more local restaurants in this area!
Came on a Saturday around 1pm, it was about a 30 minute wait. Seating was a bit cramped for a handicapped man on crutches (yea, thats me), however the staff ensured that I was comfortable. The owner came around to chat as he suffered the same injury as me in the past (damn this ACL tear, it gets the best of everyone).
We ordered 4 mini waffles to start, and the chicken and waffles for the main. The white chocolate lavender sauce was delish. Chicken was nice and crispy, perfect compliment to my waffle. Pricing was definitely comparable to any other brunch spot around the city.
A great place for a family or a romantic brunch for two.

This place was absolutely phenomenal. The bacon was made in-​house and the flavour was rich and smokey, everything you want from a craft made bacon.
The eggs were properly made to order, exactly as I asked for them.
The orange juice was clearly freshly squeezed, and not under-​sized.
The hash browns had a very rich flavor, thanks to being tossed in duck fat. Not healthy I’m sure but oh so good.
While I’m not a fan of waffles, I wanted to try the chicken from the Chicken and Waffles dish. They were happy to accomodate (the service was great and the manager was very attentive) and hands down it’s some of the best fried chicken I’ve had. The Sous Vide process means it’s perfectly cooked and very tender inside, while the outside is a perfect golden brown.
Overall it’s not the cheapest breakfast, but you get great value for the price.

The Bro’kin Yolk is a fairly small, independent breakfast restaurant up in creekside. We got to Bro’kin Yolk around 10:30am and had to wait for an hour for our table — they get very busy. The restaurant implements the text back system when your table is ready so that you can go run errands or grab a coffee at tim’s or Starbucks nearby but the owner also mentioned that you can call from home, check the wait list time and put your name on the list from home! I actually love this idea and we clearly would have done that if we had known.
The restaurant, itself, was quaint and staff were friendly, especially the owner who made a point checking on patrons regularly while they waited. Our food came fairly quickly once we ordered — chicken and waffles and Oscar Benny — and it was all delicious. These were probably the best chicken and waffles I have ever had. Extra bonus for Bro’kin Yolk is that they have fresh squeezed orange juice, which was great and it came in a decent sized glass. I will definitely be back here for breakfast the next time I’m in Calgary.

A few of us decided to go for brunch outside of our usual inner city spots and we came across the Bro’kin Yolk after having heard good things about the restaurant. It was a busy place, and it was nice that you could hold your place in line after talking to the host and they would send you a text when your table is ready. The ambiance was upbeat and contemporary, however the booth seats we had were not very deep and even for someone with short legs, it was a very stiff seating experience.
Food wise, I ordered the chicken and waffles as it’s the first words I saw on the wall when I walked in the door. I was definitely let down by my order. The waffle was quite thin leading it to be overall soft instead of being crisp on by outside and soft and light on the inside. The fried chicken tasted good but it wasn’t distinct or memorable. The biggest disappointment came in the chicken gravy. It was not smooth, liquidy, or hot but had more of the consistency of refrigerated KFC gravy in its chunky semi-​solid state. I don’t know if I will return but I probably won’t try the chicken and waffles. If this is the dish you want, go somewhere else.

Have heard a lot of buzz about this place. My friends and I showed up quarter to 1 and it was about a 45 minute wait. We busied ourselves by checking out Reno Depot (not a whole lot of anything else in the area lol). Once seated, I ordered the Short Rib Hash with over easy eggs. Potatoes were nice and crispy, beef was tender and well seasoned and eggs were perfectly cooked. The price was $ 15.50, pretty comparable pricing to other brunch places. Once our order was taken, food came out fairly quickly. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself is quaint and nicely decorated. Restaurant seemed to thin out around 1:30, so if you’re looking to beat the breakfast/​brunch rush on a weekend, coming later in the afternoon will get you a table right away. Also, if you purchase their water vs ordering tap water, $ 1 of the purchase goes to charity.

Getting a table is weird. We were encouraged to call ahead to get our name on a list and received a link to a website that posts our place in line. It’s neat and it seems like a good idea since it considers our wait time. However, when I called as asked for an approx time, I was told it would take about an hour, which was fine because we were driving from the other side of the city. But when we arrived our place barely moved so we spent the majority of our wait at the Tim Hortons next door. I was hungry so I had a coffee and a donut. When our place said we were next, we still had to wait fifteen minutes before we were sat down.
Overall, it took two hours from when I called to put our name down to when we finally sat down to our table. Maybe they’re working towards shaving the wait time down, but then again Bro’Kin is in a prime area.
But the service was great. We didn’t have to wait long to get our food after we ordered. My guess is that from the décor and the vibe, people just like to hang around and chat and whatever it is that makes people spend 4 hours of their day off «brunching». I saw the same faces of people sitting at the tables from when we walked in the door to when we left it. There’s something about the place that makes you want to hang around for as long as you want. And if there was one thing yuppies and hipsters had one thing in common, it’s loitering.
The food was largely a hit with a few «mehs». The braised short rib poutine was balls to the wall packed with flavour. Something about how the meat that made it taste like the most flavorful corned beef I’ve had in my childhood. The chicken and waffles are list-​worthy (and it’s about time Calgary started a list of it’s Chicken and Waffle spots). The chicken was crisp and seasoned with a slight touch of sweet and spice. But that gravy, gawdamn I wanted to lie to my GF and tell her it was cold and flacid so I could have the whole thing to myself. Although I wasn’t impressed by the french toast fondue. It really wasn’t a fondue and should have been named «ok french toast with chocolate sauce and berry sauce on the side so you can be ok with your life’s decisions.»
Also I’m being too much an old man over the title. Had I been born in the 60’s and had cardigans and bostonians in my Sunday casual, I’d be complaining about the title… but I won’t so whatever… shuttup.

The Bro’kin Yolk was something that I’ve wanted to try for the longest time. I’ve heard a lot of hype and boy did it sure deliver! The restaurant is an open style concept paying homage to the great diners of before. At the same time it manages to be decorated in a more contemporary style that sets it apart from the usual breakfast diner.
We were seated and promptly greeted by our friendly server. I drink my coffee black and I can attest that it was a good brew. The coffee was strong enough to wake me up but had enough flavours in there to make me have a second. One issue I had was that I was charged a refill without letting me know it would be an extra charge. It was a minor oversight though, nothing big.
I ordered the short rib hash and I was quite pleased with the presentation. The egg was cooked sunny side up and it was quite possibly the best sunny side up egg I’ve seen. The yolk had a nice orange hue and flowed beautifully, like a calm waterfall on a nice spring day, over my hash browns. The hash browns were fried to a nice golden brown, crispy on the outside, soft and hot on the inside. The short rib meat was quite flavorful. All the ingredients blended together with each bite.
One of our brunch companions wasn’t too happy with her order, she ordered the vegan hash and didn’t have enough tofu in her dish. She mentioned this to the ownership and they said they would look into it. It’s great to hear a business that values feedback and takes it constructively.
I have business to attend to in the area about once a month so I will try to make it a monthly visit.

Let me start out with how impressed I am with their phone-​in waiting list!!!
Thats right people. Finally a place in Calgary that will let you call ahead, ask how long the wait is, and put your name on the list to get a text when your table will be ready in 5min. The hostess clearly stated to me that we needed to respond to the text and if we were delayed the next people in line would get a table but we wouldn’t loose our spot. Amazing! Thank you for not making me stand in the entrance of a breakfast spot blocking it for everyone else — if nothing else but this I will definitely go back.
Now this is not an area I normally get to for eating but as a friend lives up there it all worked — happy to have options out of the norm places that serve breakfast.
I had the Oscar Benny — thick cut ham, wild mushrooms, great garlic hollandaise and added spinach (not an issue at all). Instead of english muffin they used ½ of their mini belgium waffles for each egg. Really nice spin on the regular, they were nice and soft yet held up to the yolk. My friend tried the bacon benny — had a taste and equally as good.
The boyfriend decided to try the chicken & waffles. Now as he hates maple he didn’t have the sauce so no idea how that tasted. Unfortunately he also didn’t realise the waffles had maple syrup in the batter (not indicated in the waffle description so not really his fault there). Admittedly he got over that and even he admitted the waffles were good.
Now were there could be improvement on the dish is definitely in the flavours they use in the coating on the chicken. It was crisp and chicken moist but the coating really didn’t taste too much of anything. Not expecting Colonel Saunders style flavours but literally couldn’t taste a space. Feel like if he had the sauce with the chicken we may never have noticed but this is definitely something the kitchen to improve on.
Couple of interesting twists on the beverage options too which was nice to see. Food came much quicker than expected seeing how busy they were — think it was 15min after we ordered. Service was fast and attentive. Plus they have those really cute little ketchup bottels working in their favour too.
Will we be back? Yes
Do I think they are doing an amazing job for being open 2 months? Yes
Keep it up guys, its fantastic to get breakfast boutique food in the middle of NW suburbia!

First time I visited, they told me 1.5 hour wait for a table for two on a Saturday at 1pm. I was hungry already and didn’t have the patience for that, so we left.
Second time I visited, we were aware there would be a wait. 1 hour wait for a table for two on a Sat at 11am. We put our name down and wrote down our phone number and they said they would contact us via text when our table was ready.
Symons valley ranch is near by, as well as a Starbucks so we did that in the meanwhile. They texted me an hour later saying my table would be ready soon so we headed back. When we got back to the restaurant, they asked us if we wanted to be seated at a big table with other people. What is this, HK? We said no and they told us we had to wait longer for a table for two. Why couldn’t they have asked me that via text? We had to stand around for another 10−15min before a table for the two of us was ready.
There is a good amount of variety on the menu. We ordered the bacon eggs benny with butternut squash soup on the side and the short rib hash, as well as two mini waffles on the side with two toppings — salted caramel and dark chocolate espresso. The place was obviously very busy, but our food took another good half an hour to come out.
I was pleasantly surprised with the eggs benny. My favourite part about the benny was the garlic hollandaise sauce. I really liked the garlic flavour in it, it made the dish so much more savoury. I had mixed feelings about it being served on the same waffles I ordered as sides. I think it just depends on personal preference. I forgot I had the soup until I checked my pics for this place, so the soup was good but nothing amazing.
The short rib hash was also good. The short rib was on the saltier side but with the hash, it was fine.
The mini waffles were good but not sure if worth the $ 2 price tag. The toppings were pretty good though, I think you don’t need one topping per one waffle as the portion of the topping is more than enough for 2 – 3 waffles (waffles are tiny).
Overall the portions for the food seemed a little small for how much they were priced at.
Our hostess and our server was both very pleasant. But the way they were managing the tables seemed horrible. I saw some large groups of people who were clearly upset by the wait. The guy at the front managing the waitlist seemed a bit flustered. It made me feel like the place was very unorganized and chaotic.
LONG REVIEW SHORT, I like the food here but I don’t think I would wait 1 hour to eat here. Long wait for a table, more wait times for food. I’ll try visiting again on a weekday maybe but definitely not again on a weekend. I will also probably wait it out for the big opening rush to phase out a little.

A brand new addition to the Calgary breakfast and brunch game! The interior is beautifully decorated using a modern and open kitchen design.
The restaurant’s signature dishes involve anything with duck hash which is served with most dishes on the menu. The eggs used are all organic and free range. We ordered the braised rib breakfast poutine and the sausage frittata. Both dishes were heavenly and full of flavour. However, the frittata was a little saltier then expected but otherwise cooked perfectly.
The service was a little slow but they are still working out the kinks especially with the ordering on the iPads. Otherwise the food was delicious and I will definitely be back. Great new addition to the NW breakfast scene