Sluurpy > Restaurants in Burnaby > The Gray Olive Cafeteria

Review The Gray Olive Cafeteria - Burnaby

Tracy
The food was very tasty. We got the tomato soup and hash browns for the sides and they give you quite a good portion as we almost couldn't finish them. The yin yang Thai iced tea was delicious. It was a mix of Thai iced tea, milk and coffee. I had the pancakes which was pretty good satisfying my sweet tooth. It had a lemony flavour with each bite, some fruits and loads of whip cream. My partner got the Go breakfast platter and our other friend got the crab cake Benny.
Vivian Nguyen Ly
Saw this place all over Instagram and really wanted to give this place a try. There’s free 1 hour parking along the streets. We came at a good time as there was a table for 2 available. The servers were super friendly and nice when asked what they recommended. Food was very delicious and different. I really enjoyed how the fried chicken and waffle had a side of Korean sauce. Food was made very fast. My absolute favourite were the potatoes, they were super crispy yet fluffy on the inside. Would definitely come back again or order delivery.
Adrian Chan
The restaurant had an online wait list system so we were able to put name down well ahead of time. On a Sunday brunch prime time we had to wait over 90 minutes but with the check in system it was easy to monitor. The restaurant inside is pretty small with about 6-7 tables. Lots of takeout from here. The chicken and waffles were AMAZING! The hash browns were also seasoned very well and tasty!
Warner Y
Another charm of a breakfast joint along the Hastings corridor. Inside is bright, clean, and modern. Have been to here a few times, but this time did a take out order. Fried chicken & waffles - I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but the flavor parings of the sweet and savory are exceptional. I found the waffles to be balanced and not too sweet. The chicken is fried to perfection, juicy and tender. The spicy Korean ketchup that comes with it adds that additional punch in the mouth. The cook on the poached eggs was exactly as they should be for Benny’s, nice and runny when cut into. The cakes themselves were nicely cooked and seasoned well. That hollandaise sauce brought the Benny’s to life and tied all the flavours together. Hash browns were crisp. Washed it all down with their famous Thai Iced Tea and left me wanting more. If you haven’t checked this place out, now is the time! Thanks Gray Olive for satisfying my breakfast needs !
Angela Jeffery
I wanted smoked salmon eggs Benedict but couldn't find anywhere local serving it. When I'm craving something, it's difficult to be satisfied with anything else. I tried the pulled pork and crab cake eggs Benedict as an alternative and was thrilled. Nice presentation, impeccably cooked (yolk was runny), and very filling. The poutine has bits of chicken crisp to give a little crunch. I would have preferred the cheese curds to have been a bit smaller so they melted instead of sitting on top though. The place is crowded with not much room between tables so I kept my mask on even while sitting waiting for my food, and put it back on as soon as I was done eating. I don't recommend eating in if you are also having challenges reintegrating into crowds. I would suggest take out; which happened multiple times while I was there. If you do eat in, I recommend getting on the reservation list early as it was a 45-60 minute wait.
Allan Phan
I had a good feeling about this place, when I saw the photos of they're food since I moved to the hood. Finally ordered take out the other day as I've been having alot of trouble getting a reso here. Ethnically speaking I was surprised when I walked in. The head chef looked like he knew what he was doing, the food definitely didn't disappoint. I think it would have been even better dining in.
Eunice L
Excellent portions and delicious food! I got the crab cake benny and their tomato soup as a side. If you want a reliable, beautiful and delicious eggs benedict, go to this gem of a place! Their tomato soup also has this nice cheesy taste to it. I’ve only gone for takeout as I found this place during the pandemic and their staff have been wonderfully friendly.
Kate Y
I dont want complain about food. Food was good. But coffee was not good. Not fresh at all. It was so dirty. One of customer spiled ice offee on the floor. We told server but no one cleaned. some other customer stepped on it. It was so massy and they were so busy, They don't care about customer. Also my table was sticky, and moving i fixed myself.
Joni Sparrow
The food was awesome! Only downfall, there were so many people against the wall I missed the end of the brunch menu without realizing it until after I ordered. So, best to look at the menu online when it’s full like that or ask people to give you room to see it. They were super fast and it was really good. I will definitely return. �
Latha Giordano
Awesome is all I have to say!! Tried this place for the first time today after hearing so many great reviews. I had the pork belly breakfast sandwich and it was so delicious. My goal is to try out everything on the menu as it all sounds so good! Prices are great too!
Kirsten Gellein
Consistently super delicious and top notch friendly service. The pork belly breakfast sandwich is 🔥🔥 My bf isn't a big egg fan, and loves the chicken and waffles. And the GO potatoes are so good. The small size gives it a great homey feel. If we don't get seated right away, we grab coffees while we wait and the line moves fairly quickly. Yum.
Taylor Aune
Fantastic Food and Service! Great lunch. breakfast and brunch served by a fantastic group of people. Highly recommend!
Christine McInnis Lyons
Super scrumptious eats and unique decor! I really hope it becomes a neighborhood mainstay. My only critique is that I wish there were a baby change table or surface other than the floor in the bathroom to change a diaper for the little one in a pinch. Bit tricky to do standing up. �
Norah Leighton
was so excited to see this finally open. went in with my little boy. he had a chocolate croissant and i had a mocha and avocado toast. was very good. good service and can't wait to go back and try more things.
Tyler Forsyth-Smith
Great food, fairly price ans amazing atmosphere! You need to go here!
Wayne Carrigan
Quality food preparation. Friendly service. All day breaky!
Joan Bottomley
Good coffee , great service , and yummy waffle bits
Loewe Chan
Local and very cute brunch spot in Burnaby. I usually order the kitchen sink (it's like a breakfast poutine) and their Thai iced tea. Menu has some seasonal specials so those are fun to try. <br/><br/>I only give this place 4 stars because of the long waiting time. Their space is very small so come in small groups (no bigger than 4). Even if you get takeout for pick-up, you will have to wait. Service is minimal - it's cafeteria style so you pick up your own tray of food and get your own napkins, etc. <br/><br/>More on my blog: https://sincerelyloewe.com/gray-olive-cafeteria-brunch/
E. AY
Love their Iced Thai Yin Yang!
604foodcritic Com
The Gray Olive Cafeteria is one of the newer brunch places in the greater Vancouver. They feature a cafeteria-style brunch place, but is also a coffee shop for grab and go coffee. Their food is fantastic, one of the best brunch places I’ve tried. The Gray Olive Cafeteria is located on Hastings Street near Gilmore Avenue in Burnaby.
Jonny
We were in the Hastings ‘hood so decided to check out The Gray Olive Cafeteria for brunch. It’s located next door to a fruit/vegetable grocery store. We dropped in on a Saturday (12:45pm) and it was busy. We put our names down and were quoted a 30 minute wait. Wait depends on where you want to sit. We were okay with anywhere so we ended up getting a call back within 15 minutes and sat at the bar.
Yes. We,re Eating Again.
I had read the reviews but not very well and was still expecting something called a cafeteria to be larger. It was a breakfast brunch kind of thing on a Saturday morning at about 10 am and I expected a lineup but we found ourselves seated right away! Good deal. You choose off the breakfast, brunch or features menu at that time of day on the weekend, and place your order at the counter. Your food gets delivered to you when it is ready. It didn't take long. The G.O. Breaky Sandwich came with a "cheese skirt" so how could we resist! With bacon, chive scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, smoked shallot aioli and arugula on an excellent brioche bun (got to love brioche), this sandwich had a lot going on but everything combined into a tasty thing of beauty. We inclined towards the American south and ordered biscuits and gravy (the chicken and waffles could be introduced the same way). Two perfectly poached eggs on a cheese biscuit with rich and peppery gravy! This was also a wonderful thing! We chose potatoes to go with our biscuits and these were ridiculous! Apparently, they brine the cut up potatoes before frying them and the result is crispy little golden chunks that were startlingly light. I will be trying this at home although I neglected to ask how long they brine them. <br/><br/>There is comfortable seating for maybe a couple of dozen people here. The staff is friendly and our food arrived quickly. I would come back for brunch but I expect this would be a great place for lunch also.
B & E
First time visiting this spot for a brunch. <br/><br/>Quite like the waffle but the fried chicken is average. The price is a bit on the high side.<br/><br/>Great ambience. <br/><br/>Apart from serving food to customers, everything else is self-served.
Kit Yee Y.
It was our first time to come here for brunch today. We realized that there was a lineup and at least a few tables in front of us. We came all the way here to try their brunch, so we decided to put down our name, ordered a couple of latte and waited outside the restaurant (because the space is very small and tight inside). <br/><br/>Once we had put down our name, a server offered a small sample of waffle with syrup. The waffle tasted great! It was good that we were drinking the latte and waiting for a table. It was about 10-15 min wait. Not too bad waiting outside the restaurant on a sunny day. <br/><br/>When we got our table, we placed an order at the counter first. The servers would bring the food to our table. It was great that the food came out quickly. We ordered a cup of Thai iced tea, the kitchen sink and smoked ham hock Bennys. All these food and drinks were delicious! We tried their crispy potatoes first. They were very hot and crispy outside and soft inside. It was perfect when we ate them with some ketchup. The crispy potatoes were placed in a bowl separately from the ham hock Bennys. The portion of the potatoes was quite big. The kitchen sink was so good that each ingredient mixed well together to become a better dish. Two poached eggs on top of the kitchen sink were so soft and tasty. <br/><br/>The portion was quite big overall, so we had to pack some of the leftover home. I saw some people's reviews here that they felt the pricing was a bit high. Indeed I personally felt the price was average with a bigger portion. I would highly recommend eating brunch here instead of lunch (i.e. sandwiches and burgers).<br/><br/>There is a public parking lot near the restaurant or people can park on the streets (on Hastings). Overall, the eating experience here was quite good other than the wait. Due to the small space, I felt the restaurant had already tried their best to take the people into the restaurant as fast as they could.
Wilson K
I ordered the chicken and waffles- solid yummy dish, quick, good portion, good price. Was very happy with the meal and good vibes all around! Make sure you use the spicy sauce that's included!
Food Adventuress
I was here back when it just recently opened. Been away from Zomato so long...😅. I had the Salmon Eggs Benny and it was great. The Salmon was perfectly cooked, my eggs were medium just the way I liked it, the avocado also completed it well made it extra creamy and the hashbrowns were perfectly cooked. But to be fair this deliciousness came at a heftier price point, worth to try but perhaps not too frequently. Cute and well designed space but very small and can get busy quickly with lineups so beware. So bring a granola and your patience 😅.
100 Days MIC
It is a very small space. I arrived early with a group. It was hard to find seating and not much wonder. The food here is exceptional. I will definitely be back. I had the pork belly sandwich. It was scrumptious.
_foodcravings
This place is so cute ! A little packed and close together but food was amazing and service was good. Would definitely recommend this place.
Louisa Ng
Family Day long weekend was an opportunity to get the family together and go eat. I took my parents out to the Gray Olive Cafeteria to try out this new(ish) brunch spot in Burnaby:. Pictured here is the salmon eggs benny, hash browns, salad, chicken and waffles. Not pictured is the ham hock benny. Their eggs benedict sauce is smooth and creamy, one of the best. The salmon was very fresh, and perfectly done, paired very well with the medium poached eggs (I didn’t ask for it, it came medium). the hashbrowns were crispy and lightly seasoned so they weren’t too salty. The waffles though… H mentioned there might have been lemon zest in the batter, and the waffle just melts in your mouth! None of that doughey sticky texture that sometimes makes your mouth feel too dry.
Maggi Mei
After visiting “The Gray Olive” for the first time during a “Vancouver Foodster Tasting Plates” tour in the Burnaby Heights area, I knew to come back when my partner wanted some all day breakfast near our home. We wondered in at 2:30pm, and being the only ones to dine in at the time, had the pick of the place.
Karen Castro
Friendly service. One of the best burgers I've had in vancouver. Great lattes as well. A nice place to go for breakfast or brunch! Plus it was amazing how I found out every to go package was compostable! Good to see environmentally conscious neighborhood shops
Kevin McKenzie
Grey olive is super solid. tastiest hipster brunch in north burnaby for sure (maybe only true hipster brunch). I live across the street so ive been a bunch of times, and they have made some great improvements since opening a few months ago.  We are about to head over there for brunch now.  The burger is seriously awesome as is the roasted cauliflower salad
Foodology.ca
The Gray Olive Cafeteria in Burnaby Heights is a hotspot for brunch on the weekends. I’ve come here quite a bit for brunch and every time, it’s consistent and very delicious. Plus, it’s just minutes away from place. The space isn’t large as it’s pretty narrow. It’s pretty hard to fit large groups in here unless you go really early or wait for a while. I usually like to come here around 10am since after than. lines start to form. If you are a group of 2, waits are never that long.
Sara Marie Brousseau
Quality ingredients and friendly service. My boyfriend and I have had the GO burger (very tasty and satisfying despite being a bit on the smaller side), the beet salad (omg omg omg so good and refreshing!! All the ingredients harmonize perfectly well together!), the BLT (a favorite of ours, such a simple sandwich yet impactful in taste). I don't understand why the place has such a low rating. I get that a lunch can reach upwards of 40 bucks for two hungry ppl but doesn't change the fact that the food is delicious and that they choose to serve quality over cheap abundance.<br/>It's a nice add on to the neighbourhood and it feels like a treat every time we go!<br/>PS: We always do takeout as we live close so we don't have to figure out where to sit. It is quite small inside but a gorgeous establishment none the less.
Marv Wang
went here for a late brunch, and not sure of the menu was thinking the most fattening ones will always be the tastiest food menu out of all usually... so due to my conscience i ordered somehwere in the middle the salmon benny, it didn't dissapoint, the hollandaise sauce was on point, and the rest is as it's supposed to be, although the price range was higher than what i would like them to be, but the place and ambiance was pretty cool and hip so... hmmm i definitely got to say it' was above average but it didn't go accordingly with my budget and stomach :D so got to pick other location next time.
Farsi Lo
everyone's cashing in on the breakfast crowd! same as this place! came here, wasnt totally impressed. here's why:<br/>1. this place takes reservations, not sure if by phone or not..but i know my friend and i were already here...but the 2 people whose table was ready were not. There were people all over the place, not sure where to stand. Definitely not a relax vibe for enjoying Sunday brunch. It's called cafeteria but for the price, nah uh!<br/>2. This place is super cramped. While waiting i constantly anticipated for one of the waitresses bringing the food out to crash into someone.<br/>3. This place is expensive. Had the salmon benny, was over $15.25, wait, over $17 coz i added avocado for $2 extra which when my dish came, my friend asked where's the avocado...."ohh...wait, i see it" as i lifted the benny and arugula up with my fork! And the salad was something that my niece can throw together. Super pedestrian salad without any oomph to it. Would you believe me if the highlight of my salad was the 2 slices of mandarin? Yes. Because the salad was just that uneventful. Although the only praise would be the hollandaise sauce which was nice and buttery flavorful. The waffle was nice and light but with that price ($6), you expected something to dazzle but nope, served with just plain old maple syrup. <br/>I would not be back. Food was mediocre, nothing special or memorable. For the money, I could head over to Yolk's where there's at least fresh fruit. I wish cafes like these were more passionate about creating food from the heart...coz we customers can SEE & TASTE THE DIFFERENCE!
Ally
Been to The Gray Olive a couple of times now since it's opened. It's a small location and quite busy so be prepared to wait. The turnover is pretty quick and it's definitely worth it! Their potatoes are perfectly cooked and the optional dipping sauces compliment them perfectly. Service is very good as well; the staff are all very helpful and friendly. Great addition to our neighbourhood!
Ceci
I hadn’t seen J in quite a long time, so when he called me to go out for brunch, I couldn’t refuse. What I drank: Latte ($4.25). This is one of the saddest lattes I’ve ever had and I’ve had a fair number of Starbucks lattes. I think my expectations were a lot higher because I had just had brunch the day before at 33 Acres and their latte art was beautiful.
Nosh And Nibble
One-liner: Fun new neighbourhood eatery that makes eating knifable food harder and seats you in a potentially cramped spot.<br/>Highlight: Smoked Ham Hock Benny minus the soggy biscuit<br/>Price per person: $15-$20<br/>Would I go back? No.<br/><br/>Check out my blog post for the full review!
Pork_ninjas
Newly opened in the North Burnaby neighbourhood, cafe serving up breakfast and lunch eat in a comfortable, cafeteria style setting. Customers look to the menu on the wall and then order at the register. Love all the air purifying plantsThe Menu: Breakfast and Lunch served on weekdays, brunch served on weekendsLatte Pork Belly Breaky $7Closeup of the sandwich
Steve
chicken sandwich: pulled chicken,pea shoots, pickled veg, cheese and crackling combined beautifully along with the sauce, perfect bread for the sandwich, served on a soft yet slightly chewy baguette for great contrast against the rest of the sandwich, however once you've gotten through all the condiments your unfortunately left with fairly bland pulled chicken. I was hoping for chicken that would hold its own, without all the additions it would be a very less than average sandwich. Will definitely go back and try some other items, they got something goin on there....
Vancouver Barista
Before The Gray Olive Cafeteria opens their doors this Sunday morning, we join the short lineup of very excited customers. On Stop 107 of our Search for Vancouver’s Best Coffee, this isn’t something we do every day.<br/> But believe it, this one is special and worth the effort. The Gray Olive Cafeteria is a new destination with the best trio of intentions (breakfast-brunch-lunch). It’s also quickly become the latest obsession of our ‘hood, Burnaby Heights.
Amie
Dropped in during their soft opening and was very impressed with the food quality, friendly service, and modern decor--I've already been back to try their other menu items! I have to say, this breakfast and brunch joint is a much welcomed addition to the neighbourhood. So far, we've tried the kitchen sink, breaky sandwich, ham hock benny, waffle bites, and G.O. Potatoes with a smoke shallot aioli and everything was absolutely tasty! Special shout out to the chef because this guy knows how to do potatoes right--perfectly golden and crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, minus the grease and heaviness. We will definitely be going back!
Birry Ram
Welcome to my blog where I share my opinions on being an adult and post my reviews of stuff I buy and things I eat. Feb 19 The Gray Olive Cafeteria - The Hottest New Restaurant In North Burnaby. Let me cut to the chase, this is one of the BEST new restaurants in North Burnaby. Hands down. After you read my review, you should get dressed and head out immediately.
Erika R.
It's great to have a new brunch option in the Heights! Clean modern atmosphere, attentive staff and spot on food. We had the Kitchen Sink and Breakfast Sandwiches with extra potatoes.
Penny And Rusty
Okay, anyone who’s read this blog for a while probably knows that I love breakfast… so when one of our friends and their family recently opened up The Gray Olive Cafeteria in Burnaby Heights, we were quite pleased. We dropped by today during their soft opening and the place was already hopping by 9am. The interior is a bit of a tight fit with the centre bar seating area.
Alfredo Baguette Beef Bento (Lunch Box) Burger Burrito Calamares Calamari California Roll Cannelloni Carbonara Cheesecake Cheesecakes Chicken And Waffles Chili Chow Mein Chowder Cioppino Clams Cod Confit Crab Crab Cake Creme Brulee Crepes Cupcakes Curry Dim Sum Donburi (Rice Bowl) Duck Dumplings Escargot Fish Fish & Chips Fish Soup Fish Taco Gelato Green Curry Gyros Haddock Halibut Hot Pot Hummus Ice Cream Japanese Curry Juice & Smoothies Kabobs Laksa Lasagne Lemon tart Lettuce Wraps Lobster Macarons Macaroons Meatballs Moussaka Mussels Noodle Omelette Oyster Pad Thai Pancakes Pasta Pho Pollock Pork Tenderloin Poutine Prawns Prosciutto Pulled Pork Sandwich Ramen Rib Steak Ribs Rice pudding Risotto Roast Beef Salad Salmon Sandwiches Scallops Schnitzel Shawarma Shrimp Soup Dumplings Souvlaki Tacos Tandoori Chicken Tapas Tempura Tiramisu Toasts Tortellini Tortelloni Tuna Udon & Soba (Wheat & Buckwheat Noodle) Waffles Waffles & Crepes Wings
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