The food was great, service was good, and the ambiance was that of a small diner. It was packed to…read morethe brim but still good for walk-in. Don't recommend the vanilla iced coffee but the fruit and crepes as well as the sunny side-up egg were fresh!

We are glad that The Hen and Hog Cafe in Courtenay was recommended to us by The Surly Mermaid…read morerestaurant in Sidney. Another café serving excellent breakfast Egg Benedict, Eggs, Bacon, spuds and toast. Coffee was very good. Definitely recommend if you are in the area.

This might be my favorite customer service I have ever experienced in my life. It's not that…read moreeverything was smooth and efficient; it was more about the attitude and personalities of the wonderful people who served me. I am blown away by how genuine the staff here are! And the food is fantastic too, so that doesn't hurt ;) I was traveling solo to Courtenay last week, and Off Main had popped up in my search as a nice spot for a late brunch/lunch. When I went, I had to wait for about 10-15 minutes, and then I was seated at the same time as this retired couple by the window. It turns out they were regulars at this restaurant, which gave me confidence about how good the food would be--after all, who would be a regular at a horrible food establishment? I ordered a half size chicken and waffles. Super crispy chicken, silky hollandaise, and excellent house made hot sauce. Though the order took a long time to make (super busy day!), my server offered me a drink on the house to apologize. And throughout the meal, I got to chat with the couple seated next to me, which was also so lovely. After they left, one of the servers told me that they had paid for my meal. What an incredibly kind act. I left a thank you note with the staff, in hopes they will get it next time they're back. My server also hand wrote me a list of local recommendations for places to go and where to eat around there. Wow. Just good vibes all around. I can't wait to go back the next time I'm on the island.

Oh My Lord !! Of the…read morecountless breakfast joints have eaten at over so many decades, THIS PLACE is in the top 5. First off, THEY ARE ALL SO SWEET and Kind and Hospitable... They REALLY WANT to give You an excellent meal and experience... They 'SEE' You as a person and not just someone who walked in... I ordered an Omelette and was recommended to add shallots and cherry tomatoes to it. Came with a delicious toast and potatoes which were deep fried... The omelette tasted like it came from a Home Kitchen - truly authentic taste and SO GOOD !! Could tell that the ingredients they used were local and fresh - don't really get that taste in majority of the places i've been to... The Coffee was good and they came by several times to make sure i was having a good experience... If i lived nearby I WOULD EAT HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY !! I had the urge to hug these people for SUCH a delightful experience but then stopped myself :) MOST DEFINITELY coming back here again whenever am in the vicinity to try more items...

Called in Buddha Bowl with salmon from the mountain biking parking lot in Cumberland...lady on the…read morephone was great, food was ready when I arrived, it tasted great and it was healthy...a great choice!

As someone who is dairy free, this is 100% a place I will be coming back to. I ordered the chicken…read moreand mushroom quesadillas with dairy free cheese, AMAZING! Sometimes restaurants offer substitutions and then I try them, and it feels like they don't even try to make it good. This restaurant is the opposite. This dish didn't have me wishing I still ate dairy, 10/10 would recommend!!!

Incredible brunch food and kind service! We went back again because it was so delicious, especially…read morethe bennies. Great quality, fresh, and good coffee too.

Their Smoked Brisket Has No Smoked Flavor…read more Went to the Tidal Cafe for lunch, and sat outside with a beautiful view of the waterfront. My wife ordered the Tidal Bowl with smoked brisket, while I got the Beef Brisket Sandwich, which also had smoked brisket. It's not often you see smoked brisket on a menu for a non-BBQ place, so I was kind of excited for our orders. When our plates arrived, the brisket looked great and the pieces were generously thick. I couldn't wait to dig in. Then disappointment hit. The smoked brisket had zero smoke flavor, and the fat wasn't fully rendered. In fact, it was kind of chewy, which together with a lack of flavor was a sure sign it wasn't smoked long enough. To add insult to injury, my sandwich had a strong mustard smeared on the bread which overwhelmed what little flavor the brisket had. When I mentioned all this to our waitress (who was quite nice, btw), she sheepishly responded "Yeah, I'm a mustard kind of girl, so I like it like that." My wife liked her meal, but overall, I don't think Tidal Cafe understands how smoked meats should be done. Also, why is there a bar & a bar stool in their one-toilet bathroom??

My go to coffee shop in downtown. The staff are lovely and accommodating, and the vibe is welcoming…read moreto hang out and have a conversation or get some work done. Nice selection of reasonably priced breakfast all day and lunch specials. Good espresso made with care.

From the owner: All day breakfast, home made soups, sandwiches, smoothies and more. Good eats, good beats and good…read morevibes.

When I asked a local where to go for lunch, I hadn't finished my question before he blurted out…read more"Biblio Taco!" It certainly didn't disappoint; we loved our lunch. I had the Huervos Rancheros and my wife had the namesake "Biblio Taco." We both argued over which we better; they were both so good. The ingredients were very fresh and the taco shell was amazing. When I asked the chef about it, he explained, "cheese on one side of the taco shell, and cheese on the other, and then we fry it up." How can you possibly go wrong with that!

Tacos are my favorite food and I have high standards for a good taco. Biblio Taco exceeded my…read moreexpectations and then some. I had a beef, carnitas and al pastor taco and side of chips and guac. Truly excellent, didn't leave a single crumb. I will be stopping here every time I travel near Cumberland.

Excellent All Around!! Good Homemade Food, Large Portions. Great Little Cafe!! My New Favorite Spot…read moreTo Eat Out At.

Do not know what their in house food is like but the frozen perogies fall apart soon after going…read moreinto boiling water like 3 min and the cabbage rolls are on the bland side- put mushroom soup on them tu add some extra flavour and topped with bacon and onions-- 30 to 40 dollars for take out and what can i say -- will not be going back

Oops! I ate my food before I could post a picture. Our entire family ordered the Donair Kombo…read morechicken with shepard's salad. The Donair was light and flavourful. The mint pushed the shepherd's salad over the top. I can't wait to come back for breakfast.

Great food!!! We got the kebab and chicken. Very flavorful…read moreand very accommodating. Definitely recommend!! Yumm!!

On a trip to Courtney, The Yellow Deli was highly recommended to us. We thought it looked…read moreinteresting from the outside, and decided to give it a try for brunch. An enchanting little restaurant is apparently known for its sandwiches and deserts. Interesting and home cabin style décor, we received a warm welcome when we arrived and were taken to our table. A couple of minutes after being seated. We waited no time for our server to take our order and had hot coffee within a minute or two. The service was friendly and efficient. The food didn't take long and was superb! The breakfast sandwich was excellent. The bread was made in house, the bacon was divine, and the home-made blueberry muffin was fresh and warm. It was a great experience and live in the Fraser Valley, we have since learned there is a Yellow Deli in Chilliwack.

The Most Charming Breakfast Place in Courtenay…read more I believe whoever was in charge of this location's look and feel was at least partially inspired by Hobbit architecture. It was delightful dining here and the food was pretty good too! My wife ordered the Two Poached Eggs with Whole Wheat Toast & Jelly breakfast, while I created my own sandwich (Montreal Smoked Meat on an Onion Roll with lettuce, tomato, and avocado). I also got a cup of their soup of the day (Cream of Butternut Squash). Everything was delicious. Service was prompt and friendly. And we got to experience what eating breakfast for Frodo & Bilbo Baggins must've been like. Highly recommend if you're in Courtenay and want to get away from the typical run-of-the-mill diner or cafe experience for breakfast.