This might be my favorite customer service I have ever experienced in my life. It's not that everything 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. read more

Off Main - the entrance to a restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

Oh My Lord !! Of the countless 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... read more

Off Main - Shallot and Cherry Tomato Omelette with Toast and Potatoes.. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

Fun little local find! We were visiting on our boat from Seattle and I had read about it online. We stopped in for breakfast and it was out of this world. Both of us had the Eggs Benedict with Pork Belly - delicious! Our waitress was a hoot and so attentive. We will be back next year when we come back to visit. read more

This was a toss up between a 3 or 4. I can't say I was blown away by my eggs and bacon which were simultaneously over and under done but my husband was raving about his chicken and waffles egg Benny and it did look exceptionally good. He had roasted brusell sprouts as a side which he said were the best he's ever had. They make their own hot sauce, jam and marmalade. They have a few little tables outside where we sat. Service was excellent and the servers were super nice but it took awhile for the food to appear. read more

See all

First things first the half naked server/ owner that greeted us with a snarky im the boss attitude wasn't a great way to start the day. The interior of the restaurant was very VERY dated and tacky with music that was just a little to loud for our liking if it was from the kitchen or the finding room it was hard to tell. The food was sub par at best I mean we can all read out of a cookbook so there's certainly nothing to write home about when it came to the food. Portions were tiny and the presentation looked like a 7 year old plated it. All in all wouldn't recommend to anyone, anywhere, at anytime. read more

Best breakfast in Courtenay hands down. The staff are so nice which makes the atmosphere great to enjoy the food. Specials are always on pint and worth a try. Great Caesars, always a must when I visit! read more

Just had my first and last bad experience with Michael's off main. The Benny here is was once my favorite in town today it failed to meet up to their usual exceptional standard. We are all human some days we admittedly underperform. Today when we tried respectfully to express our disappointment with the meals cold eggs and hollandaise sauce, the overcooked and off flavored ham. We were promptly directed to a supervisor who immediately began defending the food instead of listening to why we were not satisfied. Telling your customer to just listen when they are expressing their dissatisfaction is not going to engender a beneficial resolution for an unhappy customer. You literally cut us off before we had an opportunity to tell you about the hair in the hollondaise. read more

Had brunch today and it was amazing. Chicken waffle bennies to die for. It was our first visit to Off Main and can't wait to work our way through the entire menu... of course always coming back to the chicken waffle! read more

The food and the service at Michael's off main is good. We have had breakfast here many times. We always enjoy it! Great friendly service. (I do wish the hashbrowns were panfried as stated on the menu, unfortunately they are deep fried.) It is a good consistant place to eat, you can count on the food being good. Only couple of other small (me being picky) things I noticed.Some of the tables and chairs a wobbly and uncomfortable. Also it would be nice if the cutlery was better quality, it's very thin, and digs into your fingers. The decor is really dated and odd. Maybe a little update would be good. read more

Those of you that know me know i dont often recomend any places, but this was just to good an experience not share. We had the pleasure of dinning at Off Main today. The service was attentive, friendly and very personable. We had a special coffee each and my wife had a Mimosa, all three where very well done and well presented. the real star how ever was the food. I had the chicken and waffle eggs benny. It was the most amazing twist on this dish. The eggs where perfect, the hollandaise was seasoned and there was enough to make the waffle outstanding on its own, however the perfectly battered chicken was like nothing i have ever tasted. With just the right amount of cayenne to tickle your taste buds. I say this with no hesitation that this was the best breakfast i have had in many years. My wife had the prawn benny and she too could not stop raving on the flavour, the prawns where cooked perfectly in the white wine and butter sauce that melded with the perfect poached eggs an diced bok choy. she too said it was the best prawns she has ever had. if you have a chance to check them out you will not be disappointed. read more

Decent small-ish breakfast place in town. Many old fashioned pictures and frames on the walls to look at, kinda interesting and some are kinda creepy. It's a pretty noisy spot because it's small and usually busy. Lots of chatter, makes it hard to hear the person at your table. Waitresses are friendly and prompt. My bf and I both ordered breakfast and the portions are huge and all include a bit of fruit on the plate. I got the farmers omelette and it was quite big and pretty tasty. I just wish the two strips of bacon that were cooked on top of it, were actually cut up and inside the omelette. My breakfast came with toast and hash browns, which looked better than they tasted, they were pretty dry. My boyfriend got eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns with a side of hollandaise. He said the hollandaise was too salty. Hmm so upsides... For 12-15 bucks you can get a huge breakfast. It will fill your belly, it's just not spectacular, but it's decent. I've eaten here twice while passing through town and likely would again as I know where it is and it's convenient. read more

Off Main - Couple of breaky combos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

Decided to go for a drive and head into downtown Courtenay for breakfast. What a find! Had the breakfast burrito - easily the best one I've ever had. My mom and brother had seafood Benny and eggs with a ham steak. Everyone one was happy with their choices. Cool vibe with eclectic decor and tons of cool/weird photos and mirrors on the walls. Will definitely be back. Back again and always outstanding food and service. read more

Best breakfast restaurant in town. Very friendly atmosphere, reasonable prices (usually two entree's costs around $30) and very tasty food. Also I love the chef with the orange mohawk. Would absolutely recommend. read more

Stunningly bad. I hate to be one of those reviewers that leaves a really negative overview for a restaurant, we know these are small business owners in our community and you want to try to be supportive but this was without question the worst meal we've had in the 8 years we've lived here. There wasn't one redeeming quality about this restaurant, the food was awful, dry overcooked hash browns that had obviously being left in the warmer since they opened, The hollandaise sauce on the eggs Benedict tasted like it had turned and the English muffins weren't even toasted. My 10 year son remarked that we should have stayed home, he could have made a better breakfast for all of us. The atmosphere in the restaurant was like a nightclub, it was so loud that we had to yell to make ourselves heard. Maybe the only positive was the service, the waitresses were attentive. It sucks to say but this community prides itself on the having excellent boutique restaurants and it sucks to say at Michael's Off Main has a tonne of work to do. read more

Great little restaurant. The food was excellent and service prompt and friendly. The place is a little loud, I am not sure why but it was not uncomfortable. I definitely recommend for breakfast. read more

Busy little restaurant. Eclectic atmosphere. Friendly staff. Good food!!! It was busy when we got here for Sunday breakfast but it was quick turn around. Will come back for sure. read more

Amazing little restaurant. Been going there for 10 years. I am from Edmonton but have family there. Can't go to Courtenay and not go there for breakfast. Their Eggs Bennies are the best. Good portions, fresh hand cut pantries potatoes and the best hollandaise sauce. French toast are great so are the waffles. Today I steered away from the Bennies to try the breakfast burrito and it was amazing. Little gem in town. Try them out! read more