I met a friend for lunch here today. She has dined at a bunch of different "Basic" diners; I had never even heard of these places! Apparently they've been around for a while. What planet have I been on? (In my defense, the big red awning over this diner on Denman says "Joe's Grill", so it's not totally my fault! The window sign does say "The Basic" but I always thought this place was "Joe's"). Anyhow...if you like diners (as I do), you'll be a fan of this place. It's not fancy, the dishes aren't bougie or innovative, the interior isn't Instagram-worthy. BUT...the food is tasty, the ingredients are fresh, the portions are generous, the service is good, and the prices are more than reasonable. What's not to like? Today I opted for a BLT on sourdough bread. It was the kind of BLT I used to have in diners in the 60's. Some things never change - nor should they. Basic, but in a great way. Came with a lot of fries (they were thick cut and not greasy. Bonus!) and a side of coleslaw (I was too full to try the slaw but it looked good). My friend had a cinnamon French toast concoction that looked and smelled wonderful. She loved it. The portions were big. Looking at the menu, seemed they primarily served egg dishes, burgers and sandwiches, with one or two salad options and, as I recall, chicken nuggets, too. All meals ranged in price, on average, between $15-20. And the portions as mentioned are very generous. I really liked this place. Will return, for sure. read more

Always reliable for great, friendly and attentive service. Good food, simple and delicious. Atmosphere is unpretentious and warm.

We stopped in here on our way to Stanley Park. We were quickly seated and they had both the breakfast and lunch menus available. Good to have options - we all ordered breakfast! *Classic eggs benedict *Belgian waffle combo, comes with two eggs, sausages, bacon *Chorizo eggs Benedict *French toast, comes with sausages and bacon Everything was very good! Highly recommend! read more

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Aptly named, The Basic is basically a basic breakfast and lunch place with basic dishes that are based on breakfast and lunch basics. Seriously, though, we really enjoyed our meal here. The menu has all the, er, basics of a satisfying breakfast, but we opted for sandwiches. The tuna melt is actually closer to a patty melt, but with tuna instead of a patty, since it normally comes on rye and has grilled onions. But they happily substituted sourdough, and could certainly leave off the onions to make it more conventional. The cucumber and avocado sandwich was a nice lighter choice, served on toasted sourdough with tasty cole slaw and a nice fresh salad of mixed greens. Service was pleasant and swift. read more

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What's interesting about this place is that it is so unassuming, modest and minimalistic that you wouldn't expect much by just walking by it. Welll....... That morning's breakfast at this place was one of the best breakfasts I've had in a while. I'll tell you why: First of, the eggs were cooked perfectly.....yes, it is possible to cook eggs the wrong way! I asked for sunny side up and the egg white with the yolk was both cooked to the right temperature proportionately....what that means is that to cook the white part is different than to cook the yolk. The only way you can get that right is either by watching it literally heat up and change its composition or by being an expert and knowing it's exact timing. It was juicy and flavorful. The Italian sausage was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and cooked in butter, which you can taste. Yummmm.....and I don't even like sausage that much. The baked beans....well ..they were just baked beans out of a can...but what I loved was that they flavour-paired it with this dish, which went perfectly. I went to town on these beans...and almost chuckled at myself half way throughout my breakfast. Now probably the best part.....the potatoes. They were fresh cut. No. Not yesterday. Not last week stored in the walk-in cooler....fresh cut that morning and you could taste it. Cooked to a perfect golden in butter with a rosemary finish topping. I asked for my bacon to be extra crispy and that's exactly what I got and almost ordered an additional side order of it....that's how much I enjoyed it. The service was casual, friendly and welcoming with a cozy interior. Loved it. read more

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Great food, good value, wonderful music, and amazing service. Had a special that had so much food!!

I ordered a Waffle Sandwich for breakfast. Burnt potatoes, burnt waffle, scrambled eggs with no taste at all, tomato: not even a slice, but half of a thin slice, overfried bacon. Perhaps if enough cheese was added, it would have hidden this terrible general taste, but no, it was a drop. I have never had such a tasteless food for breakfast, even the waffle is not tasty. My husband ordered the Avocado & Tomato Benny, it was terrible. Our morning is ruined. I do not recommend these dishes to anyone. read more

The Basic - a plate of food with a fork and knife - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

What a fantastic spot. The breakfast potatoes were crispy and tasty, the hollandaise was smooth, the pancakes were fluffy and the service was kind and quick. Really liked this restaurant! read more

I've been a regular at Basic for a while now, and I love it. As the name suggests, it's simple, basic, and consistently good. The vibe is relaxed, and some of the waitstaff are truly amazing. Service is always quick, and it's a great spot for a no-fuss meal. Highly recommend for anyone looking for straightforward, delicious food in a laid-back atmosphere! read more

I went there around xmas. The plus side. I got my food really fast. The prices were very reasonable know what the market prices are now. was surprised I got toast and smashed hasbrowns and a omlette for 20+taxes. The servers werent pushy. They didn't push you to overtip them. The downsides/turn offs. The name matches their food. It was basic. I wasnt blown away by the food. Sorry to the owners if you are reading this. I have no reason to come back. I can make the same stuff at home. read more

It was just ok, the cost was higher for breakfast than we normally spend and the food was just basic as the name says. Service was quick. Bathroom was next to the open kitchen and backdoor was open to see the trash. read more

Anyone who accommodates to my partners vegetarian diet with lots of extra avocado gets a 5 star from me :) the chef/cook/owner came out from the back to ask what more he could put in the breakfast sandwich instead of sausage. Thankyou for that ! And I got the Monte Cristo which was very yummy and not greasy. Great filling breakfast in the west end. read more

The Basic - a man sitting on a park bench with two trays of food - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

First time in a sit down restaurant in almost two years. Greeting from the smiling waitress was nice, she told us we could sit where ever we wished. She was helpful and friendly. The menu, prices have certainly increased. I ordered the pancakes with bacon and sausage. It did take quite a while for the food to be served. Only one cook, and about 4 tables with guests. I was looking forward to an enjoyable pancake breakfast, that did not happen. The sausages were very tasty and so was the bacon. The pancakes were, horrible. I always picture pancakes as light and fluffy. Not these, they were huge, thick and like stone. My fork could hardly cut through them. Way too much dough. There were three, I managed to eat one, wish I had just sent them back. A very unsatisfying meal which set me back $16.00. If I want decent pancakes I guess I will have to go back to McDonalds to get them. What a waste of money. read more

Great breakfast spot. Stopped in on our way to Stanley Park. Not fancy but very welcoming. I can only comment on the French toast - delicious! Generous portion with BOTH bacon and sausage. Service was warm, friendly, prompt. Don't miss this place if you're in Vancouver. read more

3.5 STARS Well done Joe on the Cheese Benny ($10.50 tax incl.). Sometimes the hollandaise at diners are a hit and miss and they nailed it. I actually enjoyed my pan fried potatoes this time. They were crispy in some parts and still soft in others and they were not deep fried like some. The melted cheddar just added another layer of goodness to the taste. read more

The Basic - Cheese Benny ($10.50) - excellent hollandaise - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I love this place. The food is affordable. Your basic diner food. The staff is the best part. They are all up beat and chipper and don't take anything to seriously, except a good laugh. I eat here often and I enjoy it every time I do. read more

Definitely beats out Dennys/White Spots hands down in terms of actual quality, original tasting breakfasts! Highly recommended their corn beef hash, best w/ the sunny side eggs so you'll get extra juice when you mix it; comes w/ choice of toast, buttered to boot. lots & lots of food here, boys n girls, this is good for 2 meals! and just for $9.25! but stay away fr the blueberries/cinnamon french toast; the fruit's fine but the cinnamon may not be the right mix, at least to me. A cozy, small resto of about 12 tables, love the sign that says "seat yourself at a clean table'...duh, right.... helpful staff, 4 servers on, i was impressed... all cards welcome. read more

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Never had the breakfast, only sandwiches. Never been on a weekday, so no soup. I was told the soup is very good, but the waitress said a lot of things are good. She seemed nice and all, but I don't trust her food opinion. If this was, say, five bucks for a sandwich then maybe it would be okay. It is, however, the same price you would pay at basically any restaurant, for less quality, and far less portion size. I couldn't believe how small the sandwiches were. The lack of fries. And if you are saying cheddar, how about using real cheddar? Not American Cheese™. Please, just be upfront about it. Anyhow, basically I'd say go somewhere else. Better places exist. This isn't your only option. read more

I had brunch here this past weekend with a friend and the portions are huge! He had The Basic, which was 2 eggs, 2 toasts, bacon, sausage and potatoes. Solid choice and you can't really ruin it unless it's burnt. I ordered the Shrimp Benedict and it came with a mountain of potatoes. My dish was great and especially tasty if you use their home made hot sauce. The eggs were perfectly poached and runny. I'm going to try the pancakes next time, they looked amazing. read more

Joe has not spent a lot of time or money on the décor or cleaning, but reviews are generally positive so we decided to live on the edge. My wife chose the avocado and tomato benny while my benny was florentine. Both dishes were served with home fries. The eggs were overcooked and neither dish offered much in the way of flavor thanks to a mediocre hollandaise sauce. read more

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Reiview is for Davies at location. Solid breakfast and Reuben sandwich. Clubhouse also decent. Coffeee needs to be improved though. Service was great. read more

I've been a patron since Joe's opened on Denman. It's consistently decent everyday food. The service is often regrettably poor; it's so easy to ask and quickly deliver a glass of water and coffee while the patron waits for their order. I had to change tables but alerted one of the servers, my assigned server didn't follow up except to deliver my order. No follow-up, no coffee (yet charged for it). I could say more but the other waitress was sure to tell me to remember that it was 'Jay' who failed to provide any service. Out of employer and customer respect why didn't she step in and assist? It was not a pleasant start to the day and there was no tip - I thought best to let these 2 ladies 'pay for my $3+ coffee. I was left with a surely '...have a good day..,' and no apology. I never tip less than 20% but this time I felt I would be enabling poor service for the next patron read more

I am a blue collar worker who enjoys unhealthy food, no matter how many times my doctor says it's bad for me, or how many minutes the nice surgeons at the hospital say I was legally dead after the defibrillator! SUGAR AND FAT ALL THE WAY! I love American breakfast food. There, I typed it. Despite my European parents trying to steer me in the direction of healthy food, I can't say no to Bacon. This place is low key, quiet, and possesses mucho yummy goodness. I don't have to worry about idiotic laughter from other patrons or what the waitress will think of me if I order absolute junk. read more

Dear Joe's Grill, Today, I sat down, opened the menu, and walked out. I have never done this before in all the years I have been a loyal patron to your diner. But today, I realize that your prices are out of control. I remember your $5.45 breakfast plates like it was yesterday. I stuck around when it cost $6.45. Today, it costs $6.85. I remember your $6.25 burger. Today, it costs $7.25. I cannot even name anything else on your menu now that isn't over $8.00. When did I begin to pay $10.00 for a sandwich? Have your wages gone up as well? Do your waitresses now earn $15.00 per hour? It makes me sad that you have mistaken your popularity for stability. Keep this up and very soon, people will run. Your regulars will no longer be. When you tweaked your prices slightly, we kept an eye closed and continued to patronize. But now, you have gone overboard. The prices are soaring, but the food remains the same. Again, it makes me sad. Here you have a pair of your regulars and family signing off. No more Joe's Grill for us. Sincerely, Your Ex-Regulars read more

Average diner overall. Lots of tables available on weekday 10 am. Corned beef hash was above average quality and taste, but waffle with eggs and sausage was 2 stars. Overheard table next to ours send their food back as being underdone. My toast was cold, which always bugs me. read more

Cheap, but mostly greasy/sloppy food. I've been here a lot because it's a cheap local place but every time I'm disappointed. It's (possibly) a good place for breakfast, but only if you are still hung over from the night before. It suffers from being exceptionally dirty and the service is somewhere between poor and just "okay." Bring a cloth to wipe down your utensils before use (seriously), and *always* check the bottom of your cup before they put the coffee in it. If your still drunk from the previous night and just looking for bacon and eggs Joe's won't disappoint but don't waste your time ordering anything fancy or something that isn't fried. It's also (strangely) a very popular place, so you won't get a seat for breakfast unless you arrive before 8:30 or 9:00. The waitresses touch *everything* at least a few times before it gets to your table including all utensils and the *inside* of every coffee cup, glass, etc. I've yet to see even one of them wipe, or wash her hands after going there dozens of times. They keep the lighting low for a reason. Only for those with a robust immune system. read more

Hey Joe, awesome grill! This may become the go to place for a morning fuel up before the SunRun. Their menu has a decent selection of breakfast options to satiate anyone's morning hunger/ hangover. It's located on the ever so popular Denman strip, so it's the perfect location to watch interesting people or what I call "oddball watch". When we left this restaurant, there was a french man speaking loudly to himself. I couldn't tell if he was just crazy or if he was practicing for a motivational speech. I would say their prices are a little up there, considering this place feels like a old school diner, mom and pop joint. Their serving sizes are fairly large though. My friend ordered the blueberry pancakes, which were huge and in a stack of 4. I ordered a tomato and avocado bennie, with soft eggs. It was yummy. Their hollandaise sauce was very good, not so sweet like others I've tried. I liked it! Right after breakfast, my body went into food coma mode and so I did not feel like participating in the 10km run, but I persevered and committed myself to it! Although, I was burping up bennie and hash brown breath throughout the whole run. I apologize to anyone who may have caught wind of my gaseous expulsions. St3fin read more

I have eaten here countless times over the ten years I've lived in the neighborhood. It is straight forward diner food, served quickly by friendly and fun staff who operate the often busy restaurant quite handily. The food wont blow you away with its chic use of ingredients or innovation but it will always delivery the goods and fill you up. Don't bother with the pancakes here, if your are in the mood, go to No Frills and buy the pre-mix and do it at home, same thing. The coffee is average but the refills come quickly and without cost. The Basic ($7.75?) is the best deal: choice of meat, 2 eggs, pan fried potatoes and toast. The kitchen staff knows what a basted egg is here as well. The omelettes are massive as is the tofu scramble. Above average french fries with lunchier meals. At peak brunching times and in the touristy months, this place fills up fast so be prepared for a minor wait time in line. read more

I really wanted this place to be a hidden gem but it was not. I got the vegetable hash which was under seasoned and filled with freezer vegetables which was odd.. the other people I was with got French toast and waffles which looked good, so maybe stick with classic brunch items if you are going to order here. read more

In search of a reliable local brunch spot - or, barring that, a good greasy spoon - we set out for Joe's Grill on Denman one Sunday morning, only to encounter a long lineup, a listless diner, and retreaded truckstop fare. I was enticed by the promise on the sign outside of "blueberry french toast," assuming this represented some sort of culinary fusion involving, for example, blueberries and French toast. Alas, it was no more than French toast topped with blueberries, and it was not more than the sum of its parts. When it comes to greasy spoons, I'm not very picky: I'll take my pancakes and/or french toast and/or eggs and/or sausage pretty much any way, and anywhere, I can get them. Many a chain restaurant has perfected this simple but noble art, from Smitty's to Albert's to IHOP. Yet this particular mini-chain still seems to struggle with the basics of breakfast. This despite the fact that morning and midday meals appear to be the house specialty: Joe's numerous Grills are, as a rule, closed at 5pm. And yet, even the most basic staples of our déjeuner were dissatisfactory - even the coffee, that most essential diner element, was undrinkable, tasting as it did of unfiltered dishwater. Maybe they should consider closing for the breakfast rush too. read more

I came here for brunch my first morning. It's already solidly packed at 10 AM, which is usually a good sign when it comes to brunch spots, and getting a table wasn't too long of a wait either - just a few minutes before they had cleaned up a spot for us. The waitress was nice enough and cracked a joke about their OJ from concentrate being fresh 'at one point'. Ultimately, though, that is the problem with the food here at Joe's - it comes off as ill-prepared and not of terribly high quality. I ordered the French toast, which was five slices of below-average bread that had little flavor and was incredibly soggy from the strawberries and bananas. I ordered the extra fruit on top, but the strawberries definitely appeared to be of the frozen variety instead of fresh berries. Come on! The bacon was properly cooked - not too crispy, not too chewy - but the sausage was about as bland as the French toast was. Scrambled eggs are what they are, but I've had fluffier eggs that had more flavor to them as well. About the best thing was the bottle of Beck's in a nice big Granville Island Brewery mug...and that ain't saying all that much. It would probably come back if I lived in the neighborhood and was looking for a decently-priced brunch, but Joe underperforms what I would expect out of an average brunch spot. For $10, I've gotten better brunches at quite a few other places. Perhaps their other dishes are better, but at least when I was here, my expectations were a bit disappointed. read more

Mediocre greasy spoon breakfast joint. They use frozen spinach in their Eggs Florentine and have the gall to charge $4 for a large "from concentrate" orange juice. And the service is typical for Vancouver - overworked and inattentive. And it doesn't have the charm of a place like Bon's. However, the food is fairly inexpensive and the portions are large. read more

This is a totally normal diner, with staff that care about you. When I visited last month, I asked for my eggs to be cooked with less cooking oil and they did them perfectly. Everything is as it should be for a neighbourhood diner. read more

We enjoyed this place so much we went for breakfast here two mornings in a row. They seem to get plenty of business, as they were pretty busy both times. You seat yourself, and the waitress immediately comes over to offer you coffee or anything else to get you started in terms of beverages. Between the two mornings we had the egg burrito, eggs florentine, rancheros, and banana pancakes. All were so good! I liked their twists on the Mexican breakfasts, and in the unique way they cooked the bananas into the pancakes. Fresh fruit side was super fresh (not canned!) and the toast was just buttered enough - not too greasy, not too dry. Potatoes were incredible, and I don't normally like potatoes. If you have trouble finding parking there is a parking garage just down the street near the corner. If you are staying at Time Square Suites, this is the breakfast place for you as it is within walking distance. Overall, friendly staff and very affordable. We will return! read more

Love their basic breakfast menu. Go there once a week. Tried their eggs benny, poached perfectly but the sauce isnt made from scratch. From powder :(. Other than that everything is usually great! read more

I like diner food. :) And crispy bacon. Like REALLY crispy. Had the best clubhouse sandwich - and I asked for the bacon extra crispy, and damn it, they delivered. I hate limp bacon. Now the decor....oh lord. It looks like a doctor's waiting room from 1987. read more

Best breakfast in Vancouver. This busy place only serves breakfast and they do a very good job of it. Their potato hash is legendary and many Vancouver's make this place a weekend ritual. read more

LOVE this place! This is a home-cooked breakfast kind of place with good food and GOOD prices with decent portions. Joe comes in a lot and chats to the customers - which I find really cool. Plus the waitresses are amazing, and fast, but often there is only one working and the place is packed, so you do have to flag them down if you need something in the middle of your meal. I very rarely come in on a weekend as this place often will have a lineup, but it's nice and cozy and during the week you can just walk in and get a spot. Some of my faves are the eggs benedict and corned beef hash (this is huge!). Bon Appetite! read more

This spot is great, it's simple dinner fare made with heart. Some odd reviews on here expecting somthing different is silly, the prices are low and the dishes large and are simple dinner style. Good stuff. read more

Came here while on vacation and was greeted by friendly people. Waitress was slammed, but we had good food. read more

The Basic - Eggs Benedict. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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