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    The Mad Hen

    4.2 (28 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

    The Mad Hen Photos

    Business Info

    THE MAD HEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - The Mad Hen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Amanda L.

    Right off the bat we noticed how bad their customer service was. There were 3 servers that passed us at the entrance and no one acknowledged us or even smiled at us. There were also two empty tables on the patio, but customers were told that they don't like to seat customers there, since their kitchen likes to throw things out there. In my opinion, if that is the case they should have removed the tables in that area to avoid confusion. I ordered the crab cake bowl and strawberry milkshake. The crab bowl flavor was good, but could have used more crab. The hash browns were nicely cooked and the vegetable ratio was good. Strawberry milkshake was really nice, not too sweet and just the right amount of strawberry flavor. Had the customer service been better I would have rated this higher, but unfortunately our experience started off poorly.

    Sign
    Jonny M.

    Decided to try out The Mad Hen on a busy weekday after a friend recommended them. They do brunch but also offer sandwiches, wraps and burgers. Service was odd as they didn't offer the option of sitting outdoors. At least the food came out quickly (15 min). Make sure to ask for their hot sauce. - Beachcomber's omelette ($20.00) - large portion. Omelette could have been silkier but good filling - Jenny's crazy-good crab cake bowl ($23.00) - crab cake was tasty. Enjoyed the avo and grilled vegetables, but the pickled zucchini & red onion was delightful. Toast was heavy on the butter

    J C.

    Fantastic spot for breakfast! The cappuccino is quite nice, and the breakfast sandwiches are fantastic. Bacon AND ham? Nice. The outdoor patio is a great spot, looking towards the water. (Dogs like it, too.) The vibe is fun and whimsical, but they are serious about good service and quality of their food.

    Wilson L.

    We had an amazing time checking out The Mad Hen for brunch. The food is unreal and the service was so friendly and fast. We definitely would recommend checking this awesome diner out.

    Interior
    Shonah M.

    Came off the ferry at Langdale Terminal, from Horseshoe Bay Terminal at West Vancouver. Needed a quick brekkie & The Mad Hen was one of the only spots open at 9am. Very cool decor with flashback pix of celebrities long come & gone. There's a classic feel to this restaurant taking you back to the 50s & 60s via vinyl furniture & general look like your at a beachside joint. Brekkie was good but being from Vancouver & having just visited Victoria last weekend made me realize how good I have it. While the food wasn't exciting I can see locals appreciating eating & hanging out here. Don't come here expecting Jam (see my review) or Oeb (see my review) type quality. You will get straight up ol skool type quality food without the pizzazz of a mainland brunch spot. Service was great regardless.

    Chorizo and Montreal meat hash (top) and smoked salmon hash (below)
    Mika C.

    Visited gibsons for the day. We were recommended this spot by a local for breakfast. It's a really neat spot with cool decorations and music. Friendly service, but the food took a little long. The food was a bit heavy but tasty!

    1/2 order crab cake eggs benny

    This place is amazing. The owner is the cook and man is she good at it. The food was awesome, best eggs Benny I've ever had. Ambience is great, good buzz going on and packed all the time!

    Viviann L.

    We were around town and was craving for a beer or other beverages. I've heard people talk about The Mad Hen before and seems to always have some people when I'm there. The last time I was on the Island, I didn't get to go because I was so busy trying other places but told myself I want to try this place next time I come back. It's my birthday weekend and I had to deal with this rudeness and unprofessional service. I myself have worked in the service industry before and know how hospitality industry should be like. This is NOT even close. I do have to point out that the Caucasian young man working there today was willing to accommodate us but told us to wait for him to clear the table, as the other group just left. We agreed and waited patiently, then after 3mins a Caucasian young woman came and saw us and asked how many (no smile, no greetings, no eye contacts, and didn't ask what the customer wants or needs). She quickly threw a table together that's located inside and told us to sit there and said "just tie your dogs on the metal fence there" as she pointed toward the fence on the patio. Mind you, there was 2 tables that were available. Two other table still had customers dining (food and drinks). We were worried about our dogs as they are not "just dogs", they are our children. We awkward sat down inside and the same young man came out and said "I'll clear it now and you can sit here" on the patio. The same young woman rush out from the other side of the restaurant and said "sorry, you can sit there" and just left. Clearly there wasn't a rule we can't sit there and the waiter said we could and he'll go fix it up for us. Not that there's a policy like that since there's clearly still people on the patio eating. BUT the least she could do is say "I'm sorry but we usually close off the patio ____mins before closing", "would you like to sit with your dogs or would it be okay that you tie them up on the fence over there on the other side", or "Our kitchen closing ____mins before closing, so we no longer serve food or it's the last call but would you still be willing to stay for drinks. There was still half an hour and all we wanted was ONE beer for each of us. She didn't care to guide us to our table or wait for us to be seated and just told us to sit over there and left, but came running from the other side to tell us we can't sit on the patio and HAD to sit inside, when there's two groups on the patio? I could be wrong but the past two time passing by and this time actually being in there, all the workers I see are Caucasian and all the customers there are Caucasian. Hey, nothing wrong with Caucasians. I got lots of friends that are caucasians and my boyfriend is half white but like all the other restaurants (Mexican, Bar, Coffee Shops, bistros), stores, and brewery I've been in Gibsons have different ethnicity except The Mad Hen. We clearly didn't seem welcomed at all. Do you leave your kids outside while you dine inside? Yes, you can argue they are "animals" or "pets" and many people do it and totally okay. But not everyone wants to. I'm sure some pet owners or animal lovers can understand. My baby is a rescue and gets anxious. I'm a customer, there's empty tables, the restaurant is still open, and there are still customers on the patio so the LEAST the staff could have done is explain or kindly ask us to be separated. We sat down awkwardly feeling like WE did something wrong and that we weren't welcomed. In the service industry that's already considered a fail (don't even talk about space for improvements, attitudes and service are supposed to be priority). We sat for 3mins and no menu, no water, no staff (yes a short time but since everyone had their food and drinks, plus it's the first thing you give to your customer right after you seat them down if not HAVE MENU READY while you seat them down. You can come running to tell us where NOT to sit but can't get us a menu or water? Weird. We stood up and decided to leave (could have just walked out) but still thought we should at least have the etiquette to let them know we decided to leave. We informed the waitress who's still not anywhere close us, but on the other side of the restaurant. She just said "ok". During my time in the service industry, when customers say that...the least we did was apologize for any inconvenience or reason that may cause them to want to leave. Even if it's a more causal setting, we as staff still have to say "okay, have a good day" or "okay, thank you anyways" when we stood up and untied our dog, one old Caucasian guy just stared at us until we left. Like okay? You still have a whole plate, please focus on your own food and mind your own business. This is the first time on ANY Islands (vibes are usually more chill) and the first time in Gibsons that I encountered such service and attitude. There's SOOOO many amazing place around with great service and delicious food that's actually worth the time and money.

    Dining area
    Heather C.

    A nice, relatively new, coffee shop style restaurant in lower Gibsons. The seating area is rather small, but I had no problem finding a table about noon on a winter weekday. The decor is cute and charming. Parking is usually plentiful on nearby streets. The seating area has a nice water view. I ordered the cheese omelette. It was very plain with no added herbs, which would have been nice. The cheddar cheese tasted more like cheap American cheese and reminded me of melted plastic. The pre-dressed salad was fine. The sourdough toast was tasty. I would have liked to have seen better quality jam instead of the pre-packaged Smuckers that was served. I will try this restaurant again, because there aren't that many restaurants in the area. Service was friendly and the restrooms were clean and large. However, I wouldn't be ordering the omelette again until the fake plastic like cheese is replaced with a higher quality real Cheddar cheese.

    Cold Smoked Salmon Benny

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    4 years ago

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    5 months ago

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    28 days ago

    Great burger and really, the whole menu is really good. Always busy. That's a signal for any sensible diner.

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    11 months ago

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    3 years ago

    Kinda like your average Sysco Foods restaurant experience... The patio and location are nice.

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    3 years ago

    Bomb ass breakfast, great spot, great people all around great place. I need a couple more characters.

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    4 years ago

    Amazing, home cooked fresh breakfast had the Benny and the skillet today, and will be back tomorrow!!

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    Blackfish Pub

    Blackfish Pub

    3.1
    (44 reviews)
    1.4 km
    $$

    Only as of recently they've allowed kids to eat here in specific areas. This is great for our…read morefamily as it opens up opportunities to celebrate family birthdays out at a restaurant! They give you a free meal on your birthday which is so great! We always get the loaded nachos with chicken, and potato skins! Their French onion soup is my son's favourite item on the menu. There's several different areas to dine including private side rooms, a smaller cozy room, a full outdoor patio and the back side room which is dedicated for families. The staff are all kind and this restaurant also hosts a pretty massive toy drive every year which is wonderful to see!

    I came for breakfast with the fam, and i felt like this place was missing something…read more It has a great, appealing decor with lots of tvs for sports, but i think it misses the mark with its price point and menu items. Ordered the breakfast taco- 20$. Was a rolled up thin element of egg, salsa and a slice of ham. I was making these in high school . Only finished half because it wasnt very good. My boy ordered the cod fish and chips. He finished them, but i noticed he peeled away alot of excess batter. The eggs and bacon look as expected and i believe the others were content with their choice. Orange juice was mucho watered down. I would come here for drinks or to watch a game.. judging drom my experience and the other comments. Im not sure if food is their forte.. Service was good, waitresses were attentive.

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    Specials board
    Specials board
    Blackfish Pub
    Steak and prawns special

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    Steak and prawns special
    Molly’s Reach

    Molly’s Reach

    4.5
    (6 reviews)
    0.2 km

    Ambience: Plenty of seating with beautiful water views through window…read more Food: Loved it Service: Fast and friendly Price: Excellent Went to Molly's Reach for lunch and had a great experience. There was definitely a long line when we arrived, but we got a table pretty quickly since the crowd was moving fast and there was plenty of seating available. One thing I really liked was their half sandwich and soup combo. Unfortunately, they had run out of soup by the time I ordered, which was a little disappointing. We ended up ordering vegetarian sandwiches, and I really enjoyed them. The ingredients tasted fresh, the sandwich was light yet satisfying, and it came with chips on the side. They also have their own merchandise, which was fun to browse while waiting. What surprised me the most was the pricing. Considering how popular the restaurant is and its prime waterfront location, the prices were very reasonable. Overall, great food, friendly service, beautiful views, and excellent value for money. I would definitely go back again.

    Two for early lunch, got there before the rush. Order at the counter and take a number to your…read moretable. Ordered the 3-piece Fish and Chips made with New Zealand cod with a side of cole slaw. Smoke Salmon Bagel. "It was yummy" The cod Fish was fresh and flaky, one of the best I have eaten in a while. Fries were cooked to crispy perfection. The atmosphere was beach-town casual.

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    Molly’s Reach
    3 piece fish and chips ($26.95)
    3 piece fish and chips ($26.95)
    Front and patio

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    Front and patio

    The Mad Hen - diners - Updated August 2026

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