Wow. It's amazing how people's perspective can differ so much. I had never gone here before due to bad reviews and what seemed to me to be too high of prices. But we wanted to try a different place for weekend breakfast, so we came here. So glad we did. Was very impressed...a much nicer physical place than I had expected, including the existence of a long bar. And a HUGE menu, not just eggs at all. Specialty sandwiches, burgers, salads, appetizers, crepes (savory and sweet), steaks, pastas...you name it. We had breakfast items - eggs benedict with crab, eggs/Canadian bacon and French toast. All perfectly cooked and tasted, the French toast especially was nice - very light and fluffy, not too filling. And an additional appreciated touch - my cappucinno was served in a ceramic coffee cup, the way it is supposed to be. Hate these yuppie places who put them in tall clear glass containers. I went back a couple of days later for dinner. Sat in a dining area next to a fireplace, which was great on a cold evening. Generally enjoyed the meal...especially my appetizer, bruchetta. I don't know what it is abut most restaurants around here, but they can NOT make it, always have to tart it up so it's no longer bruchetta. Amazingly, here, it was real, basic, true Italian, and very good. I had the steak frites, which was fine. Though I would have thought a French Canadian chain would make thinner and crisper French fries. If they made a specialty of them, I could see people coming to sit at the bar just to eat fries. The bad part of the dinner: the wife ordered stroganoff...the beef and noodles that came out were fine, but it was NOT stroganoff. Bottom line, it IS a bit pricey, especially for breakfast (we paid $50+ with tip) - a diner it is not - but well worth an occasional visit.
(4)
Jen B.
Terrible service. We ( 2 adult and a child) came in at 2 pm on a Monday ( hardly a rush). The server told us to have our pick of places to sit, say us in a booth and seemed to forget about us. We waited 20 mn before a manager came and took our order. Appetizer delivered without plates. I had to go to the bar and request them. Food on the adult menu is great. Child's hamburger tasted like burned sub par meat. Will not return.
(2)
Rory K.
Disappointing third visit. Service painfully slow and order was not done correctly.
(2)
Kelly H.
I'm actually surprised by all the negative reviews this place has, I really enjoy Eggspectations! It definitely can get very busy, especially on Sunday mornings, but that is to be expected. Everyone is always super friendly and professional, the food is delicious and tends to come out pretty quickly and they even have great, affordable happy hours! Definitely give it a chance before reading all these reviews, you might be pleasantly surprised!
(4)
Clay M.
Eggspectation is perfect for breakfast with a wide range of foods. Their eggs are good and the other items are just as pleasant to eat. Decor is wonderful and service is too. I'm surprised that there are so many bad reviews, because the food was actually very good. This is a great breakfast choice.
(5)
Kenzie R.
Server was absolutely wonderful and nice, but the food was terrible. Friends got a BLT and the lettuce was old, the bacon was burnt to crisp, even the French fries were cold... Don't waste your time coming here.
(3)
Desi W.
Since I normally go to the Silver Spring location, I figured I try an impromptu road trip to another location. This place was not crowded at all. (much different from Silver Spring) The waiter was great, very professional, friendly and accommodating. The coffee we originally had was stale and he brewed us a fresh pot. AWESOME! Only downside was the Frittata I ordered. It was not a frittata but a egg scramble. They should take this option off the menu. But for a egg scramble it was tasty.
(3)
Rando J.
Just went here for the first time hoping to have some poached eggs. Overall the meal had no redeeming qualities. The toast was cold and overcooked, the chicken tasted like charcoal, the portions were tiny, everything is $5 more than it should be, and worst of all my poached eggs were so overcooked they could have been soft-boiled. I normally don't complain in restaurants but the eggs really were the final straw, seeing as how it's the name of the restaurant.. So I told the waitress and she said she'd take it off the bill (I didn't eat any of it.) I explained and she even commented that the yolks weren't runny like they should be. Then the manager came over and said something about how the sauce wasn't 'what [i] expected' which felt like she was trying to shift it on me. I know what I ordered and while the sauce was pretty bad, my issue was with the eggs. I told her that, and when the waitress brought the bill we noticed they only comp'd us $10, not the $17 the meal costs. All in all the service was alright and the decor is nice, but if you want a good amount of quality food for a good price go anywhere but here. Even the mediocre "Mimi's Cafe" down the street has better eggs benedict for a better price than this place. Oh and the lettuce in the salad was wilted and tasted funky. And it cost me $3 more to switch the potatoes for that.
(1)
Neal E.
Been looking forward to trying out an Eggspectation for a while now - I've seen the one over in Chantilly but never tried it. I ordered the "Eggsuberant" - which is a couple of pancakes, two eggs, your choice of meat (I selected turkey bacon), and potatoes, plus a couple of tomato slices (heated up) and some pieces of fruit (melon and red grapes). I ordered the eggs medium. And a cup of coffee. I also ordered a side of the corned beef hash - hoping for something good. The place was pretty busy on a Sunday morning - this is a very new restaurant and I believe has been open about 3 weeks or so. My food came out quickly - I was immediately disappointed by the side of corned beef hash - looks like (and tasted as well) processed, canned corned beef hash. The eggs were cooked just as I ordered, the pancakes and turkey bacon were average, the potatoes were crisp and very good. The coffee was good and the cups are larger than many places - so less refills! Service was good as well. Kind of pricey for breakfast though - with tip - I paid $23.40 for a rather average breakfast.
(3)
Big J.
I don't get the vitriol towards Eggspectation in Gainesville. Listen, as someone who grew up in NYC, you can say that my family and I are food snobs. We just moved in the area and have been to Eggspectation about 4 times in the past 2 months or so (only for breakfast). EVERYTHING has been fantastic. My wife had runny scrambled eggs the first time we came, but after specifying exactly how she wanted them in the times that we've been since, all meals have come out the way we've wanted. Just be specific as far as how you want your food. Simple as that. I really like the place and will be back.
(4)
Laura F.
Unimpressed! We went around brunch on a Sunday so there was a short wait - no problem! We were seated to a wet table and benches with no silverware. The server came and apologized for the delay and then came back for drink orders. He didn't know the day's specials but said he would check. He returned to ask what we wanted to order and then half-way mentioned that his paper got wet and he didn't know our drink order and we'd have to tell him again and he still didn't know the specials! I said no lemon with my tea, I got 4 - not a great start! Two different times the food runners tried to bring us someone else's order and were puzzled when we said it wasn't ours. We got our food. Fair, palatable, but nothing special, especially $10 pancakes and an extra $3 for fruit instead of their "wonderful" (not!) potatoes. Their "signature" omelette was ok but again nothing spectacular. Drink refills were hard to get, the server seemed like it was his first day! The manager checked our table a few ones and pointed to the server about empty drinks but the manager never came over to ask how anything was, etc., like most restaurants - heck even Denny's does!! Overall not impressed at all. $52 for 3 people for a breakfast you could get at a diner. I'll have to think long and hard about eating here EVER again!
(1)
steve g.
I have eaten at Eggspectations a handful of times since it has opened. It is a nice restaurant to dine at. I do notice that it has gotten much better than the first few times I ate here. The service is much better and the food is much better as well. I would not hesitate to go back. My favorite dish is the french toast. I also like the construction pancake as it comes with a ton of bacon.
(5)
John G.
I visited this place today for the first time. It was 10:45am on a Friday. Not crowded. We were seated immediately. The prices are on the high side for breakfast and lunch in my opinion. I got the Grill Chicken Sandwich and an Ice Tea. $9.99 for the sandwich. It was ok. A little dry. Nothing to write home about and clearly nothing to wow me. It was a thin breast. The bread was more like toast. No mayo which I thought was odd. Will I go back? I see no reason too, really. The drink specials are pretty attractive though, but it didn't seem like it would be a "happening place" in the evenings, but I could be wrong. Draft beer for 2 bucks. Rail drinks for 3.95. I might try it one more time with my wife, but when it happens, it happens. No rush.
(3)
Food L.
I love the menu selection, I always have awesome bloody Mary's with very friendly service all in all one of my favorite regular stops!! And I never have to wait for a table love it
(4)
Arlene T.
If you love poached eggs or eggs benedict you will love this place. Try the smoked salmon eggs benedict. Yum I also tried their tuna salad which was okay. I didnt care for their deviled eggs. I make a bomb *** tray of them. Service was good. They are a little pricey for breakfast but it is more gourmet and not a cheap cafe. Definitely will go back, but only when i am craving them.
(4)
Sandie L.
I wouldn't recommend for meals other than "breakfast meals". We just spent $50 for two pasta dishes that were mediocre at best. The Lobster Mac and Cheese is simply penne with a splash of Alfredo, a couple of tomatoes and some sparsely shredded cheese barely melted on top with what appeared to be lobster that looked as though it had been chewed and spit back out! When it arrived i inquired about the garlic crostini and was offered white, wheat or rye. They apparently didn't have the item as described or pictured in the menu. The Mr had the Land and Sea Pasta. They must have been out of Alfredo after preparing my pasta so he received a greasy lemon butter. The shrimp seemed to boiled and were tasteless except for the grease of the lemon butter. Neither dish was seasoned.
(2)
Marti B.
Eggs is eggs whichever one you go to, you can expect the same menu and similar drink. The difference here is the staff and the atmosphere they create. Sing us a song you're the piano man. Sing us a song tonight. Winner
(5)
Iain B.
My wife had been here a week prior with my mother and as a result of their experience she walked out with a coupon for a free smoothie... We also had a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of 2 entrees. Since we had the coupons to use we went there to get a bite to eat on Sunday afternoon around 3pm. First of all....looking at the prices on the menu I was pretty shocked. Everything is expensive. Everything. But, if it's good then it's worth it... My wife ordered the Banango smoothie which was actually very good. I'm not entirely sure if it is "$6.50 good"...but it was very good. My wife had the mushroom, cheddar and green onion omelette and I had the Yoke Around the Clock. When our entrees came out mine was just glistening in oil/grease. It was pretty repulsive. Now I'm well aware that cheddar cheese isn't known for it's melting qualities but it might not have been so bad if the cheese wasn't such crappy quality. It was obviously processed and in slices like kraft. I peeled it off into a pile (see the pic I uploaded) and ate the rest of my plate. The bacon was pretty good as were the eggs but the bagel was your basic generic, mass produced sysco-quality bagel and it wasn't even toasted... When my wife cut into her omelette it was apparent that they used the exact same crappy cheese in her omelette, square slices and all. It was a giant clumpy mass of oily, cheap cheese running through the middle of her omelette. She was practically able to pull it all out in one piece. She did like the green onions and there were nice, big slices of mushrooms in the omelette. So basically our meals were perfectly fine except for the disgusting cheese they use. If you are going to charge $13.50 for a bagel sandwich and $10 for an omelette you can swing a decent quality cheese or at least shred it so it doesn't come out looking like leftovers from McDonald's. On the way out we chose a piece of their cheesecake for our freebie. We ate it at home and it was good. All the cakes in the case looked really nice...but considering the corners they cut I'm sure they are brought in. Service was good, the waitress brought me more soda before my current one was empty. The smoothie and cheese cake saved them from a 2-star rating. I don't really see a reason to go back unless I can trick someone else into paying. tl;dr - over-priced, crappy cheese, good smoothies, good cheesecake
(3)
Mark M.
I do not like chains, but I thought the quality of food was good. We had the chicken quesadillas and I had a vege omelette. Service was attentive and excellent. I recommend it
(4)
Local D.
Only giving 3 stars because the holindase sauce really is amazing. One issue with it is that the menu insinuates it is made on site but I have spoken to the manager and was told they get it already made. My biggest complaint is if you are charging 15 bucks for breakfast then do please hire a chef that can properly poach an egg. Eggs Benedict should have an amazing poached egg the has perfectly running egg yolks. More than once I have a received what can only be compared to a hard boiled egg. The manager has told me I need to order very soft poached egg. This is a hit or miss because the whites can be wayyyy undercooked. The potatos are tasty and I normally don't like potatoes Staff and managers very accommodating
(3)
Katherine P.
I visited this location 3 times in the past week, twice for breakfast, and once for dinner. My final judgment: Awesome for breakfast, but meh for dinner, which really doesn't surprise me. They have a huge breakfast menu, and the service and ambiance were really nice at breakfast time. The food was prompt, and delicious, much better than any of the other chains in the area that do breakfast. I'd give the place 5 stars just for breakfast alone. Problem is, we tried it for dinner too Dinner was a little busier, but we had a clueless waitress. I asked if they had any microbrews on tap, and she didn't know what a microbrew was. She checked with the bar and I was happy to find they do have one on tap, but getting her to bring me one was a chore, and it only showed up when I was halfway through my dinner. One of the other people in our party tried the cheesesteak sandwich, which is his barometer for restaurant quality, and it was nothing to write home about. My chicken with crab cake was alright. I would definitely come here again, but only at breakfast, or breakfast-for-dinner.
(3)
Mark O.
It is rare when I get a breakfast out better than what I can make at home. Eggspectation in Gainesville is no exception to this rule. Absolutely an alarmingly mediocre omelette and even worse I had to send the first one back as it was seriously undercooked. An omelette is supposed to be folded and fluffy with the ingredients/fillings inside. What I was served was more of a flat, flavorless scramble formed into the shape of an omelette. The coffee was good though.
(1)
Tony D.
It's tricky describing a place that has an extensive, varied menu, featuring a number of enjoyable options, that I'll likely never visit again. Our area is filled with low-cost breakfast options, from IHOP to Bob Evans to Cracker Barrel, and, compared to these, the prices at Eggspectation are nearly twice as high! Is the food better? Possibly, but it's not a given. Is the ambiance an improvement? Well, it's noticeably less crowded - we were there on a Sunday morning - than the other options, so it does feel markedly less frantic. The big question - in light of this, is it worth the extra money? I'd have to say that it's not. Every once in a while, we're looking for something a little nicer than those three low-cost options, and, from the local choices, we've looked to Mimi's. Eggspectation could certainly be on that list, but you better be looking to spend $15-20 per person on breakfast, or else you'll be in for some sticker shock...
(3)
Carol D.
My husband and I visited this restaurant twice within one month for dinner. I purchased Groupons for it. Both times we have had fantastic meals. The Ahi Tuna salad was terrific, chicken club and burger were also top shelf. It is a very comfy atmosphere inside, great lighting, fireplace was going and wait staff was quick and attentive. Each time we were there, the manager went table to table checking in with guests making sure they had no complaints. Don't let the name fool you, this isn't just a breakfast place, try it in the evening for dinner you'll be pleasantly surprised.
(5)
JeanneMarie A.
Ok here we go people Eggspectation, my husband would never leave me unless he was offered eggs for every meal personally I could care less about eggs but off we go to satisfy his cravings. The place is very clean and not noisy the reason it is not noisy is because the two times I have been in there it was empty not a good sign in my book. But regardless we sit and check out the menu loads of things to choose from a bit too many. The prices are insane way to expensive I was ready to bolt but I thought ok maybe with such high prices the food will be outstanding. Well not so much as others have said it is just ok, the first time I ordered an omelet which I could make better at home the home fries were underwhelming the fruit not ripe my husband ordered eggs over easy ok just eggs whatever with coffee juice the bill was over $30. The second time a friend of mine wanted to go out to eat we are so tired of the few restaurants in the Gainesville and Haymarket area we decide to check it out again hey we had that coupon for $10 off so why not. She ordered crêpes and water she offered for me to try hers I begged off at the site of them. I went all out as I had a dreadful week and ordered the eggs benedict with crabmeat I figured if I buy the most expensive thing on the menu which was about $18 if memory serves me it should be awesome. I was very specific on how I wanted my eggs cooked, hard whites runny yokes one was done correctly the other was not, the dish was not hot not cold just there I was surprised however that there was a good amount of crabmeat. I also ordered a mocha coffee which was almost $4 this came in a tiny cup and was almost stone cold and way to sweet, considering I love sweet things I was shocked that even I found it gross that is really a feat in itself. Our mistake was asking for separate bills do not do this if you want the $10 off if you buy over $30 they will not give it to you. I have to say though with all the bad things about this place the manager was really very nice as was the server when asked he changed our bills and gave us the discount. So if they would scale down this menu maybe they would be able to focus on outstanding food when you are an "egg restaurant" you really need to make outstanding eggs as it is the easiest thing for a consumer to do at home, with a sad face I will not return to this establishment
(2)
Kim O.
Purchased Groupon 15.00 for 30.00 worth of food. I had 4 people eating at my table. When the bill came it was around 69.00. When the clerk applied my groupon the check came back at around 51.00. I know I'm no math wizard but, this total is definitely NOT 30.00 off of the previous price. When I looked closer I seen that gratuity had been added in. So that's the catch I see! If I use the groupon I'm automatically charged gratuity doesn't matter how many people in my party. So in end this groupon is void from the beginning. Sad that I was taken like this. I purchased 2 of these "15.00 for 30.00" vouchers. I will let the other one expire & not return. It's cheaper that way.
(1)
Craig M.
Time to update. We have been here more times than I can count, but there has been a bit of an evolution here that might make some consider a revisit. There has clearly been a focus on attentive service, and I find the service to be prompt, caring and responsive, particularly to dietary modifications. They are very willing to modify items. Significantly better than 2 years ago in this area. The management appears to be listening to the feedback, and the newer faces working there are great. the place has started to fill up a bit since we first went there, so they must be on the right track. The menu is huge,and they have put out some seasonal menus and items which are spectacular. My wife really enjoyed the apple topped Pork Chop last night. I continue to work my way through the menu, and have not gotten bored. It is nice to be able to get a decent omelet in the evening if you want, but I am not really a breakfast guy, so may of my friends are surprised I frequent here so often, because the name is so misleading. Many have commented about the prices. maybe it is a NOVA thing now , tolls and food cost vary by time and volume. At peak periods the price is about 15% higher than a typical fast casual, but I focus on value. the ingredient are quality name brands (listed in the menu) and the portion is large. The staff is quite friendly f you are a senior couple and wish to share an entree, I can attest to that. My younger (30's) nephew describes his visits with us there as "filling" and that boy can eat ! Now off peak there is the considerably discounted "happy Hour" offers in the lounge, the small plate / starters are extensive and can make a dinner. coupons offering $10 off or $15 for 30 can be found easily by search, I get some of mine in the coupon mailer, and Citi-rewards. Of course if price alone is what gets you going, there is discount calories up the road on the Dollar Menu. For me taste does count a bit Very much worth a second look, particularly if you are a larger group/ family with diverse tastes. Note: I rarely give a 5 star, for that it has to be an incredible experience on repeat visits.
(4)
Hien N.
I went here because I had a Groupon for $30 worth of dinner. When I walked in, the place was dimly lit and there were books scattered everywhere for decoration. It seemed like they were trying to have a rustic look but the decor was random and old (dusty). I bought the Breton Benedict (crepes and poached eggs). The crepes were dry on the edges and had a rubbery texture. The potatoes were seasoned well and were probably the best things on the plate. My friends ordered the Eggsuberent. The dishes had nothing special about them, just eggs, meat, pancakes, and potatoes. The syrup had this metallic taste to it since it was served in a small metal container. Overall, the food was alright and overpriced. I would only go if I had a Groupon.
(2)
Bil G.
You know you're in trouble when the restaurant can't even get the recipe right for eggs Benedict. I have told them until I'm blue in the face that eggs Benedict does NOT have cheese on it but they say well you can just tell us to leave it off. The service is usually slow and the food is rather ho hum. I sure wouldn't go out of my way to visit the place but if I'm close by then I MIGHT go in. Their cakes aren't very good so I usually don't get dessert.
(2)
carol g.
The menu is huge (too big) but you can get anything at any time. Went for dinner because of the Groupon, which required after 3pm visit. Burger was good. Dessert was horrible. I thought that the carrot cake would be good because they display beautiful cakes in the front of the store.... But I was WRONG. Stick to what you know they would be able to make fresh.
(3)
Rob E.
Every time we've come, the orders have been wrong. But oddly, this doesn't happen at the other locations. Avoid Gainesville if you can.
(1)
Andrea F.
We stop by here pretty frequently since we take karate at Twin Dragon, in the same shopping center. I rarely ever have any issues with my food, though there are a couple of items I won't get again. The Nicoise salad was a big disappointment, though I've enjoyed every other salad I've had. The one beef burger I tried didn't taste that great either. Overall, it's good for a chain. I feel the prices are on par with the quality of the ingredients.
(4)
Suellen H.
We used to be fans of this restaurant, but the prices are just not worth it, even if you get a Groupon or try to do half price appetizers or kids eat free, they no longer let you combine any of these so it's just too much to pay $14 for eggs. Groupon should be a method of payment and kids eat free brings families in on slow Monday nights, unfortunately they've made it so it's cost prohibitive for most families to eat here at all. We won't be back.
(1)
Ian N.
This is definitely a nice place, and the service is pretty good. The food is a little pricey, but this is an upscale restaurant. The reason for my low score is that they are not honest. I just took a look at my receipt from a couple weeks ago, and realized I was charged for something I did not order. When we ate at that time, we informed them we were in a hurry, and they accommodated us. What I did not know when I paid, was that I was charged for a bellini. I don't even know what a bellini is until I just googled it... a sparkling wine peach cocktail. My wife and I have never drank a bellini in our lives, but there it is on my receipt, "1 BELLINI 6.99". They took advantage of the fact that we were trying to get a quick meal, though this is probably my fault for trusting them. My wife really likes their eggs benedict, so we will probably be back. But I will make sure to double check my bill every time I eat here, and I suggest you do too.
(1)
Nicole A.
There is nothing good about this place. I really don't know how they are still in business, because everyone I've talked to about it has the same negative impression. The food just isn't good. I always give places a couple chances before I write them off, and I gave this one 3 and it wasn't good any of the times we went.
(1)
Jill B.
I wish I could give half stars. It was better than a 3 but not QUITE a 4. I'll come back and update one way or the other after the next visit... The menu IS huge! I'm sad I only got to try one thing. Lots of promise! Started with a glass of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice - while good, it was COMPLETELY overpriced. Maybe people don't notice? We did find it odd that a fairly breakfast oriented place was missing some common items for such a large menu, one of which was a mimosa. Luckily we didn't want one anyway. ;-) Service was great - guess we got lucky, based on what some of the other reviewers have said. Now to the food itself... I ordered the bacon and cheddar omelet. When I first bit into it I couldn't find the cheese. I thought it was dry. Maybe that's why there's ketchup at every table? Overall it was okay, but not great. So I spent my time drooling over what my companions had ordered and raved about - the Yoke Around the Clock and the Eggwhat. Well, better luck for me next time I suppose... I can't complain too much, although it was overpriced, I left completely full. We never would've made it through an appetizer AND lunch or lunch AND dessert. Hoping whatever I order next time is better... and there will definitely be a next time!
(3)
Justin C.
Ok so I'm back in VA for the holidays to hang with my friends and family. Decided to stop in for lunch. I ordered a smoked salmon plate and it was awesome. Food-wise it's great but service makes up for most of my experience so thats why I am giving it 2 stars again.... I mean seriously... the service is a joke. I had no refills on my drink after I finished it the first 10 minutes of sitting down. It was a slow day, our server only had 2 tables and for some reason we got no attention. I even overheard the female in the table next to us say "Whos the waiter for that table, I haven't seen anyone come by to talk to them yet". I'm very social and I've been all over the country so maybe my reviews of the service here are skewed since I am comparing them to my entire life dining experience... maybe for Gainesville-lians it's awesome but not for me. If you want my tip money show me you worked for it... Don't just drop off my drinks, food, and expect me to give more than 15%. I did tip 20% because I felt bad, out server looked like she woke up in a trailer. Check up on me and my date, check up on my satisfaction of the place, REFILL MY DRINK, Stop flirting with your co-workers! Definitely one of the slowest service I've ever had in any restaurant in my life. They need to STOP hiring servers out of Culpepper, and Manassas. I'm not kidding and I'm not trying to be rude but it's so true.
(2)
Alan B.
Came on fathers day and there was a huge wait. We sat at the bar with one of the friendliest bartenders. He got made that our food took 35 minutes to come out( 2 eggs and bacon and an omelette) that he fully compt our meal. He was grey the food was good and we were just so relaxed because we knew the our server was worrying about the food for us that made us know that we were getting taken care of.
I've been here about 3 times and I've decided not to go back. It is the epitome of bland, average food. I've had the bacon cheddar burger, the Grilled Honey-Orange-Mustard Chicken Burger, pancakes, and coconut cake. Honestly, it's dull. I'm not a big crepe person, but I've heard they're good. I gave their special juices a try- the berry berry one in particular- and it tasted like normal cranberry juice. Am I missing something? The service has always been good but the ambiance is questionable. I guess it's just not the first restaurant that comes to mind when I want to have an enjoyable, relaxing meal. When the food comes, I'm not disappointed, yet not excited. It's on the more expensive side, so I expect more than what it being served.
(2)
Michael M.
Everything was good from the food to the service. I had the "fruit stack" which is pancakes layered with blueberries, strawberries, and bananas with a sweet cream on it. Tasted great. The menu is a little pricey but the food is tasty. I'll definitely return.
(4)
Jade T.
We ended up going here because the restaurant we were planning on going to was closed. We never think about places being closed on a Monday... Anyway, Eggspectations was okay. Food was surprisingly good. What I didn't like was that they brought my kids food out way before ours. They were finished by the time my husband and I got ours. They may have been short a server because ours was very nice but struggling to keep up with all her tables and she was working both the busy bar side and the restaurant side. The only thing I didn't care for about our server is that she made a comment about what my child was drinking (mountain dew) and said she would water it down (then added just kidding). I don't like comments about what we order. I'm sure we will go back but won't be in a rush to go again.
(3)
Ginger A.
Hubby and I went again tonight because we had a $20 Groupon. Well lucky us! They just started doing $5 burgers on Wednesday! So so so good. My husband had the veggie burger, I had two eggs, grilled tomatoes, and grilled potatoes. The burger came with fries and the burger was one of the best veggie burgers ever. We also each had the house salad. Philip was our server in the bar tender, and was totally one of the best servers we've had there. My opinion has changed! Will definitely start going for $5 burgers on Wednesday!
(4)
Spencer A.
Mentally challenged staff, hit and miss food. Expensive eggs.
(2)
Rick A.
This our only visit to Eggspectation, so they may have a shot again. Based on that visit, the review may change. The reason for the introduction is that the Manager did her best in fixing the issues. To start, we had BAD service. Slow on getting drinks, not getting drinks, no return visits. We also got the wrong orders. This is where the Manager suggested it was a kitchen error, so, we may not lay all the blame on the waitress. The food by concept is great, but by delivery it fails. Again,,,, is it a kitchen issue? Poorly executed preparation can destroy anything. Really though, is it hard to cook an egg hard and not runny? Eggspectation is what it is. A franchise eatery. Concept is great, but the execution this time was off. I will assume that it will be a hit or miss for most, based on poor quality control in the kitchen.
(2)
Bill M.
What is this the food is okay but one stand out was the potatoes very good.
(2)
Sarah L.
This is my first official Yelp review, despite having said for years that I was going write reviews upon leaving restaurants, either for exceptional or poor service. But tonight finally moved me to action. My husband, I, and our two young children went to the Gainesville Eggspectation for dinner with a Groupon that was set to expire soon. We also chose this evening because we knew they run a Monday 'Kid's Eat Free' deal. And while we did anticipate some pushback from our server when we asked if we could use the Groupon in combination with the kids' special, we figured it was worth a try. Neither the Groupon or advertisement for 'Kid's Eat Free' stipulated that they could not be used in combination. Plus, I tend to look at the Groupon more as a cash value. Nonetheless, I was not surprised when our waiter said that we could not use both. I was taken aback though when he explained that the reasoning was because "patrons only tip on the total of the final bill" and that he would be further shorted on his tip if they allowed both. I have to admit that I took this as a personal insult almost, implying that WE would not account for his gratuity at the pre-discounted total. I have NEVER shorted a waiter by tipping anything less than 20+% of the pre-discounted total. I would have to imagine that management would not appreciate his explanation as well. I have read the less than favorable reviews of this location: Overpriced (Yes, but for a chain, at least it offers some interesting options that you won't get at other brass and glass chains.), Slow/Poor Service (We have not experienced either. In fact on our first visit, we were impressed that our waitress sought out management approval to honor a Groupon that stipulated it be used after 3pm, when we came for lunch and hadn't realized that it was specifically for dinner.) The food is consistent and portions plentiful. I just don't think that justification for not honoring two "specials" should be that our adolescent waiter thinks he might get shorted $3, when quite the opposite is true. Perhaps company policy should be better articulated by employees, if that is even in fact policy.
(2)
David F.
I've been to this place about 3 times since they opened, the most recent tonight and each time I have left unhappy due to poor service. The hostess was clueless and after informing her the party was 2 kids, 2 adults she didn't bring kids menus and crayons to the table. It took too long for our server to finally come by (and then disappear for a long time before returning with kids menus/crayons) and it wasn't busy or crowded. After receiving a desert menu and ordering Tiramisu it wasn't until everyone at the table had their desert when the waiter showed up to say they were out of tiramisu. Ordering the cheesecake it took another 10 minutes to be delivered the notice they were out of the cheesecake. And then after ordering a hot chocolate which I thought was pretty weak and bad I discovered when I got to the bottom they hadn't even taken the time to stir it, it was about 1/2 inch of pure hot chocolate powder at the bottom. Even 1 stir would have done better. So complete failure from beginning to end and multiple roles, hostess, waiter, cooks, and this is a Sat evening when you would think they would have their A-players working. Perhaps the last time I go as my other 2 times here wasn't much better in terms of quality and service. AND the main reason I am leaving this on YELP is because unlike a franchise interested in improving and hearing customer feedback, they offer no survey on their receipts or website. OK and one final thing, with all the issues and complaining about the quality of the hot chocolate, they still charged us for everything and offered no incentives to try to repair a bad experience.
(1)
Dee L.
Enjoyed eating out at Eggspectation in Gainesville! I ordered Eggs Benedict and others in my party ordered Mexican inspired dinners. All dishes were great! Service was prompt and courteous. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere with a lit fireplace. We will be returning soon!
(5)
Preston W.
Way overpriced for bland, non-seasoned food. I had the bacon omelet and my wife had a veggie burger. Mine had nothing on it other than egg and bacon (not the good bacon either, more like the kind you find pre-cooked in the supermarket), hers tasted like a frozen "Boca" burger from your grocer's freezer. Prices are way higher than expected for a cafe. I will say that it has a nice interior, but extremely loud due to the acoustics.
(2)
Kelana L.
I've been here several times now, probably about 4 or 5. I've found that they are kind of hit or miss. I can vouch for their fried potatoes, they are super yummy! The asparagus omelet is good, but the asparagus by itself as a side is horrible. They have a weird dish, grilled chicken and eggs your style, with potatoes, that was good. I had the eggs Benedict on crepes and that really didn't do it for me. The crepes themselves I find just a bit too dry and seem to be lacking something. Their cakes look divine, but the chocolate cake was rather wet and way too sweet. Almost like they soaked the cake in sugar syrup. Yuk! The Boston Creme Pie was alright but not nearly as tasty as it looked. The decor is very strange indeed and just isn't growing on me. We keep coming here because it's on the way home but I haven't found anything that they do very well so far. The ingredients do seem to be good quality, so it's either the recipes or the staff that don't pull it off. It's little difficult to justify the price too.
(2)
Pavee S.
Crab stack was good. Lumpy crab cake with roasted corn and fried green tomatoes.
(3)
Tan T.
Went here for breakfast on a Sunday morning expecting a crowd we were delighted to see that seats were avail! Ordered the Chesapeake Eggs Benedict. It was very tasty. Cooked very well. The service was good. Pricing was on the high side.
(3)
Julie N.
We took the kids here one sat afternoon. It was HORRIB LE. I cannot remember what everyone had nor do I want to. The food& service were just that bad. It was very expensive for what it was too. It was bad enough that I will never go back.
(1)
chris w.
Ill be honest, the food here is good, but nowhere near what they charge you. Over 5 bucks for a glass of OJ, 14 bucks for a burger with bleu cheese, and I can go on and on. Bottom line, not worth the price. Then theres their crazy view on coupons. No more than one coupon per table....which is fine...but our waiter must have stared at it reading the fine print for two minutes then had to go ask the manager to see if they woud accept it..... It was for a FREE drink with the mea! Another time I had a coupon for a 10% off the meal and again, the waitress studied it for a few minutes before having to ask the manager if they accept it. I look at this place as a more expensive version of Ruby Tuesdays's.
(2)
Caliope C.
We read a lot about good food, lousy service, but we had no problem. In fact our server, Ashton, was fantastic! We went in the evening, and I would say it's probably more of a brunch/lunch spot. It was comfortable and does have a full bar with TV, as well as some nice Happy Hour specials, so no need to rule it out for dinner. Mixed opinions on the food value, some thought a little pricey for the fare, but I don't mind paying a few dollars more if the food is good, and I don't need to feed an army with my plate. We tried... Two varieties of Eggs Benedict which were lovely, poached nicely. One very nice Shepherd's Pie (here is where the complaint on portion to price ratio was registered - flavor was really great, however). Our fourth diner's chicken and pasta dish (can't remember the exact name) was the only let down, though it probably would have made the cut if it had just been sauced. (This dish would lose them a half star if Yelp allowed it.) All in all, a nice meal, and I'll definitely give it another try when I'm in the area.
(4)
Wayne S.
$10.99 for an appetizer of Hot Wings? Are you freakin serious?
(2)
Joyce B.
Food very good, large portions, food came promptly. Service fair at best. Entree comes, waiters walk away without providing silverware to anyone at the table. 3 people ordered whole wheat bread for their breakfast. One basket came with 3 pieces of toast (6 half pieces). A little attempt would have been nice.... and perhaps they shouldn't sit people at tables without silverware set if they can not be attentive enough to bring without asking. 3 visits there, service satisfactory once... :(
(3)
Randy M.
Had a late breakfast here on Saturday. The place was very busy, but luckily there were a couple of open tables so no wait. The menu is fairly big, so we needed a few extra minutes to finish looking through it. Obviously the specialty is eggs, and they have a full page of Eggs Benedict variations, a full page of signature eggs dishes, and then all the typical breakfast items. I went with one of their omelets, which came with potatoes, fruit salad, and toast. The omelet was good but needed a dash of salt. I really liked the potatoes, they are thick cut and skillet fried. The fruit was ho hum. The toast was actually good also, but I was full and couldnt finish off every piece. The service was prompt and friendly, with a table visit by someone who appeared to be a manager. Lots of refill offers for the coffee. The food is expensive, for two it was $40, not what I'm looking to pay for a breakfast. But it's a nice change up to the regular breakfast joints available. I'll be interested to see how their non egg dinners/lunches measure up.
(4)
Jamison S.
Went to Eggspectations last evening for dinner. Got there early around 5, since we have 3 young kids. The only ones in the place for a little while. It is a full service restaurant, and provides "an all-day dining experience" serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a full service bar. Kids got pancakes, which they loved. Wife got a large chicken salad which she enjoyed. I got a seafood pasta dish they have with clams, mussels and shrimp and a house salad (comes with). Everything was very good except the mussels were cold. It was strange because they were cooked, but the shells were ice cold. So, later in the dinner when our waitress came and checked on us I mentioned it just as an fyi and wondered whether they were meant to be served cold. She checked with the cook and came back to inform us they were not, then went on to say the manager was going to send with us home a complete serving of the dish. Then the manager came over and appologized, said he would take my meal off the bill, plus send us home a meal. So, yeah it was a mistake but the customer service was excellent and the food overall seemed good. We will go back. It is nice inside, but the seating is a bit hard with non-cushioned chairs and benches and may become a bit noisy with a larger crowds as it has a concrete floor. There is a seperate room with a large screen tv to hold meetings or have a private party. It also looks as if there will be outside seating as the weather continues to get nicer.
(4)
Adrianna C.
Updated review - stick with breakfast and they are great! Wasn't a huge fan of their French toast. Or their lunch/dinner items. My advice is stick with their egg dishes and you can't go wrong. Omelettes are great. Their grilled breakfast burrito is my personal fave. Service is always great!
(4)
Dee C.
Went to ES for a few drinks and a quick app on Friday 6pm. We sat at the bar, service was terrible. In the 90mins we spend here we got served one drink each. Rest of the time we were ignored. My white wine was pretty warm. Very disappointing. We were 2 of 7 ppl sitting st the bar and everyone seemed frustrated with service. Pity cos the calamari was actually tasty.
(1)
Ken B.
I've been here many times and I have mixed feelings because sometimes it's really awesome and sometimes it's a disappointment. This is usually dependent upon the wait staff and where I am seated. For starters, they have a huge menu and most of the portions are very large. I love being able to get breakfast any time of day, so that's a bonus in my book. On the other hand sometimes I feel like the menu is too large and it makes choosing what to eat a headache. When I get my food I am almost always very satisfied. My personal favorites are the chicken & waffles, the Rueben, any of the burgers and almost everything from the breakfast menus. The wait staff is hit or miss. Sometimes we get really awesome service and other times it's sketchy. For the most part they do a decent job and I don't have any serious complaints. The decor of the place is cool and hip. The colors are blended well with the brick walls. I do have an issue with the seating. Some of the booths lack padding and others are like sitting on an uncomfortable wooden park bench. When I come with others they don't seem to mind, but I don't like it. Also in some of the padded booths the table feels too low to the ground so it feels like my food is a mile away. The restrooms are always clean and pleasant. They actually have some decent decor in there, unlike many businesses. Since they cook the food well and they have a big menu I will continue to return.
(4)
John D.
Visited twice last month. Food was not good. Steak was cold and fries cold. Have been there several times. Food is still bad. Not worth the time or money. Service is so so.
(2)
Brianne G.
Menu is great, however service, staff / management awful. I frequented this location 3 times, each time given excuses as to why the service was horrible, even though this location is always empty. Hey Management, Bad to the Bone (great barbecue restaurant) across the street in the Wegman's plaza is always busy and you guys are not. It's really not rocket science and my Eggspecations are not unrealistic. Train your employees and managers as to what great customer service is really all about and maybe your restaurant will fill up with people like some of the other locations.
(1)
Dave C.
My wife and I finally tried this place. She had the grilled burrito and I had the southwest sunrise omelette. I should not have put off coming to this place for so long. If you're in the mood for a hearty breakfast this is the place to go!
(5)
Colleen B.
I went in for breakfast and was blown away by the choices. The menu is massive, with each item sounding better than the next. The eggs came out perfect and the corn-beef and hash was to die for. I ordered the Belgium Waffles Page. I can honestly say I have never had waffles as delicious as these. They were light and fluffy and the fresh fruit topped it off. I ate every last bite. I was seated rather quickly for a Sunday morning. The staff was friendly and extremely fast. All said and done it was a pleasurable experience. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
Rick G.
They ran out of crepes, let me repeat that...they RAN OUT OF CREPES!! There is a whole menu section devoted to crepes...I was going to offer to show the kitchen how to make a crepe but decided to vent here instead. Incidentally, the place was empty....service was slow and the place was dirty.
(2)
Jeff R.
We were seated, then waited ten minutes to be greeted by a server. I'm not sure the hostess told anyone they had customers. We then waited another fifteen minutes for our complicated drink order (a soda AND a coffee. VERY time-consuming to produce, I'm sure). Meanwhile, all the tables around us were getting food and drinks and seemed to have actual servers assigned to their table. I would love to tell you how the "Heavenly Eggs" appetizer is - but the waitress decided that actually passing along our order to the kitchen was way too much work. We reminded her when she brought our lunch. "Oh. Want me to put it in now?" No. BECAUSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPETIZERS AND DESSERTS. My dining companion got a breakfast burrito. She liked it okay, and said the side order of sauce was tasty. I got the "Eggspectation Burger" and had to send it back. It wasn't so much meat as an enormous glob of grease. I couldn't even pick it up - it kept sliding out of my hands. I had them take it off my bill. In terms of responsiveness to our terrible experience - I mean...the manager apologized and offered us a few gift cards. I turned them down. I'm not one of those people looking for handouts - all I ask for is decent service and good food...ESPECIALLY when we're talking about a restaurant that peddles $20 omelettes. Also - where is the logic in that? You just ignored us, screwed up our order, and served us terrible food...YES PLEASE I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK! On the other hand, there were PLENTY of screaming children. Who needs dessert when you already have the icing on the cake? Anyway - avoid this place. Check out the Yorkshire Restaurant. Delicious food, attentive service, and a bill 25% that of Low Eggspectations.
(1)
Heidi H.
This place is amazing. My husband and I just found it. The service was great. The food came out quickly and was very good. It is much better for breakfast than dinner.
(5)
Sarah B.
We went to this restaurant for brunch for the first time on New Year's Day 2015. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and everyone was very friendly. Although the price was a little higher than we would normally expect to pay, the quality of the food was worth it. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. Sarah B. Gainesville, VA
So, I've been back a few more times while visiting my parents and I found new things to try. The first new thing I tried was... A NEW BARTENDER!! I think her name is Brittany. She's super cool, great convo and she makes the BEST drinks!! The second new thing I tried... HONEY OLD BAY WINGS!! They're very good. Crispy and saucy at the same time. Its kind of a bummer when the sauce makes a good wing soggy, but that isn't the case with these wings. GET THEM!! Even though I said the salmon was dry and tasteless last time, I got it again. What can I say? I'm a glutton... for punishment AND for food! This time, the server asked me how I wanted my salmon prepared, DUH! Why didn't I think of that the first time?! I asked for it to be prepared medium well and it came out perfect this time! I was most happy, and of course, the Caesar salad was delicious :-) The wings and Brittany alone are what makes this restaurant 3 stars instead of 2. Oh, and I forgot to mention the first time, the management is SUPER nice!! I don't know the manager's name, but EVERY time I've been there, he walked around and talked to customers, made sure meals were okay and assisted with any problem that was brought his way. Like I said in my last review, I'll most definitely be back because... well, I can walk here when I'm visiting my parents and can now stumble back to their house when Brittany is the bartender! :-)
(3)
Kimberly C.
If you want a decent meal without feeling like you're sitting in a total dive, say bye bye to IHOP and Denny's. This place is certainly pricier than those two, but not ridiculously so. Don't go there expecting Denny's prices, but consider this a once in a while breakfast treat. It's affordable enough. The portions are very generous, and the breakfast menu is truly endless. So many choices, I have yet to try everything I have an interest in. On my birthday, they brought me a huge plate of ornately decorated waffles with whip and berries and chocolate, on the house. Was delicious!!! Now, do I wish it were a little less expensive, absolutely. But it is a nice break from sketchy Manassas breakfast eateries.
(4)
Beth C.
This waitress is the Worst! Slow, slow, slow. I like the Dodd but the seating is so uncomfortable. It is clear that they don't want guests to longer
(2)
Karen D.
My family and I love this spot! A wonderful restaurant to have a delicious breakfast lunch or dinner (their pasta is awesome)! Family friendly and the staff is super friendly and efficient. Nate was our waiter last night and he took great care of us and further reminded me why we love this place! Highly recommend.
(5)
Matt H.
The food was very good. I ordered a grilled chicken salad with avocados and the chicken was hot off the grill, which is the only way I like grilled chicken salads. My oldest son liked the lobster pasta and my youngest really liked his pancakes. The service was slow, seemed a bit random at times, and getting drinks was like pulling teeth. Our waitress seemed like she was struggling, but not due to her own fault, so it was stressing her a bit. She remained calm and courteous and she was able to get back on track by the time we were done. Overall, the food was good, but the staff just needs organization and training.
(3)
Brooke O.
Fantastic , friendly, attentive wait staff. Food exquisite, generous portions, visually appealing. Huge menu that caters to every taste and budget. I am coming back here. This will be my Sunday hangout!
(5)
Scott H.
My wife and I used to frequent the Eggspectaton in Chantilly years ago, and still go from time to time. We love their high quality food and expansive menu. Yes, it's a bit pricy for "breakfast" - but this is a place where you have to set proper "Eggspectations". (See what I did there?) If you're looking for a cheap I-slop style of mom's greasy cholesterol killer breakfast - this isn't that kind of place. I really don't view them as a breakfast place, but a place that serves a lot of savory entrees with breakfast elements. They serve the same menu throughout the day, so you can get whatever you want, whenever you want. The wife and I got a coupon clipper for $10 off a $30 meal the Gainesville location and figured this one was about as close as the Chantilly spot, so we gave it a shot. I had seen the poor reviews of the Gainesville location in comparison to the Chantilly site, and had some trepidation. However, at the end the wife and I thought we might like this one better. They have a large selection of specials here, and we went with the fried pickles app from the specials menu to start. (Fried pickles for breakfast? Why not?) Draft beer selection here is existent, but not noteable. They have a few of the typical NASCAR beers, Yuengling, Sam Adams, Fat Tire, DBB Vienna, and Goose Island IPA. Having spent the previous day at a beer festival, I passed on the brew and went for coffee. I had two cafe au laits - served a bit different from the Chantilly site, but still great - and the wife had 2 glasses of apple juice. For entrees, the wife got her standard "Yolk Around The Clock' and I went back to the specials menu and went for the Lobster Grits. These were wonderful - the cheese grits were nice and creamy and the lobster was very sweet and tasty. The red peppers and scallions added an nice touch to the dish. I ordered a side of their awesome potatoes to dip in the grits, just because I can. My wife's go to was just as it always is at the Chantilly site. No complaints on the food. The only weak spot was that food came out just a tad slow, but the service was spot on. At the end, the bill was $60 for 2 - yes, that's pricy for breakfast, but for a nice meal, and what we got, I was pleased - especially after adding the $10 off. So keep sending me those coupons, and the wife and I will be back.
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
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Address :8058 Crescent Park Dr
Gainesville, VA, 20155
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
tom j.
Wow. It's amazing how people's perspective can differ so much. I had never gone here before due to bad reviews and what seemed to me to be too high of prices. But we wanted to try a different place for weekend breakfast, so we came here. So glad we did. Was very impressed...a much nicer physical place than I had expected, including the existence of a long bar. And a HUGE menu, not just eggs at all. Specialty sandwiches, burgers, salads, appetizers, crepes (savory and sweet), steaks, pastas...you name it. We had breakfast items - eggs benedict with crab, eggs/Canadian bacon and French toast. All perfectly cooked and tasted, the French toast especially was nice - very light and fluffy, not too filling. And an additional appreciated touch - my cappucinno was served in a ceramic coffee cup, the way it is supposed to be. Hate these yuppie places who put them in tall clear glass containers. I went back a couple of days later for dinner. Sat in a dining area next to a fireplace, which was great on a cold evening. Generally enjoyed the meal...especially my appetizer, bruchetta. I don't know what it is abut most restaurants around here, but they can NOT make it, always have to tart it up so it's no longer bruchetta. Amazingly, here, it was real, basic, true Italian, and very good. I had the steak frites, which was fine. Though I would have thought a French Canadian chain would make thinner and crisper French fries. If they made a specialty of them, I could see people coming to sit at the bar just to eat fries. The bad part of the dinner: the wife ordered stroganoff...the beef and noodles that came out were fine, but it was NOT stroganoff. Bottom line, it IS a bit pricey, especially for breakfast (we paid $50+ with tip) - a diner it is not - but well worth an occasional visit.
(4)Jen B.
Terrible service. We ( 2 adult and a child) came in at 2 pm on a Monday ( hardly a rush). The server told us to have our pick of places to sit, say us in a booth and seemed to forget about us. We waited 20 mn before a manager came and took our order. Appetizer delivered without plates. I had to go to the bar and request them. Food on the adult menu is great. Child's hamburger tasted like burned sub par meat. Will not return.
(2)Rory K.
Disappointing third visit. Service painfully slow and order was not done correctly.
(2)Kelly H.
I'm actually surprised by all the negative reviews this place has, I really enjoy Eggspectations! It definitely can get very busy, especially on Sunday mornings, but that is to be expected. Everyone is always super friendly and professional, the food is delicious and tends to come out pretty quickly and they even have great, affordable happy hours! Definitely give it a chance before reading all these reviews, you might be pleasantly surprised!
(4)Clay M.
Eggspectation is perfect for breakfast with a wide range of foods. Their eggs are good and the other items are just as pleasant to eat. Decor is wonderful and service is too. I'm surprised that there are so many bad reviews, because the food was actually very good. This is a great breakfast choice.
(5)Kenzie R.
Server was absolutely wonderful and nice, but the food was terrible. Friends got a BLT and the lettuce was old, the bacon was burnt to crisp, even the French fries were cold... Don't waste your time coming here.
(3)Desi W.
Since I normally go to the Silver Spring location, I figured I try an impromptu road trip to another location. This place was not crowded at all. (much different from Silver Spring) The waiter was great, very professional, friendly and accommodating. The coffee we originally had was stale and he brewed us a fresh pot. AWESOME! Only downside was the Frittata I ordered. It was not a frittata but a egg scramble. They should take this option off the menu. But for a egg scramble it was tasty.
(3)Rando J.
Just went here for the first time hoping to have some poached eggs. Overall the meal had no redeeming qualities. The toast was cold and overcooked, the chicken tasted like charcoal, the portions were tiny, everything is $5 more than it should be, and worst of all my poached eggs were so overcooked they could have been soft-boiled. I normally don't complain in restaurants but the eggs really were the final straw, seeing as how it's the name of the restaurant.. So I told the waitress and she said she'd take it off the bill (I didn't eat any of it.) I explained and she even commented that the yolks weren't runny like they should be. Then the manager came over and said something about how the sauce wasn't 'what [i] expected' which felt like she was trying to shift it on me. I know what I ordered and while the sauce was pretty bad, my issue was with the eggs. I told her that, and when the waitress brought the bill we noticed they only comp'd us $10, not the $17 the meal costs. All in all the service was alright and the decor is nice, but if you want a good amount of quality food for a good price go anywhere but here. Even the mediocre "Mimi's Cafe" down the street has better eggs benedict for a better price than this place. Oh and the lettuce in the salad was wilted and tasted funky. And it cost me $3 more to switch the potatoes for that.
(1)Neal E.
Been looking forward to trying out an Eggspectation for a while now - I've seen the one over in Chantilly but never tried it. I ordered the "Eggsuberant" - which is a couple of pancakes, two eggs, your choice of meat (I selected turkey bacon), and potatoes, plus a couple of tomato slices (heated up) and some pieces of fruit (melon and red grapes). I ordered the eggs medium. And a cup of coffee. I also ordered a side of the corned beef hash - hoping for something good. The place was pretty busy on a Sunday morning - this is a very new restaurant and I believe has been open about 3 weeks or so. My food came out quickly - I was immediately disappointed by the side of corned beef hash - looks like (and tasted as well) processed, canned corned beef hash. The eggs were cooked just as I ordered, the pancakes and turkey bacon were average, the potatoes were crisp and very good. The coffee was good and the cups are larger than many places - so less refills! Service was good as well. Kind of pricey for breakfast though - with tip - I paid $23.40 for a rather average breakfast.
(3)Big J.
I don't get the vitriol towards Eggspectation in Gainesville. Listen, as someone who grew up in NYC, you can say that my family and I are food snobs. We just moved in the area and have been to Eggspectation about 4 times in the past 2 months or so (only for breakfast). EVERYTHING has been fantastic. My wife had runny scrambled eggs the first time we came, but after specifying exactly how she wanted them in the times that we've been since, all meals have come out the way we've wanted. Just be specific as far as how you want your food. Simple as that. I really like the place and will be back.
(4)Laura F.
Unimpressed! We went around brunch on a Sunday so there was a short wait - no problem! We were seated to a wet table and benches with no silverware. The server came and apologized for the delay and then came back for drink orders. He didn't know the day's specials but said he would check. He returned to ask what we wanted to order and then half-way mentioned that his paper got wet and he didn't know our drink order and we'd have to tell him again and he still didn't know the specials! I said no lemon with my tea, I got 4 - not a great start! Two different times the food runners tried to bring us someone else's order and were puzzled when we said it wasn't ours. We got our food. Fair, palatable, but nothing special, especially $10 pancakes and an extra $3 for fruit instead of their "wonderful" (not!) potatoes. Their "signature" omelette was ok but again nothing spectacular. Drink refills were hard to get, the server seemed like it was his first day! The manager checked our table a few ones and pointed to the server about empty drinks but the manager never came over to ask how anything was, etc., like most restaurants - heck even Denny's does!! Overall not impressed at all. $52 for 3 people for a breakfast you could get at a diner. I'll have to think long and hard about eating here EVER again!
(1)steve g.
I have eaten at Eggspectations a handful of times since it has opened. It is a nice restaurant to dine at. I do notice that it has gotten much better than the first few times I ate here. The service is much better and the food is much better as well. I would not hesitate to go back. My favorite dish is the french toast. I also like the construction pancake as it comes with a ton of bacon.
(5)John G.
I visited this place today for the first time. It was 10:45am on a Friday. Not crowded. We were seated immediately. The prices are on the high side for breakfast and lunch in my opinion. I got the Grill Chicken Sandwich and an Ice Tea. $9.99 for the sandwich. It was ok. A little dry. Nothing to write home about and clearly nothing to wow me. It was a thin breast. The bread was more like toast. No mayo which I thought was odd. Will I go back? I see no reason too, really. The drink specials are pretty attractive though, but it didn't seem like it would be a "happening place" in the evenings, but I could be wrong. Draft beer for 2 bucks. Rail drinks for 3.95. I might try it one more time with my wife, but when it happens, it happens. No rush.
(3)Food L.
I love the menu selection, I always have awesome bloody Mary's with very friendly service all in all one of my favorite regular stops!! And I never have to wait for a table love it
(4)Arlene T.
If you love poached eggs or eggs benedict you will love this place. Try the smoked salmon eggs benedict. Yum I also tried their tuna salad which was okay. I didnt care for their deviled eggs. I make a bomb *** tray of them. Service was good. They are a little pricey for breakfast but it is more gourmet and not a cheap cafe. Definitely will go back, but only when i am craving them.
(4)Sandie L.
I wouldn't recommend for meals other than "breakfast meals". We just spent $50 for two pasta dishes that were mediocre at best. The Lobster Mac and Cheese is simply penne with a splash of Alfredo, a couple of tomatoes and some sparsely shredded cheese barely melted on top with what appeared to be lobster that looked as though it had been chewed and spit back out! When it arrived i inquired about the garlic crostini and was offered white, wheat or rye. They apparently didn't have the item as described or pictured in the menu. The Mr had the Land and Sea Pasta. They must have been out of Alfredo after preparing my pasta so he received a greasy lemon butter. The shrimp seemed to boiled and were tasteless except for the grease of the lemon butter. Neither dish was seasoned.
(2)Marti B.
Eggs is eggs whichever one you go to, you can expect the same menu and similar drink. The difference here is the staff and the atmosphere they create. Sing us a song you're the piano man. Sing us a song tonight. Winner
(5)Iain B.
My wife had been here a week prior with my mother and as a result of their experience she walked out with a coupon for a free smoothie... We also had a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of 2 entrees. Since we had the coupons to use we went there to get a bite to eat on Sunday afternoon around 3pm. First of all....looking at the prices on the menu I was pretty shocked. Everything is expensive. Everything. But, if it's good then it's worth it... My wife ordered the Banango smoothie which was actually very good. I'm not entirely sure if it is "$6.50 good"...but it was very good. My wife had the mushroom, cheddar and green onion omelette and I had the Yoke Around the Clock. When our entrees came out mine was just glistening in oil/grease. It was pretty repulsive. Now I'm well aware that cheddar cheese isn't known for it's melting qualities but it might not have been so bad if the cheese wasn't such crappy quality. It was obviously processed and in slices like kraft. I peeled it off into a pile (see the pic I uploaded) and ate the rest of my plate. The bacon was pretty good as were the eggs but the bagel was your basic generic, mass produced sysco-quality bagel and it wasn't even toasted... When my wife cut into her omelette it was apparent that they used the exact same crappy cheese in her omelette, square slices and all. It was a giant clumpy mass of oily, cheap cheese running through the middle of her omelette. She was practically able to pull it all out in one piece. She did like the green onions and there were nice, big slices of mushrooms in the omelette. So basically our meals were perfectly fine except for the disgusting cheese they use. If you are going to charge $13.50 for a bagel sandwich and $10 for an omelette you can swing a decent quality cheese or at least shred it so it doesn't come out looking like leftovers from McDonald's. On the way out we chose a piece of their cheesecake for our freebie. We ate it at home and it was good. All the cakes in the case looked really nice...but considering the corners they cut I'm sure they are brought in. Service was good, the waitress brought me more soda before my current one was empty. The smoothie and cheese cake saved them from a 2-star rating. I don't really see a reason to go back unless I can trick someone else into paying. tl;dr - over-priced, crappy cheese, good smoothies, good cheesecake
(3)Mark M.
I do not like chains, but I thought the quality of food was good. We had the chicken quesadillas and I had a vege omelette. Service was attentive and excellent. I recommend it
(4)Local D.
Only giving 3 stars because the holindase sauce really is amazing. One issue with it is that the menu insinuates it is made on site but I have spoken to the manager and was told they get it already made. My biggest complaint is if you are charging 15 bucks for breakfast then do please hire a chef that can properly poach an egg. Eggs Benedict should have an amazing poached egg the has perfectly running egg yolks. More than once I have a received what can only be compared to a hard boiled egg. The manager has told me I need to order very soft poached egg. This is a hit or miss because the whites can be wayyyy undercooked. The potatos are tasty and I normally don't like potatoes Staff and managers very accommodating
(3)Katherine P.
I visited this location 3 times in the past week, twice for breakfast, and once for dinner. My final judgment: Awesome for breakfast, but meh for dinner, which really doesn't surprise me. They have a huge breakfast menu, and the service and ambiance were really nice at breakfast time. The food was prompt, and delicious, much better than any of the other chains in the area that do breakfast. I'd give the place 5 stars just for breakfast alone. Problem is, we tried it for dinner too Dinner was a little busier, but we had a clueless waitress. I asked if they had any microbrews on tap, and she didn't know what a microbrew was. She checked with the bar and I was happy to find they do have one on tap, but getting her to bring me one was a chore, and it only showed up when I was halfway through my dinner. One of the other people in our party tried the cheesesteak sandwich, which is his barometer for restaurant quality, and it was nothing to write home about. My chicken with crab cake was alright. I would definitely come here again, but only at breakfast, or breakfast-for-dinner.
(3)Mark O.
It is rare when I get a breakfast out better than what I can make at home. Eggspectation in Gainesville is no exception to this rule. Absolutely an alarmingly mediocre omelette and even worse I had to send the first one back as it was seriously undercooked. An omelette is supposed to be folded and fluffy with the ingredients/fillings inside. What I was served was more of a flat, flavorless scramble formed into the shape of an omelette. The coffee was good though.
(1)Tony D.
It's tricky describing a place that has an extensive, varied menu, featuring a number of enjoyable options, that I'll likely never visit again. Our area is filled with low-cost breakfast options, from IHOP to Bob Evans to Cracker Barrel, and, compared to these, the prices at Eggspectation are nearly twice as high! Is the food better? Possibly, but it's not a given. Is the ambiance an improvement? Well, it's noticeably less crowded - we were there on a Sunday morning - than the other options, so it does feel markedly less frantic. The big question - in light of this, is it worth the extra money? I'd have to say that it's not. Every once in a while, we're looking for something a little nicer than those three low-cost options, and, from the local choices, we've looked to Mimi's. Eggspectation could certainly be on that list, but you better be looking to spend $15-20 per person on breakfast, or else you'll be in for some sticker shock...
(3)Carol D.
My husband and I visited this restaurant twice within one month for dinner. I purchased Groupons for it. Both times we have had fantastic meals. The Ahi Tuna salad was terrific, chicken club and burger were also top shelf. It is a very comfy atmosphere inside, great lighting, fireplace was going and wait staff was quick and attentive. Each time we were there, the manager went table to table checking in with guests making sure they had no complaints. Don't let the name fool you, this isn't just a breakfast place, try it in the evening for dinner you'll be pleasantly surprised.
(5)JeanneMarie A.
Ok here we go people Eggspectation, my husband would never leave me unless he was offered eggs for every meal personally I could care less about eggs but off we go to satisfy his cravings. The place is very clean and not noisy the reason it is not noisy is because the two times I have been in there it was empty not a good sign in my book. But regardless we sit and check out the menu loads of things to choose from a bit too many. The prices are insane way to expensive I was ready to bolt but I thought ok maybe with such high prices the food will be outstanding. Well not so much as others have said it is just ok, the first time I ordered an omelet which I could make better at home the home fries were underwhelming the fruit not ripe my husband ordered eggs over easy ok just eggs whatever with coffee juice the bill was over $30. The second time a friend of mine wanted to go out to eat we are so tired of the few restaurants in the Gainesville and Haymarket area we decide to check it out again hey we had that coupon for $10 off so why not. She ordered crêpes and water she offered for me to try hers I begged off at the site of them. I went all out as I had a dreadful week and ordered the eggs benedict with crabmeat I figured if I buy the most expensive thing on the menu which was about $18 if memory serves me it should be awesome. I was very specific on how I wanted my eggs cooked, hard whites runny yokes one was done correctly the other was not, the dish was not hot not cold just there I was surprised however that there was a good amount of crabmeat. I also ordered a mocha coffee which was almost $4 this came in a tiny cup and was almost stone cold and way to sweet, considering I love sweet things I was shocked that even I found it gross that is really a feat in itself. Our mistake was asking for separate bills do not do this if you want the $10 off if you buy over $30 they will not give it to you. I have to say though with all the bad things about this place the manager was really very nice as was the server when asked he changed our bills and gave us the discount. So if they would scale down this menu maybe they would be able to focus on outstanding food when you are an "egg restaurant" you really need to make outstanding eggs as it is the easiest thing for a consumer to do at home, with a sad face I will not return to this establishment
(2)Kim O.
Purchased Groupon 15.00 for 30.00 worth of food. I had 4 people eating at my table. When the bill came it was around 69.00. When the clerk applied my groupon the check came back at around 51.00. I know I'm no math wizard but, this total is definitely NOT 30.00 off of the previous price. When I looked closer I seen that gratuity had been added in. So that's the catch I see! If I use the groupon I'm automatically charged gratuity doesn't matter how many people in my party. So in end this groupon is void from the beginning. Sad that I was taken like this. I purchased 2 of these "15.00 for 30.00" vouchers. I will let the other one expire & not return. It's cheaper that way.
(1)Craig M.
Time to update. We have been here more times than I can count, but there has been a bit of an evolution here that might make some consider a revisit. There has clearly been a focus on attentive service, and I find the service to be prompt, caring and responsive, particularly to dietary modifications. They are very willing to modify items. Significantly better than 2 years ago in this area. The management appears to be listening to the feedback, and the newer faces working there are great. the place has started to fill up a bit since we first went there, so they must be on the right track. The menu is huge,and they have put out some seasonal menus and items which are spectacular. My wife really enjoyed the apple topped Pork Chop last night. I continue to work my way through the menu, and have not gotten bored. It is nice to be able to get a decent omelet in the evening if you want, but I am not really a breakfast guy, so may of my friends are surprised I frequent here so often, because the name is so misleading. Many have commented about the prices. maybe it is a NOVA thing now , tolls and food cost vary by time and volume. At peak periods the price is about 15% higher than a typical fast casual, but I focus on value. the ingredient are quality name brands (listed in the menu) and the portion is large. The staff is quite friendly f you are a senior couple and wish to share an entree, I can attest to that. My younger (30's) nephew describes his visits with us there as "filling" and that boy can eat ! Now off peak there is the considerably discounted "happy Hour" offers in the lounge, the small plate / starters are extensive and can make a dinner. coupons offering $10 off or $15 for 30 can be found easily by search, I get some of mine in the coupon mailer, and Citi-rewards. Of course if price alone is what gets you going, there is discount calories up the road on the Dollar Menu. For me taste does count a bit Very much worth a second look, particularly if you are a larger group/ family with diverse tastes. Note: I rarely give a 5 star, for that it has to be an incredible experience on repeat visits.
(4)Hien N.
I went here because I had a Groupon for $30 worth of dinner. When I walked in, the place was dimly lit and there were books scattered everywhere for decoration. It seemed like they were trying to have a rustic look but the decor was random and old (dusty). I bought the Breton Benedict (crepes and poached eggs). The crepes were dry on the edges and had a rubbery texture. The potatoes were seasoned well and were probably the best things on the plate. My friends ordered the Eggsuberent. The dishes had nothing special about them, just eggs, meat, pancakes, and potatoes. The syrup had this metallic taste to it since it was served in a small metal container. Overall, the food was alright and overpriced. I would only go if I had a Groupon.
(2)Bil G.
You know you're in trouble when the restaurant can't even get the recipe right for eggs Benedict. I have told them until I'm blue in the face that eggs Benedict does NOT have cheese on it but they say well you can just tell us to leave it off. The service is usually slow and the food is rather ho hum. I sure wouldn't go out of my way to visit the place but if I'm close by then I MIGHT go in. Their cakes aren't very good so I usually don't get dessert.
(2)carol g.
The menu is huge (too big) but you can get anything at any time. Went for dinner because of the Groupon, which required after 3pm visit. Burger was good. Dessert was horrible. I thought that the carrot cake would be good because they display beautiful cakes in the front of the store.... But I was WRONG. Stick to what you know they would be able to make fresh.
(3)Rob E.
Every time we've come, the orders have been wrong. But oddly, this doesn't happen at the other locations. Avoid Gainesville if you can.
(1)Andrea F.
We stop by here pretty frequently since we take karate at Twin Dragon, in the same shopping center. I rarely ever have any issues with my food, though there are a couple of items I won't get again. The Nicoise salad was a big disappointment, though I've enjoyed every other salad I've had. The one beef burger I tried didn't taste that great either. Overall, it's good for a chain. I feel the prices are on par with the quality of the ingredients.
(4)Suellen H.
We used to be fans of this restaurant, but the prices are just not worth it, even if you get a Groupon or try to do half price appetizers or kids eat free, they no longer let you combine any of these so it's just too much to pay $14 for eggs. Groupon should be a method of payment and kids eat free brings families in on slow Monday nights, unfortunately they've made it so it's cost prohibitive for most families to eat here at all. We won't be back.
(1)Ian N.
This is definitely a nice place, and the service is pretty good. The food is a little pricey, but this is an upscale restaurant. The reason for my low score is that they are not honest. I just took a look at my receipt from a couple weeks ago, and realized I was charged for something I did not order. When we ate at that time, we informed them we were in a hurry, and they accommodated us. What I did not know when I paid, was that I was charged for a bellini. I don't even know what a bellini is until I just googled it... a sparkling wine peach cocktail. My wife and I have never drank a bellini in our lives, but there it is on my receipt, "1 BELLINI 6.99". They took advantage of the fact that we were trying to get a quick meal, though this is probably my fault for trusting them. My wife really likes their eggs benedict, so we will probably be back. But I will make sure to double check my bill every time I eat here, and I suggest you do too.
(1)Nicole A.
There is nothing good about this place. I really don't know how they are still in business, because everyone I've talked to about it has the same negative impression. The food just isn't good. I always give places a couple chances before I write them off, and I gave this one 3 and it wasn't good any of the times we went.
(1)Jill B.
I wish I could give half stars. It was better than a 3 but not QUITE a 4. I'll come back and update one way or the other after the next visit... The menu IS huge! I'm sad I only got to try one thing. Lots of promise! Started with a glass of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice - while good, it was COMPLETELY overpriced. Maybe people don't notice? We did find it odd that a fairly breakfast oriented place was missing some common items for such a large menu, one of which was a mimosa. Luckily we didn't want one anyway. ;-) Service was great - guess we got lucky, based on what some of the other reviewers have said. Now to the food itself... I ordered the bacon and cheddar omelet. When I first bit into it I couldn't find the cheese. I thought it was dry. Maybe that's why there's ketchup at every table? Overall it was okay, but not great. So I spent my time drooling over what my companions had ordered and raved about - the Yoke Around the Clock and the Eggwhat. Well, better luck for me next time I suppose... I can't complain too much, although it was overpriced, I left completely full. We never would've made it through an appetizer AND lunch or lunch AND dessert. Hoping whatever I order next time is better... and there will definitely be a next time!
(3)Justin C.
Ok so I'm back in VA for the holidays to hang with my friends and family. Decided to stop in for lunch. I ordered a smoked salmon plate and it was awesome. Food-wise it's great but service makes up for most of my experience so thats why I am giving it 2 stars again.... I mean seriously... the service is a joke. I had no refills on my drink after I finished it the first 10 minutes of sitting down. It was a slow day, our server only had 2 tables and for some reason we got no attention. I even overheard the female in the table next to us say "Whos the waiter for that table, I haven't seen anyone come by to talk to them yet". I'm very social and I've been all over the country so maybe my reviews of the service here are skewed since I am comparing them to my entire life dining experience... maybe for Gainesville-lians it's awesome but not for me. If you want my tip money show me you worked for it... Don't just drop off my drinks, food, and expect me to give more than 15%. I did tip 20% because I felt bad, out server looked like she woke up in a trailer. Check up on me and my date, check up on my satisfaction of the place, REFILL MY DRINK, Stop flirting with your co-workers! Definitely one of the slowest service I've ever had in any restaurant in my life. They need to STOP hiring servers out of Culpepper, and Manassas. I'm not kidding and I'm not trying to be rude but it's so true.
(2)Alan B.
Came on fathers day and there was a huge wait. We sat at the bar with one of the friendliest bartenders. He got made that our food took 35 minutes to come out( 2 eggs and bacon and an omelette) that he fully compt our meal. He was grey the food was good and we were just so relaxed because we knew the our server was worrying about the food for us that made us know that we were getting taken care of.
(4)Kylie H.
One because you have to.... Slowest service in town and almost $60 for a French dip and bagel n lox with two sodas and tip. They are sooooooooo expensive!!! $15 for bagel n lox? Déjà Brew in Dominion Valley has a better bagel n lox for somewhere around 7.50. I just don't get their prices....happy hour drink prices are ok...manager was gracious and apologetic when it took over 1/2 hour to get these two items out on a weekday with two tables in the dining room. If ur independently wealthy and have time to kill...go for it!
(1)Alexandra E.
I've been here about 3 times and I've decided not to go back. It is the epitome of bland, average food. I've had the bacon cheddar burger, the Grilled Honey-Orange-Mustard Chicken Burger, pancakes, and coconut cake. Honestly, it's dull. I'm not a big crepe person, but I've heard they're good. I gave their special juices a try- the berry berry one in particular- and it tasted like normal cranberry juice. Am I missing something? The service has always been good but the ambiance is questionable. I guess it's just not the first restaurant that comes to mind when I want to have an enjoyable, relaxing meal. When the food comes, I'm not disappointed, yet not excited. It's on the more expensive side, so I expect more than what it being served.
(2)Michael M.
Everything was good from the food to the service. I had the "fruit stack" which is pancakes layered with blueberries, strawberries, and bananas with a sweet cream on it. Tasted great. The menu is a little pricey but the food is tasty. I'll definitely return.
(4)Jade T.
We ended up going here because the restaurant we were planning on going to was closed. We never think about places being closed on a Monday... Anyway, Eggspectations was okay. Food was surprisingly good. What I didn't like was that they brought my kids food out way before ours. They were finished by the time my husband and I got ours. They may have been short a server because ours was very nice but struggling to keep up with all her tables and she was working both the busy bar side and the restaurant side. The only thing I didn't care for about our server is that she made a comment about what my child was drinking (mountain dew) and said she would water it down (then added just kidding). I don't like comments about what we order. I'm sure we will go back but won't be in a rush to go again.
(3)Ginger A.
Hubby and I went again tonight because we had a $20 Groupon. Well lucky us! They just started doing $5 burgers on Wednesday! So so so good. My husband had the veggie burger, I had two eggs, grilled tomatoes, and grilled potatoes. The burger came with fries and the burger was one of the best veggie burgers ever. We also each had the house salad. Philip was our server in the bar tender, and was totally one of the best servers we've had there. My opinion has changed! Will definitely start going for $5 burgers on Wednesday!
(4)Spencer A.
Mentally challenged staff, hit and miss food. Expensive eggs.
(2)Rick A.
This our only visit to Eggspectation, so they may have a shot again. Based on that visit, the review may change. The reason for the introduction is that the Manager did her best in fixing the issues. To start, we had BAD service. Slow on getting drinks, not getting drinks, no return visits. We also got the wrong orders. This is where the Manager suggested it was a kitchen error, so, we may not lay all the blame on the waitress. The food by concept is great, but by delivery it fails. Again,,,, is it a kitchen issue? Poorly executed preparation can destroy anything. Really though, is it hard to cook an egg hard and not runny? Eggspectation is what it is. A franchise eatery. Concept is great, but the execution this time was off. I will assume that it will be a hit or miss for most, based on poor quality control in the kitchen.
(2)Bill M.
What is this the food is okay but one stand out was the potatoes very good.
(2)Sarah L.
This is my first official Yelp review, despite having said for years that I was going write reviews upon leaving restaurants, either for exceptional or poor service. But tonight finally moved me to action. My husband, I, and our two young children went to the Gainesville Eggspectation for dinner with a Groupon that was set to expire soon. We also chose this evening because we knew they run a Monday 'Kid's Eat Free' deal. And while we did anticipate some pushback from our server when we asked if we could use the Groupon in combination with the kids' special, we figured it was worth a try. Neither the Groupon or advertisement for 'Kid's Eat Free' stipulated that they could not be used in combination. Plus, I tend to look at the Groupon more as a cash value. Nonetheless, I was not surprised when our waiter said that we could not use both. I was taken aback though when he explained that the reasoning was because "patrons only tip on the total of the final bill" and that he would be further shorted on his tip if they allowed both. I have to admit that I took this as a personal insult almost, implying that WE would not account for his gratuity at the pre-discounted total. I have NEVER shorted a waiter by tipping anything less than 20+% of the pre-discounted total. I would have to imagine that management would not appreciate his explanation as well. I have read the less than favorable reviews of this location: Overpriced (Yes, but for a chain, at least it offers some interesting options that you won't get at other brass and glass chains.), Slow/Poor Service (We have not experienced either. In fact on our first visit, we were impressed that our waitress sought out management approval to honor a Groupon that stipulated it be used after 3pm, when we came for lunch and hadn't realized that it was specifically for dinner.) The food is consistent and portions plentiful. I just don't think that justification for not honoring two "specials" should be that our adolescent waiter thinks he might get shorted $3, when quite the opposite is true. Perhaps company policy should be better articulated by employees, if that is even in fact policy.
(2)David F.
I've been to this place about 3 times since they opened, the most recent tonight and each time I have left unhappy due to poor service. The hostess was clueless and after informing her the party was 2 kids, 2 adults she didn't bring kids menus and crayons to the table. It took too long for our server to finally come by (and then disappear for a long time before returning with kids menus/crayons) and it wasn't busy or crowded. After receiving a desert menu and ordering Tiramisu it wasn't until everyone at the table had their desert when the waiter showed up to say they were out of tiramisu. Ordering the cheesecake it took another 10 minutes to be delivered the notice they were out of the cheesecake. And then after ordering a hot chocolate which I thought was pretty weak and bad I discovered when I got to the bottom they hadn't even taken the time to stir it, it was about 1/2 inch of pure hot chocolate powder at the bottom. Even 1 stir would have done better. So complete failure from beginning to end and multiple roles, hostess, waiter, cooks, and this is a Sat evening when you would think they would have their A-players working. Perhaps the last time I go as my other 2 times here wasn't much better in terms of quality and service. AND the main reason I am leaving this on YELP is because unlike a franchise interested in improving and hearing customer feedback, they offer no survey on their receipts or website. OK and one final thing, with all the issues and complaining about the quality of the hot chocolate, they still charged us for everything and offered no incentives to try to repair a bad experience.
(1)Dee L.
Enjoyed eating out at Eggspectation in Gainesville! I ordered Eggs Benedict and others in my party ordered Mexican inspired dinners. All dishes were great! Service was prompt and courteous. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere with a lit fireplace. We will be returning soon!
(5)Preston W.
Way overpriced for bland, non-seasoned food. I had the bacon omelet and my wife had a veggie burger. Mine had nothing on it other than egg and bacon (not the good bacon either, more like the kind you find pre-cooked in the supermarket), hers tasted like a frozen "Boca" burger from your grocer's freezer. Prices are way higher than expected for a cafe. I will say that it has a nice interior, but extremely loud due to the acoustics.
(2)Kelana L.
I've been here several times now, probably about 4 or 5. I've found that they are kind of hit or miss. I can vouch for their fried potatoes, they are super yummy! The asparagus omelet is good, but the asparagus by itself as a side is horrible. They have a weird dish, grilled chicken and eggs your style, with potatoes, that was good. I had the eggs Benedict on crepes and that really didn't do it for me. The crepes themselves I find just a bit too dry and seem to be lacking something. Their cakes look divine, but the chocolate cake was rather wet and way too sweet. Almost like they soaked the cake in sugar syrup. Yuk! The Boston Creme Pie was alright but not nearly as tasty as it looked. The decor is very strange indeed and just isn't growing on me. We keep coming here because it's on the way home but I haven't found anything that they do very well so far. The ingredients do seem to be good quality, so it's either the recipes or the staff that don't pull it off. It's little difficult to justify the price too.
(2)Pavee S.
Crab stack was good. Lumpy crab cake with roasted corn and fried green tomatoes.
(3)Tan T.
Went here for breakfast on a Sunday morning expecting a crowd we were delighted to see that seats were avail! Ordered the Chesapeake Eggs Benedict. It was very tasty. Cooked very well. The service was good. Pricing was on the high side.
(3)Julie N.
We took the kids here one sat afternoon. It was HORRIB LE. I cannot remember what everyone had nor do I want to. The food& service were just that bad. It was very expensive for what it was too. It was bad enough that I will never go back.
(1)chris w.
Ill be honest, the food here is good, but nowhere near what they charge you. Over 5 bucks for a glass of OJ, 14 bucks for a burger with bleu cheese, and I can go on and on. Bottom line, not worth the price. Then theres their crazy view on coupons. No more than one coupon per table....which is fine...but our waiter must have stared at it reading the fine print for two minutes then had to go ask the manager to see if they woud accept it..... It was for a FREE drink with the mea! Another time I had a coupon for a 10% off the meal and again, the waitress studied it for a few minutes before having to ask the manager if they accept it. I look at this place as a more expensive version of Ruby Tuesdays's.
(2)Caliope C.
We read a lot about good food, lousy service, but we had no problem. In fact our server, Ashton, was fantastic! We went in the evening, and I would say it's probably more of a brunch/lunch spot. It was comfortable and does have a full bar with TV, as well as some nice Happy Hour specials, so no need to rule it out for dinner. Mixed opinions on the food value, some thought a little pricey for the fare, but I don't mind paying a few dollars more if the food is good, and I don't need to feed an army with my plate. We tried... Two varieties of Eggs Benedict which were lovely, poached nicely. One very nice Shepherd's Pie (here is where the complaint on portion to price ratio was registered - flavor was really great, however). Our fourth diner's chicken and pasta dish (can't remember the exact name) was the only let down, though it probably would have made the cut if it had just been sauced. (This dish would lose them a half star if Yelp allowed it.) All in all, a nice meal, and I'll definitely give it another try when I'm in the area.
(4)Wayne S.
$10.99 for an appetizer of Hot Wings? Are you freakin serious?
(2)Joyce B.
Food very good, large portions, food came promptly. Service fair at best. Entree comes, waiters walk away without providing silverware to anyone at the table. 3 people ordered whole wheat bread for their breakfast. One basket came with 3 pieces of toast (6 half pieces). A little attempt would have been nice.... and perhaps they shouldn't sit people at tables without silverware set if they can not be attentive enough to bring without asking. 3 visits there, service satisfactory once... :(
(3)Randy M.
Had a late breakfast here on Saturday. The place was very busy, but luckily there were a couple of open tables so no wait. The menu is fairly big, so we needed a few extra minutes to finish looking through it. Obviously the specialty is eggs, and they have a full page of Eggs Benedict variations, a full page of signature eggs dishes, and then all the typical breakfast items. I went with one of their omelets, which came with potatoes, fruit salad, and toast. The omelet was good but needed a dash of salt. I really liked the potatoes, they are thick cut and skillet fried. The fruit was ho hum. The toast was actually good also, but I was full and couldnt finish off every piece. The service was prompt and friendly, with a table visit by someone who appeared to be a manager. Lots of refill offers for the coffee. The food is expensive, for two it was $40, not what I'm looking to pay for a breakfast. But it's a nice change up to the regular breakfast joints available. I'll be interested to see how their non egg dinners/lunches measure up.
(4)Jamison S.
Went to Eggspectations last evening for dinner. Got there early around 5, since we have 3 young kids. The only ones in the place for a little while. It is a full service restaurant, and provides "an all-day dining experience" serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a full service bar. Kids got pancakes, which they loved. Wife got a large chicken salad which she enjoyed. I got a seafood pasta dish they have with clams, mussels and shrimp and a house salad (comes with). Everything was very good except the mussels were cold. It was strange because they were cooked, but the shells were ice cold. So, later in the dinner when our waitress came and checked on us I mentioned it just as an fyi and wondered whether they were meant to be served cold. She checked with the cook and came back to inform us they were not, then went on to say the manager was going to send with us home a complete serving of the dish. Then the manager came over and appologized, said he would take my meal off the bill, plus send us home a meal. So, yeah it was a mistake but the customer service was excellent and the food overall seemed good. We will go back. It is nice inside, but the seating is a bit hard with non-cushioned chairs and benches and may become a bit noisy with a larger crowds as it has a concrete floor. There is a seperate room with a large screen tv to hold meetings or have a private party. It also looks as if there will be outside seating as the weather continues to get nicer.
(4)Adrianna C.
Updated review - stick with breakfast and they are great! Wasn't a huge fan of their French toast. Or their lunch/dinner items. My advice is stick with their egg dishes and you can't go wrong. Omelettes are great. Their grilled breakfast burrito is my personal fave. Service is always great!
(4)Dee C.
Went to ES for a few drinks and a quick app on Friday 6pm. We sat at the bar, service was terrible. In the 90mins we spend here we got served one drink each. Rest of the time we were ignored. My white wine was pretty warm. Very disappointing. We were 2 of 7 ppl sitting st the bar and everyone seemed frustrated with service. Pity cos the calamari was actually tasty.
(1)Ken B.
I've been here many times and I have mixed feelings because sometimes it's really awesome and sometimes it's a disappointment. This is usually dependent upon the wait staff and where I am seated. For starters, they have a huge menu and most of the portions are very large. I love being able to get breakfast any time of day, so that's a bonus in my book. On the other hand sometimes I feel like the menu is too large and it makes choosing what to eat a headache. When I get my food I am almost always very satisfied. My personal favorites are the chicken & waffles, the Rueben, any of the burgers and almost everything from the breakfast menus. The wait staff is hit or miss. Sometimes we get really awesome service and other times it's sketchy. For the most part they do a decent job and I don't have any serious complaints. The decor of the place is cool and hip. The colors are blended well with the brick walls. I do have an issue with the seating. Some of the booths lack padding and others are like sitting on an uncomfortable wooden park bench. When I come with others they don't seem to mind, but I don't like it. Also in some of the padded booths the table feels too low to the ground so it feels like my food is a mile away. The restrooms are always clean and pleasant. They actually have some decent decor in there, unlike many businesses. Since they cook the food well and they have a big menu I will continue to return.
(4)John D.
Visited twice last month. Food was not good. Steak was cold and fries cold. Have been there several times. Food is still bad. Not worth the time or money. Service is so so.
(2)Brianne G.
Menu is great, however service, staff / management awful. I frequented this location 3 times, each time given excuses as to why the service was horrible, even though this location is always empty. Hey Management, Bad to the Bone (great barbecue restaurant) across the street in the Wegman's plaza is always busy and you guys are not. It's really not rocket science and my Eggspecations are not unrealistic. Train your employees and managers as to what great customer service is really all about and maybe your restaurant will fill up with people like some of the other locations.
(1)Dave C.
My wife and I finally tried this place. She had the grilled burrito and I had the southwest sunrise omelette. I should not have put off coming to this place for so long. If you're in the mood for a hearty breakfast this is the place to go!
(5)Colleen B.
I went in for breakfast and was blown away by the choices. The menu is massive, with each item sounding better than the next. The eggs came out perfect and the corn-beef and hash was to die for. I ordered the Belgium Waffles Page. I can honestly say I have never had waffles as delicious as these. They were light and fluffy and the fresh fruit topped it off. I ate every last bite. I was seated rather quickly for a Sunday morning. The staff was friendly and extremely fast. All said and done it was a pleasurable experience. I'd definitely go back.
(5)Rick G.
They ran out of crepes, let me repeat that...they RAN OUT OF CREPES!! There is a whole menu section devoted to crepes...I was going to offer to show the kitchen how to make a crepe but decided to vent here instead. Incidentally, the place was empty....service was slow and the place was dirty.
(2)Jeff R.
We were seated, then waited ten minutes to be greeted by a server. I'm not sure the hostess told anyone they had customers. We then waited another fifteen minutes for our complicated drink order (a soda AND a coffee. VERY time-consuming to produce, I'm sure). Meanwhile, all the tables around us were getting food and drinks and seemed to have actual servers assigned to their table. I would love to tell you how the "Heavenly Eggs" appetizer is - but the waitress decided that actually passing along our order to the kitchen was way too much work. We reminded her when she brought our lunch. "Oh. Want me to put it in now?" No. BECAUSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPETIZERS AND DESSERTS. My dining companion got a breakfast burrito. She liked it okay, and said the side order of sauce was tasty. I got the "Eggspectation Burger" and had to send it back. It wasn't so much meat as an enormous glob of grease. I couldn't even pick it up - it kept sliding out of my hands. I had them take it off my bill. In terms of responsiveness to our terrible experience - I mean...the manager apologized and offered us a few gift cards. I turned them down. I'm not one of those people looking for handouts - all I ask for is decent service and good food...ESPECIALLY when we're talking about a restaurant that peddles $20 omelettes. Also - where is the logic in that? You just ignored us, screwed up our order, and served us terrible food...YES PLEASE I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK! On the other hand, there were PLENTY of screaming children. Who needs dessert when you already have the icing on the cake? Anyway - avoid this place. Check out the Yorkshire Restaurant. Delicious food, attentive service, and a bill 25% that of Low Eggspectations.
(1)Heidi H.
This place is amazing. My husband and I just found it. The service was great. The food came out quickly and was very good. It is much better for breakfast than dinner.
(5)Sarah B.
We went to this restaurant for brunch for the first time on New Year's Day 2015. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and everyone was very friendly. Although the price was a little higher than we would normally expect to pay, the quality of the food was worth it. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. Sarah B. Gainesville, VA
(5)Eliza D.
Best value is the classic. Comes with 2 eggs potatoes with delicious sautéed onions grilled tomatoes and choice of bread. My eggs were perfectly over medium. Very good breakfast. And the fresh squeezed orange juice is a treat
(5)C H.
So, I've been back a few more times while visiting my parents and I found new things to try. The first new thing I tried was... A NEW BARTENDER!! I think her name is Brittany. She's super cool, great convo and she makes the BEST drinks!! The second new thing I tried... HONEY OLD BAY WINGS!! They're very good. Crispy and saucy at the same time. Its kind of a bummer when the sauce makes a good wing soggy, but that isn't the case with these wings. GET THEM!! Even though I said the salmon was dry and tasteless last time, I got it again. What can I say? I'm a glutton... for punishment AND for food! This time, the server asked me how I wanted my salmon prepared, DUH! Why didn't I think of that the first time?! I asked for it to be prepared medium well and it came out perfect this time! I was most happy, and of course, the Caesar salad was delicious :-) The wings and Brittany alone are what makes this restaurant 3 stars instead of 2. Oh, and I forgot to mention the first time, the management is SUPER nice!! I don't know the manager's name, but EVERY time I've been there, he walked around and talked to customers, made sure meals were okay and assisted with any problem that was brought his way. Like I said in my last review, I'll most definitely be back because... well, I can walk here when I'm visiting my parents and can now stumble back to their house when Brittany is the bartender! :-)
(3)Kimberly C.
If you want a decent meal without feeling like you're sitting in a total dive, say bye bye to IHOP and Denny's. This place is certainly pricier than those two, but not ridiculously so. Don't go there expecting Denny's prices, but consider this a once in a while breakfast treat. It's affordable enough. The portions are very generous, and the breakfast menu is truly endless. So many choices, I have yet to try everything I have an interest in. On my birthday, they brought me a huge plate of ornately decorated waffles with whip and berries and chocolate, on the house. Was delicious!!! Now, do I wish it were a little less expensive, absolutely. But it is a nice break from sketchy Manassas breakfast eateries.
(4)Beth C.
This waitress is the Worst! Slow, slow, slow. I like the Dodd but the seating is so uncomfortable. It is clear that they don't want guests to longer
(2)Karen D.
My family and I love this spot! A wonderful restaurant to have a delicious breakfast lunch or dinner (their pasta is awesome)! Family friendly and the staff is super friendly and efficient. Nate was our waiter last night and he took great care of us and further reminded me why we love this place! Highly recommend.
(5)Matt H.
The food was very good. I ordered a grilled chicken salad with avocados and the chicken was hot off the grill, which is the only way I like grilled chicken salads. My oldest son liked the lobster pasta and my youngest really liked his pancakes. The service was slow, seemed a bit random at times, and getting drinks was like pulling teeth. Our waitress seemed like she was struggling, but not due to her own fault, so it was stressing her a bit. She remained calm and courteous and she was able to get back on track by the time we were done. Overall, the food was good, but the staff just needs organization and training.
(3)Brooke O.
Fantastic , friendly, attentive wait staff. Food exquisite, generous portions, visually appealing. Huge menu that caters to every taste and budget. I am coming back here. This will be my Sunday hangout!
(5)Scott H.
My wife and I used to frequent the Eggspectaton in Chantilly years ago, and still go from time to time. We love their high quality food and expansive menu. Yes, it's a bit pricy for "breakfast" - but this is a place where you have to set proper "Eggspectations". (See what I did there?) If you're looking for a cheap I-slop style of mom's greasy cholesterol killer breakfast - this isn't that kind of place. I really don't view them as a breakfast place, but a place that serves a lot of savory entrees with breakfast elements. They serve the same menu throughout the day, so you can get whatever you want, whenever you want. The wife and I got a coupon clipper for $10 off a $30 meal the Gainesville location and figured this one was about as close as the Chantilly spot, so we gave it a shot. I had seen the poor reviews of the Gainesville location in comparison to the Chantilly site, and had some trepidation. However, at the end the wife and I thought we might like this one better. They have a large selection of specials here, and we went with the fried pickles app from the specials menu to start. (Fried pickles for breakfast? Why not?) Draft beer selection here is existent, but not noteable. They have a few of the typical NASCAR beers, Yuengling, Sam Adams, Fat Tire, DBB Vienna, and Goose Island IPA. Having spent the previous day at a beer festival, I passed on the brew and went for coffee. I had two cafe au laits - served a bit different from the Chantilly site, but still great - and the wife had 2 glasses of apple juice. For entrees, the wife got her standard "Yolk Around The Clock' and I went back to the specials menu and went for the Lobster Grits. These were wonderful - the cheese grits were nice and creamy and the lobster was very sweet and tasty. The red peppers and scallions added an nice touch to the dish. I ordered a side of their awesome potatoes to dip in the grits, just because I can. My wife's go to was just as it always is at the Chantilly site. No complaints on the food. The only weak spot was that food came out just a tad slow, but the service was spot on. At the end, the bill was $60 for 2 - yes, that's pricy for breakfast, but for a nice meal, and what we got, I was pleased - especially after adding the $10 off. So keep sending me those coupons, and the wife and I will be back.
(5)