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Oakville Eats: Ben & Florentine

One day last week I was driving along Lakeshore Road in Oakville figuring out what I wanted to have for lunch. I looked left and right continuously as I drove past Kerr Village and found nothing that whet my appetite. As I continued driving, I came across a small plaza with a restaurant located near the corner of Lakeshore and Brant Street, at 146 Lakeshore Road West. Its sign read Ben and Florentine Breakfast Lunch and the design of the logo caught my attention: a unique font with white- and orange-coloured writing on a brown background. From a distance the restaurant appeared small so I made the assumption that it was fast-food service. But as I made my way into the restaurant, the interior decor gave off a great atmosphere with a blend of colours: oak, green, beige and orange. The air was pleasant, music was playing and it was refreshing - just as any breakfast restaurant should be!

[restaurants name="Ben & Florentine" website="www.benandflorentine.com" location="146 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville Ontario L6K 1E4" phone="905-338-6333" score="3.5" food="3.5" service="4.0" wc="4.0" reservations="no" licensed="no" hours="7:00 am - 3:00 pm;7:00 am - 3:00 pm;7:00 am - 3:00 pm;7:00 am - 3:00 pm;7:00 am - 3:00 pm;7:00 am - 3:00 pm;7:00 am - 3:00 pm" takeout="no" delivery="no" pricelunch="1.0" childmenu="yes" type="Casual Dining: Breakfast/Lunch"]

It was understandable that it took a few minutes for me to be greeted by the server because she was the only server on the floor. There were only 45 minutes remaining until Ben and Florentine was closed for the day but still three tables were occupied. Despite the imminent closing time, the server provided me with excellent customer service. She brought me a great cup of coffee; it was so good I had seconds! There was no hint of any burnt taste and the boldness of the coffee was just right. And for only $1.95! Other beverage offerings consist of: Smoothies (Small $3.95, Regular $4.95), a variety of juices, milk and chocolate milk, soft drinks, water and mineral water, all at a cost of under $3.00.

Food items include:

  • Famous Benedicts with different types, ranging from $11.45 to $13.95;
  • "Florentine Favourites" which consist of lighter meal choices such as fruit parfaits, oatmeal and various bagel sandwiches, at a cost of $6.95 to $13.95;
  • Specialty pancakes, waffles, french toast and Scramblerz, $7.95 to $11.95;
  • "3 Egg Omelettes," traditional breakfast combinations of eggs, sausages and ham, $6.45 to $11.95;
  • Specialty Crepes (Sweet and Breakfast crepes), $7.95 to $12.45;
  • Children's Menu: Traditional breakfast (Egg, ham, sausage), waffle or pancake combinations, grilled cheese and dessert crepes, $4.95 to $6.45
  • Lunch Menu (Starts at 11:00AM): Different types of burgers, fish and chips, panini sandwiches and salads, all from $8.45 to $12.95

IMAG0047_20130617170210460 | Photo credit: Vanessa Lo | Vanessa Lo
IMAG0047_20130617170210460 | Photo credit: Vanessa Lo | Vanessa Lo

After browsing the menu, I was torn between ordering the Orange Chicken Supreme salad, the Norwegian salad or the Corned Beef Scramblerz. I decided to settle with the Corned Beef Scramblerz that day. As mentioned before, there was only one server working at the time, yet the food service was excellent and served in a timely manner. I did not have to wait long for my order to be punched in and served to me, only about 5-10 minutes, which gave me time to enjoy my coffee. When the server brought over my meal, the first thing I noticed was the excellent food presentation. The dishes were squeaky clean and the food was placed neatly. Food presentation is important as it helps develop the appetite!

Now the part for which I have been waiting... to eat! The food quality was excellent as the food was fresh! Ben and Florentine had an offering of sweet potato puffs but were sold out, so I resorted to having their home fries. As always I tell people that, "things happen for a reason," and at this moment I did not regret the missing potato puffs because the home fries were delicious! Crisp on the outside and just perfect on the inside. The flatbread and fruits included with my Scramblerz meal were delicious. The size of the serving was excellent and the balance between main and side was perfect. My bill came to a total of $15.71 for coffee and a Corned Beef Scrambler.

The cleanliness of the restaurant and washrooms was good, yet the washroom mirror and sink could have been cleaner. The dining tables, chairs, booths and floor were clean and comfortable. While the kitchen was open-concept, it is separated from the customers by well-placed walls in parts of the dining area.

Ben & Florentine originates from Quebec where they have 20 locations. There is only one location in Ontario, which is in Oakville but Ben and Florentine are expecting to open locations in Toronto, Ottawa, Manitoba and New Brunswick. I will definitely come back here for breakfast/lunch to give their salads, burgers and crepes a try and I will bring along my friends! Overall customer service, food quality, food service and ambiance gets my approval, with a little room for improvement in cleanliness.

Rating: 4/5 and definitely a recommendation!