The Basic
The Basic
Vancouver-based family diner brings breakfast concept to the City
A new breakfast spot, The Basic, just opened four months ago on 1115 Centre St. N.W. and is reshaping Calgary’s morning food scene. What makes it stand out becomes clear on a closer look.
History in Vancouver
The family-owned diner opened as ‘Joe’s Grill’ 35 years-ago in downtown Vancouver.
Over the years, the business opened two new locations in Vancouver and rebranded, all while keeping the same menu-the classic, homemade breakfast.
Owner Brendon Chan Kwai Siong grew up helping his dad in the kitchen and, after training in culinary arts and business management, he worked as a line cook for the Park Hyatt Toronto Hotel from 2008 to 2010.
Chan returned to the family business shortly after, eventually taking over when his father retired.
The Move to Calgary
Vancouver has begun to see a lot of Calgarian restaurants opening locations in Vancouver. Chan said this was an opportunity to “go the other way and open up a location there.”
Chan’s realtor suggested the new location to be along Centre St, due to the heavy flow of traffic, proximity to downtown and lack of current breakfast spots in the area.
“I am still trying to find out where we fit. We’ve helped out the school a little bit by giving a bunch of stuff for youth sports teams. Helping out with fundraisers. We’re new to the city so I’m still trying to find our place,” said Chan.
The Diner Classics and Future
Chan strives to create a welcoming environment by having a cozy interior with good music and excellent service with a friendly smile.
But The Basics main goal is to provide diners with fresh quality ingredients at a fair price.
“A lot of the people I talk to say when they leave, they leave full. And they like the fact that I am giving them fresh ingredients. We are cooking it on the spot, no reheating things,” said Chan.
The most popular dishes across all locations is ‘The Basic’ consisting of eggs, a choice of meat, potatoes and pan fried toast. The Clubhouse and the Reuben are also popular with Calgary’s sando-loving crowd.
Chan is debating adding new menu items exclusively for the Calgary location, but he does not want to stray too far from the other location menus. He added, “But I am going to check and see what we can do here and have some fun with it.”
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