PIP
I checked out PIP a few weeks ago and I have to say it’s such a cute and cozy brunch spot! PIP is owned by The Next Act and Meat, and it’s located right beside The Next Act. It kinda reminds me of Daniel Costa’s restaurants on Jasper Ave – all right beside each other. “The outside looks like a simple and unassuming joint with its dark exterior and pineapple logos placed on its windows. However, once entered, you are washed over with vibes of coziness and charm that fits Old Strathcona.” (Steph’s Friend, 2017) Side note: I’m going to be quoting my friend who ate with me throughout this post.
PIP is one of the few eateries in the city to serve brunch everyday. Yes, everyday. The only other place in the city that I can think of with weekday brunch is Under The High Wheel. Now you don’t have to wait until the weekend to eat the best meal of the day! Let me warn you though, there are only 28 seats in PIP and they don’t take reservations. Their daily brunch hours are 9 AM to 3 PM so if you want a table without waiting for a while, it’s best to come early or come late. I came around 1:30 PM and only had to wait around 10 minutes for a table. We did get seated at the bar first but eventually an actual table cleared up so we moved there. Their brunch menu is quite simple, with most items containing an egg(s) – DUH! For those who want lunch rather than brunch, there are soups, salads, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Is this the first-ever brunch place to serve grilled cheese possibly? *insert thinking face emoji*
Avocado Toast $16
For myself, I ordered the avocado toast. This is one of my favourite brunch items and also one of the only items I can make at home, sadly. The avocado toast at PIP is served on sourdough bread and comes with 2 strips of bacon, as well as a poached egg on top (YAS, EGG PORN). Crushed chillies are sprinkled on top but it wasn’t spicy, which I was thankful for. The chillies added a bit of savoury flavour to the freshness of the avocado. The toast was served with their house-made hash, which was simply one of the best hash I have tried. And this is coming from a potato connoisseur, aka myself. The potatoes were soft yet slightly crispy, and seasoned perfectly.
Traditional Eggs Benedict $17
My friend ordered the Traditional Eggs Benedict, which I had heard many good things about. I personally didn’t order this because I’m not the biggest fan of Eggs Benny overall. “The Traditional Eggs Benedict was exactly what you needed for that late morning meal. The dill hollandaise had a nice balance of tang and creaminess that worked perfectly with the poached egg, sourdough, and sliced ham. House hash was seasoned well and added the cherry on top of my meal.” (Steph’s Friend, 2017)
Grilled Cheese w/ House Soup $15
We also decided to share the grilled cheese between both of us because who can really resist grilled cheese? The grilled cheese was served on the same local sourdough bread as my avocado toast with aged cheddar in-between. You can’t really go wrong with making grilled cheese, can you? It also comes with a side of either house salad, soup, or hash. We got the house soup, which is a tomato basil soup with grilled cheese croutons. Oh my. The only downside was that the croutons got soggy if you didn’t eat the soup right away. The grilled cheese wasn’t outstanding or anything but this would be the perfect comfort dish, especially on cold winter days (which Edmonton doesn’t seem to be having this year).
PIP should be on your brunch list if you haven’t stopped by already. Their dinner menu also tempts me so I’ll probably be back to check that out! “If you’re looking to enjoy a delicious brunch with your morning coffee, definitely visit this new spot.” (Steph’s Friend, 2017)
Address & Hours:
PIP
10403 83 Ave
Edmonton, AB
Brunch Daily: 9 am – 3 pm
Dinner: Sun to Thurs, 3 pm – 11 pm & Fri/Sat, 3 pm to 12 am
