$10 Eggs Benny @ Glowbal

Food is just so expensive these days...  That is something quite certain and almost as guaranteed as death & taxes.  It really doesn't matter what food we are talking about.  Whether it be a trip to Costco, Superstore, a casual restaurant or a fine-dining establishment, you might need to take out a loan to afford it!  However, there are some spots that are trying to offer deals to entice people to spend their hard-earned money.  One of which is Glowbal in Downtown, starting on August 3rd (and continuing until the end of September), where a selection of Eggs Benny are going for $10.00 each.  If you want to add a side, it will cost another $5.00.  So for the whole thing, it would be $15.00.  Finding anything under $20.00 is a win!

I was able to try out preview this menu as well as pairing it with some cocktails (won't talk about them here, but please check them out in my IG post!).  We started out with the Traditional Back Bacon where it was really back bacon and not ham.  To amp things up even more so, they added crispy bacon as well.  Served on top of a properly-toasted English muffin and featuring perfectly poached runny free-range eggs, these were quite good.  To top it off, literally, was a velvety and rich Hollandaise that was seasoned well.

The next two options were also pretty classic in the Smoked Salmon Benny and the Smashed Avocado & Kale.  As you can see in the picture, they weren't shy with the buttery smoked salmon.  Hence, the impact was definitely there from the smokiness and saltiness.  As for the smashed avocado & kale (Vegetarian option), it was predictably more mild-tasting with creamy avocado.  The kale had some bite but was ultimately tender.  Personally, this wouldn't be my choice of the lot, but I understand there has to be a non-meat option.

One of the more premium options on the menu is the Pacific Crab Salad Benny.  In theory, this would've been the best one since there was a good amount of fluffy crab in the mix.  However, I wasn't a fan of the barely cooked through peppers as they were a bit too strong for the delicate crab.  I guess you can just merely pick it out, so not a big deal really.  I thought it went well with the runny (and appealingly dark orange) yolk and the creamy Hollandaise.  The moisture from the salad also helped soften the toasted muffin.

The final option and my personal favourite was the Braised Angus Beef Short Rib Benny.  This one was the most fulfilling as the rich beef short ribs were tender, full-flavoured and saucy.  This made for a robust and meaty concoction that was even more so with the richness of the egg and Hollandaise.  Also loved the mushrooms as it provided umaminess.  I'm not sure if you would even need a side with this option, especially if you do not have a big appetite. 

I felt the sides were similar to what you would find as options for a steak dinner.  This was so true with the Crispy Fries and Crispy Onion Rings.  I found the fries to be of the starch-covered variety, hence quite crispy on the outside and plenty potatoey in the middle.  As for the onion rings, they were battered and fried until golden brown.  Therefore, they were crunchy with completely cooked-through onion on the inside.  I liked how the batter wasn't too thick.

Predictably, there was also a Salad with balsamic vinaigrette.  Again, not something I would choose, but for someone who wanted a lighter side, this would be it.  My favourite of the bunch was the Crispy Fingerling Potatoes served with aioli.  These were smashed and fried until super crispy.  With that being said, the inside was still somewhat creamy and potatoey.  When dipped into the aioli, this was a dish I would just eat by itself.

Last option was the Truffle Parmesan Mac & Cheese.  Although this was the sexiest side on the menu, I found it to be rather much for a side to an Eggs Benny.  It was definitely truffley and cheesy, but also heavy.  Maybe share this with another person?  Or if you are really hungry, then order this.  Whatever the case, you really won't go hungry with these choices and if you have a bigger appetite, you still won't be hungry if you get both the shortrib benny and the mac & cheese.  You might have leftovers!  Great deal and served in a classy spot.  Nice to see some affordable options these days.

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:
- Inexpensive, even with a side added to the Benny
- Quality ingredients and properly-prepared
- All this in a nice dining space to boot

The Bad:
- Maybe take out the peppers from the crab salad?