L’Oeufrier is a breakfast success story that began in 1995 in Laval’s Vimont neighbourhood. Since then it has garnered a loyal following thanks to extraordinary service and high-quality, innovative breakfast fare unlike any other restaurant.
Company owners Pedro Médina, Kevin Henriques and Tony Khoury have continued to expands the brand, which is headed up by longtime team member Vincent Touchette who became president last year. The son of legendary now retired Le Journal de Montreal sports reporter Serge Touchette, Vincent started with the company as a dishwasher 20 years ago in Vimont and moved his way up the ladder. At one time he switched to part-time in order to study journalism. But the restaurant business bug was too difficult to resist. When Henriques offered him to collaborate as a franchisee in St. Eustache he jumped at the opportunity. The parent company that owns L’Oeufrier, La Buff, clearly valued his talent and moved him to the head office.
L’Oeufrier, with a large and extraordinary menu, is expanding rapidly. They presently have 45 franchises, with a goal to reach 65 in the next couple of years. The latest is across from Place Bell in Laval, where I sat down and met with Touchette over what else but breakfast. A week earlier I met a friend at the Lachine location. I was so impressed when Touchette was able to name the young lady who served me before I even shared that info. “Josianne,” he smiled, “and Eric the chef.”
Touchette resides in Laval with his wife and two young children. But this restaurant chain is a passion for him. He visits as many locations as possible, from the Quebec City area, the North and South Shores, the island of Montreal and beyond.
When I made my first stop in Lachine, I was amazed by the large number of menu items available. It was difficult to make a choice. They have the classics, eggs benedict, omelets, guacamole toast, original poutines, smoothies, milkshakes, breakfast bowls, fruits, waffles, crepes, French toast, pancakes, burgers, tacos, mac ‘n cheese combos and grilled cheese. All of their breads are gluten-free. They also have an early bird menu on weekdays until 8:30 am (except on holidays).
Some of the menu items are extremely creative. Here is a sampling: Justin en Calèche À Ottawa, named after our Prime Minister (an omelet with spinach, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, asparagus and cheddar cheese); Xhekaj Adore Montreal, a nod to the Habs tough defenceman (a cheese omelet); the patati Mario Tremblay, three eggs mixed with potatoes and cheddar cheese, served with hollandaise sauce, a fruit bowl and Première Moisson bread as well as the patati “Mr. Suzuki” with ham, sausage, bacon and bologna. Tremblay once wore number 14 for the Canadiens; now Nick Suzuki does as team captain. You’ll have to review the choices yourself.
For my Lachine visit, I ordered the Je Me Souviens, containing two eggs over easy with bacon, a pancake and pure maple syrup. I also opted for a delicious club sandwich on homestyle bread with a salad and potatoes to take back to the office for lunch. In Laval, Touchette and I got into such a nostalgic talk about Tremblay, how could I have ordered anything else? It was a good choice.
The menu, Touchette said, will continue to evolve with new items a few times a year.
“We are extremely proud of how our company is growing and intend to keep it that way,” says co-owner Pedro Medina. “When it comes to breakfast, we want to be the reference in Quebec. Our mission has remained unchanged since we started: to serve the best breakfast in the city, serving up a plate full of innovation and quality that is as much a feast for the eyes as for the taste buds. We are a neighbourhood eatery that stands out for its creativity, its customer experience, its generous portions and its artful presentation that’s unlike any other breakfast spot. You can get eggs anywhere; at L’Oeufrier, we take it up a notch and then some! Our small and friendly neighbourhood restaurant concept serves up an extraordinary client experience. As true breakfast fans ourselves, we wanted to create a completely different experience from that found anywhere else. People have a right to variety and innovation, even at breakfast. Right from the very beginning, the company has stayed close to its clientele and wants to maintain a business model centered around warm and friendly restaurants where clients feel like they are at home.”
Opération Enfant Soleil
Touchette was also pleased to share details with me about their new charitable partner. Opération Enfant Soleil and L’Oeufrier are joining forces for the cause of sick children in Quebec. Through their kid’s menu, L’Oeufrier will donate 50 cents to Opération Enfant Soleil for each one sold. This initiative began recently.
Opération Enfant Soleil was founded in 1988 by the Centre hospitalier de l’Université Laval. Funds raised via its various activities go to Quebec’s pediatric hospitals, including Montreal Children’s, for equipment and various prevention and awareness programs,
“It was a natural choice for us in terms of a collaboration,” Touchette said of Opération Enfant Soleil.
Opération Enfant Soleil now appears on the back of all of the restaurant’s placemats, with a QR Code to find out more information about how to donate to the organization and some coloring and skill games for kids to play.
In the upcoming weeks, each restaurant will also receive table stickers with a QR code leading to a donation page for clients who wish to make a spontaneous donation. Visuals will also be installed in the restaurant to communicate our partnership to clients and a virtual launch event will be held with franchisees. In addition, L’Oeufrier wishes to participate to our next year campaign “Maison Enfant Soleil signée Bonneville” by selling online drawing tickets.
Since its establishment, Opération Enfant Soleil has donated close to $320 million across Québec, supporting the realization of thousands of promising, concrete projects in the three major pediatric centres, as well as the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke and over a hundred regional hospitals and organizations. The contributions enable various advancements, such as: facilitating top-notch local care for children, humanizing care through the creation of comfortable environments, empowering medical teams to implement programs that continually enhance children’s healing journeys, and fostering innovation by supporting research projects aimed at revolutionizing pediatric care.
For more information go to https://www.loeufrier.ca/
The Lachine location is at 830 rue Notre Dame, Lachine
The new Laval location is at 600 rue Lucien-Paiement