First Trip to Wild Eggs

I had to drop a friend off at the airport at 9 and then return an item to Bicycle Sport this morning. As Bicycle Sport does not open until 10, I had to find something to do with my time. After many nanoseconds of deliberation, I decided to head to Wild Eggs for the first time. Well, I've tried to go a number of previous times, but have been turned away by the crowds. I'm just not someone who likes to wait to eat breakfast.

I was immediately impressed by the decor, the simplicity, and the cool egg presentation piece at the entrance. I was also very impressed by the range of selections - including the non-egg offerings. As someone who does not eat eggs, I find it difficult to order at some breakfast places without turning to the A la Carte offerings.

I was going to go with the crazy Hippy Chippy Waffles (I think that's what they were called), but decided to go for the less dangerous blueberry pancakes. The pancakes were good. I found them a little short on berries and a little excessive in size (three extra-large pancakes). The syrup was lackluster and room temperature, which was disappointing. All-in-all my single entree order was above average and satisfying.

The service, was decent, if not lacking. I sat at the breakfast counter - at the recommendation of the hostess. It was quite clear that this is where they "send" solo diners, but, as I had no reason to expect lesser service, I didn't question the recommendation. It's clear that the place operates on a "get the customer in-and-out" model, which, in principle, I have little issue with. What was interesting to me was that it was clear that i was in no rush - as I worked through some school reading before, during, and after my meal. Regardless, the waiter did interesting things like present me the check before clearing my plate. He seemed so intent on getting me my check - although it was clear I was in no rush - that he left my dirty plate in front of me until after he had returned with the CC receipt. In other words, he delivered my check, picked up my credit card, and then ultimately cleared my plate when returning with the printed CC receipt for me to sign. Not the biggest issue in the world, but it did make me lose interest in hanging around and doing more reading as I didn't feel all that "invited to stay."

I'm probably being nit-picky, but it wasn't like there was a shortage of tables (place was about 60% full). I'll probably return as I liked the extensive menu and found the food pleasing. I hope next time there is a little more "audience awareness" on the part of the wait staff. For the record, I also find the "personal pint" of water to be a little unnecessary. While nice in terms of access, it actually leads to things like the customer (me) spilling the water when the customer (me) should not be the one doing such work.

Maybe you should head over to Cheddar's. I understand they are removing the table and chairs and putting in troughs so you can get your fill. Wild Eggs remains one of the best places in Louisville for breakfast and you are "nit-picking" a restaurant that has been open at that location for only a few weeks. It's like damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's a great Louisville independant restaurant and we need to give it our support, not spend our time commenting on trivial things. Sheesh!!!

Maybe you should head over to Cheddar's. I understand they are removing the table and chairs and putting in troughs so you can get your fill. Wild Eggs remains one of the best places in Louisville for breakfast and you are "nit-picking" a restaurant that has been open at that location for only a few weeks. It's like damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's a great Louisville independant restaurant and we need to give it our support, not spend our time commenting on trivial things. Sheesh!!!

Yo . . . it sounds like he was at the original location (since he was heading from the airport to Bicycle Sport), but he wasn't clear which location. I didn't find the tone of the review to nearly match the intensity of your reaction.

Hey, Matthew! Thanks for the review. It's too bad you had the experience you did with the service at Wild Eggs, because when I went, one of the most wonderful things about my trip was the service. I could have just lucked out and gotten the primo server of Wild Eggs, I guess. Anyway, thanks for the report.

Maybe you should head over to Cheddar's. I understand they are removing the table and chairs and putting in troughs so you can get your fill. Wild Eggs remains one of the best places in Louisville for breakfast and you are "nit-picking" a restaurant that has been open at that location for only a few weeks. It's like damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's a great Louisville independant restaurant and we need to give it our support, not spend our time commenting on trivial things. Sheesh!!!

Overall, sounds as though Matthew enjoyed his experience at "Wild Eggs" (certainly enough to want to return), but discerned a few flaws, and as with any objective, thorough review, made note of it....

Huevos Rancheros. It is what it is and good if not better than most. It's tasty.

I absolutely love their breakfast burrito. I work right next to the place but haven't been there in forever because I can rarely get a table there. I just now realized that maybe we can finally get back in there since they've opened the 2nd location.

I meet with a group of people there for breakfast once a month. When one person asked if we wanted to go somewhere else there was a resounding "no!". We're not moving. We eat, we have a business meeting, we tie up a table for quite a bit. And the servers never make us feel unwelcome. And we all love the food.

I had a great experience at the new location. Good service, good food and was made to feel as welcome as can be for as long as I wanted to stay. Very alert and knowledgeable server. And I like having water I can refill whenever I choose. Different strokes, etc.

I love the food at Wild Eggs (except for their bacon) but I swear that if I didn't know better I would think it was a chain. The service there always feels like what corporate restaurants try to teach.

You know, the cheerful, "HI! My name is So-and-So and I will be your server today! Can I start you with some delicious orange juice? Be sure to check out our yummy waffles and pancakes and if you have any questions I'll be more than happy to help!"

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they are eating at an upscale Cracker Barrel when they are there?

Maybe you should head over to Cheddar's. I understand they are removing the table and chairs and putting in troughs so you can get your fill. Wild Eggs remains one of the best places in Louisville for breakfast and you are "nit-picking" a restaurant that has been open at that location for only a few weeks. It's like damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's a great Louisville independant restaurant and we need to give it our support, not spend our time commenting on trivial things. Sheesh!!!

Very poor response to the guy's honest review. And yes, the "trivial things" deserve our attention. I ate at the new location last week and it was fine but that doesn't negate Matthew's experience or his obviously honest and careful evaluation of the place.

Since you apparently have a close connection to Cheddar's may you can address some of the issues that have been brought up in another thread in regards to their food and service. Thanks

I meet with a group of people there for breakfast once a month. When one person asked if we wanted to go somewhere else there was a resounding "no!". We're not moving. We eat, we have a business meeting, we tie up a table for quite a bit. And the servers never make us feel unwelcome. And we all love the food.

So you're the reason no one else can get a table!

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they are eating at an upscale Cracker Barrel when they are there?

I know what you're saying but I don't really feel that way when I'm eating there. I just accept it as good service from a staff that believes in what they sell. Maybe it's because I go in knowing it's not a chain (especially cracker barrel) and I'm not looking for things that make it a chain.

I've had similar issues eating at the breakfast counter at the original location. Got ignored completely by the waitress one visit, had the waitress get upset when I interrupted her while she was talking to a friend instead of checking on customers so I could pay my bill and get out. When I've been at a table it's never been a problem though.

I love the food at Wild Eggs (except for their bacon) but I swear that if I didn't know better I would think it was a chain. The service there always feels like what corporate restaurants try to teach.

You know, the cheerful, "HI! My name is So-and-So and I will be your server today! Can I start you with some delicious orange juice? Be sure to check out our yummy waffles and pancakes and if you have any questions I'll be more than happy to help!"

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they are eating at an upscale Cracker Barrel when they are there?

Like I said in my review, there seems to be a certain efficiency-model that has been "trained into" the servers. Lots of prepared talk and the like. None of that really bothers me, as there are different ways to go about providing good service. I do think such training takes some of the "character" out of waiting tables but that's probably as good as it is bad. I only really notice when the "robotic" actions become a drawback as such was the case with the server and my dirty plate.

I'll be back, for those wondering. Had I been at a table, I would have just pushed the plate to the other side and gone back to reading. Not so easy to do at a breakfast counter.

As for Mr. Negativity, I'm mostly going to ignore him, but I will say I'm all for independents, but I'm more for independents that are worth supporting. On that point, he and I can agree that Wild Eggs is worth supporting.

I'm all for independents, but I'm more for independents that are worth supporting.

Couldn't agree more. I gladly embrace an independent place over a chain, but if the people at the independent place are unwelcoming or too "cooler than thou" to be bothered with me and my friends, I can't remain blindly loyal.