February 9 2011

Degrees Restaurant

Third Floor, University Centre

University of Manitoba

Hours of operation:

Mon - Fri:8:00 am-11:00 pm

Sat - Sun:12:00 pm-7:00 pm

Classic Breakfast - $6.00, coffee $1.25 (no refills). Cash only.

Breakfast served all day. Wheelchair accessible.

The only place we know that can pull off an orange carpet. It’s a cafeteria-style restaurant, but the décor puts it firmly in kitsch territory. The ceiling is daubed with interesting folded paper lamps which really gives the place a fine arts (program) feel. The walls were not walls but entirely windows, which was awesome. I love a good voyeuristic breakfast.

The random toys they use to denote order numbers are probably the best part of the whole Degrees experience. Instead of a plebian number tag, we were given toy robots with smashing action and obscure trophies. I took the opportunity to smash stuff good.

Degrees had an awesome menu, and I liked that they’re open to the build-your-own-breakfast scheme. They had a decent brek selection, including a Degrees Benedict, pancakes, burritos, granola and oats, and they sport excellent Green Bean coffee. They even give offer the choice of light or dark roast, something most places won’t. It comes in a massive cup, but no refills. To top it off, they had our favourite hot sauce, Sriracha. The chilis on the table were deliciously redundant in the face of the cock sauce.

The classic breakfast really was good, and classic. Eggs to order, three strips of bacon, white, brown or rye toast, and nicely grilled hashbrowns. The pancakes that Leif Larsen (of The Manitoban fame) had were super thick and filling.

Quick shout out to other breakfasters that ate with us – Manitoban news editor Sarah Petz, former Manitoban editor and current editor of the Manitoba Eco-Journal Joel Trenaman, and a Manitoban arts writer whose name I forget.

I would have to say that the pancakes and the hashbrowns were a bit underdone (two more minutes on the grill, guys) but since we got there during a huge rush, I can understand why. Between classes, the rushes can be intense and the lineup extreme. Plan your visit carefully.

After breakfast, try one some of their draught. Heck, do it during breakfast! We did. They have Half Pints on tap, which makes us smile.

Falafel fries? Seriously. Awesome.