You will see the feddbacks of real people who know the products of Ideal Cafe (Coffee Shop) in Campbell River territory (Canada).
At this moment this business gets a rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 and this score has been calculated on 127 reviews.
As you can see its rating is virtually the highest, and it is founded on a very high number of opinions, so we may conclude that the assessment is quite accurate. If there are many people who bothered to rate when they are pleased, it works.
As you know, we don't usually stop to place opinions when these are good and we usually do it only if we have had a problem or incidence...
This Coffee Shop is classified in the category of Cafe.
I have eaten here many times. The milkshakes are old fashioned. Burgers are average. They use a pumpernickel bun. Its pretty good. Good portion size. As for the restaraunt itself? Small, yet very busy. Best to come later in the day. Place closes at 3:30 pm.
Best breakfast place in town! Super cute old style cafe!
Very good
Awesome food
It is very good breakfast, but pretty pricey for what it is. I'm probably biased against breakfast being $20 though.
Fantastic! Old school vibe in a modern world.
Bad service, I felt like I was just barked at. They charge extra of the "senior" menu. They dont offer a half omelet but offer a half omelet on this menu. Was told I would be charged extra because I'm not a senior. Also have heard from down island of the terrible ownership. Shows it the really terrible service
Great
Awesome
Great Homemade Big Breakfast 's Like We Made At Hogan's Corner In Port Hardy
Great diner style food. Massive portions and good service. Great breakfast options and Boozy milkshakes make for a great hangover cure.
Does not adhere to provincial safety regulations. Rolled past today - and it appears to be deserted - on our way to lunch somewhere else. #hopeThatAntiVaxStanceWorksForYa
Great food. Friendly, funny, fast service.
The service was excellent. The cafe was clean and friendly. The food was delicious. We had cheese burgers with homemade fries....yummy!
Everytime I go to ideal the service and food is super amazing. If I could give you 100 stars I would. :) Thank you so much
Always so friendly. Food is sooooo good and the coffee is delicious ????
Decent food.
A motif to set you back in time with sights and smells. A bacon n egger served as expected. Burgers and tats to surely chow down on. Best shakes on Vancouver Island.
Loved it. Had an amazing 40th birthday breakfast there
Awesome breakfast and atmosphere
Great food, felt my portion could have been bigger for the price. The waitress was excellent and attentive. However their hours aren't that great and closing at 330 in the afternoon is a bit strange.
Awesome food in a really cute ma and pop old school diner. Sat at the bar and got some entertainment from the regulars and the normal hustle and bustle of the busy diner, also was very intrigued by the different milkshakes but didn't get a chance to try one. Definitely will be back and looking forward to our next visit
Love the place.
Great food!! Very friendly staff
Such amazing breakfast!
True Campbell River iconic eatery. Still creating their amazing cutting edge cafe fare.
Always great food and atmosphere reminds me of the old diners :)
Worth one visit, and that's about it.
Absolutely the rudest service I have ever experienced. We stopped in for a bite to eat, and the server was so miserable that my elderly mother walked out in tears.
Best old fashioned milkshake I've had in years! Vintage diner style. Great service. I will be back!
I had been here before in 2015 for breakfast and again recently for lunch. True to its diner label this place is a diner ! The food is diner/greasy spoon fashion. The servings are sizable, prices reasonable and the food comes speedy. There is breakfast all day, however today I went for the cheeseburger and was not disappointed at all. This place knows how to do a true diner cheeseburger and doesn't mess with what's good. A nice beef patty (supplied locally from mid-island) with their 'dressing' (best way I can describe is like home-made thousand island dressing more tangy than sweet) and your regular accouterments expected with a cheeseburger to top it to perfection (pickle, onions, lettuce, tomato + cheese). Would recommend you stop in if you're near by.
Super friendly, very homey feel. Great go-to breakfast dishes, cannot go wrong here.
Its rad cuz its ol skool
Friendly staff and great food! A bit drafty inside by the windows but otherwise, a great experience!
Don't let the outside fool you. This place is a hidden gem and the people/food are wonderful!!
Not necessarily the kind of place you'd expect to have vegan options but they're lovely. Cute divey feel, friendly staff, reasonable prices and big portions. I'll be back.
Disappointing food and service both times :(
First visit... Amazing food.. Fast, friendly service even though the place was packed. Will definitely go back again.
The best food in the world.
Be patient, polite, and enjoy a beef dip.
Great food and fun place to visit
Was looking for some vegan breakfast while passing through and this place came up on happycow. Ordered the vegan hash and plant fingers and fries. Great comfort food and great vegan selection which was awesome of all places! Also the service was excellent and friendly, definately around by next time we pass through. Vegans go here now!!!!
Kinda a time warp... guess they had bad service back then...
(Translated) I recommend !! A restaurant that does not look bad and has very good fish and chips (Original) Je recommande !! Un restaurant qui ne paie pas de mine et qui a un fish and chips très bon
Food was ok, I cook better, it was expensive!!
Very bad service good was ok. Got our order wrong. Didn't bring everything out the we ordered and the server was very rude. Had to get up and ask for coffee refill
Good home cooking friendly staff best breakfast in Campbell River.
Great old time dinner. Nice staff great food.
Nice and friendly diner and they offer 1/2 bennies on their menu.
Great waitress Stephanie. Great down home folks! In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger....i'll be back!!
Well everything was just ok. Nothing exceptional. Truckers cafe. But worth the spot once to decide for yourself.
Love this place one of the last good ol diners around Great prices Love the staff
Best eggs benny I have had in a very long time, super friendly staff. Highly recommended ????
Always great food and service
This is by far the best breakfast place around done exactly the way you like. The waitresses are friendly quit to serve awesome service. And oh yeh the coffee not to bad either. Thank you so much to the cooks in back great cooking.
Looks sketchy on the outside, but they sell good food. Tasty sandwiches and great portions!
What a fun place to get some really good food.
Good food, awesome staff
Vegan skillet is deliciously awesome. Our server was extremely efficient, friendly and aware of vegan requirements. We didn't have any issues with their COVID-19 measures either.
They now have an entirely separate plant-based menu!! So lovely to have so many options available to those with dietary restrictions❤️ I tried the Nourish Bowl (pictured) and yesterday had the Veggie Skillet, both were delicious! Service is always prompt and friendly too!
diners are rad. this is a rad diner. but constant up-sell is a bummer. cheeseburger. “with bacon”? tomato sandwich. “with cheese”? we’ll get the bill. “how about some desert”. ???? still though, this is a rad diner.
Incredible! Service was amazing! Friendly and caring to guarantee we were well taken care of! The food is amazing! Big plates, great in every way, what an amazing experience! Perfect family friendly place to be! We loved it! Will be back!
Anazing service very accommodating staff. I have twin one year olds and they made it possible for my wife and I to enjoy a meal out with them
Perfect cafe diner feel. Food was tastey. I love breakfast. Unlimited coffee refills are always nice. Friendly and social atmosphere. Reminds me of bons in Vancouver, with better food, more options.
Best cafe around. Absolutely delicious food!
Was so busy a short wait for table but 100% worth it. Staff was super friendly, fast and working hard. Food hit every taste bud just perfectly. Will definitely be back and bringing others with us to enjoy.
Best veggie burger I’ve had in a long time!
Great comfort food and great service. Nice diner!
This place can sure do better.. Our server took the order however what we got was not up to the mark. The server was nice and polite however the communication between what is being ordered vs. what is being prepared in the kitchen was a big miss. Then too top it all up.. our bill was incorrect. This place needs help!
Great experience. Everything was as it should be from the service to the food to the ambience. If you're complaining about anything in here you probably shouldn't have come in the first place.
All the good parts of a diner.
Awesome stuffed hash browns
Had the vegan bacon cheeseburger... The bacon tastes right but the texture is all wrong. It's about 2mm thick and inflexible. It looks similar to bacon as well... The burger patty is a lentils and carrots concoction. It doesn't really taste like a burger. It doesn't taste bad but just doesn't taste like a hamburger. The beyond meat and impossible burgers taste very similar to a normal hamburger this one does not. My wife and daughter had the milkshake and really enjoyed it. It's expensive but you basically get two of them. They also had the the clamchowder which they also really enjoyed.
Great... A little pricey for a sandwich, but excellent food!
Great service delicious breakfast.
(Translated) Best breakfast on the island (Original) Bestes Frühstück auf der Insel
Amazing food. Service was excellent and friendly but unfortunately I still have a headache from hitting my head on the beam. Lol. Other then that for a first experience was awesome. Thank you and will definitely return.
so, biggest greasiest burger ever!!! this is an older building but do not let that discourage you. the food will impress you more than the decor. they also have some original milk shake ideas if you are up to it.
What a great place food atmosphere and service was great . Busy place but worth the wait
Always good. Highly recommended.
Great place for a quick bite, friendly staff and great food
If you haven't been for a while give Ideal a try. Truly one of the best places for breakfast or lunch in town. Old fashion GOOD!!
Good place to have breakfast!
Such good breakfast Here!!!
Great food, service and atmosphere. I've been to numerous other restaurants in the last two weeks in Campbell River and Ideal was better in every category, from price, service, quality and atmosphere. I highly recommend going here. Oh and Stephanie Ibbott, Rebecca Dee, J DT and Haley M, the google reviews are about rating your experience at the restaurant not voicing your concerns about PHO.
Classic food in a classic truck stop diner. Breakfast is top notch. Always service with a smile. Highly recommend
great food and big portions. the beer was cold. the milkshake was amazing.
The atmosphere is fantastic. The food was great and very fast. Large tasty portions. It's one of those truck stop gems you rarely see anymore.
You know when you want to remember the food from your mom...this is the place! Everything is so YUMMY!!!!!!!!!
Hands down best breakfast and they are licenced
The food is excellent, but the seating is a bit tight, the wait a bit long and the prices way too high for the basic item ingredients used.
We are locals here, it grest the food is cool and the staff are cool and social
Great place, I will come back again and again. Amazing food, nice atmosphere. 5 stars
Best eggs benny ever!
It's an institution. If you haven't been here, what are you waiting for?
Great food, amazing and friendly service! Love the place!
The best breakfast in BC.
This is a great "greasy spoon" classic diner. The food was excellent, serving up vegan and gluten free options as well as the classic fare. I had the crispy chicken sandwich and my partner had the vegan burger. Both were delicious and fresh. The music was bopping and the place was busy but very clean. The service was friendly and efficient. The coffee cup was never empty! I highly recommend!
Had the Shaved Ham Benny - awesome!! Diner style with great staff. Will definitely be back for more!
Awesome service and food. Love the atmosphere
Campbell river classic
Always serves such amazing food, warm and welcoming to all. The hollandaise sauce is the best in town. Truly love supporting this local business ❤️
Delicious breakfast and great customer service
Portions are massive and the food is good!
Staff are wonderful, friendly, and entertaining. Orders are taken and fulfilled with alacrity; the food is delicious and filling. Decor is absolutely fantastic retro café style. Couldn't possibly find a better café to have hearty breakfast with family at.
Great breakfast place! Good food and friendly service
Poor service, food uncooked. The Owner is a young women and she's very rude had all three of my kids their served me old bacon and was very rude about it and then came and said she wasn't be rude and started freaking out. And we all walked out on our meals.
The food was awesome. Everyone in our group was very happy with their selection.
Great food, pretty much the local logger's cafe so nice people
Awesome breakfast.
Visited three times while we were camping nearby last month and this month. What a great restaurant! Nostalgic decor of the 40’s and 50’s, really helpful and pleasant waitresses, good food with lots of choice including vegan an gluten free. Old time charm. Will visit whenever we are in the area. It was a pleasure. Loved the chocolate milk shake made in one of those old machines.
We love this place!!!!
Went for a sandwich. Ordered turkey. $14 for the sandwich. $3 dollar tip. $17 for a turkey sandwich. Made on normal bread. A slice of tomato and lettuce and a small amount of turkey. As small a sandwich you'd send your kid to grade 2 with. Way over priced. First and last time customer
All day breakfast is awesome.
Really good food and very fast service! Servers were really friendly.
An absolutely Ideal place to eat at.
Always great food and great service. The menu is amazing and it is always a challenge to decide which item to order.
Great atmosphere and service. They did a custom order to satisfy a craving once and the chef did an excellent job.
Best breakfast in Campbell River
Amazing vegan options, friendly service. Can't wait to go back!
Awesome place to get a homemade breakfast. Classic diner, lots of young and interesting people here, food is delicious and portions are huge! Thank you!
Litterally everything you could want out of a diner on the highway median
My lunch date was awesome, great food... Best beef dip ever we added mushrooms to it tho, the clubhouse was good too (shared half of each so we could both try each sandwich) and the customer service was awesome! Very much appreciate that they do not discriminate anyone no matter your race, health issues etc. Will definitely go back!!!!! Loved the old style bar stool counter which is where we sat.
Great friendly staff and awesome food
Awesome little cafe! Great food and equality equally great service. Definitely had that old-school Diner feel. They offer milk shakes and really delicious eggs Benedict. Would definitely go here again.
(Translated) 5star plus a ???? (Original) 5star plus a ????
Meal type
Best breakfast in Campbell River. A local spot favored by locals, this 50s throwback cafe is wonderful. Great fast staff, very friendly. The food was perfect!! Well priced and authentic!!
Mediocre food but worst of all is their blatant disregard for Public Health Orders. Ensuring people are vaccinated and refusing those who are not, IS NOT a form of discrimination. They are egregiously evading health orders by abusing a loophole of “ordering at the counter.” Make no mistake, this is a restaurant and should be checking for vaccination status to ensure the safety of customers. 1/10 would avoid.
Foods ok
What a COOL place!!! Old school atmosphere, terrific food. Prices are a bit steep.
Exactly what you expect from an old school truck stop diner
It's not the same as it was when I was a kid, that's for sure.
Good food, good service
Always good food, friendly service and more. Val
Ideal is easily one of the best places to eat in Campbell River. Charming and lovely staff, and delicious diner classics. The breakfast barge is usually my go to. A must visit in CR.
This is THE BEST place for breakfast and lunch in Campbell River. Bar none.
Funky place, 1950's vibe. Great customer service. Wonderful food. Breakfasts are fantastic!
You can't go wrong. The name says it all!!
Yummy food. Funky and authentic retro theme.
Super eggs Benny!
Good food. Good size portions.
Great food. Great portion sizes. Nice server, she was sooo busy though. Only one person running all over at lunch rush. Would of been a nicer visit if the atmosphere was abit more relaxed.
Ideal for breakfast or hangover grub for sure . And a bit of canadiana
Super friendly!
My kind of place !
Great Soup made Fresh Daily ! Mmmm Never Disappointed ! 5 Star Service everyday with a Smile ! thanks Girls
Great food, great service!
Always leave full, and my tastebuds happy! Fast, and Friendly environment every single time!!
Great eats in a homey style restaurant
Amazing vegan options, friendly staff! Wonderful.
Wonderful and fast service, our waitress was super speedy and accommodating to our big party
Don't follow health codes. Silver fish and mice in the kitchen. Eat at your own risk.
I appreciate your support for all customers. I value this business.
Went here for brunch and although the indoor dining was closed the car hopping service was great! The service was fantastic and the portions were huge. I ordered the vegan skillet and it was sooo delicious I would highly recommend!
Best eggs benny ever!!!
Since we moved to Vancouver from the US Midwest, it's been hard to find the kind of no-nonsense diner breakfast we'd always enjoyed. Our breakfast at the Ideal Cafe was perfect.
Always the best breakfast
Awesome!
A tasty little greasy spoon that'll take you back to the good ol' days of friendly diners and pleasant waitresses.
Ideal cafe has the best burgers around! You wont be disappointed
Great food, friendly staff.
I ate here last week after two years of boasting about how great the food was. I assumed I'd be let down after building it up for so long, but nope. The food is delicious and the service is great! Their menu is similar to everywhere else, but I think this might be my favourite restaurant!
Amazing all around. Amazing staff, amazing food, amazing atmosphere. I love this place so much I go every week!
Always great food and amazing service
Fantastic food, huge portions and incredible service! One warning, bring a pillow for the nap afterwards ???????? ????????
Bit of a greasy spoon but some good breakfast and the waffles are worth the calories
Great food great service
Outstanding people that stand for what’s right.
(Translated) a good dinner. If you are not stingy in calories to your body, it's a treat. (Original) un bon dinner. Si on est pas radins en calories envers son corps, c'est un régal.
Love that place! Its a must everytime Im in town. Great people, great food in a vintage dine-in atmosphere.
Fantastic, friendly service. Best breakfast in town. Busy and casual atmosphere.
A favorite cafe for unbeatable breakfast menu and good old fashioned service and surroundings.
Great service and tasty meals at a good price. Love the old diner atmosphere. The Ideal Cafe is one of our city's gems.
Amazing service and food! Fun classic diner atmosphere.
We came from Edmonton - our ideal breakfast is some classic home cooked food - and that's exactly what we got - it was ideal. I wasn't feeling ideal, but luckily I got the ideal hangover breakfast and now feeling ideal while sitting at ideal. Thanks Ideal!
Great little diner. Fresh and well made food, served quickly and pleasant service
Great greasy spoon, old-timey dinner vibes. I had the vegan hash and found it quite tasty
Solid breakfast option. Portions are large and food is fresh.
Best spot for brunch in Campbell River!
Excellent food. Real handmade milkshakes, some made with alcohol for the adults!
I love a place that does shredded hash. It's so much better! The only thing better than that is STUFFED hash, which they also do. This place is busy, and for good reason. Breakfast was delicious, the servers …
It was and is always AWESOME!!!!
Best coffee shop in Parksville
Nice place. I ordered the poutine. It comes with shredded cheese mix, not cheese curds. The food was decent, service was decent, and the atmosphere was good. Parking is a bit rough if you park in the front (it's right on the highway); I have a big truck and I had to back partially out onto the highway to get out.
Portions are large, food comes out quickly and hot! It's a classic diner and they understands their customer. They have something for everyone: the classics, gluten free options, vegan options, etc.
A place that cares about freedom and serves good food/cafe!
Awesome food. One of the best breakfasts that I ever had. Smoked salmon Benny! Yum!!!!
Not the best meal I've had there. Burnt food and no offer for a discount (but did get I'm sorry) coffee wasn't up to their regular standard. Hoping today was just a one off. I show up in the a.m. with coworkers but today was a afternoon meal. Normally a 4 star.
This is a great place for a bite. Great food, great service and friendly staff.
Delicious food, great staff, reasonable prices
Nice place, large variety of great food and a friendly staff. The excellent stop for a quick drink or bite!
A 1940's feel with the big breakfast, milkshakes, burgers and chilli. Add an unique atmosphere and you could almost arrive in your PJ's (please don't). The staff are friendly, efficient and always smiling. The smoked salmon eggs Benny is spot on.
Food was decent and had cute diner style decor. The server didn't seem to get our orders right at all. I asked for an eggs Benny with hollandaise sauce on the side and eggs medium hard. When it came, there was hollandaise all over the eggs plus extra on the side and the yolks were super runny. To top it off, they charged me for the extra sauce even though they got my order wrong in the first place. My husband said light on the mayo and he still had to scrape mayo off his sandwich.
Food was so good
The Ideal is a weekly occurrence in our family!!
Best breakfast in Campbell River
Great food and service
Cult classic. Great food. Try a milkshake if you can handle it.
Such a fun location. Lots to look at and talk about while waiting for what turned out to be a delicious breakfast. Staff were attentive and really ready to serve. Thanks guys and girls!
Good food
Their food and service was good but we found a hair in our food; it ruined our mood tbh but the waiter was really good and professional they replaced my eggs benny promptly.
Great service, solid diner breakfast
Best Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny on Focacia bread, yum yum! The staff are super fun too, we always have a good laugh.
Excellent food and service
Amazing local resteraunt thats been around forever. Servers feel like family and the food is always comforting and delicious
Good food fast kitchen friendly staff
Great local spot for a greasy breakfast, lots of character in the building and reasonably priced.
Ideal Cafe is a landmark in Campbell River. They have the best breakfasts in town, affordable prices, and are conscious about where they source their food. If you're looking for good food, come here!
Great food and service...waits can be long when busy but worth it.
Awesome breakfast
Just pulling up is like time travel. Like going to the dinner with my dad like...50 years ago. Great traditional diner fare, a warm welcome, busy place service, a counter to sit at, locals having coffee on the move or passing the time... Had a burger, fries 'n' gravy...just darn good. I'll do breakfast next time. I thoroughly recommend the Idea Cafe. Just don't park in front of the side door.????
This place has everything I look for in a good diner: lunch counter, bottomless coffee refills, good, simple food at a good price and a friendly but no-nonsense atmosphere. Also they have shredded hash browns (the superior breakfast potato). Will definitely go again.
Had the eggs benny. Frozen hash browns, broken hollandaise sauce. Glad I ordered the eggs soft as they were almost done too much.
We had cod fish and chips. Just the best freshest fish done in a tasty batter. And the homemade tartar sauce was very nice too.The 2 pieces meal was enough for me and my wife had the one piece and it was enough for her. Just great. Eat here again for sure. Service great and no waiting tho it was lunchtime.
Great little diner, food was awesome service was great, would highly recommend this place.
Small town diner, service isn't the fastest, food is decent.
Great casual breakfast diner with good service, friendly staff, and great food.
The food is good and the staff are friendly and professional. I used to love the Ideal Cafe however they stopped serving the pan fried hash browns and so now I think the breakfasts are nothing special, like any other diner. Still good though. Bring back the pan fries!
Very Good! Staff are so friendly especially Kyla. She is our hostess and she really deserve a kudos. Food is excellent too! I highly recommend for you guys to try Ideal Cafe. Keep it up so next time when we comes back to Campbell River we will definitely visit cafe again.
The best eggs Benny's I've ever had! No joke. Called the beast Benny's, bacon, avocado, poached eggs, fresh English muffin and real full fat Hollandaise sauce.
Great food, cool atmosphere Pistachio milkshakes are delicious and very big. One milkshake can easily be split between two people. Food was great with generous portions and friendly wait staff. You get the impression the place is well managed.
Will be back
The all of our food was excellent, but a little pricey.
Service
Best breakfast on the island
I never miss stopping by the Ideal Cafe when visiting my family. Fabulous food and people. My kinda place
We always come and we always love it. Great roadside diner with A+ milkshakes and homemade pie. Stop here!
Excellent food! Perfect service! I had the Salmon Spinach Salad, and it was very fresh, and delish! A new favorite to stop on our next trip through this way!
Awesome food and service
This restaurant is my favourite! I’m sure it’s a lot of people’s favourite as it usually full of happy customers! The Benedict’s and the Barge are absolutely delicious along with pretty much anything on the menu. The staff is fantastic! Super bubbly and kind especially caring for their regulars. Steph has always made a huge impression on myself and my family as she is so kind and funny. This is a must go if you are in Campbell river!!!
Cute retro restaurant with an authentic atmosphere. Very friendly staff with well made comfort food. Vegan and gluten-free options.
Good food and prices are fair. Service is average as they get busy.
Great food at a great price. My milkshake specialists assure me they are among the best ever.
Best good comfort food
This place is very local. Looks a little old on the outside and kinda inside too but don't let that turn you away. The food was great and the price is fair. The staff are friendly and service is pretty quick. You can tell pretty quick that this place is a local favorite, with the broad range of ages of people inside. Anywho I'd reccomend trying this place if your looking for local and homestyle cafe food.
The atmosphere of this place matches it’s food: funky and elegant. The milkshakes are divine. The service is incomparable. Will go back for more yummy times.
Food and service very good
Great breakfast spot. Really good burgers too
Food was ok but not happy my eggs benedict went from $15 to $24 because I asked for an extra egg.... Not cool at all
Always a favourite when visiting Campbell River. The people, the atmosphere and the food all worth it.
Food good staff friendly, bacon over cooked
The most talked about greasy spoon in town...they have amazing shakes too!
Authentic old school diner full of local loggers and other colorful characters. Huge breakfasts, cheerful service.
It's like cheers small place but good food and service. Don't forget to check out there milkshakes!!!!
The best that home cooking can offer. The decor takes me back to my younger days.
Very tasty burger. Quality Patti. Great service.
I’ll be back.
Great food! Old school but loved it
Vintage truck stop diner. This is a must-do in Campbell River. The building is small but full of character. Breakfast and lunch only. Qualities meals for a decent price. Adult milkshakes are amazing! Floor is checker pattern!
Best breakfast place in campbell river
Best breakfast in town. Excellent atmosphere and the staff are all friendly. They make delicious milkshakes too!
Great breakfast, very tasty and huge portion, we will come back for sure !
One of our favorite breakfast and lunch places . Love the homestyle food and the service and food is outstanding.
Can't beat the Ideal for a good start to the day.
very very good
Great place
Really good breakfast!
Great family restaurant. Food is delicious. Staff is wonderful
Brilliant café, changed 'hands' a few times over the years, still good food and service.
Dine in
Good food and service
It's a diner, not a Michelan restaurant... If you keep that thought in mind you'll love the Ideal! Serving sizes are very ample, all homemade and typical diner choices - their bennies are some of the best in the area. If you want to re-experience what it was like to go to a diner as a kid, tha is your destination. I gave it a five to help boost the rating as it's a solid 4 star. This cafe has been here longer than most of us - that speaks volumes.
Great food & GREAT people! This is my "go to" whenever I am in town.
Monster Benny. That is all.
Good food good service ????
Best eggs benny ever !!
Very good eggs Bennie.
For the price my eggs should have been cooked properly. Eggs Benny with hard eggs doesn't cut it and I did not complain or send it back because I wanted to enjoy my meal with my family.
Good food (easily enough to share) and great atmosphere
Love the ideal cafe!!! the food is amazingly delicious and staff are always very friendly and fast
50's atmosphere and the food was great!
Great food great staff and retro atmosphere.
Only pieced together after ordering food that the owners take the ideological stance that abiding by covid 19 regulations for the safety of the public is a 'threat to one's freedom". Nationalist scribbles openly flaunt this in thier window in front of Canadian flag. Gross and pretty messed up they feel they have the right to spread disease and endanger those vulnerable to c-19. Also not a fan of being called " lovely" by middle age dude; you wouldn't address a man this way so don't do that to me . It's not endearing, I do not know you. Will not ever eat here again and tell my friends to skip it as well.
Excellent...food superb... Owners are so friendly and delight fully helpful.. Loved it...
I love this cafe! We go every time we are in Campbell River. The food is great. The service is fast and friendly. I love all the vintage furniture and decor.
Had a beauty of a burger there and service is what you would expect from a home town historic eatery, awsome
Awsome milk shake and staff
I had the beauty benedict and made it a beast (with bacon) it had spinach, avocado and tomato on it. The hollandaise sauce was extremely good. I am from Ontario and have eaten at a LOT of different breakfast places for eggs benedict and I have to say this is the BEST eggs benedict I have had yet. My aunt ordered their BOAT scrambler and we were both EXTREMELY happy with our meal. The service/employees were amazing. Very happy we stopped here. Thank you so much.
Great ????
The ideal is an awesome spot! The staff is great and the food is delicious!
Great atmosphere and service.
The best greasy spoon on the north island. Awesome breakfasts friendly staff. No one really knows how long this place has been around. The best guess is 1942.
Love this place great breakfast and lunch
Like a perfectly preserved 1960's diner. Great eggs Benedict with perfect shredded hash browns, crispy outside and fluffy soft inside. Very good fish and chips, rock cod with more fish than batter.
Go there
Awesome breakfast!
Delicious
Great food and good service.
Good food and great service. Very much enjoyed my lunch today! Thank you for being acceptable to all!!
Very friendly service with great food.
Great food, milkshakes are wonderful. Staff are so nice and helpful!
I’ve been going to the Ideal since I was a kid and I’ve never had a bad experience. The service is awesome and the food is great. The best eggs Benny. It’s busy for a reason people. Lol.
very friendly service & menu is GREAT
Nice local diner/cafe, perfect for an eggs benny or a milkshake. Friendly service.
Fantastic service
Amazing food and perfect if you're looking for a full belly of deliciousness! The milkshakes had paper straws and the takeout containers were plastic free. Vegan and veggie options were so inclusive and a big bonus! Try the vegan bratwurst!
Was the best breakfast ive ever had!!Amazingly delish
There will be a many troll who will post negative feedback because of your stand against this government fear. I give praise to this stand against coercion, stand firm, stand tall, you will be richly blessed by your decision. May an abundance of foot traffic fill your business and may you prosper in many ways.
So good!!
Best eggs Benedict in town. Service is excellent as well.
Charming and fun. The food is reasonably priced, the staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is that off a sixties diner.
Food was amazing. Service was better. Great covid protocols in place. Nostalgia at its finest. A must visit every trip home.
Me and my girlfriend were here 2 times and everything is just amazing. If you are around Campbell River you have to try it.
Great friendly service. Quality food products. Will be returning on future visits to Campbell River. Keep up the good work.
No masks on staff.
Hasn't changed ...great cafe
No care for the community. No understanding of the law whatsoever. No reason to eat here.
Great greasy spoon cafe in Campbell River. Breakfast was good old diner classics with large portions.
The service and food was okay.
Oh my goodness breakfast menu from heaven
Awesome food great service. Everytime we're in Black Creek we go at least once and they have never failed.
Excellent breakfast. Highly recommended. We were very well received and very well served. We'll definitely be back!
Great food, atmosphere and service
Best place for anytime meals, Best eggs Benedict in the city too! Friendly staff.
A old, established diner with some of it's 1950's decor still in tact. The food is fifties style e.g.: assorted burgers w fresh made fries; a turkey plate w mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetable side, etc. Every time we've eaten here , they have served us a substantial amount. The foods reminds of the sort of fare my grandmother would make - hot, tasty & plentiful. Desserts are devine with a ever changing selection. Coffee, tea, pop, liquor, beer & wine are served here. But ... You must try the handmade , thick, rich, smooth milkshakes. In a wide variety of flavors, including the old standards. For the adults only, you can have a liquor flavoured milkshakes. The decor, though it's a well worn mishmash of odds & ends from numerous decades, it is a clean, comfortable place to dine. Good meals for a good deal. Popular place with locals. Staff is really nice & friendly.
Awesome homemade food served by fantastic people for a great price. The milkshakes are the best I've had! One of the last trucker stops on the island.
Awesome eats.
Lunch
Its a greasy spoon but i dont mind that. Its the Unprofessional staff. Don't think I'll be going back
Pulled in on the way from Port Hardy to Nanaimo for late lunch. Burger and Onion Rings. OMG they were awesome. Staff really friendly even though I walked in just before closing. You can see they take pride in the place. Old style diner you don't find very often any more.
Always good food there and reasonably priced. Mice staff. That's why they have been around for decades!
Best smoked salmon Benedict!
Quick stop coming down from the north or a bite while heading back up. Nice menu items and a nice atmosphere. Old style cafe cool feel
Great food and excellent service
I had take out and the food was delicious and the service was fast
Great food and coffee and friendly staff! I had the islander wrap and it was really good! My husband had the large barge and our daughter had the mickey pancakes both were also delicious.
This is a great place to eat. Its a very old building and the restaurant has been there a very long time. Its decor is very old style with tables and chairs like I grew up with at a very young age. Plus it has bar style seating as well. The food is great. A lot of the local workers and businesses in the area dine here. If your looking for fancy and la-d-da this is not for you. If your open minded and don't mind the kind of place that takes you back in time to the good old days, then i'm guessing you'll like this place. We've eaten there more times than any other restaurant in Campbell River. Take the bridge over the river and stay in the left lane which will double back and as soon as your on the other road heading back its right there on the left. Enjoy.
Love this place. Hope it never changes,and the food and service is top notch!
Great food and atmosphere! Having a dairy allergy eating at returants is always a challenge, but the waitresses made it easy to adapt my order and always remembered when I come it. Would definitely say it's one of the best breakfast places in Campbell River!
Im so disappointed, we have been going to the ideal for years and have always had wondrrful food and service. However, the other morning i can say sadly it was the rudest treatment i think i have ever seen. 7 of us regulars went for breakfast, then as soon as the last person basically put their fork down, Stephanie was right there and said " i have a table of 10 coming in so if you wouldnt mind heading". She told the table of ten that had arrived, " go wait outside they are just leaving and i dont have room for you yet!" She brought over the debit machine gave it each of us, as soon as we punched in the last number she SNATCHED it back and said "take your card!" And so on. Ive worked in the service industry and we were NEVER to treat a paying customer this way. Maybe we wanted another coffee, we just paid for meal. The others we just arriving, as other places do, they POLITELY let them know the table will be ready very soon, the.customers are almost ready.to go. I figure there is not much sense in complaining to the.owners as this is their.daughter, so really?, what will happen?. I can ASSURE you ALL 7 of us were not impressed and will pass that along to others.
Very pleased with service and the food was excellent
Fun place to eat. Friendly staff, good simple food, and old school diner style. Also kid friendly!!
Amazing hole in the wall restaurant. Great home cooking, open kitchen concept.
The ideal breakfast and lunch cafe.
Food is always excellent, service always good little bit loud at times, but it's like a family affair.
Fantastic food, all day breakfast and the staff are very friendly.
The food was amazing I highly recommend eating here!!! I will definitely be coming back here
unfortunately, this restaurant does not follow established safety protocols for covid and it is not advisable to visit here anymore. there are TONS of great restaurants in campbell river who are doing their part to stop the spread of a dangerous virus and i will be supporting them instead of an establishment who is putting their staff and customers at risk as a result of their misguided beliefs. Unfortunately, this is what happens when restaurant owners try to pretend that they've got the same understanding of infectious diseases and health law & health policy as actual experts in these subjects :(
Super happy friendly staff. Loved the environment. Will be back again.
Tasty clubhouse
Great food great service. Love the atmosphere
Delicious meal! Definitely going to eat there again. Service was fantastic
Hot waitresses
Good food and I left full.
I have never been disappointed with the Ideal Café. I am on Quadra so I don't get there often enough. I am 65 years old and it seems to me I was eating there in my teens. Good grub, pleasant staff.
Old school CR diner. The food is terrific
My partner and I love this place! Great food and service! We always get our meals really quickly and they always taste amazing!! Highpy recommend eating here
Great food, great price and wonderful service!
Generous portions for a fair price, friendly service, and small local charm
Best eggs benny's in all of Campbell river!!!
Great parking, friendly, nice atmosphere, great food , reasonable prices , I will definitely go back.
Really good breakfast! ????????
Excellent that's it
Friendly, casual, classic diner. Staff was efficient without being rushed. Nothing fancy, and they don't try. Why should they? It's all about the food. Big portions, homemade goodness made with bacon and sausage from a local butcher. The bacon alone is enough reason to go for breakfast.
(Translated) A hidden treasure. Wow and wow (Original) Un trésor caché. Wow and wow
Great place. Friendly, food is good and plenty of it. Always make it a point to eat here when in area.
Best clubhouse in town.
Do you want to feel satisfied with a meal that gives your wallet a run? Here at Ideal Cafe your stomach will feel full and your wallet will still be full too! Your wallet will thank you and so will your stomach. The portions are so large, so you might need to take home half your meal home with you. You will want to return again and again, to try different meals. The all day breakfast and all day lunch is a great thing too.
Actually had vegetarian/vegan options
This is a little gem in Campbell River - worth the stop! It had excellent vegan options, which was a nice surprise for a small town.
Amazing food great service
Great service and food!
Phenomenal food, great service , friendly staff. Set up very well for social distancing
Good bennys friendly staff
Good food, friendly
Excellent burger and fries. A few GF and Vegan options. A fairly extensive menu. Friendly service.
Great spot for breakfast.
Ideal
Old school diner vibes. Breakfast was tasty
A little hole in the wall cafe with good service, good food, and good pricing.
Splendid
Love this place straight out awesome food ????
what started as a truck stop in the 1940s how's now turned into a hot spot for locals and tourists. A must stop on any Campbell river trips. Open till 730 on weekdays
Food is good
Great home food and friendly service
Friendly service. Always clean and THE Best chocolate milkshakes, chicken burgers and fries in town!:D
Tasty food, with great gluten free options. The staff and atmosphere add to a great dining experience. 10/10 would recommend!
Great stop coming or going to the north island!
A quaint little family run restaurant, the food was yummy! Very prompt service. It did get noisy at times to hear with the acoustics of the building.
Delicious food, ths staff was super friendly. The fries are to die for.
It's a greasy spoon, but it's a classic. If you go knowing what to expect, you'll be very happy.
Amazing food, amazing customer service, just amazing all around !! go here!!
Servers are great and nice to see some vegan options!!
(Translated) Authentic little diner. Well visited. The food was very tasty. (Original) Authentisches kleines Diner. Gut besucht. Das Essen war sehr lecker.
Food was excellent! Would definitely recommend and will definitely come back.
Good food and friendly service.
Great food. Definitely a must try in Campbell River.
Too bad about the changes. It was a great place to eat but portion size took a dive and menu has been slashed. I imagine it will be a tourist restaurant now. No reason for the locals to go... Sad :'(
Food and service was great! Was my 1st time there, ill go back for sure.
Fantastic vegan options! Really delicious food, friendly atmosphere. Very filling and satisfying. (Photo is of the vegan skillet)
Old fashion cafe. Great food. Eggs bendy was awesome. Staff was the friendliest.
Great home cooking
Corn Beef hash was mostly potatoes. Waitress was rude. Otherwise ok
Cozy, local diner with many options for food! The staff was friendly and fast and the food was amazing!
Easter Sunday.. April 1st, 2018 5 of us walk in.. place is packed... greeted with a huge smile. Got seated in a very surprising timely manner. Amazing service, delicious food, and super clean. Thank you Ideal for working on a holiday so that I didn't have to... I will be back over and over and over ❤❤❤❤
???? ???? ????
Amazing food and service!
This restaurant has publicly announced that they will not be following Provincial Health Orders to reduce and stop the spread of Covid-19 when the vaccine passport is implemented September 13. Please visit the many other restaurants in Campbell River who are putting the communities health & safety forefront by following PHO. Do your part to halt the spread of Covid-19, by not visiting Ideal Cafe.
Fun old school diner. Good food, great people.
Love this restaurant.. the food is amazing.. its like home cooking that you didnt have to cook.. the staff are awesome.. always friendly..
Stopped in for shakes. Delicious!
Good menu, good prices and great service. Would definitely recommend
Good food and good service at a great price
The greatest little diner around! Feels like home! Lots of vegetarian/vegan options as well:) I live on the mainland but when we come to the island for fishing we eat all of our meals here. They accept us in our waders and all!????
Excellent place to cure a hangover.
The best place to eat in Campbell River
Great breakfast . Decent price . Ok service
Very good !
Great food and great service
This is the prefect breakfast place. Diner style and awesome. Fast happy service and good food. Dosnt look like much from the outside, but it is a hidden gem.
Visiting from Vancouver for work, lady on the phone very friendly an food was so good had to pick up another veggie omelette b4 leaving.
Eggs Benedict was wonderful. Also had a loggers breakfast that hit the spot. The milkshakes are to die for! Food and service is 5 star. Will definitely be going again soon!
New tables and really comfy chairs to suit this fifties cafe. The food is always delicious and the servers are run off their feet.
Great food, caring awesome staff! Our favourite place for breakfast. Support local businesses ❤️
Walked in the first time March 2nd. On. Camping trip with a buddy. Place is freaken amazing. Food is outstanding. Service is with smile and sass. Makes you feel at home. We be back. Hell it's worth the drive from Victoria.
old style diner feel, breakfast was delicious and filling with welcoming service..
Came to the island and this is a 10/10 breakfast or lunch joint.
Amazing service! Amazing food! Thank you Ideal Cafe!
Best fish& chips north east of the brick.
Great food and excellent service!
Service was awesome food was good. Atmosphere was awesome like it was 20 years ago when I work there.
Awesome highly recomend
The food here is good for what you pay. Big hardy meals and great breakfast! Awesome front of house staff!
Usually really good we come here all the time but apparently adding steamed or cooked spinach is to difficult to handle they can only do raw.
We’ve been eating at the Ideal for years! Always awesome food and service. One of our few go to spots in town because the food is always consistently good! Our favorite brunch spot and a Campbell River gem!
Best food and service always a great stop for a meal!
10/5
Great service great food but outdated
This is an old fashioned diner complete with a U shaped lunch counter. Great atmosphere,Nostalgia and great food. We will be back
Great food! Huge portions. Friendly staff
Awesome food and service
Great food, large portions and a classic diner look. A great place to eat to get the feel of Campbell River!
Been going here for 10 years now and have never had a bad meal. Food and service is perfect everytime. Good atmosphere as well. Would highly recommend.
My boyfriend and I stopped here for the vegan breakfast and we were not disappointed. The pancakes and skillet were incredible, their options to add vegan meat products were delicious, and everything was super quick.
The easiest restaurant to miss that I've come across. But holy smokes. Generous portions, fantastic and scrumptious food with a surprising variety of vegan and vegetarian options, and stellar customer service as sweet as their delicious milkshakes.... cant recomend enough...... plus they use paper straws and paper takeout containers for those who are trying reduce their plastic impact.
Great local spot, old school diner style. The hollandaise was amazing. Breakfast served late
Great barge
Refusing to enforce COVID-19 vaccine passport rule which means they are disobeying a BC provincial health mandate which puts the whole world at deadly risk and is total disrespectful to the people who have made big sacrifices during this horrible COVID-19 pandemic so I strongly recommend not eating at that restaurant or even ordering takeout from that restaurant because they don't care about the health and safety about the general population.
The food is amazing, by far my go to breakfast place in town. BUT: Poor customer service! Servers don't care if a customer has been waiting aeons end for a table, its a free for all. When another customer comes in afterwards and snatches the table up before those who have been waiting. The response from staff "Oh that's too bad". The servers need to care a little more about loyal customers.
Food was great and friendly staff.
Best breakfast in town! Got a hash skillet and it was amazing. Service was super friendly and food came out quick. Will continue to support these guys moving forward, we need more businesses like ideal cafe in town.
Comfortable and welcoming little local spot! Perfect place for a quick delicious breakfast at a great price!
Cheeky owner thinks he's funny
Great eatery
Phenomenal place! Delicious meals and amazing Mimosa... a must try if you are in the area. They have options for everyone's.
This diner is a great classic greasy spoon. Fast and friendly service, good breakfast, and they were following all Covid and vaccine passport protocols. We’ll definitely be back the next time we are in the area!
Always great food and service!
Classic diner offering delicious food with vegan options, and great service!
Great home cooked meal ,
Great atmosphere and experience. The breakfast was delicious and up quickly after ordering. Will recommend and be back with friends and family when they come here to visit after this pandemic
Homemade food, super friendly staff and decent prices. Couldn't ask for more!