The Offy

I’m going to do my best to show you just how incredible The Offy is — not only for its food, but for the way General Manager Mitch Olson and his entire team went above and beyond in hospitality, care, and attention to detail. From July to August 2025, my anaphylactic allergies suddenly increased from one item to nine. Since then, eating out has become incredibly stressful. Since then, there was only one restaurant where I felt truly safe. Through allergy resources, I learned I needed to start emailing restaurants in advance to ask if they could accommodate me — a process that can be disheartening and discouraging. At the end of December 2025, my boyfriend and I were going to spend a weekend in Chilliwack. I reached out to three restaurants in District 1881, and Mitch from The Offy was the only one who replied. Not only did he respond — he went through the menu’s ingredients and carefully told me exactly which dishes could be prepared safely based on a list of items I was interested in. He almost sounded apologetic that he could only offer five options… but I was ecstatic. Many restaurants can’t safely offer more than one. Five felt amazing. When we arrived, I told the hostess about my email conversation with Mitch. She immediately informed our waiter (who was absolutely top notch!), who took a photo of my allergy card and brought it straight to the kitchen. From the start, I felt heard and taken seriously — and that alone made me exhale for the first time in a long time. That first night, I had the Seared Chicken Breast with Parmesan Sage Sauce, and it was divine. The sauce was so good I tried to get every last drop. Our waiter laughed and said, “No judgement if you lick your plate.” My boyfriend had the schnitzel, and he was doing the same. Then came the tricky part — drinks. My severe pineapple allergy makes cocktails difficult at most restaurants. But again, The Offy handled it beautifully. They washed all their tools and made me a Lavender Gin Sour, which was incredible. My boyfriend ordered the Itty Bitty Titty from the “Free Spirited” cocktail menu and loved it too. The next evening, I asked my boyfriend if we should try another restaurant in District 1881 — but since no one else had replied to my allergy email, he didn’t see the point. He told me he hadn’t seen me this relaxed in a restaurant in months, and that the staff had been so wonderful, why risk going anywhere else? He was absolutely right. Before getting into the second night’s food, I have to mention the atmosphere. The Offy is designed in a way that instantly invites you to relax and enjoy yourself. From the framed pickle above the bathrooms (which I completely forgot to ask about), to the glass flower lighting that dangled over the sub-seating area, the carefully placed black-and-white vintage photos, and the traditional Brentwood chairs throughout, including around the beautiful J-shaped wood bar — everything feels intentional, cozy, and social. Just sitting there watching people, it felt like a place where conversations with strangers could easily happen. The vibe was completely our style. On our second night, we somehow managed to be even more impressed. I ordered the Duck Confit with Perogies, and Mitch himself came out to double-check my whole-grain allergy. He wanted to make sure it wasn’t a gluten issue — and I really appreciated that extra step. Knowing he took the time to confirm this was incredibly reassuring. Nobody wants me ending up in the hospital, and it felt wonderful to be so carefully heard. One last thing I want to highlight is the accessibility. The washroom is large enough to fit a wheelchair user and an attendant, the floors are flat, and the tables and chairs can be moved easily. I’m not a wheelchair user myself, but some of my friends are — and it matters. Thank you soooo much to Mitch and the entire team at The Offy for making us feel safe, welcomed, and truly taken care of for two nights in a row. We can’t wait to come back again soon!

A little pricey but the flavour was amazing. They also were able to accomodate Gluten Free options!!