Omelette Factory moves to new Santee location

“I used to be able to be able crack two eggs with one hand” said Pete Giforos, co-owner with Ralph Konig, of Santee’s The Omelette Factory that recently relocated to Magnolia Avenue. Egg cracking skills are desperately needed in a busy omelet restaurant with 18 different omelets on its menu.

The Omelette Factory is an egg institution in Santee. Giforos said they have been in Santee since 1994. The new location near the intersection of Mission Gorge and Magnolia opened Aug. 16.

“I used to be able to be able crack two eggs with one hand” said Pete Giforos, co-owner with Ralph Konig, of Santee’s The Omelette Factory that recently relocated to Magnolia Avenue. Egg cracking skills are desperately needed in a busy omelet restaurant with 18 different omelets on its menu.

The Omelette Factory is an egg institution in Santee. Giforos said they have been in Santee since 1994. The new location near the intersection of Mission Gorge and Magnolia opened Aug. 16.

“Customers are guests, our family, to us,” said Giforos. He proudly said that of the 20 employees some have been with him for years. “My mother used to cook here.  Some of the sauces are from her.” Those recipes included ones for salsa and the country gravy creations. Giforos describes his Chicago restaurant roots as “Typical Greek family that owns restaurants.”

Giforos cites the loss of their lease on their previous location that prompted the move to their new location. When he and his wife were driving around they sighted the signage at a construction site. They called and their new address now reflects 8860 Magnolia Avenue.

Construction is still going on next to the new location that cuts down parking spaces  but Giforos says ultimately more parking spots will be available.

While the restaurant won best breakfast in the Union-Tribune Newspaper’s Readers’ Poll-Best of 2016 they also have lunch items such as burgers, soups, and salads. Its hours are 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. open daily and closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Giforos says he buys his eggs from Hilliker’s Egg Ranch in Lakeside. Its California omelet is currently the most popular omelet on their menu.

“We have a loyal customer base” explained Giforos. Judging from a very busy morning crowd on Sept. 2 that loyal customer base will continue made up of multiple generations’ parents, kids, and their kids visiting.

Cameron Brothers Company developed the 2.2 acre site referenced as Santee Station.

“Trabajo,” or work, was the word of the day over-heard as construction workers continued to ready the shopping center for other tenants. Working hard for its customers is also the mindset of The Omelette Factory.