Found this diner while visiting Calgary. We went in for breakfast and the placed was almost packed. Our waitress was very kind and recommended a few dishes that fit our dietary restrictions. We tried the Breakfast poutine stuffed with mushroom and quebec cheese. We also got the Pancakes (one blueberry and one chocolate chip). Both dishes were HUGE. The pancakes may have been the biggest I've ever seen! The poutine itself was very crispy. I really enjoyed the grilled tomatoes and the eggs. The pancakes were huge and delicious as well. I absolutely loved this place! read more

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You can sum Diner Delux in about one word: hipster central. We weren't even planning to go for brunch as my other friends were planning to eat at 10:30am on a Sunday for some brunch. Call me crazy but I've never been the biggest fan of the brunch crazy because a) lineups are always insane and b) hipster overload. Alas, my friend took a bullet for us and waited it out to grab us a table. Be prepared to wait for an hour if your coming on a weekend. The place is very eclectic designed and has some hilarious, old school signs. Zillion dollar benny anyone? There were six of us so we each ordered our own dish (missing two dishes): - Stuffed french toast ($15) - thick cut apple flax sourdough, brie, bacon, and rosemary syrup. This was actually a huge plate, you won't be hungry after eating this. The stuffed French toast was sandwichesque but way more fluffy and delicious. The bacon, ham and brie went surprisingly well with French toast, which was unexpected. - Huevos rancheros ($17) - jalapeño-lime chicken, red peppers, salsa verde, cilantro sour cream, and corn tortillas. Comes with a side of hash browns and my sis opted out of the eggs and got extra ham instead. I had a taste and it was good, with a slight kick from the sauce. - Chocolate banana french toast ($14) - dark chocolate, cranberry sourdough, and caramelized banana. This was my second choice - Mascarpone french toast ($13) - multigrain, mascarpone mousse, mixed berries, and preserved lemon. Overall, the food was good. If you're a brunch fanatic, this is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared to wait if you go during prime time baby. read more

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Mmm... Diner Deluxe. Even the thought of it makes my mouth water. I am fortunate enough to live really close to this little gem, and it is always my first suggestion when someone comes to visit me. The decor is kitschy and adorable - most of it is refurbished vintage finds that the owners have carefully arranged in order to create a little time warp in the restaurant. It truly feels like you've gone back in time to the fifties diner you always see in the movies. Even the bathrooms play with this theme. The crowd is diverse - everyone from indie kids to business men to new-age hippy mamas from the yoga place next door. Parking is hard to find, though there is a small lot in the back. First, let's deal with the food: Diner Deluxe does breakfast like you wouldn't believe, and it does it all day. Any variation of gourmet breakfast is yours - pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, they even have this oatmeal stuff that I have never tried but my friend got and it looked healthy and delicious. This is not Denny's so everything is made up fresh. The kitchen is kind of open so when you go to the bathroom you can peek and see what breakfast delights they have cooking up. They put new spins on those old breakfast favorites. If you're planning on going for brunch on the weekend: beware. DD is a small restaurant, and they often have a huge lineup from about ten to two. Expect to wait at least twenty minutes, often a lot more. Go early if you can in order to enjoy a more leisurely brunch, but if you've slept in just grab a snack beforehand because it is definitely worth the wait. Diner Deluxe is not as recognized for its dinner menu, which is kind of a shame. They play with the diner theme, making gourmet and delicious favourites like Mac'n'Cheese and some of the most delicious sandwiches I have ever tasted. Their yam fries are the fourth best in the city. DD also has an amazing wine selection and their virgin drinks are to die for. They play with spritzers and lemonade and the drinks are always served appealingly in jars. The best part is that Diner Deluxe is very reasonably priced considering the quality of their food. Definitely grab some friends and come check out the great service and tasty food, as it is always a fun place to visit. read more

Diner Deluxe - photo credit: business website - Diners Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Far and away my favourite diner in Calgary. Classic, hearty breakfast/brunch food with friendly staff

Well I decided to give it another try, after not liking it about a year ago we tried again. It all came back to me why I don't come here and go to OEB!! The coffee was bitter, second cup a little better. Bacon tasted off and was very greasy. My son said his hash brown potatoes were hard, but I tried my hubby's they were okay in flavour. My coffee refill took a long time, I had to ask, but she was a very nice and accommodating server! The pancake with blueberries and bananas was better than the other place I tried but nothing spectacular it was moist so pretty much only thing I liked! I won't be back, but It is packed so I imagine ppl like something here! OEB is closed for renos so if you are in the area look elsewhere! Just my opinion! read more

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Even with a bumpy experience they earned 5 stars...When an hour went by and our order for my family of 4 wasn't out yet I chalked it up to being busy and COVID changing the norm. Unfortunately at the 1:20 mark we were informed that something went wrong and our order didn't wasn't put in que. This should be the makings of a poor review however Deluxe found a way to turn it around. Without hesitation we were offered the entire bill to be taken care of which was really above and beyond. When the food finally came out it was simply five star worthy; this place takes every menu item seriously and it all gets high marks from me(even the coffee was excellent). This was my first visit here but it's going to be a regular stop for us any time we are down in Calgary. read more

Pleasant staff. Good, old time atmosphere and classic breakfast/lunch dishes (huge portions). Get the iced coffee with maple syrup and huervos rancheros. My regular breakfast spot. read more

This place was a random stop here in Calgary. Boy o boy, did it impress us all. All of the options were great, the coffee and alcohol, and service even better. The decor was so cute too! Def come here and enjoy!!!!!!! read more

Diner Deluxe - Diners Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Although I didn't make it for breakfast yet, slipped in for lunch one day and enjoyed a tasty soup and sandwich. Nothing special with either of these (hence only 3.5 stars), but the atmosphere is friendly and funky. We will try to get over for breakfast some time, as that is one of their features, but there are similar diners opening all the time in the city and may take awhile to get back up there. But if the old OEB is packed or closed, just drift down the street, pass King's and check out DD. Shouldn't be disappointed. read more

We've frequently attended Diner D for about 4 years. It's changed in various ways since then and we keep on coming in. Much of the staff knows us fairly well and we have nice visits. Weekends get intensely busy for a reason. It's become a weekend tradition to enjoy a coffee while we wait to be seated. So if you're the type with no time to stay & enjoy a place, try coming in on a weekday to avoid the massive crowds of fans. Quality ingredients, a healthy atmosphere and a refreshing modern mom & pop attitude make Diner D a consistent pleasure! read more

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My daughters took me to Diner Deluxe for my birthday and I was very excited. I've been here before and one thing Diner Deluxe does well with is comfort food in a relaxed retro diner setting. I had the Rocky Mountain Omelette loaded with bacon and cheese. They must have used at least 4 eggs, it was huge. Accompanied by Rosemary hash browns which were delish. Instead of toast they gave me fresh tomato's at no extra charge. Overall the meal was very good. I can't say excellent because the omelette was overdone and a little dry. The place has a very cool relaxed vibe and the service is friendly. Be prepared to wait a bit, this place is one popular breakfast joint. It is expensive too but with it. read more

I got the stuffed French toast and I put syrup on. At first I was a critic about it from the menu and when I ordered it and it was not a regret I tasted it. It was the best sandwich I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE please go get this sandwich When I ordered it... it was beautiful. And on the inside more beautiful. The ham and the Apple in it was amazing it was all tidied together with cheese and syrup filled toasted bread read more

If you're not here shortly after they open on the weekend, you can expect to wait but they provide free coffee to those waiting and the number of people waiting attests to their worthiness. The service is amazing and I've never left the place satisfied. My go to favorite is the YYC breakfast but there are too many great choices to list here. read more

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There has always been a special place in my heart for the classic diner serving up comfort food and nostalgia, visit after visit, plate after plate. Perhaps it's the friendly conversation over a hearty meal, or maybe it's got to do with grandma's vaulted recipes that some diner restaurants excel in executing perfectly. I feel as though Diner Deluxe has the classic feel of reminiscence down to a tee. Unfortunately - and I'm quite upset about it - an aspect of the dish I had for brunch at this little hole-in-the-wall left me quite unimpressed and I am unlikely to return for another visit. Prior to walking in, I took in the sights of the neighbourhood, a hip stretch of Edmonton Trail worth exploring. The ambiance and décor of Diner Deluxe is totally retro, with faded vintage cigarette and soda ads and old rusted license plates on the walls, counter stools, and blue and red cafeteria chairs. There is a splendid patio out front for prime people watching. A server greeted me with a faint smile, but minimal enthusiasm. In fact, the service was consistently more mediocre as the dining experience progressed. Having not eaten for twelve hours, I decided on the BBQ Pulled Pork Hash Skillet, which consists of a saucy pulled-pork-and-caramelized-onion medley and two poached eggs on a bed of hash browns, topped with a a scoop each of apple relish and grainy mustard. The menu hinted at toast being included with the order, but for a buck or two, I managed to substitute it for one of their house-made pancakes. The eggs were flawlessly poached; the oozing yolk creamy and hearty. The pulled pork was honorably average, not too juicy and with little happening in the way of flavour coming from the sauce. Nonetheless, it was edible and the meat was slow cooked. What I enjoyed was the addition of the relish and mustard, adding layers of texture and flavour with each bite - very satisfying! All that having been said, one ingredient ruined this entire meal and my experience at this quaint little diner - the potatoes. Half of my hash was comprised of day-olds. If you've never experienced it - and make no mistake, these were not just overcooked, or they'd have been brown - fried potatoes from yesterday taste like you're chewing on cardboard. It was absolutely disgusting! The mystery is that half of the hash was cooked fresh; how much do potatoes cost and why did this atrocity occur? This one simple, cheap ingredient destroyed an otherwise respectable brunch dish. Leaving chunks of cardboard on the plate, I started on the mammoth of a pancake I ordered - I told you, I was starving. Don't judge me. Plus, no toast. Less carbs, something something. The hot cake, dusted with powdered sugar, tasted like it was made from scratch, not too fluffy but just right. Diner Deluxe seems to have gained some notoriety in the Calgary dining scene seeing as how their horde of positive online reviews outweigh the negatives, but I'm not buying it. How many non-Yelpers have received those gross stale potatoes in the past and realized there are far better choices in this town? A patron's first impression is literally everything. And get that chick to be more personable or leave the service industry, stat! Three stars for ambiance, décor, and a well-executed half of a dish. I feel like that's even a tad generous... read more

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Best service and awesome place to go for breakfast on the weekend. I highly recommend the eggs Benedict.

Went today for the first breakfast out since COVID. It was amazing. I hate the stuffed French toast and the rosemary maple syrup was unreal. If they sold bottles of it I would buy it. Hashbrowns were just soso. I should have switched them for the fruit. Great place and very friendly staff. Def recommend. read more

Classic diner look, with a younger crowd. This place has been around forever but never had a chance to try. We ordered the breakfast poutine and the maple fried oatmeal! Both were delish. The breakfast poutine was hardy and very filling- we added the pulled pork and it paired really well. The maple oatmeal reminded me of bread pudding, so tasty! But more of a dessert and very filling- would of been nice if they offered it as a side for pairing with a savory dish. Overall, nice diner with good options on the menu. Wait times are long but not as bad as OEB down the road. Would come back to try other dishes. read more

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We ended up at Diner Deluxe because the wait at Over Easy Breakfast was 45 minutes (at 10am on a rainy Wednesday!) and it turned out to be a very happy accident indeed. DD is a charming diner in the traditional style full of kitsch and chrome sets. Despite the restaurant being very busy the service was fast and friendly. We tried the eggs Benedict (loved it) and the whole wheat quinoa pancakes (also very tasty). Portions were very generous. I'm not a fan of Phil & Sebastian coffee (too sharp for my taste) but I think most people like it. It cost over $70 for our party of 3 (including tax and tip) which isn't cheap for breakfast but it was a very nice experience so I would definitely still recommend giving DD a try. read more

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I came here for breakfast and service was amazing. It was our first time here and the girl was very informative and super nice! We got the breakfast burger and fosters banana French toast, the breakfast burger was delicious exactly what we wanted definitely recommend it. The French toast was alright wasn't my favourite, but was still good. Fruit was fresh and juice was fantastic! Definitely recommend coming here if you're in the area! read more

Diner Deluxe - Fosters banana French toast with fruit - Diners Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Very nice cozy place! Excellent staff, friendly and attentive! The food is fresh and tasty. The hash browns are good with out being greasy. read more

Diner Deluxe - Diners Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I love this place. Everything is good. Always make sure we stop once or twice when we're in Calgary.

Legit New American/Canadian Traditional American/Canadian Diner Food! Is that a category of food that actually exists? If so, Diner Deluxe has it fairly well nailed. This retro-esque hip spot has a menu that reads like a hangover's cloudy-but-good dream. Items such as a chorizo, egg and aged white cheddar sandwich, southwestern breakfast wrap, perfect benedicts, savory French toast, bacon, red pepper and cheddar omelet, pulled pork hash and more bless a menu that doubles as a one-way ticket to the cardiac ward. And the most awesometown option? Poutine-ize your "hash browns" (us Yanks will know them as home fries) by adding aged white cheddar and hollandaise. Anyone who knows me knows that even in a strong-willed moment I cannot resist an offer of anything that even smacks of poutine. So it was with much gusto that I ordered the bacon/pepper/cheese omelet with poutine-ized home fries. My dining companion opted for my initial choice, the pulled pork hash with poached eggs (and the only reason I didn't order the same was so I had some hashers to poutine-ize (I really like this neologism: poutine-ize). Of the two options, the pulled pork was clearly a winner, but the omelet was a decently close second. Both were delicious, and the accompanying coffee was strong and plentiful. Laid back atmosphere, really tasty food, and enough hearty options to grease the skids. Take that, quadruple mojito I had the night before! You ain't got nothing on this. I look forward to returning on future visits... if only to try the grilled grapefruit. And maybe that delicious-sounding breakfast sandwich (even though it is on ciabatta). read more

This is my easiest review for BREAKFAST! This retro decor place is delicious! They dont cheap out on the quality of the food. The servers are swamped but don't worry, your kicking horse coffee will be refilled Pro: Tasty Tasty Tasty. Cons: Long waits on weekends (well worth it) Your clothes will smell like yucky breakfast when you leave. Fav Items: Basic Breakfast with Chicken Sausage and Sourdough Toast (add on a side of hollandaise sauce) Salmon Sandwich with peashoots They are also open for dinner and on certain nights they have free corkage. read more

Yummy, yummy, YUMMY! We loved this place. I had the eggs benedict with ham and hash browns and the dining companion had the burger with yam wedges. I could taste my fresh (organic?) egg, and the hollandaise sauce was homemade. spot on. Small portions, for price, again that is the style here in Calgary, but Delicious with a capital D. My "eggs" consisted of one "egg". Very tasty! Burger came with bacon, and was delicious, well seasoned, cooked excellent, thick, just small size. Flavor was out of bounds good! ( I tried the burger twice). Restaurant was busy, service was good, and we were seated at the counter after being asked if that was fine, and yes, thank you for asking, we were fine with sitting there, meaning we didn't have to stand long for the wait. I sat by the kitchen, and I had a delicious full view at the quality of the food these guys were putting out in that small kitchen with a huge turnover of Calgarians, and let me tell you, I was impressed. If the portions were larger, ie, two eggs in my eggs benny and a larger burger, I would have given this restaurant a PERFECT score. Alas, Calgary, we need to keep the pressure on the restaurant owners to step up. I am a fan of Diner Delux, and they are going to bee on the food network Dec. 6/7th. Keep up the good work, put out larger sizes, and I will be there2- times per week. K read more

YUM! This place has an incredible Banana's Foster French Toast. I cannot get enough of them. I have been there twice now after having that the first time a few months back. The place is quite crowded, but somehow you still feel like you have enough space. The server's are fantastic! The line can be pretty long at times, but they do turn tables over quickly. There is lots of waiting room inside and outside. I would highly recommend this place for breakfast. read more

A few people had been raving about this place for awhile and I finally got to check it out with my family and some friends. Yes, it's busy, but so are most breakfast joints in the city. We waited for about 30 minutes for a table, but there was help-yourself coffee and a TV set up for kids to enjoy some cartoons during the wait. This was the first breakfast I've gone to where everybody ordered something different (except for the maple lattes YUM). I ordered an omelet with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, etc. It was SO good. Total quality, as were the potatoes on the side. Everybody's meal looked delicious. Everything seems so fresh and natural there, not greasy spoon like so many other breakfast restaurants. The decor is totally retro and awesome; I dreamed of buying up a bunch of stuff like it for my own house - the Formica tables and the whimsical touches. The service was great too, from the greeter to the waitress. I don't know if it's the cute environment, but the patrons were also all happy and friendly to each other - another customer poured my coffee and milk for me at the door after seeing my injured thumb :D All in all, it was a great breakfast and I can see what the hype is about. We will definitely be back! read more

Diner Deluxe? More like Diner De-Flux. I've never felt so ignored by restaurant staff then I did when I walked into Diner Deluxe that day. Firstly, when you go into a restaurant there is usually someone waiting to greet you and seat you, or tell you how long of a wait it's going to be. I experienced neither. Instead, I had to stand around at the door looking at all the employees walk by me. I saw three of them make eye contact with me and not even make a motion of acknowledgment. We stood at the door for almost 20 minutes before we were finally seated. Luckily, they have plenty of things to read while you wait. They have half a dozen lists of rules and regulations sprinkled around their doorway. Never before had I seen a restaurant telling their customers so many things about what they should and should not do. Most of it seemed a little ridiculous too. "Once we bring you the bill, please leave." Whatever happened to, "Here's your bill, but no hurry. If I can get you anything else, please let me know"? Honestly. Talk about feeling rushed after a meal. Having felt completely ignored at the beginning of the experience, I slowly started to feel smothered by the waitresses once we were seated. I realize they are just doing their job and being polite, but I could barely get three words of a conversation out. Every two minutes a different lady would come around asking if we were okay or needed anything. They probably had 10 waitresses working that afternoon, and the place wasn't even busy. Apparently they require a lot of people to ignore you before you're seated, and then harass you during your meal. To be fair, the food there was delicious!!! It's the one and only reason I would go back again... and probably again. They have an inventive take on breakfast and lunch, with so many different and out-of-the-ordinary ingredients. Very cool for people who like to stray from the usual. I enjoyed a delightful strawberry brewed iced tea (granted I asked for unsweetened, but received it with plenty of sugar) with my meal, which was quite refreshing on a warm summer day. Sadly I slurped it down too fast and there was no free refill. :( It's a good thing the food was so tasty or I wouldn't have any reason to go back. For the most part, the place was a mood kill when you're looking to have a cozy Sunday brunch... or any other day of the week. Good thing for good food! read more

We went there for lunch on a Monday, so the crowd was pretty small. The food was delicious and plentiful. Comfort food with a funky twist. The weekly special nights seem really fun. All of their drinks are local. The diner has an over-all kitchy retro feel that I just loved. The lyrics to Socrates (winkwink) big hit "Chatahoochie" really gave me a laugh. I think there is some kind of secret rule that everyone who works there has the be the most adorable. They all looked like little hipster models. And everyone was so unbelievably friendly. As soon as my husband checked in on foursquare, he got a coupon for a free coffee that he raved about (apparently it's a local brand and it's very tasty), and the owner of the diner tweeted him asking how his meal was. THAT is how you use social media for your business. read more

IMHO this is the best brunch place in town! Definitely worth the wait... during the weekends, the lineups can be rather long but fortunately the line moves pretty quickly. Excellent quality food... they used a lot of local products such as spolumbo sausage. Consistent food time after time, year after year... One of my favourites is their chocolate-sourdough french toast with grilled banana. They also make a really good eggs-benny with smoked salmon. Another yummy choice is their potato pancake with double-cut pork chop. Their frittatas and omlettes are very good as well. I can't think of anything I've ordered that I didn't enjoy. Their bacon is perfectly crisp. Their coffee is good as well (they serve kicking horse coffee). read more

Had an unexpected day off so I took my boy out to play for a bit and then we stopped at Diner Deluxe before I dropped him at school. We were here at 11am and only ended up waiting about 10 minutes for a table. I had the Diner Club (had bacon in support of Passion for Pork week) and my son had a simple plate of scrambled eggs & sausage. I had not enjoyed a coffee yet that morning and was looking forward to having a cappuccino at the diner as I had done in the past. Imagine my surprise when I was told they no longer make those kinds of coffees and only serve regular. Like really? Very disappointed and wondering why when they are so busy during breakfast/lunch. In the end the food was good as always & service staff delightful. Really wish they wouldn't have removed those coffees from their menu however as that is part of the breakfast/brunch experience for me :(. Next time I will stop at my usual coffee place before we come here. *Also I did check in here and it shows on my phone yelp app as a check-in, but is not showing up on my home computer app as a check in. Bizarre. read more

Diner Deluxe was my #1 brunch/breakfast choice up until my last visit. I was disenchanted by the decor changes. I know the new owners were aiming for better turn over & #s by adding booths & loads of new tables, but they really cut out some of what was signature atmosphere and appeal for me. At least they could have sourced more of a retro booth design & vintage tables to match the existing furniture. The service wasn't up to par with past experiences either - so I'm not sure if some new staff is just in training, or what.. but the wait time for food was definitely longer than usual. Maybe this has to do with the increase in table #s. Also - the trimmed down menu - should be a good thing, but the execution of my breakfast meatloaf & spinach dish --- left me wishing for the old owners... maybe I'm crazy, but I'm pretty sure there was a difference. Anyhow - at the end of the day this place is still a good breaky place, with a little funk & granola flavor in the decor, servers and food choices. I would still recommend it to everyone. I'm just not sure it's still top of my list. read more

One of my top breakfast places in the city. The food is fresh, original, and tasty. What really sets this place apart is the atmosphere and decor. It has a retro theme to it, but not over the top. The tables and chairs are like the ones your grandparents had, and there is lots of light and a very nice tree in the restaurant. Try the stuffed French Toast or Maple baked lemon oatmeal. The owners treat the staff well; everyone is happy and they even sell jewelry of one of the part time waitresses by the till. Check it out this weekend! read more

One of the greatest places I've set foot in. They use locally grown ingredients, free run eggs and real butter. I had the eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon and they actually poach the eggs properly. I have worked in a kitchen and I have mad respect for their methods. This place is worth the line up. Oh and they have free coffee for people waiting for a table. I'd bring anyone here. read more

Diner Deluxe has always been one of my favourite weekend brunch places, but last weekend's experience had me leaving sour. Everything was going nicely (very friendly host), until I found a long piece of hair in my meatloaf hash. I get it, things happen in the kitchen, and I'm totally fine with that because hair his hair and it will fall out. I brought this situation to my server's attention, to which her response was "Hmm.. Do you want another one?"... well sort of, I don't want to brush off the hair and continue eating it. It was kind of an odd question to ask someone, most restaurants would have offered to replace it instantly. When my server came back with the new dish, she placed it in front of me and walked away. Neither an apology nor an acknowledgement that the hair inconvenienced my experience was uttered. She looked at my friend as if my friend was supposed to say something. It was just very standoffish. I felt like the hair in my dish was an inconvenience for her. I was appalled and lost my appetite after that. To top that off, nothing was offered on our bill to compensate for our poor experience. The hair found in my dish didn't change my views about diner deluxe, but the attitude I received definitely comes into play the next time I decide to go out. I don't think I'll be visiting anytime soon. I rather go to a place where friendly and helpful servers are available. read more

A sign of a good restaurant is when you see people lined up out the door. Such is usually the case at Diner Deluxe. This was my third visit to this restaurant and just as before, I was very impressed. I took my dad there for lunch. My dad is a tough customer and a very picky eater. Even he loved this restaurant. For my lunch, I had their Turkey clubhouse wrap (Guac lovers brace yourselves) with their tomato soup. My dad ordered their chicken sandwich (or burger, can't remember). The food was great!! Diner Deluxe's food tastes like a home cooked meal that you would get at your grandmas place. They also serve soda that is made at the Bear Paw in Canmore. A black cherry soda was the perfect addition for a delicious meal. Aside from their fantastic food, one of the things I love about this restaurant is their decor and the overall vibe of the place. It is very retro with old signage and an open kitchen concept. Great place, great food, great vibes. I'll be back ;) read more

Diner Deluxe - Blackcherry Soda!! - Diners Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

We went here once for breakfast and it was absolutely delicious so we drove down from Innisfail on a Friday night to have supper, seeing as how they're open late on Fridays. The special was amazingly tasty, with freshly hot homemade buns, as was the burger. If you're looking for a great little spot that's different from the franchises, I'd highly recommend the Diner Deluxe read more

Diner Deluxe - Diners Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Wow, here's an idea: instead of opening a restaurant that has been done to death in Calgary, why not fill a void? Like how about weekend breakfast diners on every streetcorner?!! Yeah! Well, my suggestion is self serving, because every time I want to hit a breakfast place, I need to stand in a lineup that runs out the door. Yes, there's something about that Sunday morning hangover that screams "I need bacon and eggs. And coffee. Lots of black coffee!" So quietly into the lineups this city shuffles and waits . . . and waits... Maybe that's part of the fun: the anticipation? The reward? Kind of like going fishing. Or... maybe there's not a whole lot else to do weekend mornings anyhow. Whatever: as the start of this review so subtly hints, there could be a fair bit of anticipation as you wait for your food to hit the Diner Deluxe table. That's waiting both at the door (lineup & front entrance), as well as your table once an order is placed. Though as an aside, there is self serve coffee to drink in the lineup to help keep you awake through the process. Not to be taken as overly critical. Most good breakfast joints are busy like this on weekends. There's people-volume at this restaurant for sure, but my Saturday morning experience did lead me to believe that while the table service is fine, the kitchen can struggle to get the food out in a timely manner. The server apologized about the wait a couple of times. So one star deduction for a slow kitchen that everyone, including the staff, recognizes. Otherwise, the product itself is great. Most menu items here contain a bit of a twist on the classic breakfast fare. For example, eggs benedict comes in 4 variations, including beef tenderloin and smoked salmon options. Our breakfast choices were delicious, creative, and portioned well for t he price. Very satisfying overall. Looking at other tables' orders, it's apparent you can come back repeatedly, trying new things, and not go wrong. There were some pretty crave-inducing plates, full of originality, all around us. Be advised, though, that the menu DOES vary by time of the day, and weekdays vs. weekends. For example, there is a "weekend and holiday brunch" menu. As well, some diner fare is only available after 11am. So add a disclaimer to the "all day breakfast" notion. As for atmosphere, I appreciated that this places looks and feels like a retro diner. In fact, I wouldn't say it emulates a retro diner. Rather, that's just the way it's always been. The lighting, wall hangings, chrome tables and chairs--even the kid's highchairs--all are familiar from the small town diners (and grandparents kitchens) I've visited in the distant past. Overall, the vibe and food is great. It's buzzing on the weekends, and could be a great way to kick start the day, though the delay in seeing your food can slow the tempo up a bit. However, going there any time OTHER than a weekend morning would probably remove any negatives at all read more

I didn't get much shuteye last night so a friend offered to 'feed and water' me in hopes that I'd be able to take a nap afterwards. We headed over to Diner Deluxe. The place radiates a diner vibe, with corresponding diner prices :) The food is pretty good, as is the atmosphere. I've been feeling protein-deficient, so I ordered the veggie burger ($10.95). It was tasty, and I especially appreciated the Dijon Dill Mayo that was smeared on the bun. Our waitress was super friendly, but the place was a little too packed for me. I don't like to be immersed into crowds of people first thing in the morning... that's more of an evening thang ;) Either way, a 'more than decent' brunch joint in town. Check 'em out. read more

I have gone to Diner Deluxe a number of times, and it is definitely a must-visit when driving through Edmonton Trail in Calgary. It is often busy, which goes to show that it is a popular spot in the city. I had the Pulled Pork Hash which was quite good. The caramelized apples and onions, adds the right amount of sweetness to the hash and would definitely have it again. The addition of Philip & Sebastian's is great, as the Diner has partnered with a local coffee shop. The atmosphere was great, as it really harkens back to what you would expect a Diner back in the day would look like. I even enjoyed the mugs that the coffee came in, as if they just came out of Mom's cupboard. Be prepared to pay a bit more for locally supplied food though. Sadly, it's common to pay a higher price for locally supplied food, but it's good for the local economy! It does get busy and wait times can be more than a half an hour, check out the little bakery beside it though while you wait. As a bonus, Diner Deluxe was one of the locations of the movie "Holiday in Handcuffs" starring Mario Lopez (AC Slater from Saved by the Bell) and Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch). How can you go wrong?! Haha. read more

This place is the bad-ass of diners. Expect to wait in a huddle with other patrons on weekends, even on the coldest darkest days of Calgary winters. Doesn't matter how early or late you go, there's always a wait. They won't let you die though, they always make you feel like you are on the verge of dying before they will tell you a seat is opening up soon. But they will serve you a coffee to save you from hypothermia. Bless their hearts. When you do get seated, you get a healthy selection of breakfast, lunch and alcohol options. Double shot of Baileys in your office you say? Can do! Steak for breakfast? Why not. They probably butcher the cows themselves in the back too. All of the menu items are sized for beasts, because, you know, this place is bad ass like that. You can even get some yogurt and granola too if the other stuff intimidates you. Even though they are balls to the wall busy, they never shortchange the service and hospitality. If you want your meal customized, just ask and they are always happy to accommodate. Just know that you will always leave happy and full! read more