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Diner Deluxe
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Diners, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
804 Edmonton Trl NECalgary, AB T2E 3J6
(403) 276-5499
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 9:30 pm
Sat 8 am - 9:30 pm
Sun 8 am - 3 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
58 reviews for Diner Deluxe
Review Highlights
"...we went, I had the pulled pork hash topped with a couple of..."
(in 3 reviews)
"Try the stuffed French Toast or Maple baked lemon oatmeal."
(in 3 reviews)
"I actually enjoyed the bakery/cafe/pizza served next door."
(in 6 reviews)
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58 reviews in English
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Review from Cal S.
Calgary, AB
2/1/2012
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. -
Review from Leah L.
Calgary, AB
12/23/2011 ROTD 1/7/2012
Can I choose six stars? This place rocks. There are two scenes at this place...the packed high energy breakfast crowd (best breakfast you'll ever have btw) and the lights dimmed, come and chill out for awhile dinner. Every night of the week has a different special, and within that theme the choices change from week to week.
I decided to take my hard to please dining companion ( aka Mom) on Taco Tuesday. We had an AMAZING chicken burrito with some sort of chocolate sauce...it was subtle and genius...the chicken just melted in your mouth. Sides were great too.
I'm so impressed that I meet my husband there for dinner the next night. I'm in scrubs after work but feel more than comfortable in this laid back environment. The same hip and friendly waitress from the night before is there again. She's obviously having fun, serving food she knows is awesome.
My husband has 'the best pulled pork sandwich of his life'. I hate pork but try some and yes it's friggin great. I kept it light that evening with yam fries and a salad. The portions are still huge and there are small touches, like house made dip for the fries. No sauce from a plastic vat here! I'm so interested in the yellow hot sauce on our table that I have to try some. It's sweet and flavorful and then my mouth is on fire. Try it if hot is your thing.
Overall, the best casual dining experience I've had in Alberta. -
Review from Kimberley H.
Calgary, AB
12/4/2011
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 -
Review from Wendy P.
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you're going to make a list of Calgary establishments, Diner Deluxe had better be on it. Mixed matched chairs, old tables with sides that fold down or up, it's a retro diner alright.
Breakfast on this particular visit included the pulled pork hash with caramelized apple, grainy brassica dijon and two poached eggs, along with coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. I never would've thought to add pulled pork to my breakfast, but hey, it's Calgary, so why not! As it turns out, it's a pretty tasty thing to do. I might like it even better than a traditional pulled pork sandwich. And I loved the extra flavour the apple added.
It's open all day long, and at its busiest on weekend mornings, so if you can, save your visit for a weekday or evening. Also, if you've got long legs, watch the table, you might not quite fit your legs under it. -
Review from Don B.
9/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
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). -
Review from jose m.
Calgary, AB
1/27/2012
super hip, super friendly, super deluxe deelish grub. came in one early sat morning after shooting the sunrise, feeling famished. my friend and i both opted for the pulled pork hash with caramelized apple and dijon with poached eggs. omg, this dish was amazing. i would've gave a 5 star rating, but the poached egg yolk came a little overdone (i like mine runny yo). our server was always attentive and ready with top up for our coffees, which was a great brew. definitely a fan and am looking forward to my next trip.
-
Review from Sylvie C.
Calgary, AB
10/14/2011
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. -
Review from Lauren H.
10/17/2011
We tried Diner Deluxe for lunch on a Saturday. Loved the retro decor and the laid back vibe of the restaurant.
I had one of their the burgers-very tasty and fresh. I ordered the yam fries but received the regular fries instead. They were very apologetic and offered to exchange them but I said no. The regular wedges were pretty good although in the end I would have preferred the yam ones.
All of our meals were hot, fresh and plated nicely. It was a great place for a leisurely lunch (they aren't the speediest at service but I think that's because most of their menu is made to order from scratch and the place was packed). Its not the cheapest for what you get but I feel the prices were fairly reasonable (at least for what I ordered)
There was a bit of a wait for tables and they won't seat you till your whole party is there (fine in the summer but would suck in the cold weather as there is no where to wait inside really).
I would go back if in the neighbourhoods as there seemed to be a lot of interesting choices on the menu that I'd like to try. -
Review from Matt H.
Calgary, AB
9/21/2011
Ok i FINALLY found this place, i have drove by it countless times and used my GPS to find it and STILL almost missed it....
im glade i did find it, teh Grilled cheese was great, eth 3 cheeses teh bread ( dont remember what kind) but it was darn good, teh fries were good, could have been a little crisper..
and if they can get Mexican coke ( retro with REAL sugar not HFCS) from Costco in the US to serve, that would be even better and "retro" -
Review from Sam F.
Calgary, AB
6/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've lived in Calgary for five years now and only JUST checked out Diner Deluxe! I know, I'm a disaster! I still have to check out Boogie's Burgers too...oh man!
Anyway...
We were a party of seven on a Sunday morn after church, which meant we waited about half an hour for a table; but that's still not too bad for such a great place! I had the Fritatta, which was very deliciously hot. The chocolate sour dough dish that Sarah ordered was AMAZING, thanks to some great bread from the neighbouring Urban Bakery.
The only reason this place gets four stars from me is the MENU! There are no names for dishes, just lists of ingredients. When you name something, it gives it character and distinction...just a thought though.
All in all a great place to hang for a delicious meal. -
Review from David W.
Calgary, AB
8/26/2011
Went here for a quick dinner last night (Thursday August 25th) before hitting up the GlobalFest fireworks. I have been to Diner Deluxe before for breakfast, but it was a while ago and I forgot just how good the food is.
Our party was four people, and we each basically had the same thing: my wife had the Pulled Pork Sandwich; I had the Alberta Bison Burger. The people we were with also had each of those.
My wife and I split ours in half and shared (such a good thing to do when you're wanting to try out any menu) and wow, both were equally good in their own regard.
My burger was obviously handmade and loaded with spices whose names I couldn't begin to guess. What I know for sure is there was an Indian spice in there, maybe Tumric, that made all the difference in the world. It was also laden with buttery fried onion, fresh butter lettuce and buttery cherry tomatoes.
This burger literally melted in your mouth. Delish. My only complaint about the meal was the amount of home cut french fries served with it. I could count on one and a half hands how many there were. A little weak if you ask me.
The Pulled Pork was just as good. Obviously completely different. This was served with a mixture of carrot shavings on a massive ciabatta bun of some kind, but again with the same paltry amount of chips.
Prices are decent. Looking at about $12-13 for a sandwich. $14 for a main dish. Beers and wine are also decently priced. Mill Street was $6.50. 1/2 carafe of house is $31.
Service was great. Each staff member was super cool and completely attentive. Buss boy straight out of Happy Days.
Location is great. And if you can get there early on a summer eventing like we did, the patio right off of Edmonton Trail offers a gentle blend of warm evening sun and the sweet scents of traffic fumes. But seriously, when we only get 4 months of summer, it's worth it. -
Review from Diane F.
Calgary, AB
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I used to love this place. I started going there back in 2002 or 2003 with the ex. He knew the owners at the time, Dwayne and Alberta and they were always so hospitable. I never once had a bad experience there. My favorite meals were the mac n' cheese and the gouda stuffed french toast.
I loved the retro setting. I loved the staff's casual funky look. I loved the food. If this review was based on all the times I went there when the past owners had it, it would definitely be 5 stars.
However, my last trip there was nothing short of craptastic. We(myself and my daughter) walked in and were told to seat ourselves. There were three other groups there before us. Our orders were taken and then all the groups ahead of us received their food. While waiting 4 or 5 other groups came in. I watched as three of those groups got their food before us. All we had ordered was an eggs benny with no hash browns and toast to substitute and a child's order of french toast. I saw someone else that had ordered after me get their eggs benny. Ok. Odd. How hard could french toast be?
By the time the 4th group got their food before us the waiter clued in that I had watched all this unfold and came over with an excuse about the kitchen having trouble with something. This was after about 30 mins(I was watching my time from my foursquare check in which I did not do immediately upon arrival). He then went over to the cook and put an order in. I suspect it was ours and that we had been forgotten. After 45 mins plus of waiting we finally received our food and the order was wrong. There was no toast, but there were hash browns. After waiting for over 45 mins my order was wrong and my daughters french toast was almost cold. I was so upset with how little service we got that I tweeted my displeasure the entire time. Once we were done we didn't even get a bill. Waited a bit and then went to the counter to pay. I found the food mediocre and not near as delicious as I remember it from before.
Would I go back? I doubt it. I had many twitterers recommend some other places to try out, but maybe someday I'll give it another chance as I spent many other wonderful times there previously. -
Review from Melissa B.
Calgary, AB
After hearing many good things about this restaurant and reading MANY more good reviews, when I had my aunt came to visit from out of town and wanted to try some signature Calgary food, I thought, why not try Diner Deluxe. Boy what a good choice we made.
Like everyone else said, the wait can be long but in that area, its not to bad to have to sit and wait. The decor fits the theme of the restaurant to a tee. Very retro and diner-esk. It did LOOK pretty crowded but it did not feel that way.
First thing that won me over was our server. VERY nice gentleman (and very attractive too. it took us 15 minutes to decide what to get cause we kept staring at him) He was also very helpful as my aunt could not decide what to get so he gave her a few suggestions.
I did notice we did have to wait a while to get our food, but considering how busy it was, the wait did not bother me too much (only a little because I was pretty hungry) I opted for lunch as opposed to breakfast, so I have the classic burger. It was really good and meaty. Defiantly not a frozen burger. My aunt tried the bacon/cheese filled french toast (yes i said bacon/cheese filled) and my mom had just a regular breakfast. No complaints about the food were made. -
Review from Justin B.
11/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Good food, fun atmosphere, you have to love a place that gives you coffee while you wait for a table and is attached to a bakery. If you don't have a lot of time, this is not the place for you.
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Review from Kate B.
What a cozy space, complete with amazing comforting diner food. The service is great (our server made us feel right at home!), and I think this would be a great place to bring out of town company. I recommend giving the soup a shot if it intrigues you at all - the soup of the day when I was there had amazing flavour. They also have wifi, which I love - ask your server for the deets. Expect a line up on the weekends.
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Review from C T.
Calgary, AB
7/1/2011
Waited in line for about 1/2 hour before we could get our table for 4. While waiting, there was complimentary coffee with stevia or sugar and cream. Only thing missing were spoons or stir sticks.
Loved the 50's theme of the restaurant. It had a certain quirkiness yet it works for the restaurant. Very busy and bustling environment. If you don't like noisy places, this is not for you!
The food was great! We ordered the Eggs Benedict with Grilled Chorizo and Spinach, the 2 eggs with pork sausage and the Canada Day Special - omelette with Canadian bacon, sundried tomato, mushrooms and cheese. All served with multigrain toast - that is a big plus for us! They even have peanut butter! Loved the cute bottle of ketchup! The meals all came with hash browns - more oven roasted with little chunks of sweet potato and green onion. I wish I could have free substitution for the hash brown for either tomatoes or fruit. If I make a substitution, there was a charge of at least $1.50 to switch from potatoes to something that was carb-free.
Service was good and quick. Lots of wait staff around and coffee was refilled 3 or more times.
Parking could be a problem as there really isn't any place to park - just street parking, at the back of the restaurant, if you're lucky and a small parking lot on the north side of the restaurant. -
Review from Mia T.
6/16/2011
Food is pretty good here, and that's why there is always a line up on the weekends. I was served some undercooked pancakes, but the staff took care of it ASAP!
Love the cozy feeling and the mix and match furniture. THey also offer coffee to you while you wait for a table. -
Review from Meghan M.
Cold Lake, AB
3/15/2011 ROTD 4/28/2011
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! -
Review from Lynn H.
Calgary, AB
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here with a big group on a Sunday for brunch. It was sooo busy that we were advised to split up the group to 2 tables. It was fine. I will have to say the staff are really friendly and upbeat. The only real downside was our server. She took extra extra long to take our food order. I really think she was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of customers at one time. The food came out fresh and hot and was really quite tasty!! :D They offer free range eggs, almond milk lattes/cappuccinos, Phil & Sebastians roast coffee. I had a latte & it was strong and full bodied. It was a nice tasting roast. I had an omlette and it was gigantic!! i could barely finish half of it. The hash browns were very good. Nothing was overly greasy at all. I realy like their multigrain toast and their special blend jam. They offer other unique drinks as well. I also had a Cora's lemonade strawberry iced tea. Very sour as Cora's lemonade is a concentrated lemonade mix.
The decor is of a 70's diner and the furniture reflects that. They are kid friendly and offer high chairs. I would definitely like to come back. The waiting area isn't huge and on a nice day waiting outside is kind of nice! -
Review from Nick S.
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
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 -
Review from Chris S.
Calgary, AB
2/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
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! -
Review from AJ P.
Calgary, AB
12/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
I love this restaurant it has become a food cultural icon and great corporate citizen!! I love their fresh local and organic mandate. There customer service is respectable although a little to split focused at times to be attentive but understandable due to volume of patrons.
I love their meatloaf hash - their buckwheat and potato pancakes!
Their daily dinner specials are usually quite unique and yummy
I give them a big yelp yes !! -
Review from Wanda B.
Calgary, AB
11/11/2011
I love this place but don't love the line ups. Today the family ventured here for what was meant to be breakfast but ended up as lunch! When we finally got in there were so many menu choices that were appealing it was hard to choose just one. I settled on the Fried Egg, Chorizo Sausage and Aged White Cheddar on Ciabatta. The plate was overwhelmingly large. The side of homemade potatoe hashbrowns were super tasty. The Chorizo Sausage kind of through me off a bit...sausage that had been made into a patty. In all honesty I did not care for the sausage patty or texture, so I took it out and ate the rest. Husband had a basic egg & sausage plate with chorizo sausage links - now those were darn good! Daughter had the kids buckwheat pancakes and she devoured half the plate (highly unusual). Son was happy with scrambled eggs & pork sausage! The coffee and hot chocolates were also delicious. Such a great variety on their menu I can't wait to come back again and try something new.
-
Review from Jason K.
10/25/2010
went on a friday afternoon and had the following (pulled from their online menu) based on a recommendation from the waitress:
Seared steelhead trout sandwich with lemon caper mayo & gouda cheese on sourdough
dang. it was good. really good. the lemon caper mayo is amazing, and it compliments the trout so well. only thing was that the trout wasnt really "seared" as the menu described, as it was cooked all the way through. oh well. still really good.
also, went here a few months ago for brunch after doing a 10k run. eggs benny. good. although the wait was really looong. -
Review from Ryan M.
Calgary, AB
7/16/2010 ROTD 7/17/2011
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. -
Review from Linda C.
All day breakfast?!?!? Need I say more? ;)
Casual place that brings me back to my childhood - not that i was born in the 50's but I actually saw someone drinking out of a 50's coffee glass that my grandparents used back in the day - irradescent cream color with brown flowers around the rim !! hahah but I digress.
We shared 2 dishes: yukon gold potato pancake, and the maple fried oatmeal. Both were good. The potato pancake had green onions and white onions in it and also came with your choice of double smoked pork chop or chicken, chorizo or pork sausage - Yes... It did say pork chop! lol. Potato pancake was very tasty, we opted for the chorizo which was ok - I've never had a whole chorizo before, usually it's diced up in a scramble or something and seems really greasy, but this one was dense & not greasy and it also wasn't the same red/orange color like the chorizo i eat in LA.
The Fried oatmeal was good. The lemon and cream was a nice combo. It's a meal in itself and very filling so I kinda wish they would make smaller versions (like 1/4 of the size) so that if you ordered another breakfast, you could get it on the side. =)
I would come back here to try other dishes.
I would imagine that it's super packed on the weekends so if you happen to have a day off during the week, take advantage of it.
Dress in weekend clothes cuz when you leave, you smell like the hoodfan in a kitchen! -
Review from Ted M.
Calgary, AB
1/12/2011
When I moved back to Calgary a year ago, a friend that comes through here all the time told me that I needed to check out Diner Deluxe. Typical to his usual stellar advice, Diner Deluxe is indeed, the best breakfast place I've had the pleasure to visit.
Take the combination of sub-hipster vintage décor, it's open bustling environment, killer coffee, friendly and prompt service and fresh, lovingly prepared ingredients and you have a recipe for success.
I recommend everything on the menu as well as getting there with some time to spare, for you may have to wait a little bit. Typical wait times are between 20-30 minutes for peak, though I find it usually quicker... so grab a cup of coffee in the breezeway and make chit chat with your party, for it is absolutely worth the wait. -
Review from Tze T.
Calgary, AB
11/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've always had a soft spot for any place that serves all day breakfast. Diner Deluxe is one of the best places for breakfast food...actually, just one of the best places period. The awesome decor, friendly staff and most importantly the amazing food will only entice me to return again and again.
The last time we went, I had the pulled pork hash topped with a couple of poached eggs. It hash itself was great, cubes of potato topped with well cooked pulled pork. I requested the eggs to be cooked medium and they were done perfectly.
My partner enjoyed his bison burger thoroughly with a side of potato, bacon and leek soup.
The maple caramel latte is highly recommended! It was done with just the right amount of maple and caramel flavours that complimented the coffee without being overly sweet.
Would definitely be heading back to Diner Deluxe in the near future! -
Review from Janna L.
10/18/2011
I had heard great things about Diner Deluxe and could not wait to give it a try for Sunday brunch. I am not a usual brunch-goer and kind of dreaded the line up but I would not change a thing about having to put my name on a list and waiting about 40 minutes on this beautiful, busy Sunday at 1pm. There is a bakery connected right next door - I LOVE bakeries so that kept me busy as did the complimentary coffee at the door. There were samples of the fresh bread that warmed my soul. YUM! Of course we bought some on the spot (Apple Rosemary Sourdough) as well as a scone, banana bread etc. LOL! So, we were finally seated in what looked like it could be your grandma's kitchen. Loud, warm, homey and welcoming with aluminum tables and mismatched mugs! CLEAN despite the crowd! The service could not have been friendlier. Patience was our waitress' virtue as we had not been there before and had a couple of questions. NOT a place for you if you have a hangover headache, as it is PACKED and the tables are close together but fortunately I felt pretty good this day! More to do with the fact that those days are over for me!!! I went simple with 2 fried egg whites and fabulous multigrain toast that tasted homemade - and the preserves! WOW! Also made in-house and not for sale normally I was told. I really liked the smaller sized hash browns mixed with green onion, seasoned and cooked to perfection. My friend had eggs benedict which she gave a 9 out of 10 (she was not over the moon for the hollandaise sauce but she likes her own that she makes so that could have something to do with it....) The reason for 4 stars and not 5 is that we had to wait over an hour for our food. We had a ball talking the afternoon away but we were starving!!!! I got take-out for my husband which was a chicken sandwich with avocado, potato wedges and pickles. He adored it and thought the chicken breast was ample and worth every penny! I KNOW I will be back to this establishment (not to mention the bakery) - and I cannot wait!
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Review from Angelo T.
3/7/2011
-1 for what to me seemed like an uncessary long wait time for tables. I GET that theres a lot of people coming here, but observing the table cleaning was just ridiculous. It took 2-3 people to clear tables and it looked like an intricate lengthy Japanese tea ceremony. The Ed-Harty t-shirt guy beside me was blown away and didn't quite know how to react.
Aside from this, Diner Deluxe's food was amazing. I started with the grilled grapefruit with syrup, which was refreshingly sweet (I will be grilling grapefruits from now on!). And had a full meal consisting of a chocolate milkshake, the pulled pork skillet with poached eggs, and two sides of grilled roma tomatoes and maple baked beans on the side. The chocolate milkshake was great and brought me back to the days of Gerrys when they had REAL ice cream milkshake. I also liked how the shake had more of a dark-chocolate tone which brought a soft bitter contrast to the whole meal. The pulled pork skillet was an opus, the pork was thorough in flavour and was well accompanied by the fried potatoes. The eggs were perfectly poached to a gooey consistency, and acted as the sauce to bring the whole skillet together. I had my buttered toast, which was from the bakery next door, with the Roma tomatoes, which was the almost perfect combination, I just wished I had some basil and some cheese to enjoy it. Finally I looked over at the maple baked beans and felt bad for having forgotten it. So I after having a few bites I had it to go and had a great snack at home. A little sweet for my taste, but none of it went to waste.
I would go back to Diner Deluxe again, but hopefully at times when it isn't that busy. We went during Sunday lunch and it was intense. I would definitely like to take a crack at their dinner items. -
Review from Sapna G.
Calgary, AB
4/2/2010
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. -
Review from Christopher W.
Calgary, AB
12/12/2008 1 photo
We tried to get brunch here on a Saturday after hearing all good things about Diner Deluxe. But we showed up at 1:45 pm and were told we had to wait at least 35 minutes. We were in a bit of a hurry and couldn't stick around.
I'm not sure there's a proper system in place for line-ups here, anyway. It seemed like there were people creeping around in every direction and it was confusing as to how or where we should have waited.
If the food is as good as everyone says, maybe we should have stuck around. But I would think if you're the owner and you're bringing in that kind of business, you might, probably, kinda, think about expanding a bit. I know that offends die-hard fans of this place, but I've never heard of a proprieter of a small restaurant business saying, 'holy sweet Jesus, how will I spend all of my money this year'.There's a way that might even bring more in....
I know, I know, how dare I suggest something like this. I guess next time I'll just have to show up like a slave and wait in the rain for an hour to be lucky enough to give them my money for a sample of their wares.....
Also, they should do something about the parking situation there. Threats are posted inside that you'll be towed if you park in the neighbouring Halal Meat parking area. Like that guy has this kind of business on a Saturday.... -
Review from Deb S.
Calgary, AB
7/13/2011
Food was good but not worth the wait for a table. Over an hour and then served coffee for 15 minutes longer before ordering. Should consider reservations. And utilize outdoor tables! Not sure I'd go back.
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Review from Lesli K.
Calgary, AB
10/3/2008
If you see a line-up out the door, then you've probably found Diner Deluxe. It's fairly busy on the weekends, not bad during the week.
If you want to know the truth, it's worth wait...inside it's like a retro cafe from the 50s - with funky 50s mismatched furniture. There's even a breakfast bar if you're by yourself and want to read the paper while you eat.
The coffee is organic and fair trade - which is important to this coffee drinker...I love the fact that the cups are bottomless. (You can't get that at those high power coffee chains, can you?)
The food is good wholesome stuff - like locally made sausages, eggs and toast. -
Review from Kat F.
2/11/2009 2 photos
I was in Calgary for business last year and Diner Deluxe came highly recommended to me by everyone that had ever been to the city. It was so amazingly tasty that I went back TWICE in a three day visit!
The baked oatmeal with lemon curd will render you speechless. Six months later I'm still dreaming about (and drooling over) it. It's incredibly rich and unforgettable. I MUST find a way to duplicate it, or get back to Calgary ASAP to have it again!Listed in: My Favourite Meals Worldwide
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Review from Trish L.
Calgary, AB
9/11/2008
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).Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Crystal W.
Calgary, AB
6/4/2011
I've always had good service, the food is made with love and the decor brings back fond memories of my great grandparents' home. I've never had a meal I didn't like, but my fav's are the breakfast choices, particularly the pancakes and their awesome sourdough french toast.
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Review from dinah g.
Calgary, AB
1/21/2010 2 photos
Diner Deluxe is just what it states it is, a deluxe diner, set on the Edmonton Trail and right next door to the Urban Baker.
Be prepared to be flung into the time, as the interior decor is all 50's. Chrome tables and chairs, 50s lamps, and 50's island tables that surely came out of some Jetson episode. There is a great mismatch of retro coffee cups and teapots here even the high chairs that line the hallway to the bathroom are authentically 50s.
The restaurant was not busy today which is from what I heard a slight miracle, so there was a really nice chill atmosphere to the sounds of 50's lounge music in the background.
Staff is very nice here and they tried desperately to get the permission of the owner to take photos of the restaurant; first she said yes and then she changed her mind and said no. I don't really understand this idea, don't you want your restaurant to be known and isn't any publicity good especially if it is free, whether it be by word of mouth or via a review. I mean it is a compliment if someone finds your place interesting enough to photograph it. Enuf said.
Let's stick to the highlights then; The Menu.
Seems there are tons of breakie reviews here so I will concentrate on the supper menu. The supper menu or "Classic Mains" are around 17 dollars and all the offerings sound so delicious.
The Macaroni has sun dried tomatoes and basil, pesto and white cheddar. Grilled New York Steak has caramelized onions, and potato wedges. Lamb shank has horse radish and Dijon, root vegetables and mashed potatoes.
I myself dove into the Meatloaf which had Dijon and mashed potatoes, pan gravy, and red pepper jelly. Yummy!
From beginning to end you are taken on a gastronomic voyage, it surely is worth the visit, and is I imagine a huge icon here in Calgary.
I however take out one star for the hesitancy to promote what you have been working for, plus I was treated with such suspicion. Looks like other yelpers have done it anyways. -
Review from Lindsay K.
Halifax, NS
9/20/2009
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! -
Review from Chris P.
12/18/2009 2 photos
As a born-and-raised Calgarian, now living in Toronto, I am ashamed that a Torontonian had to tell me how great this place was. Its easy enough to drive by, as I had hundreds of times before on my way home from work.
I had the eggs benny with Canadian bacon. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the minced basil in the holandaise sauce was a great addition. The side of potatoes were tasty.
My friend had the oatmeal which I sampled and I can agree with Kat F. that it is amazing. You almost just want to eat the lemon curd and not the oatmeal.Listed in: Egg-celent Breakfast
