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- Hours:
Mon-Sat 7 am - 10 pm
Sun 8 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
103 reviews for Save On Meats
Review Highlights
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"...my partner had the damn fine reuben, and we were both..." In 2 reviews -
"What get's the five star review though is the burgers." In 15 reviews -
"...has a best all round butcher award, don't hesitate and give..." In 11 reviews
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103 reviews in English
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Review from Scott H.
5/19/2012
The only things thicker than the fries are the eyeglass frames of the clientele. Lots of wannabe hipsters hanging out, comparing tattoos. Still...yeah it's pretty kickass. Super simple menu that delivers.
BLT was great, so was the pal's rueben(sandwich not boyfriend). Friendly peeps delivering dishes too, and a great relaxed atmosphere. But seriously, the best thing about SOM is the coffee. Simple, tasty and unlimited. The way it used to be, before all the hipster douchebag coffee shops jacked up the prices at their trendy little spots. Actually looks like they got tired of their shops and decided to hang out at Save On. Smart move.
Oh yeah, and it's cheeeeeap. -
Review from Matthew C.
Vancouver, BC
5/15/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I can't feet over this place. I don't know what exactly they are doing but they better never stop! One bunch I had steak and eggs for 12$. The other day I had their lumberjack breakfast (2 eggs, bacon, sausage, ham and french toast) and that was 10$. A friend of mine had the omelet and had every thing you could possibly have with it and it came to less than 10$. Couple that with a 6$ burger for lunch that's actually good, a bar that's not uncomfortable to sit at and staff that are friendly and cool and you have a winning combination. Even if it is full of hipsters.
If you come in a group though, be prepared to wait if either a) there are a lot of you or b) it's anywhere near peak brunch/lunch time or c) both of those things. -
Review from Deniz T.
5/5/2012
A good seat at the bar. I should start my weekend with a caesar, maybe even a double. Quick peek at the menu, wonderful. Let's ask the server her favorite, easy cop out, and never goes wrong... almost...
Burger with caramelized onions, avocado addition, tomato soup on the side. Beer is the word, should not have the hard bar, it is only 10 am. Free wi-fi, pop the mac open and hide behind shades.
Uh-oh... A couple sits right next to me. Somewhat sweet people, I guess, but just coming out of their crack trip. They look like in love, chatty and having fun. The first eye contact, the guy is suddenly interested...
-Hey! What are you doing on the computer?
-Just writing, little work.
-Oh , what do you do?
-Ummm... Listen, nothing personal, I am just not friendly, at least before 11.
-A..hole.
Whew, all right, back to my bubble. My food arrives.
Plating is good, very straightforward, as is, beautiful. The burger was tasty, considering it is $6. Nice patty, decent bun, good textures... But the tomato soup did not have a single pinch of salt. Like zero, nothing. It tastes like hospital food went wrong. I can fix it, no big deal, but really considering all this business passing by, they must be making big batches of this soup, yet nobody tasted it before it left the kitchen, at least the person in charge??? Very very scary... Where is the shaker? Well mr. crack guy have it right in front of him. A choice between a bland soup or an unfriendly chatter... What do I say to him anyways, he is having his 5th pop with bad breath. Screw the soup. Finished the burger, the bill is $17. Oh well...
Next week I tried their ''Damn Fine Reuben'' as they call it, with coleslaw on the side. I didn't like the bread, at all. The rest was again very straightforward, as is, just like the place, which is a good thing. The sandwich was an ok Reuben, the coleslaw rocked, awesome! Great great service.
The butcher shop looks good, I haven't tried anything from there yet. I think I will be back on occasion. -
Review from Darius C.
Coal Harbour, Vancouver, BC
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went there for breakfast and got the French toast with bacon. All I have to say is wow the French toast was really good, and the bacon was amazing it was cooked to perfection
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Review from Rich B.
4/26/2012
Back in the days before Save-on closed down it was known in our workplace as the home of the heart-attack burger, such was the size of their signature meal item. It's not like that any more.
Save-on offers a great no-nonsense menu at good prices. I've been here a few times now, and it's become a favourite with my kids too. The burgers are tasty, the banana split hits the spot and the meatloaf is hearty and satisfying.
There is, however, a certain feeling that lets it down a bit. You know that feeling when you go into a restaurant where they've spent a bomb on fixtures, fittings and a chef-created menu, which is now being cooked by a low-budget staff which is all they can afford. They turn out technically good food but it lacks a certain spark. That may not have actually happened here, but there's a certain missing quality that I can't quite put my finger on.
It's better than your average diner, but doesn't quite deliver what it promises. -
Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Man, I totally wanted to love this place, seeing how SOM has such history in Vancouver. I came to check out the dinner scene, and while the reviews for the burger was a sign I should go for it, I couldn't resist the fried chicken dinner. I love me some fried chicken, and was hoping this would be the place to cure me of my comfort itch.
It seems everyone else was in the mood for fried chicken too, since they were completely sold out when I ordered. Disappointment! So I ended up getting the smoked turkey pot pie, since it had a plug for DDD (and I'm always curious to try anything recommended on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives). When it arrived, I was less than impressed - the portion size was TINY. Like, the pie was the size of a Costco cookie. I was totally not full. My friend ordered the ribs, which came with a larger portion size, but the sauce on it tasted pretty similar to the cream of tomato soup someone else ordered...
Anyways, the menu also noted that they had bacon chocolate chip cookies, another one of my weaknesses. But (can you tell where this is going), they were completely sold out of those as well. What the heck!
Clearly this place is popular, since someone is buying out all the food I want, but I guess that made my experience here less than enjoyable. Can whoever bought a bacon chocolate chip cookie from here at least tell me whether its worth it to go back?Listed in: Diners, Drive-In and Dives
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Review from Billy L.
Port Coquitlam, BC
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I think deep down I want to be a hipster. Looking at their Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap, imagining drinking out of there PBR jar like mugs. Save-On Meats sounds like my kind of place.
My fiancée and I sat at the bar, examined the menu, the servers, and we were set. Burger for me and breakfast for her with a root beer float.
Fantastic food, even better service, and awesome atmosphere makes Save-On Meats my new fav diner. -
Review from Paola C.
Vancouver, BC
4/19/2012
We've been planning to stop by here since it had reopened but something always happens and we don't but we finally dropped in!
The decor was kind of confusing, kind of a 60s, salloon, diner look.
The menu and prices were simple as can get. I ordered the burger and fries, also with a side of broccoli and cheese. It was average... I mean it was good but it did not blow my mind. The burger was smaller than expected but had a nice flavor that differentiated it from other burgers. The broccoli and cheese was broccoli and cheese literally, i was a little disappointed with that.. The bottom of the dish was also filled with water, they could have at least drained the broccoli much better.
All in all, I would probably return, they did not knock my socks off but we live close by and they offer simple food at simple prices. -
Review from Mo F.
Vancouver, BC
4/23/2012
Great service.
Awesome deal (the burger was yum)
licenced!
can you really go wrong?
I do miss the old butcher shop but am warming up to the new version. -
Review from Kimli W.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's full of hipsters and I really hate chicken gravy, but SoM is a good place for no-nonsense food.
Portions are actually edible sizes, too!
My chicken club was awesome, the fries are yummy, and the PBR is both on tap and served in awesome mason jar mugs. Tons of options for sides if you're not into fries, too. I enjoyed SoM a lot; loved the retro cafe feel, and would definitely go again. -
Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
3/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I never thought I'd visit this joint. Really. I mean, come on, I'm like "The Vegan". It's a thing. But I did, I did go, and I had veggie chili. I think part of my desire to go was my business-crush on Mark Brand. I just think he's the greatest.
Anyway. The chili was okay. It could have been worse. It could have been Lucy's. The place is real affordable; my dining companion had a grilled cheese with fries. The fries were... well, they were awful, but the whole kit and caboodle was like $5.
This place is just too hip. -
Review from Kas D.
Vancouver, BC
4/9/2012
I will definitely be back again!
I'll admit, I was a little bit hesitant when I first heard Save On Meats was opening up a restaurant....but after seeing some positive Yelp reviews, and catching a few minutes of "Gastown Gamble" I decided to give it a go.
The place is trendy and clean inside. The staff were super friendly and provided good service. The menu was full of classic diner food (nothing super fancy, but a lot of comfort food). And the price is fantabulous. For $6 I got a delicious, fresh tasting burger with bacon, cheese and fries. You can't beat that.
Can't wait to go back and try a few more things on the menu.
That chocolate pudding pie has my name on it..... -
Review from Deanna S.
3/28/2012
It's not that Save-On-Meats is bad, it's just that it's not that great either.
The service is just okay. The food is just okay. The price is just okay.
The food is cheap both price-wise and quality-wise. I'd rather go somewhere else and pay an extra $10 for an EXCEPTIONAL meal. I came once for all-day breakfast and was pretty dissappointed that they don't have waffles.
I'll probably go back though when funds are low and I just feel like going out to get a meal. I like that you can order classics like an open-faced sandwich (can't remember if it was turkey or chicken) with gravy and peas. That was one of my faves growing up. Like I said before, it's not BAD... it's just not anything to write home about.Listed in: Eats
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Review from Caesar R.
4/7/2012
Well, I didn't get to see the place, but the wife was kind enough to pick up food to go from the sandwich counter.
I am definitely a fan of both the burger with bacon and cheese and the appropriately named Damn Fine Ruben. Both were tasty and greasy but not over the top sloppy.
Enjoy these cheap eats. -
Review from Buster B.
Vancouver, BC
3/15/2012
My wife and I went for lunch. Let me preface this review by saying that the server who sat us at the counter and the woman that served us were both amicable, energetic and professional.
Some confusion at the door as people were lining up. There is a sign that says to take a number (cute idea) but said number dispenser doesn't exist. The server that was seating people said we were all supposed to write our names on a dry erase board. Confusing but fair enough.
We sat at the counter and perused the very worn menu (that means rumpled and stained to the layman). The menu indicates that Save on Meats proudly serves Coca-Cola.........no they don't. It was some vile generic cola that has a weird sort of simulated citrus flavour. I asked the our server if it was, in fact, Coke. She said that it wasn't and they were in the process of reprinting their menus. Deceptive but fair enough. She removed the offending colas and took them off our bill.
Let me speed this up a bit:
Chopped salad with chicken - whole leaf lettuce, big chunks of tomato and cucumber. "Chopped" usually indicates, ummmmm, chopped? the only thing finely chopped on the salad was the chicken. All 6 pieces of it (2oz total, at best). The vinaigrette was very tasty.
Tomato soup - a bland puree of tomatoes. The texture was pretty good. The biscuit that accompanied was dense and unmemorable.
Fried Chicken - Two thighs. The chicken wasn't dredged in flour so the breading just sch-luffed off into a sad pile as I tried to dig into it. The breading had notes of garlic powder but the overwhelming taste of paprika had me shoveling my sad little pile of mushy breading off to the side. The chicken was a little fatty and unfortunately it was raw! RAW!!!!! Red at the bone. Yes, oozing the red blood that gave it life and would, 6 1/2 hours later have me worried for my own gastro-intestinal mortality. The mashers were good.
I left the dish virtually uneaten. I didn't complain. At this point the whole experience is a write-off. My wife's pathetic salad, the dusty walls, our counter neighbour's sad, sad, oh very sad "club sandwich". It was time to ask for the bill and leave. Our server noticed the that I hadn't devoured my raw chicken and took it the kitchen to show the chef. There was an extended conversation. The server presented us with the bill. The chicken was still on the bill. We paid, amused by the train-wreck. Never to return.
I understand adjusting portions to keep the price down, but, this place is a rip-off.
Very amateur indeed. -
Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2012 6 Check-ins Here
For the food, but maybe a 4 since it's in an upcoming area, it's pretty cool to have this here.
Ordered their famous burger...guess i'm still pro-Vera's...
the vanilla milkshake was probably better in terms of it not being sweet...
but i'll still return anyways, great bubbling resto w/ excitement, just feel that vibe, modern 'diner decor'...brings back fond memories..
will try the breakfast.. -
Review from Jena J.
Vancouver, BC
4/1/2012
Saturday at around 330 p.m.: i arrive with my hung over bf in need of food.
the server came up and we ordered coffee along with our meals. my bf got a hamburger ft fries, i ordered a salad with chicken (i never have meat with my salads but i needed the extra protein). everything was great but half way threw my salad i stopped and realized there was no chicken. (i prefer salads with out meat but i was kinda excited for chicken) any ways, not a big deal. i decided to tell them just to give the staff a heads up, the guy at the front said sorry and took 2$ off the salad. nice gesture. -
Review from Angie J.
4/3/2012
After walking around Gas Town, we were needing some grub. Started taking pictures of the neon pig & realized I had seen this place listed on Yelp for Cheap Eats. SO we ventured in.
It was 4:30pm, and there were quite a few peeps in eating before the Hockey Game. We got a seat in a booth & were waited on right away. The ambiance is a bit retro. Everything was clean. The staff is pleasant and helpful. Menu seemed to have a good variety. Our waitress gave us a suggestion (the Burger w/ fries). C'mon, it's a great deal for $6. Filling & tasty enough.
I'd recommend this place for a casual, quick bite for less than $10. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
2/7/2012 3 photos
* Good burger, the rest meh *
Recently I reviewed a Peruvian place in a car wash, and a cantina in a yoga studio. This is a dual purpose spot that perhaps makes a bit more sense - a diner in a butcher shop.
The butcher shop and diner have separate entrances, and the diner side has a classic diner feel with a counter, jukebox, and a classic diner menu with the waitress offering a cup of coffee upon sitting down.
I ordered the chili ($3) as a starter and the burger ($6) as the main.
For some reason everything came together after a lengthy wait. I'm guessing the waitress was a bit new and inexperienced and that led to the odd timing.
In any case, on to the food.....
The chili was subpar. It was basically tomato paste with a ton of vegetables and a little bit of meat. It was kind of like a clumpy underseasoned vegetable soup with no chili spicing or flavours. 2 stars. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
The chili was served with a biscuit that appeared to be housemade. The biscuit had potential, if it wasn't fridge cold in the centre. That was very disappointing because with proper heat this could have been a good biscuit. It had pleasant herb overtones and I believe a bit of cheese. Too bad it was so cold. 3 stars. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
The burger was the star of the meal. The meat was well seasoned without being overly salty. It was nice and thick, and very juicy. They had properly rested the burger so that it retained all of its juice. It was topped with classic burger toppings of melted cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, a housemade BBQ sauce, and topped with a pickle. The bun was the weakest part of the burger as it was room temp, but otherwise a superb burger for the very reasonable price of $6 all-in. 4 stars. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
The fries (pictured with the burger above) were fairly standard commercial fare. That said, they were fried to the right level and the oil tasted clean. 2.5 stars.
Overall I'd come back for another burger, but likely would limit my selection to that.Listed in: Thanks, Yelp!, Vancouver Burgers
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Review from Chelsy W.
4/23/2012
Love this diner. Very Cool area. Really nice staff! Old school diner food.
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Review from Patricia L.
Vancouver, BC
The $6 Cheese Burger with Bacon is the star here and it's one of the best burger deals in downtown Vancouver for what you are getting. You can choose from a selections of sides for no extra charge - I like mine with the Mash Potatoes and Gravy, though the fries are pretty decent as well. This was definitely one of the best burgers I've had in the city for a long time.
The soda and sundaes are a bit on the pricey side ($4), but nothing beats a Root Beer Float to go along with a delicious and juicy burger. The service is really great, everyone is so nice and I know this is totally me, but every time I see the flying Pig blinking in neon - it just makes me so happy, to a point of getting uncontrollable giggles.
I've also had the Clubhouse, the Chili and a salad too - nothing standout, but it's tasty and it does the job. The Chili came with a Biscuit and the Biscuit was worth Yelping about - warm and buttery good. Oh yeah, and I had a Strawberry Milkshake as well - which if I'm nitpicking here could be a lot thicker, but that's just me.
The Butcher side of the store is no lame game either. It's a happy day to have local, more-than-decent quality meat selections in downtown Vancouver. The ladies behind the counter are friendly and super helpful, it just made the 11lb pork butt we got to make our own pulled pork sandwiches all the more heartwarming and special. They have daily meat specials on various items - so take note if you're looking for your next fix of what to cook.
Would I recommend this place to peeps? HELLZ YEAH! I'm already looking forward to my next burger.Listed in: I HEART Food!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/4/2011
I loved our first visit to the Diner section. All kinds of comfort-diner food options to choose… Read more »
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Review from Amy T.
1/30/2012 2 photos
If you grew up in East Van and frequently grocery shopped in Chinatown, you may remember Save on Meats. Maybe not in the last 10 years, but try 25 years ago, this place was THE butcher shop to hit up. It eventually closed down after decades business due to the shady location.
Now imagine my joy when I found out a chef decided to renovate and turn one side of the shop into a diner. I loved that the original logo and old school look was kept. They even have the cute little pig logo on T-shirts for sale, which I was very tempted to purchase.
The food, especially the burger was delicious. Juicy, moist, flavorful, homemade and quite frankly the best burger I've had in a long time. I didn't need to add any extra sauce, tomatoes or lettuce to enhance the taste. It was perfect the way it was, - toasted buns, a bit of mayo and the patty.
Along with my burger, I ordered the chili, which came with a biscuit on the side. The chili was bean less which was great. I'm not a huge fan of beans and find they are usually just filler anyway. The chili wasn't too spicy and had a nice tang from tomatoes. It would be better if it were smokier and more spicy. The biscuit tasted like a less buttery version of a scone and it was a nice complement to the chili.
The service was terrific. Staff were happy to answer any questions you had, came back frequently to check on you and genuinely wanted you to leave the diner happy with your meal.
The area is slowly coming around with hip new restaurants popping up. Cheers for bringing back great memories and helping to create new ones at Save On Meats!Listed in: Lunchin' Downtown
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Review from Abi B.
1/29/2012 3 photos
I must have drawn the short straw today and ended up with the crappy breakfast menu item.
My brunch buddies ordered the burger, the meaty chilli, the kid's cheezy burger, the corned beef hash, and today's breakfast special, the savoury pancakes. As for me, I ordered the breakfast poutine.
While the others were raving about their food, I was bemoaning my choice. The dish was the gravy wasn't warm enough to melt the cheese properly resulting in overly rubbery curds. Yes, I know the cheese is supposed to be squeaky, but this was a bit ridiculous. On the weekend brunch menu, it says that the poutine is supposed to be topped with a poached egg, but mine was topped with a fried egg. I suspect this is because on the regular menu, it says that the breakfast poutine is topped with a fried egg. The pricing for this poutine is a bit odd as well; $8 for breakfast poutine vs. $6 for a burger with cheese and bacon and a side.
I tasted the biscuit that accompanies the chilli; it was delicious. The bite of savoury pancake I had was very tasty as well. I need to come back to try something other than the breakfast poutine.
I also ordered a coffee milkshake and I'm very glad I did. It was smooth and creamy with the perfect amount of coffee flavour.
Service was awesome. Our server made us feel welcome and was attentive. One of my friends mentioned that she was gluten intolerant and when he noticed that her chilli was served with crackers, he took them away. He also genuinely seemed disappointed that I wasn't entirely happy with my food.
It's a great little diner with an awesome vibe. I will be coming back.Listed in: Diners
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Review from Ben C.
1/29/2012
My dining companion looks up and says "this is like awesome mixed with meat". To which I reply "geez, damn this is a good burger!"
It's not equisite French cuisine but it's of the same quality. Everything is made from scratch, and it does taste amazing. This is now the Best $6 burger I know of.
Staff have swagger and treat everyone like they are a regular, even if it's obvious that you're a first-timer, like us; a nice touch to complete the unique dining experience here. -
Review from pete d.
Vancouver, BC
3/8/2012
In looking up the listing to add my review, I typoed "Save on Eats" - which actually pretty succinctly sums up my review of the revamped Save On.
I've been coming here for the better part of thirty years and can honestly say that the prices and quality have remained pretty consistent. Clean, good value and super tasty. -
Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
2/2/2012 5 photos
Best casual diner in the City on the cheap! Save-on Meats is a bustling little diner in the heart of the downtown eastside - perfect to chill out to some tasty, casual eats with friends. Food is decent with great price points; staff are friendly; overall experience is deserving of a 4-star.
Signature Save on Meats Burger - Highly Recommend!
Oh so juicy, succulent and flavourful, the Save on Meats burger lived up to its hype in my books! It is truly delicious, and I`m not even a burger person. And for the price, $6 with fries and a salad, you can`t go wrong.
Not everything on their menu was amazing. We also ordered the steak & eggs and pancakes (big portions, fyi), which were comparable to your typical breakfast spot, however the fresh whip for the pancakes was light, fluffy, infused with lavender and amazing.
Definitely try out this neighborhood gem and go for their Signature! -
Review from Lee I.
Burnaby, BC
I came here with my girlfriend and some friends for brunch and was not disappointed. The wait was longer than I'd anticipated (I was close to eating my arm by that point) but it was well worth it. The staff were courteous and thanked us for our patience once they were able to seat our party, I think they actually care about the customers!
I ordered the savoury pancakes, my girlfriend had the breakfast poutine, and friends had the Save-on-Meats burger (x2), kid's cheezy burger, and corned beef hash. From the sounds of nom-nom'ing all around, everyone seemed to really be enjoying their food. Unfortunately my girlfriend's poutine was only so-so: fairly soggy with cheese that was just a bit too rubbery, and the gravy didn't really have any flavour. Of all the meals, that was the only disappointment. I was quite impressed with the savoury pancakes, which the server called "Champion Pancakes" due to a cute anecdote about a petite girl wolfing down all of 'em and winning herself a t-shirt. Bacon, onions, possibly some mushroom in there? They were a tiny bit on the dry side but the waiter was quite happy to bring me some HP sauce to make up for that.
The service was excellent and made us feel very welcome. The waiter genuinely looked sad that my girlfriend's poutine wasn't up to par and he said he would have gladly made it up to her had she mentioned it during the meal. Ah well, sometimes you don't want to bring down the mood. Obviously the staff here actually like their jobs, it shows!
Overall I'd say we had a good time and we'd definitely come back. I highly recommend the "Champion" savoury pancakes. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 1/14/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I shoulda listened to Daniel L.'s update on this one. He is so wise. :)
Totally cute place. (5) Great service at the bar. (4) I knew to avoid the Reuben from other Yelpers. Thx. guys!
Burger was fine; decent sized for a chick, (not sure that a big guy would agree with me at a small-feeling 4 ounces) but why the cold bun? It was fresh and all, but had never seen heat. A quick look around told me that neither had any of the toast. If the never-been-burnt look is what they are going for, they sure succeeded here.
Fries were average. Salad was fine but a tad overdressed.
Bathrooms were clean. Place was freezing tho on this first day of snow. Loved the too-clean diner art. Guess the cold air made the bun that much colder, too.
Cute, eclectic, but in all honesty, when I'm next craving a burger, I won't be going here. (Or anywhere in Vancouver, but to my friend's who can make his own In-N-Out, but that's another story). Please, fellow-Yelpers find me a yummy, inexpensive burger in Van.
Was quite busy and reasonably priced, but probably better for breakfast. The omelettes looked good, but again, not unlike anything I couldn't make (and believe me, I'm no chef).Listed in: The Overrated Drinks/Dinner…, Where would Wimpy Go?, Lunch, Anyone?, Homeward Bound
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/21/2011
This is only for the market side.
Open later than other places which is great.
Quite cheap for… Read more »
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Review from Vancity V.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2012 1 photo
I DO NOT Like this place...tried...cried...not returning!The porridge was nasty four banana slices and a handful of walnuts from the bag...it doesn't seem necessary you could for the same price add a handful more bananas and throw the dang walnuts in the oven for a bit! Just terrible! The only up is a $4 price tag but come on its just technique it doesn't cost you more to be thoughtful this is a brutal bowl of porridge. My friend had rubber eggs burnt toast and hollow potatoes... good thing they have a reality show...that otta pay the bills ...or at least I hope so cause they are waaay missing the mark here
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Review from Thera M.
Richmond, BC
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I just visited this diner after completing the sun run, so I will admit i was starving when visiting this location. Regardless, the decor is just lovely with exposed brick along an entire wall. The waitstaff are very attractive and friendly. Compared with other diners in Vancouver (say Sophie's) it is pretty cheap and the breakfasts where lovely. The portions are not the biggest i have seen at a diner, i was able to finish everything but then again i had just run. My coffee cup was always full and the waiters were kind enough to keep the water flowing. The patrons in the diner where mainly hipsters. I wished a few truckers or scruffy people had been in there too, it would have fit the decor. Anyway, not disappointed and will be back
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Review from Rudolf P.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 4/2/2012
Great fry-at-home Sirloin Steak! bone in! $10.06 Delicious. Bread with dried? fruit inside: super too. I found out, wandering around the yard, I mean the Woodward's site, that their spruced-up breakfast muffin is actually from JJ Bean, and so is the coffee. Don't know if I should say this...what a deal!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/29/2012
If you want a cheap eat one morning try their breakfast muffin from the outdoor sandwich counter for… Read more »
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Review from Melissa K.
Vancouver, BC
2/18/2012
Read some raving reviews about Save on Meats and decided to come here for brunch. It was really packed and we waited for about half hour. The decor is nice and I love the way they restored the room. There was an array of different personalities which gave the place character.
The staff was uber friendly and the food was well priced. The value of the food would boost this review to 3.5stars if Yelp had half stars. The food was mediocre but I also didn't expect too much. I added an egg to the burger which made it better; but I've had better patties elsewhere -- however, other burgers are probably 2-3x more in price than this one.
The biscuit was disappointing. We were told they were baked to order but I'm pretty sure they aren't. It was cold and also came sliced, where the middle felt dry. Felt like it was just heated up in the oven for a nominal amount of time. Having said that, it was only $1. Burgoo has the best biscuits in town.
Probably would come back here again for lunch on a weekday, but the food quality is not worth the wait for brunch. Try Acme next door was well if you're in the area.
We got some raw bbq meat from there in the summer and it was delicious and cheap. -
Review from Vincci L.
THE Save On Meats burger. Yes, it's lived up to its hype.
A juicy patty, bacon, lettuce, cheese, in a soft bun, and add a fried egg (+$1.00) to it, and you've got yourself a pretty satisfying meal. Comes with fries, coleslaw, mashed potatoes or tossed salad. All for $6!!
Love the whole diner atmosphere, and they've also got sundaes, floats, and shakes to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Coming back very soon! -
Review from Vincent N.
Vancouver, BC
1/18/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Yes, I give this 4 Stars because I am a fan of this place.
I've come here three times now, and the food has been consistent. I'm going to start off with the good.
They have a great burger, that is tender and moist and doesn't really contain those fake chunks you see at fast food joints. I've had the burger 3 times now, and I've never been disappointed at all. And then you get to choose your sides, so if you're not into French Fries, then feel free to grab the mash potatoes. (I asked our server, and they are real, none of the dehydrated stuff that I've seen other places use.)
I've had 3 different servers, and overall the service has been a 4 star by all 3 servers. Friendly and courteous. I couldn't help but notice that it's almost always women.
They're really smart, if they know you're a large group they just give you a pitcher of water to drink so you don't have to ask for refills.
The value for the burger is great! Honestly, if you added on a drink, you're coming pretty damn close to what you would pay at McDonald's for a Big Mac Combo. Save On gives a bigger patty, and higher quality beef.
Restaurant, I like the feel of the restaurant because it doesn't feel like your classical dive, nor does it feel like they are trying to make it so retro to purposely be hip. It's a nice balance that gives it a working class feeling and welcoming.
The biscuits rock by the way!
The bad:
The reuben sandwich was the type of food that was okay. I didn't necessarily think it was bad, but I would have hoped it was better. And the reason for that is because I thought it was too dry for me.
There's no doubt I would definitely come back. Not all the time, but if I crave a burger, and sometimes i'm in the neighborhood, then this would be my first choice.Listed in: Good Eats Under $10 (before…
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Review from Nicolb T.
Updated - 2/5/2012 14 Check-ins Here
I'm scared of cooking meat. It's silly, I know. I'll gorge on steak tartare, and usually get my steak rare..
But I don't want to touch the damn thing.
Thanks to the patient and gentle guidance of one of the lovely butchers here, I've slowly ventured into purchasing larger and larger cuts of meat of different varieties. Starting from sausage (which I failed to cook through completely) to steaks, I'm excited to try cooking a full roast one day.
That day will be a Sunday, where all roasts are 15% off.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/5/2012
For better or for worse, I head to Save-On-Meats diner with a friend every Sunday and are greeted by… Read more »
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Review from Mo' N.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2012
Ok, I just had the best pork chops I've ever eaten. Really. They were marinated in a great juice and since I don't have grill, I did them the injustice of pan frying them on top of the stove. Still, they were amazing. Run and try the marinated pork chops.
And did I mention they were on sale and sold to me by 2 patient and very helpful butchers. Nice vibes, good food.
Yey. -
Review from Andrew F.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2012
The diner is old school with no frills, no refinement, no messing with the classics. It's a few blocks from the center of the black hole that is the downtown eastside. If you are intrigued by the first point and can get past the second point then you'll love this place. The decor is straight out retro a la Moderne Burger but a little less flattering. The prices are trying to match those from the bygone era they're trying to emulate... but still keeping them high enough so they don't go broke. I can't recommend everything, but go for the burger with fries and gravy with a strawberry banana milkshake. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Next time I go I'll have to see if their reuben is as good as Red Wagon's. -
Review from Edward L.
Came here to try the $6 burger.
Parking here is somewhat available, if you're able to bag a loading zone after 1800. Otherwise you're hooped.
The inside looks vintage but is clean. Of course, this theme is intentional. There's even a jukebox in the waiting area. Our table came complete with mismatched chairs. There are 2 large tables that can hold 7 or so. Otherwise you're looking at a small booth for 2-4, and bar seating.
The kitchen is visible in the back. It looks super plain, but most importantly, it is CLEAN.
Staff were friendly.
I laughed when our water was served in a Sleeman pitcher. Looked like a new type of clear beer. Remember Crystal Pepsi?
As for the food? The burger itself actually wasn't bad. You can pick your side (salad, fries, coleslaw, mashed potatoes). The fries were a bit soggy but fortunately not undercooked (the "raw potato" feel sucks). I also tried the coleslaw. It was mediocre to be honest. Not quite enough dressing. For the burger, you can add toppings (such as raw/fried onions) for a very reasonable 50c. So are the sides such as gravy.
One last note: they also have $4 breakfast here, with sausage/ham/bacon for another $2. Not the cheapest, but beats out Denny's.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/4/2011
Came by and realized that they really were reopened. Don't let the graffiti out front fool you.… Read more »
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Review from Carmen P.
Vancouver, BC
3/29/2012
This deserves a 3.5 stars.
First of all, if you haven't been here before you might just ignore the 'Please take a number sign' that points to nothing. Since there isn't a number dispensing system and the waiting area is filled with people waiting, you sort of just stand there waiting till the faces you recognise in front of you slowly disappear. The standard waiting courtesy right? Well no. There is a tiny white board where you are meant to write your name down yourself. A few disgruntled customers only noticed this after late comers were seated before them.
While waiting in line, I decided to get a breakfast bun ($1.75) from outside. The corn bread was nice and soft, filled with eggs, ham and cheese. A nice touch and starter while waiting to be seated.
After about 30 mins waiting in line on a Friday peak hour lunch, we got seated promptly. I couldn't decide on the open chicken sandwich and the Reuben, so I waved one of the waiters down and he said "The Reuben, definitely!". I got the milkshake which wasn't bad while the sandwich was a bit on the small size (roughly 3/4 of my palm). The corned beef and the sauerkraut had a good balance and were not too salty + 1 pickle on the side. My plate was filled with so much fries, I couldn't eat them all but wished that my Reuben was more than a snack size of 4-5 mouthfuls. $8 for the Reuben so probably not the most value for money sandwich but not too dear either.
The area isn't the most pleasant as you get harassed for money on the way in and out but you expect that being on the dingy side of Hastings St. Surprisingly though, the place is still packed and the clientele inside consist of some people in suits especially considering that the menu were so dog-eared, torn and sticky plus the only decor were shelves of glasses and aluminum partitioning. -
Review from Kevin F.
Vancouver, BC
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in for a quick bite to eat for lunch, and I'll definitely come back. Although I hate to waste food, I love when I can pay $7 for a lunch and not even get through it all. I ordered the reuben, but any sandwich that you order, go half and half with fries and coleslaw - there is no way anyone needs all the fries that come with a full order. I couldn't even finish half.
Though the meat was predictably great, the bread was already super soggy by the time I received it, and the cole slaw was only passable. However, for food this fast and cheap I can hardly complain. Next time I'll actually consult yelp *first* for ideas on what to order...I'll most certainly be checking out a burger, the cookies and the shakes...
