Jackie on 
Jon on 
Erica B. on 
Michelle on 
I’m a sucker for diners. It doesn’t matter if it’s an old greasy spoon or a shiny retro throwback. If the diner serves eggs and a good cup of coffee, I’m sold.
The funny thing about Calgary’s diners is they’re all new – made to look old – and they all have lineups out the door on the weekends. What sets Avenue Diner apart is how one is engaged during the wait.
The waiting area is sunny and spacious with a long church pew and a few chairs. There’s a side table with serve-yourself coffee, and another with butter, cream cheese, jam and an empty basket which I can only guess used to hold bagels. And then I saw it. A long narrow table with all the weekend papers. I love that.
We only had to wait five minutes for a table. Darn. I didn’t even make it through the Style section.
First up, coffee. Hot and strong in sturdy mugs. An excellent sign. Then we see that ketchup is served in mini bottles. More bonus points. We love mini condiment bottles. We are easily amused.
The brunch menu is diverse. I finally decide on the intriguing French toast stuffed with apple, double smoked bacon and brie ($11.95). It’s overflowing with all of the above and quite good.
Jason orders one of the Eggs Bennys – grilled tomato, fresh basil and balsamic reduction ($11.95) – with basil Hollandaise on grilled sourdough. It’s delicious and comes with mashed potatoes.
Our server was very pregnant and very pretty. Unfortunately she was also a bit forgetful. She didn’t check on us after the food was served, and never got around to the side of capicolla we ordered.
Our orders did take a while but with the coffee and newspapers and cozy surroudings, somehow it was okay. After all, it was a leisurely weekend brunch in a diner.
Avenue Diner, 105-8th Ave. SW, Calgary, Alberta, (403) 263-2673. Open Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Sat & Sun 8 a.m.-3 p.m. More info here.
yummy… i LOVE diners too… this place looks great.
Oh lord, I love hollandaise sauce.
Calgary appears to be the Queen of Brunch Places in the world.
In Edmonton we have Denny’s, Smitty’s or Tim’s drive-thru.
Well…in Edmonton we do have Barb & Ernie’s, Route 99, Culina, High Level Diner etc that offer great brunches…I am partial to the Nisku Inn’s BIG Sunday brunch.
Ooh this is random in that on a trip to Calgary recently a friend took me here for a *ahem* 3 pm breakfast. I had a fritatta, it was deliteful. Piping hot and rather large in the skillet. The chai was a little weak, but that’s just preference. As well I like how you get such a variety in sides…and at a great price.
It was still packed when we got there, we ate at the one available spot… a counter sort of deal, but the service was tops.