CALGARY: Breakfast at Dairy Lane

Dairy Lane is tucked into two blocks of businesses along a residential stretch of West Hillhurst in northwest Calgary. Like other popular modern diners in Calgary — ie, Galaxie Diner or Avenue Diner — it’s tiny and often has lineups.

First opened in 1950, the cafe is dedicated to its neighbourhood and the environment. It uses local and organic ingredients whenever possible, recycles as much as it can and gives part of its proceeds to the Highbanks Society, which helps young, single-parent families.

Breakfast features free-range eggs, Spolumbo’s sausages, and lots of healthy, vegetarian options.

Christina got the Break Booster ($9.95), a heaping bowl of fresh fruit with yogurt and granola. She was unsure of the granola to yogurt ratio until she dug down and realized they had layered the yogurt underneath too.

My French toast ($10.95) was awesome, two thick pieces of bread stuffed with cinnamon cream cheese and field-berry compote with also a berry dollop on top. I thought the side of home-cut hashbrowns was unnecessary — but as soon as tried one, I was gobbling them up.

Lunch choices are mostly hearty sandwiches, burgers and wraps. I recall having a particularly good veggie burger here.

The diner is super friendly with great service. Despite the tight quarters, the servers move like gazelles. My coffee got refilled at our table, and I never noticed.

Dairy Lane Cafe, 319-19th St. NW, (403) 283-2497. Open weekdays 7 a.m.-3 p.m., weekends and holidays 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.