Diners Drive-ins and Dives... in Calgary

[Slava]

What about the Lions Den? It's at least got the dive part fulfilled! The food is really good, specifically the Italian dishes he serves.

[Young-Sneezy]

Originally Posted by Slava

What about the Lions Den? It's at least got the dive part fulfilled! The food is really good, specifically the Italian dishes he serves.

ive been kicked out of the lions den by that irate old man hahaha


granted we were out of our tree drunk...

[Hack&Lube]

what about all those joints that were built into 1950's buses parked in industrial parks that we had threads on?

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Gundo

Wow not one mention of Jimmys A&A Deli, best donair in town and amazing baklava. I would say that place could be a candidate.

I used to frequent Jimmy's fairly often and thought they were the best. Then I tried Taza in Bridgeland. I've been back to Jimmy's once in the past 2 years.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Slava

What about the Lions Den? It's at least got the dive part fulfilled! The food is really good, specifically the Italian dishes he serves.

They do have some good food, I go there more often if the owner would leave us alone.

[BerubeHater]

Originally Posted by me_dennis

i love this show so much. guy fieri is my hero!

with that said, here's my entry for best pizza:

vogglio's pizza - seriously the best thin crust pizza i've had in calgary! toppings are high quality, and loaded to the max! 3 pieces and you'll be full. make sure to try the mexicana, and the buffalo, those are my two favorites.
http://www.vogglio.com/

I second this. Vogglio's Mexicana pizza is awesome!!!!

[malcolmk14]

Vogglio WAS good. Gone downhill IMO. Off my regular rotation list.

[FireInTheHole]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Almost 40 posts in and no one has been able to name a legitimate Diners Drive-ins and Dives candidate in a city of 1 million. This is a niche just waiting to be fulfilled.

I think Clarkey nailed it. I was racking my brain trying to think of even one place that could qualify to be on DDD, and couldn't think of anything. Unless, of course, someone knows of a place that I haven't though of. Come on, there must be one place in town that could qualify!

If not, then maybe we need to start up the CP Diner. Wasn't the Lion's Den up for sale? We could buy it, re-vamp it, and it could be the go-to place before and after Flames games!

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I used to frequent Jimmy's fairly often and thought they were the best. Then I tried Taza in Bridgeland. I've been back to Jimmy's once in the past 2 years.

That is the same thing as me.

Jimmy's is volume only now, he is so busy the protein doesnt even get a chance to create a flavour. Then it spends a few moments in the steam table water to warm up and you are left with poached chicken.

Once I went to Taza I have only been back once in 2 years.

[North East Goon]

No good diners in this city at all, all the retail space keeps getting filled by vietnamese food places. Alberta King of Subs definitely makes the most authentic Montreal smoked meat sandwiches, the owners are from Montreal and get the meat delivered from Montreal daily.

[Knalus]

There is a Montreal Smoked Meat place downtown that is really good. Smokee Lee's, it's in the little wooden shack in the parking lot across from Knox United church. No seating area, but absolutely amazing Ruben, smoked meat, and Smoked Roast Beef sandwiches. Ever since they started selling the Searsy, a 1 lb Ruben (so big it needs 4 slices of bread to hold it in, 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom), I'd say she qualifies to some degree. All she sells is that, and it's outdoors, no seating area, but it's a great, great sandwich. Best I've ever had, better than the ones I tried in Montreal. The food would qualify for the show, even if the place would be hard to film.

[Suzles]

How about Avenue Diner on Stephen Avenue - or is that too upmarket?

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by FireInTheHole

I think Clarkey nailed it. I was racking my brain trying to think of even one place that could qualify to be on DDD, and couldn't think of anything. Unless, of course, someone knows of a place that I haven't though of. Come on, there must be one place in town that could qualify!

If not, then maybe we need to start up the CP Diner. Wasn't the Lion's Den up for sale? We could buy it, re-vamp it, and it could be the go-to place before and after Flames games!

Yeah sure give Clarkey the credit when I called out there isn't any first

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Suzles

How about Avenue Diner on Stephen Avenue - or is that too upmarket?

You are more correct than most posts.

I would also give Dairy Lane on 19th St NW a close nod too.

They focus on buying local whenever possible also.

One of the DDDs I went to in Portland called the Blue Plate would probably be no better than some places in town.

The advantage the US has over us is food cost and labour. They can pile on the food and add rich ingredients that would drive the food cost up way too high here for there to be a market for it.
You can create a burger in Phoenix and sell it for $10-$12 but if you use the same amount of cheese or bacon and other ingredients you are pushing over $23 or more.
I would be happy to pay that much for a great burger but I dont think I would risk a business with the hope that others will.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

Paul's is called The Spillery now and it seriously sucks. The only think it has going for is Minnie the surly waitress. Now The Shamrock on the other hand has some pretty good food.

My GF refused to even set foot into the Shamrock haha!

Originally Posted by Slava

What about the Lions Den? It's at least got the dive part fulfilled! The food is really good, specifically the Italian dishes he serves.

That guy is crazy.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Locke

My GF refused to even set foot into the Shamrock haha!



That guy is crazy.

Can't say I blame her. I'd stay out of the rooms as well. The bar on the other hand is a ton of fun. Best St Paddy's day party in town.



The guy at the Lion is a piece of work. Have you ever had him tell you the story about his dog?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

Can't say I blame her. I'd stay out of the rooms as well. The bar on the other hand is a ton of fun. Best St Paddy's day party in town.



The guy at the Lion is a piece of work. Have you ever had him tell you the story about his dog?

I like the Shamrock sometimes, she just took one look at the place and dug her heels in. I only go to the bar there, its a fun place.

My God, the last time I was at the Lion's Den that guy basically told me the entire story of his life. Thats what happens when the place has and average of zero customers all the time.

[firebug]

What about King's Won Ton soup up on Meridian?

I haven't been in years, but it certainly used to be a dive with surprisingly good soup.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by firebug

What about King's Won Ton soup up on Meridian?

I haven't been in years, but it certainly used to be a dive with surprisingly good soup.

ugh no! ... I heard so much about that place, and their soup was terrible ... spaghetti noodles in wor won ton and everything tasted generic.

[Domoic]

How about Gusto's?

An Italian place in an industrial park (Foothills?).

I used to go there and had the best baked lasagna ever with a nice salad with this kick-ass home made Italian dressing.

I have not been there in a decade, however.