My SO and I watch this show from time to time on Food TV. There must be places in Ontario like the ones the host visits in each episode.
With summer coming, a road trip to a funky, hole-in-the-wall place with unusually good food has to be any foodies' idea of fun, no?
Anyone willing to share their favourite diner, drive-in or dive destination in Ontario?
jacu
May 14, 2009 01:53PM
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May I recommend Easterbrooks Hot Dog Stand. It is a old footlong hotdog place that is right across the street from The Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. It's been there for well over a half century housed in a long trailer like building. There's 1/2 dozen or so counter stools and 3 or 4 booths. The draw seems to be that it's thrived and maintained it's original charm of doing footlong hotdogs in a dozen or so different ways with topping such as chili, cheese, bacon, pepperoni etc. Hamburgers, fries, onion rings, ice cream and real milk shakes are also on the board. They haven't changed a thing in this space probably since they started and there's a nice back grassy area with picnic benches where the seagulls look longingly from a distance at your leftovers.
It really is like no other place I've been to in Southern Ontario. It truly is an institution and may fit the bill as a Triple D destination.
694 Spring Gardens Rd, Burlington, ON L7T1J3, CA
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"There >>must be<< places in Ontario like the ones the host visits in each episode."
...Should be, but there isn't.....
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Weber's in Orillia on the drive up north, cottage country classic. http://www.webers.com/
King's Highway 11, Orillia, ON L3V, CA
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there is absolutely nothing special about Webers..................
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Great post. I drool everytime I watch the show. Curious to see if there is anything close to home that fits the bill.
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I don't watch the show, but I think a big part of these kinds of places, is maybe not that food is the most original or outstanding, but the traditions and culture that surrounds the place.
Absolutely nothing special about Weber's?
I have to disagree. I think the line-ups that can stretch out the small hut housing the kitchen, and nearly up the overpass testify to the fact that those people think it's something special.
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Webber's was actually the first thing that came to mind when thinking of things in the area. But the show does focus on the specialties that bring people in and show how they're made. The idea is to highlight really unique recipes that maintain the establishment's huge cult following.
I really enjoy Webber's and it's an established institution for cottage country. But it's a fairly standard burger joint that has insane line because of it's location for the masses heading up to their cottages. I can't imagine anyone would drive up there from the GTA just to get the food and turn around. That's the difference between Webber's and what's being featured on that show.
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The burgers at Weber's are awful. It's just a "tradition" for families going up to cottage country, beginning when there was nothing else really in the area.
Lots of people going doesn't make something special or even good, it just testifies to the fact that a lot of people go there for some reason or another.
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There must be a reason that the store in Orillia closed and the take out at the airport .
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agree don't waste your time or money
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I agree...stupid yuppies Muskoka bound go there who don't know any better.
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I think Guy would like Webbers. I tried Webbers today for the first time. I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. Since it was a Monday afternoon it wasn't too busy. There was a line up but it moved super fast.
The system- The place is run by sweet teenage girls. One comes with a pen and paper to take your order. Then another ones comes up to you (this is all in the line up) to take your money and bring you back your change. It is very efficient and they have it down to a fast art.
The Food- The food is very cheap considering they have some serious branding and a name for themselves in Ontario. A double burger with cheese cost $4.79 which is comparitively good considering it is a legendary burger joint which most places are charging upwards of $8 for a double. The burgers where grilled by a senior pro who was as fast as lightening and had some serious style while grilling. He had a red face and wore a headband. This was worth it already. I was beginning to see the allure. The burgers themselves where grilled (NOT charbroiled). They where fresh and juicy and had processed cheese on them. The bun was fluffy white and soft. The fries where no good. No good at all. Cavendish frozen with too much seasoning salt on them. Seasoning salt is not a secret ingredient. Maypole ice cream to finish everything off was real nice.
The Rest- "Stupid yuppies Muskoka bound". I would have to agree with this statement. . There where a couple of bonus' I really liked about Webbers. First bonus was the train carriage washrooms. I was expecting something dumpy. What I got was modern, extraordinarily clean and gorgious air conditioned washrooms. Lovely. Secondly, they have a really nice park studded with large picnic tables with forest behind them.
Summery on Webbers-
The place is an institution like it or not. Would I line up for it for more than 10 minutes....hell no. Would I go there again for a decent burger and sit with my dog at a lovely picnic bench looking at the trees....you bet.
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I have to say that even if the burgers are good, I don't think it would be enough for Fieri. Every place I've seen him visit on the show has multiple homemade dishes that elicit high praise from customers and Fieri, as well.
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Yea you are probably right I suppose. Perhaps if it was a dulled down "Canadian" version.
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Good or not, EVERYONE knows Weber's. There's a lot of history behind it, so it would make sense if it were to appear on the show.
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Weber's is a brand name, like McDonalds, and can do no wrong, if your demands are small and appetite large. But they could offer better than Grade A chuck burgers, perhaps include hand cut russet fries, and real cheddar slices, if they wanted to be the best, and set the standard for the genre. They don't need to, because of location and nostalgic memories of past days.
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I don't know about that. I've watched the show a number of times, and each place appears to offer something special and definitely yummy on the food front. Otoh, I haven't seen any mediocre, steeped-in-tradition restos featured yet.
If those were the criteria, then the Goof would work. Alas, the food is crap.
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Sorry, but Weber's is an over-priced, over-hyped tourist trap in my opinion. It used to be great back in the 80's but it's gone seriously downhill since Mr. Weber died.
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I enjoy the show - the only place I have found is a chili dog and poutine stand on Manitoulin Island. Shame
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My bet would be hit Sturgeon Falls at Larry's or the P'tit Riv for poutine, pogos, etc....the constant lineups and activity speaks for itself there.
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Yes! Agreed! And the red Fish and Chip truck in Killarney-Herberts
SWS
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What about the old streetcar hamburger place at Hwy 89 & Hwy 10? East of Shelburne. I can't remember the name of it, and haven't been in years, but it seems a bit funky. Or funkayyy.
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I'm pretty sure its called Super Burger. But I would definitely not go out of the way to eat there. It is ok, nothing more, nothing less.
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Haugens Chicken just outside of Port Perry is a good spot....
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I second Haugen's - cheap and cheerful, family-run, and good quality chicken and ribs with fresh-cut fries and home-made pies.
Not earth-shattering, but a good, solid, diner-ish choice.
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About 1 mile north of the hamlet of Underwood which is north of the larger hamlet of Tiverton, about mid-way between Port Elgin and Kincardine, in almost perfect country emptiness on Hwy 21 is Klara's Countryside Inn. Klara's is a dinky wee motel with a swimming pool that's never seen a butt as far as I know.
The place is totally nondescript and unremarkable unless you're very, very local. It's dog ugly in fact, but well kept. I am told that the rooms are impeccably clean and decent - transient summer accommodation is almost impossible anywhere in the district so Klara's is quietly relied upon by summer residents for overflow guests.
Klara's restaurant does only breakfast and lunch. The breakfasts are typically huge - 3 eggs, home fries and bacon, pork sausage, back bacon or all three. Dress is informal - Dickies' duck bib overalls, OPP blues, farmer "shit clothes" and higher end duds of contractors and engineers from nearby Bruce nuclear.
The printed menu is typical Bruce County - burgers, clubhouse, excellent fires, wraps and what not along with daily specials - and that's where the place hives out on its own. It's owned and operated by Hungarians!
If we have business on Owen Sound or Port, we make it a timing point to have lunch at Klara's. We go for decent schnitzel sandwich or dinner, good chicken breast sandwich, cole slaw, or sausage dinner. The sausage comes with sauerkraut, paprika potatoes, and an Debriczener. Hungarian specialties are listed on the wall, good, solid local food is on the printed menu.
The soups are generally excellent - smoked ham and bean is my favourite. Oddly enough, what they offer as "goulash" ain't. Avoid it.
The rooms are cluttered with knick knacks - reminiscent of Paprika on Bathurst. There is a bias towards souvenir spoons, draught horses and boats.
The magic feature of this place is the view from the table at the south window. Wood lots, acres of forage crops, open highway, large sky and this.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q4...
Outside the window are feeders for humming birds and orioles. In the shot there are actually three birds. the adjacent pasture has either Belgians or Clydesdales grazing and they collect under the nearby trees.
The food, except breakfast, is good but not outstanding, well above what one expects for under $10. The view and atmosphere are unique.
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DockPotato, you're making me crazy I see ONE bird, but aren't those other creatures horses? Either that, or they have very tiny wings.
Sounds like a great place to stop en route to Owen Sound or Sauble Beach.
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"you're making me crazy"
What about me? There were for sure 2 other humming birds hovering when I shot that pic and I couldn't find them either.
I think they are lost against the foliage. There were also 2 Orioles out of frame at their own feeder. The other creatures are indeed horses - the Belgians were out that day - the Clydes were in another field.
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i have been spending summers in southampton for the last 9 years and have always wondered about that place...we drive by it usually twice every summer and i always think we should stop..and this summer i will...sounds great..thanks...
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It does early breakfast and lunch only, closing at 2 in the aft (2:30?)
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cheers....
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There's a little breakfast place in Stratford called "Features" that, IMHO, would fit in with the show. All of their meals are massive and I think that two of their meals would be perfect:
eggs benny (three poached eggs on ham on french toast)
The Paul Bunyon - it's in comprehensibly massive, has everything on it and it's served on a table-sized platter.
I think Ol Camp 31, arguably one of the best BBQ joints in Ontario, in Paris, with its picnic tables, tin shack walls and smokey goodness would qualify as well.
I second Itzi's posting about Weber's - it used to be something of note, but hasn't been so in many, many years.
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Hi CHers, I just joined so please be patient if I violate any protocols...but hopefully I won't.
I love DDD too. I'll be driving through the U.S. eastern seaboard this summer and will try to stop at one of the joints featured on the show.
RE: SuperBurger (Primrose, Ont., at Hwys 10 & 89) -- When it first opened, about 25 years ago, it really was special. It was serving burgers made with organic beef, which was a rarity then. But it's changed a lot since then. Superburger now is the same as any other standard burger joint--frozen fries, patties, etc. Not worth going out of your way.
RE: DDDs in Ontario -- As Teffub noted above, there <<must be>> such places in Ontario, but there aren't. I really think such places are unique to the U.S. Canadian entrepreneurs, with a few rare exceptions, just don't seem to have the temperament do open places like these. Also, because of the lessened population density, it's much harder to get enough traffic to support a one-of-a-kind diner, especially up in Grey or Bruce counties.
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In Woodstock is a decent place called Big Al's Snack Shack. Definitely a good burger and fries and if it floats your boat, deep fried pickles.
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I regard Teddy's in Oshawa as a diner - larger than most, but a diner nonetheless. In my view, the best diner I've run across in Ontario. Classic diner food and lots of it, easy-to-take prices, good service from a corps of regulars. Little wonder it's always mobbed with locals who know good, straightforward cooking when they encounter it. Take the Park Road exit north off the 401and you'll see at it on your right within about five minutes.
But as others have noted, there's not much quite like the idiosyncratic joints you can stumble upon throughout the U.S., popularized by DDD on TV and by the Sterns, who first sought such places out years ago, in their regularly updated travel guidebook, Roadfood. Los Angeles and environs are particularly strong in such one-of-a-kind diners.
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Teddy's in Oshawa
The Harbour Diner in Hamilton
Chicago Style Pizza Shack in Hamilton
Camp 31
Schneider's in Cloyne (great homemade pies)
Easterbrook's Hot Dogs in Burlington
Mexico Lindo in Ajax
The Station Grille in Ajax (this place is a converted KFC for goodness' sake!)
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What's good at Teddy's in Oshawa?
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Im not sure if anything is mind blowing amazing but for the price, I always loved the open faced roast beef sandwich, strawberry pie (monstrous), montreal smoked meat on kaisers. Just go with the simple stuff.
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Sounds good!! If I'm in the area and hungry I'll be sure to head over there. Thanks.
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oh yes, go very very hungry. the portions are huge, you get a roll and soup/salad with your main and its very inexpensive. But go either really early or late (they line starts up around 4- 4:30) but service is incredibly efficient. They truly have incredible servers, mature and experienced.
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Be very jealous, Juno. My brother-in-law has cooked there for yrs. We love to hold him hostage at family events to whip up his magic!
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Alsiem, where in Woodstock is Big Al's Snack Shack? I'm going there next weekend.
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The fried fish place at the back of Stlawrence market... I would consider a diner... even though it is not a drive in... as to the pealmeal sandwhich place... Both would qualify in my opinion...
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Yeah, in Toronto I've come across diners, but nothing where they do something extraordinary with their food like the places mentioned in the show.
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Guy appears to love everything he tastes at every single d/d/d he visits. I strongly suspect that not everything tastes as good as he makes it out to.
I've only been to one of the places he's visited -- Tecolote Cafe in Santa Fe, a few months ago. I had the Huevos Yucatecos (corn tortilla layered with black beans, two eggs any style, green chile, Swiss and feta cheese, pico de gallo, and surrounded with fried bananas; choice of beans, posole, or potatoes), which is the dish he featured on the show, and was not blown away. It was decent, but did not live up to expectations. http://www.tecolotecafe.com/
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I like Flapjacks on Hwy 10 at the base of Caledon mountain, just south of the Forks of the Credit Road. We used to drive up for their fresh homemade brown bread and strawberry preserves. There's something great about toast that's at least an inch thick!
http://flapjacksrestaurant.com/about_...
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Is that place any good? I live in Brampton and occasionally pass by there, I always wondered what they had there
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The toast and preserves are good, everything else is decent (though I'm not a good judge since I'm not a real fan of brunch/breakfasts in general). I wouldn't go out of my way to get there but if you're in the hood, I think it's worth stopping and checking out.
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They have very odd hours. Only open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays. Never been but am curious too.
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I love the show but sometime you think the show has some places that are just good atmosphere but food not so much.
so some of the places I would suggest and I know some of you will disagree with my choice:
sneaky dee's: the food is not amazing but not bad however, a fun place to go
the chip truck at cherry beach , the fries are nice and they do make a neat poutine (always a line up durning the summer)
T-Bones Sizzling Steaks &Burgers Drive-In Restaurant: it is a drive in but more of a DIVE, I have never eaten there but I know people who enjoy it.. just a level of scary place that makes it worth a visit
(2540 Eglinton Avenue East Scarborough)
the fish store: little place on collage that I do not know what class it would fall in but DDD does some joins like this. The place is a small little place with a blue fence around it but I tried it they other day and was blown away by the shirmp sandwich, made fresh right there and I have had people tell me they makes a great fish sandwich.
this one will get me in trouble:
Johnny burger: just for the milkshakes
this is just a few of the place I could think of , Toronto has a lot of hidden little hole in the walls that are just fun places to eat.
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Johnny's actually does have great milkshakes. Burgers are average, rings are average, fries are terrible.
I would put the New York Cafe (Danforth/Broadview) up as a place with character & atmosphere that is fun to eat at.
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Having had many a meal at Johnny's, their steak on a kaiser is a great value - garlicky, salty, on a kaiser with grilled onions and BBQ sauce - yum!
Agree, their fries are awful; there's just some terrible mojo there that makes me order them every time.
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A place that would fit the criteria of the show would be that Filipino diner The Ritz in East York. Dishes out both standard fare and home-cooked Filipino dishes. I could see Guy swooning over the caldereta.
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Our Filipina nanny makes a great caldereta (and adobo). Where exactly is this place?
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First time trying this link thang.
310 Donlands Ave, Toronto, ON M4J3R9, CA
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Golden Star in Thornhill, maybe? They've got pretty decent burgers..
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Their homeburger is excellent.
DT
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Yeah, this is actually a really good candidate. Great atmosphere - they've got those rhyming guys. All kept in the family. Fresh hand cut fries. And the furniture is still from the last century :)
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I worked in the gas station across the street from in in the late 80's and ate there constantly. It was great.
DT
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I'm glad some people like Golden Star for there seems to be negative talk about it, i mean its not phenomenal but they have good decent burgers.
When i went the 1st time awhile ago i wondered what the fuss was all about, went again last night and realized why.
Get the homeburger not the hamburger, its a homemade patty.
They also have real fries with some skin on not frozen.
Homemade bbq sauce too.
Burgers and fries cooked fresh, comes in a little basket.
Combo about $8.69 before taxes.
Cheap beer too but didn't try.
And yes the decor looks like the original.
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Mike's Restaurant in Marysville, Ontario - just off the 401 east of Belleville on the edge of the Tyendinaga Reserve. They have the best homemade bean with bacon soup I've ever had. Great homestyle meals - fish, turkey, stews, etc. Pleasant staff and good prices. Another good diner style place, again pretty straight forward fare but a great breakfast for cheap is Stavros Family restaurant on Queen in Parkdale.
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Troy's in milton is a great place to eat. The family and I go there frequently.
Everything on the menu is really good.
great atmosphere and awesome service.
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I would suggest a couple places. One being Gandhi Roti. Definitely a dive with amazing food! And the other being Black Camel. Tiny little place with amazing sandwiches and coleslaw. Granted, this one may be a little too upscale for what is typically featured on DDD, but nonetheless a decent candidate.
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The Old Heidelberg House in Heidelberg.
http://www.oldhh.com/'
Outstanding house lager and great food. Mrs. Sippi loves, loves, loves the smoked hock dinner.
DT
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The Harmony Lunch in Waterloo. It's been there for about 80 years, I think. Go for a burger with fried onions, and a milkshake (skip the fries). Love it!
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Thanks, everyone!
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In the city, I would throw out Gale's Snack Shop as a diner/dive with cheap, cheap, but decent food. Where else can you get a $2 club sandwich with real roasted turkey and bacon?
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I almost forgot. I love Three Coins in Richmond Hill.
DT
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Two places I would include in this category in Ontario are the Sovereign in Creemore and the Rock Dell Tavern just outside Collingwood. Neither of them is exceptionally good for food. The schnitzels at the sovereign are mighty tasty, prices are low, and the soups are homemade. The Rock Dell puts out decent, well-charred steaks. But both of them are local classics who exude plenty of homey charm. The Rock Dell in particular hasn't seen a renovation in decades, and for precisely that reason looks totally original.
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I know that the Weber's question will come up inevitably from time to time, some people just don't like their burgers. But what I'm interested in learning is: do people know many other burger joints that serve as fluffy a bun? I don't know where those buns come from, they might be totally ordinary, but they are some fluffy. My webers defense stands and falls with the claim that fluffy buns are good, and that their bun is a fluffy one.
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I have never understood the allure of Johnny's, Golden Star, Apache, etc. - generally so-so at best and usually downright bad in Johnny's case.
Back in the 70s, almost every crossroads hamlet in Waterloo county had a country inn with good-to-outstanding food. As far as I know, only two survive, the Olde Heidelburg House in Heidelburg and the Blue Moon in St. Petersburg. Both have an old country charm, but the food and beer are better at the Olde Heidelburg. The pork hock is one of my guilty pleasures.
If you pass through Drayton - summer theatre, anyone? - the Drift Inn is nothing fancy in terms of decor, but the food is delicious, honest-to-goodness home cooking.
I have tried Easterbrooks, and it does have its charm, but I'd rather get a knackwurst at Denninger's if I'm in the Hamilton/Burlington area. Easterbrook's does fit the original poster's criteria better, though.
I have never been tempted to try Weber's, but I did waste an hour trying Hutch's on the beach strip in Hamilton, once. It would meet the OP's criteria and there is certainly a strong local following, but I didn't find it to be worth the long lineups, and the wrath of my SO certainly added to my regret.
I would include Wolfie's, although it isn't a road trip destination unless you're outside of Toronto. Maybe I should consider my own Toronto Smoked Meat tour: Centre Street Deli (Hand-sliced MSM), Wolfie's (machine sliced MSM) and Caplansky's (outstanding TSM). BTW, David (Wolfie's) and Sam (CSD) are adamant that the only thing similar about their MSM is that Lester's make it for them. They are different recipes, which I've confirmed doing side-by-side tastings.
In Eastern Ontario, I would include the Kingston Brewing Company on a road trip list. The problem would be you'd need a designated driver, because after sampling their brews - try the two versions of the Dragon's Breath side-by side - you should/must not attempt to drive. The food is excellent as well.
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Wes's Chip Truck and Kingburger in Arnprior, Ontario on old Hwy 17- Legends
Madoc Dairy- Hwy. 7 and 62- Chicken, wedgefries, milkshakes
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No not really, it's America, they do the diner thing correctly. Most of the spots make everything from scratch, where as Toronto they opt for the easy way out using pre prepared food, frozen burgers etc. Any Toronto place that tries to do the "Authentic" diner style usually fails a.k.a Lakeview. Guy Fieri would laugh at what we have
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I think I can handle Guy Fieri laughing at me.
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I know why Guy is such a tool...he eats far too much and especially too much meat. He shares the same skater douche style as Fred Durst circa 1991. Anyways on to business....
Niagra Falls- Somebuddy's. For pizza, wings and these hybrids of pizza and phill cheese steak flatbreads. They are loaded greasy and well suited for the show.
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Hey, wait, are we in bizarro world here? :)
This just seems opposite to me. When "America" comes to mind, I think of processed and canned. While there are obviously exceptions, we have to keep in mind that the show features one establishment out of 1,000. The other 999 probably make absolutely nothing from scratch. Having said that, in the GTA, there are also a few standouts. Same goes for any other city in Canada. Overall, the Canadian population eats less processed than the US. So I don't think it's fair to generalize that.
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And they have to travel across the country to find these establishments, and I guarantee that in most of the places they find them the featured spot is the only decent restaurant.
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Yes, it's true that in America there are diners a-plenty serving bad grub. But, the places featured on the show seem to be making stuff from scratch, and things that I haven't found the likes of in Toronto. Which explains why none of us can think of a venue that would actually work for the show (a D/D/D with a story and reasonably-priced great food). When I was a teenager, and of the belief that Toby's served amazing food, that would have been my suggestion... Don't know, though, how good those burgers actually were (teenagers seem to be more concerned with quantity than quality, in general)... Wish we had a good version of Toby's today.
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Yeah, very true! Toby's did seem awesome, although I was also a teenager at the time :).
I totally agree, those places do look fantastic. But we have had a few suggestions here. And if you poll everyone across the country, then you could easily fill the show with enough content. Don't forget... he goes to, say, 3 or 4 places in the Chicago area, and that's it. So compare the population of Toronto to Chicago... and I'm sure you can easily find 3 or 4 places in the GTA. Canada is just different. America invented the diner. We have way more authentic ethnic food. But an Indian restaurant (say, Amaya) is neither a diner... drive-in... and certainly no dive!
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Mars for weekend breakfast
Mimi's (not around any more) was a classic dive with great food
John's Italian Cafe on Baldwin
People's Food - 2 a.m. chicken salad club fries and gravy complete with late night cash meat delivery in a bucket...I'm sure the night cook is working off some debt owed to the mob
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Is Mar's still disgustingly filthy? The last time I ate there was in the back and there was a good 3 square yards of black mold clearly visible. There are dives and then there are health risks!
As a transplanted New Jerseyite, I can tell you for certain that there are LOTS of places that still do everything from scratch and those are the spots they feature. One of them is Mustache Bill's diner in Barnegat Light NJ that my grandfather built and opened in 1961. It just won a James Beard award last month.
Even though I dearly love living in the GTA, the lack of good diners and New York style coffee shops is the one thing that really makes me homesick.
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Hmmm,. what about the lack of good pizza, NY bagels and deli? Those are what I dearly miss( oh and Mexican food since I lived in Cali before moving to Ontario)
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Cali, next time you're in Costco, try a $16. package of Dunn's smoked meat, from Montreal. I'm sure you can find good rye bread in the London markets.
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Think again re: rye bread. The only rye I usually buy is Dimplemyers. I can't find any decent bread in London. London is a culinary wasteland. Well, except for this fabulous new restaurant we ate at for our anniversary. The Only on King, wow, best meal I've had since moving to Ontario.
Btw, I dont eat red meat. I guess you missed that in my senior thread on eG or in my latest thread here on CH asking for a good deli in TO( with no red meat).
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Sorry, I'm thickheaded!. I've heard great things about the Only, and I'll visit soon. You may want to try Caplansky's smoked turkey when you visit Toronto. Call first, it's not always available.
www.caplanskys.com
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People's food is certainly not open till 2 a.m; my experience has been that it closes early supper time. Perhaps you are thinking of nearby (and IMO pretty gross if consumed sober) Vesta lunch.
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Yes...you're right...The Vesta!
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Whatta revoltin' development. When I was a student at U of T, living in a frat on St. George, People's was where we'd roll after one of our legendary parties. That would be about 3-4 am, when the vibe was definitely comin' in from the outside.
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California Sandwiches
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Only the original location though.
DT
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I think Dangerous Dan's qualifies as a dive..
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Ya, but the food isn't good.
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In the city, I can only think of one place that has the show's requisite combination of décor (or character, if you will) and food from scratch: the Cadillac Lounge. Fieri would love this bar; he looks like something that emerged whole from between the cushions of one of their leopard skin couches. Not sure if you can call it a dive these days. They just finished expanding the space and it looks really nice.
Food wise, they say they do it all from scratch. It's usually good, though I would have to say it doesn't seem to be as inspired as some of the places on the triple D.
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Just don't have the hard liquor there. Their pours are barely a full ounce, if that...
Last time we were there drinking bourbons, there was barley enough splash to cover the bottom of the glass!
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There's a chip stand called Freddie's on Hwy 93 north just off Hwy 400 that I drive by all the time but never stopped at (always in a hurry, too tired or not hungry). It's been there forever and there are always people eating at the picnic tables, including truckers. The handpainted sign says they have elk burgers as well as beef burgers (and I think bison too). A sign says Dam Good Fries when you're going south, Da' Good Fries on the way north. No doubt not worth a drive but if you're on the way to Hillsdale/Lake Orr/Wyebridge/Midland/Penetang, might be worth a stop.
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Angie's Kitchen in Waterloo.
Press Box in Niagara Falls NY
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I didn't know Niagara Falls NY is in Ontario.
DT
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Did some forgotten clause from the War of 1812 kick in recently? :)
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Good pt Davwud - growing up in St.Catharines, 'over the river' just seems like another part of town, never mind another country :)
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Tally Ho on main st west, hamilton has been pumping out roast beef on a bun forever. I haven't been there for like 15 years but it's still there when I drive by. They used to put out a big pile of juicy roast beef with gravy and horseradish on a large soft kaiser in a basket with a rediculous amount of fries - ate there for cheap when I went to McMaster.
I would have said Hutch's back in the 70s or 80s - they had awesome homemade burgers as well as wicked beer battered cod and fries. But now they aren't so good.
Hewitt's Dairy Bar on hwy 6 south still has that 50's style lunch counter with simple scratch made food, milkshakes made in one of those metal Hamilton Beach machines in the steel cup. They have the best ice cream around. Hewitt's dairy products are in some stores in the Hamilton area. Buy their chocolate ice cream!
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I was wondering where Hewitts is. Their milk is available at the Carrot Common. I would love to try their ice cream!!
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I'm gonna second Tally-Ho as a guilty pleasure, but be forewarned, the fries are pedestrian frozen fare, the buns are wonder-kaisers, the roast beef is usually overcooked and shaved, and the gravy is as thick and dark as chocolate pudding, and clearly made from some mix.
However, the combo is strangely delicious and decadent, despite the low-quality ingredients all around.
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Is the Stoney Creek Dairy still around? That was an important halfway stop in the 60's from our home in Toronto to Grand-dad's cottage on Lake Erie.
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Love this show!
The only one I can think of now is Chandni Chowk on Gerrard St (India Bazaar). It is in a building and their food is consistently good. Bit of a dive.
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how about Pete Street Deli.. with the breakfast Grill in the front and the day glo chicken balls and the owner is such a character.. he would make good TV...
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Got to think that Stockyards BBQ would probably be a spot that Fieri would hit, devour all the different meats and fried chicken. That guy must have his cardiologist on speed-dial.
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Way off the beaten track there's a place up in Thunder Bay called Norma Jean's. When you walk in, there are booths on one side, and on the other old fashioned chrome stools, bolted into the floor, run along a low counter. There are tables at the back. The entire place is plastered with photos and posters of Marilyn Monroe (hence the moniker), Elvis Presley, and classic cars. It has not been renovated, as far as I can tell, in years. If you go to the bathroom, you will usually find a flower in a vase in there.
The nice older lady that serves you wears a poodle skirt. Almost everything is "home made" - fresh cut fries, turkey, gravy, etc. The burgers and perogies are very good. There is an old, but functional milkshake maker. Slices of lemon meringue pie sit in a glass shelving unit by the counter in case the huge portions have not done the trick. Although there may be nothing spectacular, it is standard fare done well in a setting that has character.
And as an added bonus, legend has it that it was the place Bambi Bembenek (remember her? US fugitive captured in Thunder Bay in the 90's?) used to work, or live (in the apartments above), or was arrested (depending on the version you hear). There is, in fact, a "Bambi burger" on the menu (alas, it is not venison...)
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Speaking of Thunder Bay, there's always time for Finnish pancakes at The Hoito too!
SWS
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The Hoito would actually be a PERFECT place for this show.
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Ha, I remember Norma Jean's. The waitress makes you get your own coffee if she knows you! She gave us all hugs when we left. I love that place.
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Alas, I think it is goodbye to Norma Jean's. There has been a "closed for renovations" sign in the window for well over 2 months now - and there is no work going on.
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D Hot Shoppe in Burlington is ***SO*** D,D&d!! Awesome Trinidadian food - roti, curry, jerk, etc., super dumpy, plus friendly, outgoing, charming staff. A "touch" of hot sauce is all i need for a good kick.
Another Burlington contender for DDD is Sammy's Donair - salty and spicy with a sweet-ish sauce, yum!
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I haven't had a Sammy's in ages. Is it still good?? I think someone reported on here that they've gone downhill. I hope not.
DT
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I've maybe been there once in the last 6 months but it was still really good.
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I have to add Admiral's Submarine in downtown Brantford. It's the dive-iest of dives, but legendary for its portion sizes and quantities of grease...famous for "the junkpile": roastbeef, ham, turkey, peameal bacon, beef burger patty, and chicken fingers. Yikes!
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But is is it just a pig-out feast, or is it really tasty, and homemade? So that Guy Fieri can't help but saying, "Now that's MONEY!" Hahahaha....
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Sounds somewhat like a garbage plate, like you'd get in Rochester.
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Buster's BBQ! In Vermillion Bay, Ont. Absolutely middle of nowhere N. Ont. Amazing pulled pork sanwiches - carolina style. decent ribs. would definitely fit in with MO of the show.
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oh, and a very strange, yet intriuging blueberry bbq sauce. not particularly tasty, but definitely original.
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The back of lots of the latino grocery stores in Kensington Market serve plaintains, pupusas, and other goodies. Emporio Latino would totally fit into Dive category.
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Great diner on the northeast corner of Woodbine and Stouffville Road. Located in a dingy little strip mall. Family owned forever. Massive, delicious burgers, open-faced turkey sandwiches and all the rest of the diner greats. Wonderful fries. Skip breakfast if you;re going for lunch.
Go soon At the rate that new gas stations are going in, the clock is likely ticking for that corner...
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What's it called?
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I'm sorry. I have no idea. been eating there for years and just know it as "that place by the gas station."
I'm horrible with names. Can't remember the names of the people I met this weekend at dinner...
It's right on the corner. There's a Petro on one corner, a Sunoco or Shell on the other and a nasty strip mall across the street. There's only one strip mall and only one diner. You can't miss it.
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From google...I think it's Famous Sam's
12275 Woodbine Ave
Gormley, ON L0H 1G0, Canada
12275 Woodbine Ave S, Gormley, ON L0H1G0, CA
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It is Famous Sam's. I live right near it, have eaten there, and could never understand why people go back. But based on what's been posted maybe I need to revisit?
12275 Woodbine Ave S, Gormley, ON L0H1G0, CA
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Well, take my recommendation as subjective. Persoanlly, when I go to a diner/dive, I want the real thing. Family owned, a menu that hasn't changed in years, original furntiure - likely with duct tape, and good greasy food that is genuine, tasty and generous. I don't want some place owned by a former indie musician and art directed down to the last detail.
Not saying that's what you might want, but it seems too many of the originals are dying and being replaced with body-pierced hipsters and $12 burgers...
So, Sam's fits that bill for me.
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I guess the question is whether it's a great neighbourhood diner for the reasons you mentioned, or whether it's a destination place that has really special food. Is it worth driving 30 mins for? Will people be wowed by the food?
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That's a great point.
For me I drove by it twice a day for 4 years, so it was a neighbourhood place. I moved away last year, but still drop in when in the area.
I can't say whether it's "destination worthy." That too, is subjective. Some people won't get on a streetcar for 1/2 an hour to go somewhere else in the city. Some will make a day of driving somewhere to try a hot dog/donut/fry truck etc.
You'll have to be your own judge.
I don't know if I'd call diner special, though. A diner's a diner. Every town has at least one this is worth popping into. Some are just a little more unique than others.
For what it's worth, it is on a number of road trip routes, so if you happen to be on the 404, Bloomington Rd or Stouffville Rd, it could be worth a stop...
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So what's the burger like?? Home made?? Done on a flat top?? Typical diner burger??
DT
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From my experiences, the burger is Home made & fried on the griddle. They are warmed up on the grill when an order comes in. They usually end up quite overdone. There emphasis here is on Quantity over Quality.
The soups are usually quite good however.
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If this is the place I'm thinking of it's the place where large numbers of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts congregate for breakfast on weekends.
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Steve's Diner in North York on Bathurst, home of real honest-to-goodness diner food (especially the french fries which are great).
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Well I don't know if it should be on a TV show but I have a fondness for Zet's by Pearson airport. Open 24 hrs, very popular place. I was surprised nobody even mentioned it in this thread. Their homemade burger beats golden star's homemade IMO.
They are famous also for their souvlaki also I believe. Never had steak there but they definitely look good, there are always tons of meat on display in the front counter (aging, I believe).
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Just went to Zet's for the first time last weekend, got the souvlaki based on recs here. Good chicken souvlaki on a bun for about $7.50, big portion, tender meat, tzaziki thick and garlicky. Souvlaki was what most people ordered, its 24H too i believe.
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Get Yourself over to The Real McCoy in Scarberia. (Markham Rd & Brimorton Dr). Great family-run authentic joint where everything is home-made.
Order the Mojo Burger (homemeade patty char-grilled with cheese and grilled bacon) and fresh-cut fries with gravy, or hand-dipped ontion rings, it's somewhat similar in style to Golden Star or Burger Shack, but each element of the food is just that much better.
No tables - it's take-out or stand at the tiny window-ledge counter only, but definitely TO's best old-school greasy-spoon burgers, fries, onion rings AND they make a hella-good neighborhood-style pizza too!
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I had the Mojo burger for lunch with fries and gravy.
First the burger, I thought it was good but not great. I'd have one again but only if I was in the area and wanted a burger.
The fries were excellent however. Fresh cut and goooood.
The thing is, I love the place. It's the kinda thing that's been going away in TO. Family run, almost all regulars, cheap signage and just a great feel. There was a few people eating at the counter and talking Leafs.
DT
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