YYC - Low expectations, big surprises?

[Richmond Green]

Just had lunch at the Weaselhead pub on 37st SW. It's your standard neighbourhood bar (loads of TV's and the like) and I didn't have much in the way of expectations for the food, but the weaselhead burger (homemade beef patty, bacon and jalapenos) pleasantly surprised me. I'd definitely go back for another one.

This got me to thinking - what other places in town are diamonds in the rough? Places that you wouldn't normally give a second glance, but that deliver some really good food?

Any suggestions?

[Mawson Plan]

I had low expectations for Divino. I thought it would be overpriced and not very good, but although it was kind of expensive it was also really good. I had great service there too.

[John Manzo]

great topic!

We could probably fill this thread up with pub food, so I wanted to note one of the best loaves of bread I've had in 2009: It was a müsli loaf from Caffe Rosso which comes, I think, from City Bakery. I'd not usually think of getting bread (never mind a whole loaf) from a coffeehouse but this was just epic, completely memorable. Moist, sweet, we ate the whole thing with butter, nothing else.

[Richmond Green]

@ John - Ah Bread, my second true love. I'll have to give Caffe Rosso a shot for that.

@ hclass - Olives is really close to my office - you're right - it's pretty good, but it's a little higher end than what I'm getting at here.

How about breakfast places? Any hole-in-the wall diners that I may have missed?

[nonlinear]

good luck richmond. i would say diners/breakfast cafes is probably the most underrepresented genre in the city. aside from mexican, perhaps - although that's slowly improving.

[John Manzo]

You gotta try breakfast at Holy Grill.

[Richmond Green]

Never thought of the Holy Grill for breakfast - what do they serve? Standard bacon and eggs type fare?

[cancowboy]

http://holygrill.ca

Eggs Benedict. Yum!

[marcopolo]

I really wish they had at least one sweet option (ie pancakes, french toast or something), but other than that their breakfast is great!

[Mawson Plan]

Wow! That is one heck of a website.

[tex_in_yyc]

Dang... that is some nice looking menu. Will have to make a point of checking them out.

[hclass]

Was invited out to Olives a few months ago and have been back quite a few times. Well prepared and presented food in a nice space with prices that are totally tolerable.