It doesn’t matter what the current food trend is (molecular gastronomy, cronuts, sriracha-in-everything), comfort food never wavers: meatloaf, fried chicken, mac ‘n cheese—you get the idea, comfort food is what we always come back to. Even those of us who didn’t grow up in the doo-wop decade can’t deny the attraction of red vinyl and chrome, especially when burgers and milkshakes get involved.

It was over the topic of burgers that I first became aware of the Downtown Diner in Fort Saskatchewan. Edmonton food blogger, Phil Wilson (aka Baconhound), took it upon himself to suss out Edmonton’s best burger and over the next several months, he and his wife chowed down at 30 establishments in Edmonton and area all in the name of research. When the burger debauchery ended, Phil declared The Diner’s Downtown Burger as one of the top five in all the land.  Naturally, I had to see and taste for myself.

In the past five weeks, I’ve been to the diner three times: once for a grab-and-go milkshake; once for brunch, and once for supper. The first visit had me hooked. The cherry milkshake tasted like cherries. Real honest-to-goodness cherries. It was the kind of milkshake you can’t put down; the kind where you get a brain freeze but just keep on going because it’s so dang good.

Cherry shake to go

When it comes to brunch, it’s hard to sway me from eggs Benedict but I was really jonesing for one of those burgers Phil raved about. As luck would have it, the diner offers a breakfast burger which, to my delight, is a beef patty topped with ham and egg and smothered in hollandaise sauce.  Decadent, absolutely, but sometimes, you know, you just have to give in.

Breakfast Burger

Diner Hash

Prime Rib Eggs Benny

What I like about the diner is that they offer classic comfort food dishes that are kicked up a notch or two. The fried chicken has a crunchy coating but with a sweet honey addition to the mix; the potato salad is served hot in a luxurious creamy dressing; the meatloaf slices are pan fried; the salad dressings and even the ketchup are house made; the banana split features caramelized bananas. These are not foods simply ordered from a warehouse and thrown in the deep fryer. These are recipes tweaked and tested and served with love and passion.

Fried Chicken

Meatloaf

Baby Back Ribs with Beans and Potato Salad

Banana Split

Keith Bramley and Lori Short have operated the diner for just over a year and recently received the New Business of the Year award at the 30th annual Fort Saskatchewan Business Awards Gala. Perhaps even a greater thrill is that the Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here is scheduled to tape an episode that will air in spring 2015.

The diner does not have a website, and they’re not on Twitter (yet). You’ll have to like them on Facebook to keep up with what’s happening: hours of operation, the special of the day, changes in menu, news, notices and, of course, pictures of food.

If you go today (Oct. 31), you’ll have to get in before 4 p.m. as they’re closing early to allow staff to take their wee ones trick or treating. How charming is that.

When you go, expect lineups and leave any attitude at the door. This is a family run operation with staff as sweet as the strawberry sundaes they serve. Have a milkshake, sing along to Frankie Avalon, and order extra potato salad to go.

My CBC Edmonton AM review of the Downtown Diner can be heard here.