The Urban Diner’s second location at 8715 – 109 Street is up and running. For fans of the Diner who live on the south side of the river, and for people tired of waiting in lines at other restaurants in the area–especially for brunch on weekends–this is good news.

The Diner is in the space formally home to Fiore’s Italian restaurant. The restaurant has been spiffed up with a new coat of paint to give it a fresh new appeal, and free parking is available to customers in the parking lot out back.  You’ll need to register your license plate inside.

I went twice in one week to give the place a fair shot, once for lunch, second time for breakfast. This is the kind of place I would’ve enjoyed in my party days on “the day after” when I needed hangover food. Big plates of French fries, burgers, lasagna, a little greasy and loaded with carbs:  just what you want to soak up the excess from the night before.

The breakfast burger had all of that.

Fish and Chips were pretty tasty, although the batter lacked that fluffiness typical of a true beer battered fish. The fries were better than any I’ve had in a long time: screaming hot, crispy, perfectly salted.
A hearty split pea soup accompanied my brisket sandwich. I usually don’t seek out anything topped with sauerkraut but I did in this case; I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. The brisket was moist and tender but the sauerkraut was a little too vinegar-heavy, reinforcing why I usually don’t seek out anything topped with something I had to eat vats of as a kid.
Breakfast: French toast fans will appreciate this dish. A big serving, sweet, stuffed with mascarpone cheese and cranberries and topped with fried bananas.

Lots of egg dishes to choose from: everything from eggs Benedict to frittatas to eggs in sandwiches and a breakfast burger stacked with meatloaf, ham and bacon. The diner hash didn’t live up to our expectations due to too little corned beef lost under a heapin’ helping of onions.

Fresh squeezed orange juice is on offer but all other juices are No Name brand and prices are not on the menu. After ordering a 1/2 litre of orange juice for a staggering $15, dividing it equally into three glasses that were filled just about halfway, we told the waiter it would’ve been cheaper to order individual glasses seeing as the ones coming out from the bar were filled well past half to which he shrugged and replied, “oh well, that happens…”

Hmmm.

Breakfast/brunch for four came to $66 and that included the 1/2 litre of OJ (we just couldn’t stomach spending $25 for a full litre).  Overall the food is good, not outstanding, and I wasn’t getting that “gourmet twist” that they mention on their website.  Rather, the fare at Urban Diner is predictable, hot and filling; perfect for those long, cold winter days ahead. I expect this location of Urban Diner will draw alot of traffic. 

To listen to my review on CBC Radio with Edmonton AM’s Ron Wilson, click here.