Yaletown Gets Cosy at the Lucky Diner

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Filed in Restaurants
January 26, 2007

You know how sometimes you go to a restaurant and even though everything looks good, you can't really decide what you want? The Lucky Diner isn't like that. My friend and I went for lunch last week and I liked it so much I went back there for breakfast on the weekend. And I will have to go back yet again, in order to try the signature Bourbon Milkshake. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

The food is down-home, comfort food, done up fancy so that it's the best burger/mac and cheese/meatloaf/bacon and eggs that you've ever had. The ingredients are super fresh, local, organic and artisanal where possible and they even make their own ketchup from scratch with secret delectable ingredients.

I had the fancy mac and cheese (Wild Mushroom and Aged Cheddar, Parmesan and Asiago) and my friend had the Lucky Sucker burger (organic beef, lettuce, tomato, Lucky sauce, house-made bun, belly bacon, 3 year old cheddar cheese and mushroom ragout) and everyone was impressed, but don't take my word for it, check out the menu online, and then go early because the word is out and it's getting busy in there.

The space itself is designed in traditional 50's diner style, including vinyl benches and retro looking wooden boxes on the tables. Unlike traditional diners, however, most of the tables and smacked into an open space with concrete floors and a high ceiling, which makes it quirky but not quiet. The latest creation from Vancouver restauranteurs, Scott Hawthorn and Sean Heather, the idea behind the Lucky Diner is to be a "Pepper" alter-ego to Gastown's Salt. I haven't been to Salt yet, but it seems like they have a few things in common at least; good eats, good drinks, chalkboards and a hungry, loyal following.

Lucky Diner
1269 Hamilton St.
www.luckydiner.ca
604-662-8048

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I ate there the other night and unfortunantely the food is (sorry) boring and bland. The "Mac'n'Cheese" was runny and more like creamy pasta and the "Pot Pie" tasted like Campbells soup with a pastry top. It's too bad because I really wanted to like this place. But I can say the service was wonderful! I hope they can tweak the menu because I would love give it another chance.

Posted by: Kade at January 26, 2007 2:11 PM | Quote Comment

oh sad! I was going to try the pot pie, but maybe I'll just stick with the bourbon milkshake.

Posted by: degan at January 26, 2007 4:20 PM | Quote Comment

I tried a bourbon milkshake when I was in New Orlens, except they called it a Milk Punch (or something like that). It was delicious. I could totally go for one right now.

Posted by: Ariadna

at January 26, 2007 10:49 PM | Quote Comment

We were at Lucky Diner this week and I had the chicken pot pie and my girlfriend had the meatloaf. The pot pie was not quite what i was expecting. The waitress said that it was a do-it-yourself pot pie where you add the mash, peas, pastry etc. yourself. It took me a while to come over, but I think it's possibly the best pot pie I ever had. She really liked her meatloaf but it was dense and very pate-like. The menu is a bit, uh, straightforward, but we live in the neighborhood and it's nice to go somewhere that doesn't have wasabi or apricots in every dish.

Posted by: panavisionguy at January 27, 2007 12:45 AM | Quote Comment