belmont diner

way over priced for way bad food. the food was very 'meh' and the prices were way too high! we won't ever be goingbackto this place. fyi for any vegetarians out there: the potatoes are cooked in bacon grease (which i thought tasted alright) but for people that don't eat meat it's a not so pleasant surprise. i don't know if they do it intentionally but they clearly cook the food in a way that the crossover can happen. at any rate, we will continue to love and enjoy the much better place across the street (the loop)!

came here for breakfast with some friends a few weeks ago. we left our name on the sheet and were seated when we got back. the wait staff checked in on us often. the menu has a good selection and we all liked our choices (i got the chuck norris, husband got the benedict, and friends got pancakes and waffles). would comebackhere.

located on 33 avenue sw, as ‘neighnborhoody’ a spot as any in alberta, belmont diner has been charming locals since the year 2000, though much of the décor and charm datebackalmost ninety years prior.

temporary closed by a fire in 2013, but since reopened and greeting regulars as well as new faces from 7a-3p on weekdays, and until four o’clock on the weekend, those hoping to experience the family-run space without a wait are encouraged to arrive early, 7:25 on a cold sunday finding just a dozen patrons present, four local police officers enjoying big plates of eggs, toast and meat just a few feet from my counter seating.

staffed by just two so early, a young female server in a tuque assisting the grill man in an open kitchen, it was with conversation about the restaurant and local area that time was passed after selecting two plates, the menu a laminated two-side job with a focus on diner staples and the occasional clever idea here or there.

doing diligence in reviewing the menu prior to arrival, the clever “pancake art” undeniably a draw, it was with deference to the kitchen that an oblong shaped disc of golden buttermilk batter studded with blueberries was presented, the idea immediately identifiable as r2-d2 and just as quickly devoured with a light smear of chilled butter plus pure maple syrup added to taste.

given the option of ham or smoked meat for the griddled monte cristo, unfortunately no deep-frying to be found, it was just as the pancake was nearing completion that the sandwich stacked with cheddar and a chicken breast was served, the flavors good on their own and even better with seeded raspberry jam from kraft, though the cubed potatoes were unfortunately undercooked and thus left on the plate with stomach capacity saved for the day’s additional dining stops.

you'll wait for a seat but you'll enjoy your meal. strong coffee, good atmosphere, tasty food and bubblegum at the end!
i had the montreal smoked meat hash which we were told was quite popular. it was a good portion and delicious, with the mix of smoked meat, garlic mushrooms, onions, hashbrowns and banana peppers for some kick. eggs on top, toast on the side, and a full belly as a result.
it is small, it gets busy, you may feel cramped, but you'll enjoy it. plus there's free parking around thebackand on the side streets. give it a go!

first of all the wait times are terrible. i understand that it is a small place but at least give an estimate of how long it will be and don't force people to stand outside in the freezing cold.
the service was mediocre too. our waitress spilled our drinks all over the tae twice and never camebackto clean it up both times. on top of that the hot chocolates we ordered were all cold. there was also a dairy allergy in our party and this persons food still came out with cheese all over it.
overall a terrible experience and i will not be back.

love this place. my husband and i enjoy going out for breakfast. this place is our new favourite spot. great food, wonderful diner atmosphere. we will bebackfor sure

$12.00 for 3 pancakes... no side. cruddy service... wasn't asked to top of coffee once. what happened to this gem?. i feel like someone woke up one day and thought to themselves 'the belmont is all it ever will be. i'm goingbackto bed.' i feel like that someone was the old backbone to the belmont diner because the last time i went there i was absolutely shocked at the terrible service and poor value. save yourself some strife and try out anywhere in marda loop but the belmont.

i had the banana pancakes. on the menu it says, "bottomless hashbrowns and unlimited toast.", or something like that. what they mean is that for the two items on the menu underneath that heading you get unlimited hashbrowns and toast. when they say 3 pancakes they mean just that. when they says $12.00 for just 3 pancakes they mean just that! the food however was decent when it arrived. the coffee was ok and we were never offered a refill in 40 minutes of being there. it's a good thing someone else picked up the bill, i wouldn't have tipped a dang thing. in fact i may gobackjust to not tip!

the servers virtually ignored us the whole time. we were a group of 4 seated at the bar. we asked for the open table but they couldn't/wouldn't accommodate us. i didn't realize they would be blaring garbage music, apparently this is a fast food joint and they don't want customers having conversations. in any case our request was met with incredible attitude. we were sincerely just requesting and she went to turbo rude immediately.

in any case i won't be back... there's a great place not far from there that does dutch pancakes. no sense in wasting my time and sanity on this little hipster dive.

re:horrible experience. worth the read

owner of the belmont diner in reply:

i'm sorry to read your review on your experience at the belmont. maybe i can clear a few things up for you, since you didn't ask to speak to me while you were in the restaurant (i'm the guy hiding in thebackroom.) i was sitting at the bar when you placed your order with the server. i over heard your entire order. there was no attitude from my server.... if anything you were making a really big deal about your mods........ which is not a big deal to us at all, after all its breakfast..... everybody subs and mods their meals..... everybody. your subs and mods weren't special.... your order was nothing new. you did however complain that the price should be cheaper because you weren't getting the smoked meat. the server and i were on the computer for a little extra time because she was asking what to do about the price. i gave you 15 percent off your meal.... and i even threw in free avocado.... just to be nice. when your meal came to your table.... you grilled the cook about what was going on in the kitchen and what was happening to your food. the server came over to ask why you were upset and you said you wouldn't eat your food.... you insisted on paying after the server said not to worry about it and you stormed out.

as you pointed out, it's an open design concept which means every customer can see what is happening. this is one of the few places where you can guarantee your food is not being messed with. i also have a policy forbidding employees from talking about tables or customers. all my employees are in the spot light the whole time. it's incredibly insulting to accuse us of tampering with your food....while your staring at the cooks. it's an outrageous claim. and as for us all talking about you and laughing and pointing. i think you may have a paranoia issue or a social anxiety problem. we were all laughing and smiling because we were all happy and having fun at work. we were having our own conversations in the few minutes of down time we have in a ten hour shift with no official break time. the server was looking out of the dish pit while she did dishes to keep her eye on the floor. nobody was interested in you..... nobody was talking about you..... your order wasn't an issue or anything anybody cared to talk about. the restaurant was full and we were all busy. it is extremely self centered to believe everyones conversation and lives revolve around you. your entire review is based around presumptions and some seriously paranoid thoughts. i'm preticulartly disappointed in this review because i remember you well. the previous weekend you asked me to move your table so you could sit alone and enjoy your book...... which i did for you no problem...... i sat you in a booth for four all by yourself in a busy small diner. i went out of my way, above and beyond for you on more then one occasion. for you to leave a presumptuous, factless and mis leading review is very sad after you have been treated so good on many occasions. to anyone still reading this review.... please disregard her review and come check us out.

re: worth reading. wow, would never have figured you were the owner. your very obviously deffensive about this all online, and yet you said nothing to me in person before i left. a wise person who runs a business knows that you should always resolve issues before the customer leaves. i think it goes to show exactly what i am saying about the way you run your business, and what i experienced yesterday. you come online to tell the rest of urban spooners that my bad experience is a result of paranoia and anxiety disorders?? classy. i wasnt watching your kitchen. i was busy reading something. i definitely know even more now that i have good reason to believe what i do. you know it and i know it. and ya know, i don't care as its your word against mine. regardless of the he said she said, you definitely should find someone more suitable to manage your business front for you. you clearly have poor people skills. belmont used to be really good. over priced, but good. and just so you are aware, i never asked to have a cheaper meal. i asked to sub avocado for meat. i didnt storm off. i payed for my meal. i just didnt care to eat it after i observed you and your staff acting really odd. i didnt mind paying for my meal because i don't expect things for free. if i was paranoid and had all these issues you claim, then this would be an issue i encountered all the time. this is the first time mr. manager. now on the other hand make your self and your business look tacky. bashing someone's bad review and dismissing it by saying i'm self absorbed/centered, paranoid, and have social anxiety disorder issues? real classy. maybe you're in the wrong business.


-----19 nov, 2014-----

horrible experience. worth reading

i have been visiting belmont for a very long time. the staff had always been very friendly. the last time i visited belmont, i ordered the smoked meat hash without the meat. it comes ouf kind of like a breakfast poutine. they did it for me no problem. today, i again asked for the same thing and requested if i could substitute the meat for avocado instead. this girl seemed annoyed that i had asked for something different and did not seem interested in accommodating it. i said that if it was an issue, i didnt mind ordering something else off the menu. she went over to the manager, and they spent a long time on the computer. she was rolling her eyes a lot, and seemed annoyed. then after, my food was brought out by one of the cooks. (its an open concept kitchen). i was busy reading however, and wasnt paying attention to what was going on. he dropped the food off, and then wentbackto the other cook. they kept looking over at me and laughing and chatting quietly about something. then i noticed the server and the manager were doing the same thing. the server kept peaking out from the corner and giggling and staring at me. the cook camebackover with my toast. i asked if i had offended anyone, and was feeling upset that they were all looking over at me and laughing. he said that wasnt the case, but he seemed incredibly ingenuine and even sarcastic. then the server came over and asked me if everything was okay. i explained that i was feeling upset and paranoid to eat my food because i had seen them all looking over and laughing at me. she started stumbling on her words and then made up a very unbelievable story about them making it with meat and how it was funny that they had to take it out... ya. right. i asked for my bill, and said i was sorry if i offended anyone. i was polite the whole time as i am a server, and unless someone is asking for something outrageous, its never a big deal to give the customer what they want. all while the manager hid in the back, and not once came over to talk to me. what a horrible experience. this place was my breakfast place. i bring my parents and friends here. now i'm gonna make sure i tell everyone i know what a class-less place it has become. bad reviews spread like wild fire.

it'sbackand better than ever! love this place!!

breakfast delight. i ventured over to belmont diner with a buddy last sunday morning, and wow! though the meals are pricey (and i mean pricey!), it's well worth it because the portions are large and everything tastes epic.
service was fast, but the wait time to get a seat is pretty unfortunate. it's a small...no, really small diner that has roughly 8 booths and tables, and a bar. it's a pretty cool place, but if you're coming with a large group after 10 or 11, have fun waiting, because there's only one large table to accommodate large gatherings.
i had the pancake delux/combo with scrambled eggs and sausages. let me tell you, it was scrumptious! two massive pancakes with banana slices embedded in them (you choose what toppings to go in your pancake) and a dollop of whip cream on top, made this breakfast epic. the sausages are not spicy, but were flavourful, nonetheless.
a definite place to comebackto.

my first visit this morning. had the eggs benny with spinach and hash browns. they were really tasty . i will gobackfor sure.

small place, awesome food. seating and setting: around 12ish on saturday my friend and i decided to go find a diner to eat at and came across belmont diner. the lines are long, and i suspect are usually long but the owner (i think she is the owner) comes out to offer you coffee if the wait begins to drag out too long. the place itself is very small, do not expect to be seat quickly even if there is a short line! i sat at the counter which was comfortable even though a tad squishy. oh as well, parking is a hassle, they do have parking outbackbut there arent ever any spots, you have to drive around in the residential area to find street parking.

food: very good food here! you can see them make the food so you know its all good. the eggs are fresh (no egg mixture) even for the scrambled eggs. i had the traditional with half bacon and half sausage (2 eggs, hash-browns and toast). the hashbrowns are amazing! they arent deep fried or overcooked, cubes of potato with some seasoning and also it is unlimited! toast is also very good, not sure how toast can be amazing since it is just toast, but it is.

overall: i recommend going if you want a little place for some good breakfast (try the milkshake and the ice tea!), but don't go if you're in a rush there is most likely going to be a line. also i would not recommend if you have a large party.

the jury is still out. i had written off the belmont diner after one too many blah experiences. we live in the marda loop area and often found ourselves queing up on the weekends for breakfast or lunch at the belmont. i found the frozen hashbrowns boring and often under cooked. i was very disappointed when i ordered a burger and it was clearly not a house made patty. i also have found most of the time that the service is lack luster and the staff in general have a too cool for school vibe. all of this combined with expensive diner fare turned us off of the belmont. we just stopped going.

in the last few months our family have become dog owners and my daughter and i are often out and about our neighbourhood early in the morning for dog walks. we often walk by the belmont and she was keen to gobackthere for an early morning breakfast before school. this morning we were up super early and dismayed to see fresh snow on the ground, so i suggested we head to the belmont for breakfast.

we were the first to arrive and were let in a few minutes before the diner was open. we sat at the counter and ordered right away. we shared the pancake breakfast and my daughter chose the banana pancakes (other choices include blueberry, plain or banana chocolate chip). the pancake breakfast also includes choice of sausage or bacon and eggs. our breakfast was served up in minutes and the accomadating cook even split our plates without us asking. my daughter's pancake was made to look like a grumpy jack-o-lantern complete with grape eyes. i am a detail person and small things like that can make my dining day. my pancake was great. i have forgotten how delightful a simple banana pancake can be. this one was lacy and crisp on the outside and warm and sugary from the cooked bananas inside. we both tucked in right away neglecting the maple syrup which was just not needed.

i think we will start frequenting this neighbourhood spot once again. we will just skip the weekend crowd and go there during the week when the lineups are less fierce and the staff less surly.