Restaurant Review: Highlevel Diner
HIGHLEVEL DINER 10912 88th Avenue ~ highleveldiner.com Instagram: @highleveldiner ~ Twitter: @HighlevelDiner Co-Diner: Tim Golem
When it comes to classic Edmonton it doesn't get more iconic than Garneau's Highlevel Diner. Its been around since 1982 and you'll find them right at the south end of the High Level Bridge, hence its name. You Gotta Eat Here! featured them in season two of the show and locals have been enjoying this neighbourhood restaurant for years upon years. The little section of road that Highlevel Diner is on not only has an incredible view of the downtown skyline, but has also become increasingly awesome in recent years in terms of businesses. It's a "good restaurant" hot spot, home to not only Highlevel Diner, but also Sugarbowl Cafe, Eleanor and Laurent, and La Petite Iza - every single one of them an amazing restaurant. I'd kinda love to live directly across the street. Parking can be a bit of a pain in this area but I tend to find that street parking usually materializes. Highlevel Diner has a beautiful location right on the street corner and the spacious yet cozy restaurant feels exactly as you hope it will, with dark wooden beams, quaint little nooks, local art all over the walls, and a magical suncatcher display. It absolutely feels like home. They also have some patio seating along the front of the building with string lights hanging overhead from the awning. It really couldn't be a nicer little spot. I visited on a Sunday evening and a friendly server seated me on the patio in the beautiful spring sun. I went ahead and ordered a Homebrewed Iced Tea ($3.95) since I've always been a fan of "real" iced tea.
What more could you want on a pleasant sunny day? I love a homemade iced tea that isn't too sweet and actually tastes like real tea. This one succeeds at exactly that. However, I did question whether what was served to me was actually an arnold palmer (an iced tea mixed with lemonade) because I was definitely detecting some lemon going on. Either way, I was very happy drinking this. If I had been feeling boozy I likely would've ordered the Highlevel caesar, which is made with a local hot sauce and house pickles. The food at Highlevel Diner is half diner-like, half brunchy, half Canadiana, and half comfort. (I guess those should've been quarters and not halves.) There are lots of sandwiches and burgers, but also things like short ribs, fish & chips, and Guinness cottage pie. But also Thai green curry? They're also getting into the world of fried chicken these days (because who isn't?). It's a bit of a mixed bag. I've been ordering the same sandwich for years and have a difficult time deviating at this point: the Chick N Cheddar Sandwich ($14.50) which is served with a choice of fries or soup.
I have very affectionately been referring to this sandwich as the "cholesterol sandwich" for many years. It's like cheesy french toast as bread with creamy chicken salad inside and more cheese. So as long as you know what you're getting yourself into, you're probably going to love this sandwich a whole lot. I know I do! The bread is super soft and moist and the chicken salad is made up of nice fresh chunks of chicken. There's a lot of sharp cheddar going on throughout and it adds a great flavour as well as those crispy fried cheese edges (which are the best). I will never stop loving (and ordering) this sandwich. The fries are also exceptional. Super crispy and golden, lightly salted, and a perfect match for the housemade ketchup that you get with them. This plate is great just the way it is. Never change a thing. There's a famous dessert at Highlevel Diner so I ordered it! The Bread Pudding ($8.50).
Very sweet and absolutely swimming in a sugar bath - with a bowl of whipped cream on the side. This dessert was absolutely delicious. The bread itself was ultra moist and caramelized on top, each bite bathing itself in the incredible, sticky-sweet caramel bourbon sauce. It's the kind of sauce that you would consider taking a bath in - except that it would also give you diabetes. I loved dunking my spoonfuls into the whipped cream for maximum effect. This dessert is a lot and I would certainly recommend sharing it but you won't be disappointed. Eating a meal at Highlevel Diner just feels right. It's comfortable, unpretentious and feels like home. They may not have some of the bells and whistles that other restaurants do but you can't really go wrong with a mainstay like this one. They're also known for their brunch, which I need to return for because it has been a long, long time since I've had it. This is the kind of restaurant that makes you feel good and I hope that they continue to do so for another 40 years.