Overall rating: 4 out of 5. FOOD: 4 / 5. VALUE: 3.5 / 5. AMBIANCE: 4 / 5
The recently opened Blue Star Diner in Bridgeland, from the owners of Dairy Lane Cafe, is working from a proven and popular concept of a solid lineup of breakfast and lunch dishes. While there are some Dairy Lane repeats like the standout DL burger, new offerings abound as well. Read my Lunch Rush column in Metro Calgary, or continue for the expanded version…
We ate a grilled cheese sandwich with slices of Granny Smith apple, sautéed onions and Sylvan Star Gruyere ($12.95) with skinny fries and baked beans. The thin apple slices served primarily to add texture rather than enhance flavour. Everything tasted fresh, but the neutral colour palette lacked “oomph” presentation-wise.
If not for the pickle and a few pokey apple slices, this plate would make the colour beige jealous.
Next was the gluten-free Huevos Rancheros ($12.95). The crispy corn tostadas, warm refried beans and two sunny-side up Sylvan Star eggs were complimented by some cool black bean cilantro salsa and avocado slices. The hash browns were peppery and soft on the inside but could have used a crunchier outside.
Look how vibrant those egg yolks are.
Next time, I’d be curious to try BSD’s vegan scramble, the braised beef and tomato eggs benny and lamb burger.
Blue Star Diner is sparsely decorated with a banquette along one wall; a short bar for solo diners along another. The diner seats 38 and like its counterpart, takes no reservations. Just one month after opening its doors, diners already line up around the block on weekends.
My only complaint? Although it was a hot day out, our window table was uncomfortably warm, as in, I was sweating like I was vacationing in a non-air conditioned tropical locale. I suppose that’s one way to prevent diners from taking their sweet time…
Otherwise, our food arrived in ten minutes, flat. Blue Star Diner is already a well-oiled machine with recipes that emphasize local produce from Gull Valley, Sylvan Star, Spragg Farms, Missing Link, to name a few. The longest part of your meal will be deciding what to order from a delectable menu with plenty of gluten-free options.
Blue Star Diner, 809 1st Ave N.E., Calgary, AB. (403) 261-9998
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday: 7:00 am to 3:00 pm; Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
Price range: ($9.00 to $15.00)
Low: ($9.00 Two eggs, any style)
High: ($15.00 Bison burger)
Reservations: No
Licensed: Yes
Is this restaurant appropriate for:
Client negotiations: Yes
Lunch with co-workers: Yes
Social lunch: Yes
Quick solo lunch: Yes
Time in: 12:25 p.m.
Time out: 1:10 p.m.
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Loved that you enjoyed yourself,nothing but a let down for my partner and I, dry tasteless pork burger forgettable egg dish. The best was when they told us they had no orange Juice??? 7-11 is across the street but as we got our disappointing meal we could hear someone say they had orange juice again, but we were never offered any. Needless to say I needed it to wash down that styrofoam pork burger.
Luv
Lloyd