Big City Diner - London, Ontario

BIG CITY DINER

681 HIGHBURY STREET NORTH

LONDON, ONTARIO

N5W 4L4

GPS

N42 DEG., 59.747

W081 DEG., 12.205

OVERVIEW

As said before, never discovered much independent grease in London before.  So I decided to try this puppy out in the eastern part of Canada's second wealthiest city (hoping the grease would be more upscale!).  As noted in the picture, business wasn't exactly booming on this Tuesday lunch rush.

ORDER

Cheeseburger, Fries (they come together, platter style), Gravy, Coke

COST

$14.15

GREASE SCALE

2.5 Lipitors.  London seemes to be very grease conscience.  It's a disturbing trend.

AMBIANCE

Very clean and new.  I have a sneaking suspicion that, judging by the decor, it used to be a mid-priced Italian joint.  Very big and airy with large booths.  It lacks the usual tacky diner object d'art, yet replaces them with tacky Italian ones.

DO'S

As outlined in "Lord Of The Rings" screed, I'm not much of a fry guy.  I was dubious at first that fries came with my burger.  I even ordered gravy to be the buffer condiment to be on the safe side.  How wrong I was!  The fries were spectacular!  Homemade and fried to perfection, and then seasoned with a black pepper and onion powder concoction.  Grave was really not required, but still yummy.  Also, real frommage topped my burger.

DON'T

Huge bun issues here.  It was fresh, but totally unsuitable to carry my 8 oz. of ground beef.  This is when diners try to be different, without thinking of the diner experience.  The bun was very dense and chewy.  I suspect it was made with potato flour.  The bun is to be the silent conspirator to the burger experience, not part of the story.  You lose all flavour of the burger and cheese when you are too busy chewing the bun!  Please, please, please learn the words "Fresh Wonder".  As a side note, my burger was overdone.  (I have to start asking for medium-well when I'm in London)

YUMMING UP

I could go on about bun issues all day, but the fact that the fries were stupendous wipes all that away.  Also, it seems a very light, cheery place, so I would recommend it to anyone.