Directory of Diners: Canada

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Le Galaxie Diner

Rue St. Denis, Montreal. Review by Paul Coyne, abridged. Le Galaxie, sporting some of dinerdom's most fabulous night-time neon (my apologies to the Olympia of Connecticut), has been a prosperous eatery for the last few years, after some fabulous pre-opening renovation work by the Dinerman himself, Richard Gutman. I especially love the colorfully lit glass brick foundation corners and the futuristic Galaxie sign. See this diner at night!

This is some of the best diner food I've tasted. Although they offer standard diner fare, what you get is sometimes surprising. Forgetting where I was when last I visited Le Galaxie, I ordered an omelet while my traveling companion opted for, as the menu read,"Pancakes." The pancakes are not of the standard flapjack variety. This being French-Canada, they're actually crepes; an eggy, thin, fruity, and sweet hotcake variation. The plate-sized crepes are served with a variety of fruit choices. When the crepes hit the table, my stomach sank, realizing what I had passed up. I don't know of any other diner that offers this breakfast confection.

Though it was breakfast time, I could not pass up Le Galaxie's fries, which should more precisely be called shoestring potatoes. I don't know how they cram so much taste into such thin fries.

Though Le Galaxie is a worthwhile experience, it does have its drawbacks. It can be frequently crowded and it does have an extra-thick air of nostalgia. Its what the Happy Days generation likes to think a diner must have been n its heyday. The music is wonderful, however, a mixture of American and French 50's pop and jazz. You'll be humming along to a familiar tune and then realize the words are in French C'est bon.

Le Galaxie is completely handicap accessible. It has gone through some structural renovations but has remained true to its roots. Small pins with recreations of Le Galaxie are also available for purchase. Bon Appetit!

Marie Antoinette

Rue Laurier, just across from Place Laurier, Quebec. No, it's not that expensive; the menu's in Canadian dollars, friend. It's in English and French, too: Marie Antoinette, vaguely reminiscent of everyone's fave Denny's chez nous, is Quebec's only chain 24-hr restaurant. Irit and Josh found this late night vinylfest on the Rue Laurier, about fifteen minutes' drive from Old Quebec. The waitresses are helpfully bilingual; those eager to practice their French should look mademoiselle in the eye and say,"Il n'aiderait rien, ma petite moule a goufre, je suis allemagne."[It would help nothing, my little waffle iron, I am Germany.] The coffee's bottomless and the breakfast special is cheap; I recommend the slightly more costly poutine, a Quebecois delicacy consisting of French fries, gravy, and cheese curds, yum. (Review by J. Kamensky)