Why the Diner Refuses to Die: 3 Iconic Canadian Diners in British Columbia
Thousands of restaurants didn’t survive Covid. And those that did are now fighting rising costs, empty downtowns, and neighbourhoods in crisis. Some estimates suggest a significant share of restaurants could close in 2026 alone. So why are Canadian diners, the oldest, simplest, least trendy format in the food business, still full?
That’s exactly the question I set out to answer on this road trip exploring diners in British Columbia, visiting three diners that have refused to go anywhere.
Stop 1: Route 97 Diner, Westwold, BC
Our first stop sits right on Highway 97, between Kamloops and Vernon, in the small community of Westwold. And I’ll be upfront, this diner in British Columbia is only 20 years old. A newborn by diner standards but they have committed to the 1950s without a single apology. The floors, the signage, the booths, the menu, the milkshakes served in metal tins, it is all an ode to the love of the 1950s.
The moment you walk in, something shifts. The highway disappears. The world slows down. That feels entirely intentional, because that’s exactly what Canadian diners should do.
Map it: 4901 Okanagan Hwy, Westwold, BC V0E 3B1
What are they “famous” for?
The prep cook has been there since day one and makes patties fresh every morning, weighed on a scale. Their signature Route 97 Burger is the most popular item, but I had to go for the country-fried chicken: two generous pieces, classic as it gets. I paired it with poutine (obviously), and a cherry Bordeaux milkshake, then worked my way through a coffee shake and a butterscotch shake because, well, research.
The milkshake situation here is genuinely impressive. Regular and premium options, pie shakes, adult shakes with a shot of Bailey’s, and a flavour list that runs from maple walnut to licorice to chocolate chip mint. The cherry Bordeaux was cold, consistently smooth, and very good. The coffee shake was strong and rich, blended into a vanilla base.
Then came the pie. Apple blackberry, baked fresh that morning by a woman from Salmon Arm who makes all their pies. Nice filling-to-crust ratio, a touch tart and not overdone.
The boss has run this place for 22 years. A prep cook who’s been there since day one and Tammy, our lovely waitress, who is a retired paramedic who lives and farms nearby, joined the team when she needed something to do in retirement. Tammy makes the visit extra memorable with her kindness. Route 97 Diner understands something a lot of newer restaurants don’t: people aren’t just coming for the food. The diner doesn’t ask anything of you. You already know how it works. Whether you’re 65 and it reminds you of something you lived, or 25 and it reminds you of something you’ve only ever seen in photos or movies, the diner meets you there.
Stop 2: The Cherry Pit, West Kelowna, BC
Next stop: West Kelowna. The Cherry Pit has been serving this community for around 50 years, and it looks exactly like a place that’s been doing it that long. The menu is massive with classic options like Salisbury steak, pork schnitzel, and eggs Benedict running alongside pie and even homemade cookies. This is the kind of place, where if you bring it up to a local they’ll either love it or hate it. I’m kind of ambivalent about it. The food is ok, the ceilings are a bit tired and dusty and the service is luke warm but quick.
Map it: 2565 BC-97 #106, West Kelowna, BC V4T 2J6
What are they “famous” for?
You cannot go to a Canadian diner without having a Caesar, and The Cherry Pit’s was decent. Muddy red, deeply seasoned, with a perfectly salted-and-peppered rim, spicy pickled asparagus on the side. Basic but good.
For my main, I went with the West Coast Eggs Benedict. Smoked salmon in place of back bacon, two eggs on a toasted English muffin. The eggs were perfectly cooked (medium, exactly right), and the hollandaise had a nice consistency but lacked in flavour (needed some tang and salt). The salmon on the other hand was a touch too salty, honestly, though I get that it’s doing the job bacon would normally do. The crispy breakfast potatoes with scallions on the side were genuinely excellent. My husband had the pork schnitzel, which was crispy even with the thick mushroom gravy. Rich, satisfying and exactly what you’d expect from a diner.
And then, naturally, I had to order the cherry pie. Named The Cherry Pit, there’s really no getting around it. The filling was very tart with a nice balance of sweet, and there were plenty of cherries. My only critique was that the crust wasn’t quite what I was hoping for and fell flat. But the cherry filling itself was delicious.
The Cherry Pit has been building Sunday mornings for generations of West Kelownans. You can’t manufacture that. You can’t hype it up on Instagram or rebrand it into something it’s not. There’s an earned consistency here that no amount of marketing can replicate, and the community clearly knows it. The Cherry Pit has a loyal following. As a local you either love it or find it overrated.
Stop 3: The Templeton, Vancouver, BC
The last diner on the list has survived world wars, pandemics, and the steady deterioration of Granville Street in Vancouver. The building itself dates to 1908. It’s been operating as a diner since 1934, has changed names several times over the decades, and became The Templeton in 1996. The interior is preserved from the 1950s.
Map it: 1087 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L4
What are they “famous” for?
They’re famous for their pancakes, and they absolutely should be.
The chocolate milkshake here was probably the most beautifully presented shake of the entire trip, and the best tasting. Smooth and uniform throughout, not clumpy the way blended ice cream can get.
I also got into the eggs Benedict, which was generous with the shaved ham and genuinely delicious. The hollandaise was on point. But the pancakes are the headline, and they delivered. Light, soft, and what some say are the best in the city! Shockingly, this Vancouver diner offered better priced menu items compared to West Kelowna or Westwold. I have a developing experiment where Kelowna is actually on par, if not more expensive than, Vancouver restaurants but that’s TBD (stay tuned for that video).
The Templeton sits on one of Vancouver’s most complicated streets, a stretch that’s seen better days and remains in flux. And yet the diner endures. Something about that feels important. These places were built in an era when community meant something different than a follower count and an engagement rate. When connecting over simple food and lingering for hours over cups of coffee wasn’t a luxury, it was just Tuesday. The Templeton still carries that and you feel it when you walk in.
So Why are Canadian Diners Still Full?
After three stops and more milkshakes than anyone needed, I think I understand it better now.
The diner works because it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is. No tasting menu. No QR codes. Just good food served on old tables in buildings that long predate the internet.
Whether you’re 65 and these places remind you of something you lived, or 25 and they remind you of something you only ever saw in photos and movies, the diner meets you there. That’s not a trend but rather something much older and much harder to replicate.
Know a Canadian diner I need to visit? Drop it in the comments. I’m always adding to the list.
