70 replies to this topic

[renthefinn]

That's a good one--perhaps too good to qualify as a true "greasy spoon"!

However, the best, most honest-to-goodness authentic greasy spoon was the late, lamented...

IAN'S JUBILEE COFFEE SHOP

On Richmond near Fort, next to the equally missed Turner's newstand.

I miss wisecracking Ian and his sassy staff slinging hash and pouring coffee!

Yah I liked Ian's it was good!

[aastra]

And if you had a heart attack while you were there, they could just carry you across the street to the emergency. Convenient.

[Caramia]

The Day and Night was awesome! I loved watching the french canadian waitress, Michelle, bullying junkies and drug dealers. Not on the menu but if you asked for a souvlaki sandwich it was hands down the best in town.

Foo Hongs is my favorite now. I eat there usually at least three times a week. WonTon soup served within minutes of sitting down. Yay!

[Ms. B. Havin]

Foo Hong's in Chinatown is a classic greasy spoon. Good ol' greasy Canadian Chinese food served in a restaurant last redecorated in 1963.

You're off by a few years. That bamboo-leaf gold-coloured wallpaper at Foo Hong's was hung by my father, probably around 1971 or so... I couldn't believe it when I saw it again in 2002...

Fresgo's on Davie in Vancouver is still around? We called it the "eat to the beat" place because of the insistent 80s rock that was always on...

[Holden West]

^Ha ha...that's [url=http://cgi.ebay.com/2Rolls-Vintage-Bamboo-Flock-Velvet-Retro-Wallpaper_W0QQitemZ320036735066QQihZ011QQcategoryZ52348QQcmdZViewItem:8a786]valuable stuff now[/url:8a786]!

I guess Paul's Motor Inn is the last of the locally-owned, 24 hour, clubhouse-and-fries diners.

[Jada]

I think some of the waitresses from the other former diners are all employed at Paul's now.

[mikedw]

That's a good one--perhaps too good to qualify as a true "greasy spoon"!

However, the best, most honest-to-goodness authentic greasy spoon was the late, lamented...

IAN'S JUBILEE COFFEE SHOP

On Richmond near Fort, next to the equally missed Turner's newstand.

I miss wisecracking Ian and his sassy staff slinging hash and pouring coffee!

Does anyone know what's going on with that location? I was by there a month ago and there's no sign of it being bought, reopened, torn down and leased.

I find it weird that this chunk of real estate would linger for what? Three or four years now?

[Holden West]

I suspect the original owners are holding out for a developer who'll restore the building and keep the cool neon sign. Whether this is economically feasible, I don't know.

Is there anyone out there named Turner who is thinking of opening a corner store?

[Rob Randall]

Here's a sketch I did of Turner's around 1993 when I was going to the nearby Victoria College of Art. We used to like going to Ian's for lunch.

[gumgum]

Very nice!
Can't pinpoint your medium.
I know you said sketched, but parts of it looks like watercolour. ?
How did you do the "faded" interior effect?

[victriviaqueen]

Ah, the Maple Leaf. I used to go there as a treat with my Grandmother for a quick lunch.

Amazingly, I never set foot in Ian's, though I passed it hundreds of times.

The Esquimalt Deli does pretty good greasy spoon fare.

[Jada]

Thats a great painting. I'm loving the Monday Magazine box, you got the familiarness of it perfectly, meaning its easily recognizable without being completely in focus.

[gumgum]

^Yes. It's difficult to decide what detail is just enough to be recognizable without being too much.

[Rob Randall]

Thanks for the comments. I call it a "sketch" because it's not as refined as a finished watercolour. It was an early attempt at watercolour during my first year of art school so it's a bit wonky. The faded effect is simply highly diluted colour.

If you want to see the work of a master of technique check out the work of my neighbour, Neil MacCormick:

http://www.novakart....m?ArtistsID=450

http://www.okharris....ress42p.htm#mac

His work is amazing in real life--much better than these web reproductions.

[kenjh]

does anyone know of a surviving greasy spoon cafe' ??remember Ian's on fort and richmond or Coffee Mack's on gorge...the rice bowl on esquimalt ..Texa's on Menzizes...I want a coffee shop where you get a refill ..like Jhon's place on pandora..but he's a long way from a grease burger....I want fries done in beef tallow..fried onions ..and an ashtray on the table...yah ALL the bad stuff...

[Sparky]

The Marble Arch in Burnside Centre will take you back 30 years. I go there because I am addicted to their egg foo yeung. They make some good chinese food but I am pretty sure they have a heart attack burger and deisel fries on the menu.

Nice people too.

[kenjh]

yup the #2 lunch..special favorite

[dirtydeeds]

Don't forget the Butterdell on douglas across from Mayfair Mall, good cheap greasy food :0

[Sparky]

The Red Kettle on Bridge has grease.

[amor de cosmos]

belle patate!