Fat Daves - Vancouver

Close to home for me. Typical diner fare. I would not go out of my way to eat here, but I would not avoid it if it was suggested. Service was initially slow, but picked up once the servers stopped gossiping. Seems like the kind of place that has a devoted following of regulars, all in their later years.

Great place, clean, friendly and the chicken fried steak is to die for.

Great comfort food. My favorite item on their menu is the patty melt. A large hamburger made with a good grade of meat, the onions are sauteed just right and the humongous portion of french fries is an added bonus. Of course anything on their menu will fill you up. Portions tend to be on the very large side, good if your not on a diet.

Fat Daves is an absolute journey down nostalgia lane. From the, 'Been there done that ' waitresses to the old sign out front that has weathered to the point where it looks like it 's in Chinese characters, it is right out of central casting. This is not a yuppie joint with hipsters dropping in with skinny jeans and laptops, it is a bastion of long time regulars, waitresses that know your name, and old farts with strong political opinions. I was actually entertained by the old dude who sat at the counter and pontificated loudly about non PC opinions while the long suffering waitress sat next to him nodding and accepting him. There is a lot going on here. Fat Daves is obviously more than just a hash slinging joint, it is a hub of a community, a home away from home. I found the service exemplary in a way that only comes with a life long commitment to a profession. The waitress serviced my table with a practiced ease and efficiency the the hipper places can only dream of. It 's an effortless dance that moves from table to table with grace and confidence. The split pea soup, which I have not had for more years than I care to admit (longer than many of you have been alive) was perfect and rolled out memories of mother and hearth. The chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and buried in country gravy was, although a heart attack on a platter, perfect. Comforting, filling, and packed with nostalgia. Who wants to live forever anyway? I will admit, the place is probably not for everybody. It 's old school with no pretensions or interest in coming up to date. There is no signature arugula salad, or asian fusion sushi, but I can 't wait to try their BLT and I 'll bet their omelets are to die for. I 'd love to meet you there for lunch. Come hungry!

The resultant is a little run down but from well use and not neglect it looks like, it is clean and the staff is very friendly. I had the chicken fried steak breakfast with hasbrowns and basted eggs. Every bite was awesome! The gravy had big nice chunks of sausage in it!