The Northern Cafe and Grill

Best burger I have ever had. as soon I walked in the service was great. the building has lots character. can't wait to go back!!

This is a greasy spoon packed with nostalgia. The food was pretty good. Even with the greasy food, you could taste each element on your plate. It was well balanced. Service was terrific. The staff were so friendly and efficient. The main guy handling incoming guests came around a few times to check in and was super friendly. The ambiance is quaint. It gives old timey diner but is also home-y and warm. It's in an industrial area so it might not be glamourous but it's worth the trip!

One thing to note is their hours. They operate from 7-3 on weekdays and 8-3 on Saturday. Saturdays have a waitlist and we ended up waiting 45-60 mins. If you're coming here on Saturdays, come early or plan around a wait.

Food *****
Customer service*****
Ambiance priceless

This place gives small town slightly run down, but very well loved diner in the best way.

We were greeted by "Uncle Richard" upon entering and given a booth right away. We were checked on many times by multiple staff and Richard made sure to come by and say hi to us and our 3yrs son to make sure we were being cared for and built great repore with all of us. When we were leaving he even asked us(on the spy) if he could give our son a lollipop. We're very full and happy we came and will be coming back again.

Also side note there's ample parking in the area which is always a bonus in Vancouver

No one has an ugly baby ... as the saying goes.

There's absolutely nothing mind blowing about the Northern Cafe & Grill, situated in a light industrial area of south Vancouver inside a lumberyard.

Do not park in the lumberyard or you'll come back to find a load of lumber placed on the roof of your car!

I've been hearing the chatter about the NCG & seen it pop up several times in my news feed on my cell.

Is it for real - one of the top restaurants in Canada - or is it simply Big Brother AI listening to me via my cell & pumping out what it thinks is good for me?

I asked a friend who knows Metro Vancouver like the back of his hand & he told me he ate here 20 years ago.

Said it was good - but he couldn't quite recall why he never went back!?

Well here I was with a coworker & we wanted to see what the fuss was all about & if it was really any good.

After saying a prayer & asking for another day we went in.

Walking into the NCG is like taking a step back in time.

It feels like an old 50s diner - vinyl seats, old colour scheme, checkered floor pattern, what feels & appears to be like an angled floor - kinda unnerving.

So in regards to the food at the NC, I'd say 'tag it' as one to try out, but definitely don't rush here!

Romantics this is definitely not the spot to bring the 'twinkle' in your eye to - unless perhaps lumberyards are your type of vibe!?

Please no details necessary.

Come for the grub, not the romance.

*Golden Age ALERT - I witnessed grandma with a walker & grandpa show up here & believe you me the walk up the stairs was not pretty!

While waiting for them to pass by me, my heart stopped several times!

Folks there's no escalator & zero elevator here!

Be warned!

As the saying goes - the early bird gets the best brekkie, so if you don't want to wait an hour or two, get here real early & chow down before everyone else gets here.

My friend had the omelette, hash & a side of toast along with two pancakes. He enjoyed it but found the omelette to be a touch salty.

I had the Pancake Combo - two blueberry Pancakes, two fried eggs & bacon.

My order was on point tasty. Bravo.

However, by coming to the NCG, you do get to taste one of the best versions of 'soulfood' in Metro Vancouver.

There is a small Hong Kong style menu option (listed on the main menu) as well, if you're craving Asian cuisine.

Sorry but although this baby is ugly - it is still much loved.

My family and I were in Vancouver for vacation and we wanted to have a hearty breakfast and I found Northern Café on Yelp. It is DEFINITELY not your typical restaurant because it is inside a lumber yard, up a narrow set of stairs and in a small one room restaurant. Finding parking on a Saturday morning was difficult, but we eventually found a spot. Service was fast and friendly. . I started with hot chocolate, which tasted like Swiss Miss. It was not bad, but I expect a bit more at a restaurant. I got the French toast combo and my husband got a pancake combo. The French toast was thick and tasty. The eggs and bacon and eggs were cooked perfectly and were hot. The pancakes were your basic pancakes, but the sausage was yummy. It had a crispy casing and good, savory flavor. Our toddler loved the pancakes, French toast, eggs, and the orange slices that came with breakfast. We would eat here again if we were in town.
Rating from F to A+++, I give it an A+.

Heard so much about this unique Cafe / Diner from various medias and friends ... its like stepping back in time when you enter into this tiny space which is on top of a lumber yard, location & decor itself is an experience!

All the folks here are very friendly, family style through and through!! Dad, and Sons ... Service is fast & coffee is always filled!

Food is very homey and not pretentious, true flavour without too much embellishments.

Outstanding Egg Benny rich and creamy hollandaise cover a perfectly poached egg! With a cup of hot coffee, what more can you ask for!!

Street parking is available, which can be an issue if you come during peak business hours!

The restaurant will be closed for winter break from Nov 22, 2023 to Jan 4, 2023. ( Call to confirm if you wish to visit! )

Purely coincident to have a meal there before their break!! For sure we will re-visit again when we are in town!!

fantastic food, great service. Fun unique cafe! You have to look for it, but definitely worth it

Been wanting to come here for awhile now but every time, there is a long line up. Guess it's best to go on a weekday. Got there around 11am and there were 3 booths left. It got busy after we sat down.

They have booths in there so it has a diner feel to it. The ceiling is a little low so if you're tall, you will feel that you need to hunch. I'm 6' tall and my head almost touches the ceiling, to give you a perspective.

I got the Denver omelet. It has ham, peppers, onions and cheese. It comes with shredded hash, a small potato salad and toast. They give you 3 little jams. It was good.

They have a variety of items from breakfast, burgers and some Asian food.

This place is definitely what people online say it is. Hidden gem may be a bit of an understatement since the food is amazing. I had the 'Eggs Your Way' and got a nice filling meal that helped satisfy my breakfast need. The rest of my family got the Wonton Egg Noodle soup and you could clearly taste the passion and love in their homemade food. For the general atmosphere of the cafe, I loved the oldies music playing and the nice rustic look. It could look a bit dated to others with a more judgmental eye, but I appreciate its age and can clearly see the efforts to keep things clean by the owners and employees. Would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a nice breakfast with the family with not much of a crowd!

Arrived a bit after noon and still had customers waiting around outside. Provided my name and number on their reservation system and was texted in about 1 hour when a table was ready.

Wanted to try something different and went for the Triple Decker Clubhouse $16 (Shaved chicken breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, signature mayo) with option of fries or salad.

Good sized sandwich and the signature mayo provided great flavor