Jukebox at the Templeton

The Templeton is a fantastic retro diner on Granville Street between Nelson and Helmcken in downtown Vancouver.

Stepping into The Templeton is like stepping back in time, complete with table side jukeboxes, a long bar with stools and delicious, greasy spoon breakfasts.

I should add I haven’t tried anything apart from the breakfasts, which are prepared with organic and free-range ingredients and very reasonably priced, around $8 for a “trucker’s breakfast” consisting of scrambled eggs, rosemary potatoes, turkey sausage and sourdough toast, pictured below.

Truckers breakfast at the Templeton

The service each time I’ve been has been friendly and pretty fast, although the first time I tried to go here, I ended up walking out.

I was with a friend and we asked if we could sit at the bar while we waited for a booth to open up. No problem, right?

We were rudely informed that if we sat at the bar, we wouldn’t be able to move to a booth because it would take away a spot from other people that would come in after us.

I should add there was no one else waiting in the restaurant for a booth and this was in the afternoon, after the breakfast rush. The waitress informed us that if we didn’t like the “policy,” we should just leave. Which we did, vowing to never return.

But since I had heard so many good things about this place, I caved and now consider it one of my favourite breakfast places in downtown Vancouver.

Interestingly, apart from the first time I tried to go, the service has been super friendly and fast. From one extreme to another, I guess. Thankfully, they’ve redeemed themselves.

Check out the “Big Ass Breakfast,” consisting of three eggs any style, french toast or pancakes, turkey sausage or bacon or veggie bacon, side rosemary potatoes and toast for $11. It’s like breakfast, lunch and dinner in one.

The Big Ass breakfast at the Templeton

The Templeton is located at 1087 Granville St. in downtown Vancouver. Check out their website and menu here.