By Nadine Moedt (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: March 5, 2014
23904 Fraser Highway
Langley, British Columbia
Prices from $6 to $16
The rowdy table next to us described Hilltop diner as “like Rocko’s, except without all the drunk people.”
It’s an apt description; the Langley restaurant looks so much like your typical small-town diner that it has been used for scenes in over 20 movies and TV shows. Fringe, The Butterfly Effect, Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Robert Redford’s 2012 film The Company You Keep, and Supernatural have all set up in Hilltop.
The restaurant has been open for 67 years, giving it ample time to perfect the pie that has become a bit of a talking point for Langley and Aldergrove residents. Hilltop’s seating area is cozy and the waitresses are always on hand for refills of coffee or tea. It’s the type of place where everyone appreciatively eyes food as it comes out of the kitchen.
To start, I opted for an egg sandwich on sourdough bread — you get a choice of the typical variety of breads — with hash browns. The hash browns are more like fried mashed potatoes and green onions. More of a lunch type of side, but it makes for an interesting change from the limp, butter-saturated fare at places like IHOP.
The sandwich was pleasantly lathered in mayonnaise, the egg cooked well enough to avoid the gross possibility of a runny white.
Breakfasts range from about $6 to $13, with an interesting variety of combos for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. Quantity and quality go hand in hand. Lunch is a little pricier, from about $10 to $16. Those who tackle the scary “Everest burger” — made of three 5 oz. patties, bacon, baked ham, farmer sausage, cheese, and all the typical toppings — get their picture taken on the Everest wall of fame. Breakfast ends at 11 a.m., with a small all-day breakfast menu that includes the classics.
The lunch menu has a surprisingly large selection. Burgers, fries, and sandwiches are all there, but if you’re looking for something a little different, they also offer spicy chili, salads, poutine, grilled cheese sandwiches, and a daily soup made in-house.
The pie is the real draw. We chose a chocolate banana cream out of a giant selection rattled off by the waitress. And it was perfect; the crust was a chocolate graham, the filling divine. A giant slice à la mode is $7.50 and well worth it. Pie for breakfast? At Hilltop, it’s a must-try.
However, your window of pie opportunity is limited; Hilltop is only open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Hilltop is certainly not the place to visit if you’re looking for something light; the excess calories are hard to avoid. However, they don’t serve the Denny’s sort of comfort food, where you feel a little guilty after indulging — Hilltop is an experience you won’t regret. If you’re looking to “treat yo’self,” Hilltop is the place to go.
