By Jenny Pittman (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: April 11, 2012
Needing a change from campus food and feeling the need to go back to (what some consider) a simpler time? Planet Java 50s Soda Fountain Cafe is a ’50’s diner in Fort Langley that offers a simple menu with a unique atmosphere. Just a short drive west of Abbotsford, Fort Langley has a great selection of restaurants to tempt you into taking that much-needed break from paper writing and studying for those dreaded exams. The cafe is located right on the Fort Langley strip, and there you can order burgers, fries and giant milkshakes while being tempted by your own personal jukebox filled with ’50s and ’60s music right at your table.
The decor is fittingly ’50s style with pictures of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and other icons that smile at you from every corner. There is also a giant life-size statue of Elvis that will transport you back to when rock and roll music was seemingly the most rebellious thing a teenager could do. Additionally, each booth has a jukebox that will play music for a quarter.
The menu consists mainly of burgers and fries with amazing milkshakes and floats. They also have vegetarian burgers for the non-carnivorous folk. However, Planet Java might not be the place to go if you’re watching your diet too carefully, as the milkshakes would tempt even the strictest of dieters. The prices are reasonable and the servings are large, so be sure to bring your appetite.
My family and I ordered a cheeseburger, chicken nuggets with fries and a basket of onion rings along with gigantic chocolate malt milkshakes to chase it down. The burger tasted delicious, as it was not too greasy and the toppings tasted fresh. It was also a good size, and could be eaten without most of it landing on my lap. The fries were good and tasted fresh when they came to the table. The onion rings were delicious and we even found an onion ring shaped like a peace sign which we took to be an omen of good will from our dinner.
The service was good, but as it’s a diner, you have to order at the counter, and the menu is written in chalk and a little difficult to read. However, they bring the food to your table freshly made and within a very short amount of time, so it’s just a matter of getting used to the different method of ordering. I would have preferred, however, if the servers were wearing roller skates and the uniforms looked a bit more ’50s like, but I’m sure not everyone is as picky as me (although other history majors might be).
If you end up gorging yourself like my family and I did, there is always the option of taking a stroll down the Fort Langley strip and checking out the specialty shops close by. However, many of these stores don’t necessarily cater to student budgets, but you can always window shop and dream of the future after graduation. There is also a trail that runs along the Fraser River so you can treat yourself to a mini-vacation all within an afternoon, as long as the weather isn’t too terribly wet.
I would definitely go again, but I’d go a little earlier in the afternoon, considering how early Fort Langley closes down in the spring. Even if you’re pinching your pennies, it’s still a nice place to visit, just for onion rings and a milkshake, or tasty ice cream cones on a sunny day. You’ll find that Planet Java ’50s Soda Fountain Cafe is a cute little diner if you’re looking for a change of pace from the usual sushi bar or chain restaurants that keep popping up in Abbotsford, especially if you feel the need to put on a poodle skirt and share a milkshake with that special person you are trying to impress.
