FEATURES Much More Than Waffles New West's Waffie House Restuarant Dana Bidnall, OP Contributor If you're like me, you could go out for breakfast every day of the week. I love a leisurely morning with a hot cup of cof- fee or tea and something akin to a heart attack on a plate. No granola and low-fat yogourt for this girl, give me eggs benny or bacon and eggs any day. Though a resident of Vancouver, ’m always on the lookout for good breakfast places wherever I go. I prefer a local hole-in-the-wall to most of those chain breakfast spots (you know who you are). These local gems are often discovered through word of mouth, although in the case of the Waffle House Family Restaurant in New Westminster, I stum- bled across it myself. Driving down 6th Street one day, feeling quite hungry, I looked for a place to stop and grab a bite. I noticed a restaurant full of people and decided to check it out. I’m glad I did. Since then, whenever I’m in New West and want a good, simple meal, I stop in at the Waffle House. A New West staple since the early 1950s, the Waffle House is much more than its name suggests. This family-style, fully licensed restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with breakfast avail- able all day. Owned and operated by Ed and Sandy Lee, it was Ed’s mother and aunt who opened the restaurant in 1954, across from what was then a Woodward’s. As a kid, Ed and his sib- lings would often spend weekend morn- ings at the restaurant eating waffles and reading comic books. At age 12, when Hurricane Freda hit the city and the knocked out electricity for three days, Ed Yummy cordon bleu chicken burger and potato salad washed dishes. When the cook quit, Ed, then 26, took over as chef. Ed’s mother retired in 1980, and he and wife Sandy took over running the restaurant. Recently, I invited a friend to join me for brunch. Although The Waffle House’s motto is “home of the Jiffy Wiffy Waffle,” I decided on the Black Forest ham and eggs. I usually avoid ordering ham when dining out for fear of getting a big fatty slab of meat, but this ham was thinly sliced and generously portioned. My poached eggs were as ordered: soft with runny yolks. Though breakfast is not usually followed by dessert, I ordered the rice pudding, which I’d had previously at the Waffle House and recalled fondly. Creamy, with raisins and sprinkled cinnamon on top, it’s even better served warm. I noticed several people seated around us were fin- ishing their meals with this treat as well. My dining partner opted for the lunch special of the day: chicken potpie. Rather than encased in a crust, it came in a ramekin-style bowl, with a crust on top, with large pieces of white meat and veggies in a creamy sauce. When I asked her how it was, she said, between mouthfuls, “so good.” The $8.95 price included juice, soup or salad, and a din- ner roll. The daily sandwich special is also a good deal that includes a choice of juice, soup or salad, and rice pudding, Jell-O, or fruit for dessert. Daily dinner entrees include choice of juice, soup or salad, rice or potatoes, and a dinner roll. Many prices are under $10, and portions are generous, but not overbearing. There are several interesting addi- tions to the menu. For those watching their waistlines, two Weight Watchers dinner entrees are available. For some- thing a little more exotic, try the chicken curry or one of several Chinese dishes. Breakfast includes waffles with a variety of toppings, pancakes, and a large variety of omelettes. Lunch offers burgers (including chicken), hot and cold sand- wiches, soups, and salads. For dinner, there are dishes like spaghetti, poached halibut, chicken teriyaki, and roast pork. Finish off your meal with dessert: rice pudding, Jell-O, several types of cakes and cheesecakes, Mario’s gelati or ice cream, or “Maple Blonde Bombshell Cake.” Our server was friendly and efficient, and made ordering easy. The seating area is large and features a more private area Teriyaki love-fest with yummy tossed salad. Mmmm pudding. at the back of the restaurant. On the Wednesday we were there, there were two large tables of seniors, who seem to be the dominant clientele. My guess is that they like the all-inclusive prices and the no-fuss, satisfying food. In 2004, New Westminster’s The Record’ readers voted the Waffle House “Best Lunch” in its Reader’s Choice Awards. I think we were the youngest people in the restau- rant, but no matter, we were there for the food, not the ambiance. Next time you’re in the mood for a tasty, satisfying meal, head to the Waffle House. The Waffle House Family Restaurant is located at 636 6th Street in New Westminster, and is open Monday to Saturday from 7am to 8pm, Fridays from 7am to 9pm, and Sundays from 8am to 8pm.