Eating on Albert Street

More than just a legendary music venue, the Royal Albert Arms serves up delicious food in its diner

The mock duck salad is one of the tasty meals available at The Albert Diner. Lynlea Combot
The diner’s burger is served with carrot ginger soup. Lynlea Combot

The Albert Diner
48 Albert St.
Open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.


From the outside, The Albert Diner at 48 Albert St. – an encased glass outgrowth of the Royal Albert Arms – looks like an oversized terrarium.

Once inside, the effect this brightly lit transparency has creates the illusion that one is actually eating on snowy Albert Street.

The diner reopened at the beginning of December with a new menu. On a Friday afternoon at around 1 p.m. the lunch rush is just dying down. The service is prompt and friendly.

However, if you want to be able to try the special, you may want to arrive sooner than that as they were sold out – it was a Thai coconut curry, along with the frequently blogged-about homemade veggie burger.

The abbreviated lunch menu is a combo of vegan and carnivorous fare, so self-conscious tofu lovers can dine without the shame of having to watch the expression on their companion’s face when they explain that, “No, you cannot just simply order a burger,” as is the case at some purely vegan eateries.

The beef burger is served with your choice of herb fries, yam fries, soup or mixed greens.

It is a quarter-pound naturally raised local beef, mayo, mustard, ketchup, lettuce tomato, onions and banana peppers.

Pulled chicken is also available in the form of a santa fe wrap or a barbeque chicken sandwich, which comes with the diners’ signature bbq sauce.

Alternatively, one could opt for the TLT wrap, served with tofu bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese and mayo.

Other vegan offerings include a mock duck spinach salad or a marinated tofu sandwich.

The server-endorsed harvest burrito was remarkably filling and jam-packed with black beans, peppers, tomato, roasted yam, lettuce, cheese, sour cream and fresh salsa.

If you decide to go with the spinach salad on the side you will not be disappointed.

Served with shredded carrots and a dressing consisting primarily of pure maple syrup and dijon mustard, it will likely be one of the few occasions when you actually want to finish the salad first, rather than out of some obligation to eating healthy.

Desert options are sparse and light, including cookies and a brownie, but one doubts you would have room following your meal.

One could also go for a cappuccino if you are in the mood for something resembling dessert that is not overtly sweet.

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