In the late 1800s, Granville street was a rugged dirt road with towering ancient trees all around. As the area was settled, a nascent metropolis began to show the glitz and glitter of its growth. The roaring 20s saw the rise of a vibrant city, glowing in the electric hum of activity. In later decades, neon lights lit up the cityscape, heralding the coming of the information-cybernetic age. Yet, in that sea of change, there remained a little place tucked near a corner of that infamous street, where a bubble of history still remains suspended in time.
The Templeton is a vintage style diner that has tried to remain true to its roots, though it has undergone several changes throughout its history. Think Elvis Presley before he got fat, mop-top Beatles, father-knows-best vinyl Americana. Canada and the USA share similar cultures, so it's not surprising that the two countries would share similar architectural/culinary design history.
There is a tinge of nostalgia in the place. The area around it is a jungle in the best of times. Party goers, shoppers, perverts, lost tourists, goth kids, bloggers, and a host of other shady characters from all walks of life. In all of this plastic-fantastic madness, you have this oasis of time standing still. Like in that famous picture with the diner at night. Heart-wrenching and blissful nostalgia. A down-to-earth kind of place, where you casually step into another dimension and have a beer without any expectations of what happened in the past or what will happen in the future. They even used to play old movies on a projector at one point. Multi-sensory time-traveling at its finest and most luxurious best. All over a great hearty meal.
My favorite dishes are the BBQ burgers, fish & chips, and macaroni & cheese. Loaded with fries of course. Maybe a bit of rabbit food if I'm feeling fancy. They used to have kick-ass chicken wings with pico de gallo, but they stopped selling them, much to my chagrin. A pitcher of beer. Oh, and don't forget the jukebox beside the table; for a quarter, you can play classic rock to your heart's content. The decor has changed throughout the years, but they basically remain frozen in time. Neon signs glow on the wall. The tables are see through and you can see vintage comics like wonder woman, postcards, old posters, even Elvis Presley's report card with his signature. A retro dream. It's the kind of place where you can lose yourself for one moment, surrounded by the whirls and whorls flowing in the river of time.
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