Floyd's Diner — Restaurant in Saanich

A LOVE LETTER... and a cry for help

I’ve been a loyal customer for just over 8 years. That’s longer than all of my relationships, my gym memberships, and at least three streaming services. And through it all, there’s been one constant joy in my life, The Mahoney. The thrill alone of ordering it! The adrenaline! The chaos! It used to feel like the chef was saying, “Trust me, I’ve got something weird and wonderful up my sleeve!" and next thing I knew I was face to face with a breakfast spaghetti taco wrapped in a pancake (quite literally). Fast forward to the last 6 months and well… it’s feeling a little more "mystery meat cafeteria" and a little less “chef’s fever dream.” Almost every Mahoney lately has just been a burger or sandwich with a poutine on the side. I love burgers. I love poutine. But I did not sign up for Mahoney: The Predictable Years. And no, this isn’t location specific! I’ve done the full Floyd’s circuit like a Mahoney pilgrim, and the vibe’s the same everywhere.. safe, basic, uninspired. I miss the madness. I miss the moments where I looked at my plate and whispered, “what is this beautiful monstrosity?” I want to feel again. But let me be clear, this comes from LOVE. I adore Floyd’s. I will defend your mimosas for the gang until I die. Your staff? Angels. Your decor? Whimsical diner heaven. This isn’t a breakup letter. It’s a "please put the crazy hat back on" letter. Bring back the unpredictable glory of the Mahoney.

Sincerely, a concerned but...

We went to the Royal Oak location. The waitress in greeting us was super loud; the whole upper floor could hear her. She then kept trying to take our order from a young child no less, and we were just trying to get settled in our seats. Finally she understood we were not ready and left the table. My order, BLT combo was overpriced. In the sandwich the tomato was a couple of small pieces. The salad consisted of leaves and a couple of small slices of tomatoes. I expect no less than five items in a salad such as mushrooms, radishes, celery, lettuce and tomatoes. The bread on both the sandwich and toast order were way too thick - way too much carb. For the cost of the combo, I would have done better to order toast and bacon. A side of mushrooms was a measly 1/8 of a cup (if even that). With two, possibly three orders in the kitchen, it is surprizing how the wrong order got brought to our table. The atmosphere is rather dingy which is too bad as this unique space has so much potential to be a warm,...

An old fashioned diner.

The staff is friendly and jovial. They're very helpful with the menu, and making suggestions. The service is very quick.

Old school, North American style food. The food is really good, served in large portions. Each dish has a quirky name, but they're traditional meals. You might have to scan the menu to find what you're looking for, or just ask the wait staff.

I suspect he can be loud in the restaurant when it's full. This particular restaurant has three levels and a outside patio. The top level is small and cozy. The middle level is the largest of the dining rooms and is the kitchen level as well. The lower level is somewhat smaller but has plenty of seating. The outside patio is nice and is situated furthest away from the street. It's a great way to enjoy eating outside, weather permitting, of course.

I suspect parking can be an issue when the restaurant is full. Adjoining businesses share the same parking lot and might be challenging to...