The Butter Dell

Address: 3110 Douglas Street
Phone: (250) 382-6883
Price: $5-9
Notes: Tiny little greasy spoon. Open at 6:30 am! Closed at 3 pm. Breakfast menu only on Sundays.

The Butter Dell is one of those places we've always meant to go to, but just never tried. It defines greasy spoon. I think it's probably been there since the dawn of time... or at least, many dawns before my time. It's in a small building attached to the office of the Blue Ridge Inn motel. I tried to find a picture, but apparently "blue ridge" is some kind of really morbid, dirty slang and butter dell doesn't turn up anything productive either (although pictures of cows aren't terrifying). It's the tiniest little place, with probably a dozen tables in one crowded room. The decor is minimal, but kitschy.

The menu is teeny-tiny, but it has all the basics you'd want in a greasy spoon - eggs & meat, eggs benny, burgers, sandwiches etc. The prices are the best part - I don't think anything on the menu was over $10, with most of it coming in around the $5 mark.


Service
January 15, 2011
The advantage of the small place is that the service would have to try pretty hard to be bad. In fact, it was the fastest service I've ever experienced in my life. I had coffee practically before we sat down. The waitress asked what I wanted to order before I had even decided and our meal was in front of us before we had blinked. Our coffee was refilled several times, and we were welcomed back any time.

January 30, 2011
There was very nearly a line! Luckily, we were only a 2 and the service is so quick we only waited about a minute. Still lightening quick service.

Food
January 15, 2011
The coffee at the Butter Dell is surprisingly good for such an offbeat place. I had more than I usually do just because it was so good.

My meal of the eggs benny was definitely buttery. I'm not sure what I was expecting given that it is called the butter dell. It was quite lovely, though. The eggs were bright, and perfectly cooked. The english muffin was extra good too (probably butter). The ham was actual ham, thick and tender. I upgraded the pan fries to house hash and it was totally worth it - onions, peppers, bacon and cheese. Nom! I think next time I will have to try the grilled cheese, I have a feeling it will knock my socks off.

January 30, 2011
Really wanted to try that grilled cheese, but sadly the lunch menu isn't served on weekends (or just Sundays, I wasn't clear) due to the kitchen being too busy. Pout!

I had the house omelette instead. I love how 'house' is code for 'everything.' Not sure how that came to be! It was a decent dish, although not the fluffiest egg ever. Might just be a style thing, though, it tasted fine.

My P.I.F.A.L. had the corned beef hash. It was quite epically tasty! Proper corned beef and all the fixings. We commented afterwards how lovely the pan fries are there. I bet they'd make great fries, too... really need to try to get here on a week day but it probably won't happen.