The Valley Charcoal

Quick service and reasonable prices; also a great selection of sandwiches and other stuff in you’re not feeling like breakfast food. I ordered bacon sandwich with tomatoes and mayo which came packed with bacon done just right. And my SO had eggs and bacon. Both loved it. It also has great atmosphere with big windows looking out to the street. Don’t be fooled by the older look of the place, definitely worth a visit.

Is it a cafeteria or a sit down restaurant or a fast food joint? These are the unanswered mysteries of The Valley Charcoal.
Entered the place at around noon on a weekend and was not greeted by anyone. We stood there for a good couple minutes, not a server or hostess to be seen anywhere. Finally went to seat ourselves and was told by someone that you have to go to the very back of the place to order at the fast food like counter located past the kitchen.
No distinguishable line at the back, total confusion. People were asking each other where to line up or who was next. Finally made it to the register after about 5 minutes and ordered all day breakfast. Was told that they would bring it to us. Sat down and after a while asked the first waitress we saw that day for a coffee and waters and was told that they had to be ordered at the back. Was not told this during the initial ordering.
Lined up again for several minutes and ordered coffee and waters. About 10 minutes later the coffee arrived to our table but no waters. Breakfast arrived a full 25 minutes after sitting down and we had to go get our waters at the back. Restaurant was busy but not packed. A woman at the next table over heard us remarking how confusing the place was and agreed with us. Coffee was refilled after we had finished eating and were getting up to leave. I felt sorry for the young girls working there as it was clear the owners don’t care. The whole experience defeated the purpose of sit down restaurant dining. We found out that tips are collected at the register upon initial ordering BEFORE you even get service. Bizarre.
WARNING — This is a cash only business and there are no signs anywhere until you get through the order line up where you will then see if you are lucky a tiny handwritten note on the register. We missed the sign and were told it was a cash place only after I was given my total and produced my debit card. Could there be tax avoidance going on? I wonder if they declare all that cash? Hmmm.
Fast food all day breakfast dining experience at sit down dining prices. When I go out to eat breakfast I don’t want to line up to order or go fetch my own drinks. Decent food but the sparse service and confusing cash only fast food style dining will keep me away for good.

Me and my friend had just finished a hike and was hungry for anything around the area. This diner is located on the main street of the small town of Dundas, On, and luckily was still open in this sleepy town. Me and my friend ordered the double cheeseburger with a side of fries. There was nothing different or awe taking about the food or the décor of the restaurant. nice place for something quick.

This place should be so much better than it is. Great location, diner-​style atmosphere, but again, the same tired, pre-​formed frozen burgers as every roadside dive. Can’t a burger place make their own burgers anymore?

I guess Dundas people need to get out more?
I kid, I kid… Dundas is a wonderful town. It will always be home to me.
Having said that though, I can’t really rank this restaurant very high. Staff are great. The owner is really friendly.
Buuuut. the food needs a makeover. The current owners took over several years ago from a Greek family. I was hoping some things would be improved from the old régime…
Frozen fries, frozen burgers, instant gravy mix, etc. sigh. You have to move away from that.
Their breakfast is the standard diner breakfast fare. It’ is neither good nor bad. It is just really bland with lots of butter. Toast. Eggs. Packaged bacon. Maybe some people are drawn to this familiarity, but I like diners that make their own food from scratch. Or as much as possible.

I have amazing memories, going back over many years, of the goodness of the Valley Charcoal Restaurant.
Great sinful pleasure food. You can’t beat the burgers especially the banquet burger, with onion rings and a chocolate shake. Great for just don’t feel like cooking days, a Saturday mid afternoon out doing errands snack, or late-​night help you sober up food, or any and all of the above.

If you’re looking for a quick, solid meal, then The Valley Charcoal’s your place. You want breakfast in the afternoon, a burger at 9AM, Danny and his team can set you up. The bacon is top-​notch — it’s thick, it’s meaty, it’s quality. The homefries are the best — no question. The burgers are juicy, grilled right, and fresh.
As for the service, well, you get what you pay for. The prices are kept low in lieu of uniformed, steadfast table service… I mean, the truth is, when it comes to diner eating — how much service do you need? One, maybe two refills of the Joe, but after that… a server constantly coming by gets annoying if you ask me. Don’t get me wrong, when the food comes, so do the condiments and anything else you ask for, and the staff are all super friendly… but the point is, you’re never left to suffer — the counter staff do make rounds from time-​to-​time, it’s just if you’re anxious to get something you otherwise didn’t previously request, you have to walk up to the front and ask for it.
The Valley Charcoal prices are low, not because they use cheap ingredients, but because they scrape away the useless frills of diner-​style table service.
I will go back again and again for GOOD food at a GOOD price.

Decent diner breakfast. Great home fries (mmmmm! butter is the key), properly made scrambled eggs, bacon exactly as crispy as ordered. Coffee? Well, it’s a diner.
The only thing missing is table service — you have to order at the fast-​food-​style counter at the back. And coffee and water refills come around infrequently.