The cafe was recommended by a friend... from the outside, you may not realize that there is a cafe in between the shops not related to food at all. It is a very retro cafe with decor in the 60's vibe. Service was good & attentive. For a cafe, they had a huge menu Portions were huge, we enjoyed the meal tremendously. My hubby ordered the fish & chips, the fish was actually rock cod, something that is rarely used for fish & chips. It was very good, fish was fresh & firm, batter was light & crispy. I ordered the stay afloat on a boat. If you happen to be in Campbell River, I highly recommend you check them out! read more

See all

Every time I get my Eggs Benny it's amazing, my son loves going there...going soon! I wonder what milkshake he will order lol. The staff are very nice and friendly, always smiling and joking around. read more

Hands down best Breakfast/Lunch place in Campbell. Looks kinda like a dive from outside but inside great staff, good prices and GREAT FOOD! Looks like a cool old fashioned 50/60s dinner inside. If your in a rush you can call ahead and they'll make everything so your eating 5 minutes after you walk through the door. read more

Omg!!! The food and service were over the top! Best eggs benny I've ever had! It was super busy when we came in so we sat on a stool next to the old time milkshake station. It was a total blast from the past! read more

Ideal Cafe is like an old school diner the service was fast and friendly. The food was hot, well prepared and delicious. Highly recommend read more

Good food. Horrible prices. Take your visa !! 3.50 for a coffee. Average breakfast is over 20 for eggs etc. read more

Worked hard to avoid Covid restrictions putting their customers at risk. Money over customers health.

I'm from out of town and I stumbled upon this place and I loved it!! Great vibe, great service, great food. Kendall was our server and she was such a joy :) definitely recommend this place read more

Fast home cooking from a friendly staff. In a old diner. This place is just simple and perfect for a quick bite of breakfast or lunch. Amazing. read more

From the outside, this place looked like I was about to purchase a can of worms for a days fishing. Wait.... that's next door to Ideal Cafe. Once inside, it feels like you've taken a step back to 1970. Very cute and well designed interior. The menu was simple and everything looked delicious. My Beef Dip was tasty as heck, so was my wife's Monti Cristo. The service was also pleasant. Clean bathroom too. read more

See all

This is a pleasant hidden gem. The food was fabulous and so was our server, Makayla! She was very friendly and had great recommendations. The menu is extensive with something for everyone. Love the cute retro diner and will definitely be back when we visit CR again. read more

The food is plentiful and decent enough, but last time I went they were not abiding by the Province's COVID protocols, so I left and will not ever give them my business again. read more

Food was mediocre Monte Cristo was just fine The BLT was Good The waffle was really good And my daughters poached egg was perfect The atmosphere is very casual and laid-back It really is a workingman's café The server was a bit cold towards us Value for what you get is pretty good though I might return again in the future read more

You'd never expect such delicious food from the shabby exterior of this great diner. We had the salmon benny and French toast for breakfast. Both were outstanding! The salmon was fresh and succulent, and the hollandaise sauce was just right. Delicious coffee, too. The diner was very clean, as were the bathrooms. The fast, friendly service topped it all off as a great experience. We will definitely come back here any time we're in Campbell River. read more

Yes, definitely could have been better! We've gone there many times in the past years and have enjoyed the food and service. We split the fish and chips. Mediocre at best. The batter was bland and I added salt, which I never do. The server didn't ask how our food was. Maybe they already knew. There are many restaurants to choose from. The Ideal Cafe is off our list. read more

Tucked away in a little nondescript building on the side of a busy road in Campbell River is the Ideal Diner. It is worth the stop and writing this place off because of its lack of style would be a HUGE MISTAKE. Went in with my lady friend for lunch and was rewarded with a great homemade burger that left me 100% satisfied. Judging from what I saw on other customers plates I'd say that they make a pretty badass breakfast as well. The place was packed and we got the last table, the service was excellent and food arrived quickly. Prices were very reasonable and the old school decor made me feel like I was back at the Woolco lunch counter in 1975. The best thing about this place? They serve real milkshakes served in tall glasses with the metal shake container on the side. Classic. read more

Eggs were not cooked in our eggs benny. Whites of eggs were runny so could not eat. Hash browns were okay. Maybe lunch is better.

Just ok. My husband had fish and chips. Both were oily. I had a burger and fries. The burger was underdone and the lettuce on the burger was very bitter. I had to take it off. The place definitely has character, great service etc, but the food was not terrific read more

Great little spot on the out skirts of Campbell River. Styled 50s , felt like singing 'happy days' Super friendly staff, great menu tastes good. Try the skillets read more

Fabulous breakfast joint. Off the main track but worth finding. Ingredients are locally sourced as much as possible. Generous portions. Great combinations of flavours. Five of us had brunch including two kids and everyone cleaned their plates. Definitely coming back here the next time we're in Campbell River. Check it out. You will be happy you did! read more

This is the hangover greasy spoon to go to when in Campbell River. The portions are huge and well cooked. Got to love when you can get your breakfast potatoes as home fries, cubed, shredded or patties. The dinner special are actually really good and as close to home cooking as you'll get. read more

Believe it or not, this is one of my favourite places in Campbell River. Average food but the atmosphere makes up for it. It feels like a diner from another era. I'd recommend the breakfast foods.. don't expect much if you're going for lunch or dinner. read more

Came here after day one of my 30 year high school Reunion and it's exactly what I needed.Its comforting to know that this campbell River institution hasn't changed its the same as it was 30 years ago. If you are wanting something authentic that serves good honest straight forward food this is it.You always know a good place by the ratio of locals which is very evident here.Cant wait for my next trip to CR!! read more

Im in town for 2 weeks and I've been going here for lunch every day for a week now. Delicious clubhouse sandwich and soup. The specials I've tried have been fantastic. This is a local family run business. To top it off it's very affordable. read more

Excellent. Quaint little "dive" jam packed with locals in an industrial area. Mismatched chairs & tables, large counter seating area. Service was friendly, informative and fast. Most importantly, the food was ON POINT. We ordered the Barge & the ham benny. Both were delicious. Plenty of hollandaise sauce, extra crispy pan fries & perfectly cooked eggs. Large servings all around. Both meals with one juice $30. Reasonable & worth every penny. We are just passing through town & yelp didn't let us down in our search for a great breakfast! read more

I stop by this greasy spoon regularly on my way up Vancouver Island. Food is always above average and the portions are good. The ambiance is really genuine to its greasy spoon/diner identity. All in all its one of my favorites in Campbell River. read more

I was here on vacation from San Diego, CA visiting some family. While visiting we decided to take a trip up island and do a bit of fishing at one of the local hot spots for a few days. On our way back home we decided to stop for breakfast at The Ideal Cafe. Don't let the look of the place turn you away. The customer service and food were absolutely wonderful. So if you are looking for a good old home cooked meal for breakfast this place would satisfy the urge. read more

The good: Food is pretty good for a greasy spoon. Perfect hangover breakfasts. A few local / organic / gluten-free options. The bad: Poutine made with packaged pre-shredded marble cheddar cheese. The UGLY: We waited over 50 minutes for a sandwich and a burger! The kitchen only cooks for one table at a time, which is terribly inefficient. On top of that, the server said the kitchen gets cranky when they're asked how long the food will be. Maybe if you don't want to be asked how long the food will be, COOK FASTER or figure out how to cook more than two things at a time. Jeez! read more

Good food, good people great breakfast! You can't go wrong with this trucker style eatery. Old and simple inside with pleasant chatty service and food cooked just the way we like it. We go often for breakfast. read more

Classic diner with yummy burgers and awesome fries! Very friendly staff who let us know about Elk Falls, which was gorgeous!

The restaurant itself is worth the trip to Campbellton. It has a vintage decor and furniture. The good is good too, but I will always remember this place for its theme. read more

Always feel sick after eating here however it still holds a special place in my heart for a classic hungover eggs benny breakfast. They serve alcoholic milkshakes too read more

I went there on Sunday morning to get some waffles and they took 45 minutes to make a waffle like come on and when I got it it was Burt and it tasted like the went to a farm and got some cow shit and put it in the waffle maker and put it on my plate with some cum whip and some froze period strawberrys and I wasn't a good place to get waffles I won't go there again read more

Can't beat the ideal for good old fashioned service and delicious breakfast. Like a 40's cafe without the fake memorabilia. Great burgers and fries too. read more

Best place for home cooked meals ! Owners are 2 of the finest people in town! Personable, friendly, hilarious, fun, honest, huge hearted, hard working fantastic family ! Proud to call them my friends! read more

Best darned Hot Corned Beef sandwich I ever tasted !!