Harvey's - Edmonton

Leaving Alberta, I still hadn't quenched my thirst for poutine, but there was a golden ray of gravy colored sunshine at the Edmonton Airport; Harvey's.

Whenever my partner and I are in Alberta, we make it a point to eat at Harvey's and Mr. Sub because both, much to our chagrin, are on the decline in our home Province of BC (in fact, I think there are only a couple of Harvey's locations left). And, in our view, it's a total shame that places like Harvey's and Mr. Sub seem to be on the losing end to other big MNCs like McDonald's, Wendy's and Subway because, to be frank, the home-grown Canadian operations like Harvey's and Mr. Sub are far superior in more ways than one (see my review of a Mr. Sub in Calgary, for instance).With respect to Harvey's, they've been a firm and strong Canadian presence since 1959 and while there have been menu updates and modifications over the years, there are a couple of things that have remained the same and keep us coming back for more: the friendly, personable service; and, the amazing, freshly made charbroiled burgers. It's quality like this you just can't beat. MNCs like McDonald's and Subway may be on practically every street corner in every major (and not so major) town, but they lack a personal touch. And that's where Harvey's and Mr. Sub come in: not only do you get excellent service and fresh food but, in both instances, you can literally build your burger (and sub) with the employee -- giving you the agency to create something just as you want it. That, friends, is a beautiful thing!Oh, and I would be remiss if I failed to touch on Harvey's amazing fruit pies. They still do them in the classic way; that is, deep-fried goodness, so the pies have a crispier texture and, I think, an overall better taste than those places that simply bake their pies! Mmmm...good!

Was ok. Good service, good good and adequate portions. Staff were fun and engaging. Lots of condiments, options and good selection of pop.

I haven't eaten at Harvey's in years, because there isn't one where I live, but it's still the same decent food for a decent value. The Counter person was friendly and food arrived quickly. If you need to eat before security, this is a good place to try.

Having family in Alberta, I find myself at the Edmonton airport several times a year. I typically enjoy a visit to Harvey's, however, I seldom have a good experience at this one. Given how busy an airport can be, one would think they would be ready to handle large volumes of people at given times. Just not so here. I recognize the same few staff each and every time. The lines seem to get longer each time. They just don't seem to care. At least this time when I did get served, the buns were fresher than I've had in the past. I've posted this before, if you are flying out, wait until past security to eat. I was arriving the day I chose to eat here, and I had a few hours to put in waiting for bus.