Starving Students hit the road for a big meal.

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The flooded streets in Fredericton closed down many restaurants, and the Starving Students were hungry. Instead of doggy paddling around, they opted to skip town and drive 10 minutes to neighbouring Lincoln. They hit the Lincoln Big Stop, also known as The Blue Canoe, situated at 415 Nevers Rd.

Jackie's Verdict:

I'm not a country girl. I don't like animals, or hay, or tractors. But for some reason, I have an odd obsession with truck stops. And you can't get more rural than 24-hour truck stops. (Even though in New Brunswick, truck stops are usually only a ten-minute drive from our oh-so-urban centres.) So when my city was getting its butt kicked by the St. John River, it made me realize that it was time to visit my rural neighbours. So Matt and I hopped into the car and drove to Lincoln (or Waasis? Whatever you want to call it) to the Lincoln Irving Big Stop, the Blue Canoe Restaurant.

I'm an honest girl, as a rule. So I'll begin by stating that I'm a fan of Irving Big Stops. The food is always great, and the prices are even better. But for the sake of journalistic integrity, I left my bias at the door (with those fabulous gifts ranging from car paraphernalia to personalized gadgets).

We were seated promptly. Probably because half of Fredericton was busy pumping out its basement and because we were strolling in at the ungodly hour of 9 p.m. for supper. Although, I must say, never be intimidated by long lineups at the Big Stop. They always move quick. Probably because the food comes out of the kitchen so quickly!

This evening was no different. I ordered a hot turkey sandwich with fries ($7.49, and to make my meal even more lethal, I ordered gravy for my fries (my arteries are still recovering). The wait was nearly non-existent, which is good, because I had started eyeing the trucker to my left's poutine. I was hungry, and I was ready to fight for one succulent bite.

My meal was delicious. The Big Stop always makes me think of home cooking. The gravy tastes as good as mom's homemade turkey gravy, and the fries add the little zest to a sandwich that's drenched with saucy goodness.

I couldn't possibly fit another bite in my mouth. I was so full I felt as if the food was going to start climbing back up my oesophagus. But when you're a restaurant reviewer, this is always a good sign. It means the portions are hefty. If it can feed a trucker and keep him driving on the highway for hours, it can feed little old me.

I give the Irving Big Stop, Blue Canoe a hefty 9 out of 10. They know what they're doing and they do it well.

Matt's Verdict:

Sometimes it feels good to get away from the hustle and bustle of flood-stricken streets. Besides, we understand that not everyone who reads the Fredericton edition of [here] is a resident of Fredericton proper. With that in mind, we set out down ten minutes or so of highway -- only in the Maritimes are distances measured in time -- to reach the Big Stop in Lincoln.

Although I'm sure the Big Stop name needs no clarification for most, it essentially refers to a chain of restaurants connected to Irving stations along various major highways throughout the province. This is where you go when you've been travelling for half a day and are dying for a bite to eat; or, this is where you stop for gas and suddenly decide that a huge plate of food is needed to carry on.

We were seated without much wait, though the place was relatively busy. The place looks essentially like a diner, but with a significant touch of rural New Brunswick, which was nifty enough. It isn't somewhere I would suggest for a first romantic date, but it's nice for a Sunday when you just don't want to cook anything.

The menu doesn't contain anything out of the ordinary. It essentially sports the usual diner fare. The dishes, however, have an important added benefit--they're huge! Do not go to Big Stop for a snack. The restaurant can only truly be appreciated by someone suffering from debilitating hunger. Having said that, the prices for these dishes remain in the standard diner range, despite the impressive portions. I wouldn't consider it cheaper than other diners, but the pricing is fair and for more food.

Allow me to explain what happens to people who just aren't hungry enough.

After perusing the menu for a while, I decided that I would take the turkey club wrap ($8.99). This order comes with a side dish, usually fries, but I figured I was hungry enough to take it one step further. Rather than settle for a side of basic fries, I opted to upgrade to the tested artery clog that is the poutine ($1.49). To be clear, I figured that a puny wrap (pshaw!) could not possibly satisfy my manly hunger.

When our food arrived, however, I quickly understood that culinary hubris would be my downfall. First, I was given my wrap, which was quite substantial in its own right; then, I was given my poutine. I separate the two here because they were entirely separate--as in entirely separate plates. The poutine alone could have easily sufficed to feed a man with three times my ability to consume, and then there was a goodly sized wrap to top it off.

Both the wrap and poutine were quite good. In fact, as far as poutines go, the Big Stop version ranks among some of the better ones I've tried. From what I understand, the restaurant offers a few varying styles of poutine. This alone might be worth the trip for someone in dire need of this delicious form of heart-attack food.

All in all, the Big Stop is definitely a solid restaurant choice. However, one of its primary economic advantages is also a disadvantage for those of us living in town -- getting to the Big Stop does require a bit of a trip. If you don't mind an additional ten minute wait to get fed, then the Big Stop is a great place to eat. All in all, I offer the Lincoln Big Stop an 8 on 10 for great portions of the usual suspects.