Dive into New York's Diner Scene
With diners dotted from State Island to Westchester, New York’s legendary diners are a force to reckon with. From shiny chrome diners from the 1950s to nostalgic candy shops, these New York diners have maintained their charm since their earliest days. Here are our favorites.
Tom’s, New York, NY
This classic Greek-American diner still features a bold neon sign, comfortable booth seating, and low prices. The menu at Tom’s is massive, with all of the typical diner dishes you’d expect to find, like fries, BLTs, triple decker sandwiches, and bacon cheeseburgers. There are also a few Greek specials on the menu such as gyros, chicken souvlaki, Greek salad, and lamb skewers. Oh, and you may recognize it as the site of the diner featured in “Seinfeld.”
Bel Aire Diner, Astoria, NY
Located in an old-fashioned metal restaurant car, the atmosphere at Bel Aire Diner transports you back in time—especially amidst all of the new, trendy restaurants perpetually popping up in New York City. Bel Aire Diner continues serving the classics, and is open 24/7 with online ordering, for your convenience. The menu features pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, Greek and Italian specials, hot dogs, chicken fingers, and so much more.
Ellen’s Stardust Diner, New York, NY
Enjoy the show while you dig into your food—at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, hungry patrons will be treated to performances by the serving staff, which makes eating here really a unique, entertaining experience. The menu is packed with typical favorites, such as soups, potato pancakes, chili, nachos, deli sandwiches, and burgers, and breakfast is served all day. Because of Ellen’s Stardust Diner’s popularity, they also have a great selection of swag on sale.
Lexington Candy Shop, New York, NY
Lexington Candy Shop is perhaps most notable for its old-fashioned ice cream shakes, sodas, and malts, all made using Bassetts ice cream and real malt powders. The breakfast menu here is packed with flavorful favorites such as walnut cinnamon raison French toast, fluffy pecan pancakes, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches. Also open for lunch and dinner, Lexington Candy Shop serves salads, sandwiches, burgers, and melts—but be sure to save room for one of their famous ice cream drinks.
Square Diner, New York, NY
If the shiny chrome exterior of this diner doesn’t immediately send you back in time, then the red vinyl booth seats and bar stools certainly will. Order a classic sandwich—like ham and cheese, roast turkey, or tuna salad, for a quick, tasty meal in a perfect blue collar setting. For your convenience, you can even order your meal online.
Waverly Diner, New York, NY
The City that Never Sleeps obviously needs eateries like Waverly Diner that are open 24/7 and feature hearty comfort food. The menu is complete with all the classics you’d expect at a diner such as breakfast platters, salads, burgers, triple decker sandwiches, and more. For your convenience, you can also order your meal for deliver on Seamless.
Roscoe Diner, Roscoe, NY
This raved about spot is situated along Route 17 and has been packed with travelers and locals since its opening in the early 1960s. The menu features breakfast served until 11 am, as well as lunch, dinner, dessert, and drinks. As with many of the diners in New York, Roscoe Diner has a specialty section focused on Italian and Greek specialties including options such as chicken parmesan, moussaka, and pastitsio.
Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner, Herkimer, NY
Built in the 1950s, this typical metal diner car takes you back, with its neon lights, shiny exterior, long counter dotted with stools, and booth seating. Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner is loved for their savory bacon, so be sure to order a BLT, bacon cheeseburger, CBLT chopped salad, and one of several other platters. Other exciting dishes on the menu are meatloaf, funnel cake fries, and hot open face sandwiches.
Stella’s Diner, Syracuse, NY
A perfect spot for hungry college students and professors needing a pick-me-up, Stella’s Diner is a popular family-opened spot. The menu features some Greek and Mediterranean specialties that pay homage to the owners’ heritage. Breakfast here is served all day and includes very affordable options such as eggs and bacon, omelets, breakfast sandwiches, French toast, and other classic favorites. The diner is also open for lunch and dinner, serving typical diner fare.
Penn Yan Diner, Penn Yan, NY
This mom-and-pop diner is small, with only five tables and ten stools, but the food is worth any wait you may have. Open only for breakfast and lunch, this traditional diner has affordable breakfast dishes, such as two eggs with toast and their simple breakfast sandwich, which makes this both a tasty and cheap meal out. The menu also features a few gluten-friendly options, numerous sandwiches, salads, and more.
Key Insights at a Glance
