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Diners

I've spent a lot of time in Baltimore, so I have a pretty good idea what a diner is (have you seen the movie, "Diner"?). Basically, in order to be a diner you need to have an all-day breakfast and a lot of comfort foods (chicken noodle soup, meatloaf, burgers, mac&cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches) on your menu.

In New York, apparently, all diners are run by Eastern Europeans, which all serve potato pancakes, blintzes, and pierogies. Works for me!

Stage Restaurant Coffee Shop

Excellent
This is a diner with a single counter and a row of seats. If you go at busy hours (breakfast, lunch, early dinner) it will probably be mobbed, with all seats taken (and several people standing for carryout). It's right next to the Orpheum theater and looks like it's been around forever. What vaudeville stars have eaten here? I wonder.

I've been to the stage restaurant several times, and have always had a good experience. The food is inexpensive, served fast, and good. It contains all of the standard diner fare (all day breakfasts, huge hamburgers, large entree plates with two vegetables, etc.), plus some Eastern European specialties. Strong Recommendation: The Cold borscht and fruit soup with dill and sour cream, is just fantastic (summer only). Add to that a small plate of fried pierogi and you've got a wonderful, ethnic meal.

Low fat recommendation: The Turkey Burger.

This is becoming a regular place for me. Another recommendation: The Chicken Salad Sandwich tastes like you made it yourself from the roast chicken you had last night. Seriously yummy.

Soups $3-5, hot sandwiches $2-6, cold sandwiches $2-5, breakfast $4-5, entrees $7.50-9.  (2005-07-19)
Also In:    Restaurants / Categories / Highly Recommended

128 Second Avenue (btwn 7th and St. Marks)
New York, NY, 10003,USA
212-473-8614

Veselka

Good
A Ukranian diner, and wonderful. Went first to have a coffee with a friend, and thought it was a nice place. Yes, it's a diner, but two steps up from dives like The Stage (ps: I love dives, but for different reasons). The atmosphere is more trendy/casual, the waitstaff is charming and they seem to love their jobs.

This time I had the borsht soup and macaroni and cheese. The soup was delicious, a delicate blend of meat and beets. The Mac&Cheese came out in a wide bowl, bubbling! The cheddar cheese was very good.

(2006-7-28) Actually, I've cooled a bit on Veselka. It's good, but 1) they stopped doing counter service. You can sit at the counter, but, akwardly, a waitress behind you takes your order. Strange. And 2) the prices are really out of whack. I mean, $5 for a grilled cheese sandwich?

$3-8 breakfast, $4.50-7 lunch, $8-11 specials, $1 coffee.  (2005-09-26)
Also In:    Restaurants / Categories / 24 Hour

114 2nd Ave - at 9th st
New York, NY 10003,USA
212-228-9682

Polonia

Great Deal
Good, dependable diner food at an excellent price with an attentive wait staff. Excellent polish dishes. Breakfast 4-5$, Soups 1.75-2.75$, entrees 7.50-10$.  (2007-11-03)
110 1st Ave, btwn 6th and 7th
New York, NY 10009,USA
(212) 254-9699


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