Favorite Diners on NYC's Upper East Side

Comfort Food, Fast Service with a Local Flair

Sep 10, 2009 Meryl Feiner

New York City may be famous for gourmet restaurants and celebrity chefs but for hearty, familiar dishes, good old-fashioned diners are the places to go.

Craving a plate of scrambled eggs with a side of bacon at 2 am? Hunkering for a juicy burger with a side of fries? Looking for a place to read the Sunday newspaper while sipping coffee with unlimited refills? Diners are the American go to place for quick hearty food at reasonable prices and there is no shortage of these casual eateries in Manhattan. On the Upper East Side alone, there are dozens. To mingle with locals, try any of these popular spots for Saturday or Sunday brunch or a late night meal.

Upper East Side 24 Hour Diners

The city that never sleeps needs a place to eat at all hours and these diners offer full menus all day, every day. Green Kitchen, 1477 First Avenue at 77th Street is clean and spacious and offers a full selection of standard diner fare plus assorted paninis, wraps and quesadillas. Another nearby option on the corner of 76th Street and First Avenue is Three Star Diner which is smaller than Green Kitchen but also serves a wide variety of griddle specialties, sandwiches and a full dinner menu. Further uptown on 86th Street and First Avenue, Gracie’s Corner has been a neighborhood fixture for more than 20 years. The food is consistently good and portions are large.

For outdoor seating, weather permitting, try Gracie Mews Diner, 1560 First Avenue at 81st Street. In addition to all the usual diner fare, Gracie Mews features H&H bagels on their menu. H&H bagels are a local favorite and will please bagel aficionados.

Good Food, No Frills Upper East Side Diners

Neil’s Coffee Shop, 961 Lexington Avenue at 70th Street may not be the prettiest diner in town but that’s part of its charm. This narrow corner eatery with tightly packed booths and counter service feels like a throwback to an earlier time. The gruff but efficient service and good simple food gives this long-time neighborhood establishment a genuine New York feel. Due to the small size, there is often a wait for a table on the weekend but there are usually a couple of seats available at the counter

Yorkville Restaurant, 242 East 79th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues is a good choice for larger groups and families with young children. Yorkville has more space to move around and a place to park strollers. The huge spiral bound menu offers plenty of choices to suit everyone.

Café Luka, 1319 First Avenue at 71st Street offers good food and friendly service. In nice weather the front windows open for the feel of eating outdoors.

Fifties Style Diners

Searching for 50’s style? EJ ‘s Luncheonette, corner of 73rd Street and Third Avenue and Big Daddy’s, 1596 Second Avenue at 83rd Street, are two good choices. EJ’s with nostalgic blue and white vinyl booths and speckled laminate tables is famous in these parts for their Crunchy French Toast and fluffy Multigrain FlapJacks. They also feature a nice selection of sandwiches and offer daily Blue Plate Specials.

At Big Daddy’s, the walls are covered with old-fashioned Coca Cola® signs and ads for other products popular in the fifties. Big Daddy’s is open 24 hours and has a big selection of breakfast favorites, giant salads, tasty sandwiches and delicious burgers. Many of the dishes feature a side of Tater Tots. There is outdoor seating during warmer months.

Avoid the Rush

These diners tend to be busiest on weekends from around 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. when locals tend to come for brunch. Weekday lunch hours can also be busy with workers from local businesses and hospitals. To avoid lines try visiting these restaurants during off-peak times or try the free delivery service that all offer if you are staying in the neighborhood.

The copyright of the article Favorite Diners on NYC's Upper East Side in NE U.S. Travel is owned by Meryl Feiner. Permission to republish Favorite Diners on NYC's Upper East Side in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Comfort Food at Reasonable Prices

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