Everything was absolutely amazing, a real down home experience . The food was delicious and the service was excellent

Food and service. A fine place for comfort food. A local favorite in PBO. Tricky parking but it's worth it. Toasted chicken salad is very good read more

Nestled on a street corner in the historic Pittsboro sits an institution better know as Al's Diner. I knew as soon as I walked in and saw the advertisements on the coffee cups and the vinyl booths that this place was going to be good. I was right. Now be prepared, because the diner isn't too big, so you might have to wait on a table. And there's going to be kids inside these small walls, so it's a bit noisy at times. But it's a melting pot of all of Pittsboro - people just waking up and bringing their kids for delicious pancakes, empty nesters enjoying a breakfast out, elderly gentlemen who bring the paper to read while they eat, and extended families gathering to celebrate the weekend. It's a mix of booths and tables, so they can accommodate large groups or just one person at a table for two. The bathrooms are on the far wall of the seating area. Parking is tricky because they're busy on the weekends, so if you don't find a spot, go down to the farm store and then circle back once you're done - you'll find a spot. My group got two pancakes with chocolate chips. Only one little finished their single pancake and the other little could only eat half of theirs. I got the sausage gravy biscuits, and their sausage gravy does have bits of sausage in it which is delightful. We also got the Carolina omelette, but added jalapeños and that was just the kick it needed. The coffee was strong and the wait staff kept our cups full. If you're in the Pittsboro area looking for breakfast, stop in. Parking can be tricky because everyone else comes in too, and it is a bit loud at times, but it's worth the wait for a piece of history and a good meal. read more

Al's Diner - Coffee cup inside the diner - you know the food is good when they advertise on their coffee cups - Diners Near Me - Pittsboro, North Carolina

Visited Al's for the first time after running a 5K at CCC. I was so hungry and this place hit the spot. This is a classic southern diner. Plenty of parking outside and even though this is a smaller size restaurant, there was not a crazy long wait. Al's is everything I want in a diner experience. Very sweet waitresses who do not let your coffee mug get empty. Kind patrons who want to talk to you. I met a sweet lady from Maine here eating breakfast alone. She chatted up my partner and I about running in NC and ME and we learned about her life. The ambiance here was great for enjoying your food (affordable, delicious, quick) and chatting with other people. Also-they have glass bottles of coke and sprite here. I didn't order one, but they were so cute and I will order one next time. read more

Al's Diner - Sawmill (eggs, sausage+gravy biscuits) and breakfast platter - Diners Near Me - Pittsboro, North Carolina

I'm gonna get grief for this because it's a local hometown favorite, but if I could give no stars here I would. The food has absolutely no flavor and it's awful, absolutely lackluster in every aspect. Don't waste your time thinking this is some wonderful country diner because it was featured in a local magazine by someone with apparently zero taste buds....because take my word for it, it isn't good at all. I had the worst stomachache after eating there which is rare for me. Although I did hear the breakfast was decent, which I haven't eaten, but it's pretty hard to mess up breakfast food. Anyway that that's my humble opinion and review for Al''s less than Diner, so go at your own risk. read more

Made the mistake of trying the "limited time only" lemon pepper chicken wings today. They'd better be limited because they were so dry I could barely choke them down. Seriously, do people ever sample what they sell? I tried the drive thru for the first time ever. I don't know if they offered dipping sauces for the dried up wings, and I didn't ask. read more

Al's Diner - Came back last night & the serving of meatloaf was 1/2 of what you see in this picture. I hate inconsistency in a restaurant. - Diners Near Me - Pittsboro, North Carolina

Got there late so no green beans, mashed potatoes, etc. Service was great! Very attentive. Marinated chicken was good. Fries were kinda cold. Average to good meal. Again, excellent service! We will definitely go again. Maybe next time for breakfast vs. dinner. read more

The food here is delicious. The service is old school diner which I love! Ambiance is your local diner on a very busy corner for travelers. Excellent read more

Passing thru Pittsboro , and my wife and I stopped here . Great diner . Food was excellent . I had the chicken melt and my wife Philly cheesesteak. We would both get it again. Staff was attentive ! Would definitely recommend !! read more

Really love the southern food here. My only suggestion would be to use real cheddar cheese on the broccoli cheese dish instead of the Velveeta style sauce on it. It doesn't taste so great. I think it would taste great with the real cheese. Thx! read more

New in town and already our to go to place! The best chopped steak, burger and chicken salad. The onion rings are the best I ever had!!! The staff are on the move, service is great. Friendly and reasonable establishment. We will surely be back! Thank you Matt and Nancy read more

This is a small town restaurant with a big heart for its patrons ! The breakfast menu offered plenty of options! I kept it simple with scrambled eggs and grits . My father opted for one of his favorites- the open chicken biscuit. The service here is TOP TIER! We were greeted upon arrival and the staff came by every 15 minutes or so for coffee and water refills. The OWNER walks the floor regularly to make sure customers are satisfied. The prices are budget friendly and economical. The ambiance offers the style of 50's diner style interior (think Happy Days ) that makes you feel right at home . read more

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If I could give them zero stars, I would. I ordered the Kick'n chicken sandwich and fries today. The chicken was 2 breaded strips that were hard, on a hard bun. The fries were barely above room temperature. The waitress never came back to ask if I needed anything. The real insult came at the cash register. The total for this "special" was $15.19! When I asked how much it would have been if it wasn't one of their specials, I was told it would have been the same amount! And, because I asked, I found out that using a debit or credit card would have tacked on another 3%. So I paid cash, didn't leave a tip and will never return. Avoid the place unless you're starving. read more

The hobo sandwich is absolutely delicious! Love coming here for breakfast. My kids love the breakfast biscuits and the pancakes.

Went in for dinner. When you walk in, you definitely get the diner, mom and pop feel. Very relaxed and welcoming. Our waitress, and to be honest the whole team, was so friendly, honest and open with suggestions and just a great vibe. We got a burger and a Philly cheesesteak. Both were good, nothing out of this world but good! My husband mentioned he had never had a pickled beet and the waitress without hesitation brought a little sample over (glad we tried it, probably wouldn't order it personally). Owner came and greeted us and was super kind and welcoming. I mentioned that I really prefer if restaurants have a full menu available to look at online (I like to know what options I have ahead of time), and he didn't seem to into the idea but to each their own. Would definitely go back and recommend! read more

Al's is super cute and all of the staff is super upbeat and friendly. They have a daily specials list that always has something yummy. Everything is how grandma would have made it.... So good and with love! Reasonable prices and worth the wait if they are busy. I had the chicken and dumplings special today. I ordered it with low expectations because it's a dish I used to make with my grandparents. I almost cried when I took the first bite. They were so amazing! Tender shredded chicken, homemade dumplings, and the perfect amount of seasoning. Instantly brought me back to my grandmas kitchen. Thank you everyone at Al's!!! Y'all rock! Your Halloween spirit was absolutely fabulous! read more

Al's Diner - Diner Chicken and Dumplings - Diners Near Me - Pittsboro, North Carolina

The main food was good. The tater tots were not as good as the ones you can buy in the grocery store and bake yourself. The blueberry cobbler is horrible! We almost threw up! The servers were very good. They split the tips with each other. read more

Outstanding service! They didn't have pancakes, but Al made it happen for our little one. read more

Al's Diner - Mickey mouse pancake - Diners Near Me - Pittsboro, North Carolina

First and last time at Al's Diner. Vegetable quesadilla made with fake cheese. Tried to use a coupon but was told that my lunch was not an entree but nowhere on the menu does it mention the work entree. Staff very friendly, the only positive thing about the diner read more

Best fluffy warm biscuit anywhere. Try the Carolina omelette with drizzled sausage gravy. Friendly atmosphere.

Best local place to eat in Pittsboro! Staff is friendly and timely! Typically crowded buta seat opens fairly fast

We really enjoyed this place. Food was exceptional and it was cheap. Exactly what we were looking for. Cant wait to come back

Great menu options, tasty food, friendly staff, excellent service, and amazing prices!

Horrible management! Purchased a dinner plate got home realized my food had just been thrown back in the fryer to warm it up so it was over cooked; took it back this morning just be offered a $6 breakfast and refund of $6 the difference! SMH I spent more than that in gas going back n forth with ALS plus getting a whole another Dinner!! I use to LOVE ALS but new management DO BETTER! read more

I simply asked the woman at the drive-through if the fries were included with my cheeseburger, she never responded, and I had to ask multiple times. This made things very confusing, she ended up, figuring out what I was trying to ask and I pulled forward. With my window still down, I hear her say to the next person "thank God somebody who knows how to order food" after they stated their order. I had never been to this place, and I definitely will not be back. The establishment is definitely not appealing enough for people to have shitty attitudes. read more

Al's is exactly what you'd expect from a small diner. The staff is incredibly friendly, food is pretty good, and you're easily fed and out the door within an hour. The breakfast is particularly good, and my kids love their Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes. And the biscuits are huge! read more

Good food, good portions and friendly staff. Hadn't been in a while but went three times in the last two weeks. Will be my go to place in Pittsboro from now on. read more

Tiny, plain place on the western side of Pittsboro which serves classic diner food - good breakfast choices, nice burgers, decent enough hot dog, and some daily lunch specials - you walk in and would not be at all surprised to hear Flo yell "Kiss my grits". I like the breakfast items here, usual suspects, but well done, and fairly quick. Hamburger is very nice, diner thin and greasy. Hot dog is serviceable, not my first choice in this area, Allen & Son down on 15/501 has a killer dog, and great BBQ - but I've eaten one or two from here. Skip the fries, no taste, and probably little nutritional value. Good, friendly small town folks here. Prices are reasonable. And they have a drive thru, as well. Stop by. read more

Finding This Little In A Haystack Is Everything!! This Morning I Ordered An Chicken Salad Sandwich And Tatter Tots With A Lemonade And Peach Cobbler... One Word.... Delicious! Each And Every Time I Come Back The Customer Service Is ALWAYS ON POINT! I THANK YOU FOR THE ONE OF A KIND SERVICE!!! read more

So, had breakfast at Al's today with a friend. I had never been here before nd he said he had been but it was a long time ago. Both the food and staff were excellent! This will likely become our regular spot! Based on the review I have read we also need to try the lunch/dinner menu! read more

My fried chicken sandwich was horrible. Old, dry, hard chicken, and wilted lettuce. I ordered 2 of them, and they were both disgusting and hard to bite into. My husband was upset that we wasted our money. I think if you're paying for food it should be fresh, and taste good. I won't be back. read more

Awesome food! My wife had meatloaf and I had the chicken salad sandwich and soup combo. Everything was home made and delicious!! The customer service was simply excellent! This was our second trip and we will definitely be back! read more

First time visiting. Staff was amazingly friendly and helpful. Chicken salad was excellent Crinkle cut French fries were hot and perfectly salted. Looking forward to trying breakfast here soon. read more

WOW! Delicious chicken salad croissant with homemade chips. The ranch dipping sauce was homemade also! Excellent meal! Hubby got a cheeseburger and that was delicious too. He got the crinkle fries would recommend fried chips over the fries. Sweet tea is delicious and the small pellet ice gives the sweet tea just the right cold tastyness for a wonderful brew! All waitresses where extremely friendly. The place was packed and things where moving quickly and efficiently! Highly recommend Al's for a great diner meal!!! read more

Wait staff: Four stars. Food: two-and-a-half stars. Al's Diner serves standard fare at a very reasonable price. Very reasonable. Al's is a small diner that looks like it may have been a converted bank -- or maybe it always was a diner with a drive-through window. It's hard to tell. The interior is unremarkable, standard diner, decor. The wall on one side is decorated with Elvis memorabilia. In any case, I've only been to Al's once and that was for breakfast. The food was basic but you get a lot of it for the price. Even with coffee, you can still come out stuffed with food for ten bucks or less. What really makes the place come alive, though, is the waitresses and their interactions with the locals. Holy cow! I learned a lot about Pittsboro politics from the non-politicians and what to expect if you were idiotic enough to pinch one of the waitresses (you'd better duck -- fast). It took me a while to finish eating since I kept laughing at the conversation between one particular waitress and a customer. Good service and some laughter can make anything memorable. Al's gets five stars for this experience, alone. If you're looking for haute cuisine, don't stop here. If you're looking for passable food, lots of it, but don't want to spend a lot, Al's is a good choice. read more

I took a class at the CCCC campus in Pittsboro as a refresher for grad school. It met twice a week in 3 hour sessions and, inevitably, I wanted a snack. Al's filled this hole admirably a number of times. ;-) To be fair, I've only done their drive-thru and generally gotten their fast food staples, not breakfast or veggies. However, their onion rings are some of the best in the area with homemade ranch on the side, which is addictively good. Burgers are a solid choice, as are other sandwiches. I like my chicken with grilled onions and they oblige me. I'll agree with Fred that the hotdog is not a shining example of the genre. If you want some quick, down home food on a budget and Cookout's no where to be seen, stop by. They're sweet and prices are nice. read more

Basic place to grab a good breakfast or a good sandwich for lunch. They offer a lot of good dinner specials the meatloaf is supposed be very good but I haven't tried it yet. read more

It's hard not to love this place. A lot of food for a small price. Breakfast is great here and lunch and dinner only gets better. The meatloaf is my favorite. On a side note, you know a place is good when your inlaws from NJ, where great diners are plentiful, say this place is great. read more

This is a basic diner in a small town. Breakfast, especially the biscuits, are great. They serve very good vegetables at lunch and dinner and have daily specials. The hot chips with ranch are delicious as are their collard greens and sandwiches. Poppy Seed Chicken usually served on Mondays is a favorite. If you are looking for a place to eat quickly and simply, especially for breakfast or lunch, this is the place. read more

3.5 if I could give a half star. This is a nice spot for a good breakfast. This is a very casual diner. It's a step back in time to simpler days. Counter service and table service. I sense that everyone who works here might be family. We went for a hearty breakfast before a day at the zoo. We like little local hometown places so we decided to give Al's a try. Our waitress was very friendly and made us feel at home. Drinks were brought out promptly and the coffee was a-ok. Coffee cup was kept full with a smile also. We both ordered a vegetarian omelette. When the omelettes were delivered, we were two bites in when we discovered ham in our vegetarian omelettes. Our waitress made right on this in a snap, and I could tell she was a little embarrassed, but having worked in the restaurant business I know it can happen, the cook reads it wrong or accidentally goes for the wrong pre-prepped fillings, it happens. What matters is how quick and with what attitude they make it right, and at Al's diner, they made it right quickly and with the right attitude. We appreciate that. When we got the veggie omelettes they were really delicious. We devoured every last bite. The home fries were crispy and tender at the same time, and not greasy. Biscuits were pretty darn good too. And... the prices were great! Winner winner!! We'll be back. read more