I love the breakfast menu! The atmosphere is laidback, not noisy. The food is tasteful and the proportions are huge! Customer service is great! However, I noticed the manager yelling at one of the old waiter... broke my heart. Please treat hour employees with respect. Thank you. read more

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Been here a few times and the food is always fresh. This is not your greasy diner experience. The staff is super friendly and they have great deserts. A+ read more

Amphora Diner - Breakfast Club - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

I've lived in Herndon 23 years and Amphora is one of the best restaurants. They have a huge menu with such wide variety and the food is delicious. My sister got her wedding cake done by the bakery and it was amazing. I personally love getting their breakfast. The peanut butter pancakes and eggs Halifax are some of my favorites. The Belgium waffles are also the best I've ever had. read more

Just never had a decent meal here and I have tried so many times. I ordered fries and they were soggy and greasy. Sandwich was dry and bland. Every time I go here it's gross. They charge so much for really bad food. Go to Silver Diner instead. They also charge too much but the quality is so much better. read more

I eat here regularly and happy to see the staff confirming to all covid-19 policies to keep everyone safe, Its amazing they have been able to sustain a knowledgably friendly staff and a professional management group and a clean and healthy restaurant during these trying times don't know what I would do without my morning coffee and breakfast, its nice to get it in a friendly family environment! Great food, friendly faces and professional staff all around !!!! read more

Been coming to amphora for a while great meals for kids. They have a good menu with lots of choices. They even have breakfast for dinner. Bring a sweater if you get cold easily cause sometimes it can be super chilly. read more

Amphora Diner - Trying to decide what to have. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

Sadly, after my second disappointing experience, I can't rate Amphora more than two stars despite my appreciation that Herndon offers family-owned dining 24/7 in this little place! Driven by a poached egg craving at 11:30 on a Saturday morning, I ventured out to Amphora to sample the 24 hour breakfast service hoping for that beautiful golden viscosity of deliciously runny over easy huevos that coats fried home style potatoes and onions and clings lovingly to my biscuit. I was seated promptly and immediately approached for my order. Without even looking at the breakfast offerings in this sizable menu, I ordered fresh OJ, a cafe white mocha and 2poached eggs over easy crowning a plate of home fries. I'm almost embarrassed to say that nothing whatsoever on my plate was appealing. What went wrong: The orange juice was not freshly squeezed; despite a large section of fresh fruit on display, the juice in my cup was poorly-mixed concentrate----lean on top with syrupy concentrate left in the bottom of the glass. The waiter brought my latte about five minutes later but without the white mocha flavor. When I pointed this out, he politely apologized and put in an order for another. when my main plate arrived, I was shocked to find my eggs swimming in about 3/4" white soupy substance. This could have been exacerbated by the small bowl they were served in, but over easy doesn't mean runny white soup, so I brought this to the server's attention. He seemed surprised and asked me if I wanted more done. I specified again "over easy with set white and runny yellow". When I received my redo, the potatoes were cool. Even though the redo was just right, It fell flat against the cool, under seasoned potatoes. My check was delivered a moment later and I left disappointed and still hungry. Despite my less than stellar experience, I do appreciate that this diner offers 24/7 service in a small town. I will likely try Amphora again if I'm in Herndon at 3:00 am and feeling peckish. read more

Amphora Diner - Gorgeous rolls filled w/sundried tomato and onions - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

So, here's the deal about this place: It's a diner. nothing more, nothing less - and they do what they do very well - I have only eaten breakfast here and the breakfast options are like all other diners' breakfast options - absolutely magnificent. Yeah, they do not have the cool factor of the Silver diner, or the Tastee Diner. Those are the diners with the leather jackets and the mini-skirt wearing girlfriends and the packets of smokes stuffed in the muscle shirt sleeve. It's kind of the high-school nerd of the diner world, but hey, from one high school nerd to another, I heart you Ampshora diner. read more

Amphora is like taking trashy Silver Diner and attempting to make it classy (kind of like the new Britney Spears). I don't mean that in a derogatory way, I like Silver Diner and I like classic Britney (not this new dance club crap). I just tell it as I sees it. All in all, it's still a diner. Their menu selection is fairly large, so for a lunch crowd, it could be a little overwhelming to choose. I had the Fritata which is like a omelet with a little flair. It was good, it was filling, it was under $10. Color me satisfied. My friend ordered the falafel, which was good, but the tortilla wrap looked like it was sitting out since 2003 (Can you believe that was 5 years ago?!). The chocolate cake was small, frosting was hard, and definitely not worth the $5 price tag. If you're a fan of the new Britney, I'd recommend this place for lunch. It's a good change of the normal scene for our lunch crowd, but it's not in our Tier 1 of lunch selections. read more

If it's 4am, this will be your best bet for food around here. Countless long nights in D.C. have ended here and the same great food and service has been there to greet me. The menu is packed with classic diner fare and they serve breakfast all day. In addition, there are some Greek dishes hidden on the menu. Of what I've tried here, the Eggs Halifax, Sunset Burger, Fried Zucchini, and Souvlaki have really shined. If it's late and you want to sit down, this is a much better choice than IHOP or whatever else may be open around here. It's not too bad during the day either. read more

I was excited to try it because it's one of the few diners in the area open past midnight but while the food was excellent the service was really poor. Idk why but the waitress just seemed to dislike my wife and I even though we were probably the quietest and politest table on a loud Saturday night. When the waitress got around to taking our orders she didn't even look at me and my wife had to ask her to take my order, which was really weird. Then as I was asking her questions about substitutions for a Pancake deluxe meal since I don't eat meat, she just kept saying no and still made me pay full price. When I got to describing how I wanted my eggs she interrupted and said "scrambled" so I was like ummm okay? It was just a really weird experience and vibe. When we finally got the food there eyelashes in both of our plates and pieces of eggshell in my wife's. The food was really tasty and obviously made fresh which was great but idk it's hard to think about going again . read more

This place has gone down over the years,....last time i was there we saw a cockroach crawl across the wall,...and i shouldn't have returned,...but we did on xmas day, and had this experience, that we had to let the management know about, read this email: Hello, I'm writing to lodge a complaint about a situation that happened Christmas evening. My family and I have had a long year and therefore chose not to do the normal christmas routine this year, and chose to stay home and order in or dine out. We came in to Amphora's for breakfast Christmas day, and were very happy with a wonderful server who took great care of us. We also noticed that you all were serving Christmas dinner so we were ecstatic, because we had no idea what we were going to do for dinner. Around 545pm, we started looking over the menu online, and deciding which of the Christmas specials we wanted. We were delighted to see that we would be covered from appetizer to dessert, as the website stated. (see attached) We called in with over $150 in orders pending. A gentleman picked up to take our order, and we gave him our choices and verified with him the salad, soup and dessert options. When we asked about the pumpkin pie, he told us, "it doesn't come with any pie", very rudely. I politely asked him, why that is, since the website states it, and he said, "nope, no pie", very curtly. My fiance told me to ask for a manager, and he huffed and puffed and said hold on,....i imagine he meant to put the phone on mute, but he didn't...and I heard the following: "She wants to talk to you, she said something about some pie, that it says it on the website, but i told her that we aren't doing any dessert and she asked to speak to you. [inaudible manager reply]. yeah i told her that, she won't listen. ok. ok. yeah i know, she's a pain. [inaudible]" He comes back on the phone, without a manager, and tells me "like i said, no pie". So at this point, I gave the phone to my fiance, and he politely told the gentleman, to cancel our order and have a merry christmas. We hung up and spent our $150 with the Asian Garden chinese restaurant, who were more than willing to be kind to us on Christmas. We are extremely dissapointed that he was so rude to us, and that the manager was so rude as well and dismissive, given that he never got on the phone, even though we asked for him. This is all in addition to the fact that your website clearly stated it (see attached). The man had the nerve to call me back to "complete my order" and left me a message! (attached as well) You all have got to be kidding me. In NOVA we have plenty of options and there is absolutely no reason to continue frequenting a restaurant with this kind of service, ON XMAS DAY. I will also be posting this to your yelp pages for other customers to see. you all have a happy new year! read more

I've been coming here for about 18 years - since I was about 10 - and even though not much has changed, there's a reason: it works. The decor still doesn't feel that dated even after almost 2 decades. Not every single meal is a stand-out, but the menu is extensive and has a lot of options for a lot of different diets. They do breakfast the best, with French Toast that literally melts in your mouth and a fried egg club that is really satisfying. The crab cakes and grilled cheeses (there are many options) are also quite good. But the desserts. This is what they are known for (and they have their own bakery about 10 minutes away). Everything is just a fantastic, utter delight. Cookies that are the perfect mix of soft and hard, exotic napoleons and baklava, mousses in chocolate cups and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Amazing. You just want to try a little bit of everything. The only thing I don't love but can't explain is that sometimes the staff can be a little aloof (the service is just fine but nothing to write home about), but the managers usually stop by to greet you, which adds a nice personal touch. There's a reason I've been coming here for so long - reliable, tasty, well-priced, and has the added twist of an upscale diner atmosphere. I LOVE that they're open 24 hours a day, too. read more

This is my review for Amphora between the hours of 1:00 and 5:00 am - literally the only time I can imagine going to this place. It may be better during the day, but it would have to be four times as good to justify going there at a time when any other restaurant is open. It looks like a diner, but instead of a typical diner menu, it has an enormous menu that the cooks on duty have no ability whatosever to master, and the service staff has been made up of the exact same rude people for years (long enough that the way in which they are rude has almost become charming to me). The burgers are bland and they cook them medium-well no matter what you ask for. The breakfast portions are extremely small for the price. The couple of pasta dishes I've tried were so bad they were practically inedible. I've even had them screw up onion rings - several onion rings had flour inside of the batter, and several others had wet, doughy flour inside (even worse). There are four things I'll order here (aside from coffee). If I'm insanely poor, I'll get the nachos. They're pretty much impossible to screw up and the portion, unlike everything else on the menu, actually suits the price. The gyro is actually pretty good, but spending 14 dollars on a gyro is pretty crazy stuff if you ask me. Recently they raised the price of the gyro and also removed the fried zucchini that came with it. The calamari, when prepared correctly and served hot, is the best thing on the menu, but there's a significant risk that it'll show up lukewarm and soggy. I've also never had them screw up the fries, but, of course, a small portion is over 3 bucks. It's frustrating that this place is called a diner, because I really wish there was a real diner in the area, where I could get a fried-egg sandwich for a couple bucks, throw some hot sauce on it, and then have the waitresses ask if I can help out a homeless guy in a wheelchair by pushing him to his spot across the street. I'd even much rather go to Waffle House or Denny's. Amphora will always have a spot in my heart as somewhere I loved going to in high school, but, seriously, high school sucked. read more

Came in for a late dinner around 9:30. Practically no one in the place. Some people at our table ordered breakfast and one ordered a burger. After 30 mins of waiting after ordering, we flagged down our server. When we asked how long our food would be we were just told it was the burger. Burgers should not take that long especially when there are only 3 other tables. Table next to us was seated after, ordered after, and were practically done before our food arrived. We waited at least 10 more minutes after asking about food with no visit from the server. Finally when our food is brought out, it isn't hot. It had been clearly sitting under a lamp or something for 10 min or more. The plates were hot. But the eggs were cold and rubbery on the outside, waffle and French toast barely still warm. If you have a table with breakfast food and a burger you start cooking the waffle and eggs later so they won't sit. It takes only a few mins to cook an egg. Server assured us the food was hot. Insisted. And then the table next to us yelled at us for complaining to the server saying it's not the server's fault but the kitchen. Yes that's partly true, but the server should have been by our table to acknowledge us once when there was clearly an issue. Or gotten the manager! I should have the right to complain to my server when I have issues with my food! The server is the intermediary since I can't talk to the cooks. Had to leave after that without eating or paying. We were so upset and starving. Worst restaurant experience I've had. read more

I'm going to start this review by saying the outside of the diner looks great. Having been to the Amphora in Vienna numerous times, we kind of knew what we were getting... that's what we thought anyway. The inside is much nicer than Vienna and has a larger capacity for seating. That's really where the positive ends. I had hoped to order the Country Fried Steak and Eggs with an Arnold Palmer and a Spanakopita appetizer. Unfortunately, I didn't get that far. I can't even review their water, and here's why: We were seated at 10:55 pm. There was a group seated ahead of us and a group seated after us. The group that was seated after us were immediately greeted and asked for beverages etc. 11:05pm. Still no greeting for our table. 11:10pm. Another group walked in and was seated two tables behind us. They were greeted immediately. 11:17pm. We had enough and walked out. No greeting, no beverages, no water, just silence. Wouldn't recommend unless you want to fill up on frustration. read more

Besides the unique diner look from the outside, I didn't think much of the food my sister and I had at our first, and last, visit. In fact, I can't seem to recall what we ate! A waffle, perhaps? I do remember complaining about one meal and management replacing it with another. Again, I can't tell you what was the offending item and what replaced it. This is a rare event when I cannot recall what I ate at a venue. Frustrating, this. This really irks me, not being able to give a good review, so I'll have to get my sis to take me here again in the future. She, on the other hand, liked her visit. Something new, she said. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants ever. I can't even say how wonderful the food is here. The tender meatloaf, the crispy falafel, and especially that delicious meditteranean pita platter. The whole multicultural breath of the menu suits so many different pallettes. Such a variety! The staff there are also great. What I especially like is how nice the place looks, and the little assortment of desserts such as pies and cakes and cookies at the front. Do not go here if you're an indecisive person! You'll end up ordering the whole menu. read more

I haven't been to Amphora for at least 2 years, and unfortunately its quality has gone down dramatically. Service wasn't the fastest, and the food was awful. I had 'Cajun Chicken Pasta' and it was virtually inedible; the chicken and pasta were swimming (literally) in this so called Cajun sauce, that was hot spicy but without much flavor. My friend had spaghetti Bolognese and it was also a pool of Ragu sauce. Neither of us could finish our dishes. I may go back and see if the breakfast options have also gone downhill. read more

Although I don't frequent the Amphora's' very often, or as often as I would like, I have been going to all their establishments for well over thirty years, and there is one thing I can vouch for with them - consistency. Whether the diner, restaurant or bakery, you can pretty much count on their quality, service, cleanliness and taste to be right up there with the best of diners... maybe even a notch or two better than most! Over the years I have tried just about everything on their menus. But I must say, I was surprised when I first heard that they had a Cuban Sandwich on the menu! This Cuban Sandwich Aficionado is picky (see my Cuban Sandwich List). Although not the traditional Cuban Sandwich (Panini is not Cuban), they're seasoning and cooking of the meats and important ingredients gives the namesake a good run for the money - especially in an area where the famous sammich is found few and far between. I most definitely would return for another! While there, we also had their Caesar Salad and Chicken Avocado Salad, both of which were outstanding. As I said, if you want consistent quality and taste - this is the place. Keep it up guys! read more

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What a horrible experience. I ordered Kapama - which is my favorite thing to eat at this place. When it arrived, the lamb was lukewarm, the vegetables were cold, with fries (cold too)? What happened to my rice pilaf? When I gently asked the waiter about the rice, he said "oh I didn't know that you wanted that", and 5 minutes later, he came back and dropped a plate of rice on my table. I swear this must be the world most distracted waiter, cause not only he spilled my (and my husband's coffee) but we had to ask him for coffee refill, twice, for someone else to bring coffee to us. I used to love this place and the "left alone but attentive" attitude. At some point in the past, my coffee was always hot, my meal properly served, and I didn't have to remind the waiter, twice, about my check. read more

I usually do takeout here late nights when everything is closed however this last visit rubbed me the wrong way I ordered stake and eggs asked him to grab me A1 sauce for my steak and eggs and I headed to a table to grab the salt and pepper to put on my take out order while I waited his return he was sooooo busy watching me to see what I was doing he didn't even do as I asked then after I grab the salt and and pepper Steve the host ASKED was going to steal the salt and pepper shaker and then apologize to say "sorry we get sketchy customers in here" I guess black guys with hoodies and shorts on are sketchy.... I'VE NEVER STOLE ANYTHING IN MY LIFE AND FIND IT VERY DISREPECTFUL TO ASSUME I WAS GOING TO STEAL OR TAKE ANYTHING FROM YOUR ESTABLISHMENT THAT I DIDNT BUY! read more

My friend and I were meeting up to discuss how much of a whipped loser he is for getting dragged to a 1 year old's birthday party. We were in Herndon and too lazy to drive out to the nearest IHOP. Amphora has breakfast foods. Problem solved. I got the ham steak and eggs. It was a pretty good portion of ham. The hash browns that came with them were very plain, no onion or any spices. The toast came with whipped butter which was a nice touch. My friend got a 4 cheese omelet which he thought was decent. All in all, we were looking for breakfast and this place got the job done. Nothing more, nothing less. The menu looked pretty extensive, with a pretty big drink menu (alcohol). However, the prices were on the high side. After spending time in Detroit, I got used to complete breakfasts for 4 dollars. The place was pretty packed especially for being barely visible from Elden St. The bakery counter looked like it had a decent selection and they had a bunch of Easter displays up. The service was pretty good. We got our food pretty quickly and drink refills were handled in a timely manner. Note: If you spill any food item on yourself, make sure that it isn't egg yolk. Explaining a big yellow stain on your crotch is not fun. read more

When it comes to diners, this is as good as it gets. Don't expect much from the service. That way, when you get one of the few great servers you may be surprised. The breakfast is great, Greek selections taste delightful, and the random-other-unexplainable stuff is wonderful too. My favorite Greek selection is the Triple Mediterranean Delight-hummus, baba gannoush, and taramosalata. The taramosalata is so garlicky and delicious that it may keep you up all night, but you're already at the diner, so maybe just have another cup of coffee and relax. Their desserts are good, but I mostly just admire them through the case as I'm paying the bill. A bonus: they serve Lavazza coffee, a rich, Italian coffee, so it isn't the usual weak, bean-in-a-cup-of-hot-water. read more

It had been years since I had been here, but I tried it on a recent trip. Wow, has this place gone down hill since I was last there. I got a Turkey dinner with dressing and vegetables. There was no flavor in any of it. I couldn't tell the difference between the turkey, dressing, or gravy. The addition of salt and pepper at the table could not save it either. The dressing was also just lukewarm. I also noted the place was empty at dinner time, which is never a good sign. I don't know what happened here, but I want the Amphora of 10 years ago back. read more

I love this place! I've been coming to Amphora for over 10 years. Yes that long. The perks are it's 24 hours. This is awesome if you live in the burbs and get the munchies and one some decent food that doesn't consist of a McDonald's Drive through at 3:30 AM. My go to meal is usually the Eggs Norwegian. It's like Eggs Benedict but with smoke salmon. It's not everyone's cup of tea,but it's my jam. My other go to meal used to be the Mediterranean Sampler. Which may not even be on the menu anymore since it's been so long. I honestly don't understand all the harsh reviews about this place. All I can say is check it out for yourself and decide. read more

Stopped into the Amphora for breakfast on a Sunday. It was understandably busy, but there were still a few tables and booths open. Standard large diner menu and I believe I read that the diner is 24 hours. Server was very friendly and attentive, but our two breakfast orders took about 45 minutes to get to the table. I blamed it on the Sunday breakfast rush, but I still thought that was a bit long. Food was pretty good. Asked for toast with butter and got it without. Typical diner happenings. Decent portions. Good coffee and prices were average. Parking lot on premises. read more

Five star food ruined by hugely uncomfortable booths and mediocre service. Either the management is trying to encourage rapid turnover by making it painful to stay for more than five minutes or management is seriously derelict in letting the place fall apart. As great as the food was, this is not a good destination to meet friends and enjoy the great food. Will not be back. If you're thirsty, ask for a pitcher. Wait staff does not proactively refill coffee or water. In my case, I had to ask four times for a glass of water and three times for coffee refills. Shame! read more

This is an update to my situation. After writing this review I was contacted by Amphora with the offer of a giftcard for my troubles. I contacted them by the email they provided asking what details they would need in order for me to get the card and GUESS WHAT, it has been a month later and they never responded. I will not go so far as to lower my score more but this shows what type of business they are running!! This place is noisy, dirty and slow. Been here a few times and have not really had a good dining experience yet. I tried to order a sandwich (Cuban Panini) and was told the are pre-made so I could not get a different cheese other than Swiss. This is sad to hear that a sandwich like this is pre-made. The service has been slow the few times I have been here. Last time the server came back about 10 minutes after taking the order and said he got three of the four orders but forgot what one of the orders was, hint - write the orders down!!!!! If you need a place late at night this might fulfil your needs but there are too many other good places in Herndon if you need somewhere during the day or evening. read more

Food wasn't the best but love the fact it's open 24 hours !!! Definitely a spot to hit when you want to eat out late

The late night eggs benedict is really great! That coming from someone that has been very disappointed by benedicts during normal breakfast hours at places that are focused on that. And the pancakes are beautiful. The apple pie was well above par. read more

Amphora Diner - Eggs benedict, pancakes, coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

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I hit Amphora every time I have to come to NOVA for business. They have an extensive menu and are open 24 hours, two big pluses when you take a late flight in. I like the burgers there a lot, and the meatloaf was good too. I'm also impressed with the desserts and their breakfasts. The service can be a little sketchy, but there's not much else open at 1 AM... read more

Not amazing but not horrible. The Patty Melt was okay but not the best I have had.....I think my favorite part was the blue cheese for my salad and the design of the building. New wait staff would definitely help the situation. ...they were straight to the point but brash and un-personable. read more

Amphora Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

For three weeks I have walked by this Dinner telling myself I need to check out Amphora. Today was a good day for comfort food. It's been a month away from the wife and children. Comfort food for today was a Chicken Fried sirloin steak with mashed taters and fresh green beans cooked perfectly. Brewed ice tea and it is fresh. For dessert I wanted Carrot Cake. By looks of all the fresh breads and cakes and pies thought carrot cake would be good. Appeantly all of Amphora's other patrons must enjoy the carrot cake too. So I asked my waitress, Aida, chocolate and lots of chocolate in the cake. Everything is very good. The price to quality Ratio is very fare. Great atmosphere. While I was was about to leave town friends join me. read more

The food is always good, and of very good quality. Good size portions and the service is very accommodating and welcoming. Amphora is always in our rotation of where we like to eat. read more

I am a fan! Have been here twice and had a pleasant experience both times! The service was OK, nothing great, but it definitely was not awful. The food was wonderful!!! I was here for breakfast with a group both times I went (once with a group of seven and the other time a group of four) and both times every single person was extremely satisfied with their food!! Personally, I loved the blueberry pancakes. The price wasn't bad either. Can't wait to go back! Also, you can pick from a variety of flavors to combine to make your own soda, my boyfriend loved his blue raspberry mountain dew concoction! :) read more

The best of the best in the area. Huge menu. Attentive staff. Should never leave hungry. Bakery goods delicious but pricy. Need a little more favorable coffee. Well worth the drive to Herdon. Always greeted with a smile and prompt seating. Highly recommend this establishment. read more

The menu really is huge but when I went here I was hoping for a true "diner" experience and it's more like a mid-level restaurant or cheap catering. It's not awful, but it's not overpowering the palate with taste sensations either. The food is all rather on the prciey side... especially for a "diner". Nothing is below $8, in fact, most of the alcoholic drinks are the same price. All the servers are dressed in slacks and white shirts, like I said... it kinda like a restaurant that serves catered meals. They are nice enough but too fancy for my tastes when I am hankering for a late night breakfast. read more

I came here with friends after a late night with friends and was surprised by how much they had on the menu! Unlike iHOP, their menu does not mainly consist only of breakfast food - they had everything from mexican to greek. Now was the mexican and greek food super authentic? No. But, I have to say, it was pretty good. Since we were there late, there weren't many people around so we got seated in a pretty isolated section and had great service. I don't know what this place is like during the day, but I say, if you're driving around feeling like iHOP, skip iHOP and come here instead. Everyone in your party will find something on their ridiculously long menu that they will like. read more

I've eaten here a few times now and it has never met my expectations. For some reason the service has always been pretty poor so now I almost expect it. The food is mediocre and it is different than the food served at the original location. This place also reminds me of a Silver Diner which is not a good thing. If you want the REAL Amphora go to the original in Vienna. The food is better there, deserts seem better, and the service is certainly better. read more