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    Bel Aire Diner

    3.4 (826 reviews)
    ModerateDiners, American
    Open 5:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Bel Aire Diner Reservations

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    BEL AIRE DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Bel Aire Diner

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    Reviews With Photos

    Greek Breakfast
    Anh Y.

    It was my first time at Bel Aire Diner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It has a very classic diner feel to it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There was a birthday party going on on one side of the diner, but we were quickly seated. The menu is pretty extensive, but I went with the Greek Breakfast (two eggs any style - I chose over medium, roasted tomatoes on top of a whole fluffy pita that was warm and folded in half, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and olive oil). It was light and delicious. My SO had two eggs over medium, sausage (came with 4 links), french fries (he always orders this instead of home fries), and white toast (which came well buttered - they do not skimp out). He enjoyed his breakfast. The service was good, with the server checking on us every so often. I would stop by for breakfast again if I'm in the area.

    My "homemade chocolate chip cookies"
    Monica T.

    The Uber Eats driver was good but that was pretty much it. I got a buy one, get one deal for chicken waffles, mashed potatoes and free homemade cookies that were supposed to be chocolate chip. Instead I got something that looks like it has nuts (which I won't eat) and definitely isn't a chocolate chip cookie by American standards. I also got unexpected gravy on the mashed potatoes. This whole dish was bland. Then the waffle was good but the chicken was overcooked. I wish one of my local diners had been open but it wasn't so I opted to try something new with this one. Uber Eats was no help on refunds and the service fee is insane on there. I wouldn't order from here again though I wish the Uber Eats courier well.

    Gordon Y.

    Cuisine: 5 Service: 5 [[HIGHLIGHT]]Decor: 6[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Value: 6 Overall: 5 I have not been back to this diner since probably the early 2010's. Before that, maybe another decade back to the early 2000's when I just got out of college. I would usually end up here late night after partying. Sadly, those days are over. Hanging out with friends till sunrise in a diner that serves all the bad stuff you should not be eating at 3:00am is a thing of the past. I have evolved. My taste buds have evolved. There is no reason for me to choose to eat here. Well, by chance I ended up here yesterday because my friend lived across the street and it has plenty of parking spaces. We looked over the menu and ordered a few small items to share. Let's just say that nothing tasted bad, but there is a reason I have not been back for so long. Anyway, don't come here for quality food. Come here because it's got free parking and offers late night dining hours, along with all the comfort foods of your youth when downing a burger, some onion rings, and a milkshake at the crack ass of dawn was okay.

    Buff
    Vy T.

    A lot of reviews said that these were the worst wings they've ever had, I disagree. Perhaps they've changed the recipe since the reviews or maybe the reviewers were off put by the fact that the sauces came on the side. I didn't mind having to dip my wings in the buffalo sauce. I also found it was better to reheat wings when they're like this. The ranch it came with wasn't ranch, it was a ranch and tzatziki hybrid sauce. It wasn't bad, but I'd much rather prefer traditional ranch with my wings. The buttermilk pancakes were great. They came out warm with fried edges had a nice little crunch to them.

    Sandra R.

    Martin was attentive from the moment we walked in. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I especially love the decor in the restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We did not have to wait long for our food which I must say was +++. My mimosa was made to my satisfaction light cranberry which is a delight. This time I had a chicken Caesar wrap with onion rings which came with cole slaw and a pickle. Mouth flavored as I devoured. Yes, due to portion size there was a take home plate.

    Thick Cut French Toast
    Mohamed K.

    Solid service all around, the waiter and host were both friendly and warm. I like the decor inside too, it's nostalgic and feels like an old-school diner! The French toast was great, not too eggy or over the top. The toast itself was moist and fluffy, tasted a bit like cinnamon and vanilla, in a good way. Eggs were a bit runny for over-medium, they were probably over easy. But still good especially with some hot sauce, and the home fries were great and not overly greasy. The onions in them added a nice depth of flavor. Oh and I got 3 mini muffins on the house when I was seated! That was nice!

    Mia H.

    I got their Thanksgiving dinner from here to-go and it wasn't bad! The meal included turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and corn. The turkey wasn't dry at all, the chicken gravy paired with it well, and the stuffing was flavorful. Got their homemade cookies as well as it was a great way to end the meal!

    Corned Beef Hash and Eggs
    Phil W.

    Stopped by Bel Aire Diner and loved the experience! The decor is classic and fun, with awesome retro touches; couple of the seats are even designed to look like the back end of a vintage car. Definitely adds to the charm. I ordered the corned beef hash with two sunny side up eggs and a side of bacon. Everything was cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. Classic diner comfort food done right. The ambiance is casual and relaxing, perfect for a laid-back breakfast or brunch. Friendly service and a clean, well-kept space round it all out. Great spot if you're in the mood for solid diner fare in a cool, nostalgic setting.

    Friends and family
    Shane G.

    Food 3 Service 4 Atmosphere 4 This diner has been around since the late 60s. It's a quintessential diner with too many items on the menu to choose from. You can eat anything from pancakes and sausage to boiled lobster and anything else you can imagine. The food is good. I had the Pastrami Rueben. It wasn't a deli rueben, but it was good. It's a great place to hang out with friends so everyone can have something to choose from The waitstaff was very kind and helpful. There is even a parking lot adjacent, which is a big plus.

    Sautéed spinach and Sautéed Zuchinni
    Fatzanne G.

    They need to rid of those Steak Fries and get the French fries that Court Square Diner has. Their fries have a hint of seasoning to them which makes them a winner. I've also notice other diners have the same type of fries as Court Square so, Steak Fries is a Hard No!

    Drinks menu
    Raquel R.

    The food the service and the quality was amazing I really enjoyed fresh food and [[HIGHLIGHT]]nice ambient[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Complementary bread and butter
    Sep B.

    Came here with a friend for dinner around 8pm. She's been coming here for over 20 years. The service was great, and our server was attentive. She ordered the roast beef with a side of mashed potatoes and a salad (not pictured). I order the chicken souvlaki plate. Both dishes were tasty. The platters of food were large enough that we both took leftovers home.

    Cajun Rice
    Nando F.

    I believe I hadn't sat down to eat at Bel Aire in many moons. I used to live only a few blocks away in the 90's and absolutely hit up this joint regularly during college. Regrettably, I can't say that it is what it used to be. The place looked dim and it wasn't busy on a Sunday night around 7:30. There used to be a somewhat large seating section to the right of the main entrance and it was blocked off by curtains and painted over plywood. The whole row of booths by the windows that face 21st st were dim and the neon light in the crown moldings over said section were flickering. We ordered and mac and cheese burger, BBQ Ribs and Chicken, flapjacks and Pork chunks over rice. It was all decent. Our waiter was the friendliest man, but seemed a bit green with their system (They place orders through a handheld device). Would stick to breakfast items next time around.

    Mixed greens

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    1 year ago

    Pretty good dinner. Portions are huge. Service is great. Classic look and fun to visit. They also have cocktails.

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    Page 1 of 21

    Bel Aire Diner Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bel Aire Diner

    Do they have hand cut fries?

    No we do not

    How do I get tickets for the drive-in? ( a fantastic idea, by the way!)

    Go on the Bel Aire Diner INSTAGRAM , it shows the coming events. It also says to RSVP @BelAireDiner to secure a spot. https://www.instagram.com/belairediner/

    Is Belaire wheelchair accessible?

    Yes!

    View All 4 Questions

    Gracie Mews Diner

    Gracie Mews Diner

    3.5
    (490 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    This is a very special restaurant visit for me because I lived on this block for 3 years and walked…read moreby this diner Every. Single. Day. and never got around to going. So much so that I just turned it into a goal of mine that the day I move out of this apartment is the day I go to this diner as a farewell to the memories. That day arrived and let me tell you this experience was everything I couldve wanted and more. First off, the food here was ABSOLUTE GAS. I allowed myself to go full force and EATTTTT. Started with nachos and mozzarella sticks. Nachos were loaded to the brim and the chips stayed crispy even the ones on bottom. Mozza sticks had amazing cheese pulls. For the main, got the Chorizo Burger with Waffle Fries and a Chocolate Egg Cream to drink. Burger was gargantuan, like you literally cannot eat it with your hands you need fork and knife, seasoned perfectly, toppings were stellar, fries were super crispy. Incredible. First time having an egg cream and it was so interesting. To finish off I had an oreo shake which was the perfect consistency and so delicious. And then right at the end the brought a FREE piece of Baklava WOW. Service here was awesome, never felt rushed, attentive waiters, allowed me to move to the larger booths mid meal just to be more comfortable. And the music here is literally like they took my playlist off my phone. A shame I only visited here on my LAST day on the UES but I WILL be back nevertheless. So happy with this meal.

    Shame on me for foregoing my usual bagel & wanting something different…read more My partner and I just left here after I found a ROACH in my food! In all my years, that has neverrr happened to me. Thankfully I usually pay attention to what I'm eating because it was well concealed in the hash browns. On top of that, I had to ask for a new glass because it was dirty with lip marks, the food was mid. The coffee was mid. Nothing had flavor & it's incredibly overpriced.

    Photos
    Gracie Mews Diner
    Florentine eggs Benedict - delicious
    Florentine eggs Benedict - delicious
    Storefront

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    Storefront
    Gracie's on 2nd Diner

    Gracie's on 2nd Diner

    3.3
    (281 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Decent dinner spot offering all the breakfast food you might crave for. I really wanted the egg…read moresandwich and it didn't disappoint, but it could use a slice of cheese in it. I also wanted a waffle and I was able to get both and create my own place for a fair price. The waffle doesn't look like much but was perfectly fluffy. The restaurant is quite loud but nicely decorated and the service is fast. This is not a place you plan on staying for long. You eat you go. The tables are very small for the large plates they serve the food in but it is common in dinners.

    During the World Cup final, we walked into Gracie's Diner in hopes of enjoying a nice summer day…read morewith some fries and drinks. Other bars had been loud and crowded, but Gracie's was relatively spacious, so we were promptly seated. We asked our waiter, a portly, middle-aged man with jet-black hair (didn't catch his name) about portion sizes; he tells us they weren't large, so we ordered two plates of sweet potato fries at $11 each. The second he served them, it was obvious one plate would've sufficed. In addition, the fries themselves sucked: so plain--no seasoning, no salt, nothing. A couple fries in, we flagged him down to politely explain we weren't happy with the food. Instead of apologizing or offering any kind of fix, he got defensive and snapped, "What do you mean bring them back? No!" --even though the plates were almost untouched. We didn't want to escalate the situation, so we just left. This isn't how patrons should be treated. $26 on subpar fries and a prickly waiter? Don't waste your money.

    Photos
    I'm waiting for Robert and Janeen. 05/02/24
    I'm waiting for Robert and Janeen. 05/02/24
    $17 waffle with two eggs
    $17 waffle with two eggs
    The dining room

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    The dining room
    Green Kitchen

    Green Kitchen

    3.4
    (301 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Mary Lu was the best waitress & the food was great!! Will definitely be back! It was also so…read morebeautiful!

    Mom told me we were going out for brunch. I heard, "We're…read moregoing somewhere with tacos." Close enough. Green Kitchen is a cozy neighborhood diner with one of the prettiest outdoor setups I've seen. The entire corner entrance is covered in colorful flowers, and the wraparound patio makes it feel more like a garden café than a diner. They even have covered seating along the side street, which kept us cool while giving me an excellent vantage point to supervise pedestrians, squirrels, and anyone carrying bacon. I settled onto my cooling mat under the table and got comfortable while Mom and Dad ordered. Mom had the Short Rib Tacos with a Diet Coke. She declared them delicious. Dad went with the classic scrambled eggs and bacon. Guess which meal looked easier to "accidentally" share with the dog? Neither. Apparently both plates were under strict human protection. There isn't a dog menu, and no water bowl was offered, but the staff was friendly, the patio was spacious and comfortable, and the atmosphere made it an easy place to relax for a long brunch. Dogba's Verdict Beautiful flower-covered entrance? Large covered outdoor patio? Elite people-watching opportunities? Cool enough for a summer brunch? Dog water bowl? Taco samples for the dog? Also no. 4 paws out of 5. I'd happily return... but next time I'd like to negotiate at least one short rib taco as part of my appearance fee.

    Photos
    Green Kitchen
    Green Kitchen
    GK Spritz

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    GK Spritz
    Cafe Luka

    Cafe Luka

    3.7
    (334 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Great diner in the UES! The omelette was amazing and the bacon was crispy. Definitely recommend. It…read morewas also crowded but we didn't have to wait which was really nice. A+

    My wife has always liked Cafe Luka. When we first came back to NYC over a decade ago, it was a…read moresolid breakfast spot and a nice dinner option. Portions were good and prices were higher than average but within reach. We returned yesterday for an early dinner and while the food was good and service decent, the portions and pricing have gotten out of hand. I had a pizza burger and fries for $21. No, really. It was a tasty burger but not Minetta Tavern good. My wife had a choice to make, get the spinach pie appetizer for $17 or the entree version for $27. The extra $10? Got us a salad and I am guessing a larger portion of pie. That's it...for $10 more. I remember when they would provide salad, soup, potatoes, veggies, bread, and even a dessert, for much less. The waiter did bring two pickle spears and tiny cups of cole slaw to be fair. We had water, no dessert or apps, and spent $55 for a meal that should have cost $30, maybe $35. So, you get the extra $20 this visit but you lost future visits, seems like a risky move. This is not the only spot on the neighborhood that has gone off the rails with their menu pricing management and I realize costs around labor, ingredients, utilities, etc have all gone up. Problem is, the customers pocket is only so deep and it's becoming unsustainable to continue to push the majority of the expenses onto your menu for others to subsidize. So, we didn't have a "bad" experience but walked away feeling taken advantage of in what we received for the money. Now my wife is no longer going to push for this spot in the future and we will give others a try.

    Photos
    Very nice and he let me sit at a table with my to go coffee. 10/06/22
    Very nice and he let me sit at a table with my to go coffee. 10/06/22
    Fresh Fruit Salad Small
    Fresh Fruit Salad Small
    Artwork by Alexander Kaletski 10/06/22

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    Artwork by Alexander Kaletski 10/06/22
    J.G. Melon

    J.G. Melon

    3.5
    (1.8k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Founded in 1972 by Jack O'Neill and George Melon, J.G. Melon is a legendary Upper East Side saloon…read moreand an undeniable cornerstone of New York City's burger scene. With its signature green-and-white checkered tablecloths, dark wood panels, watermelon-themed artwork, and strict cash-only policy, the pub offers a timeless, no-frills neighborhood atmosphere. Over the decades, it has amassed significant accolades--frequently named among the Best Burgers in NYC by Eater, The Infatuation, and New York Magazine, famously cited by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as serving "the best hamburger in the world," and praised by Anthony Bourdain as an essential New York institution. Using their exact menu terminology, here is how the food breaks down: Bacon Cheeseburger: Their iconic, thick beef patty broiled to order and served on a toasted bun with melted American cheese and crispy bacon, accompanied on the side by raw red onions and thick-cut pickle chips. Chili: Served by the cup or bowl, this rich, comforting house-made beef chili comes topped with chopped raw onions and melted American cheese--a classic, warm opener that pairs perfectly with an order of their signature Cottage Fried Potatoes. Service is fast, efficient, and classic old-school New York. Between the cold beers on tap, award-winning burgers, and nostalgic saloon vibe, J.G. Melon remains an essential Manhattan stop.

    A relative who lives in NYC recommended this diner/bar-vibe restaurant to us. I loved how they are…read moreable to keep prices relatively low! They are also a cash-only establishment. I got the cheeseburger, which was delicious. If I lived closer, I would come back for sure. It can get very busy and it is a compact restaurant. When seats are filled, there is little walking room because the tables are set up to maximize space. That being said, they do have a small restroom available.

    Photos
    The bar area!!
    The bar area!!
    Cheeseburger
    Cheeseburger
    Exterior signage

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    Exterior signage

    Bel Aire Diner - diners - Updated August 2026

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