Been looking forward to trying this iconic place for quite a while. Came from Lex with my granddaughter to take my daughter out to lunch. (She works one day a week at the Family Services building.) Got there around 12:30. Only one booth open! Counter full. Wanted to try the Hot Brown, but wasn't hungry enough to tackle it, so I got a fried bologna sandwich instead. Service took a while, but that is to be expected. No problem. I would recommend the Cliffside Diner to anyone who digs a retro vibe with a cool selection of home cooking! read more

Definitely a locals hangout in a good way Excellent home cooked food Friendly staff and and friendly patrons read more

We went to The Cliffside Diner because it's billed as The Best Cheeseburger in Frankfort, the diner has been there since the 40's so it's a local landmark. My wife and I were pretty excited about a new experience and a fun lunch. The place was disappointing to say the least. The servers weren't really friendly or outgoing. The value was severely lacking- a reported 5 ounce burger (looked small) and literally about 10 crinkle cut fries, a 12 ounce drink served in styrofoam and a vanilla malt to go costs us about $50. I tried to say thank you to the server on my way out but she was busy having a loud conversation with another employee and didn't notice me. There is outdoor seating on picnic tables. The menu has a variety of sandwiches like cod fish and a fried bologna plate. But most of the menu was different burgers with cute names. The web said they served breakfast all day, there was no breakfast menu on the table and we didn't ask. All in all I'm glad I went to satisfy my curiosity but I would not seriously recommend this place to people visiting Frankfort. You would get a better deal and probably service at Hardee's. read more

Cliffside Diner - Counter service at The Cliffside Diner. - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

The folks were extremely nice! Service with a smile. Miss Tracy cooked me up an amazing bacon cheeseburger and crinkle fries. I will definitely be going back again. May even save room for dessert next time, they had a selection of pies, ice cream, and milkshakes. read more

Great old time diner food and atmosphere. Treat you like family . I have been eating here for years thru multiple owners. read more

Absolutely perfect breakfast experience! Couldn't have asked for better from this local diner. Hot & fresh coffee served up in fun mugs and the best omelet I've had to date. If you can stand a little bit of heat, the steak Philly omelet is the way to go. Filled with tender beef, cheese, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and just enough jalapeño to kick up your omelet in the best way. I'd get this again in a heartbeat- soooo delicious! Cliffside diner is fast, friendly and oh so good! read more

Cliffside Diner - Festive cup of joe - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Stopped by this diner after a visit to Buffalo Trace. Not bad. Definitely greasy spoon diner but with fantastic burgers! The store is set up along the river. It's skinny, with one row of booths and then counter space to sit. Everyone was friendly! I got "the burger" which was 10 oz double patties, 3 cheeses, special sauce etc. served on Texas toast. Nice hot and juicy! Crinkle cut fries served on the side. My husband got the meatloaf. It was a slice of meatloaf seared on the grill for warmup. He said it was good but I like tomato sauce baked with mine and this was plain. Lots of visible barley as filler. Green beans tasted a little smoky but not cooked with bacon. Didn't taste "southern". Then what was advertised as " fried potatoes" were frozen potato slices. Again not what I would expect. Cokes were good. Would I eat here again? Probably not. But it was fine. read more

Cliffside Diner - The burger - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Delicious burgers and even better milk shakes. Great service and fresh food. Local gem with a good playlist. read more

Cliffside Diner - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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This is a traditional diner with traditional diner food. They also have ice cream. There is outside seating too.

Our first time to Frankfort and highly recommend this cute, DELICIOUS cafe! The staff was very friendly and took great care of us! My husband had a burger and I had a BLT. BOTH were FANTASTIC!! 10 stars!! read more

Service is so friendly. This is a great little diner. They have tables and a bar to sit at. I got a bacon cheeseburger with crinkle cut fries. Fries are crispy and burgers are delicious. My brother got the fried fish. It was good also. read more

Cliffside Diner - Fish and fries - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Cliffside Diner is one of those places that reminds you why small, local diners are such gems. I stopped in with a group of friends for breakfast, and from the moment we walked through the door, we felt like we were stepping into a familiar, welcoming space. The staff greeted us warmly, helped arrange seating for our group, and made sure we were taken care of throughout the meal. We ordered a variety of breakfast plates--everything from pancakes and omelets to biscuits, gravy, and crispy hash browns. Every dish came out hot, perfectly cooked, and full of that comforting diner flavor you can't replicate anywhere else. Portion sizes were generous, and several of us commented that it tasted like a home-cooked meal made with care. What really stood out was the atmosphere. Cliffside Diner feels like the kind of place where locals gather regularly, and newcomers are treated just the same. Our server checked on us often, refilled coffee without us having to ask, and made sure everyone in our group had what they needed. Even with a bigger table, we never felt rushed. If you're looking for a laid-back, friendly spot with delicious breakfast options and genuine hospitality, Cliffside Diner is absolutely worth a visit. We left full, happy, and already talking about coming back again soon. read more

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Stopped in for lunch after a visit to The Butterfly Greenhouse. We all got burgers of some sort, mine was the Cliffside & it was fantastic! Super juicy & cooked to perfection! Shared an order of fried mushrooms & they were a nice addition to the fries! Place was busy, service was fast & friendly & the whole place has a nice, classic diner feel! read more

Cliffside Diner - The Cliffside burger!! - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Loved this diner, the people and food. It was exactly what we were looking for on our stopover in Frankfort.

Sat & Sun Breakfast until 1130, lunch 1130-7 sat & sun. Lunch M-F 11-7. Awesome place. Only down side is sun is glaring inside the big windows until 1 pm or so. Very blinding. Only 6 booth tables and 14 barstools. Very small cozy restaurant. White or wheat toast! French toast was delicious. Omelet was large and in charge! They were out of coke on Jan 18, 2026! Outdoor seating is available during warmer months but it's right in the road with no protection. Lots of ice cream options. read more

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5 stars Location. Bottom of the cliffs outside with our dog traveling through. Service. Friendly and hospitable to us non-locals. Food! Fresh, crispy food. Burgers and chicken fried steak and fries! Lima beans. Cornbread pancakes, umm hello!? So good. More location. Around the corner from charming Frankfort. Little fairy garden built into cliff. History. Coolest building and business read more

Great food!! Really nice people. The time it took was well worth the wait. A KEEPER!!

Meatloaf dinner with cornbread was off the chain. Absolutely excellent. Top notch service and cool atmosphere. My wife had the grilled pimento cheese sandwich and loved it. read more

Cliffside Diner - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

Just WOW!!! The best burger we have ever had!!! The cheeseburger and beer cheese burger was our order and they were both amazing!!! Cooked to perfection and with the most attentive and personal service we have ever experienced! The waitress was delightful and eager to give honest recommendations ! The chef/cook told us she cooks with love and that's why the burgers are so good! What we tasted we wholeheartedly believe her! She's been there 14 yrs and treated every one and the employees just like a loving momma!! The Cliffside diner is situated right in the side of a cliff; great ambiance and quaint diner! Must see and we will be back! read more

I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would honestly eat here. The parking is terrifying at best. Not great trying to pull back out right by a blind corner either. Place is filthy and needs a complete overhaul. It's weird to see all your frozen foods in the freezer right out in the open. Tater tots completely overcooked while onion rings remained soggy. I got a beer cheese burger and the cheese was coagulated and thick. Seemed like it had been around for quite some time. BBQ burger served on Texas toast and just slathered in sauce. Pork sandwich was just an unseasoned pork loin thrown on a bun (anywhere else they've ordered this it's been pounded out, breaded, and deep fried). No one enjoyed their food. Server was okay, not particularly friendly, but not rude. Not good food and no view or anything to bother with. Bathroom is also storage with semi functioning locks. Find someplace better to eat. read more

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Great little diner! Food was very good, service too! We will try a second trip soon! Limited parking, go early!

This is truly a local old school dinner. Very small place. We went for breakfast. Everything is cooked to order. It was really good especially the hashbrowns read more

The have the best food and service. It is a staple for lunch and dinner for locals knowing how long they have been on the river and they make homemade pies. It is worth finding the location and suggest you start with the best pressed ( not frozen ) hamburger around then work your way up the menu. Love them but small venue so go when there is parking and that should indicate how crowded it can get read more

I'm really confused on how this place is rated over 4 stars. I'm honestly not sure why I am giving it 2 stars. I've passed this place several times but never stopped. My mom and I finally stopped. She got a BLT & E and I got biscuits and gravy. Possibly the worst biscuits and gravy I've ever had. The salt and the pepper on the table couldn't even help the bland taste of the gravy. When I think diner, I think good country cooking. No sausage bits in the gravy or anything. Looked like it came out of a bag. My mom's BLT&E looked really good. She enjoyed her food. Decent sized sandwich. The place was absolutely disgusting. Looked like the curtains and window sills have never seen a duster or wet cloth. The staff were friendly but our waitress wasn't very attentive. Parking is right on the street and hard to get out of depending on what parks next to you. People fly down the road knowing that restaurant is there. So back in! read more

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Old time diner. Fun experience but very small location, food was good and service was outstanding

I've ben coming Cliffside with my parents, since I was a small child in the 1950s. Im now 75, and still come to this wonderful diner that has great food and staff. I will never stop coming! read more

Food was good. Service was fast. Ambiance was just right. Location is so interesting. I never imagined a place like this. read more

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We stopped in here on a Saturday afternoon late February because we were in the area and wanted something new. This is a very small establishment you walk in and it's old-school diner probably 10 booths if that to sit at and you just walk in waitress walks over to you takes your order I got the club sandwich and it was decent not the best I've had but I'd give it a three my wife got a jalapeño burger. She gave it a three daughters got hotdog and a cheeseburger. They both liked it. I'm gonna give this place four because of theuniqueness of how small it was and just had a nice comfy feel to it read more

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The best Reuben sandwich I have ever had! The staff was just wonderful! It is must when in Frankfort Ky. read more

Cliffside diner in a popular Frankfort Kentucky roadside stop that is tucked into the side of some hills on a curvy Frankfort road. Stopped in here with my wife, our two youngest girls, a friend and her baby for a quick lunch. The establishment itself is extremely tiny and almost submarine like. Think a waffle house setup and shrink it by double. So the workers were a little nervous about our party size but we assured them we could squeeze into a booth and have the babies be lap sitters. So after a short wait for a table we sat down and scouted over the menu real quick. I personally ordered the Kentucky hot brown. My wife went with Country fried chicken. My 2 year old got the kids mini burger and my friend got the mini sliders. Service here was very friendly and the food was very delicious! My hot brown was good and have nice flavor. I sampled my two year old burger and must say the sign that boasts "Frankfort's best burgers" may be extremely accurate. Very tasty burger. Pricing was on par for an American diner. The setup here while small is part of the allure as well. It is legit on a cliff side so you really don't have much room to work with it. But the workers and our party made it work. Which I'm glad we did as it was a very tasty and good visit. Overall absolutely worth the visit if you are in the Frankfort area. Anything with a Party over 4 you may want to wait for bar top seating or split your party into two tables. But it will be worth it to visit. read more

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Went here because of a locals recommendation. Was pretty disappointed with the offerings. Got burger and fries and it came out to 17 dollars with a surcharge for cards. Food was disappointing and prices seemed steep for the area. Definitely wouldn't recommend unless you have no other option. read more

Cliffside Diner - Menu - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Burgers are great. Service was perfect. Nice location, scenic drive. Easy to get to. Friendly servers. Lots of sides, onion rings and cottage cheese. read more

Cliffside Diner - Cliftside burger is a double with sautéed onions on toast. Closer burger is a double cheeseburger with mayonnaise,lettuce and onions. - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

We stopped here for lunch recently and had a good experience. The mini burgers, Kentucky hot brown, and chocolate shake were all great. The service was excellent. The seating inside is limited to 5-6 tables and seats at the bar. They do have a nice patio area. I would recommend the patio area for ventilation. They were cutting onions while we were there and unfortunately, our eyes were watering by the time we left. They have parking on both sides of the restaurant, but can be tricky backing out onto the busy main road. read more

Cliffside Diner - Mini burger with fries - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Place is eclectic, it is a classic diner, in doors you have a bar to sit at and other side of isle are 6 Booths for four people. It is tight but food is worth it. But outside there is plenty of outdoor seating which is perfect when the weather is nice. We both had the Burger Week burger which was a maple Bourbon Bacon Jam Burger. That bacon jam could be spread on cardboard as I would eat it. The burger patty is that classic hand made style patties. Fries are crispy, and the fried potatoes were a great as something different. Place is obviously a community staple as many people are known by the staff and sound like they come by every week. read more

Cliffside Diner - Maple-Bourbon Bacon jam Burger with fried potatoes with cheese - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Some of the best diner food that I have ever had. I had the hot brown sandwich and it was out of this world. The staff was very friendly. Last but certainly not least... the fried cornbread, it was blow your balls off good. read more

Cliffside Diner - Hot brown sandwich - American Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Great breakfast, great service, cool atmosphere. Glad we discovered this on our bourbon trip! Give it a try, you'll absolutely love it!! read more

Service was excellent and fast. We came with our dog so outside was the place to be. Building backs right up to the cliff. About 3 or 4 steps out you are on Old Lawrenceburg Road. My wife's bean soup was very feeling, seasoned just right. She loved the cornbread. I chose the the Opened face roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. EXCELLENT! We were the only ones outside but our server was always checking on us. You need to come early. They are opened 11 to 7 during the week. 8:30 to 3 on Saturday and Sunday. They say they serve a mean breakfast on the weekend. We will be doing that next! read more

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Last time we visited this fantastic Diner was pre covid. Nothing has changed. Service spectacular & fluidly run by four ladies. Everyone happy, not overwhelmed & the same ma & pa's type of establishment. Many regulars & a 'Cheers' kind of place w/o the alcohol. Reversing out is a problem, but we helped direct people out. Everyone is very helpful & friendly. Freshly baked pies, food & meatloaf. The only reason I didn't get meatloaf was because it had green bell peppers, but it's homemade daily. I ordered the Ribeye Sandwich, which is sharable, but like a ribeye it was a little chewy & fatty, but tasty. It comes on a hoagie. Also ordered the Grilled Chicken Sandwich & Pasta Salad side. It was tasty & delish. Two coffees & a coke equalled $21. Also we had time to kill & our server recommended Cove Springs waterfall to check out. It was a short drive & beautiful. Glad they made it after Covid. read more

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Oh my gosh! The reviews are spot on! We had a delicious, satisfying breakfast. The biscuits are crispy on the outside and soft inside. We ordered omelets, a pancake (which they shaped it into Mickey Mouse for a laugh), and the Kentucky Hot Brown breakfast. The service, music and ambience did not disappoint. Go here! read more

This is the platonic ideal of a roadside diner. Laid back, quaint, perfectly executed American staples.