Growing up in my dad's diner/restaurant, diners have a very special place in my heart and memory, especially the ones that are well run, with good service and where the food is several notches above the average. Dad's,in my opinion, is one of those small hidden country gems that you stumble on when you least expect to and your experience abounds into memories of bygone days. I started with a mushroom soup which was absolutely one of the very best I've encountered on the culinary trail, it had subtle nuances that belied its no frills rustic 60's little country diner origin. Firstly, the soup had a hearty very distinct mushroom flavor from the large beefy portabello mushrooms and I'm sure it had been enhanced by a little beef stock to round out the flavor. Secondly, there was a crunchy textural component with the addition of celery which I had not had before but found it to be the perfect balance to the soft tender mushrooms. Thirdly, a roux base thickener can be overdone or not done well, either way it is a turnoff, this was the fabric that tied this masterpiece all together producing a complex well balanced memorable savory soup. The waitress recommended the chicken breast bacon cheese sandwich on grilled marble rye with fries and I, also, wanted to try the Greek salad. The chicken was tender moist and juicy, the smoked bacon came through nicely and the cheese added a distinct mellow yet nutty flavor; the fries were done crispy just the way I like. The Greek Salad was almost the equal of salads I've had in many Greek restaurants I've eaten in and the Greek dressing provided was exceptionally good. The service from beginning to end was top notch could not have been better. I'd say if you like mushroom soup, nicely prepared food and country charm, then Dad's should be one of you hidden rural destinations. read more

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Stopped by to grab some food. The service was quick, food delicious and a great atmosphere for family and friends. Thank you!

We happened to stop in while out for a drive. I was looking for a simple tuna sandwich and ended up having the best tuna melt! It was done just right without too much stuff and not heavy and soggy like other places make them too often. Also had their soup of the day, an oriental beef that was very good. Even loved the Cole slaw and that doesn't happen often for me. Coffee was good which is hard to find in diners lately. My husband had a foot long chili cheese dog that was also great. This little diner off the beaten path is a gem in my book. Prices were excellent and I wouldn't hesitate to go back when I'm in that area again. read more

Dad's Copake Diner - My perfect tuna melt and my husband's foot long chili cheese dog. Both were excellent! - Diners Near Me - Copake, New York

Cute diner. Clean, retro, with standard diner fare plus lots of great wing choices. The service was pretty bad though. People were left waiting a long time without service, people were being served without basic table setups. We had to ask for water 4 times before we got it and they seemed put out by the request. They were in the weeds the whole time and I'm not exactly sure why. Considering how small the place was, there's no reason that 3 servers should have been struggling that hard to provide basic service. Maybe someone needs more training. read more

Dad's Copake Diner - Diners Near Me - Copake, New York

Honestly, the best poached eggs I've ever had. The hash was cooked just right and the hash browns...yum! The waitresses were really sweet and when I made a comment that my dad would have loved the coffee mugs, one of them (sorry didn't get their names) was happy that it reminded me of good times. Great diner feel, great food and great people read more

We were in the Copake area after hiking, big surprise there and decided to give Dad's a try. There were only a few patrons when we arrived at 4:30. By the time we left, 5:30ish, it was packed. It was great to sit and watch the comings and goings. When one man walked in, the wait staff called his wife to check what she wanted him to bring home. Love that kinda thing. Service was quick and friendly. We ordered two specials, a Ruben and some soup. Everything was very good, a definite step up from standard diner fare. We took some leftovers with us for this tomorrow's lunch. The entire place was very clean and shiny. For five of us-$60.. read more

Dad's Copake Diner - Nice original diner... - Diners Near Me - Copake, New York

Found this jewel the other day! Husband and I had a very good afternoon meal. The owners and staff were just great! They were so friendly and attentive. Service and food was wonderful. (Sorry didn't take pics) It's going to be a regular for us from now on! Great diner fare (what we were looking for) fresh and better than your average diner. Took us back in time with the sparkling clean decor. Dad was there and he's so nice and the staff so kind. Do try and make this your favorite eatery! read more

Dad's Copake Diner - Diners Near Me - Copake, New York

Service was great and friendly also the food was delish! What more could you want after a weekend camping ?

Tiny diner - Looks cool - 50's style which I love. Service was ok - no complaints. Food? Sucked! I got the Nathans foot long with chili and cheese. Chili was UNBELIEVABLY salty. And the cheese was 2 square singles of white american melted over the hot dog. Really? My 12 yr old does shit like that... Had the soup - super bland. My whole table was unhappy with the food. I wont waste time describing every bad dish, but avoid this place. The food was terrible... Service and decor were good, but at the end of the day, we go out for the food. If thats bad, why bother... read more

Stopped here on the way to Bash Bish Falls. Or a diner the food was the above expectations. The service was very friendly, however to the employees seem lost in one was running the show. We would definitely come back. read more

Terrific! Old-fashioned food. Club sandwiches with crispy bacon and real turkey, homemade potato chips, crispy, homemade onion rings, fresh coleslaw, everything was delicious. We barely resisted getting malts, but we'll be back! And the staff could not be nicer. read more

Awesome food. Awesome owner. So happy to be back the first person to review this place! My kid had a great burger and I had an awesome turkey dinner. It was like Thanksgiving! Super nice owner. We were able to eat outside and everything was just great. Definitely a local treasure! read more

Was open on Fourth of July which I deeply appreciated. Got the omelette which was delicious, the staff was very attentive and kind, and I thought the atmosphere was just wonderful old school diner but very clean and bright. Would highly recommend and we'll go back next time I'm up there read more

The food is great! Colleen provides amazing service! The ambiance is great super friendly and clean place

Dads is a diner that serves upscale meals at diner prices. The menu which includes usual diner favorites also has many dinner options and the daily specials never disappoint. The portions are big so bring an appitite with you. The service is excellent. The burgers are out of this world. Simply put I have never walked out of Dads, unhappy and still hungry. read more

Great place god food always a friendly atmosphere the staff always makes you feel welcome

Surprisingly good food found in a little diner in the middle of nowhere. And I don't mean good food for being in the middle of nowhere, but real solid good food. I'd go back here for diner fare if it were in NYC. The interior is classic Americana diner with a long bar, stools, red vinyl booths, and black and white checkered floors. Service is friendly and prompt. Ben ordered the beef chili and I had the meatball sub with fries and a chocolate egg cream. Egg cream was tasty. The meatballs were very tender. Ben greatly enjoyed his chili. We then ordered an ice cream cookie sandwich to share. They bake the cookies themselves and you can order it with any ice cream they have. We got it with coffee ice cream. The entire bill came to $22 with tax. If you're in the area for hiking in Taconic State Park, go to Dad's Copake Diner to refresh yourself afterward. read more

Arrived here around 2 for lunch on this sunny & warm Columbus Day. We were greeted immediately but it took awhile for the waitress to bring us menu's and water. Then after some time the waitress was back to take our orders. I found this Diner to be not very accommodating for the following reasons: we asked for a side of plain nachos to go with our chili but were told that "the nachos are hand made & we just don't open a bag to put on a plate". Okay, I get it but really... couldn't I just order a side of plain nachos? So we ordered a nacho supreme and it arrived with liquid canned cheese smeared all over it. Somewhere in between the chili and loaded nachos I asked it's possible for the overhead fans to be turned off as the ac was also on. They were turned off for a few minutes, since there appeared to be new waitresses on & again politely asked if the fan could turned off. The new waitress stated "no, the sun is about to come over to the other side of the building and it's going to get around 20 warmer in here". From where I'm sitting, the sun has a long time till it hits this window and it's very cold in here, hence the two stars! The last two times we were here, the staff were friendlier, the onion soup and chili were good but they should loose the liquid cheese on the nachos. In mho it ruins what could be a great dish. read more

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Legit Diner. Fresh, hot and delicious. Waffle Fries. The same on charge knows her stuff.

As great as usual. There hamburgers are thick and very inexpensive. I ordered the taco salad today and it was perfect. My son started with a chocolate sunday that he called perfect. What a great place to go every other Sunday with the family read more

Our family eats here now and then, we live local so it's convenient and the food is decent. Their wings are really good.

Just great. Stopped for breakfast on a Saturday morning with family and everyone enjoyed their meals. I ordered a simple eggs and bacon breakfast that was perfect. Good coffee. Great bacon. Excellent service. Colleen is an absolute trip. Love her to death. See you soon, ma'am. :) read more

Dad's Copake Diner - Dad's - Diners Near Me - Copake, New York

Loved their burgers, it's the closest thing you can get to a Krabby Patty!

This diner is just what you are looking for! If you're in the area for skiing, hunting, antiquing...ANYTHING, Dad's Copake Diner is a great port in the storm. The staff is very friendly and attentive and the prices can't be beat. They've got a great breakfast menu but get there early as the place is small and seating goes quickly. Look for the sign off of Rt 22! read more

My family and I have been going to Copake lake for 30 years and I never tried this place before. I stopped in for breakfast and it was very good and very fast. The staff was friendly and attentive and it had an old school charm in the decor. And If the omelette I ate is any indication, I'm sure you can't go wrong with their other offerings. read more

Dad's Copake Diner - Diners Near Me - Copake, New York

Dad's Copake Diner is one of my favorite places in the world. I grew up in Copake and started going there as soon as it opened. I used to take all of my friends there when they visited and they all LOVED it. No matter what you're looking for--a milkshake, a burger, an omelette, buffalo wings--Dad's Diner has it, and you can bet it will be GOOD. Most of the waitresses have been there for many years and are all very sweet. They always greet me by name when I walk in. When I was a new customer there, they made a point of getting to know me, which meant a lot to me nervous, ten-year-old self! If you're ever in the area, stop by Dad's. It's a great place and you won't be disappointed. read more

For years, whenever I woke up in Copake, I felt hungover. It was just that kind of town, with a certain element of people who happened to enjoy the drink. And for years, I managed to avoid Dad's Copake diner the morning after drinking. So, for the first time in almost a year, I found myself in Copake, completely sober and hungry. All I can say is I'm glad I never used Dad's to cure the hangover shakes. It's a truly below average diner experience. Let me count the ways: bland potatoes, tiptoeing the line of the pre-frozen potato ilk. Unexciting fries. A burger cooked well done when asked for rare. Average omlettes. Weak coffee. Plus, one of my friend's got sick immediately after eating. Maybe she has a weak stomach, maybe it was the food. Who knows. I don't know, I wasn't hoping for anything spectacular whatsoever. Just something to fill me up. Next time I'll stick with the Church St. Deli and their farmer's breakfast. It's delicious and a half. read more

Can't get a better breakfast or burger anywhere. Shake Shack is a poor compromise. Dads pancakes and eggs sublime Diner is immaculate, bright and comfy. Service fast as you want it . A perfect diner--definitely NOT a greasy spoon. read more

Going down hill sadly. The kitchen is not turning out the great food it once was. Runny Holondaise - not tasty. Hash browns not crispy. Sent back medium rare burger - because it was well done. It was returned medium -and dry - and had been flattened on the flattop-- terrible. The server was embarrassed. Love the tuna melt and Reuben. But we used to come for breakfast and the grass fed burgers. Unless someone starts caring about the kitchen and the food quality, we won't be back. We have been coming for years....sad. Where is " dad" ?? read more

Came up here for a retreat, was early, so looked for some local eats. Found this diner, and when walking in, it looks like one of those retro diners. I was hoping for something more hole-in-the-wall-ish, but, was hungry and needed to use the bathroom. Said whatever. I was hoping to get more farm to table food, but this place was more like your average diner in South Jersey. I got the french toast, which was quite bland. I usually don't like to use much syrup, but I had to. The combo breakfast was a good deal I suppose. The home fries were the saving grace at least. But for the most part, I wouldn't come back...I'd do some more searching in the future for a different place. read more

Stopped for breakfast and dinner while camping nearby. Best kept secret in the area! Nothing too fancy but perfectly executed classic diner dishes, and UNBELIEVABLY reasonably priced. Staff is friendly and super accommodating (especially to children). A must visit. read more

Staff was incredibly rude. From the moment we entered the restaurant. To start off, they we had to wait over 10 minutes to be acknowledged and be given a table. Not even sure if I should write "given" a table since they just told us "go sit down" and to check if any tables were open. When we finally did get a seat, we were told that a waiter would come serve us when they had "downtime"...Good to know we're paying for quality service. Definitely not a friendly or welcoming environment. If you're traveling with minorities like I am, take your business elsewhere. We were made to feel very uncomfortable and got poorer service. read more

Love this place! Fried fish is a guilty pleasure of mine, and they do it in a way that doesn't leave you feeling like you swallowed a cement block for dinner. The service is friendly and funky, and the atmosphere warm and welcoming. read more

This owner has asked a disabled senior citizen with a service dog to leave their restaurant. The ADA (Americans with Disability Act) stipulates that disabled persons with service dogs are to be allowed in ALL areas where the public is allowed. I am 72 years old, I have heart disease among other disabilities. We entered this restaurant and were asked if we had "paperwork" for our service dog. We told them we did but we are not required to present it under the law. Shortly after this the owner came out and asked us to leave. This is against the law. We asked him if he was sure and if he made us leave, I would request police assistance. He said "this is my restaurant and I can do as I wish. Go ahead and call the police." I cannot image anyone in business not knowing the law and then having so much lack of compassion to remove a senior citizen with a service dog. Our service dog is extremely trained to cause no disruption to the business and he has never acted in an untoward manner. We called the police who promptly came. We explained the situation to the officer and he was kind enough to go inside and inform the owner that we can certainly enter and have a service dog. When he came out he said we can go back in and everything "good to go". We would like to thank your Sheriff's Department and the officer that responded. He was polite, respectful and rectified this situation caused by the owner. This owner does not deserve a business. He does not know the law and certainly has no idea how to treat people. If you live in Copake or are traveling through, this establishment does not deserve your patronage. If you have a senior or disabled person in your family, you certainly should consider not supporting such a business. It might also be a good idea for the town of Copake Mayor and local officials to see how a local business can do this kind of thing to senior citizens. It is certainly not good advertising for your town and I am sure not representative of other businesses that treat their customers with respect and act within the law. read more

Talk about a diner! This is exactly what we were looking for when we were driving around looking for a place to eat after a 3 mile hike. Its an old school 50s style diner with the friendliest staff! Even though we're in covid times, we were still able to sit inside with appropriate amount of space between tables. There were only 4 tables of 2 or 3 people at each one and one of the girls was constantly walking around disinfecting everything. Literally everything. Our menus were still wet from when she had wiped it down before. You're required to sanitize before you come inside and to wear your mask until seated. staff is wearing their masks at all times. My husband had a bourbon burger which he LOVED and I had a bite too and it was VERY delicious. I had the turkey burger which was great too. Instead of coleslaw you can get a small cup of macaroni salad instead which I thought was pretty cool since I don't love coleslaw. Staff was attentive and chatty and it was just an overall great time. Definitely recommend! read more

Was back in Copake Falls this past week and just had to stop at Dad's Diner several times. Heard it has a new owner and was concerned. No need, the place was bought by the chef and everything is perfect. We stopped in for lunch and had the Dad's burger after our long trip. What a delicious huge meal! Everything was superb even the homemade cole slaw. But the onion rings are truly outrageous. Next time we'll have a full order of those. Another day my friends and I had what we call the Dorothy special. It's Belgian waffles, eggs and sausage. Don't know what the person was talkin bout freezer burn ice cream?? I've had their ice cream for years and never had that problem. Love a good chocolate dip and the small is tremendous. Enjoy it sitting outside at the picnic tables out back on a summer day. What could be more perfect! read more

Absolutely wonderful! Everyone working was so friendly and happy, food was great, and very clean. Especially with the virus going on, they took great care with cleaning and had precautions to make you feel comfortable. Every customer who walked through the door was greeted like they were family. I love all the hiking trails in this area, and now I have found my go-to place for a great meal after a hike. read more

Place is so good. Everyone is nice. Food is great Quick service. Everything is good about dads diner. Looking for somewhere quick and delicious. read more

We've been going here for years, all meals. Staff is friendly and food always tasty. I don't know how but their soft serve ice cream is the best in the area. It's.. thicker.. or something. Actually noticeable! read more

Standard diner fare, friendly but rough around the edges wait staff. Nothing to see here folks! There's not much to do in the area so it serves its purpose. The fourth star is because they are very family friendly and that is something I always appreciate. read more