(Not) Dan's Diner is my favorite breakfast spot. A unique trolley car setting, with lots of quirky memorabilia, good food and great staff. What more could you want? Owner Austin (aka Not Dan), along with Stephanie and May are friendly and fun to talk with. Food is good standard breakfast fare (also lunch, but I'm usually there for breakfast). This is not a soy latte mocha oat milk place. Pancakes, eggs, French toast, etc. is what's on the menu. Prices are reasonable, and portions are generous. read more

As a child growing up my grandfather was a big fan of diners, and he knew just about all of them, but what I found interesting was he never referred to them as diners, they were always lunch wagons, and it wasn't until years after he passed away that I fully understood the difference between a lunch wagon and a diner, and my breakfast this morning was a prime example. This morning on my way home from Western Mass I read about a place for breakfast called Dan's Diner in Spencertown, New York, a real Lunch Wagon, just east of the Taconic Parkway. Dan's Diner is run by Dan Rundell and his wife, Christine who I had the pleasure of meeting when I was there. As Chris explained it, her husband purchased the 1925 18-seat Jerry O'Mahony diner, that was built in NJ but spent most of it's life in CT. Dan it brought up on a flat bed and put in a barn on his property, where he started to restore the diner with authentic materials. The food is great and while there are no tables, the counter is a perfect place to chat with the owners while chowing down on their great food...I had something called Hot Mess: Peppers, onions, ham, cheddar, home fries scrambled into two eggs. It was delicious! Next time your travels take you up to Albany or the Berkshires, leave time for Dan's Diner...it's worth the visit! read more

If you listen to Susan B. you'll miss out on a great experience. The meals are prepared with down-home love and the freshest ingredients. The rail car is absolutely charming and completed by Dan himself! Better that you follow the 4 and 5 star recommendations for a truly unique setting for a delicious meal. read more

Unbelievable find! We had a fabulous brunch at this tiny little converted train car restaurant. The corn-beef hash was delicious. The decadent Cinnabon french toast was rich and tasty. The pancakes were massive and filling. All the ingredients were fresh and delicious. Clearly a bunch of regulars frequent this diamond in the rough. Can't wait to visit again! read more

Best Homemade Hash I've had in forever. Small renovated (using 3 old Diner cars for parts) Classic Diner. If you love those type Diners you will want to check it out. The Hash and eggs were terrific. Hash fresh homemade, you'll be hard pressed to find better. Coffee very good. Friendly, personable service. Great prices. Only thing stopping me from giving 5 Stars is its all Counter Seating and the stools are not very comfortable. Still a great stop if driving on Taconic (easy few minute drive). Sure I will be back again. read more

Wow. Best breakfast I've had in a long time. We were just passing through on the way home from Albany. I wish we had a place like this close to home. Staff was friendly and welcoming. The food came out fresh and fast. Home fries were crisp and the hash wasn't over salted. read more

Pros: cool place - decent prices - interesting locals and tourist mix. The diner itself is worth seeing. The inside has been restored. Friendly service. Turkey was fresh. Lemonade is made fresh with real lemons. Coffee was excellent. I will try to post a description. Cons: very slow service. Two turkey sandwiches took about 20 minutes. Not crowded at all. Bread is packaged stuff so I think it's fair to say that some of the food is mediocre. Saw packages of instant oatmeal and Cheerios. Don't come here looking for healthy alternatives. read more

Dan's Diner - Back of the menu - Diners Near Me - Chatham, New York

Horrible experience at this diner, after a couple of mediocre experiences in the past. I write this as a big fan and frequent patron of diners, and one who actually grew up in a diner - our house was attached to it. I like a diner where I feel welcome when I walk in. Don't expect that here. Two teenagers behind the counter. One is grumpy and anything but welcoming. The other isn't focused. No offer to help us find seats together from the owner or staff - had to walk up the row of stools and work it out with the patrons themselves. Something like this would have made us feel very welcome, "Hi Folks. There are a few people just finishing up down this way. Give us just a couple of minutes..." After a few minutes seated, had to go out of my way to ask one of the teens for waters and coffee. That's not how a good diner runs. Only got one water. Big deal. But the tone was set and continued. Distracted teen missed my order of sausage. Food took longer than it should for the diner being only moderately full. Arrived without silverware. Food is fine. But not worth the poor overall experience. And DO NOT expect to use a bathroom when you're here. There's a bathroom in a separate building that is an auto shop or garage - so you can imagine how clean that is. No soap - dish detergent. Gross sink has two separate faucets: the cold doesn't work and the hot was too hot to use. So now we're stuck with dish soap on our hands. Look elsewhere for that old fashioned diner experience - including an experienced waitress who will call you "Honey" as soon as you walk in. read more

Awesome little place with lovely people and great menu! A hidden secret off the Taconic and kid friendly !! Thanks everyone for your lovely hospitality! read more

Dan's Diner - A Diner in a converted car carriage! Great food, lovely experience and lovely hosts! - Diners Near Me - Chatham, New York

Dan's Diner is cool all American railroad car diner. Everything is made fresh right in front of you. Only negatives to that is there's not that many seats. I ate with a party of four and everyone loved there food. read more

This is exactly where you want to stop when you need for an early morning stack of flapjacks & a side of bacon or a nice BLT for lunch while passing through Spencertown. read more

Great throwback roadside diner with out the indigestion. Great simple, fresh food, with a friendly staff and great decor. Stopped here for lunch with the family and it was great. I have to come back and try breakfast, I imagine it's awesome. Be back soon read more

Dan's Diner - Inside is counter seating only. 5 or 6 tables on outside patio - Diners Near Me - Chatham, New York

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All I need to say is Home made corned beef hash, but Yelp makes me feel bad if I don't add details. Not from a can! Made with red bliss potatoes and real corned beef. Go now. No not now. It's probably closed. Wake up extra early tomorrow and get there early, because this tiny diner just basically the counter stools and plenty of outdoor seating. The ladies running the joint are sweet and the food is made on the grill right in front of you. Charming would be the best word to describe the entire experience. The place feels like you have been transported to another time...a simpler time when a diner menu wasn't so massive read more

Do yourself a favor and DON'T go to Dan's Diner. Dan ( the owner) is only is able to cook one order at a time VERY slowly, so if you're 5th or 6th in line, you're in for an extremely long wait. 1hour+ to get a burger and a small wilted salad, both of substandard taste and quality. The wilting lettuce is kept on a shelf below the counter in a bag next to the plates and other miscellaneous kitchen items. They ran out of the side selected for the burger (mac salad) but only figured that out when our order was finally being plated, at which point he announces he's out of mac salad with a shrug. We select an alternate side, which he proceeds to cook without giving us the food that was ready... we had to ask for it. We also had to ask for our drinks after we were there for over 30 min. The counter woman didn't seem to be able to process more than one small thought at a time and spent a majority of her time staring at her hands. Dan instructed her to charge us for the "add on" side because it was not part of the inclusive meal offerings. Their internet went down while we were there and they could accept cash only. It didn't seem to bother them that the man dining next to us (at the counter), had to drive 20+ minutes round trip just to get to an ATM. They don't greet you when you arrive, readily supply utensils or give you water. The place is not clean. We did not see any of the 3 staff (including the owner who was the cook) wash their hands once... handling food, raw & cooked, money, dishes (dirty and clean) and everything else without any concern to cleanliness or cross-contamination. AND the toilet is in the mechanic's garage across the way. I would give this place a negative star if I could. Save your time and money... eat a granola bar and just keep driving. read more

A good friend of mine found this diner listed in the local business directory while on a recent trip to the area.He knows what a diner freak I am so he mentioned that It would be an awesome destination for a motorcycle ride and grab some breakfast.I agreed.We left Sunday morning at 5:30 a.m. and rolled into the parking lot at 7:45,waited about 15 minutes for it to open and all I can say is "wow" when we went in.This place is absolutely beautiful inside. Recently painstakingly renovated by a local mason and diner enthusiast Dan,( hence the name Dan's).He brought it back to its full glory.!4 years of hard work and it really shows.He has a sharp eye for detail,as every inch of it was attended to,right down to the gold leafing on the ceiling and replacing the tiles in the floor one at a time.There are thousands of them! He even added radiant heat to the counter and the floor!! I had a lengthy conversation with him about all his efforts at the counter over many cups of coffee and enjoyed every minute of it.Only 18 stools in this beauty,no booths.Restroom is in a seperate building on the property.Now the food: Not a big variety to choose from but,had no trouble finding some good choices from the menu and a couple of specials too.Great diner,good coffee and quick and friendly service.what more can you ask for?Nice,very nice indeed,I'll be making the trip here again and again..... read more

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Our breakfast was as delicious and generously portioned as the interior is warm, charming & delightful. Totally worth a detour.

Such a great little diner! It was like going back in time. The food and service were both great! Worth a trip!!!!

This place is certainly a hidden gem in the rural area of Vermont. We almost walked away upon seeing the tiny diner. And I am so glad that we didn't. Everything was hot and fresh. The home-made style fries was awesome. The tomato soup we had was simple but rich and creamy. We ordered three different plates and an spinach omelet, including a burger, fish and chips, a pasta bowl. My in-laws who are not fans of American food also enjoyed a wonderful and affordable meal here. The owner was super friendly. Sitting outside could be a great choice when the weather is nice. But since the flies and bees could come pretty quickly, make sure you keep an eye on your plate. read more

Dan's Diner - the front of the restaurant - Diners Near Me - Chatham, New York

Took a detour off the Taconic and stopped here for a quick lunch.. Very pleasant and great food.. Felt friendly and authentic... We will stop in there again for sure. read more

Please don't discover this absolute gem -- interesting story of restoration for sure .... but the "staff" (cook was just amazing to detail) and food were so, so special -- talk about an open kitchen. A friend and I were traveling to Tanglewood earlier this week and noticed it as we drove by. Somehow I managed to find on the way home and WOW. Decent food, decent prices and great cooking. But don't discover (LOL)! read more

You see this cute, cute totally restored lunch wagon and you have to stop. It's in Spencertown just outside Chatham. As others have attested, this place is labor of love. Dan, his wife and another woman are at the grill. There is only seating at the counter, but it lets you in on the action. The pancakes I had were spectacular---made from scratch, generous portion, light, fluffy and with real maple syrup. I had the fresh limeade, almost a quart. Delicious. My friends enjoyed coffee, waffles, burgers and a reuben with delight. The service is slow. Your food will not be delivered together and it takes them awhile.They will answer questions, but are a bit reserved. The prices are not inexpensive, but the food is fresh, great quality and worth it. There were regulars there, so they have a local following. So come with these expectations and you'll enjoy..I'll be returning. read more

What a great find! Stunningly beautiful restoration, great food, reasonable prices, super friendly! Check in out!

This diner is a work of art, built by hand with love and devotion. Its charm is inspiring. The food is classic diner fare locally sourced and made with great care. read more

Had a great time. It was close to closing when we got there for lunch and were welcomed to come in and sit down. The fried seafood lunch was diner good. We really enjoyed the old fashion diner car and the time Dan spent with us describing all the work he put into bringing it back to life. We will definitely go back. If you are coming in from the Taconic State Parkway direction it is easy to miss this eatery on the right but it is worth turning around to stop in for a bite to eat. read more

I have never walked out on a restaurant after ordering before, but after an hour it was clear that they hadn't even started making our egg sandwiches. Given that each item was made separately and took at least 20 minutes, we could tell we were in for at least another 40 minute wait, and I just couldn't. It was the weirdest experience ever, and I'm still starving! read more

Dan is awesome. People need to respect the hours of operation more. Would come back again. Bathroom is authentic.

For anyone wandering around upstate New York toward the Berkshires looking at stuff, this should be on your list. It's a beautifully restored diner that's worth the stop and a fairly long wait for food. I ordered a very fine Reuben and my friends ordered perfectly ok burgers. I just loved being there. It was like being in a little friendly time machine. read more

We stumbled upon this place when Our Daily Bread in Chatham was closed, but boy are we glad we did! Good prices, excellent food, and really friendly staff! We suggest either the Hot Mess (which is a scramble of a eggs, cheese, potatoes, peppers, onions, and ham) or the Big One! Their pancakes were great quality, overall really pleased and we will be back! read more

My wife and I drove past this place in the way to Stock bridge, MA. Something about how it looked like a train car made us turn back for a late lunch. From the outside it looked well kept. When you go in, it was like stepping back in time to the 1920's. The ceiling is oak wainscot with guilded artwork. The floors are hexagonal subway tile with Greek key trim. The counter is stone and the edging worn in front of every seat from years of forearm wear. There's an oak icebox in the corner and much of the diner equipment is vintage. There is even a hotdog cooker that basically uses electrocution to cook the dogs. The staff is friendly and the food good. I had a cheddar cheeseburger with sautéd mushrooms and onions and a side of fries. If you are in the area or on your way to the Berkshires it's worth stopping in for a bite. read more

This place is an experience. As soon as I walked in, I went "yay, cool!" although I do understand how some could be disappointed. Here's the deal -- it's a very old, tiny authentic diner trailer, with one row of seats at the counter (that's it). The couple that own it refurbished it themselves and opened it after they retired. They work hard, bring in friends to help, and try to hire good young people (difficult, I think). I know this because we had a nice conversation at the counter. (Did they greet us as we walked in? Help us sit down? No, they were busy and this place is tiny.) Meanwhile, I had the best tuna melt I've had in years. Cheese actually melted, tuna nice and warm, good wheat toast, tomato slice, perfect. My husband had a delicious omelette with toast and fruit. My expectations had been low as we drove back home to Brooklyn from the Berkshires, so I was happy. It was like eating inside a model car or a vintage train set. Just be prepared to order classic diner food only. It's a small place and a small menu. No gyros, no souvlaki, no tempeh, but a good burger, a tuna melt, an omelette, and a fun experience. As to the bathroom (see other reviews here on yelp), it's clean and as authentic as the diner. But, no cold water and the hot water was too hot, that's my one complaint and I hope they fix it. Also, maybe call ahead on the weekend to be sure there's room. read more

I repent somewhat in that it was just after they had opened and others have reported good omlettes. I will try it again. Again, it is an architectural gem, worth a visit just to see the restoration. read more

Small but that's one reason it works. Unique diner decor. Good, fresh food served by friendly staff.

Delightful diner. Food is great and service is just as good. Very friendly comfortable environment. The restored 1920 diner car is very cool. Just off the Taconic, This is a goto spot. read more