When I last visited my dear friend Jake/Jack/Cadillac, he brought us to this lovely establishment. We had a great meal, and I still fondly recall that warm chocolate sandwich. As we were leaving, i hit the bathroom. Perhaps it was a fluke, since no one else has mentioned it, but the toilet was piled high. Above the rim. So, it got full, but people kept going and going and going. A shovel was needed at this point. I'm just glad I didn't need to go when we got there, because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to eat. read more

Somehow I was in this place almost every week during the summer of 2004; this year I haven't gone there once. Go figure. In 2004, I did really like the food there, but now that I think back I can't remember what was so exciting about it. I know I was always ordering goat cheese salads and the like. One distinctive thing for me personally about Diner is that it's the place where I ate the burger which stopped me being a vegetarian. I think they use organic meat or something fancy -- anyway, it was delicious, and I hadn't been feeling well, and I swear that burger fixed me up. read more

These creative creations are made daily - and they are amazing. Really enjoyed everything I had. Even the mocktail. Service was authentic and awesome. Excellent. read more

I like Diner and usually go for brunch. The space is fun, the food is good, and it's always bustling. But sometimes the music is too loud [esp when one suffers from hangover] and the service a bit scatterbrained. On one occasion the waitress forgot to put our order in and we sat around for an hour before leaving without eating as my fellow diner had a flight to catch. The waitress seemed too frazzled to care and we left hungry and angry. Mostly hungry. When I went back two weeks later, the waitress remembered me and apologized profusely. That was nice. So I like Diner. Even if they don't give me the food sometimes. read more

Inked out hipster hotties on the edge of town On the Hasidic side of the Williamsburg Bridge is a grown up, war battered, high end hipster dining hangout that is like that self-made, established thirty something hipster that still acts like the shit but now has the hard won underground following and foodie cred to back it up. Then again, being around that ultra cool grown up on his inked out turf has it's drawbacks. My preppy father from Westchester asked the bartender if they had any Gran Marnier which was greeted with an icy, disdainful stare that screamed, you're not sophisticated or hip enough to enjoy the re-imagined spirits and master minded delicacies that we have to offer. Get lost and go hipster haunt slumming someplace else next time you can't get a reservation at Peter Luger's. The moment my father asked for that Gran Marnier I felt blacklisted from the place and punished for poor taste by mere association. You would think my father asked the waiter what type of Kosher wines they had from the Rothschild estate. If I was a Hasidic Jew, I'd hide my face underneath my big furry black hat until the silent scolding session was over after my father ordered the house Sangiovese instead. I only know this from wine sales but Sangiovese is the grape they use in Chianti but don't expect to ask for a Chianti not a Sangiovese at the bar without being silently sneered and scolded on the spot. Williamsburg represents a new legion of butcher teaching chef owners that set up their inspired cooking movements there so they could serve their deconstructionist, do it yourself, dressed down nerdy counterparts while giving the f-you to restaurant dress codes, reservations, menus and dusty old French relics like Gran Marnier. But feeling downsized and downgraded by a bartender in Williamsburg is an official greeting that you get for playing tourist in their territory. Menus don't exist here and I don't know how often the chefs mix it up but based on the diverse selection of specials offered to us it seems as varied as Jack White's record collection. Now rattling off specials in place of menus has been done before but watching my cute, worn living waitress scribble down the title of each appetizer and entree after each mention on top of the paper place mat with a broken off number two pencil was definitely a cool, welcome first for me. It wasn't good penmanship either which you noticed as she wrote them down which forced me to mentally latch on to dishes when she first described them before I'd get lost making out the scribbled names that seemed forced for spoon fed sake. For my appetizer I got the asparagus spears bathed in hollandaise and fried up shallots that resembled mini onion rings which was has ruined regular onion rings for me forever. I ordered Goat which was served like two lamb chops except more bone and even less meat with a Salsa Verde on the side. The Salsa Verde was a nice springy condiment that added some nice zesty crunch to the smoky, veal chop sweet goat meat. The goat meat appreciated the complimenting coating yet it came off as an excessive accessory. Despite the goat portions being small and the big bone in the middle that was frustrating to cut around like the crowd on the 7 train at Queensborough Plaza, I'd order this dish again and again. Holding my goat chop by the bone and digging my teeth into that sweet tinged, smooth ruffled, weighty, charred bite of Goat meat made roasted leg of lamb and dark turkey things suddenly seem downright boring in comparison. Overall I was impressed with the quality of food, creative preparation and the restaurant 's commitment to reinventing what a fine dining experience in New York can be. This dining experience forces most New Yorkers that don't live in Williamsburg outside of their dining comfort zone which shakes up the senses and opens you up to a cooler more present now that's still unmistakably forward thinking all at the same time. Scruffy posturing is a minor drawback when you realize that chef owners that run Diner or Marlow and Sons on the edge of town are serious artists that just don't have the time to kiss ass and be nice if you're not fighting for the home team and I can accept that. Restaurants like Diner have added gritty sexy allure to these outskirts of Williamsburg and built a rock and roll following that's more kick ass punk than Indy Rock. And how lucky are New Yorkers that live in Brooklyn or Queens like myself that get to enjoy such a radically altered, palate elevating experience on a Saturday Night without having to make a reservation or see one banking douche-bag in sight that won't scare away all of those scantily clad, toned, inked out , French wine sipping, blond hipster hotties at the edge of the bar that come ready to rumble? read more

Went here tonight with the mom, sister and boyfriend combo- I feel like it's sometimes hard to come up with a parental friendly place in Williamsburg that's fun but not too hipster and angsty. Diner is the perfect friendly medium, the food is excellent, if a bit pricey, the service is polite (waiter took time to come over and explain history of the diner when my mom, as predicted, asked the busboy) and at night it becomes so charming and romantic when they light the candles. Great place, want to come back before it gets cold, can't imagine those thin tin walls keep out the draft very well! read more

I go to brunch pretty much every sunday with friends and I was a little disappointed in last Sunday's choice, even though it was mine! We went to Diner in W'burg, where I have been many times and after waiting for nearly an hour, we where asked if we could sit outside as the tables where already set up - why not ask us that straight away instead of making us wait?? They had changed the menu and reduced it to 6 things with 4 or 5 specials - overall 3 items were chocolate and one was donuts! If I wanted bloody donuts I would go to Dunkin's.....they also didn't have their steak and eggs which was a huge disappointment and I was still so hungry after the meal that my friend had to give me a power bar! Kinda sad.....not sure if I want to go back again even though it was my standby if I wanted a local brunch.... read more

After watching Anthony Bourdain show about New York a couple of weeks ago, I had a whole list's of restaurant that I wanted to try and this one was a few block from where I was staying on Saturday night. The next day me and my cousin walk to the Diner and it was pretty busy on a sunday afternoon and there weren't any seats available expect the bar so we sat there. I order the grill Beef heart w/eggs, greens and 2 toast w/butter bone marrow slap right on the toast and my cousin order the whitefish salad and of course I order myself a Guiness for my morning brunch. My food came out and it look pretty dam tasted and amazing esspecially the bone marrow butter. When I sink my teeth into the butter w.the medium rare grill beef heart, it was love at first sight. I was totally head over heel and I couldn't get enough of the 2 combination. My cousin dish was ok, the whitefish was good but nothing compare to mine. I enjoy the crowed inside and when we were done we walk next door to Marlow and son, it is another restaurant the family owe that serve fresh oyster and other sandwiches special. I really want to eat more but I stop myself because I knew i would just eat the day away. read more

it has been three weeks since I unexpectedly received a call to meet a friend in Williamsburg. I had never traveled across the Williamsburg Bridge but my trusty Tom Tom got me there in one piece! I trust my friend so when we met in front of the Diner I ignored the exterior and realized that i had to keep an open mind as we walked through the door. Amazing that we did not have to wait on a Friday nite but we were pretty early I believe before 6 pm. The waitress did not have to go any further than the wild alaskan salmon and we both experienced an amazing meal. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the sweet potato puree with the carrots was delicious. As usual my friend's suggestion was spot on and it will be definately worth another trip over that narrow old bridge again in the very near future! read more

Excellent brunch here. The market salad of dandelion greens w/ pickled ramp and bacon vinaigrette was surprisingly satisfying- the dressing had just enough creaminess and the bacon bits were savory. The fried chicken sandwich was also solid (mmm love me some fried chicken)- crispy and oozing with a yummy sauce on top. Accompanying fries were also nice and crisp, just the way I like them. The only thing that wasn't quite as amazing was the bratwurst. The bratwurst was good... but small- one small sausage link cut in half. It also just wasn't as savory and meaty as I'd hoped. The bloody marys here are some of the best- generous with the vodka and filled with tomato and spice goodness. We had trouble finding a table at 3pm on a Sunday, but managed to snag some seats at the bar. Service was good and the hipster crowd wasn't obnoxious. Friend who comes here regularly swears the dinner food here is the best ever. Would definitely venture back to hipsterville packed into a mobile home for good (and locally sourced!) food... read more

So, you hear Diner and you automatically think, Hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, and chili. Well, this place is everything but that. They do have a grass fed burger, though. Perfect place for date night, dim lighting, good music and ambiance. Went here on our last night in the Big Apple and we had an amazing dinner. They have no menus, only for their Wine, Beer, and cocktails. The waitress explains each item on the menu. I forgot her name, but she was awesome, very informative and nice and great service. For appetizers, I got a spinach, arugula, lemon vinaigrette and almonds, my BF ordered artichoke salad, both were light and tasty. For our main dish, I got the Dorado plate, which consisted of white fish, lightly charred on the outside and moist in the middle, with white beans and a delicious, light sauce. BF ordered the Chappo or something like that, it was Pork shoulder with collard greens and potatoes. Both of us kept on saying how delicious and tasty their food was. The desert was simple and nice, a chocolate brownie, with walnuts and rye seeds and a light drizzle on it of something, maybe butter.,.. all I know is it was perfect! read more

definitely worth the hype. looks like a shack from the outside, with no distinct sign of the name "diner" anywhere. and from the inside, it still looks like a shack. floors are crooked, tiles are old, it felt like this place hasn't been renovated...ever. but i guess that is what makes this hipster central. even on a monday 12pm, when everyone should be at work, we still had to wait about 10 minutes are the bar before seating. which, compared to how long the wait was when we left, i we really lucked out. it wasn't until our server came over that i felt more of the "charm" of this place. there is a simple menu, but it is the waitress who will give you what the specials are for the day, and from the sounds of it, it changes every day. we have a hard time remembering everything she is saying, so we scribbles it down on the paper cover on our table so we don't forget. and it wasn't until when the food arrived that i fully understood why people love this place. everything we ordered tasted amazing. we ordered: 1) chicken sandwich - white meat, but still juicy. very crisp (like friend chicken). the pickled red eggs were UHHHHMAZING. 2) country breakfast - really good. my first thought was how could scrambled eggs be so good? came with sausage and gravy. it got salty towards my last few bites, though so perhaps the portion was just too big. the biscuit and kale were a good way to break from the saltiness. 3) burger - didn't personally have it but heard it was delicious and juicy. a very "serious" burger. i liked the fries too. the best part i think are the homemade original condiments. i've never tried ketchup and mustard made like this! such different texture and distinct taste. it has been a few weeks since i've eaten here and i can still imagine the tastes of the condiments. definitely recommended! if you can, try to come on a day off to avoid lines! read more

This might actually be my favorite place in all five boroughs. An old diner car (or so it seems), this restaurant is worth the trip to Williamsburg. Whether you're in the mood for burgers and beer or cosmopolitans and chicken, the food won't disappoint, read more

our first attempt to come here for dinner on a saturday night was shut down with an hour wait. we decided to try again for brunch the following day. 20 minutes or so later we were out of the rain and into a booth. not too bad. yes, this place has anthony bourdain's favorite burger. and yes we came for brunch, but that didn't stop the SO from ordering the burger for breakfast!!! it was simple and juicy. the pickled onions were a nice touch. it's a burger that doesn't make you feel like you just consumed a burger. must be all the grass-fed-ness. so all in all, i liked it. it's not my favorite burger ever, but it was a good burger and worth trying. for the more breakfast-y items, our group also ordered the sausage hash and the chicken sandwich on focaccia. both specials. both awesome. definitely come for brunch and check out their specials. but i hear their dinner rocks as well. read more

Maybe I'm just spoiled coz I'm Italian, but the food was nothing other than ordinary, music very loud, and the prices were outrageous! 17 USD for a salad? Maybe in piazza dì Spagna in Rome, but not in this little restaurant in Brooklyn. 23 USD for a burger that was ok, an 32 for a mackerel... not to mention 40 usd for a duck chest! Summary: prices are way disproportionated compared to the dishes! Tomorrow I'll hit some Chelsea fancier restaurants, and I'll have for sure better food and certainly not more expensive! read more

Mmmmmm good quality burger. This is where the classic new american burger standard is set. Go here for the food...no matter if you have to wait to death. read more

I was explaining to my students how to give a proper opinion. Not an easy task because there are so many avenues into the enterprise. I've only eaten here once, but the burger was enough that I have used that example years later. I was relating to them that the opinion is based upon your expectations up to that point. So a lot of previous experiences with the subject impact the moment of encounter: previous burgers from cookouts, your own attempts, fastfood forays at four in the morning, an inundation of advertisements, opinions of others...schema. So my opinion of the burger experience is based upon the amount of care and thought evidenced by my past and present experiences. I described to them how the true burger experience is not about the fanfare of sauces and garnish, but the burger itself. That any true burger has the fanfare built into the patty itself. Seasoned properly and grilled properly. The effect is putting down the burger to "chew". Chewing should be an experience in itself because you are aware. Artwork gets you to do that, be aware of the moment. I held that first bite in my mouth as long as I could. Then looked down at my plate pleased with the knowledge that I had a lot of these little moments left to go. So powerful that I remember it vividly years later. read more

Funky little place with a creative menu. Creative in its inventiveness, preparation, and presentation. When I say presentation I refer to how the menu is given to you. They don't (or didn't when we were there) have a printed menu. The server writes it on the table. Which seems cool except our server didn't have very good handwriting, the place is dark, and it was a bit noisy so we couldn't really hear what the choices were. Consequently we pretty much just had to have them repeat the menu choices again. That was just a quirk to the place. Certainly no reason to avoid it. The food and cocktails were very good. read more

Great food, service and atmosphere! Can be a little pricey but worth every penny. Always a treat!!!

On the sign, it states that they've got the best pancake in the world, it means that the United Nations had a session and voted to have Broadway Diner, located at Bayonne NJ USA as having the best pancakes in the world! Bwahahaha... Seriously, I come here once in a while depending on whether I'm visiting Bayonne. The pancakes and the service is pretty good. Located a block from the NJ Turnpike, exit 14 you can drop by on the way to the city or from the city if you live somewhere west or south of the city. There's parking, the location sort of sucks because it's more in an industrial zone than a residential/business area but it's worth a visit. read more

Went here last friday for an early dinner and i Loved it. We arrived a little before 6pm and there were just a few people sitting at the bar. Dinner service hadn't started yet and it seemed like the staff was having a meeting and learning the menu for the night. The place itself is cozy and has so much character. The Service was friendly, fast and helpful. The food is fresh and everything tasted great. We had a Beef Carpaccio (melt in your mouth delicous and fresh) I had the Cod and my bf had the Fettucine. Both were delicous but my boyfriend was wishing that his portion was a little bigger. For dessert we had a Maple syrup custard with ginger cookies... yummmm. It was suprisingly light and refreshing. The drinks were also very well made. All in all we enjoyed it very much and want to return for brunch. Be warned that by 7pm it gets packed and there will be a wait. read more

Upscale diner with cool atmosphere . Although I didn't have food there, you can go there for just drinks. I've heard the food is good though. read more

Great quality home cooked food. Clearly take time to think about how they prepare their food and what ingredients are right for the season. Service is quintessential hipster. read more

Diner is a little off the beaten path but it's worth the walk. They have plenty of outdoor sidewalk seating, you can get a chocolate sandwich (which I highly recommend), and the coffee is amazing! The service is pretty good and the prices are quite reasonable. If you are a fan of Williamsburg brunch and want a new favorite, try Diner. read more

Staff is sometimes standoffish, but nothing beats their food, wine selection, and the building itself. I recently had a delish broccoli puree (YES I KNOW! BROCCOLI!) that just slid down my throat iand put me n a sort of luscious, buttery, zen-like trance as I sipped a glass of organic sauvignon blanc and watched little bumblebees nibble at the brightly colored flowers next to my outdoor table. Simple pleasures.....eat there! read more

Hmmmm.... I went here for breakfast and it was 100% terrific. Went for dinner and it was really good, but... a little *too* good. Too much salt in both of the dishes we ordered... although they were tasty... but also salty. They write the daily menu on the table, which is cute, but (for me at least) it's hard to remember all the ingredients of each dish in order to decide between them. Apparently you can also order burgers and fries, because that's what everyone else in the place ordered, but I never saw it on any menus. read more

Delicious food in an cute old dining car in south williamsburg. We went around 6ish and didn't have to wait at all, although the beginning of dinner service meant that we had a rotation of 3 waitresses who we couldn't keep track of and didn't care to keep track of us. The menu was recited quickly and then one ingredient from each dish was written on the table. Pretty difficult to remember any of the dishes by the end and we just guessed (hmmm...cilantro salad?) I knew I wanted the burger, which wasn't even mentioned by our waitress but I asked and received a delicious salty burger, perfectly cooked. My boyfriend ordered the steak, which was wayyy overpriced for the measly pieces of hanger steak that he was given. He would have left starving if he hadn't eaten most of my fries. Skip the overpriced watery cocktails and go for beer/wine. read more

I've been wanting my tastebuds to experience Diner since I saw that famed episode of No Reservations. I finally got over there for lunch the other day with a friend. I don't think that I've ever been to a restaurant like Diner previously. The menu is simple but incredibly delicious. I think that there were only around 4 things on the menu but I'm sure each one was tasty. I enjoyed the fsh sandwich. Even though it was a fried fish sandwich, it was incredibly light and crispy. My friend had the burger and it was equally as delisious as my version that came from the sea. I think I am going to have to start making regular return visits to this lovely establishment. It wassimply that good. read more

By far one of the best dining experiences I've had in NYC. Fine, you're in hipster central, but the food and service are great. We had to wait at least 45 minutes when we went there on a Saturday night, so we enjoyed a drink or two. There are several cocktail choices, and the one I had (with elderflower and gin) was great. The wine and beer are very reasonably priced as well. Since we had to wait a little longer than what we were initially told (maybe just 10 minutes longer), our waitress told us that the first round of drinks were on the house. This gets a MAJOR plus in my book. For being a no-reservations establishment, I understand having a longer wait than expected at times, so they certainly didn't have to give us free drinks or any sort of compensation since it's not their fault by any means, but the fact that they made this gesture is what great service and hospitality is all about. It's quite interesting that they verbally recite and hand-write the menu on the table as you're sitting there. This just goes to show that the menu is small but based on what available fresh straight from the farm ingredients they have that day. Not only does the menu change daily, but it changes throughout the course of the night as well. We started with a grilled squid salad. I honestly don't remember all the components of the salad, but the dressing was quite garlicky and quite amazing - one of the best salads I've ever had. Ok, so being originally from Chicago, I'm all about the smashed griddled burger (a la Shake Shack for you New Yorkers). The really thick grilled type burgers tend to be harder to impress, but Diner served one of the best burgers I've ever had, regardless of the type. It was grilled to perfection (medium rare!), juicy, full of natural flavor, topped with white cheddar, and served with pickled onions (i think). Seriously, fantastic. I can't comment much on my boyfriend's steak, but I remember it also being perfectly grilled, flavorful, and incredibly tender. Portion isn't huge for the steak, but enough nonetheless. This is a place that I cannot wait to return to once I'm back in NYC. Will definitely have to try it out for brunch/lunch as well. read more

It's a beautiful little joint . However if your starving don't stop by. Petite sized meals to let you sleep easy. Taste is great and would take a little breezy to this spot. Good selection of beers and wines. Nice pasta, my buddy had the tuna ... Good but not filling. The steak i had was tiny but good. Casual dressed yo it's willies neighborhood. read more

An afternoon in Williamsburg was centered on finding Diner and the Bedford Cheese Shop. Both were wonderful. At Diner, the wait staff's ability to memorize the details of the day's offerings was impressive, and the food was right on. We had a great omelette, and a yummy white fish salad with heirloom tomatoes. Dessert was well worth going back for. When we commented on how much we liked the bottle of Valli Unite Bianchino that we ordered, she let us know exactly where we could pick up another bottle of it on the way home - Uva, just up the street. We did. read more

Thank god I found the name of this place. Thank god for yelp. I don't know why I am writing this review now. I ate here about 3 or 4 years ago. But the name of the place was lost to me. When I ate here, it was with a friend, and we just stumbled upon it b/c we were hungry. I can't even remember why we were in brooklyn. All I remember was eating the best chocolate souffle in a dimly lit traincar on a weekday night, while it snowed outside. I hope this place is the place. But it was amazingly good, and the traincar decor inside was unforgettable. That's all I have to say about this place, only b/c I barely remember it. Hopefully it wasn't just a dream. read more

Foodies paradise!! This is a tiny place in Williamsburg. It's right next door to Marlow and sons butcher shop. We went there for brunch. The place was super crowded but the staff was very helpful in trying to get us seated. We only waited about 5 minutes which was impressive. The seating is very right which means I was able to follow the hipsters conversations on either side of us. Nonetheless the experience was great. Our waitress wrote the specials on the white paper table cloth. Nice touch. And from what I understand the menu changes daily with what is locally fresh. We started with a sardine app which had Beats mandarin slices with a homemade cream. Ridic! My lovely gf had the lobster omelette. Perfectly done. Lobster was plentiful in a nice sauce wrapped by a moist omelette . Sided with cubed potatoes with made from scratch ketchup. I had the duck hearts with collard greens over a light egg salad. the duck hearts were cooked perfectly and the flavor was brain meltingly good. Highly highly recommended for anyone who appreciates the culinary arts. read more

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this place is a hidden gem! the wait on the weekends is long, but totally worth the wait. the server writes the menu on the tables, like the fish of the day, the vegetable of the day and so on and so forth. the signature drinks are funky and packed with flavor, the tangerine scone was probably one of the best ive ever had in my life. id love to go again, on a day when i have hours to wait ;) read more

Perfect brunch- ever changing menu, I love their chicken sandwich and their burger!!!! Oh and their french press is the best.

I've been going here for years and it continues to be a great restaurant. The burger, mussels, salads, and steaks are all great. The menu changes daily and is seasonlly sppropriate. read more

My significant other had the hamburger here. All I can say is they top it with pickled onions and cooked to perfection. I had the mussels, which were fresh and flavorful. I would highly recommend going here. read more

If you're looking for a spin on the traditional brunch/lunch offerings, check the Diner out. Original plan for Easter Brunch was a first time visit to Marlow & Sons. They had a short wait, and since the sun was out, we couldn't help but notice the great scene on the patio next door to a place that we couldn't quite figure out. Pulled up Yelp app on my phone...great reviews. Scoped it out and a table for 3 opened up as soon as i walked in...done. My group had a laugh that the menu was as short as Marlow's, but the waitress quickly squashed that concept. She had a seat at the table, described, and wrote down the the specials - WOW - on the white paper table coverings. A nice touch on a way to present what was offered. I ended up with a fried chicken - thin strip - sandwich with mustard greens, pickled jalapenos, and chopped soft boiled egg on foccacia. My wife had the open faced ham melt, and my friend had the burger. Another special offered was a dandelion green salad with an over easy egg on top, a crostini with whitefish, and some sticky buns. The country breakfast with gravy looked great at other tables too. The Bloody Mary's left a lot to be desired, but oh well....i'd rather have a fresh take on brunch, which this place definitely provided. read more

how does this place not have 5 stars? maybe i've just gotten lucky. both times i came we showed up early, got seated right away, and had a very pleasant and helpful server. eating at a geriatric hour comes in handy more often than not in new york. plus, the last time i was there, they played nothing but magnetic fields. which is a-ok with me! the food is amazing. i can eat anything here--anything--even things that don't even sound good, and they are. things i wouldn't ordinarily like. love the juxtaposition of high-quality food in an old diner setting. this place is only listed at $$, but i honestly feel like it's more $$$--it's not the kind of place where you can just order an entree and call it good. if you're not very well off, it's probably gonna be a special occasion place, not a random meal out place. read more

Had a real NYC style dinner, coming here at 11pm to eat and still had a wait. Food was well-portioned and delicious. Wait staff was ok. French press coffee was perfection. Favorite dish was the brussel sprouts and grits With maple syrup. Yum. Atmosphere was Lovely and liked the personal touch of a hand-written, on the spot menu. read more