Simply the most awesome diner experience in the most unexpected places. The coffee! The grilled cheese! The shaker of playa dust! And especially the Betty's with a slap of sass! But those lines, and the crowd - I get supply and demand - but people just park in those seats like they pay rent - move! read more

Dust City Diner - American Near Me - Gerlach, Nevada

Wow Wow Wow! Sassy pants service, delicious grilled cheese and bottomless cup of joe. It's all I needed, thanks Ladies!!

A burner institution as far as I'm concerned! Amazing grilled cheese! I'm going to hairstylist to get my beehive do soon!

RUDE! SWEATY! SASSY! (and I'm being friendly, here) First off, they don't take reservation's. WTF? When I finally got a stool, I asked the "guy" on the grill what was good and he shouted through his cigarette "RIBEYE". So I ordered the ribeye special from one of the waitresses with big hair and bright red lipstick. I think her name was Diana Reah or something, I kept asking where my steak was and the cook would just point to the guy next to me. Wha?? I finally got a grilled cheese tossed my way an hour later. Thank dog for the friendly waitresses! And this one gal next to me let me have her pickle! That made my night. I wanted to take a pic, but I lost my phone at the fence. I drew this image with crayons by hand back at camp. read more

Dust City Diner - Not the real DCD - American Near Me - Gerlach, Nevada

Top notch service and food every time I've had the privilege on sitting on a DC Diner stool. read more

Dust City Diner - American Near Me - Gerlach, Nevada

When you have the chance to score a seat, you may wonder if it is a Mirage! Asking your stool neighbor to pinch you will confirm you made it to the Holy Grail of the most unforgettable Grilled Cheese Sandwich you have evah sing a bite into. May make you a believer! Yeah, it's a bit dusty but we would not want it any other way, would we? Impeccable service, on point flavor profile, it's a winnah! read more

Dust City Diner - American Near Me - Gerlach, Nevada

I think it was 2018. pre-event. We stumbled upon the diner somewhere in the Playa. I have looked for it every year since to no avail. The food, service, and ambience were top notch. The stools were a little high for me but there were crates and people to keep me up. I couldn't believe how good everything was. The waitresses were definitely the best. Someday I hope to see them again but if not, I will always remember my first experience fondly. read more

Out of all the interesting and fun interactive art on the playa, this "installation" is hands down my favorite place to find, any time of day or night. Best grilled cheese sandwich and conversation you can find out there. Thanks for doing your thing you guys!! read more

sooooooooooooooooooo sasssy! master class in grilled sass!! i like em cheezy and wheezy!!

Best Grilled Cheese sandwich on the Playa at Sunrise !! My amazing waitress Jude was full of snark and bark to add as a side to my perfectly melted and toasted grilled cheeze sammy !! This meal and atmosphere is Bliss that you shouldn't Miss, stay dusty my friends ! read more

Dust City Diner - diners at the counter - American Near Me - Gerlach, Nevada

Seems like these girls have an attitude, the best attitude, and I can see why. They don't even post their location yet it's packed every night. Their new waitress Donna stole my heart, ask for her if you want the ultimate experience. How can a butter fried grill cheese be so sublime? It's all the love you thought was lost in this cynical world found compacted in this Diner, bursting out of every employee like divinity is commanding it. The sass level is just a veil for the amount of unbridled joy, love, and revelry you would never expect. Expect something to happen but don't set expectations here, you have no idea what you're in for, and it's gritty! read more

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This past year I went to a fundraiser for DCD though I admittedly thought it was a fundraiser for maybe a sound camp or something since I came across it from some DJ friends of mine. Anyhow, once at The Ramp in SF I was delighted that it was to support DCD and plus it was just a fun party. At Burning Man I didn't make any effort to find DCD since I like things to kinda just happen and of course in the fashion that things happen out there, I had a late night/early morning and was just riding around deep playa and deciding not to check out the Mayan Warrior Robot Heart tie up and then came across DCD while the drone show went off so we hopped in line enjoying the drone show and got our seats on the DCD just after the show finished. The sun was starting to add a warm glow to the sky and we enjoyed our coffee and grilled cheeses as light crept out of the dark. We finished up and I turned to quickly hop off my stool, forgetting I was like 8 ft from the ground and walloped myself into the playa with a big laugh and I think it was pretty funny to everyone else too. Then I dusted myself off with my friend and we wandered towards the trash fence to watch the sunrise - the perfect end to a wonderful night! read more

Dust City Diner - A polaroid of sunrise after falling off DCD - American Near Me - Gerlach, Nevada

I was disappointed with the lack of free-range coffee options but the staff's sass and the frequent pummeling of dust during our dining experience made up for it. Adding extra star of appreciation for the times we were treated with grilled cheese and ice cream sandwiches during build weeks. read more

Inconvenient location, difficult to find, and I hear the waitstaff has a serious attitude!

After years of trying to manifest the DCD to appear to me out of the dust in times of need - I finally got my wish at 9am in the morning in 2015. Famished, I peddled frantically after her, to be told that the only food they had left was.... fucking goose liver paté! What cruel joke is this, I cried, shaking my weakened and diminished first towards the heavens. The chef, if that is what you want to call this twisted, maniacal loon, grinned and shrugged. "Fuck it!" I said, and ordered some anyway, my vegetarian morality flying away faster than that poor duck. There are some things worth lowering all standards for. The Dust City Diner is one of them. Good luck finding it! You'll need it. read more

They gave my toddler an extra pickle! Love you DCD.

Grilled cheese. Coffee. Great staff. It is simply the best both on and off playa. read more

The wait staff were sassy and rude.... just the way I like it.. Probably one of the best grilled cheese of my life.. read more

First off, I couldn't find this art car for years. Then, when I finally stumbled upon it one night in 2016, I hopped on a stool and the waitress with attitude said they were out of Gluten Free bread. I didn't even ask for GF! WTF?! Then, when the grilled cheese finally came, the pickle had lipstick on it. I hear they are going to start delivering on Playa. I'll stick to Cliff bars and Turkey Jerky for a while. Plus, the chef is a Dick! D'stress'd read more

Generous life savers bringin' the grub - The stuff is hilarious and charming! You can't beat the atmosphere :))) Watch out for the salt shaker that doesn't have salt in it, but has playa dust instead LOLOLOLOL read more

One of our favorite 'playa gifts' at the event. These guys are hooked up to a truck and dropped off on the outskirts of the city at night without knowing (even their good friends) where they'll show up. Serenaded by the piped-in sounds of a city diner, you are served grilled cheese sandwiches, OJ and coffee with a side of attitude. Think of 'Kiss My Grits' Flo from Alice. You will typically find more men dressed as waitresses with this outfit than actual women. ALWAYS hilarious and yummy. NO HEALTH CODES ARE VIOLATED. They even somehow manage to provide a dust-free environment where food is served? We can't get enough of these folks!!! We hope to see a Kickstarter for them if necessary because they are missed when they don't make it out. read more

Dust City Diner - I cannot take credit for this photo but I love it ;) - American Near Me - Gerlach, Nevada

Best diner in the west if you can find their location. As perky as their coffee, service is always something a little extra special.

Dust City Diner beckons as a glimmering mirage in the inky darkness, it's a welcoming oasis providing comfort and hearty sustenance to lost souls who trudge across the desolate void of deep playa. Visitors of this elusive establishment perch themselves upon eleven elevated stools facing across the red formica horseshoe counter. Classic tunes waft from the tube radio while the sassy beehive-adorned wait staff cavort and entertain their patrons beneath a canopy of stars. Don't be deceived by the appearance of the grill cook. Sure, he might look like a recent prison escapee, but he flips the tastiest grilled cheese ever off the cast iron griddle onto your plate with the panache of an executive chef. The satisfying house special comes garnished with a side of spicy pickle and a little american flag stuck on top. Blue plate specials include a wide assortment of toaster pastries as well as deeelisshus krispy-kreme bread pudding. If you ask politely. . . or even if you don't. . . your cup of coffee might find itself in the seductive company of a splash of Irish. Whether you happen upon across this phantom diner by accident, or you consider yourself a regular, you're certain to treasure the memories of its savory delights & cosy ambience. Open from dusk 'til dawn. Location variable. read more

We visited on my birthday (apparently)! I was blackout drunk. It was a dark cool desert night on the playa. The waitress was dressed as a kangaroo and she served up fresh Vegemite sandwiches. I'm still not sure what Vegemite is...I asked our lovely waitress-roo several times. Which she politely answered every time I asked. I couldn't seem to remember asking or getting an answer each time it came, but none the less, I took a bite...then asked again, "what's Vegemite?!" Anyway 5 stars. Would definitely visit again, sober or after a night of debauchery. See you next year! read more

The Dust City Diner emerged from the inky blackness, a neon mirage. "What is that?" my traveling companion and I pondered as we staggered across the dusty lakebed. "Oh my! It's a diner!" After a short wait (it's a popular joint) we hopped up to the high stool and in a trice we were served by a very attractive young lady. Sure, she was smoking, but hey! This is the 1940's we're talking about; smoking is still good for you. Besides, a knockout blonde like that can smoke around me anytime. The coffee was hot n good and the grilled cheese was a delicious buttery life-saver. Off we went into the dark of the night, only to return just after dawn for another tasty snack and some mighty fine company. And the waitstaff still looked good to me in that bright mornin' light. Thanks Dust City Diner! You made my evening, and there was plenty of it to make. read more

This place is incredible. We were working very hard setting up sound and light for the Man Pavilion when we suddenly found ourselves in this wonderful establishment. The cheese toast was a real life saver, to say the least. I had an exquisite cup of coffee and my colleague got served some splendid tea if i remember correctly. The staff was amazing (especially the blond girl), given that the horde of customers that climbed onto the seats (that are a bit too tall in my humble opinion) was very rude and demanding (they all had worked too much and too hard on getting that UFO done). Nevertheless about 20 minutes later everything had calmed down, and a great musical band started to play, too. The bar did a great job to lift our work-spirits up and we finished her in no time after the most refreshing break. I do hope to find that place again, or that it will find me. read more

Best pancakes I've ever had. And a darling waitress to boot. It's hard to secure a stool at the DCD in the wee hours of the morning in the deep playa, but it's worth the wait... read more

I had literally the worst experience I could have imagined. I ordered a cheeseburger without the meat and was served a grilled cheese sandwich. What the actual eff. The wait staff was pretty easy on the eyes but that was the best thing they had going for them. If I wanted verbal abuse with my coffee I would visit my parents more often. read more

My friend Darcie and I had the pleasure of dining at the Dust City Diner on the playa this year at Burning Man after a long, hard day of serving hot meals and cold drinks to the artists all day long. We were served by the very friendly and beautiful Dust City Diner waitresses, who were also very delightful conversationalists. We enjoyed freshly made, hot grilled cheese sandwiches along with cups of coffee enhanced with Baileys Irish Cream. It was a wonderful experience that I will never forget! read more

In one word: sublime. Reminiscent of bygone days, this 40s style diner was an oasis in the middle of the playa. Their house special is a seasoned grilled cheese that melts in your mouth and warms the soul. Be sure to ask for some of their "special" coffee. You will not regret seeking this out. read more

These guys are the freaking best! They showed up one morning during the Temple build, out of nowhere as usual, and fed us all the bacon, pancakes, coffee and OJ we could stand. AND then ice cream; are you kidding me? And on top of all that, they're the sweetest most deliciously beautiful humans on this planet! read more

The sassy waitress made a fresh pot of coffee for me and the grilled cheese was great. Hit the spot. Highly recommended! Thanks, hon.

But bad news folks: I went back yesterday to relive the my amazing visit from two weeks ago and they were gone. Just a patch of dust marked where they had been. Don't know, burned to the ground perhaps. FWIW, most of the city was also gone. The DPW people that were left were like tearing the city to the ground. In some areas, I couldn't tell a city had been there. Oh well, perhaps the new DCD owners were open up somewhere again in the future. read more

Oasis. with sass and good tunes. 'nuf said. read more

The daring combination of massive racks, two-day old stubble, smeared lipstick and edible food make this a "probably shouldn't have but glad I did". I tried to give a waitress a tip but she slapped me. He slapped me? read more

I would have given the DCD five stars, but I have to say that I was a little concerned about the state-of-mind of the cook one evening I went there. He served me a fried pickle sandwich, which was delicious, but he didn't seem to be too concerned about his appearance: wig askew, burning cigarette hanging from his mouth, etc. Workers in a truly classy joint, one deserving of five stars, would take more care with their appearance, I think. Also, they were no longer capable of making whipped cream for my pop tart dessert by the time I dined. I wonder why? They should have planned for this! read more

Do these people evah dust?? Well I nevah been to a place so dusty in all my life! Does the Health Department know about this? My goodness! Well, I'll give one star for the coffee, anotha for the cheese that drips between the sandwich and my mouth. One more for tha pickle. Oh and dang it, there's the whiskey. But how's about cleanin' up the place! read more

Been working the diner for tips and pickles because they don't pay shit. Anyway, I love it even if I get fired and rehired every time. Best grilled cheese ever! Classic read more

The food, the service and the overall aesthetic are all top-notch. Rarely have I been happier than upon encountering this oasis.

I stumbled upon the diner early one sunrise morning, deep into the playa. A seat opened up and I was able to sip a cup of hot coffee and eat a warm sandwich while watching the reds and ambers light the sky. It was a surreal, awesome experience made only better by the waitresses. Thanks for a perfect morning. read more