EJ's Luncheonette
Order EJ's Luncheonette Takeout or Delivery
EJ's Luncheonette Photos
Business Info
EJ'S LUNCHEONETTE ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like EJ's Luncheonette
Recommended Reviews - EJ's Luncheonette
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Nice classic diner vibe. Chairs were a bit tight by the window seating area but I guess if they had booths there it'd be just as close together. Food was solid, of the "country southern breakfast" the grits were well seasoned and the eggs and bacon were cooked perfectly. The biscuit was a bit dense but at least soft and moist. It got a bit loud and the waiter misheard one in my party, writing classic Benedict rather than the crab cake Benedict he actually wanted but it was still tasty and gives us an incentive to come back for the crab cake. Definitely fills up with a wait on the weekends.
Not sure why the rating is so low! I had the turkey burger which I added mozzarella and grilled onions to. They piled the onions up on it and the cheese had a perfect melt. That with a side of sweet potato fries and an iced coffee made for a perfect meal!
If you've followed my review journey here on Yelp, you'll know that I'm not a burger person. I'd rather seek any other dish - Thai, Italian, Chinese, Korean - before I'd crave a burger. But my god, does EJ's Luncheonette hit the spot. No other fanciful iteration (get that truffle doused, wagyu versions away from me) can beat the classic diner-style bacon cheese burger. EJ's in particular was impressive. Thick slices of beef patty, tomato, and pickles topped with crispy bacon that crumbled in your mouth, packed between two brioche buns that were soft yet didn't disintegrate in your hands. Each element stood strongly on its own. The lettuce, crisp. The tomato, juicy. The pickle, perfectly sour, not too salty and cuts through the meatiness of the bacon and patty. If you've followed my other burger reviews here, you'll know how I feel about JG Melon, an establishment not too far from EJ's. If you're craving a burger, skip JG Melon's hour-long line and beeline for the counter at EJ's instead. It's just as good (perhaps even better) with its hefty size justifying the $21 price.
Came to EJ's on Sunday morning. A friend who lives near by suggested this place. I got my usual diner order which happens to be EJ's Special which comes with two eggs (over-easy), bacon, rye toast and sliced tomatoes. I usually get my breakfast with some sort of potato but since sliced tomatoes was an option and I was in a healthy mood, I just got it. The meal was solid but it was NYC prices.. Maybe if I had gotten the potatoes, the price could be justified, my friend got the breakfast burrito with potatoes and I had some and it was good. Coffee ($4.50) was good as well. Overall I had a good experience, service was good too. If you gonna get the EJ's special, I recommend getting the potato, to justify the price.
Stopped in here with a friend after a Saturday morning in Central Park and it was busy!! Luckily we got seated at the bar right away, but others I saw had to wait. I got the sausage benedict and it was yummy, nicely cooked egg and good hollandaise, the biscuit was a great move rather than the typical english muffin. The grits were quite bland and needed some love, but I really liked the classic ny diner feel to this spot and it's very conveniently located. I also tried the pie here once and it was pretty delish!
There's nothing like a good old fashioned neighborhood NYC diner. EJ's has consistently good food at reasonable prices. There's an art to making a chocolate egg cream. And I come here to get my fix along with a custom omelet (mushrooms & cheese). The challah bread tastes so good it's almost like cake! And grocers great all buttered up. The service is always great. Mohammed is often behind the counter. But it can be crowded and loud. Today it wasn't at 11am. Last week I couldn't get in at noon. And there's often lines around the block on weekend mornings. So best to go during off hours. I only wished that the restaurant was handicap accessible. There's one step to get in and someone with a wheelchair would have great difficulty unless they could handle that step. Also, the bathroom is down a very steep set of stairs, making it difficult for seniors, and others with disabilities to manage.
Great food for a diner, don't let the name fool you. Had lunch here and was excellent. Food came out fast, there is plenty of seating and the place is clean and thriving.
Brunch was delicious. Tight quarters but the line goes quickly. Food is consistent n good. Enjoy!!
Waited over 30 minutes for a table for 2 on a Sunday at around 1pm. It gave modern diner vibes, and it was a lil loud and crowded for my taste. It also didn't help that we were seated close to the bathroom, so people were going back and forth by our table the whole time I saw they had a "famous" crunchy french toast, that included crushed corn flakes and slivered almonds. Thank god I ordered it with the homemade blueberry compote, because the toast was bizarrely flavorless, not even maple syrup saved it. I also thought the corn flakes and almonds would be crumbled on top, but instead it comes "battered" in that, creating a weird texture. I didn't finish it, nor did I take it home. The service was good though! Nice, fast, and attentive.
This place is pretty heap and had a big menu with a variety of options to choose from! I liked having many options for brunch. I got the pancakes which were good! I also got an iced mocha, which was huge, but yummy.
My bestie has been coming here for years! Every time I use to visit here we came here for brunch & this time was no exception to! Always service pleasant & food delicious! Thank you for staying open threwout all these years!
Service was great & food was good but a little on the pricey side. Definitely would recommend sitting outside.
I've popped in a few times for a quick meal. I find that staff is polite and welcoming. Attentive as well. It's a nice family atmosphere. There's a huge enough dining area that facing the kitchen, a bar next to it upon entry. The salads are usually fresh and crunchy. Meatloaf is more than enough. Literally served me twice , so was that half chicken. I found the breast to be a bit dry and bland however. Could be the day, but I still go now and again.
One of the better diners in NYC. Place can be crowded on a spring / summer warm day. So can be a slight wait, the line moves quickly. I would recommend getting a variety of breakfast/lunch items to share with the group. Definitely cures the craving if you need a taste of many things. read more
Nice classic diner vibe. Chairs were a bit tight by the window seating area but I guess if they had booths there it'd be just as close together. Food was solid, of the "country southern breakfast" the grits were well seasoned and the eggs and bacon were cooked perfectly. The biscuit was a bit dense but at least soft and moist. It got a bit loud and the waiter misheard one in my party, writing classic Benedict rather than the crab cake Benedict he actually wanted but it was still tasty and gives us an incentive to come back for the crab cake. Definitely fills up with a wait on the weekends. read more
Not sure why the rating is so low! I had the turkey burger which I added mozzarella and grilled onions to. They piled the onions up on it and the cheese had a perfect melt. That with a side of sweet potato fries and an iced coffee made for a perfect meal! read more
If you've followed my review journey here on Yelp, you'll know that I'm not a burger person. I'd rather seek any other dish - Thai, Italian, Chinese, Korean - before I'd crave a burger. But my god, does EJ's Luncheonette hit the spot. No other fanciful iteration (get that truffle doused, wagyu versions away from me) can beat the classic diner-style bacon cheese burger. EJ's in particular was impressive. Thick slices of beef patty, tomato, and pickles topped with crispy bacon that crumbled in your mouth, packed between two brioche buns that were soft yet didn't disintegrate in your hands. Each element stood strongly on its own. The lettuce, crisp. The tomato, juicy. The pickle, perfectly sour, not too salty and cuts through the meatiness of the bacon and patty. If you've followed my other burger reviews here, you'll know how I feel about JG Melon, an establishment not too far from EJ's. If you're craving a burger, skip JG Melon's hour-long line and beeline for the counter at EJ's instead. It's just as good (perhaps even better) with its hefty size justifying the $21 price. read more
Came to EJ's on Sunday morning. A friend who lives near by suggested this place. I got my usual diner order which happens to be EJ's Special which comes with two eggs (over-easy), bacon, rye toast and sliced tomatoes. I usually get my breakfast with some sort of potato but since sliced tomatoes was an option and I was in a healthy mood, I just got it. The meal was solid but it was NYC prices.. Maybe if I had gotten the potatoes, the price could be justified, my friend got the breakfast burrito with potatoes and I had some and it was good. Coffee ($4.50) was good as well. Overall I had a good experience, service was good too. If you gonna get the EJ's special, I recommend getting the potato, to justify the price. read more
Stopped in here with a friend after a Saturday morning in Central Park and it was busy!! Luckily we got seated at the bar right away, but others I saw had to wait. I got the sausage benedict and it was yummy, nicely cooked egg and good hollandaise, the biscuit was a great move rather than the typical english muffin. The grits were quite bland and needed some love, but I really liked the classic ny diner feel to this spot and it's very conveniently located. I also tried the pie here once and it was pretty delish! read more
10 months ago
There's nothing like a good old fashioned neighborhood NYC diner. EJ's has consistently good food at reasonable prices. There's an art to making a chocolate egg cream. And I come here to get my fix along with a custom omelet (mushrooms & cheese). The challah bread tastes so good it's almost like cake! And grocers great all buttered up. The service is always great. Mohammed is often behind the counter. But it can be crowded and loud. Today it wasn't at 11am. Last week I couldn't get in at noon. And there's often lines around the block on weekend mornings. So best to go during off hours. I only wished that the restaurant was handicap accessible. There's one step to get in and someone with a wheelchair would have great difficulty unless they could handle that step. Also, the bathroom is down a very steep set of stairs, making it difficult for seniors, and others with disabilities to manage. read more
Waited over 30 minutes for a table for 2 on a Sunday at around 1pm. It gave modern diner vibes, and it was a lil loud and crowded for my taste. It also didn't help that we were seated close to the bathroom, so people were going back and forth by our table the whole time I saw they had a "famous" crunchy french toast, that included crushed corn flakes and slivered almonds. Thank god I ordered it with the homemade blueberry compote, because the toast was bizarrely flavorless, not even maple syrup saved it. I also thought the corn flakes and almonds would be crumbled on top, but instead it comes "battered" in that, creating a weird texture. I didn't finish it, nor did I take it home. The service was good though! Nice, fast, and attentive. read more
My bestie has been coming here for years! Every time I use to visit here we came here for brunch & this time was no exception to! Always service pleasant & food delicious! Thank you for staying open threwout all these years! read more
3 months ago
Service was great & food was good but a little on the pricey side. Definitely would recommend sitting outside. read more
14 days ago
8 months ago
I've popped in a few times for a quick meal. I find that staff is polite and welcoming. Attentive as well. It's a nice family atmosphere. There's a huge enough dining area that facing the kitchen, a bar next to it upon entry. The salads are usually fresh and crunchy. Meatloaf is more than enough. Literally served me twice , so was that half chicken. I found the breast to be a bit dry and bland however. Could be the day, but I still go now and again. read more
"A luncheonette is a small, casual restaurant, particularly common in the mid-20th century United States, that serves light meals, snacks, and fountain drinks, often with counter seating". I've always had a soft spot for luncheonettes; cool place to catch a burger or a frosty milkshake and sit at the counter. The counter has always been a cool place for me to sit. However, dining at EJ's on a balmy October afternoon, I decided to dine al fresco. I've eaten at EJ's for many years having worked in the UES many moons ago. I believe I had my first veggie burger here. Today, I was in the mood for the usual: egg white omelet with spinach and mozzarella and home fries. The omelet was delicious; cooked perfectly. The home fries with onions were crisp and piping hot. It was great to people watch as I devoured my omelet. EJ's does have comfy booths inside and a cool vibe. The service is courteous and the staff super friendly. The menu offers a wealth of delicious options and there are daily specials. There will be many more future visits and a seat at the counter. EJ's Luncheonette is located on 1271 3rd Avenue read more
1 year ago
EJ's was such a busy diner! Even on a Friday at 1pm, it was busy. It was kind of giving slightly more upscale diner? I think the interior is nice and well lit. The menu is clean, and it's a great place for catching up. I ended up with the chicken and waffles, which was $20+ I believe. It really wasn't anything special. I found both the waffle and the chicken to be dry, and combined with the maple sauce that came with it, it was all just a little too heavy in the mouth. The waffle was especially drying, which was unfortunate because usually at diners I go to the waffles are softer and cakier than dry. Nice staff and environment though! read more
My party of 6 on a Thursday afternoon was seated immediately. The service is excellent! We were able to get our order within 15 minutes. I ordered an omelet with broccoli, spinach and grilled onions with a side of grits. The three stars is because I thought the meal overall could have used more flavor. The grits could have used more butter and the omelet didn't have much seasoning, if any. read more
3 months ago
3 months ago
1 year ago
Well, we're movin' on up, to the East Side To a deluxe apartment in the sky Movin' on up! To the East Side We finally got a piece of the pie... George and Weezy probably wouldn't have eaten here, but I could see Florence and Ralph the Doorman coming here on their days off. Now if I lived in the Upper East Side, I'm guessing I would've turned into a regular here. They serve the kind of comfort food Jamie W and I knew we'd end up craving when we're in Manhattan. We took the M101 bus on Third up to the bustling diner and got seated in a booth right away. Jamie was lured by one of his favorites, the $18.95 Southern Country Breakfast with two scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, grits, and a buttermilk biscuit with country gravy (photo: https://yelp.to/p40rqgcYhp). He deemed it pretty good, not outstanding as the gravy was lukewarm. I had better luck with the $19.50 Homemade Corned Beef Hash, which was definitely not out of the can. It came with two fried eggs sunnyside up and a couple of slices of challah toast that tasted a tad stale (photo: https://yelp.to/YnQpR0fC0y). With a cup of hot coffee, it was the mid-morning gluttony we were looking for under a lot of construction scaffolding. Fish don't fry in the kitchen Beans don't burn on the grill Took a whole lotta tryin' Just to get up that hill Now we're up in the big leagues Gettin' our turn at bat As long as we live It's you and me, baby There ain't nothin' wrong with that FOOD - 4 stars...they get the ingredients right, execution may get away from them a bit AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...plenty of seating SERVICE - 4 stars...they move quickly in here TOTAL - 4 stars...dependable diner on the Upper East Side RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2YS9ELs read more
10 months ago
Place was super crowded when we went. Was able to get table fast though. Food was good but nothing that you can't get at any other diner in the area. read more
I'd give this spot a 3ish out of 5. Staff was friendly and it's a very laid back diner that feels very comfy. Service was fast and we were able to get the st Patrick's day pancakes. The pancakes were a little bit on the tougher side and not the typical soft buttermilk that you'd usually get but the icing and marshmallows were fun for the holiday. I also got the health kick omelette was good but a little dry. I'd go back though if I'm on the upper east side! read more
I came on a Sunday morning with a big group of people and it didn't take long to get a table. The vibes are just that of a classic diner, which is super nostalgic for me growing up in New Jersey. Now onto the food. I got the French toast with strawberries, bananas, and a blueberry compote. It was super delicious. The fruits were fresh and the French toast was fluffy. The portion is also perfect. The menu is huge, so I will definitely have to come back and try other dishes. read more
3 years ago
I feel like it's kind of weird why the ratings are so low here, I had such a great time at EJ's. Walked in and they were able to seat us immediately although there was definitely less people than usual as it was raining pretty hard. I ordered the Homemade Corned Beef Hash and it was pretty good. I really appreciate the serving sizes as they were huge and the potatoes and beef were incorporated very well together. The toast was very buttery as well. I got to try some of my friend's foods like the Eggs Benedict and I think that next time I come, I will definitely have to get those as their dishes was delicious. Overall, not a bad place to get brunch at all especially compared to other cafe options where the prices are around the same and the portion sizes are a lot smaller. Will definitely come back for more! read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
3 months ago
3 months ago
3 months ago
EJ's is an upper east side staple. Although expensive (it's the upper east side) their food is consistently good, and they almost never have a wait due to how much seating they have. The inside is very cozy, and reminiscent of a classic fifties soda counter, despite being opened in the nineties. Honestly, it would remind one of the peach pit from 90210! For breakfast, I love their classic eggs benedict, and the super thick slice of Canadian bacon that it has on top. I also tried the chorizo benedict yesterday and really enjoyed it! The perfectly poached eggs, smoky and spicy chorizo, salsa verde, and smooth guacamole were all delicious, and no one flavor or ingredient was too overpowering. For something on the sweeter side, I prefer their fluffy challah French toast!! However I believe they charge you for real maple syrup, which is kind of annoying. For lunch, I really like their chicken salad sandwich, and they have a lovely soup and half sandwich combo. I've only been here for dinner to order their burger- which is better than any diner burger I've ever had. Instead of a one inch thick puck of burnt beef, their burgers are juicy and delicious, and are actually cooked medium rare when you ask. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody in the area looking for some reliable, tasty, and comforting food. read more
EJ's is seriously one of my favorite places to visit on this island. To let you know the extent, I live on the west side...and travel here frequently for the food. It's a little pricey, but I feel like it's worth it. I also like that they accommodate my Sally Albright-like modifications. Their social says you can get their salads in wrap form. So I get the crispy chicken Cobb salad wrap with no tomatoes or cucumbers. The kicker is the wraps are off menu. So their servers may roll their eyes behind my back!! but at least they smile, and make sure my wrap is up to snuff. Good breakfasts: my husband likes the breakfast burrito. I like the southern breakfast. It's so choice. They also make a bombastic brownie sundae (also off menu, but just trust me on this one). Gets busy on weekends, but I usually get seating outside. read more
Page 1 of 17
More info about EJ's Luncheonette
1271 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10021
Upper East Side, Yorkville
Directions
(212) 472-0600
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Visit Website
http://www.ejsluncheonette.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
EJ's Luncheonette Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - EJ's Luncheonette
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
42 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
14 years ago
3 years ago
11 years ago
3 months ago
12 years ago
11 years ago
14 years ago
12 years ago
14 years ago
14 years ago
12 years ago
3 months ago
9 years ago
16 years ago
7 years ago
5 years ago
14 years ago
12 years ago
