To start, I go to diners for breakfast on average 5 days a week. Been to Jacks numerous times. Food is always hot and quick, never waited for a table. Prices are getting out of bounds. An omelette, toast and 2 cups of coffee today were $19.50. Service is usually good. Some servers nicer and more attentive than others. Place is old with tape holding seats together. It's clean both seating area and bathroom. read more

Pleasant surprise tonight. Food was hot and quick. The staff was friendly and love the history of the place. Totally recommend if in the area. Serving very flavorful Mexican and Salvadorien food only for dinner. read more

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I have been coming here for quite some time now to get breakfast/brunch and it always proves to be a great choice. I ordered pancakes,eggs,Canadian Bacon, and hash browns along with a coffee. The food is always good, but the service is exemplary. I received my coffee immediately and food within 5-10 minutes. The staff is very accommodating and the ambiance is good considering the amount of people they serve. Try to get here early to avoid waiting for a booth! read more

We are staying at the Marriott Hotel about 5 minutes away. The food at Jacks is twice as good and 1/2 the price of the hotel. The food is, really good. Service was very attentive and professional. read more

My Dad and recently enjoyed lunch between appointments at the VA Hospital. Parking is available on site, however it's not plentiful. The menu is extensive - typical diner fare and also a separate "Latin food" menu (pretty sure that was what was written in the cover) with a nice selection of both typical items (eg, tacos) and ones that are more unusual for our area. I chose the birria tacos - amazing. I'm still thinking about them three weeks later. Full of meat, not overly greasy or cheesy, just the right combination. The birria marinade was so delicious I drank it all. My Dad, not known for a big appetite, got the French dip with fries. He surprisingly ate every bite. The waitress thought he said French onion soup and brought that first instead, but the order was quickly corrected. The soup looked delicious. The noise level was just right, which was important with a hearing impaired person. Pictures in the wall are fun to look at and see how much Albany has changed, and how much is the same. I'll be back again soon! read more

Wonderful breakfast experience. The waitstaff was courteous, worked as a team and the service was fast. Quality OJ and the over easy eggs were cooked to perfection. The hash browns were tasty and slightly crispy. read more

Jack's Diner - #3 Belgium Waffle cooked to perfection - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

Stopped here this morning with my son because we were starving after some morning errands. He got pancakes and sausage, I got eggs, toasts, hash browns, and bacon. The food was thoroughly mediocre and slightly overpriced. We each got a chocolate milk that tasted very off so we barely drank it, and was a whopping $4 each that I didn't realize until getting the bill. My fault for not checking before ordering, but I didn't expect it since I can get a gallon of milk for less. Service wasn't bad I guess, but pretty unenthusiastic and brisk. The atmosphere could have had some nice old-school charm if done right, but it's just dated. Acceptably clean but needs a lot of updates. Bathroom stalls didn't have locks. $30 plus tax and tip was FAR too much for the food and experience. Won't be coming back. read more

Recently I've been going to a lot of diners in search of the best one around. For most of them I haven't bothered to leave a review, because "this is a profoundly mediocre diner" isn't particularly interesting or helpful. At the moment, though, I'm questioning why I bothered with all of the hunting around, because Jack's is pretty obviously the best diner within I-want-food-twenty-minutes-ago range of Albany. It looks like a diner, it smells like a diner, and the food tastes the way that a reasonable person would hope for reasonably-priced diner food to taste. Nothing fancy, but everything done right and in generous portions. My breakfast sandwich was excellent, and they magically produced some off-menu hash browns for me. Husband's birria quesadilla was more flavorful than the birria we've gotten at a couple of dedicated Mexican spots in the area. The coffee was warmed up promptly without any need to crane my neck around looking for a waitress. The have good hot sauce on the table. Everything was as it should be. Could there really be any reason to go to a different local diner before 2:00 PM? read more

Jack's Diner - Sausage egg and cheese + hash browns - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

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Second time eating from this place and I haven't gotten my food yet and I just know how awesome it's going to be clean environment nice and cozy. Workers are very nice 10 out of 10 read more

Good solid diner breakfast. Staff is attentive and helpful. Pour coffee before you want it filled. Good menu and choices. We loved our farmer omelette with rye bread and the short stack was solid. Coffee was good. OJ was superb. Cute space. Old diner feel. A good bite. read more

The Albany diner scene continues to change. Dewey's is now long gone. And Jack's has a kickass egg and cheese sandwich. It's one of my favorites in the region. Not because they do anything fancy to it. Rather, because they just let it be what it is. And it's perfect in its simplicity. read more

Jack's Diner - The egg and cheese from above. - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

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Our favorite breakfast spot in Albany! We started going here years ago when we attended a local college, will always be our go to place. Fast and great service read more

The food was delicious!!! Definitely will be back again when in town! The staff is excellent, an great experience!

wonderful food and service! The Diner menu and breakfast hit the spot and I ventured out and got the Mexican food. It was delicious!

Jack's is no frills good diner comfort food, service is excellent; food arrives quickly; if you ain't from Albany you'll stick out like a sore thumb. Jacks is where the locals gather and for good reason cause they have it down to a science and can handle the peak rush. Limited menu but what they do they do well. read more

Jack's Diner - Scramble eggs, bacon, whole wheat dry and grits - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

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Had outdoor seating with my partner. It was a beautiful day. Had a grit bowl -- it was good... I just like my grits thick. My partner loved her steak and eggs. We've gotten take out from here before but... this was better read more

Decent diner food we got the huevos rancheros and the French toast, French toast was good

They use tap water, when asking for plastic utensils they bring them unwrapped. Service is ok.

Very nice people and a great atmosphere- food is yummy. Support your local small business and visit. Great location on Central Ave.

Came here for a weekday brunch with the boyfriend. We were both surprisingly impressed by the simple fare and service. Food: Corned beef hash and eggs is my go-to breakfast/brunch order. Here, I was surprised to find that the corned beef hash is homemade and filled with greens as well as the typical beef and potatoes. It was well seasoned and served hot. My boyfriend was also pleased with his no nonsense chicken wrap. Overall: This is a simple restaurant that serves solid American food. I would definitely return when my craving for a greasy spoon breakfast returns. read more

Perfectly decent retro diner. Food is what you expect and the staff is terrific! Love the overall vibe of a classic tin can diner. Great place to stop for breakfast in Albany on the way to AMC. read more

I wasn't happy when my husband stopped here for breakfast. It's not much to look at But breakfast was Surprisingly Good! Definitely add the onions and peppers to the homefries. Life lesson... Dont judge a book by its cover! read more

Jack's Diner - Farmers Omelet. - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

Absolutely wonderful! This place is CLEAN, WELCOMING, and DELICIOUS :) We ordered the corned beef hash and eggs, waffle with Canadian bacon, and the Italian connection omelette. SO MUCH FOOD! We were beyond satisfied. This was the first time I've ever tried corned beef (I tried it because a number of other reviews mentioned it). Although I couldn't fully appreciate it because I didn't like the texture, my parents loved it. I still ate it because it tasted good. It came with two eggs, potatoes, and two slices of toast. The omelette was melty cheesy goodness and it also came with potatoes and two slices of toast. (highly recommend) As for the Belgian waffle, it was your standard waffle but you can't go wrong with it. It was golden and good~ the Canadian bacon was pretty standard as well... I would say it's a safe breakfast to go with and there was nothing bad about it! It came with two eggs and potatoes. There was even a small basket filled with jams and maple syrup that I thought was so cute and convenient :) The total came out to be around $33 and I must say it was worth it. The waitresses were very friendly and welcoming, and for this small cute diner, everything was very good. The feeling of this diner was new for me, I felt like I was eating at one of those diners shown in the movies. So satisfyingly good ~ read more

Jack's Diner - Corned beef (hiding under the eggs) and hash - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

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Food is always very good! It is affordable for the service and the portion size! My new favorite breakfast place in Albany!

Trying to find that local place that keeps you on budget? You can find a great mix of locals hear and the food keeps it real. Simple diner, friendly staff and good food. We stopped for breakfast and it did not disappoint. Good portions right on point with the order. read more

Jack's Diner - Original photos of them placing the building! - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

Great food and service. It looks "seedy" from the outside and I almost passed, but once inside, it was a homey old school diner with delicious food, fast and courteous service. read more

Pros: They make a cheesy grits bowl! NO ONE in the Albany area does this. It was perfectly delicious. I'm a bit of a toast snob, and my toast was on point. The waitstaff are courteous, attentive and prompt. The owner even came and said hello. I felt welcome and appreciated. My waitress checked frequently to see if there was anything I needed. Even the waitress that wasn't my waitress checked on me. My coffee was never empty. Cons: it's a small place so parking can be tricky depending on when you arrive. Booth seating is limited, but I had no problem acquiring a spot at the counter. Soooo good. I'll be back. A lot. read more

Jack's Diner - Old school charm, and a throwback eclectic menu! - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

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Wow. My family & I are from the lower Hudson Valley, and we were up here looking at colleges! We stopped by here because we were starving and they did not disappoint. At all. It's a very small diner, but it's super cute. We were a party of 7 and we were sat and waited on so quickly! The waitresses were super super kind. The mozzarella sticks!! AMAZING. The best cheese pull you could ask for. AND THE FRENCH FRIES? Think of the perfect, crispiest fries you could imagine. Not too hard, not too soggy. Perfect. We're hispanic and eat a lot of rice, and their rice was beyond spot on. They even had veggie options for my mom! Please visit. Please. If we're ever in the area we WILL be back. read more

Come for the food, leave with some street cred. This somewhat rough and tumble diner is the real deal. No glitz, no glamour, no hipsters just good ol' diner food and your token octogenarians. This is really a 3.5 for me but I like the bonus street cred so I rounded up. The menu is pretty extensive and offers the standard diner breakfast fare such as eggs/bacon/toast, omelettes, pancakes, french toast and even Belgian waffles. I didn't peruse the lunch section but there were quite a few pages! My husband ordered the western omelette with egg whites and was quite pleased with the execution. He said the egg was cooked appropriately and the fixin's worked well. I channeled my inner 5-yr old and opted for a short stack of the chocolate chip pancakes and 2 over medium eggs. Acting a little closer to my actual age, however, I didn't soak them in maple syrup. This made for very rich chocolatey pancakes which were slightly on the drier side. I finally caved and doused them in syrup which improved my experience. The coffee is diner coffee, no 2 ways about it- but at least it's bottomless. They also offer a few specials which are actually items already on their menu but they throw in a coffee or juice. read more

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Friendly staff, great food! Had the eggs Benedict with corned beef homemade hash- best I've ever had ! Would come here again when in town. read more

Jack's Diner - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

The place is small, there is some outdoor seating. The food is amazing. I love the homemade hash, it is not too salty and is flavored with onions and a tiny bit of green and red peppers. Eggs are cooked perfectly, potato's are awesome. The french toast was also good, not overly soggy with egg. Service was fast and friendly. I recommend! read more

Heard good things about this place and went with the family for a Saturday lunch. The place is definitely retro right down to the chrome and fire engine red. It's small but inside there's plenty of space. The atmosphere is relaxed and the staff is super nice. My sister is disabled and a fellow patron held the door open for us (not wheelchair accessible, luckily she can walk with help). The food is delicious and affordable. I got a feta cheeseburger deluxe and was not disappointed. My family had nothing but good things to say about the food and the bill for four people was less than $45 +tip. I didn't like the coffee, but I'm hard to please when it comes to coffee. If your not too picky you'll be fine. I would certainly go again and I would recommend. read more

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Very cozy diner. The staff that served us was very down to earth. We did have to wait a bit for our food as we were a party of 7 and they wait for all the orders to be ready before serving. It was a decent meal. I ordered the western omelette with cheese. Egg was nicely cooked with melted cheese in the middle. Home fries tasted more like regular cooked potatoes. Overall it is a decent meal for a decent price. read more

Jack's Diner - Western omelette - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

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It's open 6am-4pm. The corned-beef hash is amazing. The price also reasonable. I met Danny Glover (star of Lethal Weapon) there, eating with his friend. No 4 breakfast is delicious, 1 French toast, 1 pancake with 2 eggs and hash and big ham read more

Jack's Diner - Corned-beef hash - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

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Good, not great. Some think the inside decor is cute, I think it needs an upgrade. I was really surprised at how small the place is on the inside. I can't imagine what it's like in there when it gets really busy. The bathrooms are in serious need of TLC. I ordered one of the breakfast specials which included 2 french toast slices, eggs, homefries, and a choice of meat. The french toast was good, served on nice thick bread. The eggs were cooked perfectly to my liking, but the homefries and bacon wasn't anything special. The homefries had no taste to them and looked like a weird mushy orangy color. The bacon must've been deep fried because it was bone dry to a crisp; and not the pan fried crisp either. My friends enjoyed their meals and the prices weren't bad. They have a really big breakfast menu and their lunch menu looked pretty good. I may stop by again and give it another chance to wow me. read more

Great little dinner, great food at great price. With that old fashion atmosphere . With friendly great service. They let me substitute which most dinners won't allow. For these reasons My wife and me eat at Jack's a least a few times each month. read more

Found you on roadtrippers and glad we stopped. Yummy breakfast inside an old school diner. The place could use some sprucing up as the seats are ripped and stuff looks old. Friendly waitresses and the breakfast was great! Big omelettes with tons of homefries and yummy wheat toast! read more

Jack's Diner feels, looks, and smells like every other cookie cutter diner. I order the Monte Cristo which is basically Challah french toast covered with ham, turkey, and melted swiss cheese. Taking a play out of Bennigan's book I spread jelly on the sandwich to add a little sweet to the savory. I prefer the deep fried Monte Cristo's but Jack's rendition was also good. The fries were crispy and delicious. My gf ordered an orange/grapfruit juice mix. She claims it was one of the best juices she has had in a while. I liked the fact that the tables were set up such that you do not feel crowded even if the place it at capacity. read more

Jack's Diner - Inside - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

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I love having Breakfast here when we are in Albany. They have Great food, prices and the service is quick, worth the trip.

When in the CLEVE, this is one of my fave spots. And honestly, when it's not Sylman's, it's Jack's. Simple and good diner breakfast. That's it. You get it. And you'll feel good and full when you're done. What else do you want? $18 eggs Benedict and a 45min wait? F outta here. read more