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Otto's Empire Diner

3.3 (188 reviews)
Closed • 6:00 am - 2:00 pm

Otto's Empire Diner Photos

Business Info

OTTO'S EMPIRE DINER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Otto's Empire Diner

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The story of Ottos in California
Diana B.

Great family diner & food. Love the roast beef, corn beef,eggs,burgers,sandwiches. Owners are great. Come in & enjoy the ambiance.

Fantastic breakfast!
Jack A.

Supper clean restaurant, excellent service and fantastic food. Have been here several times, never disappointed

Grilled chicken sandwich
Greg H.

I love this place. I'm going to autos for over a decade and they never disappoint you. The inside is really very diner-like with license plates and pretty much every place you can think of decorating the walls. The staff are wonderful and very courteous. The best thing about Autos is the portions. You really do get what you pay for as all the sandwiches and breakfast especially are large. I would be absolutely shocked if anyone walked out of that place still hungry. If you're up in the Northwest Valley definitely take this place in for breakfast. The biscuits and cinnamon rolls and eggs and home fries are not to be missed. I just happen to stop in for lunch this day and was very thrilled with the grilled chicken sandwich. This place is a staple in this neighborhood and hopefully we'll be for a long time to come.

Nice fluffy biscuit with really nice sausage gravy

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Reviews are mixed. Many highlight the classic diner-style food, especially omelets and French toast, as well as the friendly service and clean, cozy atmosphere.

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4 years ago

This place is great! They have great costumer service and especially great food. They have great breakfast and lunch options. Even for kids!

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5 years ago

Great food, environment and service. Loved the chicken fried steak and the corn beef hash.

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18 years ago

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4 years ago

My favorite omelette in the world! Service is friendly and efficient. A lot of regulars give it a homey feel.

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Welcome Diner - Big Jim (Sausage Gravy, Melted Cheddar, Applewood Smoked Bacon, $16 + $3 Upgrade to Brussel Sprouts)- 3/5 stars

Welcome Diner

4.4(1.6k reviews)
12.5 mi
•$$

We love Welcome Diner, and have been here many times. It is definitely not fancy, but it is exactly…read morewhat it should be. It feels very hipster and very retro and it just has so much personality. There is a lot of outdoor seating in what is essentially a front yard. There are tables and string lights and lots of trees and there are even a couple of playground horses. When you walk in there is a hostess desk kind of pieced together with different pieces of furniture and above it is a turning disco ball. Could there be anything better? There are booths all the way around, and there are no tables - - but you can sit at the long counter and watch your food being made. That really is the best place to sit because it is so interesting to watch them. It's amazing to me that they can keep all those balls in the air and still make all this food so delicious. There is a small bar off to one side. Make sure you go to the bathroom. The bathroom is nothing special, just a room full of graffiti and stickers, but if you look up you'll see the ceiling covered with little pinatas and a little donkey in the hallway. The menu is just what you would think for a diner menu. You can order breakfast or some sandwiches, burgers, Mac and cheese, and there is a selection of dinner entrees. Sitting at the counter we saw a plate with a steak being prepared and it looked absolutely fantastic. We were not really very hungry, and just wanted a quick small bite. Have you got that Welcome Burger, and I got the Sasha. Hubby said his Burger was good, although it was quite small. The Sasha has smoked pork and they put the pork on the grill and it becomes a crispy kind of Patty of shredded pork, then they put the crispy shredded pork patty on a noble bun with coleslaw and a fantastic horseradish sauce. My sandwich was a 10 out of 10 for sure! I kind of feel like in Phoenix there are some areas that you can go to or not, but welcome diner is a place that everybody should go to at least once. I really want to go back for breakfast which is kind of shocking because I'm not a breakfast person.

I have never felt as unwelcome at a restaurant as I did during our visit to Welcome Diner…read more I arrived with three friends and two dogs, encouraged by the dog-friendly patio. Before we could sit down, a waitress abruptly warned us that rain was expected in three minutes, that the dining room had no available seating, and that pets were not allowed inside. We decided to take our chances, retrieved our own menus, and sat outside. More than 10 minutes passed without anyone acknowledging us, despite staff serving other customers. My friend even tapped on the ordering window and was ignored. When the same waitress finally returned, I asked for a Bloody Mary, and she appeared noticeably disappointed that we had decided to stay. Her response was an incredulous, "You're staying???" We explained that we were willing to take our chances with the weather, at which point she informed me that they were out of Bloody Mary mix. I then requested waters. Another 10 minutes passed before she dropped off the waters without taking our order. After another 10 minutes without service, we left, having spent approximately 30 minutes feeling ignored and unwelcome. We found a much better experience across the street, where we enjoyed attentive service, delicious food, and a welcoming dog-friendly patio. I understand that weather, seating limitations, and restaurant policies may be beyond a server's control. How guests are treated is not. For a restaurant called Welcome Diner, the irony was especially disappointing.

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Welcome Diner - Bathroom nook

Bathroom nook

Welcome Diner - No Way Jose burger.

No Way Jose burger.

Welcome Diner - $1 beer

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$1 beer

5 & Diner

5 & Diner

3.5(619 reviews)
9.2 mi
•$$

We had been at the Hermosa since Wednesday, we were served a beautiful dinner and Friday evening,…read morewe were fortunate to have reservations at the Wine Cellar!!! Come Saturday evening, we thought our son would fly in early enough, on his way back from North Carolina, to take him to Lon's restaurant at the resort. Unfortunately, due to delays he was not able to make it to the resort until after ten. By that time, most restaurants are closed for the evening!!! After a quick search, apart from the traditional 24/7s, we spotted the 5 & Diner, and it was close enough to get there within ten minutes! When we drove up, we were mildly surprised, a little retro, a restaurant we are not used to...upon entering the establishment, the staff was prompt, friendly, and we were seated in a nice booth right away. Our server, Danielle A was extremely helpful with the menu items, wonderfully cheerful, prompt on our orders, and could not have been more attentive!!! The food was well prepared, hot, very flavorful, and timely!!! We were extremely surprised and found this restaurant checked all of the boxes...not to mention surprisingly reasonable!!! By the way, the air conditioner was set at a perfect temperature for the triple digits of Phoenix!!! We would go back again!!! Humbly and respectfully, FLK

Talk about taking a trip back in time! LOL!…read more Welcome to 5 & Diner, where you walk through the doors and suddenly find yourself transported back to the good old 1950s! I absolutely loved the retro atmosphere! The red and silver booths, black-and-white checkerboard floors, and even the old-fashioned jukebox at the table give this place that classic American diner feel. Although, unfortunately, our jukebox wasn't working. Darn it! It wasn't particularly busy when we arrived, so we were seated pretty quickly, which was nice. Now, let's talk about the food! I ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich with fries. The sandwich looked pretty darn good when it arrived, with chicken, melted cheese, and bacon. Unfortunately, the chicken itself could've used a little more seasoning. It wasn't terrible, just missing that extra flavor I was hoping for. But those FRIES! Holy moly! They were freaking awesome! Definitely my favorite part of the meal. Sometimes a good plate of fries is all you need to make things better! LOL! The service was another positive. Our server was very attentive and made sure we were taken care of throughout our visit. I always appreciate that! Now, one thing I do have to mention is the cleanliness. The restaurant could definitely use a little extra scrubbing and attention in certain areas. I understand this is an older-style diner, and that nostalgic charm is part of its appeal, but a little extra cleaning would go a long way. Overall, this is your classic American diner experience. Nothing overly fancy, just comfort food, friendly service, and a fun atmosphere that takes you back several decades. Would I return? Sure! I'd probably try something different on the menu next time, but those fries are definitely worth ordering again. And hopefully, that jukebox will be working so I can complete my little trip back in time! LOL!

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5 & Diner - Find this, feel rewarded!

Find this, feel rewarded!

5 & Diner
5 & Diner

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MacAlpine's Diner & Soda Fountain - Turkey Bacon Croissant

MacAlpine's Diner & Soda Fountain

4.2(570 reviews)
11.3 mi
•$$

If you have never heard of MacAlpine's, this is your chance to read on! Opened in 1929, it was…read moreoriginally called "Birch's Pharmacy" and true to most pharmacies back then, it had a soda fountain. Fast forward nine years to 1938, and Fred MacAlpine purchased it, renaming it for his namesake, and operating it as a full-service pharmacy and soda fountain until 1991. It was then purchased by a couple who still own it today and have kept it in as much of its original condition as possible, including the soda fountain, the counter, and the malt machine. When you park and walk to the front of the yellow building, you can't help but feel joy. The storefront windows, the antiques, all of it make you wonder just how far back in time you're going to travel. Once you've stepped foot inside and onto the checkered floor, you can't help but smile at the counter, all of the antiques from decades past, and the wait staff who wears 1950s uniforms. We slid into our wood booth with the tiny jukebox on the wall and immediately got to reviewing the extensive menu. Everything... and I mean EVERYTHING... looked good. Bonus: They have gluten-free bread! My husband chose the cheeseburger and I chose the turkey BLT (on gluten-free bread) - both were delicious! We then opted to share a mint chocolate chip milkshake that was created on the original 1940s machine - something that completed the experience. When we were done, we were fortunate enough to chat with Monica Heizenrader, co-owner of MacAlpine's wth her daughter. She is a very kind woman who is very passionate about keeping the history of this diner alive, even taking to selling antiques (in the other rooms of the building) to help support the upkeep. However, with rising costs and some family challenges, it's getting tough. She was proud to have kept this going as long as she and her family have and even mentioned some of the more notable people that have stepped into the diner over the decades, including Barry Goldwater (a regular), Joan Ganz Cooney (one of the creators of Sesame Street), Frank Lloyd Wright, Aunt Maud, Marshall Good, Wayne Newton (who was discovered by a talent scout there), and more! If you're not able to visit Phoenix and this beautiful place any time soon, consider making a donation to keep it open - the link can be found on their website.

Nostalgia is a powerful thing. In my early childhood, my dad would take us often to a soda fountain…read morein Las Vegas where I grew up drinking ice cream sodas and phosphates. You can still have sodas anywhere, but phosphates? Those things are really hard to track down now due to the dash of acid phosphate they add to the carbonated water and flavored syrup. MacAlpine's is the only place around that I know still serves them. From their menu it looks like you can get your drink in close to a hundred different flavors. Very nice - but cherry is always my go to. My mom chose Black Cherry which seems like a small distinction but her choice was better. We split the Turkey Bacon Croissant sandwich. I'd say the sandwich was just average, however service was excellent with different people continuously checking on us. The interior here is very dark/cozy and filled with antiques, taking you back to another era. There's a small antique shop you can step through to on the other side if you feel like browsing after you eat. We were too full to enjoy dessert but they have so many great options: shakes, malts, sundaes, homemade pie. I really need to get down here more and their special offerings.

Photos
MacAlpine's Diner & Soda Fountain - Table top juke box

Table top juke box

MacAlpine's Diner & Soda Fountain - BLT Sandwich

BLT Sandwich

MacAlpine's Diner & Soda Fountain - Save The Clock Tower!

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Save The Clock Tower!

Otto's Empire Diner - diners - Updated November 2026

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