I've been here several times now, and I've concluded that this is the best breakfast place in Lowell and probably the Merrimack Valley. So far, everything I've gotten has been good. The omelets are fluffy, well-formed, and are diverse (and named for streets in Lowell.) The pancakes are hot, a crispy around the edges, and strike the right balance between fluffiness and firmness (if that's the right word). The potatoes are actually flavorful, which I find to be a rare quality in most breakfast potatoes. So far, all of the waitresses have been friendly and attentive, and have been very sweet to my four year-old son. The only two minor negatives about this place are the parking: there's are two lots but they're tight and fill quickly, so you might end up looking for a spot on Appleton Street. Also, while the diner does accept credit cards, they won't let you put your tip on it, so be sure to bring some cash. read more

I would have given this place thumbs up but it was so dam cold inside you cant enjoy the food.

This is the diner to go to in Lowell. I've lived in this area my whole life and they've been a staple in this city. It's diner food, so that's what to expect. Pretty good all around, but nothing gourmet or fancy about it. I generally get an ommelet which comes with a good amount of home fries and toast. The pancakes are also pretty damn good. The service is decent, and I generally don't have to wait to have my coffee topped off. The one bad experience I had here was when I had the eggs florentine. The hollandaise sauce was delicious, but it gave me the worst stomach pains I've ever had for the rest of the day. Wouldn't get that again. But otherwise everything is good, and I'd recommend this place. Especially if you're looking for some sustainance after a night of drinking. They DO NOT take cards though, so bring cash. There's a convenience store right down the road with an ATM. Make sure you hit that up first if you need money. read more

I've been a fan of Owl Diner for a few years now - ever since moving a few minutes away in Mill City. The atmosphere is great - just like you would want a diner to feel like. The food is good too! I can't get enough of the blueberry muffins. The only con I can think of (that isn't really a huge deal for me) is that it's cash only. Given how expensive card processing fees can get, I don't really blame them. Since it's a diner, I don't mind. read more

Been coming here all my life food is great, I've gone from omelets to one egg with ham the ham is fantastic right off the bone big slice not the prepacked stuff to the pancake with sausages inside. My latest favorite is eggs bene or Irish eggs bene yum yum read more

Owl Diner - Owl diner eggs bene yum yum - Diners Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

My husband and I have discovered that you can have two completely different dining experiences here based on which booth you choose. First and most importantly, the food here is pretty decent. They have very good eggs Benedict and the pancakes are light and fluffy. If I was to rate the diner based solely on food, it would get a solid 4 stars. If you choose to eat in the original trolley cart, WATCH OUT. The waitress doesn't even bother leaving her counter to ask what you want to drink. When she finally comes over for your order, she's already walking away before you're done talking. Totally rude and unprofessional. Eat in the newer dining room section, and the service is much better. Its like the waitstaff actually wants to earn a good tip! Amazing how that works. :) Moral of the story: try out the diner but run to the dining room, not the trolley cart. read more

First off, parking is horible. Not too many spots. There was no hostess to seat us so we went to find out own seats. Coffee tastes burnt, they probably use an autodripper. Also came with only two creamers -- I prefer black so I could taste the quality of the beans and brew but others might opt for more creamers than only two. The one thing I find interesting is that this place has less customers and more waiters compared to another diner I go to but our waitress' attitude was not really inviting. So for the food portion of this review. I had the corned beef hash. Funny thing, I asked the waitress if the hash is made in-house. She told me it was. Alright, I order it, you can't really go wrong with corned beef hash. When it came out, it was very disappointing. It's pretty much the Hormel canned crap that's fried with butter on the griddle. Two thumbs down. The potatoes was also seasoned only with salt. Kind of bland, at least imo. I also had the poached eggs. They were overdone. Would I come here again? Only if I'm craving canned food. read more

Local place with some sketchy people. The waitresses and cooks are really nice people but the food is mediocre. If you absolutely love diner food it's an alright place. read more

My first time at owl diner a few weeks ago, I went with two friends. I ended up getting the middlesex st omelette. It was delicious and I liked the home fries. The home fries were okay, but I would have loved if they added more spices on it. The staff are super friendly and they are courteous. It gets a little crowded but I think it was because I went at a busy time for them. I will definitely go back when I have the chance. read more

Food... Alright. Home fries were still raw. Eggs were ok. Prices... A bit high considering it's located in Lowell and its your average breakfast spot with decent food. Don't sit by a window in the winter. I get that it's an "authentic original" diner but there was thick ice forming inside the single pane windows. I'll pass next time unless hungover (which is rare) combined with starving out of my mind (not so rare) and can't make it to a better spot (would rather push onward). read more

Lowell Staple! Headed down there for breakfast. Thorndike St. is my favorite omelet.. Tho Benny is always fantastic. I can never imagine Lowell without this place. I miss the sisters working, but we all have to retire sometime! Lots of history in this joint. Perfect Diner! read more

The Owl Diner epitomizes the definition of a greasy spoon. But please DON'T regard this as a negative. The Owl is a wonderful and cozy little diner in downtown Lowell. A very small yet intimate environment. Booths, tables, and countertop seating available. Traditional food options with eggscelent omelet options. Relatively inexpensive. Solid service, quick turnaround with my order... maybe 10 min. I would patronize again. read more

The last two times I've been here the food has been alarmingly bad, and a long time of consistently being one of the better diners I'd eaten at (see old review below). Something needs to be corrected. read more

Since Three Dogs in Lawrence was sold, we have been coming to The Owl Diner for Sunday brunch. It is as close to a NJ diner as exists in the area. The food is consistently good (ham steak is amazing) and service is fast. Wait staff is sometimes a little forgetful or will hand you the check before you are finished. Parking is sometimes a challenge, but overall, we really like this place and keep coming back read more

My boyfriend and I can't stop coming here. We always try and sit in the fun dining car section up front. It's like breakfast and a show (show referring to watching our meal masterfully prepared. The guy cracks eggs with one hand like a pro.) The food is so good and they have great prices. Just remember to bring cash for a tip! They accept cards but not for tip. read more

This place is amazing. The pleasant staff seated us immediately on a busy day and was very attentive. We ordered the eggs Benedict (of which I consider myself a connoisseur) and chocolate chip pancakes. I am crazy for hollandaise and always looking for the best around. Thankfully, I think I have found the best in the area at owl diner. It is creamy and lemony and not too thin. There is a perfect balance of yolk and butter. I got an extra side of it because it was so good! The chocolate chip pancakes took me back to my childhood. They were not too fluffy but not too flat and plenty of chocolate chips! I would definitely come here again and bring more friends to experience this place. Update: the waiter asked me if I wanted the hollandaise to go and she gave me extra in a to go cup!! If I could give this place 6 stars, I would. read more

Favorite breakfast place in Lowell. Definitely can't go wrong with this place. They have everything you would want in a breakfast diner.

Great breakfast Had blueberry pancakes and sausage Good service Very Funky old Diner Very cozy wish the old tableside juke box worked great selection of tuned read more

This is definitely the breakfast place of choice for me. They have a wide variety of omelets, as well as the usual eggs/toast/ hash brown combos. I do think the omelets are the highlight of the menu, but I also really like the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich on a bagel, paired with some hash browns and some orange juice. I also recommend the raisin bread french toast, which is delicious! The pancakes are also a solid choice. I prefer to sit in the front room/ diner car. The back room tends to get very noisy. For me, the food and service have always been consistent, and I will definitely be back again and again and again. read more

When I'm back in Lowell, we always have breakfast here. The best omelette in town. A good cup of coffee and crispy hash browns. The price is right, the waitresses are friendly....a tradition in Lowell. read more

Despite being a Lowell resident for 6+ years, I have never eaten here until a few weeks ago. It's a diner, with all the associated diner decor. I had bacon and egg on a bagel, which came with home fries. I said "no dairy" and I wasn't sure about the home fries, but they were so tasty I ate them anyway. The staff is attentive without being overbearing. We went at noon and the crowd thinned out soon after we arrived. This place gets busy so be prepared to wait! The entryway is small so you may wait outside. read more

We celebrated our son's commissioning into the US Air Force on Sunday. We treated our family and friends to brunch at The Owl Diner. Kelly and the entire staff could not have been more accommodating to our large group! It may not be typical for the diner to accommodate a group of 21 people but the service and food was more than fabulous. The food came out at the same time hot and delicious. And the decor for Memorial Day could not have been more perfect. The staff even presented our son and us with a gift! We can't thank the staff enough! read more

Had breakfast there 2 weeks ago. All our meals were tasty and service was very prompt! I will Definitely go back!!

The Owl Diner is the best diner I have ever been, too ... and I've eaten at a lot of them. The food is perfect diner fare and the staff is fantastic. The waitresses care about you and make sure that everything is just right ... and of course they call you "honey" and are always ready with a coffee refill. The line-chef is Tom Brady with a spatula. While he cooks the eggs, omelets, bacon, potatoes, and butters the toast... he's always listening to the action in the restaurant. He can hear the customers give their orders to the waitresses and then he calls the order back to the kitchen -- in real time -- even before the waitress gives him the ticket. Meanwhile ... he's also carrying on conversations about skiing and fishing with the folks at the counter. Or who the Patriots play on Sunday. I recommend sitting at the counter and watching Tom Brady (I don't think that's his real name ... but if there was a Tom Brady of diner chefs, this guy is him!) Don't worry when he cracks the egg with one hand on the griddle and then blindly whips the shell behind his back right at you. It's headed for the garbage bag under the counter every time for another touchdown. He's a Super Bowl diner-chef MVP. The staff is great. And the food is perfect. If you are near Lowell ... go to the Owl Diner for the best authentic diner experience in America. read more

Wonderful Diner. Been here a few times now for breakfast. Never disappointed

Amazing food, great service, went with 6 people no issue getting a table. Super friendly

This restaurant is one of four owned by sisters. We stopped by on our way back to Maine from the Boston area...easy off I95 but our GPS got confused and it took forever to get back on. But, way more importantly, this place does not disappoint...great breakfast menu and great service. Split an order of the Irish Benedict w/my wife...hash instead of Canadian bacon. Nice touch and great sauce! Servings very generous and easily big enough to split. The ambience is great...an old dining car(?) at base and a lot of (apparent) locals/regulars. Parking sorta sucks but who really cares? Added tip, if you get to Ellsworth, Maine (on the way to Acadia NP), stop by Martha's Diner...another of the four sisters and a similar, if not the same, menu. Almost worth the trip to Massachusetts to find the other two! read more

Good food, fast friendly service. They just started taking credit cards (not for tips though). Classic diner with added room. read more

Visiting our daughter at UMASS Lowell from California! Made the perfect choice of restaurants (diners) for breakfast! Our server Donna was friendly and efficient and the cook, David, was amazing to watch cook and his omelets were amazing!! Super cute dining car restaurant! Highly recommend!! read more

Worst service ever experienced! This place is terrible!!! Food is average at best! My 5 year old can cook better!

Great breakfast joint! I happened to be in Lowell Saturday morning after putting out my chairs for an evening concert at Boarding House Park. It was early so I headed to the Owl for breakfast. At 8:30 am it was filled with diners having breakfast. There were no available street parking spaces, but I found one of the last spots in the adjacent parking lot. As crowded as it was, I was a single so I had no problem finding a seat at the counter. I had the chipped beef on toast, otherwise known as S.O.S., or sh*t on a shingle. Anytime I see this item on a menu, I order it as a nod to my late dad, who as a GI in WWII grew to love it. It was delicious and plentiful. It came with a side of home fries, which were equally delicious. My waitress was really nice and friendly, the prices are very reasonable. This was not my first breakfast at the Owl, and it was as consistently good as previous experiences. I will certainly return. read more

Owl Diner - Diners Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

I have been coming here for years. I would convince hubs to drive back to Lowell from NH just for breakfast while I was pregnant. Its exactly what you are looking for in diner food. The place is casual seat yourself cash only, but the food is great. Sometimes it can be a wait depending on when you are there, but the food is always worth it. The food is named after 'famous' streets in the city and there are familiar faces in the place. All and all, you can feed a family easily and satisfy everyone. read more

My son wanted to try this diner so we made our way over. We didn't get to have breakfast and I know that I won't be going back. My son went inside to get a table while I sought parking. I have a physical disability and there weren't any disabled spaced within view. Rather than tell him that there was a line to be seated, they told him that he couldn't be seated until the entire party had arrived despite him pointing to me through a window. When I got inside, we were still ignored, save the side eye when I tried to get their attention, while regulars bypassed is to the line that we weren't aware of. When I inquired, again, about the wait, the staff actively ignoring us finally mentioned the line. I cannot stand in place for more than a few minutes so we left. Physical pin and disrespect isn't worth $3 eggs. I will seek out minority owned businesses rather than be subjected to this sort of treatment again. read more

So I deviated this morning...from my usual breakfast spot and hit up this Diner in Lowell on a bright and early daylight savings time morning. I knew that "springing" forward an hour would mean that the Diner would be less busy than usual...as what are those stats...like 4 out of 5 dentists will forget to change their clock? Somethin' like that... Now, the Owl Diner is also known as the Four Sisters Diner. Apparently, once upon a time, 4 sisters must have owned this place...you'll see a pic of them in the dining room. And apparently, they really liked Owls. Ok, I dunno if that's quite historically accurate. Maybe b/c at one time it was open really late at night? Hmmm... Anyway, so I ordered two eggs over medium...which came with home fries and toast. I also ordered a single blueberry pancake. I like that they have this option...just a single pancake, but the single is pretty big. The waitress asked me...probably a good 2-3 times if I wanted some sort of meat with the breakfast. To my knowledge, I said no every time...but out came 4 strips of bacon with my meal. So like any good LOLCat would do: "Haz bacon, I eatz dem." What's a LOLCat? C'mon now...where have you been? http://icanhascheezburger.com/ So...THE pancake: "Was this an awesome pancake?", you ask? Well, I ask YOU... "Do cows give milk?" "Does a cheetah have spots?" "Does a camel piss in the desert? "Does a bear poop in the woods? "Does Tiger Woods love punani more than golf?" "Does your 5 yr old have a better vocabulary than George Bush Jr.? YES...My colleagues, friends and fellow Yelpers...if you remember only ONE thing from my review, remember this: These pancakes are the paragon of ALL that is Pancake. Quotes from Celebrities whom have tasted these pancakes: Aunt Jemima: "Shoo-guh...deez are da best pancakes yooz eva gonna eat." Mrs. Butterworth: "Oooh...I never put my syrup on anything BUT these pancakes, honey." George Bush Jr: "The deliciousity of these pancakes is so overwhelmingful." Perfectly grilled on both sides...super fluffy...slathered with butter...syrup over the top. Stuffed this into my noise hole like someone was gonna take it away from me... Eggs: Looked over done, but they were actually perfect...not greasy...and the yolk still runny for some toast dipping. Toast: Small slices of bread are used...and they put more butter on there than should be allowed...which makes it over the top good...and bad. :) Bacon: Perfect combo between crispy and jiggy. Home Fries: Now, I am not a huge fan of home fries...at least in the New England neck of the woods. I prefer shredded up hash browns...but for the area, these are some of the better home fries I've had. They give you plenty of them too. Now, I assume that like most places, piles of potatoes sit idly on the side of the grill, ideally staying warm until people order them up. And that, in itself, is understandable. Diners would be waiting too long for breakfast, if you made every order of home fries "to order". Would have been nice, if they just spatula'd a single serving to the hot side of the grill just to warm em up tho. These, must have been on top of the pile. Tasty...but cold. And you potato lovers out there have to agree...piping hot potatoes are bomb-tastic. Cold potatoes? Um, no, kthxbai. I even noticed two, obviously, regular customers across the dining room...they passed on their plates of home fries too when the plates were bussed from their table. C'mon...if the regulars aren't diggin' something, that should prolly be addressed. Coffee: Good coffee...maybe just a tad on the weaker side, but only b/c they side it up w/ Light Cream as opposed to Half-n-Half... Cost: SO I read that this place is pricy, but really...it's not unreasonable. Some things are priced a little bit high...but most items are average. Some reviewer earlier said that one egg on toast is $4...but that comes with toast and home fries...at least on the menu I saw this morning. Service: So...let me first say, I might be a little spoiled by my regular breakfast spot. There, I am a regular...and we're treated very nicely and warmly. Here...nah-so-much. You only have ONE chance for a 1st impression... I mean, some of the staffers were par for course friendly...but our immediate waitress seemed like we were a bother for her. At one point, she noticed how quickly I scarfed down the awesome pancake..she remarked: "Didn't like the pancake, huh?" So, I participated in what I thought was gonna be a chuckle for both of us and said "Oh no, it was awful..." Not only did she NOT chuckle or crack a smirk, but just lifted my plate away with a blank look...almost as if to say, "Seriously, dude, did you even taste that?" Haha...ok, I might be exaggerating a bit for the story...even so, not the most welcoming of wagons. Conversely, the cute cashier was very gracious...which leads to my final point: CASH ONLY read more

The Owl Diner has it all: great food, warm and attentive service, and a good value. I have been going to the Owl Diner for breakfast years. The food is so good here. From the pancakes to the omlettes, it is prepared with perfection. The pancakes are huge. The home fries are the best I've ever had. I love that you can get baked beans with your breakfast. Breakfast has gotten really expensive everywhere, but the Owl is a good value. Six of us had breakfast for ~70.00, or $11.60 each, which included coffee. read more

This place was actually surprisingly good! From the outside it looks a bit sketchy, but the inside is acceptably clean and the people are really nice. I went for breakfast with my brother and got the pumpkin pancakes. He got the Lawrence St. omelette. Both very tasty. Everything is also pretty inexpensive, which is another plus. I'd definitely come again. read more

Owl Diner - Two pumpkin pancakes ($6.50) - Diners Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

I never feel completely home until I visit Owl Diner. The wait staff is everything you would want in a hole-in-the wall dive and the coffee is so bad it's great. All the omelet's are named after streets in Lowell...I like the Nesmith. Great joint in a great city. read more

why do people go to diners? 1) simple nostalgic breakfast that is served quickly 2) simple transaction, eggs, toast, protein, coffee 3) get that cozy sit down feeling with friends owls diner doesn't do any of those well. 1) it's never good when you have to WAIT for you server anywhere.. especially at a diner 2) they didn't do anything bad here.. it's pretty simple stuff.. no complaints really.. other than they are cash only.. cash only is stupid.. i don't care what you think or say.. this is 2011, not 1995. charge 25 cents more for everything on the menu.. i don't care. 3) the place is tiny, the tables were not leveled and it was grimy. look, owls diner isn't terrible, it's just not that great.. maybe for lowell standards. but when it comes to diners i've experienced much better. it's not 2 star bad.. but it's not 3 star decent.. i wish yelp had half star ratings! read more

Everything a diner should be. Good food, hot coffee, laid back atmosphere and housed in a funky building - an old dining car. Definitely a good place to relax over breakfast on a weekend morning, and pick from the standard diner fare like pancakes, eggs and waffles. Bring cash and a calculator, though, because they don't take plastic and they don't add the bill. (We actually had to run down the street to an ATM to pay for our food.) read more

A group of us volunteer at an area charity nearly every Saturday morning. When finished we usually like to go out for coffee, and a brunch kind of thing and chat. I've been to this establishment twice for breakfast with my volunteer friends on a late Saturday morning. . The first visit was great - We are a group of 10+, seated in the new section, and the service was fantastic... food was average. Nothing special, but again - the service was excellent. The SECOND visit, which was today I am sorry to have to give it a 2 star rating, at best. Saturday morning, close to noon - it wasn't busy. We were only a group of 4 this week. I was the only coffee drinker, and I'll be honest that I'm the type who, when I order it - I need it NOW. Our server took what seemed to be forever... Yikes, it would have been nice if they were making a new pot? to inform me. But that didn't happen. Two of us were served our meals almost immediately. The other 2 waited WAY TOO LONG for theirs- it's not like they had ordered anything elaborate. The server never came near us to even let them know it would be out... nothing. We had to flag down another to inquire... Anyway, by the time they got their food, we were finished... to me that's far from cool. Had we had any indication that would happen, we would have made it clear that we all need to be served at the same time. AND, again- coffee must be at a premium, because I had to wait ages for a second cup! Our breakfasts were so-so, home fries were burnt to the point where they could not be stabbed with a fork.. just pushed aside. What can I say.... no return. We will be finding another place to go next week. read more