The Diner is a popular breakfast, brunch, and lunch restaurant near Universal Studios. It is known…read morefor its New York style comfort food and creative breakfast and brunch dishes. It is a family owned restaurant founded by New York natives who noticed a gap in Central Florida for high quality, authentic New York style diner food.
The original location opened on Universal Boulevard in the Lake Cay area, near Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. The restaurant quickly became popular with both locals and vacationers looking for an alternative to the standard hotel breakfast buffet. Following the success of the Universal Boulevard location, the owners expanded to additional Central Florida locations, including Lake Buena Vista and Dr. Phillips.
The Diner has gained attention for its creative twists on classic comfort food. One of its signature dishes is the Bennyffle a combination of Eggs Benedict served over a waffle. The menu also features specialty cereal pancakes, including Fruity Pebbles and Oreo Crunch, along with classics such as chicken and waffles.
In July 2026, the Universal Boulevard location even became the center of a viral national news story after a family of seven including children reportedly walked out on a $298.47 breakfast bill. The story highlighted how hard family businesses work and how an incident like this can affect them.
I recently met up with a group of friends at The Diner for brunch. The Diner can get crowded, and they do not take reservations. I am grateful that one of my friends arrived very early to wait for a table for our group.
The diner offers a selection of coffee drinks as well as alcoholic beverages, making it a festive spot for brunch. Since I had a long day ahead, I stuck with coffee and ordered the signature chicken and waffles. The combination was delicious. The crispy, savory fried chicken was the perfect partner to the soft, buttery waffles, while the warm, sweet maple syrup contrasted to the salty chicken. It was a very large portion and I really enjoyed my meal. The service was excellent, and the staff were very accommodating when we needed several separate checks.
I loved my visit to The Diner, and the experience was made even better by sharing brunch with a great group of friends. Good food, friendly service, and even better company made for a memorable morning.