The food and atmosphere is great and the servers are nice. The reason for the 3 stars instead of 5 are their ridiculously limited hours, especially for a "diner." They close at 8pm and do not take phone or Uber Eats orders after 7. If you are looking for a diner that has better hours try Plaza Diner, which is also in Shelton. read more

It's always a fantastic meal. We went here three times this trip, twice for breakfast and once for dinner. The menu has something for everyone. The staff are super friendly. It is a nice atmosphere and we are never feeling rushed. I love their make your own omelet. I got mine with spinach, cheese and mushrooms. I could not resist a side of grits both times. I didn't even see they had a side of cheesy grits til after the food came out. My dinner meal was a tuna melt and it came with a ton of tater tots. Very good breakfast the next day! This diner is my aunt's favorite place to eat as it is very close to her house. I hope we get to return to CT again as I am sure this will be one of our stops. read more

See all

The familiarity feels like home every time. Some of my favorites include Alex's hash wrap and the breakfast tacos. The turkey club is also a goodie. The staff are always friendly and welcoming. The tables are clean and bright. The parking lot is never empty. read more

See all

Second time coming here The staff is always welcoming and always finds room to squeeze you in. Parking lot gets a bit tight but if you wait a few minutes you can grab a space. The corned beef is fresh and not canned and the grits are always fresh and without clumps. Eggs Benedict was fresh and the Hollandaise sauce was smooth. The portions are large and the menu is like reading a book. Super casual and good for crowds They take credit card read more

See all

Today is our second visit here in two days - service and food way above average diner level! Portions were healthy enough for leftovers!!! read more

The Riverdale Diner - leftover cheeseburgers - yummy! - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

Planned a last minute brunch with my family 4th of July and was so glad we chose here. I've been here in the past but not in years. The Greek salad with grilled chicken was delightful. Good quality feta, presentation was a 10, plenty of Kalamata olives and pepperoncinis it was so flavorful I really didn't need the salad dressing but it was good quality as well. They had plenty of staff on, the waitress checked on us several times, great service. I'm sure we'll be seeing you again, thanks for a wonderful holiday! read more

The Riverdale Diner - Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken and Greek Dressing - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

Quick spot to stop at, nothing extraordinary, I think this diner gives me more of a cold vibe than a cozy diner Connectican vibe that I'm usually greeted with in northeast diners. The food was okay, the servers were just kind enough that you knew they didn't hate you but not kind enough to go beyond that line of uncertainty. Probably won't return but it's not the worst! Lots of seating! Right by the water is a plus! read more

See all

This was our first visit and we had family in town for the long weekend. We were on our way to the rinks of Shelton and running behind for our reservation for open skating. The manager that welcomed us was incredibly accommodating and got us in and out in under 40 minutes for 8 people on a Sunday. I've never experience service that attentive and will be going back anytime I'm back by the rinks! read more

The Riverdale Diner - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

Happened to be out this way so looked for a place to eat close to where we were. This diner was immaculate! Definitely set up like a diner but had more of a restaurant vibe, if that even makes sense... Service was really good. Waitress was helpful when I asked for suggestions. Our food came pretty fast. My mom got coffee and I noticed her cup had Cromwell Diner on one side and Riverdale on the other. I was surprised since I didn't realize both are owned by the same people. Now we'll have to check out Cromwell diner & compare. I got the Thanksgiving in a wrap. So good!! It's nice to be able to go out and get something different. Love all of that thanksgiving goodness all wrapped up together! My mom got the Knife & Fork Turkey. She loved her meal. Prices were fair & reasonable. They have some great $16.99 meals that include two sides, can't beat that! read more

See all

"And I followed you, big river, when you called" (Johnny Cash) Big is the right word. The Riverdale Diner is big, very big, so is their parking lot, and most imprtantly, so is their menu. It's the kind of diner that would make New Jersey or Long Island proud, and I promise you the Riverdale Diner would fit right into a Route 17 or Sunrise Highway address. I met my brother for an early lunch today and after checking out their very deep menu, he went with a plate of eggs over easy, toast, and a freaking mountain of home fries. Quite the generous portion for a bargain price of $7.50. I went with a $16 Cobb Salad. I order these a lot and $16 is on the higher end of what I usually pay. But, I will say that instead of the usual quarter cup of diced chicken, their salad came with a full chicken breast neatly sliced into slabs. The salad itself was super fresh and came with the usual vegetables plus hard boiled egg, avocado, and pita bread slices. So maybe after all, the value was there! On the other hand, I have a real pet peeve about overpriced soft drinks, so whatever goodwill I had from their Cobb Salad was offset by their $2.99 Diet Pepsi. The Riverdale Diner offers easy access from Route 8, and their parking lot is big and super easy to navigate. So when you take their big menu, decent value, and easy access together, I'd give it a solid 4. Better table service would have pushed it over the goal line into 5 star terrritory. read more

See all

There are diners, and then there are DINERS! The ambiance was comfortable and welcoming. The staff were friendly and attentive and the food was excellent! The experience for my wife and I hearkened back to how diners were in our youth. read more

The Riverdale Diner - Excellent coffee... - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

See all

Great food. Traditional diner. Very clean and friendly. With many diners closing this one seems to be doing very well.

Very good food. Good portions. 10/10. I pass by this place almost everyday and it's usually a full parking lot

im a regular at this diner. today i received my usual order & it tasted funny. i opened it and seen old avocado all brown. disappointed.

Solid diner that is spacious, renovated and has all day breakfast. Not too far from the Merritt Parkway. Everything on our table prompted clean plates all around. Most of us enjoyed the sweet potato fries, which are always a delight. I hadn't had a tuna salad sandwich in ages and it was really delicious. I opted for this as the vegetarian options weren't too plentiful. I didn't see a veggie burger option though that doesn't mean they didn't have. They did offer real maple syrup which is always a plus +++ in my book. Enjoyable meal and outstanding service. Our waitress was a delight! read more

For me, a 4 star is 5 star for a diner. This place is large, plenty of parking and the service was speedy. I asked for a buffalo chicken wrap that wasn't sloppy and they delivered. I was very pleased. The coleslaw was homemade and solid. Overall I had nothing to complain about. Solid. read more

I always come here with my parents and food is always delicious no matter what I order and service is always friendly and quick! Def worth a visit!! read more

See all

I've stumbled across this place because of a sign on the highway. Thought it was really good. Love the corn beef hash. Really good service will be back if I ever drive through this section of Connecticut again read more

The Riverdale Diner - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

I used to work here so I've tried many things here. I have never tasted something and disliked it. The quality of food here is great. Always fresh and tasty. The diner is clean and very spacious. Today we ordered chicken and waffles, which my friend enjoyed. I ordered a breakfast platter but on my home fries I added cheese and gravy. Disco homefries are not on the menu but you can ask and I can guarantee you will be obsessed lol the service was great! Will be back soon! read more

The Riverdale Diner - Breakfast platter. Added cheese and gravy on my home fries - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

See all

Service prices and quality of food very good. Will come back whenever I am in the area. read more

We just moved to Shelton and Riverdale Diner was close by. It was a busy breakfast time but the we were seated right a way. Service was friendly and we didn't wait long for our orders to arrive. The food delish...breakfast food always taste better at a diner! We will return. read more

Excellent food and service was great! Employees were attentive and personable. You have to try it!!

Overall: A great local spot and I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a quick meal. Service: Excellent and friendly staff. Food: Food here is always delicious and never a disappointment. I've had many items on their menu and have never been let down. I really love their burgers. Price: Great! Will I return: Of course! read more

We eat here with our toddler at least once a week. The staff is amazing, they are so welcoming to families and disruptive kids. The ladies there even interact and play with our son so we can eat our food. We love their breakfast options. I'm a fan of their chorizo hash with eggs. I also frequently get their shepherds pie - it's delicious. Their chicken soup is always good, and the sandwiches never disappoint. Definitely the best local diner. Try their specials next time you're there! read more

I like the menu. Showing Fox News in the dining room is NOT a good look. Are you Trump supporters? read more

Best greek salad with Chicken i've had in a long time! Greek dressing was great, chicken was grilled but not dry and romaine was fresh.

Unbelievable how the owner treats the staff! We sat down, he practically threw the menus at us. Server was very sweet, but when we heard and saw him yelling at her...I lost my appetite!! So uncomfortable the way he sits there watching everyone! We ordered coffee...tipped her $10, told her she should quit and walked out!! Never go here!! read more

Came here with my two children. Great server. Found plastic in my chicken fried steak and also found hair in my daughter's pancakes. I did not want to make a big deal out of the situation. I did not expect anything for free but geez at lease replace the food for us... read more

We live closer to many other diners, even better tasting diners...but i'm huge in customer service. Lola has got to be the best waitress, She is a people person, she listens, and she's literally become part of our sunday routine. we ask for her every week even if it's a wait. I refer many people to this diner because of the customer service they do a great job read more

Awesome and affordable diner. Great breakfast. Big portions. Friendly staff. A little loud sometimes.

We were excited to try this diner after seeing the good reviews but as soon as we entered the place, we almost turned around. I'm glad we didn't because the food was delicious but the smell was horrendous. It smells like straight urine in the entire restaurant. Apparently, it's a pretty consistent smell due to an unclean sink in the dining area. The rest of the diner is clean and comfortable and the waitstaff was nice enough. We won't we back again though, eating through the smell is gross. read more

I have been coming here for years. Good food and prices. Sadly, I will never go here again. I was charged $8.50 for a mug of hot apple cider! Not knowing the price, I had two mugs. I was told that was the price bc it was a mimosa! I said there was no alcohol and was told "well that's the price. I guess I should have told you!" Told me??!! These people are crazy. I was told apple cider is expensive. I happened to be grocery shopping and as seen in the picture, you can get a gallon of apple cider for $6! Such a rip off. I will give my business to someone who cares. read more

The Riverdale Diner - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

First time here , was good impression was seated pretty fast though Mother's Day weekend Server was polite Breakfast was chocolate chip pancakes And the brunch wrap. ( two eggs wilted spinach and cheese with a garlic ioli. ) Prices are fair and portions were good too. read more

The Riverdale Diner - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

See all

This is probably the best diner in the area and I mean Fairfield county and valley area. I have never been disappointed. They have great options for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I always look forward to going here when I'm in the area and in need of a meal. The pancakes or omelets are great options for breakfast. The various wraps and sandwiches for lunch. The hot meals are great for dinner. I never have room for dessert although I would like to, as the pies on display in front always look delicious. read more

The Riverdale Diner - Roasted turkey club - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

I'm in town for a wedding and wanted to try something local, as I'm from half way across the country and can get Starbucks, Panera, or Dunkin' at home. The reviews were about 50/50 so I decided to give it a shot. Not only was the restaurant incredibly clean, the staff was welcoming and wonderful, and the food... one of the best breakfasts I've had! I had the potato pancakes, and they were literally to die for! My server, Lola, was also so sweet and nice and took time to give me recommendations of places to go and things to do while I'm here. I will definitely be back for breakfast all the days I'm in town! 10/10 would recommend. Well, I came back for day two, and was beyond impressed again! Today I had the breakfast quesadilla and am apple cider mimosa, which they so perfectly rimmed with cinnamon sugar! It being Saturday they were a lot busier than yesterday, but I felt like I still had the same impeccable service I had yesterday! Jaclyn was very busy with her tables, but still gave me personalized service, which was great! Sad I can't eat here again tomorrow! read more

The Riverdale Diner - Potato pancake breakfast - Diners Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

See all

I used to have great experiences at Riverdale until the last year or so. I just dined there today with my family. I got there at approx 11:23am (judging by a test message I received when I walked in). We only had one menu at the table, and my uncle was told that more menus would be brought over once myself, my husband and my 8 month old daughter had arrived to meet him. No one greeted us, brought menus, water - nothing. At 11:45am I got up and walked to the front after witnessing a table of 5 having been sat, greeted, given their beverages, and placed their order all before we had even been acknowledged. I thought maybe we'd been forgotten or overlooked, maybe a server was unaware they had another table - it was pretty busy. The owner/manager (or whoever he was) was extremely rude when I told him that we had only one menu, hadn't been greeted, and had already been sitting for 15 minutes. He told me that "No, not 15 minutes." and proceeded to say it was too busy and was just completely argumentative. I told him not to argue with me, because I'm merely communicating to him that we've been waiting and I have a 8 month old at the table - which any parent knows it's difficult to keep a baby entertained for long periods of time. Apparently it was so busy that they didn't have enough menus to leave at the table because myself and my husband had not been there yet. He never apologized, just gave me an attitude and insisted I was wrong. I worked in a restaurant for over 8 years and I've been a manager in food service for 5 years. The way he spoke to me was out of line and his need to brush off my concern and feed us excuses of the diner "being busy" rather than apologize and let us know that someone would be over shortly is unsettling to me. Every single time I've been at this diner, it has been insanely busy. If you know that your business is bringing in a high volume of guests, it'd be smart to stock up on necessary items and supplies - i.e. menus. If we had been sitting for 20 minutes looking at the menus themselves to prepare ourselves to order, I don't think it would have been as frustrating as it was to stare at an empty table and wonder if we've been forgotten or overlooked. Our server, Devon, was the only good thing about this experience. I'd rather drive 20 minutes out of our way for a diner managed by individuals who are actually kind and thoughtful when communicating. And if you're reading this, sir, you in the blue baseball cap, monitoring the hostess stand: I highly suggest you find a job in a different field, because hospitality and customer service is a stretch. read more

I must start off by saying "WOW" the service was magnificent that younger boy was our waiter he was very manner-able and respectful, his spirit made us want to stay and keep ordering but we were so full and had to leave but we planned on making this our family diner, thank you Paul for a wonderful service and thank you riverdale for providing a great service. read more

Today was my first visit to Riverdale Diner. Turns out they don't have lemons for your water or tea, no oatmeal, no hash browns, and the coffee was stale. And, too boot, the waiter was rude and impersonal. Enough said. That was my first and last visit. read more

This was ok very busy. The food ok asked for bacon crisp they sent it rarely cooked. Let them know and they sent it back burnt like they put it in the deep fryer or microwave . It had no taste. read more

I can't believe that I have never written a review of this place since I have been here countless times. Basically, the food is excellent, the service past the cash register is meh. You are always greeted warmly. but then it is a bit of a dice roll. Sometimes you get a good host or hostess more often than not, you get an overworked rushed server who is trying to cover WAY TOO MANY guests. Surprised that the management has not hired more people, but it could also be hard to retain people given that this place is always busy. The service is not enough to keep me away though because the food is really good! read more