Man, to be brutally honest, I was a bit disappointed! I had heard about this place for about 1.5 years now. My buddy at work told me about it, as well as a couple of my Yelp friends have reviewed it. It sounded like a cool concept, it was open late, and some of the food items sounded fantastic. Me and my buddy had some time to kill before picking up a friend at the airport, so we decided to stop by for some late night grub. I browsed the menu for a bit and decided to go with an order of poutine, and a Bumblebee sandwich. Total for those 2 things was a little over 20 bucks! STEEP! Anyways, here is how they were............. Poutine- These were some fries topped with sausage gravy and cheddar cheese. A bit different than a "traditional poutine", but close enough? The fries themselves seemed a bit overcooked, like they were left in the fryer an extra 20 seconds or so. They were a bit brown, but not really "crispy". The sausage gravy tasted ok, and the melted cheddar was kind of "meh". It wasn't a horrible plate of fries, but no way in hell does it justify the $9.00 price tag. There were actually fries left on the plate (That rarely happens!) when we were done! I would not get them again. Bumblebee- This was a biscuit sandwich which came with chicken, mustard, honey and pickles. The chicken was fried proper and tasted alright, but the portion was skimp and the texture of the chicken was just a bit "off". The biscuit itself was incredibly large, but a bit dry. I had a similar experience up in Portland at Pine State Biscuits. Rave reviews, but when it came to the biscuit, the biscuit was sub par. What's up with that? It's your signature item, but unless you drown it with gravy/sauce/mustard/something else, the biscuit just isn't that great! The pickles may have been the best part of the sandwich. Lame, right? I ate the whole thing, but was not truly satisfied. For $10.00, I wouldn't buy it again. Overall, not that impressed! Service was friendly, and the joint is a cool little spot, but the food is just ok and the price is really expensive (IMO). Once was enough and I highly doubt that I will be back. There are just so many other places I would rather drop $20.00 at for a meal. Exactly what 2 stars is..."Meh...I've experienced better!" read more

Welcome Diner - Poutine. Eh..just ok. - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I wanted to like this place so bad because of many great reviews but didn't happen for me. The place looks cute with the outdoor seating but the food and drink of what I ordered just didn't meet my expectations. I had the sunrise and the super watered down hibiscus lemonade. The Sunrise biscuit texture was so dry and not tasty. The Canadian bacon was also dry. This sandwich needed major sauce or something to compliment the dryness. The 3 cubes of watermelon tasted like it's been sitting out for hours. The lemonade didn't taste like lemonade nor hibiscus. So bummed that I didn't get a great experience. I don't think I will come back. read more

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Cute, family-friendly place with a really nice outdoor eating space and awesome vegan options. The vegan breakfast bowl was truly one of the best versions of tofu scramble I've had. The tofu was seasoned and cooked perfectly, mixed with lots of veggies and breakfast potatoes -- then topped with a heap of fresh arugula and a delectable aji aioli. Loved it! Vegans have a ton to chose from here, and the non-vegan options my family had all looked great too, especially the whipped cream french toast. They were accommodating of my toddler, serving him a plain and bunless vegan dog and yummy fries that tasted fresh-cut. The patio/yard was really great for the kiddo too, he could run around without bugging other patrons and there are a few rocking horses he could climb on. read more

Super cool spot! Great outdoor patio with a great view of Phoenix. There is even a little playground there for littles!

The food was unique and the flavors non traditional. It isn't family friendly and the food was okay. The customer service was great. Good experience but wouldn't come back. Maybe more for a younger crowd to hangout at. read more

Cutest place with delicious eats we tried the jackfruit po boy and welcome burger both delicious!! The chips and fries are also phenomenal. The chipotle sauce I asked for on the side tasted like it had real chipotle peppers in it (very hot) which is good for anyone that likes their SPICE!! read more

Welcome Diner - Jackfruit poboy and welcome burger - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We had an absolute blast here! Got drinks, meals, and desert, all of it was amazing! The staff was also so kind and so sweet! I highly recommend this place! read more

Welcome Diner - Drinks - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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The BIBIBIBIG JIM was sooooo delicious! I was scouring through DT PHX looking for brunch after church. Yelp lead me in many directions that had either too long of a wait or not exactly what I was looking for. Then I stumbled upon Welcome Diner (WD) and that monster of a chicken biscuit. I'm a southern boy so I like biscuits. I also like biscuits and gravy, but then you top it all off with biscuits and gravy with a fresh piece of chicken between it...*sound of heavens trumpets playing.* it is hot in a Phoenix summer, but I still love the ability to sit outside, and WD had plenty of shaded, mister seating. Plus they had plenty of drink choices, and the Arnold Palmer had fresh squeezed tarty lemonade, my favorite. Job well done WD! I'll be back. read more

Welcome Diner - Big Jim - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

When it comes to service, atmosphere, and menu breadth, Welcome Diner is tough to beat and I totally get their Yelpy popularity. Those three things alone bring Welcome Diner firmly into four star territory in my book, but my biscuit sandwich was a tad bit disappointing to the point where I'm shying away from the full gravity of the hype surrounding this place. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? Welcome Diner crushes I when it comes to their service and atmosphere. This is a step right into the past but with some refreshing progressive flair that's executed upon by genuinely kind and caring folks. I had a full fledged conversation with my server and bartender that was memorable even though I'd spent the rainy evening restaurant hopping all over DTPHX. Star. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? $10.00 is a logical price point for a premium biscuit sandwich, and that's exactly what I paid for a rather large Bumblebee sandwich. Star. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? This bumblebee sandwich was good, but it didn't blow me away for a few reasons. For starters, my bar for biscuit sandwiches has been placed impossibly high thanks to Pine State Biscuits in Portland, Denver Biscuit Company, and Biscuit Bitch in Seattle. While my biscuit here at Welcome Diner was fine, I wouldn't have been impressed with it if I were eating it by itself, but such is life when you're creating (slightly overcooked) biscuits to serve the purpose of sandwiching an sandwich. From there, the cut of chicken was fine and the honey and mustard a nice touch, but there was simply something missing here the kept this from being a truly A-Class sandwich. Single Star. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Imperfect biscuit aside, Welcome Diner is fantastic and is worthy of your visit in Phoenix. Star. read more

Welcome Diner - Bumblebee: $10.00 - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

After a few bumps in the road, post re-opening during a global pandemic, I can firmly say Welcome Diner is back to being our favorite neighborhood eatery. It's .4 miles from our house in the Garfield so it's super convenient & we have been coming since it was the tiny diner on Roosevelt. It's got classic American fare with a southwest twist & an amazing cocktail list. & the house made fruit punch is literally the best thing you can ever drink when you're thirsty after a hot Arizona day. I am big fan of their vegetarian & plant based options like the jackfruit fries, the Animal (beyond meat burger), & even their Brussel sprouts! They recently added plant based hot dogs which I haven't tried, but look forward to! Their Mac & cheese is a go-to & consistently delicious every time. I love that they use Noble bread, too! It's sooo perfect! Especially on their grilled cheese, which is a favorite of my boyfriend's. He also loves the poutine fries & their French toast options! If you're looking for a great spot with an awesome outdoor patio, for social distancing needs or just for enjoyment, it has tons of seating & great vibes of the neighborhood. Do yourself a favor & give Welcome Diner a visit! They have made great strides in actively improving the customer experience & it's greatly appreciated! read more

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Came here with a friend around 930p last Friday night. I've always heard about this place and wanted to try it. It definitely delivered, we got the cornbread with the cayenne honey butter, and it was godly. My friend got the mac & cheese which he said was pretty amazing and I got the peanut butter bacon burger with a side of poutine fries. My buddy also got an old-fashioned and I got a Paloma served in a grapefruit Jarritos bottle. I can't wait to go back here. read more

The food is very good. Southern style with an island influence. Yes, that sounds wierd; try the Jackfruit fries and you will see what I mean. The plate is fries and very spicy Jackfruit drizzled in a Carolina mustard style BBQ sauce. We had biscuits and gravy and Jambalaya. Both were very good. The cook likes things on the spicy side and that's fine with me. The venue is also open until 2 AM - one of the few places to eat downtown after about 9 most nights. I am deducting one star for the house management. Inside seating is very limited. There are about 8 tables and 8 barstools. They have outside seating with window service...no outside wait staff. On a hot night, you want to be inside. The problem, from my point of view, is that the management let's patrons linger - for hours. In a less crowded restaurant, I enjoy the opportunity to take my time and eat my meal. It is nice to not have the staff trying to turn the table as quickly as possible. It does not work here. We watched and waited while groups sat at the tables long after their meals had concluded and just talked. The host said, "People like to just sit in the A/C so they don't have to go outside." Fair enough. I will go back but, if I can't get an inside seat, I won't wait around. A simple policy like, you have to order food to sit inside would go a long way to relieve the situation and would make the place more profitable too. read more

Welcome Diner - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This place is a nice throwback restaurant. I really enjoy the outside dining experience. Big trees for shade for the day time, plenty of seating for the night. I ate the Jalapeño burger, was so good I didn't even take a picture of it. I recommend every at least try this charming space. read more

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I ordered the Big Jim which is a fried chicken biscuit sandwich with egg and some white gravy. I also got the poutine fries which is fries with cheese and white gravy. The food is decent. Chicken was pretty good but overall, the food doesn't blow me away. I wouldn't come back. The server was a bit rude. I asked for a fork and he said isn't there one right there on my plate. I said it was dirty. He gave me the fork but c'mon, don't give attitude and give the customer what they want. read more

Welcome Diner - Fried chicken biscuit - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I've been here twice now and both times, I've had a great experience. It's a pretty laid back spot with a retro vibe. There are plenty of seats inside and outside. The staff were super friendly, great customer service! This time I tried their fried green tomatoes sandwich and jackfruit fries. Both were outstanding. But the sandwich...was the best thing I've eaten at Welcome diner. The flavor and texture was the perfect combination you want in a sandwich. 10/10! I would highly recommend this item. read more

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One of the best burgers! But fries were disappointed. Servers were nice. Restaurant was clean but no decoration.

A retro diner moved down Route 66 to Phoenix. Had to try it out. Night I went here, it was a nice evening and we got a table. Wish they had 2 tops, but benches became family eating spots. Son got the bbq fries and really enjoyed it. He would get the slaw on the side. I got the Big Jim that was fried chicken, cheddar, bacon, gravy and topped with a fried egg. The biscuit and chicken were good and it was a solid dish. The Brussels sprouts were not what I was expecting. A little too cooked and dry. Mixed it in the gravy and still not my southern cooking. It is a cool place and service is excellent. Try it out if in the area. read more

Welcome Diner - BBQ fries torn into - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

In all fairness, I feel like if it was 12 AM on a Saturday and I wrote this review after I went to have a drink and have anything but Jack N the Box, I would have given it 4 stars ( atleast) ... but it was Saturday at 5 PM and I was sober as F&#^. Went with the kid trying to try new spots. First, and foremost the menu is specific and limited. Had I ordered a simple burger or something, I may have given them a 2, as they seemed to know what they were doing back there when It comes to hamburgers. Perhaps , that's what they should just stick to.. burgers. Ya know , having a limited and specific menu isnt bad. It gives you just enough room to make food your amazing at making. My son ordered a burger and fries... no complaints. I ordered some type of strange soup.... its wasnt a soup...at all! It was more like a bowl of...stuff with over cooked rice. It tasted like gravy! ( seriously) My old fashion, wasnt. We sat out side at first.... and we were attacked by flies. The whole outside is a bug/ fly haven, it was gross. went inside, and flies were just buzzing around with no cares or worries in the world. That napkin and fork in the pic...is covering my drink from the flies! I would like to suggest the employees all dress in at least the same shirt. One waitress had gym attire, the other a black tee , looked like he just rolled out of bed. I wouldn't return, unless it was 12 am and i wanted a burger..and fries. read more

Welcome Diner - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

It has been a few years since I've been to welcome diner, but I recall some delicious food. This was arguably the most disappointing burger I've had in my life. an emaciated 3 ounce patty, well done (I asked for medium rare) with lackluster condiments and toppings only vaguely resembling their promised description, all served up after 30 minutes (they were not all that busy nor understaffed) with room temperature fries by a seemingly disinterested waiter. The place is in mid hipstetrville in Central Phoenix, So at least the environment was enjoyable I will definitely read the reviews before returning. Just Boo read more

This place is hit and miss. Really good egg Benedict options, and a nice patio to sit outside. There can be a bee and fly problems. The food is mid but still worth it. They got a burger with peanut butter on it that is really good. read more

Okay so I was super excited to try this place...they had some yummy looking vegan and vegitarian options...we ordered mac and cheese and the Fried green tomatoe sandwich. He added bacon to the mac so I didn't try it...he said it was "powdery" and the bacon could have been crisper. I had the Fried green tomatoe sandwich but considering I just came from South Carolina I may be a little bias....but there were good well seasoned the bread was so good however some component of the sandwich causes the bottom bun to be wet...which made it kinda messy. Also the sandwich came with watermelon and there were 3 little pieces...so we added fries on the side. The fries where the then hand cut ones so still has skin on them which I love! All in all it was good and I would love to try some of the other options!! read more

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The staff were friendly and welcoming, the cocktails were fantastic, but the food, the food was buried in salt. We really wanted to love this place, but they're suffering from the mindset of salt is flavor. Go here for the cocktails and enjoy the ambience, but stay clear of the food. read more

2nd time at the Welcome Diner. First time I had one of the biscuit chicken sandwich with the mac and cheese - - both were delicious. Came by tonight for a late dinner and had the jambalaya. When it came out at first, I was a bit turned off by tge appearance. It resembled a dish of burnt hash. However, despite the appearance, it was quite delicious and the sourdough bread dead great too. I'd order the jambalaya again. The most outstanding part of dinner was the chocolate chess pie. Amazing... That's all I can say. It was like a pie made out of the most delightful brownie pudding (for a lack of a better way to describe it). Try it... You won't regret this delicious decision that comes from their Chicken and Donuts restaurant from what I found out. read more

Welcome Diner - Jambalaya - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Lovely establishment with good food and a nice seating area during any time but the summer, as it's outside. Indoor seating is available but limited. Staff is super nice and coffee is good too. read more

What a fun place to have chicken and biscuits. Very small with a larger outdoor area. If you have a hankering for fried chicken this is the place. The biscuits were amazing. Light with substance. A joy to eat. I wanted more The fried chicken was not greasy and super moist. read more

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A HIDDEN GEM! This is the best little hidden diner in Phoenix. The food was SO GOOD! and the vibes are super cool. Also pretty affordable dinner as well. My wife and I both got burgers. Mine was the PBB and a 10/10! Would definitely come back! We're about a half hour from here and it was worth the drive. Only thing I wish they had was milkshakes! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more business reviews: @OrangeStateMedia and my website: Orangestatemedia.com read more

We felt adventurous and started with an appetizer of jackfruit fries. We didn't realize jackfruit was actually severed on top of a bed of french fries. We thought jackfruit was cut up like fries. We were pleasantly surprised! Fries were cooked perfectly! Jackfruit was full of flavor and pickled cabbage on top really added an extra burst of flavor. I highly recommend giving jackfruit fries a try! I ordered chorizo meatloaf. It was very tasty as well. I would definitely order this again. Although, I'd like to try some of the other menu items first. Staff is very friendly and service was great. We'll be back to try some of the other items. Especially dessert! We were to full to try dessert this time. read more

Welcome Diner - Chorizo meatloaf - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

O-ver-rated. The ketchup and refrigerated butter were excellent, as was the salt. Over priced. Music is just a tad too loud, but, overall, great atmosphere if you don't mind the hot weather or want to impress a date. In all seriousness, Waffle House would have been a much, much better choice. I just don't know how this joint could have so many positive reviews. read more

Absolutely disappointing experience. The "shoestring" fries were a plate full of burned and cold fry leftovers. The Windy City Chicago style dog had about half a bottle of mustard slathered and no aioli, and the dog looked uncooked pink color. The biscuits and gravy were cold and tasted day(s) old. We also paid $10 for two jarrito sparkling waters. That is exorbitant. read more

Nice patio, love how the people who work there are passionate about the place. The burger was good. It felt like it was a southern menu with a Trendy touch. I also had the Brussel sprouts which were nice read more

Welcome Diner - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

If you are looking for something that has a retro laidback vibe with great tasting food, then look no further. The food is very tasteful and not overly salty, perfect for someone looking for quality food and a different atmosphere with great service. read more

Welcome Diner - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This place was okayyy. You can sit inside or outside. If you want to sit inside, proceed inside instead of waiting in the line that will form outside. My husband and I found the food pretty dry and flavorless. It was great quality but lacking flavor. The staff and chefs are sooo kind though! Loved the good vibes of this small diner. read more

Welcome Diner - Breakfast sandwich - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Super cute place in the Garfield neighborhood! Great variety in food since they even have some vegetarian options as well as alcoholic drinks!! It's a little pricey $$$-$$$$ for the food options (especially since you walk up and order) or we would go more often since it's our neighborhood read more

Food is bomb - menu is small and mighty! Chicken sandwich a great local spot! Walk up window & outdoor and indoor seating! read more

Welcome Diner - Outside - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Great spot! Food was great? I had the fried green tomato sandwich and husband had the spicy Mikey. The weather was too cold to enjoy the patio but I'm sure in the spring it will be a cool spot to be. read more

Welcome Diner - Fried Green Tomato Sandwich - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We waited what seemed like forever, on a Sunday about noon, to be seated indoors for breakfast but we're never seated so we left and went to Mexican restaurant across the street, which was fabulous. read more

Super hip outdoor eatery. Headed down at 12:30 to try their food. Had people coming and going the whole time with a great patio area and lots of seating We ordered the Big Jim with an egg, the PB&BB, poutine and mac and cheese with bacon. They have great sausage gravy. The mac and cheese was amazing and portion was very large as was all the food. Great friendly staff and a wonderful experience. I'll be back. read more

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What a wonderful first visit on a perfect night. Tried numerous items on the menu and the cocktails were spot on. Been on my list awhile and glad finally made it; will be back frequently. A hidden gem, hidden in a neighborhood. Love it! read more

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Ordered the fried chicken and biscuit sandwich. It was flavorful and fresh. Could have been a bit bigger considering it was not served with any sides other than a few pieces of watermelon and our bill came out to $12. Service was good and everyone was very friendly. Very interesting vibe in the restaurant, you get 1970s feels mixed with diner/home cooking vibes so Definitely somewhere to check out for late night drinks and eats. read more

Welcome Diner - Fried chicken & biscuit - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Everything works about Welcome Diner. The dining space: Gorgeous, unique, well-lit, cute, comfortable, clean. The service: Solid service from a friendly "hipsterish" wait staff. Was checked on by numerous individuals throughout our meal. Each had a smile on their face and just seemed to be genuinely happy people who were content to be at work. I appreciated that the wait staff were just being themselves, and were not being fake nice in order to receive a better tip. Authenticity is underrated. The food: Fantastic. Great execution with high quality ingredients. We arrived for brunch. I had a "Bumblebee" (fried chicken, honey, biscuit) and country potatoes, which were both perfect. My wife had the "Big Jim", which was fried chicken, cheddar, bacon, and sausage gravy on a biscuit. I'm not sure if I heard her say two words after her food was delivered - she was concentrating intently on the culinary work of art before her. My son had the Biscuit Eggs Benedict and loved it as well. Price was a little high. Over $40, tip and taxes not included, for some potatoes and three breakfast sandwiches is high. It WAS certainly worth the money though, and we plan to return when we visit the area again this winter. Highly recommended. read more

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