The Ultimate New York Diner Experience

By Written by Alexandra Dauz on August 11th, 2010

The Manhattan Diner is located on the upper west side of New York City. Don’t let the quiet surrounding streets fool you.. the inside of this place is hustling and bustling all day long. And why shouldn’t it be? This is one of the best diner’s I’ve ever eaten at. The prices are pretty average for a NYC diner (most meals ranging from $10-$20).

I ordered the grilled portobello salad, because I can never resist a good portobello. I thought the mushrooms were going to steal the spotlight, but I was surprised how many tasty surprises they could throw into one dish. The salad not only had mushrooms, but marinated string beans, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, and then all the usual salad fixin’s as well. The dressing was delightful, and the vegetables weren’t drowning in it which is always a plus. Also, the portions were huge. I couldn’t finish the whole thing and I consider myself to have a big appetite. If you do find yourself at the Manhattan Diner, I would also recommend the Mediterranean platter. It too was large. The hummus was smooth and flavorful, but my favorite part of it was the ginger tahini sauce. I know tahini sauce, and this was definitely a good one. The platter also had fresh pita bread, grilled vegetables, and baba ganoush.

During my dining experience at the Manhattan Diner, majority of the people around me ordered breakfast items despite it being 2:00 in the afternoon. I’m guessing they were locals who knew their way around the place. The pancakes came in sets of three and they took up the entire plate. They were covered in fresh fruit, syrup, and butter and looked delectable. Next time I stop by I’ll probably sample something off the breakfast menu to see what all the fuss is about.