*** (3 stars)
This unprepossessing diner service traditional coffee shop breakfasts and entrees. Service was friendly and quick. There was nothing particularly special about the potatoes, bacon and eggs, but nothing wrong with them either. The biscuit was served more like a square of corn bread, and was pretty good. Coffee was just OK.Winter Garden Restaurant
7 S Dillard St
Winter Garden, FL
34787
(407) 656-7052
https://www.yelp.com/biz/winter-garden-restaurant-winter-garden
**** (4 stars)
This is an authentic diner in the time-honored tradition of roadside eateries. While it may not have the nostalgic decor of a movie-set diner, the menu has all the right items, and the staff is friendly and welcoming, which keeps the regulars coming back.Linda’s Winter Park Diner
1700 W Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL
32789
(407) 775-2288
https://www.yelp.com/biz/lindas-winter-park-diner-winter-park
All star breakfast
Interior
Exterior
*** (3.5 stars)
You know what? Waffle House has good food.
I know, I know, they’re kind of low-brow, old fashioned, tacky, but that can be fun. And I would put their All-Star breakfast up against Denny’s, Keke’s or First Watch any day.
My over easy eggs were perfectly cooked, the super crispy bacon was full of flavor–as was the waffle–and the hashbrowns were well done as I requested. Coffee was decent and the service was attentive. What more can you ask?
Waffle
6990 W Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL
32818
(407) 293-8048
https://www.yelp.com/biz/waffle-house-orlando
Interior
Exterior
Breakfast sandwich
Grilled banana nut muffin
***** (5 stars)
This place could serve as the set for the musical Waitress. It’s and old-fashioned neighborhood diner where everyone knows your name and remembers your order.
The food is well prepared classic diner food that avoids being too heavy or greasy while still achieving that traditional sinful goodness.
If you like your meal served with a dose of friendly cheer this is the place.
Sharon’s Homestyle Cookin’
5667 S Orange Ave
Pine Castle, FL 32809
(407) 856-9565
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sharons-homestyle-cookin-pine-castle
Exterior
Triple Decker club with Cole slaw
**** (4 stars)
Avalon Diner offers classic diner food, but in a modern building that also has a nice outside seating area.
My triple-decker club was very good, with nice crisp lettuce and tomato, and generous mayo. I liked the option of getting ham or beef instead of the classic turkey.
Service was very friendly and attentive.
Avalon Diner
16106 Marsh Rd
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 614-4233
https://www.yelp.com/biz/avalon-diner-winter-garden
Breakfast burrito
Exterior
Interior
**** (4 stars)
Carol’s is an old-fashioned diner, the kind you see in television shows from the 60s. The decor, food and service are exactly as you would expect. Many of the customers are regulars who are greeted by name. You can pretty much get anything they’ve got ingredients for. The preparations are straightforward and generous.
Carol’s Place
3421 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 251-8860
https://www.yelp.com/biz/carols-place-orlando
*** (3 stars)
This simple cafe offers Vienna all beef hotdogs in the atrium of a venerable old building. It’s a nice place to stop for a bite while enjoying the ornate trim of the historic building.
Pittsfield Cafe
55 E Washington St
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 641-1806
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pittsfield-cafe-chicago
***** (5 stars)
If there is a better omelette on the face of the planet, I have yet to find it. I’ve been going here for thirty years, and even through a change in ownership and expansion into the space next door, the omelettes have remained transcendental.
My favorite is the Special Omelette, which contains bacon, green chilis and sour cream. A mound of hash browns form the base, then come the ingredients, and then a fluffy egg disc the size of a frisbee. Ask for your hash browns well done for the ultimate omelette enjoyment experience.
Haroldâs Restaurant
2440 E Thousand Oaks Blvd
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
(805) 230-3147
http://www.yelp.com/biz/harolds-restaurant-thousand-oaks
***** (5 stars)
Wow. Service with a capital S! I’ve been to fine dining restaurants where I haven’t gotten this level of service.
I was always a fan of the Village Inn when they were in Florida in the 90s, and was sad to see them close most locations, so it’s nice to have them back.
This location had only been open a week when I went, and corporate management was still very hands-on, but it was clear that they were looking for extraordinary service personnel, and they found them. Everyone I encountered was extremely into their job.
The interior of the space is light and modern. I particularly liked the “technology bar” where I sat. I had the same thing I used to always have, a breakfast skillet, and it was prepared just the way I wanted.
Coupled with the attentive and friendly service, it was exactly what I’m looking for in a coffee shop breakfast, and I’ll definitely return.
Village Inn Winter Garden
3130 Daniels Rd
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 654-0736
http://www.yelp.com/biz/village-inn-winter-garden-winter-garden
**** (4 stars)
This IS you father’s diner. Or maybe your grandfather’s. In fact, he may still be eating here.
Golden Olympic is like stepping back into the fifties, in terms of ambiance, service and food. True, there are some Greek (and even a few Asian) items on the menu, but basically it’s a diner.
I went with the Greek theme, since there was a photo of Santorini on the wall, and had the Village Sandwich, which consisted of feta cheese, olives, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions with Tzatziki sauce, rolled in a pita.
Good choice. It was refreshing, tasty and yet light like a salad.
It came with a choice of sides, and to offset the healthfulness of the sandwich I chose onion rings.
Bad choice. They were the kind of onion rings you buy in the frozen food department and bake until they’re crunchy, except these hadn’t made it to crunchy.
Service was pleasant in a detached, 50s waitress kind of way.
This is the first restaurant I’ve been in for a decade that had an FM radio station playing. But it was music from the 70s, so I guess they’re going modern.
All in all a fun trip down memory lane, and a good spot for breakfast or a sandwich.
Golden Olympic Restaurant
1608 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 328-1617
http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-olympic-restaurant-evanston