I usually LOVE this place, especially at night, but tonight is probably the last time I come in, and I didn't even take a seat. I'm pretty understanding that things happen, as "things have happened" here before that impacted our order, but it was always handled well. However tonight, we barely made it through the door. When our party of four walked in, the African American waitress looked us up and down, staring with some sort of attitude. I thought, for a moment, that we're blocking her way, so I left space for her to pass, but she stayed standing there. After a few seconds, she says, "ARE YOU DINIIIIING?" Well, of course. That's why we're here. As she asked this, one member of our party was speaking with a white man behind the counter who said that they're busy and that it would be 30 to 40 minutes before we got our food. Usually, I would wait, but the totality of the VERY short situation dictated otherwise. read more

We had an awful experience here last Sunday. Service was just terrible. They seated us in the back room, typically used for events and nearly forgot about us. Our waiter brought our drinks, spilled some of the coffee and left some napkins for my father to clean it up himself and never returned to pick up the napkins. Then after taking our orders and considerable time had passed, we all needed drink refills. We had to wave our server over to get those. Two of people I was with ordered toast that was not delivered until one person had already finished their breakfast. The food was mostly good except for the oily scrambled eggs and undercooked bacon. My husband and I used to frequent this restaurant occasionally for breakfast, but they will be coming off our list. read more

I just left the restaurant and it was the WORST experience I have ever had. Jackie- our server was in such a hurry we barely could order. My boyfriend wanted tea ... But didn't have time to specify sweet or not. So after 4 times of her walking by us we finally ordered food. I request no blue cheese- because I am allergic and my boyfriend ordered two chilling dogs (not knowing they had beans). Our food came out and luckily my boyfriend took the first bite- there was blue cheese all over the sandwich. She grabbed the plate and walked away. Second sandwich came out and within one bite, there was a bone. I was so boiled that I no longer wanted to eat. Did I mention it was the first time there? So, my boyfriend went to the front because we had enough, and they took off my order. That's when Jackie came over and asked if my food was ok. I instantly showed her the bone and she goes "ugh, I'm sorry". My boyfriend paid for his food and we left without even waiting for something else to go wrong. The ONLY good thing, is the red velvet piece of cake we were compensated for. We took it home and I am enjoying it while I write this. We have been looking for a breakfast spot and someone told us about this place. I WILL NEVER BE BACK. I will tell everyone I can my experience. My morning, let's just say, isn't going so well. Oh, for you long legs, be careful because there is an awkward bar that runs right through your leg room. The star, is for the cake. Oh, I never once saw or heard from a manager. I would go back and get the red velvet cake, but clearly they don't care what so ever to even contact or talk to us. Anyone has referrals for good red velvet cake? read more

Amphora Diner - Red velvet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

Host apologized four times for a server's rudeness to us. Server was a lady with glasses, possibly Indian. We were a party of two, arrived there a little before midnight, and only ordered coffee and desserts. He explained she was tired. She was so tired that she used her bare hands to grab our slices of cake from the case up front in full view and flicked the crumbs from her fingers to the floor. She unceremoniously dumped the plates on the table while telling us they were out of one of them with and walked off. No attempt to offer something else that they actually did have. Coincidentally, she seemed much more pleasant to a group of people who were possibly the same ethnicity as her. I guess we were the wrong race to be eating there. Desserts were so-so, definitely sloppily served, but the server's rudeness was pretty inexcusable. From what I've read here, I'm not the first to mention her and won't be the last. read more

Hi, Hopefully this review of 1 star reflects just a blip and if it is and things have improved the next time I go (which will be quite a while from now), the rating will hopefully be upgraded. A few nights ago, a friend and I went there for dinner. I had the London Broil along with a baked potato and a salad. I've been coming here since they first opened and in the past you always got a vegetable with your entree so here are the changes: My London Broil was overcooked. Instead of medium it came out well done. Plus it was just a few strips of meat and not like in the past where you got actual slices. The baked potato was way undercooked and quite hard. No side vegetable came with the entree when that used to be included. Apparently that's a recent change. My friend ordered steak and eggs (she ordered her steak rare but it came out very well done). The eggs were ordered over easy but came out hard and rubbery. The potatoes were the only part that she said we're good. My friend and I have eaten there since they opened their doors and when we expressed our disappointment (the first time ever) we were offered two complimentary desserts but there was no other compensation for the very poor and almost inedible dinner. The waitress was as nice as could be but the manager couldn't be bothered to check on us or offer any apology or compensation except the 2 free desserts the waitress brought. I don't know when I'll go back given I've been a very long time customer so hopefully this was a blip but given we spent close to $40 for such a lousy meal and the manager acted like he could care less it won't be anytime soon. read more

What?! Only 3 stars, I'm starting to wonder what the heck is really good... My family and I came here for brunch and loved it! In fact my family came here twice, and the second time I got to try the place out. We were only here for a 4 day visit! The menu is huge and if you are comparing the chain diners like a Denny's or an IHOP, it can't even compete with this place! I mean this is a little more upscale, they do catering and have a more modern presentation from the pictures on the menu to the food that is served. They serve LaVazza coffee here - I drank cups of this stuff. My sister and I split the Cobb Salad and it was pretty awesome. My dad thought it looked so good that he stabbed his fork in my sister's plate after she and I split it. The chili had a robust flavor, my sister doesn't even usually like it and liked it here. I had the Eggs Benedict Oscar or Francaise (I can't remember - it's the one with beef) it was pretty good - though I should have done the one with crab because I love crab so much. I was just trying to change it up. The portion was big and I was glad that I didn't order a side of bacon or sausage since I didn't even finish all my Eggs Benedict. My mom had this mango chicken wrap that looked good, and she said it tasted good, too. My sister had this turkey sandwich that I forgot what it was called and I had a bite. It had a very good flavor combination. I think the place kind of specializes in the Mediterranean realm of things. My dad was very happy with his Mediterranean fish dish that I ordered for him, and he ate it ALL! We tried a couple of desserts the Bavarian and the Strawberry cheesecake. I mean it makes sense that they have a bakery, because the stuff is just so good. Yeah, I don't think IHOP or Denny's is out there making creations like this. There's only 2 Amphora's I think out in VA or anywhere, so stop in and try the place out. Our server - what an angel putting up with 10 hungry Asians. He knew his stuff what they were out of and what we should try. The prices are very reasonable. I bought some cookies to share at work, but they weren't that good. That was the only disappointing thing. read more

From the outside, this looks like exactly what you want from a diner. However, like many places with extensive menus the food is really hit or miss. I got the Mediterranean wrap, which was tasty and had excellent pita, and my husband got the breakfast pizza, which was bland. The "pizza dough" described was just a pita and did not taste like a pizza. It was soft. The fries and tzatziki were excellent. Service was good. I will go again, but will probably stick to the Mediterranean items on the menu. read more

These service has consistently gotten worse. On last nights visit the number of patrons was more telling than anything. It was the least crowded I've ever seen it on a Friday evening at dinner. There were actually more people inside the tiny soul food restaurant two doors down. Between the three tables that were sat and the constant shouting that was happening between the staff I don't think I'll be back. There are too many other good restaurants in the Herndon Reston area. read more

I been eating at the Amphoras in Vienna for over a decade, and have been eating at this Amphora in Herndon off and on for about 8 years I think. This place is seriously hit or miss. I go there on sundays, and pray that we get a decent server. The male servers seem to be better (less attitude). The female servers are..bleh. We went there last month and a female hispanic server with glasses took care of us. My wife and I had to repeat our order to her three times, as she tried to memorize it without writing. When the food came out, surely it was wrong. Completely wrong. We mentioned bacon, not sausage, eggs over easy not scrambled. She never once apologized, just took our dishes away, and came back with something close to what we ordered. In the meantime, you would swear she was taking long breaks because everytime we asked for something (like water, refills on coffee) she would say ok, come back 5 minutes later and ask if there was anything we needed, and we had to remind her of our last request (happened with ketchup, toast, wter, coffee). We just got attitude there. We were seriously so frustrated at her attitude, that we wanted to walk out and leave. (Just so happens, another table she was serving complained to the manager). The other times, service was decent, but again, its hit or miss....if you are seated, make sure to ask the hostess/manager to seat you with a male server. They usually do a better job. The two female servers I have had there tend to have this attitude when you ask for something. By the way, the last time I was there, a couple who got seated, got bad/no service, and just got up and left.....I also overheard an asian couple telling the manager as they were leaving that they too felt like walking out due to poor inaccurate service the week before. Food - Depends what you get but for the most part, when they get the orders right, its at least decent, and some very good. Intangibles - They always forget the details...like, they bring your dish out but forget the toast, or the butter, or forget your request for jam, or the servers are just huddled in the back talking to one another. Special request - IF you go there for breakfast lunch on sundays, there is a male server with glasses....of all the times we went, he always seemed to be the most pleasant to deal with. My friends and colleagues also like the food and location, but service is the big downer. At work, we all share our laughs about how bad service can be. If there was another diner closer, I may have to abandon Amphoras all together..unless of course, I start going back to the Vienna one, but its been ages. read more

I actually enjoy making the hike out to Herndon at 3AM to go to this amazing oasis. The one in Vienna is closer, but I prefer this one because we truly do get larger portions (and a hard night of partying simply DEMANDS as many fried zucchini slices as one can handle). A fantastic place for people-watching late at night. I generally steer towards their lighter and more vegetarian fare (Ok, I like their hollandaise dishes, sue me) so my bill isn't too exorbitant, but I could easily see how it's possible to overspend here. The cocktails are expertly mixed (and you'd better have a designated driver), the coffee is nice and strong and the staff is very friendly. You know, like how a diner is supposed to be. I admit, I can't really rate how this place stacks up during daylight hours, but late night this place is tops. read more

You'll get a solid breakfast here. The menu is HUGE, so you have to wonder if they can pull off all the food they have listed. Reminds me of mid-west diners that have ever meal you can think of listed. But the breakfast was solid and simple. Potatoes a bit boring. Service was friendly, but that ''strained" kind of friendly. I'll most likely try them again in the future. Good iced tea pulled them to 4 stars. read more

The Amphora Diner is a great place to go whenever you get the urge for almost any kind of food at any time of the day. From Greek specialties to great breakfasts, the Amphora Diner has a menu that goes on and on. They have a great on site bakery where you can get delectable desserts and as I mentioned before, any time of the day. Conveniently located near the Dulles Airport for those coming off of a late night flight or staying at a local hotel, it is also great for us locals just hungry for a late night snack. read more

My friend chose Amphora for her birthday because it was midway for distance, offered a wide variety of food, and kid-friendly. We had a very large group and several tables pushed together. Since we were waiting for people to arrive, we didn't order for a while but we never felt rushed. Once we placed our orders, our food came out promptly. I chose the Tuscan Salad over the Greek Salad because I wanted a greener salad and they were very generous with the goat cheese. Not that lots of cheese is a bad thing at all. Some of the greens were looking like they'd seen better days. The waitservice was very accomodating about splitting checks at the end, and hadn't tacked on automatic gratuity charge for large party so there was a little confusion about payment. This location is more modern and roomier than the Vienna Amphora. Solid choice for big groups. read more

I've lived in Herndon for 4 years now, and have eaten there at least twice a month since then. So here's the lowdown: Pluses: - New Decent Sized Menu (now that they've added stuff they've been advertising on the booths for 2 years) - It's open 24 hours. - It's not Silver Diner with 4,000 screaming children and too-loud oldies on the speakers. - It's relatively clean and well staffed (more on that in a bit) Minuses: - Wait staff: It's a hit and miss affair, with misses happening about 80-90% of the time. This is the #1 reason we don't go back more often. Just tonight, my BF and I waited 15 minutes for the check after we were done our meals, and only got it because another server saw us sitting there with jackets on. The time before, we waited 5-10 minutes after we sat down for a server to just take our drink order. This is not a busy time at night, both after 8pm on weekdays or Sundays. Staff seems too busy chatting with each other to wait on customers. - Cost-Cutting: We've seen this first hand actually the last two times we were in there. No more bread on the tables for meals. Smaller cuts of chicken, fries that have sat too long. Salads getting smaller. - Prices: They increased the price of most items on the menu when the new menu launched. - Dessert: See that lovely expansive menu of desserts? Wouldn't you love to have a piece of your favorite cake or pie? What about a piece of the lovely desserts you see in the bakery case up front? Go to the Amphora Bakery across town and get it then, because EVERY time my BF or I order a piece of cake or pie, they don't have it. Cherry Pie? Nope. Black Forest Cake? Nope. Fruit Bavarian? Try again. - The new shopping center (opening soon!). Think parking is bad on a Sunday morning before this was built? Let's plop a massive strip shopping center into a very tiny plot of land, and lets hope that it doesn't create a traffic nightmare. Parking is already cramped in the lot, and it's not looking good moving forward. Mehs: - The food itself. While the new items are exciting to see on the menu, they're not a "wow." If you stick to their standards (gyros, burgers, breakfasts, Mediterranean Wrap) you're ok. Stray too far from this and you will be disappointed. - the XM radio: This is a minor issue, but having worked in food establishments before, I know that you shouldn't use an off-the-shelf XM radio unit to play music in the restaurant, since it's considered public performance and need to pay ASCAP and associated industries. - The staff: Just hope you never get Edwin. Overall, I've given Amphora 2 stars because while it may try to be something else other than what it is, a place to get late night eats when you don't want to be bothered with pizza deliveries or going out and getting something from Harris Teeter. I keep going back because well, I don't want to deal with Silver Diner in Reston, and I don't want to drive to Tastee Diner in Bethesda. read more

A good diner like this is amazing. Large and varied menu, and they do most of it well. The food is good quality, and the Greek stufff is particularly good. They are not afraid to use garlic in their tzatziki sauce for the Gyros and other sandwiches. But they serve it on the side, so you can regulate! read more

Best diner I've ever been to. From the menu to the scenery, it's all top notch. Open twenty four hours for epic convenience. Oh, and the food is incredible. Great discovery. read more

Huge menu, decent service. Good diner food. I had a custom configured omelet that was really yummy. Good service, were very satisfied. The place is big with lots of parking, so probably a good option where you can find a seat most of the time. read more

Went here with a large group and the dishes we ordered ranged from standard diner sandwiches to breakfast food. I got corned beef hash topped with 2 eggs. Eggs were fine but the hash was mucho salty. I'm not overly picky when it comes to hash...I give the canned sloppy stuff as much love as the home-cooked type with big chunks of corned beef, but this tasted like someone was a little too happy with the shaker...to the point where my tongue started getting that feeling when you eat too many salt & vinegar chips. read more

Seeing that my fiance works third shift, we have spent many a meal here, we've never actually been to this location before 10PM. I have no idea what the staff or food is like in the hours of the living. The staff has changed a few times since we've been going pretty regularly, I'm not sure if they changed hours or perhaps location or just don't work there anymore since we are regulars on the graveyard shift. In the beginning the staff was incredibly colorful and I found the array of characters down right amusing. They've also changed managers about three times, jesus woman all these details, I know I know. But suffice to say, some good people have gone and some bad people have gone as well. The second manager I really liked, he always had a friendly comment and a smile for us and liked to compliment me when my apparently intimidating boyfriend was in the bathroom. See, amusing characters, they were harmless and I've never really had bad service here. Maybe once a long time ago but I don't recall details so it couldn't have been that bad. There have been times we've waited for our check for awhile with a new waiter but generally we are taken care of. The staff is a bit more settled now. I've tried many things off their menu, they're a diner but with a Mediterranean flare with dishes like moussaka (which is always a fun word to say) and pastichio. I've tried both and need to try them again because the food can be a bit different dependent on the day. They have an extensive menu but of course one must keep in mind that it is diner food. The grand plates come with rolls and a side salad and all the meals are a pretty decent portion. For some reason I haven't tried many of their breakfast foods but my boyfriend has enjoyed their waffle and french toast. Some of my favorite dishes they offer are: Chicken cordon bleu - on a good day it's pretty good on a bad day it's a bit tough. I've ordered it with rice, fries, or mashed potatoes. Cream chipped beef- always good. Bacon cheeseburger (do the build a burger) with mashed potatoes - I've read reviews where people have said there hamburgers weren't good but mine have always been juicy and pink in the middle. Roast turkey dinner - not bad actually, sometimes its a little cold but the turkey tastes fresh. Southwestern Turkey Melt - never disappoints. Open face turkey sandwich. The place is always clean as are the bathrooms. I love the brand of iced tea they use and their fries are almost always good. They have really good desserts as well my favorite is the fresh fruit Bavarian cake and the chocolate opera cake isn't bad either. I think it'd be nice if the prices were a bit cheaper but I suppose everyone probably thinks that about every price out there. It can be a bit annoying having to deal with the after club crowd but it is the price you pay when you go out late. This is definitely the best late night option in this area by far, I prefer it over Denny's, IHOP, or fast food. read more

Love this place. Fast service, the wait staff is always helpful and inviting. My favorite place in NOVA. If I had one complaint it would be on weekend mornings. The wait can be up to an hour so take that into account. read more

Eggs Benedict is just awesome. Very friendly and attentive staff. The decor is dated, but everything else about this diner is great.

Not too crazy about the quality... the place felt a bit run down. More like a IHOP feel..

Service was slow. Milkshake ok. Cheesecake good and they gave us the biggest piece because they knew service was bad. Prices high.

If I could give no stars at all I would. Me and my coworkers come to Amphora after work somewhat often but this will be the last time. Every time we are here we receive terrible service & bland food. Seated at 12:58am and not greeted for 20minutes when the server was clearly not occupied but off in the corner with the manager chatting. We asked if one of the appetizers had beans and he said "I have no clue but I can check" and disappeared into the kitchen for another 10 minutes. My glass was empty the entire meal as my coworkers. He never did a check back and being a server myself I feel obligated to call all of this out. After we finished our food we sat at the table with no acknowledgement from anyone for another 20 minutes. I proceeded to yell hello to the manager sitting at the bar. Then after he got up to attend to us the server pops up from behind the barrier. He had been sitting there the entire time on his phone. I proceed to ask for a dessert menu then ask if they have brownies. The server responds "I don't know but you can go up to the front and look for yourself". How do you not know your menu ?? I'm sure the people working here mean well but the service needs to be worked on. read more

I liked it. Great menu. Breakfast all day. Some good fruit options available. Nice ambiance.

I like the old time feel of this establishment. Very nice. I like the omelettes and breakfast items.

It's fine. We went before the church rush on a Sunday so no issues parking or sitting. Food was fine- absolutely. I thing special and nothing stood out. Waitress was nice, nothing above that. The place itself has more space that Silver Diner, but the food was not as good. I think it's fairly easy to have a vanilla breakfast place- messing up eggs takes talent- but it would be nice if they tried to be more than that. Unlikely we'll be back. read more

This place is going to save my relationship with my family. As previously noted, my parents are really picky and only eat a few things, whereas I hate eating bland or boring food so finding a restaurant that can please everyone can be very difficult. Disappointment looms large before every meal out. My parents are also old and grouchy and they think everything is far away. We were about to go to Silver Diner despite the protests of nearly everyone in the family when I found a mention of Amphora online. I checked out the menu and convinced my dad that five miles away by car is really not far by any stretch of the imagination. When we entered and saw that it is nicer and quieter inside than the average diner and were seated without a wait, we were already feeling good. We got a circular booth with nice light and my dad was ready to declare victory. Everyone had a lot of potential items to choose from and no one was disappointed by their choices, all of which were made with fresh ingredients. I enjoyed my chorizo omelet, which came with a little tortilla cup of black beans, guacamole and pico, breakfast potatoes, and thick-cut slices of toast. The Lavazza coffee was well above-average for diner coffee too. My husband and dad were both planning future menu choices in their heads, a sign that the curse of the miserable family meal was lifting. Our server was really nice and accommodating as well. We will be back for sure. read more

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner.. great place to eat.. Best coffee in the world! LA VAZZA! Food has always been great, service has always been great. Go there! read more

Had a great tasting BLT dinner with family. Place was not too crowded as we'll. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Had lunch here today! It was terrible! The gyro sandwiches we had were not good! The shaved gyro meat was dry and overlooked. It was laying in a heap on top of a small amount of tomatoes and ice burg lettuce and pita... No sandwich at all ! The fries were good... That's it! We will not be back! read more

I always enjoy going to Amphora DIner in Herndon. Lucky me, our family was in the area again today and we once again enjoyed a nice lunch at Amphora. read more

Slowwwwwwwww.. and don't order the bacon .. it's the same as the precooked bacon in a box.

They are open all the time. ALL THE TIME. Including Christmas, New Years, 3-4 AM in the morning, during the massive Snowpocalypse this last winter. All the time. I've experienced shoddy service exactly once - coming back, I found the waiter gone, and all was forgiven. Great panini. Great breakfast food. Great desserts. Their burgers are delicious. The service is always good, barring that one waiter. I adore the blintzes and the smoked salmon dishes, and they have the best little hummus plate with hot wedges of pita. Amphora is an upscale diner, and it delivers on a grand scale. The only danger lies in eating here too often during late night maintenance windows. Alas, you can, in fact, eat here too much. read more

My wife and I are regulars here and almost always sit at the counter (it is a diner you know) and service there is WONDERFUL! They have the best, par none, home fries as a side on breakfast plates and their rye toast is to die for (they have their own bakery about 0.5 miles away. This is our favorite breakfast place - pancakes are better than IHOP's best day. With their very large menu, it is also a great choice for a group -- everyone can find their favorite dish. Sunday mornings at "church is our" times it can get very busy, but really worth the wait. read more

I have been a patron of Amphora for over seven years and never disappointed. Whether I've been there for a personal meal or company event, it was always a pleasant experience. For company celebrations, the Amphora staff carried out every detail of our planning meetings with superb attention to detail. The food was delicious, arranged beautifully and served in a pleasant atmosphere. Dining at Amphora is a joy! read more

A great upgraded diner experience. The home fries are tops. A wide selection with a Greek undertone. Best for breakfast and desserts. The showcase of freshly made bread and desserts is so enticing. Service is average. Room available for large parties. Decor is great for a diner environment. Featured items in addition to standard menu. A popular place after church on Sunday. Decent sized waiting area; it can be exceptionally busy at times. read more

Amphora holds a special place - both good and bad - for the wife and I. We had lunch here while discussing and waiting for approval for our house a few years back. But we haven't gone back because a close friend of ours described how he got food poisoning due to atrocious kitchen conditions a few years back as well. However, we personally had always had great experiences here and when we saw their fantastic deal for Restaurant Week, we decided to add them to our RW rotation. And we were glad that we did. They were offering soup or salad, a lunch entree (from a prie fix list) and dessert for a shade over $10. After hearing that the soup was a mushroom bisque we were sold, and it was fantastic. The rolls were cold and a little on the firm side, but worked well for dipping into the bisque. I went for the moussaka and it was very good - the beef had excellent seasoning and the sauce was yummy. But I almost wished I had gotten one of their "Ultimate Grilled Cheese" sandwiches like the wife did. These are really more "melt" sandwiches - in fact, their patty melt is listed here - and my wife got the "Elden", which is beef, an ample portion of cheese,and mushrooms. (She opted out of the onions). It was fantastic ... bread was grilled perfectly and it was nice and oooey gooey. For dessert we both opted for the raspberry key lime pie - also wonderful with nice tartness. I had an espresso to accompany my dessert - they use Lavazza coffee here, so it's far better than your typical diner swill. Restaurant week paid off here - we got soup, entree, dessert, drinks, and an espresso for $30. As other reviewers noted, this diner is a bit more "upscale" - it's not diveish cheap eats. And that's perfectly fine with me - I'm happy to may more for better quality food. I just hope some of the things that my friends and others have noted from the past are just that - a thing of the past. read more

I agree with other posters that food has gone down hill. Went a couple times over the past year, but most recently...Went on a Monday evening, greeted with friendly service and clean table, but the food was their downside. I ordered the moussaka, which was ok...the bread that came with it was stale, the roasted potatoes were so hard, you couldn't cut it with a knife and fork, looked like it was baked and re-heated about 5x...we had to send it back for fries. My sister ordered an omelet and asked for extra ham...she 3 bites in it before she saw one sliver of ham in it. Oh well, may be back for a late night munchie at some point but not for a real meal. read more

I love amphora!!!!! Def not diner like food.. It is freaking good... Go for the Mediterranean stuff! So delicious! Perfect for late night with a group of friends! 24hrs! read more