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It was my first time at Bel Aire Diner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It has a very classic diner feel to it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There was a birthday party going on on one side of the diner, but we were quickly seated. The menu is pretty extensive, but I went with the Greek Breakfast (two eggs any style - I chose over medium, roasted tomatoes on top of a whole fluffy pita that was warm and folded in half, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and olive oil). It was light and delicious. My SO had two eggs over medium, sausage (came with 4 links), french fries (he always orders this instead of home fries), and white toast (which came well buttered - they do not skimp out). He enjoyed his breakfast. The service was good, with the server checking on us every so often. I would stop by for breakfast again if I'm in the area.
The Uber Eats driver was good but that was pretty much it. I got a buy one, get one deal for chicken waffles, mashed potatoes and free homemade cookies that were supposed to be chocolate chip. Instead I got something that looks like it has nuts (which I won't eat) and definitely isn't a chocolate chip cookie by American standards. I also got unexpected gravy on the mashed potatoes. This whole dish was bland. Then the waffle was good but the chicken was overcooked. I wish one of my local diners had been open but it wasn't so I opted to try something new with this one. Uber Eats was no help on refunds and the service fee is insane on there. I wouldn't order from here again though I wish the Uber Eats courier well.
Cuisine: 5 Service: 5 [[HIGHLIGHT]]Decor: 6[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Value: 6 Overall: 5 I have not been back to this diner since probably the early 2010's. Before that, maybe another decade back to the early 2000's when I just got out of college. I would usually end up here late night after partying. Sadly, those days are over. Hanging out with friends till sunrise in a diner that serves all the bad stuff you should not be eating at 3:00am is a thing of the past. I have evolved. My taste buds have evolved. There is no reason for me to choose to eat here. Well, by chance I ended up here yesterday because my friend lived across the street and it has plenty of parking spaces. We looked over the menu and ordered a few small items to share. Let's just say that nothing tasted bad, but there is a reason I have not been back for so long. Anyway, don't come here for quality food. Come here because it's got free parking and offers late night dining hours, along with all the comfort foods of your youth when downing a burger, some onion rings, and a milkshake at the crack ass of dawn was okay.
Martin was attentive from the moment we walked in. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I especially love the decor in the restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We did not have to wait long for our food which I must say was +++. My mimosa was made to my satisfaction light cranberry which is a delight. This time I had a chicken Caesar wrap with onion rings which came with cole slaw and a pickle. Mouth flavored as I devoured. Yes, due to portion size there was a take home plate.
A lot of reviews said that these were the worst wings they've ever had, I disagree. Perhaps they've changed the recipe since the reviews or maybe the reviewers were off put by the fact that the sauces came on the side. I didn't mind having to dip my wings in the buffalo sauce. I also found it was better to reheat wings when they're like this. The ranch it came with wasn't ranch, it was a ranch and tzatziki hybrid sauce. It wasn't bad, but I'd much rather prefer traditional ranch with my wings. The buttermilk pancakes were great. They came out warm with fried edges had a nice little crunch to them.
Solid service all around, the waiter and host were both friendly and warm. I like the decor inside too, it's nostalgic and feels like an old-school diner! The French toast was great, not too eggy or over the top. The toast itself was moist and fluffy, tasted a bit like cinnamon and vanilla, in a good way. Eggs were a bit runny for over-medium, they were probably over easy. But still good especially with some hot sauce, and the home fries were great and not overly greasy. The onions in them added a nice depth of flavor. Oh and I got 3 mini muffins on the house when I was seated! That was nice!
I got their Thanksgiving dinner from here to-go and it wasn't bad! The meal included turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and corn. The turkey wasn't dry at all, the chicken gravy paired with it well, and the stuffing was flavorful. Got their homemade cookies as well as it was a great way to end the meal!
Stopped by Bel Aire Diner and loved the experience! The decor is classic and fun, with awesome retro touches; couple of the seats are even designed to look like the back end of a vintage car. Definitely adds to the charm. I ordered the corned beef hash with two sunny side up eggs and a side of bacon. Everything was cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. Classic diner comfort food done right. The ambiance is casual and relaxing, perfect for a laid-back breakfast or brunch. Friendly service and a clean, well-kept space round it all out. Great spot if you're in the mood for solid diner fare in a cool, nostalgic setting.
Food 3 Service 4 Atmosphere 4 This diner has been around since the late 60s. It's a quintessential diner with too many items on the menu to choose from. You can eat anything from pancakes and sausage to boiled lobster and anything else you can imagine. The food is good. I had the Pastrami Rueben. It wasn't a deli rueben, but it was good. It's a great place to hang out with friends so everyone can have something to choose from The waitstaff was very kind and helpful. There is even a parking lot adjacent, which is a big plus.
Came here with a friend for dinner around 8pm. She's been coming here for over 20 years. The service was great, and our server was attentive. She ordered the roast beef with a side of mashed potatoes and a salad (not pictured). I order the chicken souvlaki plate. Both dishes were tasty. The platters of food were large enough that we both took leftovers home.
I believe I hadn't sat down to eat at Bel Aire in many moons. I used to live only a few blocks away in the 90's and absolutely hit up this joint regularly during college. Regrettably, I can't say that it is what it used to be. The place looked dim and it wasn't busy on a Sunday night around 7:30. There used to be a somewhat large seating section to the right of the main entrance and it was blocked off by curtains and painted over plywood. The whole row of booths by the windows that face 21st st were dim and the neon light in the crown moldings over said section were flickering. We ordered and mac and cheese burger, BBQ Ribs and Chicken, flapjacks and Pork chunks over rice. It was all decent. Our waiter was the friendliest man, but seemed a bit green with their system (They place orders through a handheld device). Would stick to breakfast items next time around.
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The perks of occasional fieldwork... My coworker recommended this diner while we were working close by the other day. The service was great and everyone working at this diner were very friendly and accommodating, as well as attentive. There is a Happy Hour menu that we skipped because we were still on the clock, but it is worth checking out in the future. HH starts at 2PM... Anyway, we shared mozzarella sticks that were quite delicious. I say this because I am not a fan, but did enjoy these because they were crispy, light and a little buttery. The marinara sauce was well seasoned, and worthy of a nice pasta. Everything tasted fresh and homemade. We finished with burgers, which were quite large, filling and tasty. There are many burger options but I chose to build my own. I could only eat half but enjoyed it with half steak fries/half onion rings. The burger was not over seasoned, juicy, thick and cooked perfectly. It was so good ketchup was unnecessary. The menu has many options that I would not mind coming back to try out. If you're in the area, please go. [[HIGHLIGHT]]In addition, Bel Aire Diner has the chromed out, old school diner vibe. The Mother's Day seating was really cute as well[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. read more
Came in for Classic Milkshakes (Chocolate) and they did not disappoint! Arnold Palmer beverage was served in the same very large chilled mug and was the perfect blend. Staff were very friendly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great grooving tunes, very comfortable atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more
I've been here several times and this place is a staple of Astoria. Good old Bel Aire. It's really convenient that it is located in the Broadway shopping mall with a large parking lot. It is typical diner fare with so many options that even the pickiest person would find something to eat. I would say service is very fast and friendly, but on busy days they might forget a thing or two, like today we had to ask for utensils. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is standard diner booths with that old school feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall a solid pick. Got the green goddess salad with added chicken. I would also say prices are very New York, so no surprise here. $18-20 for a salad. read more
It was my first time at Bel Aire Diner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It has a very classic diner feel to it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There was a birthday party going on on one side of the diner, but we were quickly seated. The menu is pretty extensive, but I went with the Greek Breakfast (two eggs any style - I chose over medium, roasted tomatoes on top of a whole fluffy pita that was warm and folded in half, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and olive oil). It was light and delicious. My SO had two eggs over medium, sausage (came with 4 links), french fries (he always orders this instead of home fries), and white toast (which came well buttered - they do not skimp out). He enjoyed his breakfast. The service was good, with the server checking on us every so often. I would stop by for breakfast again if I'm in the area. read more
The Uber Eats driver was good but that was pretty much it. I got a buy one, get one deal for chicken waffles, mashed potatoes and free homemade cookies that were supposed to be chocolate chip. Instead I got something that looks like it has nuts (which I won't eat) and definitely isn't a chocolate chip cookie by American standards. I also got unexpected gravy on the mashed potatoes. This whole dish was bland. Then the waffle was good but the chicken was overcooked. I wish one of my local diners had been open but it wasn't so I opted to try something new with this one. Uber Eats was no help on refunds and the service fee is insane on there. I wouldn't order from here again though I wish the Uber Eats courier well. read more
Cuisine: 5 Service: 5 [[HIGHLIGHT]]Decor: 6[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Value: 6 Overall: 5 I have not been back to this diner since probably the early 2010's. Before that, maybe another decade back to the early 2000's when I just got out of college. I would usually end up here late night after partying. Sadly, those days are over. Hanging out with friends till sunrise in a diner that serves all the bad stuff you should not be eating at 3:00am is a thing of the past. I have evolved. My taste buds have evolved. There is no reason for me to choose to eat here. Well, by chance I ended up here yesterday because my friend lived across the street and it has plenty of parking spaces. We looked over the menu and ordered a few small items to share. Let's just say that nothing tasted bad, but there is a reason I have not been back for so long. Anyway, don't come here for quality food. Come here because it's got free parking and offers late night dining hours, along with all the comfort foods of your youth when downing a burger, some onion rings, and a milkshake at the crack ass of dawn was okay. read more
Martin was attentive from the moment we walked in. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I especially love the decor in the restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We did not have to wait long for our food which I must say was +++. My mimosa was made to my satisfaction light cranberry which is a delight. This time I had a chicken Caesar wrap with onion rings which came with cole slaw and a pickle. Mouth flavored as I devoured. Yes, due to portion size there was a take home plate. read more
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Kalergis D.
Hi Sandra,…
A lot of reviews said that these were the worst wings they've ever had, I disagree. Perhaps they've changed the recipe since the reviews or maybe the reviewers were off put by the fact that the sauces came on the side. I didn't mind having to dip my wings in the buffalo sauce. I also found it was better to reheat wings when they're like this. The ranch it came with wasn't ranch, it was a ranch and tzatziki hybrid sauce. It wasn't bad, but I'd much rather prefer traditional ranch with my wings. The buttermilk pancakes were great. They came out warm with fried edges had a nice little crunch to them. read more
1 year ago
Solid service all around, the waiter and host were both friendly and warm. I like the decor inside too, it's nostalgic and feels like an old-school diner! The French toast was great, not too eggy or over the top. The toast itself was moist and fluffy, tasted a bit like cinnamon and vanilla, in a good way. Eggs were a bit runny for over-medium, they were probably over easy. But still good especially with some hot sauce, and the home fries were great and not overly greasy. The onions in them added a nice depth of flavor. Oh and I got 3 mini muffins on the house when I was seated! That was nice! read more
I got their Thanksgiving dinner from here to-go and it wasn't bad! The meal included turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and corn. The turkey wasn't dry at all, the chicken gravy paired with it well, and the stuffing was flavorful. Got their homemade cookies as well as it was a great way to end the meal! read more
Stopped by Bel Aire Diner and loved the experience! The decor is classic and fun, with awesome retro touches; couple of the seats are even designed to look like the back end of a vintage car. Definitely adds to the charm. I ordered the corned beef hash with two sunny side up eggs and a side of bacon. Everything was cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. Classic diner comfort food done right. The ambiance is casual and relaxing, perfect for a laid-back breakfast or brunch. Friendly service and a clean, well-kept space round it all out. Great spot if you're in the mood for solid diner fare in a cool, nostalgic setting. read more
Food 3 Service 4 Atmosphere 4 This diner has been around since the late 60s. It's a quintessential diner with too many items on the menu to choose from. You can eat anything from pancakes and sausage to boiled lobster and anything else you can imagine. The food is good. I had the Pastrami Rueben. It wasn't a deli rueben, but it was good. It's a great place to hang out with friends so everyone can have something to choose from The waitstaff was very kind and helpful. There is even a parking lot adjacent, which is a big plus. read more
3 months ago
7 months ago
They need to rid of those Steak Fries and get the French fries that Court Square Diner has. Their fries have a hint of seasoning to them which makes them a winner. I've also notice other diners have the same type of fries as Court Square so, Steak Fries is a Hard No! read more
5 months ago
The food the service and the quality was amazing I really enjoyed fresh food and [[HIGHLIGHT]]nice ambient[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more
Came here with a friend for dinner around 8pm. She's been coming here for over 20 years. The service was great, and our server was attentive. She ordered the roast beef with a side of mashed potatoes and a salad (not pictured). I order the chicken souvlaki plate. Both dishes were tasty. The platters of food were large enough that we both took leftovers home. read more
I believe I hadn't sat down to eat at Bel Aire in many moons. I used to live only a few blocks away in the 90's and absolutely hit up this joint regularly during college. Regrettably, I can't say that it is what it used to be. The place looked dim and it wasn't busy on a Sunday night around 7:30. There used to be a somewhat large seating section to the right of the main entrance and it was blocked off by curtains and painted over plywood. The whole row of booths by the windows that face 21st st were dim and the neon light in the crown moldings over said section were flickering. We ordered and mac and cheese burger, BBQ Ribs and Chicken, flapjacks and Pork chunks over rice. It was all decent. Our waiter was the friendliest man, but seemed a bit green with their system (They place orders through a handheld device). Would stick to breakfast items next time around. read more
9 months ago
This is the WORST diner ever. I paid more than $16 for a classic Cobb salad and half of the greens are rotten. It wasn't even washed. It's garbage and disgusting. I'm going to call the health department. read more
5 months ago
2 months ago
9 months ago
Had brunch here today and let me say, what a pleasant experience. The food was sooo good and the service was perfect, our server Martin was very nice and we had everything we needed and more. I had the French toast with sausage and gravy, delicious! read more
10 months ago
Our server Katerina was a delight! She was on top of things and so nice. The portions are HUGE! I ate only half my meal and took the rest home. My husband's strawberry salad with grilled chicken was gigantic. He has a big appetite and could barely finish the salad. I probably could've made 3 meals out of it. Looking forward to going back again and definitely asking for Katerina! read more
Didn't realize this was on kitchen nightmares until after dining here lol but it was a great experience. Came here for my traditional Christmas Day diner breakfast, it was pretty busy. The pancakes were great nice & fluffy, got it with bananas & side of bacon, whipped butter & maple syrup. My husband got the corned beef hash which was really good, not dry and with over easy eggs. The portions were really big, such a satisfying hearty meal! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
We were looking for a place to eat in Astoria late at night and a friend recommended us to Bel Aire Diner. It was a nice looking diner and we were greeted with a warm welcome. The menu was like endless, they had so many choices. It was getting late and wanted something quick so we all got burgers and sandwiches. Everything was very good. Perfectly cooked as per our request and meat was succulent. Portion was your typical American portion so it was very satisfying. Two of us had to take them to go. Our waitress was very nice and service was good. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because she did not mention the upcharge on the waffle fries. It's only a little difference but we still need to know if something is different. However, we will definitely be back since the food was very good. ^_^ read more
1 year ago
Great place! Huge menu with lots of food and beverage options for all tastes. Very generous portions. The place is open 24 hours which is why I think it was very busy on Saturday night :) I asked for french toast with Nutella, strawberries and bananas. Didn't get Nutella for some reason but it wasn't a big deal. Over all we had great meal. The service was great and ambiance! read more
2 years ago
I love a good diner and couldn't wait to try. When I arrived Inparked in their lot. I walked in and was sat. Gabriella was my server and she was very nice. I started with the red sangria and it was cool. For food I got the shrimp and grits but it needed a little salt. I then got the veggie stir fry with chicken a dimly that was good. Lastly I had the Chocolate cookie coffee shake and that was good. All in all I had a good experience. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Oh the famous Bel Aire Diner of Astoria! Been living here all my life and finally came here for the first time over the weekend for breakfast. The family and I were immediately seated, which was great since we were all hungry ! I ordered coffee with the fam. My sister ordered the burger which was delicious. I ordered the omelette and my mom ordered a French toast. All foods were delicious and definitely big portions! Overall decent pricing for a typical diner. Will be coming back for another breakfast deal. :) read more
Fantastic service with a great compact food menu. I came here for breakfast and the eggs were cooked perfect, the corned beef hash and potatoes had that super crispy outside that I love. Great value, great food, quiet atmosphere so you can have a proper chat with no rush out service. Come here if you are nearby! read more
1 year ago
This is a good neighborhood diner. It has an extensive 16 page menu! I came here because I read that Gordon Ramsay came here and updated the menu. They have since incorporated some of those items into their new menu. Food was very good. I will rate it a 4 out of 5. Here is why I gave it a 5 out of 5. Service was outstanding. Katerina was amazing and engaging. We did ask about the Gordon Ramsay menu and she asked another staff (Martin) to find it for us. Despite the place being busy, Martin went to find it for us. He probably went to the storage and came back with a framed menu. If only I could give more stars. Staff went over and beyond what a customer would expect. Thank you Katerina and Martin. You both are kind humans! This diner is featured in multiple films and TV series. They just filmed Daredevil a few weeks ago. Ambiance was diner but clean and refreshing! Go and enjoy one of finest Queens has to offer! read more
1 year ago
I was having a day trip in Queens with my destination being the Noguchi Museum. On the walking route from the train, I stopped in at Bel Aire Diner. It's spacious with classic diner decor. I just got a Build Your Own burger and fries, it was classic and good! Nothing out of this world, just a decently done classic. The service made my experience special, my server Lauren just seemed to be a very kind and warm-hearted person. I would recommend this diner to anyone looking for a classic bite and to be around genuinely kind people. read more
10 months ago
Breakfast at Bel Aire is my favorite thing to do Sunday mornings. The food is consistent and delicious, service is efficient and pleasant - classic NYC diner feels. Martin was a fantastic waiter!! (and he understood the assignment, helping me get the perfect shot of my food while pouring coffee). read more
1 year ago
We were a group of nine, who came here after a concert to celebrate our friend's birthday. The place looked retro, and felt as if you were part of an old film scene. There were a variety of food choices ranging from Mexican to Italian and Mediterranean. We were seated fairly quickly, however, with the restaurant barely half full on a Thursday night, we did not expect our food to come after an hour long wait. They had missed a few items we ordered understandably, with us being a large group. I liked that there were free refills on our drinks. We had requested a small cake in celebration of our friend. Two of their employees joined in on celebrating him, which was a nice touch. Lastly. I wanted to utilize the yelp 10% checking discount as recommended by reviewers. Yet, upon paying the bill, they told us the 10% offer was only offered for takeout and delivery orders. I was really disappointed, as a couple of reviews had stated their discounts were honored while dining in. I would still come again, hoping it was just an off day. read more
10 months ago
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More info about Bel Aire Diner
31-91 21st St
Astoria, NY 11106
Astoria
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(718) 721-3160
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http://www.belairediner.nyc
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Bel Aire Diner - diners - Updated July 2026
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