Came in for breakfast and left with pretty mixed feelings…read more First off, the coffee is genuinely very good--smooth enough that you don't even need cream (though I added some anyway). Instead of sugar packets, they use those classic glass diner-style sugar dispensers, which honestly added a bit of old-school charm. The food had some real highlights. The grits were cooked perfectly--great consistency--and the eggs were solid. The breakfast potatoes stood out the most: well-seasoned and full of flavor. On the downside, the bacon was paper thin, and the toast portions were smaller than expected. Service was a bit off in small but noticeable ways. I wasn't given a separate spoon, so I ended up using the same one for both my coffee and grits, which wasn't ideal--especially when refills came around. The space itself is large, but it feels worn down and underutilized. It looks like they close off sections during slower times, which makes sense but adds to the slightly empty, quiet feel. There's no background music, so the atmosphere is very subdued. Orange juice comes in a standard off-the-shelf bottle, nothing special there. Overall: good coffee and some standout food items, but the ambiance and small service details hold it back from being a truly great spot.

On August 7thh, 2026 around the 10am and 11am hours, I received the worst customer service for the…read morefirst time EVER! In all the many, many years that I love to eat at Shay's and can get any items I like whether it has a menu name. I have driven from the west side of Cleveland, from the south side as well as the eastern suburbs, just so I can enjoy eating any items I wish to purchase, (my choice). However, this Big Back Buuuuurrrrllly, Bushie haired Bear lookin, wanna be bully, picked the wrong job, B____h, gon tell me what she gon give me. "B"..... Hoe! wait a minute. I know what I want. She picked my food for me and walked off with an attitude once she snatched the menus off the table. Then walked off mad and stomping like Godzilla.......and wait.... Slammed the menus back on the counter. I said to my companion.... Did you see her tantrum...."OH HELL NAAAWWW! "WE" were quite offended and decided not to stay but, we made sure we explained to the gentleman at the register to PLEASE inform the owner. I've been a customer of Shay's since meeting my now deceased husband. I was 22 at the time. I'm blessed that I'm now 60 and have been able to still enjoy Shay's. Girlie f@#$ that up. She can never wait on ME again, IF I return. First impressions since that waitress has none, nada, no genuine customer service skills. BTW, she should be in the back helping unload the trucks.

Always loved this place. Quick service and out the door! Been here a ton of times. On here now to…read moregive the 5 star rating it deserves.

This was the best brunch place I visited during my stay. Easy enough to get a table, plenty of…read moreparking, the waiters are fast and doing really linger with you. I was able to make the substitutions I wanted for a vegetarian breakfast sandwich, and it was good! I do wish it came with potatoes but overall it was the best priced meal I found in town. And when I visit again, I will be coming here for brunch.

My friends came into town for my 60th birthday, and one morning we stopped in for breakfast. We all…read moreordered the chicken and waffles, and from the very first bite, we were hooked. That fried chicken took us all the way back. We're old school, and that's exactly how fried chicken is supposed to taste--perfectly seasoned, incredibly flavorful, juicy on the inside, and fried to a golden, crispy crunch. It was absolutely phenomenal. The waffles were just as impressive--light, flavorful, and cooked to perfection with an amazing texture. Every bite was on point. The experience was so good that I knew I had to bring my husband back because he's a huge chicken and waffles fan. It was his first time there, and without fail, he had the exact same reaction. From the first bite, he was sold. He absolutely loved it. When a restaurant delivers that kind of quality to an entire group and then exceeds expectations again on a return visit, you know it's the real deal. From the food to the service, it was an easy 5-star experience. We'll definitely be back!

I read reviews and thought we would give this place a try. The woman working was very nice and the…read morecook came out and said hi to our son. However, we ordered the Sausage Biscuits & Gravy and Dominic Bowl with Kielbasa and kids pancake. My husband said the biscuits and gravy was more like gravy soup with a couple biscuits included. He was disappointed. The Dominic bowl was dry. The kielbasa was very good but that's it. Our son could barely eat his pancake.

Came here for a Sunday breakfast with 5 adults and one child. They were very busy! They seated…read moreus quickly. The team here were definitely hustling. I say Team, because they all were working together! The hostess, server, people getting food to the tables! Such a great environment! You truly feel appreciated as a customer! The food was really good and the portions - plan to take a box home! The Oreo pancakes were balanced and not too sweet. The cannoli pancake is VERY rich and I'd recommend sharing it! Indulgent and great for a celebration! The grits were yummy and I ended up taking the home fries home! Hahaha. My only critique, is that while the coffee was flowing, it was a tad on the bitter side. Still an ok cup of coffee! We liked it so much, we came back a week later with other people! We've told multiple people who were looking for a place to go for breakfast to definitely come here! I think some people view it in a strip mall as not willing to try, but they're missing out !

Excellent food, great atmosphere, amazing people! The food was very well priced and tasted very…read moregood. Very clean.

Arrived at 12:48 pm on Sunday 7/5. Even though the sign says they close at 3pm and when we arrived…read morethere were people seated and eating, they told us they were closed. We had a party of 3 adults and a 4year old.

Good food and service, friendly staff, nice selections and the prices are reasonable…read more Have frequented this eatery a couple of times and will go again.

Never been here. My boyfriend been trying to take me here I always say no thank you lol. But today…read morewe were looking for some breakfast and I said let's go to fifth wheel he was so surprised needless to say. It's cash only, it's small but the food the food was delicious and made fast cooked to order ! Small mom and pot spot I never imagined it was going to be this good. Needless to say we will return! And the prices was good on the pockets.

This may not be your kind of place. But it's my kind of place now. I was pleasantly surprised as…read morethe store front had fogged up windows and the diner itself could use a remodel. But we're here for the food, price, and the wonderful service. We got the French toast/two eggs/sausage and hotcakes/home fries/and bacon. And we ordered the Philly cheesesteak to go. All the food was excellent, good portions, price was around $7.50 each and $13 for the sandwich/fries. The Philly cheese steak was stuffed with about 8oz of steak, peppers, onions, white cheese on a fresh roll. We talked to the owner/cook/server about the neighborhood. He knows everyone and everything going on. This is my new diner spot when I'm in asiatown/downtown area. Don't judge a book by its cover, come inside and if you want simply basic good food, it's here.

YE Gurl Says: Greasy Spoon Therapy at Big Al's…read more The only way I made it through the first episode of Love Is Blind: Ohio was by reminding myself that I had better things to focus on -- like writing up this review for Big Al's Diner. Tucked between the polished neighborhood staples -- cafés, plant shops, nail salons -- sits a true greasy spoon time capsule. No frills. No aesthetic branding strategy. Just counter seating, booths, and the immediate understanding that when you walk in the door... you're in it. There's no waiting lounge. No curated entry experience. Just breakfast. It feels like stepping into another era -- back when servers wore white coats and diner hats and coffee cups were never empty for long. And let's talk numbers. Even in today's economy, entrées don't cross the $11 mark -- and that includes the double-portion Benedicts in the center of the menu. For those of us who don't eat meat, it's a surprisingly easy compromise spot. Stiff coffee with free refills? $2.50. Orange juice? $2.50. A fully loaded vegetarian cheese omelet -- mushrooms, onions, green peppers, tomato -- with home fries and whole wheat toast? $10.75. While we sat there, talking through life over coffee, it hit me: this meal cost about the same as someone else's single pastry and specialty latte down the street. And I left full. Not trendy-full. Not "small plates" full. Real breakfast full. Sometimes the best things aren't free -- they're just reasonable. Familiar. Nostalgic. The kind of places that don't need reinvention because they already got it right the first time. YE Gurl says: Big Al's is where you go when you want breakfast without a performance. Solid food. Strong coffee. Honest prices. A little slice of yesterday that still holds up today. And honestly? That's better than reality TV drama any morning.

Big Al's feels like the standard for a great breakfast in Cleveland. There's almost always a line,…read moreespecially for weekend breakfast and the menu is filled with breakfast favorites and diner staples. Most often I get a blueberry pancake with either an egg or bacon on the side. It's a lot of food and the prices are all still really affordable imo. It's a basic diner feel. Sometimes, you make new friends if you don't get a booth and you are sitting next to other patrons but it's always comfortable. Service has always been really good especially considering how busy it is. I don't know why I wouldn't go back especially for that blueberry pancake!

Came here for breakfast. I wish that it is possible to give three and a 1/2 stars, but it wasn't…read moreclose enough for four. The service was fair. It was 8:30 a.m. and our server noted that she hadn't had enough coffee yet. . The inside was decorated nicely and tables were clean. I had the biscuits and gravy. It was ok. The biscuits were a tad gooey, not flaky. The gravy was bland. My husband had the Popeye Omelet and he enjoyed it. The omelet had plenty of feta and spinach. I'd consider coming back to try other items, but wouldn't come back for the biscuits and gravy.

Michelle our server was great. Very attentive and fast. Food was good, hot and fresh. No canned…read morepineapple, fresh! So good We only waited 15 minutes to be seated. Worth the little roadtrip.