A bar, late night food/breakfast food, and... a bar?! I went to this place to eat with a friend around 9PM and well it was busy. It was a little bit noisy, but at the same time I could hear everything my friend was saying. This restaurant settled in the midwood-plaza area was a neat place, I've heard many of my friends say to go here and eat because they had some good food. I had a single burger and I had the chili option added onto it. I don't remember exactly what the burger name was called but was it good. I suggest to just try everything if you decide to come here. Have a beer, kick back, eat some food and people watch. It's in a very interesting area of the city, and I honestly feel that this is the true Art District of Charlotte instead of the fake NODA. Anyways, the restaurant has a nice hip feel and makes anyone feel young again. Great food, have a drink while being there, and have fun. read more

I came on a Sunday night but the place was still poppin. It's a hipster scene with a soul food menu. I had the fried pickles which were great! Not to much breading. The chicken livers were my main course (yeah I know..) and it was nice that they even had those. They were cooked perfectly. Great bar food for a good price! read more

Burgers, dogs, salmon blt, fried pickles, fried fish - YES! If you're in the mood for some great diner food, look no further. There's nothing pretentious about The Diamond - it's good, often fried - food at a good price. There's plenty of beer on tap and full bar. It's reliably busy here - we often sit at the (small) bar rather than waiting for a table. The servers are friendly, if a little overstretched with how busy they are. When ordering, be sure to note that unless you're ordering a "platter", you need to order your side(s) too. read more

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Ive been here about a million time since they opened due to convenience and other peoples suggestions. RARELY is it a place that I CHOOSE to go. With few exceptions the food doesnt do too much for me. This last trip when we had to wait for a table of 3's food for almost an hour, my opinion is not improving much. Service was rather slopping. It took a while for anyone to acknowledge me, let alone even ask me what I wanted to drink while I waited for my parents. When she finally did she didn't bring the water until after they arrived and we all ordered. I had to ask for lemon twice. Even though my mom ordered a cheeseburger, and after doing so the waitress asked her "Do you want cheese on your burger?", her burger came out cheese less. Fearing she would have to wait another hour for a burger with cheese on it she just had to ask for a cheese slice. My stepdad couldn't finish his grilled chicken sandwich because the chicken was too chewy ( and this man will eat some cooked to death chicken so it must have been bad). My food was fine, but the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth, and an ache in my back since the table behind me clearly had no concern that our seats were connected. This is noooooooo Penguin, I realize that and so should you, BUT I ( perhaps we) can't help but want at least a little of the Penguin experience here at Diamond. No Penguin fingers or falafel sandwich nor the crinkle fries that fared soooo well with melted pimento cheese or their stellar ranch. Diamond does still offer the grilled pimento cheese and the Dixie chicken sandwich, things that I do get the occasional craving for, and if you go on a day they have a tomato soup get that with a grilled pimento cheese. Super yum. However, the fries aren't great and various other things on the menu that I have tried leave a lot to be desired. For some reason the fried pickles don't even taste as good. Will I go again? Probably, since I seem to forget how meh my previous trips are until I experience it again. I wish I liked it more, maybe they need to reevaluate some of their staffing decisions ( the hostess was a bust too). Maybe I'll stick to take-out. read more

The vibes are immaculate - retro but fun. Super great staff, so kind. Perfect classic diner food, with a twist of Mediterranean- absolutely hit the spot. The chips and dips were also read more

Came solely for the peach cobbler and it was legit amazing. Like mama use to make. A must have, cute 50's look a must go! read more

Diamond Restaurant - Peach cobbler = amazing! - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

If you're drunk and want to grab some late night food, then this is the place for you! Their late night menu has your typical breakfast foods, appetizers, burgers, and salads. I went here sober though because it was the only place opened so late! I got the gravy fries- good but nothing special. My friends got burgers. One burger has peanut butter in it...try it if you're daring but it wasn't very good. The other burgers were plain. Id probably not come back here. read more

Diamond Restaurant - Gravy fries - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The food was just okay. Not as good as I remembered from years ago. The music was awful, horrible, head-banging noise. And, so loud, we could not hear each other. Now, instead of being a pleasant blast from the past, it is just a nasty, run-down joint. So disappointing. read more

Super cute little restaurant! Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options! Our server was very attentive and very helpful in making sure my vegan accommodations were met! read more

Great diner spot. Solid solid diner food. My lady got the burger and said it was solid. Plain and simple. That's good to hear for the price we paid, very cheap. I went with cheese overload and got the pimento grilled cheese and side of Mac n cheese. The Mac n cheese was some of the thickest, yummiest I've had. Fits the stereotype perfectly of diner Mac n cheese. The sandwich was also excellent but I could eat each half in two bites. Very small as I paid nearly the same price for that as the burger Overall, the food was clutch but some of the food was overpriced. Worth the spot though as it is in a nice area of town with lots to do. read more

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I enjoy the old fashioned dated ambiance. It is a big part of the charm of this place. I decided to stop in by myself and eat at the bar. I had 3 things. Coffee, Chili Cheeseburger with onions and mustard, and an apple pie. The coffee was terrible and weak, you could see right through it before adding cream. The apple pie was dreadful as well. But that burger was darn good and full of flavor!!! I would return based on the burger. Next time I'll get fries as well and maybe give an update. I enjoyed the friendly service I received too. read more

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Straight up Charlotte royalty right here. Great food. Cool people. Plaza Midwood icon. Get the collards! read more

Diamond Restaurant - When I return to Charlotte from the road this is usually my first stop! Food's great and the staff's even better! - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The diamond is such a great place. We came for dinner on a busy day and the food did take awhile to arrive. Nevertheless the food is great as I ordered a diamond dog which is a 12 inch hot dog with chili, onion, and mustard. I also ordered a side of Mac and cheese which was delightful. The server however did forget my drink and the food was delayed but I do realize it was busy. So will be back again and hope for a better experience next go around. read more

Diamond Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Unbelievably good American diner food. Waitress Debbie and bartender Rebecca polite and professional

Burgers are good but don't get the fruit cup. It looks and tastes like they went to a Ponderosa buffet and scooped out some fruit after its been siting out for 12 hours at room temperate. Nasty. read more

Diamond Restaurant - Food- nasty fruit - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

One of the BEST casual dining restaurants in Charlotte, NC. One of my personal favorites ! If you live in Charlotte, or are visiting, and haven't been to the Diamond, you are missing out. I have been to the Diamond many times, and have never been disappointed. The food is always fresh, and the portions are great. Bring an appetite. They also have the best Juke Box in the City. You'll be raving about it. And don't be disappointed that the Penguin closed. You will find the old Penguin menu in the Neighborhood Favorites Section of the Diamond Menu. Enjoy ! read more

Diamond Restaurant - The Diamond back parking lot sign. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Service was good and prompt & we were seated right away. It's like a dated mom & pop restaurant, with a bar. We had the fried pickles to start and I must say they are the best I ever had! I gave 2 stars because the service was prompt, price is right, pickles were great but unfortunately the rest of our food was just OK (and that's generous). We both ordered the BBQ dipped fried chicken plates with mac and cheese and collards. First off, my chicken and greens were luke warm. The greens were tasty but the chicken and mac and cheese were definitely under seasoned. I really wanted to like this place because of the reviews but this time didn't do it (2.5 stars if I had the option). There's a possibility I may give it another shot and try something else. read more

Diamond Restaurant - Fried pickles! The best I ever had! :) - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The fried bologna sandwich and hush puppies were delicious!! Great service and calming atmosphere. Brought me back home.

At first, I was "iffy" about coming inside because the outside looked different than what I'm use to. The inside looks like a old dinner but very clean. I had the jumbo party wings and my husband had race dogs. The food was REALLY good. I definitely will be back to try more of their menus options. You should give it a try! Don't judge a book by its cover. read more

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It was the cutest little place. We sat outside because it was a really nice day. We had the hamburger, hushpuppies, hotdog & the vegetable plate with Mac n cheese, fried okra & a side salad. We weren't starving so our choices were random but it's so much stuff on the menu I have to try. Our server was really nice & so was the hostess. Not to mention they close super late on Friday & Saturday!! read more

Had the black bean burger - sooooooo good! Have had many in my life, and this was by far one of the best.

Really great meal at The Diamond: Fried Pickles, Shrimp & Grits, and Peach Cobbler....all very tasty and well worth the visit! With ice tea, less than $25 read more

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This place has usually got a crowd.. It's a Plaza Midwood staple. So when you arrive at a typical dinner time expect a slight wait. But feel free to stop at the bar to get a drink until your table is ready. They have plenty to choose from! They have a slam packed menu. You can't go wrong choosing something new every time you go. Their fried pickles are perfect for a starter!! They give you heaping portions of whatever you order! The ambience is slightly noisy but that's because it's not that large of a restaurant. They have a wide range of entrees so there is something for everyone to enjoy. Just ask your waiter or waitress for what's best and they will help you out! Also make sure to try a dessert they have awesome homemade items for your pleasure. The Diamond has been open for over 70 years now! How can you not check them out! read more

Funky little diner-ish place conveniently located near Legion! Great service and the food was pretty good. Full bar and local beer on tap. It must be an interesting place to be very late at night on weekends. Dan liked the salmon cakes and the menagerie of southern sides. The gyro platter was massive! Crinkle cut fries. read more

Went to the Diamond the other night for some dessert and had an ok experience. We had a group of 6 and we're looking forward to hanging out and enjoying a great night. That quickly went south as we were informed that outside did t seat parties of 6. We asked about inside and was told it would be an hour wait. We split our group up because we all wanted dessert. In our group we had the pecan pie, peach cobbler and coconut cake. All were pretty good but we didn't stay too long as we all wanted to be together. We ended up going somewhere else and spent the rest of the evening drinking and talking. The experience was lackluster and would think twice about going back. read more

Diamond Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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My boyfriend and I bought some Groupons for here and we have been there 3 times now. The BBQ fried chicken is good, but the BBQ sauce tasted like it was vinegar based and I personally am not a fan of that kind. The fried flounder and was delicious! We have also had the fried chicken sandwich, which was good but the batter was bland and could use some kind of spices. As for starters we have had the pimento cheese dip, fried pickles, onion rings, and gravy fries. The pimento cheese dip comes out hot and is super yummy! It get somewhat hard quick so eat up! The fried pickles were very good. I like a good amount of batter on them and that's how they came out. They give you so much that it could feed at least 3-4 people. The onion rings were fried perfectly, but we were very disappointed with the batter used. It was very bland and the batter could use some kind of spices in it. The gravy fries were ok. They got better as you get to the bottom of the basket. For dessert, you can't go wrong! The banana pudding is hands down amazing! Overall, this place is very good! Id say you are given more food than you pay for which I love because I can eat it the next day! If you are in Plaza Midwood and looking for a southern inspired diner food then this should be your place. It's always full so be prepared to wait 5-15 minutes for a table, but it's worth it! read more

Diamond Restaurant - Onion rings. Cooked perfectly but need some spice or flavor in the batter. Adding salt and pepper made them even better! - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Usually the diamond has good food but overall it's a pretty dirty place. It has veggie options too which is nice. Last time I visited I threw out my food because I watched a guy make and package order after order of fries while wiping sweat off his face and nose without gloves or mask. Unacceptable. read more

They gave me a special order without a blink. BLT with pimento cheese and fried baloney. Yummy. And it was cooked to perfection. Fresh ample portions of each element. Right down to the lettuce. read more

Diamond Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Love their food! Always have! Their fried pork chops are my favorite and I crave their Greek salad everyday! I could live off their sweet tea!! I love the staff there as well! Just the best diner in Charlotte! read more

I remember the Diamond before it was taken over the chefs from the Penguin. It was great then and it is great now! (Although the clientele seem to have changed!). The Winky-Dinky dog is my go to favorite. This place stays busy, so go outside of prime time or expect to wait. The pimento cheese is homemade, so it is really great option. The sandwiches and dogs are dine-o-mite! Hushpuppies are also a go to standard and the fried pickles are legend. This is a place you have to try if you are in CLT! read more

Diamond is solid but not spectacular in the southern kitchen style of cooking. It's hard to be spectacular in the genre because if a recipe gets taken too far to the edge, it isn't going to be authentic. But if it is authentic, it is bland and unhealthy. So Diamond has authentic southern food which typically will mean a meat and vegetables and Diamond is certainly acceptable. This is an old school place with a hipster vibe and some outdoor seating. A good place to get an inexpensive filling meal before hitting the Plaza Midwood nightlife but is not a destination dining place. read more

Diamond Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Located in my favorite Charlotte Neighborhood Plaza Midwood. Late night hunger definitely go here. Service is quick . They have plenty of options. Turkey burger is very good. They have local craft beer to pair with all of the eats. Patio is good for a late lunch Saturday or a lady Sunday read more

Diamond Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This restaurant has gone completely downhill since ownership changed hands from original long-standing founding owner, Jerry, sold the place to the first (definitely not highest!) bidder. Jerry's staff put out home-cooked Southern food. The current joint is boldly serving frozen food re-heated and supremely over-priced poor-tasting un-seasoned improperly cooked products that I struggle to call edible food. read more

I love this place. Energy is great, the food is amazing. The cooks tonight..solid! It's clear to me that the team here loves what they do. read more

Diamond Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This is one of Charlotte's classic diners. There is a lot of variety here so it should be easy for anyone to find something they like on the menu. I usually get either a burger or hot dog. Both are very good. The fried pickles are also very popular. The service is usually fast and the prices are cheap. It's definitely on the must try list for Charlotte! read more

We had a very nice time sitting outside. We enjoyed fried pickles. Just enough breading. I had the big block burger - all the way. Delicious. My wife had the pimento cheese sandwich and liked it. read more

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Living in Plaza Midwood, I was so excited to try this place. Walking by every so often Diamond Restaurant's appeal grew. After the greatly anticipated lunch at Diamond Restaurant, I wasn't let down. Be sure to come hungry and come early. Diamond is a little gem tucked into Plaza Midwood and you just might miss it if you aren't looking for it. Service was awesome. I felt like I was at home or in a friend's kitchen. Everything about Diamon Resturant had a welcoming feel from the staff, to the wallpaper. Srsly, check out the wallpaper it is super cute. Looking forward to coming here again, but I will stop by in the off hours. read more

I've walked by many times, but this time I went in to explore. Found a nice diner with good food. And they do an all day breakfast plate, so that's what I had. Eggs, toast, grits and bacon, along with a side of hushpuppies and and orange soda! It was just what I needed on a lazy Saturday afternoon. read more

Diamond Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The place didn't open on time. The food was awful. We didn't even eat most of it. Nor did we take anything home. Everything tasted old and bland. I was pretty disappointed and won't be back. read more

Perhaps I am the only person in Charlotte who does not love Diamond? Maybe it is because I went before the night out instead of going in after a few drinks? Whatever it was I can't really think of any reason to come back. When we arrived our friends were already seated in an uncomfortable booth directly in the blast zone of the subzero AC. The booth was rather flimsy so my friend and I felt every fidget from the group behind us. When ordering drinks I asked what beers they had and received a puzzling answer of "a lot". Thankfully a friend let me try his beer that he thought I would like so I ordered one of his and a water. In fact I tried to get a water from our waitress three times before flagging down someone else to ask. My friend who was the only one who did not order an alcoholic beverage said she struggled to get her sweet tea before we arrived. The burger I ordered was not impressive. It was super greasy and pink in the middle (the menu did not mention cooking the burgers at medium). The fries it came with were a happy surprise (again menu did not mention the burger came with fries). We had to ask for ketchup from the group across from us for the fries, which were better than the burger but on the same level with frozen fries. The one strong recommendation I can give for this restaurant is the price - the boyfriend and I left having dinner and a craft beer each for under $20 total. read more