I would not be surprised to find out this place made it on to some sort of "20 Dive Diners you must visit before you die " list. It's old, easy to pass, hardly has a parking lot, always has trucks outside, and doesn't take credit or debit (CASH ONLY), but the food is solid and it oozes with history. Most people look like they've been coming to this place for decades. The pancakes were huge, fluffy, and melt in your mouth. The eggs were always cooked to order - my over medium request actually resulted in over medium eggs every time I've been there. The bacon had a good balance of chewiness and crispness to it and was generous for the pricing. The food is not bursting with obscene amounts of flavor. For example, the blueberry muffins were dry, scant on the blueberries, and pretty average size. However, this place delivers solid diner style food - greasy, starchy, and sweet - without fuss or fanfare at reasonable prices. The baskets of condiments on the tables include squirt bottles of ketchup, individual servings of Smuckers jams, a Tupperware of coffee mate creamers, and salt and pepper shakers. Everything seems a little covered in the atmosphere (grease, memories, and touches of syrup), but it adds to the old-time charm of the place. I've been a few times and still don't understand the seating. Do I seat myself? Do I let them know I'm here and then take a seat? There isn't really a host or hostess that I can tell, but no one on the waitstaff seemed put out when I asked them where to sit or told them how many people we were expecting read more

Can't knock this place. They're open extra early, they've been around for three generations, and make lots of stuff from scratch. Very friendly atmosphere, and family run, which is getting rarer and rarer to find. The food I had was all satisfying. Homemade corned beef hash and not that canned crap you get everywhere, fresh muffins (try the corn muffins), and the pancakes I had were perfect and fluffy. Plus you got the owner right there to talk to, John, who was telling me about how it was his grandparents' place and then his parents. Yes Duncan is a good little diner to know about. read more

Duncan's Dairy Bar - Blueberry pancakes - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Troy, New York

This is a great place with a simple, down home, salt-of-the-earth appeal. The menu is very basic. Pancakes, French Toast, Eggs, Hash, 5 kinds of simple omelettes. Don't expect to find a lot of options or anything fancy, just good food. Sit at the counter and watch the inner workings of the restaurant. Everything moves smoothly, comes out quickly, and is somehow very organized, even though the atmosphere is fast paced. Most things are homemade, including all baked goods, even the toast! Try the cinnamon roll, and get it grilled. I ordered the western omelette, and it was spectacular. The ham and onions are finely chopped. They made their omelettes in a unique way. They spread a thin layer of eggs on the grill, then a thin layer of the ham and onions. The omelette is about a foot wide in diameter at this point. Then they flip it on itself 3-4 times. This ends up with flaky, lights layers, and allows for consistency of flavor and toppings in each bite. In my photo hopefully you can see the artistry! My husband orders eggs, bacon and potato hash. The hash is rough cut, and grilled nicely, with lots of brown crunchy bits. Yum! read more

Duncan's Dairy Bar - Sitting at the counter - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Troy, New York

See all

I went here for the first time for breakfast, and it was a really mixed experience. The first thing I'd like to mention is that the homemade corned beef hash was fantastic. It wasn't too salty, and it was a good-sized portion. I had it with poached eggs and cinnamon raisin bread and would for sure want to eat it again. The service, however, left a lot to be desired. Apparently you're supposed to seat yourself. I didn't know this, since I hadn't been before, and I came in through the side entrance where there were no signs telling us what to do. My friend and I stood waiting against the wall for someone to seat us. Someone behind the counter at any point probably could have told us that we could just sit where we like, but it took another patron to finally tell us, "hey, there's plenty of empty tables over there..." So we sat down and waited. The issue with seating ourselves was that still no one from the waitstaff had acknowledged us. Three other tables came in after us and were eventually presented with menus and cutlery, and asked for their drink orders. I couldn't catch anyone's eye to come to our table, so at one point just got up and grabbed my own set of menus. (It was a tossup between that and leaving.) Finally one of the waitresses came over and someone else brought us cutlery. We'd probably been there about 15-20 mins at that point. And even once we got service, I couldn't get past that most of the servers were surly teenagers who couldn't even fake a smile or being polite. Like I was personally responsible for forcing them to get a job where they had to be awake on a Sunday at 11am. This wasn't a one-off person having a bad day, and the place was not crazy busy, it was just the overall vibe of 3 separate people we had to interact with. Like I said, the food was good and it did come pretty quickly once we actually got service. But based on my overall experience, I don't think I'll be returning. read more

Here we go with another attempt at a fine review. So the bride and I had to take a trip to VT and decided to stop on our way. Well, I wasn't disappointed. This is the kind of place where an honest lunch counter meal is served, and more(we'll get to that later) First the bride ordered a grilled cheese with bacon and tomato. I know this is nothing special about this but,apparently the bread was home made and very good. I ordered a turkey club. Again nothing super special yet it was very good and satisfying. Both of our sandwiches came with a bag of chips( leave that crap for the gas stations, I want fries. ) they also came with some of the best coleslaw around. The bride also ordered a side of macaroni salad, also very good. Now to the "later" part. Holy freeking doughnuts batman. These things are made on sight , deliciouss and huge! (Note* these should be eaten the same day as purchased)Apparently they have a bakery on sight! Who knew ??? Service was good, prices are fair if not on the cheap side. read more

Duncan's Dairy Bar - These are very,very good - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Troy, New York

Third time here. Third time with horrible service. They act like they are doing you a favor by serving you. One person behind the counter wearing a mask. Not a single cook with mask or gloves. Not a server with mask or gloves. Tables not cleaned. Each time I've been here I said I'd never come back. This time I mean it. Some of the worst customer service I've ever encountered. Food is over priced and average quality. They're also taking next to zero precautions against COVID. read more

Duncan's Dairy Bar - Unclean table. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Troy, New York

As the first stop in the Lame Ass Monthly Breakfast tour of local diners, Duncan's Dairy had a tough roll to fill. Gathering local Yelpers is like herding cats, you have to have some good bait to get them together. Duncan's was busy, which I guess is important for a true diner. I mean, if the local people don't go there why would anyone else? Busy is one thing, not having any interaction from the waitstaff about seating is another. It seemed like the type of place where you might just go grab your own table, but usually someone passing by would confirm with a quick order to seat yourself. That didn't happen, staff really just walked around us. My breakfast of choice is usually Eggs Benedict. There is something really telling about ordering a classic breakfast the first time you enter a diner. Do they use canned hollandaise or do they make their own? Do they add their own spin to the classic? Duncan's does not have Eggs Benedict in any form. I decided to have two eggs, sausage and hash browns. When asked what type of toast I said I didn't care. Waitress asked "Whole wheat?" and I confirmed that would be fine. After my wife asked for chocolate milk, I thought a small glass of tomato juice would be nice to start off the breakfast. When my meal arrived they brought orange juice instead of tomato and the toast was white bread. I sent the juice back to be corrected but didn't bother with the toast. I really didn't care what type it was, just found it odd that the waitress would be so specific and not bother with it. The meal itself was OK, but nothing special. I guess it's not fair to expect culinary bells and whistles from sunny up eggs, but nothing really had much to stand out at all. Hash was pretty plain. I'd be willing to put money on the sausage being Jimmy Dean. Sadly it was the service that did Duncan's in. Little mistakes with the order that seemed to generate not an ounce of care. I don't think I was anything but polite when I corrected the juice, but not so much as a shrug from our server to acknowledge the mistake. Six of us at a table when they come to refresh coffee, waitress says she'll get to Jes as she walks around the other side... they just walks by. I guess if Duncan's was local it might be different. Just not worth a trip from Albany for mediocre. read more

We visited Duncan's Dairy Bar for the first time recently for a late lunch. I have to say, we had nearly an identical experience as Jessie P., service-wise (her review is below). While we went in the front door and sat ourselves fairly quickly, it was difficult to get anyone's attention. The dining room was not busy, but there were a couple other diners. Eventually, we went up to get our own menus, and then, after some time, my dining partner went to see if anyone could take our order. And, yes, the surly teenagers from Jessie P.'s review were there! Once we placed our order, service became slightly more attentive. We both ordered the Paddock Sandwich, which is a grilled cheese with tomato, ham, and pineapple. It was served with a bag of chips, a pickle, and a little cup of coleslaw. The sandwich was extremely delicious! I recommend it highly! We, also, tried their strawberry shortcake for dessert. Delicious! A generous serving of strawberries and juice over a buttered biscuit, completely covered in whipped cream. The service wasn't fantastic, but the food was above average. We would probably continue to go to this restaurant if it were a bit more local to us, but we drove out from Schenectady. read more

Duncan's Dairy Bar - The Paddock Sandwich (grilled cheese with tomato, ham, and pineapple) - Yum! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Troy, New York

Duncan's Dairy Bar is so good that the previous owners of a competing diner down the road hired an arsonist to burn it down. Fortunately the arsonist was an undercover cop. Getting to Duncan's Dairy Bar takes a bit of well-rewarded initiative. It's east of Troy on the stop-and-go traffic of Route 7. They open painfully early and close at two p.m. The building itself is kind of ramshackle with afterthought add-on rooms. Like the majority of places in this area, not a lot of attention is paid to decor, but since moving here I've come to find this absence of any esthetic sensibility almost charming. Anesthetic, maybe? At any rate, Walker Evans would feel at home here. A tall dining counter stretches across its considerable length, tables are plentiful, and even on weekends there's not too much of a wait. Although they serve lunch, Duncan's is primarily a breakfast place, and the food, while not nearly as innovative, is so good I prefer it by far over the Miss Albany Diner. Not to dismiss MAD, but on occasion one's psyche craves the anonymous dining company of farmers and provincial republicans wearing clothing found two seasons ago at TJMaxx. All the breads are baked by the Duncan family. The waffles and blueberry pancakes are, according to my GF, the best she's ever had. My ritual meal consists of their ham and cheese omelette, and no matter how much I try, I cannot duplicate it at home. It's almost perfect. Going here is a great first stop for a day trip into the Berkshires. read more

I lived in Brunswick for 10 years but never made my way to Duncan's. Boy do I wish I could go back in time to change that! I finally had the chance to eat at Duncan's and it was absolutely perfect. Excellent service, delicious food, and amazing prices. I HIGHLY recommend their fresh glazed donuts...they are literally the best donuts I have tasted! If you're ever in Brunswick and craving a cozy diner meal, Duncan's Dairy Barn is the place to go. read more

A diner, pure and simple. (Not a dairy bar. I do not understand the name at all.) It has no design sense. It is not charming or quaint. But the service is fast, friendly, and attentive. The coffee is good and the food is deeeeeeelicous. Go to Duncan's Dairy Bar. Eat like a pig. Be happy. read more

It's a dependable breakfast joint my family has been going to for years that serves the basics: pancakes, french toast, eggs, bacon, OJ, the usual. It's never going to be the best meal you've eaten, but it won't be the worst. I would warn "foodies" in search of that perfect brunch to keep driving. You won't find attentive service if you walk in the door and wait for a hostess. It's a "find your own seat" kind of place. And yeah, all the waitresses are high school kids, the silverware has water stains, the plastic water cups are foggy and chipped, the toast is soggy, everything is slathered in butter (this could be a great thing, depending on your M.O.), and the tables are wobbly and somewhat mismatched. Big deal. It's a low-key, rural (well, it used to be) diner in the greasy spoon tradition. It is by no means trying to wow you, but I've had a consistently middle-of-the-road, a-ok breakfasts here for a long time, and it will always be there if you need a meal a step above the slop they serve at Dennys. It does get packed, so get there early on the weekends. read more

Going to Duncan's is like going to a family reunion.You walk through the door and it's chaos. It's the kind of organized chaos you'd find in the kitchen of a family of 10; loud, hectic, but organized. When I was little my family would come for breakfast and I always looked forward to that little brown bag that was full of cookies and mini muffins. It was such a nice gesture and I wish I was 5 again so I could hold my little bag proudly as I walked out the door (only to inhale everything once I got in the car). If you want the homemade donuts (which you most definitely do) you have to get there early. I, unfortunately, haven't had one in years because I can't get myself out of bed early enough to nab one. Oh and their homemade pies are devine, as well as their bread. Did I mention the donuts? read more

After hearing much fanfare over how great Duncan's is, we decided it was finally time to try it out. As we pulled up to the unassuming building surrounded by dozens of cars, we had a feeling that this place would live up to the hype. There are two different schools of diners: diner diners, and diners who are trying to go gourmet. Duncan's in definitely a diner diner. The waitress was quick and brought us our drinks within minutes. The coffee was good. And by good, I mean typical diner coffee, my favorite! Most of the seating at Duncan's is around a huge counter that surrounds the kitchen area. We were lucky enough to snag a table in the small dining room around back. The food came out really quickly, and was spot on diner diner food. The eggs were perfectly overeasy, the toast perfectly buttered, the sausage was delicious and fresh, M loved his bacon. The only thing we weren't crazy about were the home fries. They were big and cooked well, but really bland. They could use some seasoning or onions or something. We also split a short stack of the pancakes and they were spot on. M was also psyched that instead of the usual diner "table syrup," we were served individual packets of Aunt Jemima. We were impressed, and we will be back for sure! read more

See all

I really wish Yelp gave us half-stars to work with. This is a decent 3.5 for me, but by no means a 4. We were a group of 6, which is 2 too many for this place. There is a room in the back where you might be able to push some tables together, but this place was packed and merging tables was not an option. As busy as they were, I was surprised at the quality and lack of service. The one time someone came around to refill coffee, she passed me three times. I had to flag her down for a top off well after she had already put the coffee pot back on the burner.. With very few exceptions, I order the same thing whenever I go out to breakfast - two eggs over hard, home fries and an English muffin with coffee. I always have to ask about peppers in the home fries, but no worries, they were completely unseasoned, but with a decent texture. The eggs were cooked all the way through (not something to take for granted with over hard eggs), but not broken, which is not the customary way to cooks eggs over hard. The muffin was a muffin. The coffee was quite good. All in all, a decent breakfast, but not a place I'd seek out. And I'd really like to know what makes it a diary "bar", since I noticed no particular emphasis on dairy items... Except in the decor. read more

Best donut I have ever had ! Worth every minute of the trip to the middle of nowhere for this tiny little diner. Everything we ate was delicious Turkey Rueben, western omelette which was very unusually layered, and lastly; I would like to say I ate it for dessert ; nope! I ate it first! a homemade glazed donut stuffed with cinnamon roll. I got the last one of the day ( they run out!) and it was only 930am. Worth every sugar glazed calorie. Lots of yummy items on the menu. Sweet helpful friendly waitresses. It's a well oiled machine. I will be back !!! Hopefully soon. Eat your heart out @guyfieri read more

I never thought I would give Duncans a bad review after being a customer since 1964. Went there for lunch today. Not one staff member was wearing a mask. When I asked our server she said my boss said we did have to. When I asked to speak with him I was told he was at the bank. People over the age of 65 are that backbone of this business. I can not believe he thinks so little of us that he would put his venerable customers at risl read more

Are you really hungry and want a HUGE breakfast to satisfy your appetite? Ok then, this is the place to go for a large portion of breakfast food at a great price that won't bust your wallet. The thing that I like about it is that everything is homemade from the bread on down to the pancakes and your home fries are cut up seasoned potatoes that aren't deep fried or anything crazy like you'd see at a chain diner. Inside it's no big treat for the eyes and needs some serious updating but really - who cares? It's all about the food baby and I challenge you to walk away hungry. Generally if I eat the whole plate I feel bogged down and ready for a nap and that's when I know that I've had a hearty meal. read more

So, where's the dairy, Duncan? I came here with the first group of brave Lame Ass Monthly Breakfast tour attendees. I'd say our group was pretty much in accord in terms of our overall impression of Duncan's, so consider their reviews an addendum to mine. Duncan's is squeezed uncomfortably between being a diner and a greasy spoon. If they didn't have a good amount of staff, the lack of attention would have been understandable. But with so many people running around at any given time, I was surprised that my coffee cup was empty for as long as it was. But damn, they do have some good coffee. I initially thought Duncan's would be a great location to have a meetup with more than 4 people, but I was sadly mistaken. There appears to be one table that can comfortably seat more than 4 tucked away in a back corner. We ended up splitting into a group of 4 and 2 taking two tables next to each other. The general noise level made it hard for us to communicate, but we made due. I ordered the Spanish omelet, which was just ok. Nothing special. The true test of a diner/greasy spoon, for me, is the hash browns. On that front, Duncan's gets a solid thumbs down. Seems as though they tossed the potatoes in a generous amount of lard but didn't give them enough time to get crispy, so they were just greasy, tasteless, and unpleasant. The coffee is good enough to push them up to a 3. Maybe we'll have better luck coming back on a not so busy day with less people. read more

In for our annual breakfast.! As usual my sausage, egg & cheese on their homemade hard roll was right on. This is a busy place so get here early to get the hard rolls, when they are out, there out! Cash only and they close on the 21st of December for 10 weeks. I guess I'll have to cook breakfast when we are up here! Not a problem since I buy their cinnamon raisin bread not sliced and make my own french toast, sliced thick! read more

Duncan's Dairy Bar - Breakfast time at Duncan's! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Troy, New York

See all

Someday the children or grandchildren or great grandchildren of the owners will decide that they don't want to run this place. That will be a sad day. 2 minutes from the madness of Troy / Hoosick St. / WalMart lies this gem from days past. This is where the farmers that lived around Hoosick St. (and there were lots of them back in the day) would get breakfast after church on Sunday. As the years roll on and the big box stores gobble up country land it is nice to see that this place is thriving still. Why wouldn't it? The have the best eggs on earth, ham salad sandwiches (where else can you get that), hot coffee, KILLER blueberry pie and lots of old people haha. I hope they keep on kicking because they know what they are doing. Love it! read more

Enjoyed my last breakfast there. Glad I was there before it closed for the season. As always the food was great you can't beat it for a breakfast. Bread is homemade and tastes so much better than store bought. The hash is fabulous. read more

I have eaten here since I was a kid, and it has never changed. It's always been the best breakfast, and I have made it a regular visiting place even now, 40 years later. The food is always great, the service is always on point, and the staff is always so friendly. read more

Food taste good. But I like my eggs WELL DONE. Same with the home fries. They didn't execute to how I requested. I sampled the French toast which is real good. read more

The kitchen was backed up approx 50 minutes when I came here in late April 2016 HOWEVER boy was it worth the wait! By far the best Corned Beef Hash EVER! Good fried eggs, and legendary pancakes with the berries in the pancakes, not in a sauce on top. I would have given 5 stars if it wasn't for the wait. Legend has it that you can get their massive cinnabuns grilled!? I will be back soon! read more

Food was ok as far as diners go. Service was poor. No refills, no check backs. Order pancakes no syrup.... ordered chicken tenders suppose to come with pickles, chips. Came with nothing. Otherwise breakfast items ok. Definitely not sure if i will go back. read more

Poached eggs, fresh bread, home fries, and bacon make up the perfect breakfast in my mind. There is no place in the 518 that makes a better breakfast than Duncan's. Whenever someone comes to the area for the first time, I try to take them to Duncan's. Why? Because it is just a special special place. read more

We had breakfast yesterday morning. They accommodated our group of 20 in only a few minutes. The breakfast was great. Fluffy but very large omelets. Big portions of very good food. The staff was incredible. Our waitress saw we were taking a group photo outside after we had paid the bill and came out to take it for us so we could all be in the picture. We highly recommend. read more

Plain and simply the best diner around. Very sad they close for the winter. Looking forward to when the reopen in the spring.

Had to bump up the rating a bit, you got 6 admittedly "Lame Ass" Yelpers with one bad experience bringing it down. Yea, its a local diner, 95% of the people there know each other, I am not one of those people, but am smart enough to know what to expect when I go to a place like this. If you go in with a group of 6 people with IPADS out with the finger hovering over 1 star at any chance they get to complain about a couple of 16 year old servers, then duncan's might not be for you. If you want huge omelets that you can order halves of, home made corn beef hash and bread, and other hearty breakfast food then check it out. read more

Great diner fare food, mostly we go for the breakfast, portions are large, fresh bake breads, desserts, great CBHash, 4 egg omelets! Waitstaff attentive, young and learning (most likely first job experience). Regulars mixed with passing locals and comradery with the hard working cooking team make a great visit. read more

On Sunday a group of six of us Yelpers would go to Duncan's for breakfast. When we got there it was busy and not sure if we should seat our selves so we waited for a member of the wait staff to let us know. Wait staff did not acknowledge that we were waiting. Yes the place was small so we had to split up. That was not an issue we still managed to visit. As this is my first review myself you my know me from my husbands reviews and know I am a gluten free person. So I asked the waitress if the homefries were deep fried and she assured me they were not. So I ordered the hash and eggs minus the toast and coffe and small chocolat milk. The coffee I would like to say was very good. I was excited about the hash because they said it was home made. Hard to find in a diner setting really. Well when I got it the hash was cold almost under cooked and the onion over powered the whole dish. The home fries to me were nothing but boiled potatoes the where warmed up on the grill. Not even salt and pepper where they seasoned with. I am sorry I may be a bit of a diner snob only because I grew up with my parents owning their own diner and this is not what it should be. Sorry my first review is not a good one as far as my style(I will prefect it) and that I did not enjoy Duncan's more. read more

Keep Driving. This was almost the worst meal I have ever had in my entire life. I thought I would wash it down with pie... NO that was old and soggy. Keep driving this restaurant was dusty, greasy, dirty and disgusting. The wait staff were teenagers and more interested in hanging out with each other than tending to the customer. read more

Stopped by chance on way home in Maine. So glad we did. Food was excellent and service was friendly. Though the place is old it was very neat and clean. Best fries. And the strawberry shortcake and pie were delirious. read more

best banana chocolate pancakes ever! The chocolate was nice and dark ... i want to go back right now..

This is one of my favorite places to come! I've been coming here ever since I was a little girl and it never gets old. Great food, friendly staff and atmosphere. A great place to stop on your way to Bennington, Vt! Homemade desserts are the best! --try their fish fry or Mac and cheese only on Friday! read more

Heard so much about how great their breakfast is. So went off my diet for a "great" breakfast. Sat at the counter, was waited on quickly. Ordered the standard, 2 eggs over easy, home fries, sausage and rye toast. Food came fast. That's were anything good I have to say ends! Eggs were runny and under cooked, home fries were way under cooked. Some were actually COLD! The toast, well it was more like just bread, hardly toasted at all. Sausage was ok, it's the only thing I ate entirely. Typically I clean my plate. I don't think I've ever left so much uneaten food on my plate, especially breakfast! I'm very loyal to my breakfast spots, but I'm always willing to expand my places. Always go to family owned, mom and pop sort of places whenever possible. You missed out on a possible customer for life. I will NOT be returning to Duncan's. There are just too many places out there to settle for an absolutely horrible meal. I know I'm just one person. But these days, can anyplace afford not to put their best foot (or in this case, food) forward? I think not. read more

Great local spot and amazing food. The corned beef and hash was incredible.

Such a kitchy cool diner! Solid diner food! Great fries and homefries! And the service was awesome ! Sooo worth a try it might my new favorite place for breakfast or lunch ! read more

Had lunch here. Food was okay, although the French fries were poor. It is obvious that the place gets lots of customers, so it has a following. But, the place itself is seriously rough looking and is far from appetizing. You get the sense that it is just seriously old and dirty and has had no reinvestment or attempt at cleaning it and making it appealing. The staff come across similarly. Can't imagine going back but something is bringing people in. read more