I grew up in the world of diners (New Jersey), and it's always a pleasure to visit a new place calling itself a diner and being able to say that it's legit. This place is legit. I had a burger deluxe, which comes with fries and Cole slaw. Also a nice big slice of pickle. The burger (ok - turkey burger - I have to listen to my doctor these days) was well prepared and flavorful. A nice portion of lettuce and juicy tomato on top. And the bun was ok too. The fries had a good crunch and were nice snd hot. My partner got the Turkey Feast Panini, a well-grilled panini stuffed with real turkey (not turkey roll), cranberry and stuffing. They really enjoyed the panini and the fries. There was a lot of turkey in there. It was very filling. We started with a shared bowl of Maryland crab soup. It was a nice sized bowl for sharing of tasty broth with bits of crab throughout and veggies (corn, potato, green bean). Really good soup. The dessert selection looks great and they have a very interesting selection of milk shakes. Service was good and the cashier was very pleasant on our way out. I think the prices here are decent too. It was a bit cold in the restaurant this afternoon, to the point of being unpleasant. But that's me in my sandaled feet. read more

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This place is full of so many options. They are famous for desserts and milkshakes but we didn't try any. They look so good. I had the stuffed shrimp -one of my childhood favorite. It was a huge portion. All the portions were giant. It's a busy and popular spot. Great service too. read more

I first heard about this diner on TikTok and from my 16-year-old sister, who swore we had to try their famous giant milkshakes. We stopped by late on a Saturday night before our cruise out of Baltimore and ordered a variety of comfort foods, including a cheesesteak, pasta, crab dip and a Caesar salad. The diner has a classic, spacious feel. Cleanliness was average, and there was some construction happening near the entrance. The food was also pretty average overall. The crab dip was probably the best thing we ordered, my friend said the pasta tasted better the next day, and the other didn't even finish the cheesesteak. Cocktails weren't listed on the main menu, and the drink selection was limited once we asked for it. The real highlight seems to be the desserts and over-the-top milkshakes that people rave about online. If you have a sweet tooth, this place is probably worth a visit. For the food and service alone, though, I'd say it's just your average diner experience. read more

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I have been wanting to check this place out for awhile! The food was so good I was impressed. The menu is very long so it was hard to decide but everything we had was good. We had the crab pretzel, mozz sticks, smash burger, and shrimp and crab quesadilla. The service was also amazing. Our server made sure to talk to us and also interact with our 7 month old. I will 100% be back for dessert I was way too full this time. read more

This is definitely one of my favorite diners! My mom and I enjoyed their breakfast options as well as the Chesapeake crab Alfredo and the potato crusted salmon. If you are into desserts, they have a variety of extreme milkshakes. it's a lot of parking and the customer service is excellent. I highly suggest you check it out! read more

EC Diner - Chesapeake crab cake and potato crusted salmon - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

EC Diner has some hit or miss items. In my opinion, it's an average diner experience with added flare because of their milkshakes. I stopped by for lunch and had eggs, pancakes, and bacon. No special effects there and then I had a milkshake. Most of the time I don't like the crazy milkshakes but this one was okay. If I stopped by again I would try an omelette and another shake. When I dined here it took some time which is okay but some orders were wrong. I would come in and its expectations that it is diner food which is hit or miss even in the diner capital of the world, New Jersey. read more

EC Diner - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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WE ILL BE REVISITING!!! OMG The menu is ROBUST!! SOOOOO MANY OPTIONS, you won't be able to make up your mind! The portions are huge and there is a cuisine for everyone. We went on Greek Night. We did try the Lemon Chicken soup. It was bad, but definitely a heavy presence of Lemon zest. Service was great. We had a very nice young lady who was super patient with us as we decided on our options. Now, the place is not updated and reminds you for sure of an old school diner with the music jukebox at each seated booth. But, overall it was clean and we didn't experience any questionable health inspection or operating concerns lmbo.. read more

EC Diner - A very Robust Menu - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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This is a great spot for breakfast! There's a large parking lot, which makes it easy to visit, and even on a very busy Sunday morning, we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. The interior is cute with a fun retro diner vibe, and our waitress super friendly and attentive. The food was exactly what you want from a classic breakfast spot and everything came out hot and fresh. I'd definitely come back for another weekend breakfast! read more

EC Diner - Lumberjack plate - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

This diner truly offers so much more than a regular diner than you expect. Over the top milkshakes, super sweet pancakes, giant mozzarella sticks, and trashcan nachos! The service was great and the ambiance is family friendly. read more

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My daughter had the day off from school so we decided EC Diner for some pancakes would be a great idea. We were promptly sat and our server came by quickly to get our drink orders. We decided on pancakes for her and corned beef hash eggs Benedict for me. Her portion of silver dollar pancakes was humongous! My dish was full of corned beef chunks and I had a huge portion as well. The atmosphere is very laid back, the restaurant is very clean and there is something here for everyone. Give them a try! read more

EC Diner - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Came here on a Sunday afternoon. They were very busy. It took a while to place an order and get water. But once drinks and food was placed it came out rather quick. They bring good portions of food. Lots of items to pick from on the menu. Food was good. I look forward to coming back. My only complaint was Golf and Nascar on TV read more

EC Diner - Irish Reuben Sandwich - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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This place was BUSTLING on a Sunday afternoon following church services. The hosts were efficient and pushed through the waitlist like true pros. The service was a bit sporadic but ultimately we were pleased with the attention received and the food selected! Would return if ever in the area again read more

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Not my first visit and I've tried a different entree each time...I have not had a bad meal yet and the portions are great. It is absolutely a family friendly diner full of more entrees and desserts than you could imagine. (I have not tried the desserts). Everyone has always been so pleasant, especially this visit's server, Maria. She was wonderful from suggestions to checking on us and getting our drinks refilled. I asked about the shrimp bisque not being the soup of the day (my absolute favorite) and now I know that's a Sunday deal. I've been seated in multiple areas and prefer the booth seating to the left of the entrance door as you walk in. Visited midday Monday and it wasn't too busy at all. Overall good experience this trip without emptying pockets and wallets. Everything made it to the table hot and fresh and the wait wasn't long at all. read more

I needed some healthy protein in my life the other evening and the normal diner I go to got that was closing early so EC was the closest. It wasn't that far of a drive and I was familiar with it, having driven past it before and have visited other establishments in the same plaza multiple times before. I looked at their website for my specific dish and was overjoyed seeing it and quickly ordered. I really appreciate they didn't add an upcharge for pickup or for their platform usage. I parked and waited a few minutes before calling to see if my order was ready although they told me it would take up to 40 minutes. I was instructed that it would be ready in less than five and was overjoyed to head inside to grab it. The restaurant was about at 40% occupation and I saw a pair of ladies walking out were dressed interestingly, a tutu and some other accessories which signify they were celebrating something but that they also had a really good time. They have a full bar and there was a TV playing the football game which I was watching a little bit from inside my car before coming in. I was greeted by two people and when I gave them my name for the pickup order I was instructed it was being put together at that moment. I grabbed my order after looking at the TV and searching their bar to see which brands they use and headed out the door before being thanked by the host. I got to my car and drove off although I wanted to open the bag and eat it immediately. It's a diner in all sense and if you're ever craving diner food this is a good spot to try. Make sure expectations are set on diner. read more

EC Diner - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Date enter facility: May 4, 2026 Number of guests in my party: 2 Meal ordered: Japanese french toast, coffee Seating timely fashion: we was seated immediately, no wait time to be seated Service: service was ok, At least the waiter checked on us frequently Cleanliness: The diner was pretty clean Ambiance: there was quite a but of a old fashioned diner feel with a modern touch Food Wait Time: It was very poor, took almost a hour to get our food, we was ready to just pay for our coffee and leave Food correct: they did mess up on my coach's eggs Food quality : food tasted very good, I enjoyed the Japanese french toast Food Portion: huge portions, I've couldn't finish it it was so big Price: they screwed up and charged me for my coffee separately when it was supposed to be included with the Japanese french toast according to the advertisement on their menu so i got ripped off a bit Overall: it was a nice experience other than getting ripped off by getting charge separately for coffee as stated earlier read more

EC Diner - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Had my mind made up that I wanted the country fried steak, wit mashed potatoes & white gravy. They told me that "the owners felt the menu for father's day is wht they gone go by. So I didn't get my father's day meal that I'd been thinking bout all day. Ended up at Mission BBQ & got a burger. Thanx EC Diner. Catch u wen ever read more

Parking lot was packed you'd think inside was filled with folks waiting for a table, but not the case! A fan of country fried steak and I'd rate it equal to iHop's, College Park Diner, Denny's, Cracker Barrel caliber, but what I appreciated was the sausage gravy was kept separate in a bowl and I will say, what sets EC Diner apart from those establishments I mentioned...is the sausage gravy!!!! It was sooo good I had to ask for a biscuit! That bowl of gravy was enough to slatger the chicken fried steak and all over both sides of the biscuit. I was kinda disappointed that I opted to not having eggs and yet I got charged for a second biscuit...so next time I'll know to save my biscuit for the gravy rather than having 2. Womens and mens bathroom were separate and clean. Service was friendly and efficient. Sweet tea was as yummy as the sausage gravy. read more

EC Diner - Country Fried Steak - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

I ordered asian brussel sprouts without pork and coconut shrimp. The brussel sprouts were delicious. I enjoyed the sauce. The coconut shrimp was good, not much portion wise... The dipping sauce was okay. Service was okay for a busy diner. Inside is nothing fancy... Just a normal looking diner. read more

EC Diner - Brussel sprouts and coconut shrimp - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Hidden gem of this whole area. Food is spectacular. Service is always great. Crab soup is legit Maryland style, any of the breakfast foods are great, for dinner I get the hot turkey. As far as ambiance, it's a classic 50s style diner look. I just wish the jukeboxes still worked... read more

The food was not spectacular. The server missed a few things and I had to inform her that my meal came with certain things. The food did not taste freshly made. I would probably been better off ordering breakfast. read more

EC Diner - Appetizer EC Sampler - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Cozy Spot with Tasty Breakfasts. Stopped in for a casual breakfast and was pleasantly surprised. The garden omelet was excellent--well-cooked, and generously filled with fresh ingredients. We also tried a toasted bagel with cream cheese. It came with a tiny bit of cream cheese- had to get a little bit more which we got charged $1. The bacon was cooked inconsistently. Service was friendly and quick. The only downside was the noise level--it got pretty loud. It's a typical diner with satisfying omelet. read more

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Was finally able to check out the Ellicot City Diner. Went for dinner on a Saturday around 6pm. We were promptly sat on the booth side of the diner. It took about 5 mins for a server to come over and get our drinks and then another ten or so to bring them, there were two of us and I got a water. We ordered the shrimps bisque as an appetizer and it was really good! Would highly recommend. My girlfriend ordered the seafood pasta which came with large pieces of shrimp. The pasta dish itself was huge but lacked any serious flavor, it tasted like heavy cream. I ordered the bbq burger with egg. The patties were awesome and fresh but the bbq sauce was very runny and sweet. Not quite sure it was bbq sauce. The side salad was big and full of fresh veggies. We noticed a massive case of desserts on our way out and will try them next time! Overall, you get a ton of food for the money. read more

EC Diner - Seafood Pasta - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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EC Diner is right off the Pike and has its own parking lot. Busy and limited during peak hours, nearby shopping blocks make for a walkable option. Arriving after the lunch rush, there was no wait and were seated in a booth near the entry. Greeted with a smile, our server Ms. Joy was a sweetheart. The menu is extensive and there's everything in between for everyone. The place is loud and bright! For this visit, fried burrata, tuna melt with fries, fried chicken Benny and waffles, brownie shake, and Cinnabon shake. The fried burrata was yummy. While the arugula was a bit wilted, the vodka sauce and balsamic made for a delicious pair. I could've had this as a meal with a side of toasted foccacia! The tuna melt was a massive sandwich. I prefer mine with red onions, and the toasted rye and warm tomato was a surpise. The American cheese was the standard, would've opted for Muenster or Gruyere. It also came with coleslaw but it remained untouched. The fried chicken Benny and waffles came with warm syrup, chicken was crisp, Benny was perfectly runny, and it was inhaled. Both shakes were ordered after the meal and definitely wow factor. While the presentation looked incredible, it fell short in taste. I am team thick milkshakes, I like them decadent and malty. This wasn't it. It was liquidy and the "Cinnabon" was a stale minibon impaled in the spoon. The description got me though ha! The brownie milkshake also was liquidy, however the double brownie and ice cream sandwich were reported delicious. Ask for a to go cup if you wanna take it for later! Overall, EC Diner was great. It could use a nice clean down. An option if you have time and in the area! read more

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I am very new to diner culture so throwing out that caveat! But from what I know, this place hits all the major must-haves and gets 5 stars for that. - Good amount of food options for breakfast and lunch - Decent amount of dining space and family friendly - Big portion sizes - Friendly "down home" service This review will be on taste of food: I went her with my girls and we had a good time! We ordered the cheeseburger from the kids menu and it was nearly a plate of fries and 2 medium size burger sliders. And my other daughter had the pancakes which included about 9 mini pancakes. Needless to say we left with leftovers which I didn't expect for a $9 kids meal!? I ordered the buffalo chicken and cheddar stack with bleu cheese on the side. And instead of buffalo sauce, I asked for the hot honey sauce on side. This was surprisingly good. I really wanted something different and a savory leaning pancake with cheese, bacon, and jalapeños were right on track. I really enjoyed it and didn't finish it BUT my only complaint was the chicken. It was frozen chicken tenders that were soo tiny on top of my 3 mega pancakes. I was hoping for something more than store bought chicken which is why I can give this a higher rating. Again, this is a great diner but you have to want diner food. This isn't your fancy sit down brunch but it is a good chill breakfast stop. read more

I love EC diner! The staff are always welcoming, the place feels like a second home, and the service is great. I have to start by giving a shout out to our waitress, Jo. She took special care of my kids. Whatever they whispered at her, she ran to get it and that made my night at a restaurant with kids survivable. The food is also just down right, spot on, perfect diner food. Most diners are meh. EC diner is the diner to go to and sets my standards for finding a good diner. The food is always tasty, the options are endless, and the dessert case is just fun. Even my salad was unbelievably good. A salad! read more

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Really friendly service. The bakery is incredible with affordable pricing and high quality. The biscoff cheesecake was delicious. The milkshakes are a sideshow but a crowd pleaser. The crab cakes are an incredible value. Improving upon Double T read more

Great diner with extensive menu. Kids have a variety of pancakes and waffles to choose from. Service was fast and friendly and could easily accommodate our group of 7 for breakfast on a Saturday morning. read more

This strawberry cheesecake milkshake was absolutely amazing. It was so huge but it tasted so good. I had lamb chops which were delicious. The fried pickles were okay the aioli sauce was better than the fried pickles. Great service as well. If you're in the area check out this diner. read more

EC Diner - Strawberry cheesecake milkshake - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

I went to this restaurant for the first time and wasn't impressed. The service wasn't the best. The server, Daniella, explained that she was super busy, which gave us the impression that it was going to be a slow dining experience. She delivered the Trash Can Nachos and spilled some on the table. There was no offer to provide us with additional toppings and it took a while for her to come back to take our dinner order. When she did return, before taking the order she decided to express her frustration about her life choices. We had to listen to her complaints for what felt like forever before our order was taken. I ordered the Hamburger Deluxe, which was good. My friend ordered the Crabby Fries, which wasn't great. Little crab and more cheese and sauce. Not a great experience overall. Unless you are in the area, there is no reason to revisit this restaurant. Unfortunately not the greatest diner experience. read more

Diner is not my norm scene, came with kiddo upon request and overall experience was not bad. Atmosphere: a typical diner setting; even the landline ringtone matches it. Fairly clean and comfortable inside. Service: wonderful. Jorene was great, friendly, and attentive. Food: chicken quesadilla - was fully loaded with chicken and delicious. Maryland crab soup - the flavor was tasty and not too salty, but it could use more crab meat. Watermelon burrata salad - sounded interesting, so I had to give it a try. It turned out surprisingly delicious and refreshing. Sweet watermelon and soft creamy burrata cheese paired perfectly. Penne alla vodka with shrimp was delicious, not overly sauced, and the seasoning was just right. Fried chicken - the meat was very dry, the batter was thick and hard, do not recommend. Milkshake - thick and yummy. Chocolate brownies - dry and hard to eat, we had a difficult time using a spoon to take a piece off of it...ugh. Given the numerous dessert selections, I wasn't expecting something this bad. Thought they will be good at them. Value: Given that the portion sizes and taste of the menu items are mostly tasty, the pricing is very reasonable and affordable. parking: plenty Do recommend for casual dining and takeout. read more

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This place had AMAZING customer service and their food was absolutely delicious!! My boyfriend took me here for a date and the environment was so welcoming! Our waiter was super sweet as well, I wish i could remember his name but he was hispanic and treated us very well read more

This restaurant always hits the spot. The staff is very friendly and the service is quick. This is a classic diner with better food than the old school diner. The true underrated unsung hero is the breakfast gyro. Everything is cooked to perfection and there's something special about warm feta cheese inside a wrap that makes it ultra satisfying. The gyro meat adds a savoriness that makes you want more as well. After your meal, don't just pay the bill and leave, check out the dessert case and get something special. My families favorite is the peanut butter cup mousse. It delivers on all the chocolate and peanut butter taste that will make you happy the rest of the day! read more

EC Diner - Peanut butter cup mousse - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Man I love this place. Food is great and the owner is hands on and always here! Place is clean and everyone is friendly. Best Hamburger steak around. You get a full pound with 2 eggs, fries/home fries, and toast for $20.99. Sheri was my waitress at the counter. Always great service! read more

This place is as solid as it gets. All food is good and servers are always attentive. We've been a lot but the last time I got the Reese's pancakes and they were so good. Maybe don't eat for three days prior though. read more

EC Diner - American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Our first visit to EC Diner was an absolute dumpster fire experience- ordering to-go we had incorrect orders, bad food (no seasoning, soggy), bad attempts at recorrecting our order, and with that bad staff interactions- but we've heard friends loved their dine in experience, so we decided to give them another shot during RW- we each ordered a 4course tasting menu-selecting different dishes to run through variety- I ordered: feta salad, falafel bao bun, stuffed soft shell, and cannoli Husband ordered: ceaser salad, crab hushpuppy, crab cake & lamb, and hazelnut cannoli the experience was better than our first, food as well- staff was very friendly, very attentive, checking in on us frequently the food was also better than our first visit- the crab hush puppy was the only item I didn't care for- I felt their sauce was way too mayo based giving an oily sickening taste- but other than that everything was well seasoned, with delicious bold flavor- their crabcakes are very hearty, thick crab, not too much filler- the lamb chops were cooked perfectly-moist juicy- the salads were massive-we actually ended up just boxing them up for lunch the next day- full meals on their own! the stuffed soft shell was well stuffed-with a unique sauce the cannoli would have been better if they filled their shells to-order, they were a bit soggy from being pre-filled but the flavor was good though they lacked the delectable crunchness we would go again to try other unique menu items- definitely sticking with dining in only read more

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Awesome old school diner right in Ellicott City. I stopped in to meet my co-workers for breakfast during a snowy Wednesday morning. It's a traditional style diner with counter seating or you can choose a table. It wasn't too crowded and they had the lot cleared so there was ample parking. The waiter we had was friendly and he immediately brought out water and took our drink orders. I just wanted a black coffee. For my breakfast a chose the pancakes with a meat of your choosing. I got the scrapple. The food came out pretty quickly but we all just ordered simple breakfast items. My order came with 3 page pancakes, more than enough to fill me up. The scrapple was thick cut, crispy on the outside. I know some people prefer thin cut so just be aware if you come here they don't have it that way. Price was cheap, my meal was around 15 with the drink included. I had plenty leftover so took a mall box to take them home. Definitely my go to spot when I want diner food. I only ever go for breakfast but may try their lunch or dinner menu one day. read more

I've been here twice before and always had a good experience, which is why I recommended it to a friend for lunch. Unfortunately, our third visit was incredibly disappointing. When we arrived, the restaurant was a bit busy, but nothing out of the ordinary. We were seated quickly, but things went downhill from there. We were initially given the wrong menu and had already placed our order--both of us ordering steak and eggs--before the server came back to tell us about the mistake. Not a big deal, but it set the tone. After that, there was a lot of confusion. I was repeatedly asked if I was sure about my order, and each time I clearly confirmed the same thing: an 8 oz steak and eggs, along with extra eggs. Despite confirming this multiple times, the order still seemed to be an issue. Then we waited. About 25-30 minutes later, our appetizer (grits) finally arrived, along with drinks that had also taken a while. At that point, the delay was noticeable but still manageable. However, things only got worse. After waiting nearly an hour, our meals finally came--and mine was completely wrong. Instead of steak and eggs, I was served what appeared to be undercooked hamburger meat, and my extra eggs were missing. Before I could say anything, the server had already walked away. From there, it became extremely frustrating. I waited another 30+ minutes trying to flag down our server and even asked two other staff members for help, but she never returned to check on us. Meanwhile, I noticed other tables receiving much more attentive service. At nearly the 1 hour and 40 minute mark, I still hadn't received the correct meal or even had the issue acknowledged. My colleague had already finished most of his food, while I hadn't eaten anything. At that point, I noticed multiple customers complaining to the manager, so I joined them. They did mention--after I raised the issue alongside several other customers--that the section may have been overcrowded for the waitress. While I understand that staffing and workload challenges happen, this went far beyond a section simply being busy. The level of inattention, lack of communication, and the amount of time that passed without any follow-up can't reasonably be explained by that alone. Even in a busy section, basic service expectations--like checking on a table, correcting an incorrect order, or acknowledging an issue--should still be met. Unfortunately, none of that happened here. To the manager's credit, they were polite and comped my meal, which I appreciated. They also offered to remake my steak and eggs to go, but after nearly 2.5 hours, I simply couldn't wait any longer--I had to get back to work. By then, the experience had gone far beyond a simple mistake. The most frustrating part was that our server barely checked on us at all during the entire visit. Even if there was a mix-up in the kitchen, a quick check-in could have fixed the situation much earlier. Instead, we were left waiting with no communication. In the end, I didn't pay for my meal--but I also didn't eat. After spending nearly three hours there, I had to go elsewhere just to get lunch. It's incredibly disappointing because this used to be one of the best diners in the area. Something has clearly changed, and not for the better. Based on this experience, I won't be returning, and I can't recommend it to others. read more

Food was amazing, Abriella did such a great job serving us. My family and I had an amazing time for Father's Day.

First time and I definitely will be back when I come back home. The waitress did the one thing I wish every establishment would do, they paid attention to the "asks" of my family. The food we had was great, my granddaughter loved it. Very clean, good portions of food and they treated my "girls" well. Definitely coming back. read more

This establishment is hit or miss. They have some great specials, but a big menu and not everything is decent. You can't go wrong with breakfast items and the desserts, but lunch and entrees are all over the place...as is the service. Tonight I had the french onion soup. The dish was hot as was the melted cheese, but the soup was luke warm. I ordered the hot roast beef platter and it also came out also luke warm. The waiter was helpful and said crap, they've been doing this all day (the kitchen), they aren't paying attention to detail. If you are a regular and know what is good for you, then you're ok. But until you find that sweet spot, beware of inconsistency. read more