kazi is great at the counter, always pleasant definitely one of the reason I walk up town to eat there.

Food is decent, but great people and great vibes. Service is often times hit or miss, EJs can get busy but I tend to provide more grace to staff as my objective to going into a diner isn't for speed. I'm there to enjoy my time and have great conversation. Prices aren't the best for a diner in the city. read more

One of the better diners in NYC. Place can be crowded on a spring / summer warm day. So can be a slight wait, the line moves quickly. I would recommend getting a variety of breakfast/lunch items to share with the group. Definitely cures the craving if you need a taste of many things. read more

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If you've followed my review journey here on Yelp, you'll know that I'm not a burger person. I'd rather seek any other dish - Thai, Italian, Chinese, Korean - before I'd crave a burger. But my god, does EJ's Luncheonette hit the spot. No other fanciful iteration (get that truffle doused, wagyu versions away from me) can beat the classic diner-style bacon cheese burger. EJ's in particular was impressive. Thick slices of beef patty, tomato, and pickles topped with crispy bacon that crumbled in your mouth, packed between two brioche buns that were soft yet didn't disintegrate in your hands. Each element stood strongly on its own. The lettuce, crisp. The tomato, juicy. The pickle, perfectly sour, not too salty and cuts through the meatiness of the bacon and patty. If you've followed my other burger reviews here, you'll know how I feel about JG Melon, an establishment not too far from EJ's. If you're craving a burger, skip JG Melon's hour-long line and beeline for the counter at EJ's instead. It's just as good (perhaps even better) with its hefty size justifying the $21 price. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Bacon cheeseburger with American cheese - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Stopped in here with a friend after a Saturday morning in Central Park and it was busy!! Luckily we got seated at the bar right away, but others I saw had to wait. I got the sausage benedict and it was yummy, nicely cooked egg and good hollandaise, the biscuit was a great move rather than the typical english muffin. The grits were quite bland and needed some love, but I really liked the classic ny diner feel to this spot and it's very conveniently located. I also tried the pie here once and it was pretty delish! read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Country Sausage Benedict - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Service was great & food was good but a little on the pricey side. Definitely would recommend sitting outside. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Challah French Toast - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Came to EJ's on Sunday morning. A friend who lives near by suggested this place. I got my usual diner order which happens to be EJ's Special which comes with two eggs (over-easy), bacon, rye toast and sliced tomatoes. I usually get my breakfast with some sort of potato but since sliced tomatoes was an option and I was in a healthy mood, I just got it. The meal was solid but it was NYC prices.. Maybe if I had gotten the potatoes, the price could be justified, my friend got the breakfast burrito with potatoes and I had some and it was good. Coffee ($4.50) was good as well. Overall I had a good experience, service was good too. If you gonna get the EJ's special, I recommend getting the potato, to justify the price. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Breakfast burrito - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Great food for a diner, don't let the name fool you. Had lunch here and was excellent. Food came out fast, there is plenty of seating and the place is clean and thriving. read more

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There's nothing like a good old fashioned neighborhood NYC diner. EJ's has consistently good food at reasonable prices. There's an art to making a chocolate egg cream. And I come here to get my fix along with a custom omelet (mushrooms & cheese). The challah bread tastes so good it's almost like cake! And grocers great all buttered up. The service is always great. Mohammed is often behind the counter. But it can be crowded and loud. Today it wasn't at 11am. Last week I couldn't get in at noon. And there's often lines around the block on weekend mornings. So best to go during off hours. I only wished that the restaurant was handicap accessible. There's one step to get in and someone with a wheelchair would have great difficulty unless they could handle that step. Also, the bathroom is down a very steep set of stairs, making it difficult for seniors, and others with disabilities to manage. read more

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Brunch was delicious. Tight quarters but the line goes quickly. Food is consistent n good. Enjoy!! read more

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This place is pretty heap and had a big menu with a variety of options to choose from! I liked having many options for brunch. I got the pancakes which were good! I also got an iced mocha, which was huge, but yummy. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - pancakes & mocha - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

My bestie has been coming here for years! Every time I use to visit here we came here for brunch & this time was no exception to! Always service pleasant & food delicious! Thank you for staying open threwout all these years! read more

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Erica was great and the Turkey Club on a french baguette was AMAZING - line went quickly! read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

EJS is a retro diner with very good food and service. Kazi , at the counter makes this comfy "diner" an enjoyable dining experience.

I just order tuna melt with sweat potato fries and a fruit salad on the side every time i come here, time after time lol It's soo satisfying and full-filling omg. read more

Waited over 30 minutes for a table for 2 on a Sunday at around 1pm. It gave modern diner vibes, and it was a lil loud and crowded for my taste. It also didn't help that we were seated close to the bathroom, so people were going back and forth by our table the whole time I saw they had a "famous" crunchy french toast, that included crushed corn flakes and slivered almonds. Thank god I ordered it with the homemade blueberry compote, because the toast was bizarrely flavorless, not even maple syrup saved it. I also thought the corn flakes and almonds would be crumbled on top, but instead it comes "battered" in that, creating a weird texture. I didn't finish it, nor did I take it home. The service was good though! Nice, fast, and attentive. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - EJ's Famous Crunchy French Toast and Homemade Blueberry Compote - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

You can easily walk by this place. EJ's is a little bigger than you would think on approach. Nice space inside, clean and nicely lit. It is not quiet, yet I love the atmosphere and energy! Our party of 5 was ready for some warmth and goodness on this snowday. We ordered a Soup De Jour, nicely done and good portion. Had to ask for crackers but that is fine. Chicken Tortilla soup was good, but had a tad too many onions and corn in it. My guest felt that it also had more of a stew texture than soup. Pastrami sandwich was awesome! So was the Tuna Salad and Greek Omelette (which was very traditional) All in all, I wanted to give EJ's a 5 star, but our waiter never came back to ask us how everything was, even though he passed by our table 6 times. Need to pay more attention, M. read more

I've popped in a few times for a quick meal. I find that staff is polite and welcoming. Attentive as well. It's a nice family atmosphere. There's a huge enough dining area that facing the kitchen, a bar next to it upon entry. The salads are usually fresh and crunchy. Meatloaf is more than enough. Literally served me twice , so was that half chicken. I found the breast to be a bit dry and bland however. Could be the day, but I still go now and again. read more

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"A luncheonette is a small, casual restaurant, particularly common in the mid-20th century United States, that serves light meals, snacks, and fountain drinks, often with counter seating". I've always had a soft spot for luncheonettes; cool place to catch a burger or a frosty milkshake and sit at the counter. The counter has always been a cool place for me to sit. However, dining at EJ's on a balmy October afternoon, I decided to dine al fresco. I've eaten at EJ's for many years having worked in the UES many moons ago. I believe I had my first veggie burger here. Today, I was in the mood for the usual: egg white omelet with spinach and mozzarella and home fries. The omelet was delicious; cooked perfectly. The home fries with onions were crisp and piping hot. It was great to people watch as I devoured my omelet. EJ's does have comfy booths inside and a cool vibe. The service is courteous and the staff super friendly. The menu offers a wealth of delicious options and there are daily specials. There will be many more future visits and a seat at the counter. EJ's Luncheonette is located on 1271 3rd Avenue read more

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EJ's was such a busy diner! Even on a Friday at 1pm, it was busy. It was kind of giving slightly more upscale diner? I think the interior is nice and well lit. The menu is clean, and it's a great place for catching up. I ended up with the chicken and waffles, which was $20+ I believe. It really wasn't anything special. I found both the waffle and the chicken to be dry, and combined with the maple sauce that came with it, it was all just a little too heavy in the mouth. The waffle was especially drying, which was unfortunate because usually at diners I go to the waffles are softer and cakier than dry. Nice staff and environment though! read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Chicken and Waffles - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

My party of 6 on a Thursday afternoon was seated immediately. The service is excellent! We were able to get our order within 15 minutes. I ordered an omelet with broccoli, spinach and grilled onions with a side of grits. The three stars is because I thought the meal overall could have used more flavor. The grits could have used more butter and the omelet didn't have much seasoning, if any. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

I work in the neighborhood so stopped by to eat before work. eggs were perfectly cooked and food came out really fast. I did not feel rushed as I had some time before I had to leave for my job. Erica was my server and even made me laugh a couple of times! She was very pleasant and working very hard. I will return! read more

Erica was great! Food was yummy, outdoor seating was lovely, and the cannoli pancakes were a real hit. Erica was attentive even in a brunch rush! read more

My family and I had a wonderful experience, and a big part of that was our waitress, Erica. She was incredibly friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down. She checked on us throughout the meal, made great recommendations, and always had a smile on her face. The food was excellent, but Erica's outstanding service made the experience even better. If you're dining here, I hope you get Erica as your server--you'll be in great hands. We'll definitely be back! read more

Have eaten here a lot and realize a good review is overdue! Elchin's service today inspired it. Nothing but great vibes in here and great, consistent food and pleasant times. Especially for brunch! Neighborhood staple. read more

I usually dine at EJ's once every weekend and it's my favorite spot for a delicious and reliable meal. I always opt to sit at the counter, specially because of Kazi who works behind the counter. He is kind, attentive and extremely hard working. With EJ's always being so busy, he is serving countless guests per day but always remembers me and what I like to order. Kazi is exceptional and always makes me have a fantastic dining experience - because of him, I always return back each weekend! read more

I ordered the garden wrap (no mushrooms, sub red onions) with a gluten free wrap and it was delicious. It came with pickles and coleslaw. Idk who eats coleslaw anymore but my wrap was sooooo goood and refreshing. My daughter got the gluten free cinnamon waffle and she said it was okay. Service was good and friendly. and the ambiance is cute like a 50s diner :) read more

Great service! Everyone working here is really awesome especially Islam. He made my auntie and I feel right at home! 10/10 food, affordable for the area and superb customer service! Thank you Islam for always looking out for my auntie and providing wonderful service. Thanks to all the other staff also working there! read more

Well, we're movin' on up, to the East Side To a deluxe apartment in the sky Movin' on up! To the East Side We finally got a piece of the pie... George and Weezy probably wouldn't have eaten here, but I could see Florence and Ralph the Doorman coming here on their days off. Now if I lived in the Upper East Side, I'm guessing I would've turned into a regular here. They serve the kind of comfort food Jamie W and I knew we'd end up craving when we're in Manhattan. We took the M101 bus on Third up to the bustling diner and got seated in a booth right away. Jamie was lured by one of his favorites, the $18.95 Southern Country Breakfast with two scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, grits, and a buttermilk biscuit with country gravy (photo: https://yelp.to/p40rqgcYhp). He deemed it pretty good, not outstanding as the gravy was lukewarm. I had better luck with the $19.50 Homemade Corned Beef Hash, which was definitely not out of the can. It came with two fried eggs sunnyside up and a couple of slices of challah toast that tasted a tad stale (photo: https://yelp.to/YnQpR0fC0y). With a cup of hot coffee, it was the mid-morning gluttony we were looking for under a lot of construction scaffolding. Fish don't fry in the kitchen Beans don't burn on the grill Took a whole lotta tryin' Just to get up that hill Now we're up in the big leagues Gettin' our turn at bat As long as we live It's you and me, baby There ain't nothin' wrong with that FOOD - 4 stars...they get the ingredients right, execution may get away from them a bit AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...plenty of seating SERVICE - 4 stars...they move quickly in here TOTAL - 4 stars...dependable diner on the Upper East Side RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2YS9ELs read more

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I was in the area after leaving a doctors appointment and decided to try this place out! Entering the establishment, I was greeted with a unique decor that took me back in time on how diners use to look! I appreciated the old school feel! For the food, I ordered the western omelette with sweet potato home fries! The amount of food they give you is a good portion! They also give you two big pieces of Texas size toasts! The sweet potato home fries were bland to me! Even adding hot sauce couldn't save it! The omelette itself tasted really good! Had great flavor! Just wished I added cheese to it! Also had coffee with it! It was mediocre at best! Would I come back? Not sure if I would! Maybe to try another item to see if it can redeem itself! Customer service was great though! read more

Place was super crowded when we went. Was able to get table fast though. Food was good but nothing that you can't get at any other diner in the area. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Tuna Melt and Eggs Benedict - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

I'd give this spot a 3ish out of 5. Staff was friendly and it's a very laid back diner that feels very comfy. Service was fast and we were able to get the st Patrick's day pancakes. The pancakes were a little bit on the tougher side and not the typical soft buttermilk that you'd usually get but the icing and marshmallows were fun for the holiday. I also got the health kick omelette was good but a little dry. I'd go back though if I'm on the upper east side! read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

BEWARE!!!! EJ's management doesn't care about their customers safety at least my experience last night 3/14. My husband was served a blackened salmon sandwich which tasted great until he bit down into a 3 inch horizontal toothpick. This could have been disastrous, very expensive and even deadly. We told the waitress who apologized but had to be coached to tell management and cooks. She didn't because no one came over. We asked for the manager who came over pretty unaware of the situation, apologized but we were left with a feeling of no faith in her correcting her staff. I would hate for someone to be injured because EJ's doesn't take their customers safety seriously. BEWARE WHEN YOU EAT THEIR FOOD!!! read more

I came on a Sunday morning with a big group of people and it didn't take long to get a table. The vibes are just that of a classic diner, which is super nostalgic for me growing up in New Jersey. Now onto the food. I got the French toast with strawberries, bananas, and a blueberry compote. It was super delicious. The fruits were fresh and the French toast was fluffy. The portion is also perfect. The menu is huge, so I will definitely have to come back and try other dishes. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - French Toast w/ Strawberries, Bananas, and Blueberry Compote - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Super super busy on the weekends especially, but I'm never disappointed with my food!!!! Food comes quick and is always amazing quality especially since it's so crowded. A classic diner but even better. Definitely one of my favorites on the UES. read more

This is not your typical luncheonette in that they serve alcohol, have outdoor seating, etc. There are plenty of healthy options, especially given that virtually all orders are customizable. I really enjoyed the omelette with lox, onions and other veggies with delicious multigrain toast and good coffee. The menu of options is huge! Quality food, at reasonable prices in a space with lower light levels than most diners and luncheonettes. I live a block away so it's incredibly convenient for me too. read more

I feel like it's kind of weird why the ratings are so low here, I had such a great time at EJ's. Walked in and they were able to seat us immediately although there was definitely less people than usual as it was raining pretty hard. I ordered the Homemade Corned Beef Hash and it was pretty good. I really appreciate the serving sizes as they were huge and the potatoes and beef were incorporated very well together. The toast was very buttery as well. I got to try some of my friend's foods like the Eggs Benedict and I think that next time I come, I will definitely have to get those as their dishes was delicious. Overall, not a bad place to get brunch at all especially compared to other cafe options where the prices are around the same and the portion sizes are a lot smaller. Will definitely come back for more! read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Homemade Corned Beef Hash - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

This place does not disappoint! I've been here a few times and it definitely can get busy with a wait but I feel it's worth it! There was no wait this time because I came before the brunch rush. I ordered the challah French toast which was soo good and my husband got the grilled cheese and sweet potato fries which he said was extremely tasty. I tried some of the fries with ranch and it was delicious. The ambiance is your classic diner vibe which I loved as well since it was decorated still for the holidays. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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One of the better grilled cheeses I've ever had! We didn't have to wait despite the restaurant being completely packed (it was NYEs around 10am) Our waitress was very attentive and kept filling up my water. Most importantly, my food was delicious. Great grilled cheese, my sweet potato fries were also good and the ranch I got with it was excellent. Will definitely come back next time I'm in the area. read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich with sweet potato fries and side of ranch - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

I ordered a cobb salad for takeout. As I was eating my salad a bug crawled out of it and then as I was gagging in my sink another one crawled out! Not sure how many were in there but I did t wait to see! I called EJ's and the left me on hold for over five minutes! Here is a picture for reference . read more

EJ's Luncheonette - Cob Salad takeout - Diners Near Me - New York, New York