Living two blocks away and always seeing this place packed, I expected something more. Should've checked Yelp, I suppose. Very average or below average service and food. The country southern breakfast was mediocre; my husband thought the same about the power oatmeal. The fruit plate was boring. Fresh squeezed orange juice was the best thing we had, and that's hard to mess up. We lived on the UES five years before trying it, and I doubt we'll ever be back. read more

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

Try the challah French toast! YUM. Outdoor seating is a little cold with the metal chairs and open air, but service is very friendly

I noticed the other two EJ's Luncheonettes are now closed... Could this one be next? Anyway, I stopped in after some labor-intensive volunteer work put me on the brink of death from starvation. Since I am (a) student and (b) commuter married and paying rent in 2 of the most expensive cities in the US, my income is a bit constrained, so Yelp app-armed, I searched for cheap food in the area and arrived at EJ's. It was a Friday afternoon and super-packed. A table had just opened in the front as I came in, but the host suggested I sit in the side room, waaaaaaaay in the back, behind everyone, near the kitchen and stairs that lead down to the bathrooms. I didn't appreciate his first thought being to sit me in an obviously uncomfortable space, so I requested the table in front and sat there. I ordered one of the lunch specials, the fusilli with chicken and marinara sauce. The pasta was good (though I'm pretty sure it was rotini, not fusili), but the chicken left that waxy, strange taste in my mouth, so I didn't eat the rest. Otherwise, no complaints on food. I would have ordered something else, but none of the other specials appealed to me and I was looking for less than $10. Service was fine. My waitress was a little bit rushy, but not too annoyingly so. I can't say I'd be thrilled to return as nothing really wowed me. read more

Seating is a little tight, especially if you are on the side of the restaurant. Food was really good. My wife enjoyed her cobb salad. My yukon mashed potatoes were tasty. we plan on going back before leaving town. CASH ONLY!!! (Which makes me almost not want to eat here anymore - get with the times and accept credit cards, jeez). read more

I do enjoy the French Dip but the service is a bit weak. Not to mention that I am tired of greedy restaurants that refuse to take credit cards but offer the convenience of providing an ATM on spot with exorbitant fees. Their food isn't that good. read more

Soooo...I've been looking for good pancakes near my place, and this place has pretty damn good Sweet Potato Pancakes during brunch hours (ends at 3 pm). They're spiced just right and are a little fluffy - good texture. Fruit topping wasn't that fresh (strawberries this time). About $10 for pancakes with strawberries. The Multi-Grain Pancakes had the same amount of lift (wasn't weighed down by the grains). Also tried the Veggie Burger with sweet potato fries of which I've heard good things. Wasn't impressed. While I liked the burger topped with guac, the fries were a stringy, slightly soggy mess. Yam and taro fries at Gobo are infinitely better (thick and crispy with their own ketchup instead of the corn-syrup-crap that is Heinz). I think I'll stick with the Pancakes. read more

Great place. Great ambience. Awesome waitress Sarah. The good was very good reasonably priced. Date night with the babe's. read more

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I have a bit of a sentimental thing for EJ's since we used to go here with my late-Grandmother who used to live nearby and this was the best place within walking distance. That being said, EJ's delivers solid diner food at decent prices, albeit with a more limited menu than you'd find at a diner. It's probably the best place in the area for a decent lunch or brunch without spending a lot (this is the UES after all). Though there's still nothing incredible remarkable, somehow when I'm in a bit in the area I always find myself here. The service is quick, but not overly friendly. Expect to wait 15-20 minutes for a table for brunch on weekends. read more

Again I was in the area and needed to eat somewhere quick, and there was a wait at JG Melon would not fit our schedule so we stopped in here for a bite. Has the old school diner look, and the old school diner philosophy when it comes to payment, cash only. Service was quick and snappy, no frills, but hey that is fine, I do not need entertainment from a server. The food was decent, the whole wheat bread on the grilled cheese had good texture, way better than white bread; and the burger was good, cooked correctly, the bun not so much. It was like a burger king bun, but not as soft. That loses it some points, but overall was fine. The fries were not super crispy and even a little soggy, but I did like the flavor of them. It seems like there is a good local following of the place, so I guess everything else cannot be that bad. There were also a lot of kids when I was there, so beware during 'meal times'. read more

Had breakfast for dinner with a friend here tonight. (LOVE that they serve breakfast items alllllll day!) I gotta say, the Carmine's omelet (tomato, mozzarella, and basil) was very yummy AND affordable ($8.20). I also had my first root beer float (with vanilla icecream) and it was awesome. My friend very much enjoyed her blueberry pie a la mode. It's an all-American diner-ish eatery. No dress code, no snotty hostess, no fancy jazz, no champaigne. It's a great place for a casual brunch, lunch, or dinner any day of the week. read more

Restaurants should be judged on how well the execute their intended function and I'll take a leap of faith in saying that EJ's is unabashedly a diner. This should surprise no one, and I say this with reasonable certainty. The food is, as in most diner's, diner food. This isn't a low-fat, vegan restaurant -- it's life-threateningly greasy. Again, it's a diner. What it is in addition is fast and convenient with friendly service reasonably priced food. I'm not on in years but it's been here as long as I can remember and it's always received its fair share of defectors from the long waits at Melon's as well as swarms of familys for brunch. A true neighborhood stalwart. read more

15 years ago there would be a crowd of kids overflowing onto the sidewalk all morning on the weekends in front of EJ's, trying to get in for brunch. I remember once getting in with my boyfriend, having a great omelette and home fries huddled over our tiny space packed inside, feeling kinda upper east side "in" and loving the food. Don't know if it's the passage of time, but not feeling that place like that any more at all. Went back recently for breakfast and it was just your average diner eggs and toast, with an additional helping of wealthy and pretentious patrons. I feel like this is the general direction UES is going in, and I miss how the neighborhood used to be. I hope it doesn't lose EJ's, like it has lost so many places over the years. read more

Love this diner as a kid loved the food so much from the tuna melt to their grilled cheese with cheddar is phenomenal 10/10 5/5 of yummy food !! read more

We had the best most amazing experience in this wonderful restaurant! Busy restaurant with a lot happening- a definite scene. Worth the wait! But then after being seated a nice gentleman and his daughter approached us! Owner Robert and his daughter over heard me saying " let's give this place a try" - And surprised us with a New Year's Eve Day brunch on the house!! My fiancé and I had been seated in a spacious window table and the waiter suggested Bloody Marys to start off. I had a delicious Salmon lox and onion omelet made to perfection! Hamburger salad was my fiancé's choice which he says was delicious too!! We wanted dessert and the waiter recommended coffee cake that made the lunch! Service was fabulous!! It really was very special brunch to start the new year!! Thank you to all at the restaurant and a very big thank you for the best New York brunch !! We will be back for Another delicious meal. So glad we stopped - it was worth the wait!! read more

The long lines I always see when passing by EJ's have enticed me to try this place for some time now. I have to say i was pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. I can see how if i had to wait half an hour my expectations would've been much higher but since i was able to grab seats right away at the counter my experience was simply great. I had the eggs benedict with smoked salmon, which were perfecrly delicious. much better than the typical diner experience though the decor reminds you of just that. I definitely recommend it for brunch/breakfast. read more

After my experience last weekend at Remedy Diner, EJ's was exactly what I needed. Went here post race and got seated right away. Groups of more than two had a wait, but I can't comment on how long it wouldve been. I'm now a bit scarred from eating brunch at Remedy, so I decided to stick with a regular breakfast type dish - western omelette, hash browns, and cup of brew. The coffee was a little bitter, but enough cream and sugar took care of it. The omelette was perfect, and the hash browns were okay. I'm more a shredded potato person, rather than chunk of potatoes, but it worked. The one point came off from our server who was a teensy rude. Not enough to dock him on his tip, but still enough for me to hope I don't have him again. Maybe it was the sight of two post race, somewhat disheveled looking girls, because he was pleasant as can be to the tables around us. I think this will become a post-race tradition moving forward. Easy location from Central Park and to get to the train. read more

Great Challah French Toast. Portion is plenty. Service is quick at the counter. Still only takes cash, with an ATM on site. read more

Outdoor dining has heat lamps and like a roof but isn't closed off so feels pretty safe! Also food is still really good like normal.

If you are craving an old school classic diner experience, make your way over to EJ's Luncheonette. Their all-day breakfast is phenomenal -- especially the corned beef hash, which they don't always have -- as are the standard sandwiches and salads. Many people share my love for this place because it's usually pretty crowded, especially and weekend mornings/early afternoons with big families, but the wait moves quickly because of the diner style. Highly recommend! read more

I came here not expecting much because of the other reviews but I was pleasantly surprised by the food. The EJ's french toast was awesome. I had it with blueberry compote and chocolate chips. The kitchen initially messed up my order and I had to wait 10 minutes to get it but once I did I realized it was worth the wait. This place is pricey though. Regardless, I would highly reccomend. read more

Good food Very crowded with kids but it is s family spot We always enjoy eating here Very classic dinner food and good breakfast treats Love the coffee tool. read more

I came here with a friend after the Whitney Biennial and was not disappointed. We tried the veal special based ont the waitress's recommendation and it really was a treat. The chef even served us himself and was very attentive. The chocolatey goodness that is the malted shake was the perfect nightcap. Get it extra thick! :-) read more

everything about this place is okay. plain, average food, sweet potato fries looked kinda old and greasy, not very fresh. It is a nice gimmick you don't see very often. My burger came with homemade chips, but they came out cold, so I really dont know what the draw is, especially considering store bought kettle chips taste better. kinda cramped. but it feels like a throwback. The service was pretty decent, however the food was just decent diner food. I never been to an EJs before, but if I had to wait in a long line like the other Yelpers, I would have been in a pissy mood. read more

Decent place to get a typical American breakfast. I got a portion of Eggs Benedict. At first they got my order wrong, but I think they actually did have the right order. Nothing particularly special about the Eggs Benedict, but they did do a nice job of balancing runny insides with solid egg whites. The environs were decent, typical neighborhood brunch / diner sort of place. read more

This is kind of a step higher than a regular diner. Portions are super huge - I'm referring to their jumbo flapjacks. But they sort of lack in flavor. Like something's missing. Oh, and it's cash only. read more

Located in a high price neighborhood, EJs seems a throwback to an earlier era -- an era of good food at reasonable prices! We have had breakfast there and recommend it, but mainly go out of our way at lunchtime where they have a wonderful chicken tortilla soup, great sandwiches and salads. We have also seen celebrities there, who like the combination of quality food at reasonable prices. No tablecloths, and the servers are friendly but NYC "matter of fact". It used to be cash only but I think they now take credit cards. read more

Based on the crazy lines and wonderful odors emanating from this place, I had some pretty high hopes. We were seated after a short wait and realized we needed some cash (no CC accepted). Hit DR next door for a 99 cent ATM. I was expecting at worst some mediocre food but good portions, but was batting .500. We stuck with breakfast which one would figure to be a pretty safe bet: the country breakfast and eggs bene. Well, the biscuit which was supposed to come with mine, ended up being a stale piece of cornbread (not my fav) and the gravy looked like SYSCO brown gravy powder mix (surprisingly also not my fav). Eggs bene was ok, though I felt the Hollandaise sauce was a tad salty. I'll give it another shot soon and def get the french toast and maybe pancakes- although at some point I'd really like to see at least a little creativity put into these dishes. read more

It really was packed, even on a weekday morning. They didn't take reservations. Really loud and cramped inside. Food is too hyped up. It was okay, but what is expected for these prices in Manhattan. The omelette with mozzarella and tomatoes/basil with egg white sub was alright (but it's quite hard to mess up.) Maybe I got the wrong item on the menu.. I'm beginning to feel that I should make my omelettes at home and spend the extra $9 in my wallet on an overpriced but delicious dessert somewhere else instead. read more

Still not sure how this place can have 4 stars even though the food is only "so so." My breakfast came out runny, cold and chewy. Not a happy camper. Romance Factor: 3 Hobnob Potential: 1 Destination Rating: 2 Plain older diner. read more

When going to diners, I've learned that it's best never to deviate from your standard breakfast items like eggs and lunch/dinner items like burgers. Came here after a 10k and the line was out the door, fortunately we only had to wait 15 minutes for a table. The place was friggen packed however, I was seated in an isle and they actually brought out a table extension for one of the booths so literally there was no room for anyone to walk. It's nice to eat your meal with every other person walking by kicking your chair or bumping into you because they're your typical fat ass American. The food, is moderately priced brunch items going from 10-15 dollars. I ordered the southern breakfast. It came with grits, gravy, a biscuit, two eggs, and their house made sausage. The eggs were fine (how can you screw those up?), the biscuit was light and fluffy, and everything else was very ho hum. The grits and no flavor, the gravy was meh, and the sausage was far to sweet almost sickly sweet for a meat item. Portions were of moderate size. I guess if you're in the neighborhood looking for something cheap to eat this is your place. But there are better diners in the city than this place. read more

This is a perfect example of your local neighborhood Diner. You go to these places to talk & grab some food with some buddies, just like Seinfeld and the gang. Menu has the essentials and much fewer choices to choose from then a typical diner. No need to worry about service, how loud you're talking, manners, etc. Food was good: tenderloin cooked medium rare with onions and mushrooms spread on top, string beans and mashed potatoes on the side. read more

EJ's is one of the best diners I have ever been to. The service is excellent and the food is even better. Highly recommend it.

I went here on a Sunday afternoon. At the busiest time of the day. We got a table after 20 min. Staff is very service minded. Kinda busy environment with all kinds of guests. Fresh food and BIG portions! read more

Stopped in for lunch. Decent chicken tortilla soup with avocado. Great flavors. Decent service. Cash only -_- read more

EJ's was a fantastic experience! With safe social distancing and outside seating, I felt so comfortable and the food was incredible. The staff was so friendly and accommodating. Definitely look forward to going back! read more

This was a "should taste" foodie experience. We first decided to eat here because we ALWAYS pass it on our way to church. And every morning we pass it, there's a line out the door! We had to try what everyone seemed to know about besides us! After eating lunch there, overall, we couldn't understand what all the fuss was about! Although, we think the crowd was probably there for an exceptional breakfast, while in this review we opted for their lunch instead. Next time around, we'll be sure to try their breakfast and report back! In the meantime, read on if you're interested in some solid diner food in the Upper East Side. This tiny diner is packed on the weekend mornings! The line stretches out the door as a small swarm of people wait for their name to be called. A nice, retro interior with a good diner feel and good service. Tune Melt [$9.50] --Pretty good but nothing special. The bread wasn't toasted enough, but the tuna and cheddar cheese were ok. They definitely didn't skimp on the cheese (which is a good thing). Eh. I finished it all but it was something I could have made at home! California Chicken Club Wrap [$9.50] -- Grilled chicken, bacon, melted swiss cheese, guacamole, lettuce and tomato. Side of coleslaw and a pickle. Pretty good, but again, not special. The grilled chicken wasn't too dry and the guacamole was nice, but definitely not enough bacon to even able to taste it! Baja Veggie Wrap [$8.50] -- Guacamole, corn, black beans, jicama, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, cheddar cheese, cilantro, tortilla strips, mixed greens and chipotle ranch dressing.Tasty and fresh, but lacking one necessary thing: salt. Good thing our cutlery came with extra packets of it! Turkey Club Sandwich [$9.00] -- Roasted turkey breast, bacon, lettuce and tomato with basil mayonnaise.This was by far the best thing we got from EJ's. The bread was nice and toasted with butter, the turkey bacon was awesome and crispy, and the turkey itself was moist (with plenty of it!). In fact, I could only finish half at the time there was so much. Definitely recommend this one! Overall, this diner was OK. Flavorwise, everything was good, but there were several easily fixable mistakes that would have bumped this place up in our minds. Pretty good fresh and healthy diner fare available here, though, which is better than most. Next time we'll be sure to try their breakfast, because the flapjacks looked amazing from what we could tell! read more

Took out lunch here. Good. Nothing spectacular. Went for breakfast on a Monday morning. Again nothing spectacular, but a nice decent priced spot in the area. Typical diner experience nice to have in the neighborhood. read more

I heard stories about how amazing the pancakes were, but after checking out the menu, I couldn't stop myself from checking out the cornflake crusted French toast with blueberry compote. It was slightly bland, no cinnamon, or nutmeg could be detected, and even the blueberries lacked flavor. But it came out quick, hot, and filled me up. Service was great, my coffee cup was never empty, and the host even considered the carry on bag I was toting when he seated me. The Bathroom was fairly clean, but tiny...almost impossibly tiny, I'm pretty sure they had to have special doors made for the narrow entryway. read more

Had a delicious lunch at EJs on a Saturday afternoon. It was very crowded but not overly noisy and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. (I'm a bit of a purveyor of health/organic food.) I had the blackened salmon sandwich with fries - really good! I was especially pleased by the cole slaw which was absolutely delicious and the reason this review has four stars instead of three. Reasonably priced but cash only so bring the green. read more

The male staff are horrifically homophobic and they will go out of their way to make it clear that homosexuals aren't welcome. I have complained about this in the past, they now double down on the rudeness. They don't even look at you if you ask for something. I requested mustard and got such a sour reaction it was incredible. I requested the busboy ask my waitress to bring my bill. He gave a disgusted look and refused to even look at me. He didn't send my waitress. It's so clearly obvious what their issue is. In this day and age I'm surprised the owner tolerates this type of behavior. read more