What a fun surprise on Broadway! The hubby and I had not tried this diner on our visits to the city so thought, why not? We entered to a lively party zone!! Bright colors, confetti and SINGING!! What we DIDNT know was that the wait staff are super talented people... some already performing in Broadway shows. The restaurant is an oval shape and 2 levels- so they walk around and sing or walk on the elevated stage on the ground floor. The food was a mix of typical diner cuisine..... If you're looking for a Michelin experience, this is not for you. read more

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The line outside moved decently fast. If someone can hold your spot there a souvenir shop close by. Expected horrible food, I mean you aren't coming here for good food, but I was pleasantly surprised. Burger was better than fast food for sure. Standard diner quality food. The noise gets overwhelming by the end of your meal, but the kids loved the entertainment. Got to hand it to those servers. They're belting out hits while literally taking orders and ringing out checks. Could definitely do without the confetti shower on my meal but it wasn't a deal breaker. "Phil-up-the-bucket" is cringe as hell though. They auto add a 20% tip and you have to ask to have it removed. I think they more than earn it, but to also pass around a donation bucket while you're eating is weird. Very off putting. read more

This place always has a line of tourists. As a local, I had never been until today! We were looking for a breakfast place in Times Square and since none of us had ever gone here, we decided to see why it's so popular. A short line early Sunday and we were seated right away. The vibe is fun and festive with confetti, colorful decor, and the old school diner seating. There are two floors of seating and a restroom upstairs. The staff sings a variety of songs and are so talented. Enjoy a show while you eat and if you're lucky you'll get showered with confetti. Most servers hope to make it to Broadway and work here as they pursue their dreams. Cool concept and fun environment. The food was mediocre, but you go more for the experience. I got the cinamon bun pancakes. Three thick sweet pancakes come with packaged sytrup and butter on the side. This was about $18. A friend got eggs and another got the breakfast burrito. Both were just okay. Nothing really vegan for breakfast other than a non-dairy yogurt parfait. They don't serve lunch until after 11am so we could only order breakfast. Our server told us the confetti was vegan. Haha What a sense of humor! The 'show director' then comes around with a bucket for donations towards servers who take acting, dance, and music classes. They take cash or electronic forms of donation. While optional it felt a little pressure driven as the person comes to each table with the bucket to donate. Maybe mentioning it and placing the bucket somewhere for anyone who would like to donate would be easier or include a QR code somewhere for folks to scan. Worth a visit once, mainly for the experience - not the food. It's an all American style diner so don't expect to find too many options if you have diet restrictions. A number of tv shows/films have been shot here and the restaurant has been around for a long time. Check it off your bucketlist. read more

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Went on a friday at around 9:30pm with a group of 4 and waited maybe ten mins for a table! Service quality itself is iffy like we felt like we had to flag down our waiter a few times but they are running around like crazy and PERFORMING!! Everyone was so talented and the show was really enjoyable. One random factor i greatly appreciated is they dont have the speakers turned to max volume. I feel like everywhere I go in new york with live music has it drowning out my own thoughts. It's a perfect volume to enjoy the show, still be able to talk to your waiter and your friends, and still hear your own consciousness. Pricing is pretty typical NYC tourist spot, gratuity is included in the checks. No entrance fee or performance fee. Food was pretty good! Burger and fries was quite tasty and a great portion! Good beer selection too read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Please go here for the experience. The food is just meh. The restaurant is large with 2 floors. Clean and bright. Restrooms were also clean. Menu is large with your typical diner food. They also serve alcohol. Service is nice and friendly. A bit slow, but it's expected as it's very busy. All the servers are very talented and can really perform. Kind of really interesting to see all the servers performing their closing side work while belting out show tunes. Def recommend for entertainment and drinks. read more

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This restaurant delivered an excellent overall experience. The food, atmosphere, and live entertainment were all outstanding. Although my table was on the first floor, the layout seems thoughtfully designed so that most tables offer a good view of the performers. We ordered the classic New York City Reuben and the skirt steak. The Reuben was flavorful and generously portioned, with tender meat and well-seasoned waffle fries on the side. The skirt steak was cooked perfectly and equally satisfying. The staff added a memorable touch to the evening by singing and engaging with guests, which created a lively and enjoyable atmosphere. I would absolutely return and highly recommend this place for both the dining and entertainment experience. read more

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It is great that the servers sing! It's like good karaoke. We saw solos, duets, even a group number. We heard from musicals (Hamilton!) to Amy Whinehouse. The food is basic. Diners usually have amazing food, however, here, just food. Not bad, not amazing, just ok. The Stardust Salad was huge! Good salmon portion, a ton of cheese and a delectable balsamic vinaigrette. My bestie had breakfast burrito and oddly, no eggs inside. The waffle fries was the winner of that plate. French toast was ok. Nothing special, just ok. If there was a 3.5 they would get it. I enjoyed the performances, I'm just talking about food here. read more

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Brunch with a side of singing! If you love Broadway, then this is a fun warm up to enjoying musical songs being sung by servers throughout brunch. Basic brunch menu, but the vibe is upbeat early in the morning, if you are not a morning person, go to a quieter diner. This place is famous as a go to place for group brunch, future broadway or current performers serving up brunch. I'll take friends as a first timers but not a regular go to place to NYC's iconic diner in midtown Manhattan. A tad pricey for the entrees you choose, plus after servers finish singing they go around with a bucket to ask for donation on other causes or tips, etc. Not necessary but it's part of the shtick! read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - One of the servers singing a tune for diners - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is a blast from beginning to end! The wait staff is super friendly and very talented. Definitely a spot to included on any trip into NYC! read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Main dining area - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Had the absolute best time here on my recent visit to New York, and listen, as other reviewers say, you don't come here for the food (although the baked potato soup I had was decent / good size, served maybe a bit lukewarm 4/5)), you come for the INCREDIBLE talent of the people who work here. I came right after a show and since it was cold weather the line wasn't too long but since it was just myself i waited a bit longer to get in as they try to maximize the space (which is fine by me as I got a good seat on the second floor above the center area disco ball where I had a good view of everything), the talent of the employees is off the charts! Energy is great, love the spirit and variety of the songs that are sung. And also, super important to tip your servers! They are all aspiring Broadway performers and I don't think I have ever seen anyone sing Alicia Keys pouring a Coke and giving someone their bill at perfect pitch. I'd easily pay a Broadway ticket price for this and it's technically free with your meal, they just kindly ask for any cash (or Venmo/Paypal accepted!) tips for what you think the show is worth. I easily stuck around for almost 2 hours and had a blast! read more

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This place was fun. Traditional diner food. Club sandwich was fine. Fries were good. Kids loved the breakfasts, which were like dessert. The singing was phenomenal and the main reason for coming here. Some sang Broadway hits and others sang pop hits. A definite fun time. read more

Absolutely yes. The food is decently good and the entertainment is one of a kind. Try to sit on the bar style seating facing inward if you can. Back to back to back Broadway hits that were hilarious or deserved a standing ovation. Will be back whenever I visit. read more

We've been here many times throughout the years and although it's always a fun time and the entertainment is always enjoyable, the food seems to have gotten worse time after time. In our most recent visit we had matzoh ball soup and mashed potatoes that were both really just bland and not even warm when they came out. Chicken parm was ok but the spaghetti was just bland as well. For the prices you would hope for a better food experience. Despite this, we were seated on the first floor for the first time and really enjoyed this experience more than when we sat upstairs. read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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What a fun experience! So glad we took the chance and headed there for breakfast on a Sunday morning. It was 9 am. The restaurant was very busy, but we apparently timed it right because there was no wait. By the time we left, the line to enter was down the block. I wasn't expecting much from the food and was expecting a tourist trap, but my husband and I really enjoyed not only our meals, but also the talented waitstaff. Lots of menu options. Something for everyone. I opted for the Brooklyn Pride, which is a huge weigh sandwich on a rainbow bagel. I opted for over medium eggs instead of scrambled that was happily substituted and I added bacon. The side for the classic dishes is tater tots, rather than traditional home fries. Nothing fancy, just nicely fried tots, which my husband loved. He opted for chocolate chip pancakes and was very pleased. One note, pay attention to your bill as 20% gratuity was automatically added even though we were only a party of 2. We didn't add extra gratuity because we also contributed to the bucket they pass around that helps to purchase singing lessons for the wait staff. This was so fun and I'm so glad I finally got to experience it after so many visits to NYC throughout the years. read more

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No one comes to Ellen's for the food and that is ok. You come for the atmosphere, specifically the singing servers and the constant entertainment. The singing is nonstop. The servers, every one of them, take turn after turn after turn. Some are better than others and almost all of them are a lot of fun. The food is serviceable. I went ultra safe with a grilled cheese sandwich, something that cannot be messed up. The basic cheese quesadilla, another foolproof dish, was also just fine. The burger was ok. Ellen's is not the kind of place where you are asked how you want your burger cooked. The shakes look gorgeous but are just decent. The line outside--and yes you will absolutely wait in a very long line--is ridiculous, but there is no way around it. But pay attention: sometimes they call out for certain numbers of people in your party and you can skip ahead of everyone else, directly into the restaurant. On the other hand, if you can sit downstairs, that is where you want to be. Upstairs is better than nothing but downstairs is far better and where you get the best views and interactions with the singing servers. So now you know. This is an extremely touristy and probably an exclusively tourist spot but it is a fun experience. Just keep your food expectations very low; you are here for the experience. read more

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Solid burger, good service. Love the old fashioned diner theme. Will definitely be coming back

First off: You're hear for a NYC tourist experience. That means lines, prices higher than what you should be paying for food that is okay and not at all healthy, and a real spectacle. If you've waited in the oddly fast moving line to get in - you're here for the singing, not the food. And that really is what it's all about. Most of the staff is aspiring (or even former) Broadway singers. It shows with the majority of the "performers"/waitstaff being very skilled. Even the ones that maybe were pushing their range, or didn't look as comfortable were still fun to watch and put more talented staff in better context of what they were capable of doing. It's easy to forget that there isn't auto-tuning, a dress room, or really much in the way of breaks with them jumping from singing to serving for hours. Everyone (even a NYC long time resident who never would have come if my daughter hadn't REALLY wanted to do this) LOVED the singing. The wait: It's a serious thing. You need a large (25 I think) group to get reservations, so all you can do is get in line and wait. We were almost a whole block down, but were seated in less than an hour - so it's honestly not terrible. It does maintain some spontaneity to going, and make it more "of the people" instead of selling tickets. The food: Just remind yourself, you are NOT here for the food. Lots of straight diner food. My son claims to have loved the hamburger, but they honestly didn't look great. My daughter was so engrossed int he singing, I'm not sure she even registered eating the food. The waffle fries were pretty good. I went with my go-to diner order when food doesn't look good but the chef's look like they are having a good time: the Fried Chicken sandwich. Honestly ... it was good. If you liked fried chicken - just jump to this one. Thick breasted, fried to perfection. Rather oily and salty, but very very tasty. The biggest downside - and why I can't give it 5 stars despite being a destination type place - is that after waiting in line, you really don't have any say on where they seat you. Anything on the first floor looked great, but on the upper levels (where half the seating is) there are a number of booths that have zero view, so half your table is watching the show on a TV, the other half is watching the show through a mirror on a TV. We were seated their at first, but my Mother in Law complained, and we were moved to the balcony seating, which was great. But - if the large group wasn't delayed, that wouldn't have been available, and it just would have been a very noisy diner. As a note - while waiting in line, they are very efficient with filling up spaces based on your party size. That is the reason they may seat people behind you in line before you. Trust the process... or they might put you in the corner (I have no idea if my mother in law complaining resulted in our being seated in a terrible seat at first... but even if it did, she spoke up and got us out of the seating). So 5 star experience for me - but as long as they are seating people in the booths on the top floor, I can't rate it above 4 stars. read more

Have to leave a review because the service was excellent and the staff were attentive and proactive! I was debating between the chicken sandwich and the Philly cheesesteak and was recommended the fried chicken sandwich by our waiter. The presentation of the sandwich was great and the fries on the side were a hefty portion; however, the chicken itself tasted off and looked undercooked. When we brought this to the attention of the waiter, it was promptly removed from the table and the tab which I am very appreciative of. Management offered to replace my dish, but the fries were sufficient. My friends enjoyed the nachos and rainbow burger. The environment was cozy and friendly. Would simply go back for the show the upcoming stars put on. The live performances while dining just adds a sweet touch that you can only get in New York! read more

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I'm really surprised the ratings for this place are not better. I first ate here a little over a year ago and had a great experience. I don't usually expect the food to please me with attraction places like Ellen's but their Mexican Quinoa Bowl was packed with flavor, I crave it. My recent visit I had the Chilaquiles and they were fantastic! The servers work so hard to entertain you while also performing for you, not easy, and they do it all day and night. It is loud, but it is lively and it's all the songs we want to hear more of. Ellen's simply is New York and Broadway served on plate full of deliciousness. I did try to go on a trip just before New Years at dinner and I couldn't guess how many building the line wrapped around. So we decided not to wait that time. But the first and last time I went we waited less than ten minutes. If my waiter can hand gesture to the lady at the table next to me if she needs a refill of her mimosa while simultaneously wowing me with his powerful voice singing One Day More from Les Miserables I think ESD deserves all the stars for being stars. read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Chilaquiles - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Pretty fun and chill vibes, can't belive I've never been here before! got here before 6pm on a weekday night and waited in line for about 20 minutes, it's easier to get seats for 2 but fine with groups of 4 as well (party of 6 might have longer wait time), the waiters and waitresses will take turns singing which is cool, it's fun seeing the same person taking your orders all of a sudden singing on stage and they were all really good! Food was decent and pricing is average/normal and not overly priced (reasonable in times square), they'll bring a tip bucket around midway to collect tips, and then at the end you'll get 20% tip added to your bill. We spent around $50+ a person. Overall I'd recommend checking the place out if you haven't been there. read more

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This was my 3rd visit, which I guess should say something in itself? It is absolutely an experience, a loud experience, but fun! We had Elie tonight and glad we got to hear her sing a song! I got the Mac and cheese burger, it was eh. Not terrible, I've just had better! What I LOVE is the waffle fries. They are soooo delicious. 4 stars because it is fun, and food is good enough. They also do a good job trying to get people in quickly! read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

I read the reviews for this place so I knew what to expect coming here. It is definitely an entertaining tourist spot. The food was a lot better than I expected because all the reviews I read and the people who went there said that the food was meh. I really thought it wasn't going to be good at all, but it was not as bad as everyone said. The singing was very entertaining and they really try hard to allow you to see the performers on the first and second floors. There are TV screens in different spots so you could see the performer if you can't see them at the angle you're sitting at. And it's cool to see your server singing and performing. They do go around and ask for tips and if you don't have cash, they make sure that you could tip in other ways electronically. But it's hard to have a conversation with the loud singing, so don't expect any deep conversations here. The line to get in can be definitely long, so if you are going at a popular eating time, be ready to stand on a long line. But if you want to avoid waiting on a long line, you should go earlier. What's nice is that they will go down the line and find a group that matches an available table, so they try to fill the empty tables quickly that way. This place is definitely a place for the people who love Broadway musicals and singing performances. They sing all kind of music, not just Broadway musicals. read more

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Always a fun time at Ellen's, but we loved being seated upstairs. It felt like we could see more and we didn't have to worry about the confetti in our drunks. I forgot my earplugs & being upstairs didn't seem quite as loud, so that was a good plus too. The food is good diner food and the prices are reasonable for the meal AND amazing show. We try to get there every trip. read more

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A fun spot to get dessert or food after a broadway show! I think the amount you enjoy this experience really depends on where you get sat. We were sat by the entrance in a corner so we weren't up close by the "action". The songs and singing were great, but we do wish we were more up close to get the full experience. Felt like we were on the outs. Based on other reviews, I was skeptical about the food, but it was actually pretty good. The chicken alfredo had a good sauce and the size was just right to share after a show. Love that our waiters/waitresses double as the performers. Keep in mind though that service will be slower. All in all, a unique and fun place to stop in if you're a fan of broadway. read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Omg this place is amazing and fun! Amazing talented servers! Singing the whole time! My son's 8th grade class trip brought us here. Preplanned lunch menu. I had a chicken Caesar salad. I believe you need reservations. The lines are long outside so definitely reserve. Check it out! read more

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Can't miss if you're in the theater district. We enjoyed the brunch food but loved the entertainment. read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

DO NOT get scared of the line! It moves. Once inside it is a constant party! We brought the kids to celebrate my daughter's birthday and do all things Christmas tourists do in NYC. This did not disappoint! Good food, great performances! Fun was had by all! read more

Wow! I went with a group of 5 around 2:00 pm on a Saturday and we were seated immediately! The place was really hopping. Our waiter Marrick was really friendly and really made all of us feel at home. The food is a bit pricey for diner food but you get big portions and it tasted good. Some people in my party said it was a little loud but it's to be expected. The staff sings!!! And they sing well. I really enjoyed myself there. read more

5 star entertainment with 3 star food items, so I'm rounding this to 4 stars! They don't accept reservations so we had to wait for 1.5 hours on a Saturday night for our party of 5 to be seated (hot tip: go across the street to the Grab and Go Deli to curb your hanger). But the wait is worth it for the one of a kind NYC experience with the Broadway sized talent of the waitstaff. Lots of classic songs, performed flawlessly, and with great fanfare! The food portions are HUGE, but the quality sub par (especially given all the other food choices in NYC). We tried appetizers, entrees, a banana split, but the best item on the menu was the vanilla egg cream (which was truly delicious). A wonderful, memorable spot to grab a bite (or drink) if you're visiting NYC! read more

We walked right in on a Sunday morning around 9:00. As we were leaving around 10:00, the line to get in was all the way down the street. The service and servers were SO kind. Several of them stopped and talked to us about our trip. It's pretty tight in there so if you have a rambunctious kid like I do, you may be giving lots of reminders to stay in their own personal space. The food is very basic. Nothing to write home about. The emcee even said it though... you don't come for the food, you come for the performing. I was worried that coming early in the morning the performing would be less energetic... I was wrong! I said it once, I'll say it again DO NOT COME HERE LOOKING FOR SPECTACULAR FOOD. Think of it as a show, an experience, with some bonus food included and you won't be disappointed. read more

Ughhh !!! It was very loud here. I understand it is a tourist spot but all the waiters and waitress sing in between serving their tables. Some people can sing and some can not I was not happy. They placed me next to this pole. And the food was ok. It was morning time so we had breakfast but they served tater tots for breakfast. That as horrendous. If you have kids they may like it but it's a double no for me read more

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This is your tried and true classic American diner with a show! Every server singing just makes it all the more magical. There is something special about broadway truly. But down to it the service is amazing the show happening at the same time is even better and the food is great! I think it's a little over priced personally but also you're in NYC on broadway with your waiters and waitresses all singing sooooo it's probably priced just right haha. Loved it though! If you havent gone before and you're in town it's the thing to do and if you havent gone before went but are debating about going again.... The show is always new! So do it! read more

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We saw tiktoks and had to come here. We planned to come after our show at the Gershwin theatre which was right by there by they were closed for a private event so we ended up coming thread next day for breakfast. It's super packed but we were seated very fast. We did have to sit at a bar area upstairs overlooking the lower area, which was fine but it was pretty crammed together with people who were seated next to us. The staff was friendly and the singing staff was definitely fun to watch. The food was pretty good. Prices weren't too crazy for being in the city. read more

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A classic tourist stop for when I'm going out to see a show! Ellen's Stardust Diner is a fun, quirky spot where the waitstaff doubles as performers, taking a pause from serving food to sing a classic Broadway song or Taylor Swift hit. I've been a few times now, because it really just is so fun to be in there. Getting in has always been pretty easy--both times I went recently, I've been in a party of 2 on a Sunday before a show (around 11am) and I've been seated within 30min both times. You wait in a line outside the restaurant, and then get your seat once you're at the front of it. The staff can't usually say how long the wait is, but the line moves fast. Inside the restaurant, performances are constant. The menu prices are a bit steep, but I'm sure it's a pricey place to run--you're also paying for this place to be so close to a show you might be seeing later, and paying for the performances you get inside. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich with waffle fries. The sandwich was a little dry (it didn't come with much spicy mayo) but it was still fried nicely! The performances were great. We heard a few Taylor Swift songs, a song from Hunchback of Notre Dame, a deep cut Ben Platt song, and Defying Gravity performed by 2 staff and modified to be a bit about the diner itself. A fun touch for sure! It was slightly less Broadway than I expected, but I think that's reasonable given they want to make sure as many people as possible recognize as many of the songs as possible I'm sure. The performers were great, they interacted with customers and their voices were all completely amazing. Due to the restaurant's long lines outside, I do think they want a quick turnaround. While I didn't feel completely rushed to leave, someone did ask me if I was done with my food (still a few bites of my sandwich and some fries left). I said no, I'm still eating, but they went to take the plate from me anyways. Once they removed it from the table and I realized what was going on, I insisted again I was still eating. I had a few more bites before someone else tried to take my plate again, and that time I just gave in and let them. Kind of a skill issue on my end, but it was a little upsetting they kept trying to take a plate with more food. We had only been in there for like 25 minutes, because we ordered the second we were seated. I totally understand that they don't want people just sitting there all day, and my waiter himself didn't make me feel rushed, but if you go, be prepared to insist you'd like to stay seated and watching the performances while you eat! Overall, the food wasn't anything to write home about and it was a bit awkward to stay longer than 30min without feeling imposing, but the performances blew me away and I know I'll have to be back. Definitely worth a stop before your next show in NYC! read more

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Went in for dinner on a random Tuesday around 9:00 PM and there was no line!!! Loved the whole vibe of the place, the servers are amazinggg!! The food is amazing too! I'm a vegetarian and there were many options. What we ordered: Nachos (no meat): 9/10 Really delicious, topped with all the good stuff Black bean burrito: 8/10 Really delicious and STUFFED Mozzarella triangles :7/10 Not a big fan, it was too greasy Waffle fries: 10/10 Amazing! Chocolate chip pancake: 9/10 Filled with chocolate chips. Needs syrup because it was a little dry Holy moly french toast: 10/10 This was soo gooood. Not overly sweet read more

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I went with my school and it was so amazing. They gave kids opportunities to sing a few lines and they were so interactive. 10/10 The food was pretty good, we didn't get too many options but that was a school thing. The lighting was so nice and the ambiance was very fun and the stage was so cool looking. read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Area where school sat - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

This place is amazing! Your waitstaff balances service with a smile with singing your favorite Broadway (and non-MT) classics! Not to mention everything in the building is themed to the 50s and 60s (which I'm a sucker for if you read a lot of my reviews.) I went in Early May and kept forgetting to write a review, but the food (I had Eggs Benedict with Bacon) was superb. I did have to use salt, but that's what it's there for! I didn't get to try their shakes because I needed to save my money for Show merch for the 4 Broadway shows we saw, but I definitely recommend Stardust and I would go back in a heartbeat if plane tickets were cheaper. read more

Although most go here too see and hear the singing servers (definitely a good reason to go), the food is actually good (albeit slightly pricey, but I guess if you factor in the free entertainment, it's worth it). The best matzoh ball soup in NYC. Don't expect to linger here though. They get you in and get you out pretty quickly. read more

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If you like musical as much as I do, you will love this place ! The performances and the service were good. The menu itself is classic dinner menu, I went for a breakfast plate with tater tots and cappuccino. We went during weekdays and did not have to wait. Lucky us ! read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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If you rate Ellen's Stardust Diner anything below five stars, you're crazy. The workers are incredible, the performances are nonstop and amazing, and the energy is unmatched. Yes, the food is classic diner food but you're paying for the experience, and it's 100% worth it. We waited in line for maybe two minutes because we just needed two seats. An absolute must for Broadway fans and anyone who loves a fun, unforgettable New York experience. read more

Ellen's Stardust Diner - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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