David is a spectacular server. We had a wonderful conversation with him over delicious milkshakes and coffee-- he deserves a raise. Excellent service! Will be coming here again for him. read more

Jay's Diner - Server - American Near Me - Rochester, New York

While the food was good the service was excellent. I like American Diners and this fits the tradition. read more

Jay's Diner - Corn beef hash, scrambled eggs, rye toast - American Near Me - Rochester, New York

The say you can't mess up eggs... Jay's proved that old adage wrong. I ordered eggs scrambled hard and they came out super runny, the waitress was great and came back quickly with eggs scrambled fully, but still not well done (even after I said- I like them super well done). The potatoes would have benefited from more seasoning as well. My friend had the gyro omelette and loved it. The server was wonderful and the retro decor was fun. Overall not worth the trip. It would be fun if you were real drunk because it feels like 1997 in there! read more

Stopped there for breakfast with a friend and that will be the last time they will see us. We both ordered an egg, home fries and toast. Simple, simple meal. The egg was ok, home fries were tiny burnt scraps of potatoes. The toast was also burnt--and cold--with awful tasting butter substitute on it, didn't even melt into the bread. The waitress barely came to the table, never refilled out drinks or even asked to. This place used to be iconic when Jay Leisure ran it--he'd be appalled now. read more

Your old school, classical diner awaits! Jay's has a great retro, 50's style vibe to it, which adds character and charisma. From the notable exterior to the traditional diner booths, it's like you're traveling back in time. The food is good, but nothing extraordinary. It's decent and definitely captures the essence of homemade food. However, I will say their homefries are my favorite. I've only ever ordered their breakfast food and can honestly say if you're a homefries person like me, get them! They're delicious! Other than that you can expect your ordinary diner food with a fun atmosphere. read more

Meow! Easily the best diner I've been to during my 9 lives! The pancakes are awesome! The chicken is amazing! The service is very sweet although Franky didn't like me read more

Good for a local diner. Nothing special though. The omelette had a strange taste to it but was not bad.

Great traditional diner - breakfast was delicious. Service was outstanding. Coffee was good and refilled all the time.

Jay's is my litmus test. Not for food, service, or decor, but to find out where someone is from. If you tell me you love Jay's, or it is 2:00 am and you want to go here, I will know immediately that you are from out of town. Sure, "it's better than Denny's," but there are so many other options, Jay's fails to make it onto my radar. Yeah, I've visited Jay's plenty of times, but it just never did it for me. Highland Park Diner is Rochester dining at its finest, with Mt. Hope offering the lowest prices, and Gitsis and Mark's holding it down for those late night runs. I think it is telling when people say "Jay's helped me make it through RIT and Rochester!" Yeah, okay... The people who say that clearly didn't make enough of an effort to experience all that Rochester has to offer. read more

One Sunday late night my husband and I, and two good friends, visited Jay's after an exhausting day of moving. I wished we had not. Our waiter was beyond unfriendly and unprofessional; he was downright rude and aggressive, In response to if a particular sandwich came with french fries he said: "If it did not come with fries, I would have ASKED you if you wanted fries." When we asked about a particular beverage, he rudely responded: "I suppose you'll be wanting to know if we have FREE refills." After several similar insulting comments, the environment became extremely uncomfortable. I tried to make light of it, explaining to the waiter that we had been moving all day. We actually apologized for asking questions that may have seemed fairly self-explanatory. Instead of responding in-kind to my olive branch, he irascibly replied: "Yeah, well, I'm tired, too. Get on with it!" He never stopped by to see how our food was, after unceremoniously slapping it down on the table. We were curious about dessert, but could not get his attention. He was too busy chatting with other staff. Ultimately, my husband had to locate another waiter to get our check and cash us out, since ours, evidently could no longer be bothered. My friends were outraged. Thankfully, my husband's mild-manner approach calmed them down. I know Jay's is a Rochester tradition. It's too bad they can't step it up and be something people from Rochester could be proud of. The only reason we visited Jay's and the only reason we would ever return is due to the fact they are open 24-hours. read more

3.5/5 (Because the food is basic, but good for what it aims for.) Ahhhhhh, Jay's... A staple of my childhood. I remember coming here, eating tons of fattening food, then crying for my mother to bring me across the street for some Italian ice. Recently I decided to try it out again. I was in the mood for a sandwich or a burger, just one of those simple feelings. And that's what Jay's is perfect for. Now before I write about my experience, if you've never been here before, there's a few things you need to know. This is a diner. Like, think movies where people have that one little place they like to meet up. It has basic food. Do not come here expecting an amazing cuisine, come here expecting a simple home cooked meal, a sandwich, some soup. A friendly atmosphere. As long as that is what you expect you'll be happy with your visit. Now for my visit ; Upon entering I was immediately greeted by the atmosphere I remembered. A warm welcoming decor, the feeling to kick back and relax, it was just as I had remembered. The employees greeted me warmly as I sat down at a table. The menu was just as basic as I remembered, and expected. Sandwiches, wraps, burgers, plates, soups, appetizers including mozzarella sticks, etc. I kept it simple and got a water & a burger. The wait time wasn't long at all, and every time my water was even at half it was immediately topped off again. The great service made me excited for the food. The burger tasted as a burger should, the fries seemed like a store bought bag. No real complaints or compliments on either, they both tasted good enough, and I wasn't left feeling post-eat guilt. The check was brought to me almost immediately upon me finishing eating leaving no 'awkward time' of me sitting with nothing to do, which was perfect. I paid, and left. Very simple meal, very simple place. If you're hungry and want a quick easy meal, nothing fancy, this is the place to do it. read more

Stopped by this diner for a late night snack. The vibe was preety nice, chill, and friendly! I ordered pankackes and I liked it. My friend also tried the roast beef and he was happy with his choice. Also don't forget to try their fries. Its good! read more

Jay's Diner. Growing up in Henrietta this place is packed with memories for me. I remember the first time I went here with a buddy and his dad. I was probably 12 years old, that's going back a ways. I have no idea how long Jays has been open for but it is pretty standard as far as diners go. 24/7 breakfast, sandwiches and some dinner options, with a Greek flare of coarse. I went here with my parents tonight which isn't exactly my usual cohort. I love Jay's! BUT, it's best visited late at night or maybe early in the morning. There are just a lot better options out there for dinner, my mother, loves breakfast though and there is something for everyone. They tend to be pretty quick and had a ton of open tables on a Friday night, so a good spot for a diver crowd if time is an issue. My father has a Philly Cheese wrap, nothing profound but he was ok with it. The waitress did try to refill his decaf coffee with regular though, twice. Not a huge deal but still a little annoying. She also tried to refill my mom's tea with regular coffee lol. Service was not top notch. Also our menu said my meal came with clam chowder but they gave me rice and broccoli. Now, it was so so but I would have taken the clam chowder over it any day of the week. My mom got a short stack of pancakes with a side of sausage. They came out fine and while my mother was not frothing at the mouth for more she didn't have any complaints either. I had Chicken Souvlaki with a a Greek salad and lemon potatoes. The lemon potatoes were baked, not over cooked, the lemon definitely came through. It was a new flavor profile for me and while I enjoyed them I'm not sure I'm ready to add them to diet regularly. The salad had peppers, onions, olives, lettuce and feta. Nothing mind blowing but it was ok. The chicken was good, some nice char without being burnt, the pita didn't seem to be house made but was good. I can't really back Jays's for dinner but if it's after Sunset and you want some diner food, try them out. read more

For as big of a reputation Jay's Diner has- I have never been wow-ed by the food. The service is always very good, waitresses sweet and food comes out very fast and hot. But when the food is meh- is it really worth it? I definitely think you have to go once, but maybe save it for before a $2 movie or drunken nights when nothing else is open. read more

Jay's Diner - American Near Me - Rochester, New York

The food here is very cheap and there is a reason. The omelet my sister ordered had canned artichoke hearts and canned mushrooms and it looked inedible. Some meals were undercooked (We came during the rush hour so I'll give them slack), and the food was just very low quality ingredients which you can even tell before it touches your mouth. I'd give them some kudos on the fries, which are fantastic, but that's all. The decor is awful. The outside is very nice and lours you in but once you get in, it changes quickly. It is geared toward the 50's era which is neat but it looks like it was last updated in the late 80's or early 90's. Our waitress was very nice but messed up 1/2 our order, and forgot to bring out a couple things. She was very apologetic so she was given a nice tip, but as I was looking in the milk kettle which is for the coffee, she said "Oh, no! Is there a floater?!" as in a bug... I was just looking since the milk had separated which means they haven't changed it in some time. Summary: The only good thing about this place is that it is very cheap but there is always a reason. The food is AWFUL! The place is open 24/7 but should close to update the decor, get better menus, cooks, and get a bit more professional staff. read more

Back in the day, Jay's used to be cozy, welcoming and comfortable. Food was OK. Now? It's this garish bright 50's theme with neon lights, chrome, and to top it all off - aqua and pink colors. arghhh... nothing about this is relaxing or comfortable, or even actually really close to what a real diner looks like. Add to this something I've never thought about before? Acoustics. I could clearly hear the waitresses talking about one of their court dates and then someone else's need for childcare. Great. For the love of god, could I PLEASE get a refill on my coffee? Which unfortunately was not all that good to start with. Now that my rant on design is over - let's talk about food and service. The true hallmarks for any diner. Food was average. We were there for an early breakfast on a Monday and the place was pretty empty. Carbo loading seemed to be the order of the day as the choices included short stacks of french toast and pancakes with sides of sausage patties and bacon. It was all hot and served fairly quickly. Pretty basic stuff but tasty. I really don't like getting margarine instead of butter though. The waitress was nice enough but in addition to the fascinating conversations we overheard, she did not come by with coffee refills until we were almost finished. Not cool when you're not that busy and standing around chatting about court! For a decent meal, I might go back. No, actually there's too many other places, I really won't. sorry. read more

Please anyone who will listen.DONT EAT HERE PLEASE. IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME GO THERE AND ASK FOR A COOK NAMED DAN. They won't let you speak to him, why because he smell like a animal or worst. There cooks have the worst hygiene and they dont care these people are allowed to handle your food with out washing there hands or without gloves. If you dont believe me try and you see either they will say he's not there or he is busy but if someone is able to get him out of the back you'll see what I mean. Just try it if you dont believe me. Once you do and you smell and see him trust me YOU WILL NEVER EAT HERE AGAIN. #CLOSEJAYSDINER. read more

30 years after starting at U of R and we are still enjoying Jay's Diner! The staff is always friendly - even in the wee hours and the food hot and made to order! We are still fans of the clam chowder and chicken fingers! Eggs, hash browns, bacon and toast are a staple in our house as well and they are fantastic! Cheers to 30 more years! read more

I think the atmosphere went downhill when they renovated it. It lost credibility when it lost the old tables, fun times, and gay waiter. Now it's just a shiny machine. A food machine. Food is average, cost is average, experience is average. Go to Mel's. read more

Your basic diner food, served up 24 hours a day. Where else in Rochester can you get whatever you like at 3:00 a.m.? Food is good, service is excellent. My only problem is the deserts..the pie which I had seemed to have been previously frozen. read more

There is a sketch-factor to this place but it's one of the rare diners in Rochester that opens 24 hours, which is perfect for college students on those late weekend evening hangouts. I do however feel like I will find a hair or a loogey in my food (hence the sketch-factor). The wings are probably the all-time favorite on the menu. They're delicious and crispy. This place is also good if you have a large party. They have a party room in the back that can fit a lot of people. read more

The first time I had Jay's was after a night out drinking and it was the closest 24 hour diner. I thought the food was great that night, but obviously my inebriated brain is not as discerning as my sober brain, because when we tried it again a couple of weeks later for breakfast, it was a totally different experience. For starters, the coffee was weak and that is a pretty serious infraction for a breakfast place. I ordered the Greek Omelet and home fries and was less than impressed with the cold, soggy, tasteless pile of potatoes that even tons of ketchup couldn't save. The omelet was ok, but I am pretty sure the spinach was canned. I ate less than half of my meal and felt a little nauseous afterward. So, basically, as other reviewers have stated, it's a passable option if you are hungry at 2 in the morning, but there are many better places in Rochester for breakfast. read more

This place has the perfect classic diner feel- blue and pink plastic booths are accompanied by old school juke boxes and neon signs. Their pies looks delicious and the food was amazing! We ordered the banana walnut pancakes, eggs Benedict, chicken salad sandwich, and a Belgian waffle. Everything exceed our expectations and was soooo good. We cleared our plates! Our waitress Maria was the beat part of our experience though by far. She is so sweet, funny, personable, and took incredible care of us. We wanted to ask her to be part of our family lol. We will definitely come back when we're in Rochester! read more

While visiting a friend in Rochester, we stopped into Jay's Diner for lunch today. Service was decent, and the food was OK too. Cheap prices for the portion size that you receive. Looked a little grimy on the inside, but again, it's a diner so I didn't have too high of expectations. Overall, not a half bad place to grab a cheap bite to eat. read more

I grew up in Rochester but left twenty years ago to find excitement and adventure. I'm not sure about the overseas excitement but I can say that whenever I return to Rochester, I find myself at this all-night institution. When it comes to late-night/all-night food in Rochester, Jay's is second to none. They have good breakfasts, satisfying sandwiches and burgers and despite what I've seen written in some reviews here, some of the nicest waiters and waitresses you're going to find at 2 in the morning. My personal favorites would have to be the gyro, breakfast sandwich, and meatball sandwich. Their milkshakes and pie have also proven to be saviors for the late night food cravings. At the end of the day, it's still a diner and no diner in my mind is going to be a full five stars but I would still encourage people from out of town to visit this Rochester landmark for a bit of local flavor while you're in town. read more

Food was fast and yummy !! Good presentation service was good . Definitely one of the best diners in ny state read more

Jay's Diner - American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Ordered the seafood platter for $18 and got 3 fried scallops the size of a quarter, 3 fried shrimp, and a piece of fried haddock that was nearly inedible. Tried leaving a $7 tip to the waitress and she rolled her eyes at me on the way out. Would not recommend! read more

AWEFUL! Called for take out. Mushroom appetizer - TOTALLY wet after biting into them. Threw in the garbage. NO napkins or utensils after I got to my desk. Told them NO fries with mushroom/swiss burger. Included fries and salad. Bill came to $20 (I added $1). CRAZY. A year ago I said never again. Now I remember why Never Again. Also - restaurant is filthy! Broken pots in front of restaurant. Inside looks like it has seen a mop in months! New owners just sit at the counter. Won't get my money again! read more

So my foodie log lists this as a top ten diner. Yeah. I know it's weird. But this place is great. Good food without the grease of other area diners. The only two that top it are out of town. Lake Effect diner in Buffalo 60 miles west and Crazy Ottos in Herkimer, nearly 200 miles east. All the food you expect is great: eggs and hash, pancakes, Reuben's, omelettes etc. read more

The place seems cool with its decor from a past era, and being just a minute from the highway and across the street from a movie theater makes for a great location. For all those smokers out there, this is one of the last restaurants you can smoke in (theres a separate blocked off dining area for the smokers). Jay's is even open 24 hours making it always accessible (perfect for going after a movie, concert, when you can't sleep, etc) This is were the compliments run out. I've never had good food here. Everything is just below average, not enough to complain to the waitress or send it back but not good enough to look forward to coming here. The biscuits and sausage gravy is made with Italian sausage (makes you think pizza and not a savory breakfast), the ice cream is usually melty, the clam chowder is gelatinous and obviously from a can, and everything else is along these lines with blandness and leaving you with a disappointed feeling. I would have usually recommended going a mile or so down the street to the amazing Mel's Diner but last time I was in town it looks like its closed or at least changed names/owners so if it is even open I'll bet it won't be the same as it used to be years ago. read more

I went to Jay's for the second time and while my first experience made me want to give this place 2 stars, my most recent trip gave me a more positive experience. The serving staff was friendly and attentive to our table throughout the visit. I went with a Greek omelette with bacon cooked inside and it was pretty good. This isn't the type of place you're going to for gourmet meals or even a great setting, but for decent diner food at reasonable prices, it's not too shabby. read more

I came here a few nights ago after a ridiculously long day of mathematics. I wanted a quick bite to eat with a friend. I ordered the ham club that had Swiss cheese and onions on it. I also got the mac salad as the side. The mac salad did lack a little flavor. I enjoyed the ham club but it did have a strong onion flavor. (next time I'd say go light on the onions). Friend got the beef on French bread sandwich. I had a bite and it tasted amazing. The next time I'll go for the beef sandwich. As far as vibe goes, it's very casual and has the at home feeling. read more

Jay's Diner - American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Jay's Diner is exactly what the name tells you - a diner. The food is pretty good, the wait staff is fairly attentive, and you get it all for a low price. I have a lot of fond college memories of coming here in the middle of the night with a bunch of friends, or flirting with some crush over a milkshake. Now that I'm an old married lady who doesn't live in Rochester, I still do enjoy a late night round of pancakes on a visit home. read more

They're open 24/7. That right there is worth a lot. They also have wifi, it's crazy slow but they do have it. About the only place to eat at 2 in the morning in Rochester. So for that, it's good, otherwise, I wouldn't go there if I had other options. read more

How come nobody mentioned about Jay's Clam Chowder? It's the best clam chowder from coast to coast (when I was there). The clam chowder and Sal's Birdland's 1/2 BBQ chicken got me thru RIT in the early 80's. Would love to have a big bowl of Jay's clam chowder right now!!! read more

Good food. Excellent service. Dirty especially the floor and window sills. Grossed me out. Was there at 830 in the morning. No excuse for not sweeping. Made me wonder about the kitchen. read more

The dishes were very dirty and the place needs an update and there was hair in our food

My husband says this is a Rochester classic and though the menu is extensive and affordable, I particularly did not like what I ordered. I ordered their beef steak dinner special and though they accommodated my request of replacing my side with rice instead of potatoes, the beef steak should really be called a hamburger steak. The steak was also very well-done to the point where some parts of it tasted burnt. My husband did say he loves their wraps so it's quite possible I ordered the wrong thing even though it was highlighted on their Jays dinner specialities. However the wait staff, old diner atmosphere and dessert more than made up for the experience. read more

Good food and friendly service. My 10 year old is a diners connoisseur and this is her favorite diner in Rochester. We recommend the mashed potatoes. read more

The food is good. Try out the chicken salad melt. They absolutely hate it when you order a milkshake. The wifi is free and the place is usually filled with college kids. Pretty good waiting service. read more