Lincoln Street Diner (LSD) is a small but homey diner that's in a fairly residential area, which I think is really cool. Don't come here with a big party, as the largest table seats four people and there are probably about 25 seats in the whole restaurant. I came with a group of 8, and we were separated into three tables. The food was really good. I ordered an omelet and didn't quite expect what they handed me, but it was super good (it was more like a scramble than a traditional omelet). Omelets can sometimes be really bland, but LSD did a great job of making sure that the food was seasoned well. No complaints about pricing/service either - it was all super fair. Lastly, it gets busy, so be ready to wait! read more

Lincoln Street Diner - Sausage/Pepper/Onion Omelet with toast and home fries - Diners Near Me - Ithaca, New York

This place was unexpected! In the middle of a neighborhood full of houses... Bam! Diner! This place has just enough parking around it for the number of seats available. The inside looks like a typical small diner. It's small, having some counter seats and like 6 tables, but it's busy with a steady stream of people eating and at least 2 people waiting to be seated! There's one lady who runs around and waits on all the tables. She deserves some sort of super hero waitress award. The food was top notch diner breakfast... Nothing fancy, but it really hit the spot. The coffee was fresh and strong and hot. It was a perfect fuel for a day of hiking and exploring. read more

A diner in a residential neighborhood but with a constant stream of patrons on a weekday morning. The proprietor is a Star Wars fan! There are lots of paraphernalia scattered throughout the shop, but my favorite is the poster in the men's bathroom. They get their honey from a local farm. I love how the mugs are sponsored by local businesses. The portions are large, but not overwhelmingly so. Home fries are home made and not to be missed. Only open for breakfast and lunch. Limited menu, but all done well. If you finish everything on your plate, I'm told you get a sticker! read more

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Today is 8/1 i order a fish sandwich and potato's w/gravy. The fish was very very greasy and the potato's were DRY clumpy and hard. NOT VERY INPRESSED, FOR MY FIRST TIME ORDERING . read more

Lincoln Street Diner is one of those restaurants that my grandparents used to love because it's been around for forever and it has "good food at cheap prices." You know the type... small community diner, covering the basics of sandwiches or breakfast options, with a dedicated group of regulars. My mother, for example, used to work nearby and would go in for a BLT sandwich when she wanted to treat herself to something that reminded her of her younger years. For me personally, Lincoln Street Diner misses the mark when it comes to food... but the community atmosphere can generally be enjoyed (unless, you know, we're in the middle of a pandemic). I was with my mother yesterday and figured I would place an Ithaca To Go order that included a BLT and a side of fries for her, as well as a cheesesteak for me... and a side of corned beef hash to try. While my mother enjoyed her classic treat of their BLT sandwich, she did comment on how she doesn't know why she can't find fries from anywhere that are crispy... and it's true, the fries weren't crispy at all (not just because of the time it took for the delivery, but because they were just generally undercooked to begin with). She ended up putting them in the oven to crisp them up. As for my cheesesteak, it was basic... a hamburger bun-type roll, something "steak-umms"-esque for the cheesesteak, and mushrooms along with a white cheese sauce. Good enough to eat, but it ended up being about the only thing I could eat. Since it was smaller than I expected, I opted to try the corned beef hash as well... buuuuuut I couldn't finish the order. Why? Because the consistency was VERY unpleasant. Little potatoes in the hash? Great. Unfortunately, the corned beef itself had the consistency of mush... and I tossed most of it away. :( TL;DR The "good" part of the "good food at great prices"-sentiment is a bit questionable depending on what you order... and I've had better luck with breakfast items than lunch ones. The reality here is that if I hadn't grown up around the Ithaca area, and I was trying Lincoln Street Diner as someone from out of town, I'd be leaving with at least a bit of disappointment in the experience. The prices are low, there's a community feel... but the food is generally good or a real miss. read more

Lincoln Street Diner - Diners Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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The decor of Lincoln Street Diner is authentic American style diner, simple and adorable. The staff used standing character cardboards to keep customers in social distance which was creative and interesting. The options on their menu are not super various but enough for a decent brunch & breakfast. We had Western Omelet, French toast and unlimited coffee with reasonable price and great portion. The food is overall delicious, especially the omelette. We love the omelette, which was well-cooked and kept the texture moist. The French Toast was simply tasty but kind of dry. read more

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Quick service, fun atmosphere, happy workers, cheap food!! I ordered my omelette and got it in ~5 min. It's a small diner and it fills up quickly, but free space also opens up quickly. They give you stickers when you finish all the food on your plate! read more

Lincoln Street Diner - Breakfast Menu - Diners Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Meh - they give you the evil eye if you're not a local. Food is diner quality, which is what you're looking for. Kind of annoying that they don't serve pancakes after 11 AM. read more

This place is a hidden gem! It's so cute and homey, the food was great and reasonably priced, it was very fast service and the server was very kind. Highly recommend! read more

Lincoln Street Diner - Short Stack French Toast, scrambled 2 Eggs, Blueberry Pancakes, Omelet - Diners Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Probably the best omelette I've ever had... 10/10 so delicious & the vibes were immaculately chill. Would come back and I live in California

What a great find! Place is very small but the food is amazing. Our server was attentive and went out of her way to make us feel welcome and appreciated- even after spilling a full cup of coffee all over the table! She even remembered our drink preferences the next day! Seems like a locals favorite. Highly recommend. read more

Lincoln Street Diner - Outside photo of diner - Diners Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Great lunch. My husband had the hot beef sandwich and soup. He enjoyed it. I had the tuna sandwich and it was delicious. The atmosphere was great and friendly. We would definitely come back. read more

Incredible breakfast!!! Absolutely love it every time I get it, and I order it to-go so you don't always get the highest quality at other restaurants when ordering to-go. But here you get their best, and quick (10 min)! If you're looking for a well cooked breakfast, this is the place to go. Very small amount of seating but no worries! If you didn't know where it was you might drive right by it. read more

Lincoln Street Diner - Egg and Cheese with Meat, 2 Eggs on Homefries - Diners Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Took my family of four there based on the reviews. It was a diner in the best sense. Pancakes. Awesome. Sausage gravy and biscuit. Awesome. Western omelette. Awesome. Quick courteous service. Could not ask for better food or service. Enjoy. read more

Cheap yes, so just go with that thought and you'll be happy. I visited on a Tuesday morning, the cook, maybe manager commented a few times to various folks that they were slammed. There was no wait but certainly a steady stream of folks. The servers were friendly and attentive. I really wanted to try the sausage gravy n biscuits. Today's special was sausage gravy over a corn muffin and potatoes. Weird, maybe it was a no biscuit day? I acquiesced, it was a good consistency, good amount of sausage and a good sized plate of food. I'd happily pay a few more dollars for crisp tatoes, a biscuit, some seasoning (other than salt) in the gravy (after the photo I added a fair amount of pepper and some ketchup and some red hot). The potatoes on the grill top were occasionally blessed with bacon drippings, and they had a paprika hue but the soft nubs still lacked flavor. read more

Lincoln Street Diner - Corn muffins n tatoes covered in sausage gravy - Diners Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Delicious food. Their daily specials are not only creative, but they are soooo.....good! The restaurant is very clean and Covid19 compliant. Felt totally safe there. Appreciate being able to support local and feel safe. Great food and overall experience. I'll be back. read more

We were surprised to find a small diner in the middle of a residential area, but the reviews were great so we decided to try it. Then we went back 3 more mornings for the greatest breakfast and service ever! Chris cooked the eggs to perfection and by day two Amy recognized us, remembered our previous order and knew all our 'requests' (extra napkins, please...) without any reminders. Not to mention the prices were very reasonable. Amazing! You know you're in the best place for breakfast when all the locals go there. Hope to visit again one day. read more

Great local diner. The food is good, the prices are reasonable and the service is fast. The ambiance is pure townie!

Fantastic local diner. Unpretentious and down home. Worth the trip if you're in the area. Breakfast was excellent and the price was right. The Habanero and hash omelette was excellent and spicy and would definitely be a favorite if I was a regular. read more

This place is a nice hidden gem in Ithaca. As diverse as the Bay Area can be finding a simple diner that make good breakfast is not easy to come by. This spot is a good representation of what a diner should be, simple menu and quick service. I was able to try the corned beef hash and pancakes If your in the area and need a quick bite this is the place read more

Lincoln Street Diner is the best Diner in Ithaca. My favorite thing to get is the Ziffy omelet topped with sausage gravy. The staff is friendly and personable. read more

Amazing diner cool decor super friendly service and amazing food. I recommend for anyone!

We visited Lincoln Street diner in March right before the pandemic was in full swing, when there weren't yet any extra regulations about safety. I sat at the counter and was kind of disgusted by the normal sanitation procedures of the person cooking my food. He touched things that weren't getting cooked directly with his hands, which he didn't wash once while I was there. He was handling cash and the diner phone while cooking. Aside from that, the food was subpar. Both me and my partner got food that was way overdone, and having gotten an omelette, it was just an all around unpleasant experience. The staff were very friendly, but I just didn't feel like my food was safe to eat read more

Havent been in years and stopped by the other day. Super busy, but the staff was accommodating, friendly and speedy. Very clean spot and good prices. Didnt have to wait forever to get food and they made conversation the entire time even tho it was so busy. Will def go back! read more

The FRESHEST scrambled eggs ever! And TASTY home fries too. I was at the counter for breakfast- did you ever see a napkin dispenser with EYES! He was so happy to see me make a mess he spit out a napkin from his mouth! I think he winked at me too! read more

Lincoln Street Diner - I think he winked at me! - Diners Near Me - Ithaca, New York

In Ithaca for first time ... Gotta eat a breakfast ... so we Yelped a locals' favorite ... found Lincoln Diner. Perfect! (Five stars to Yelp! - never would've known of or found this place without you?/it?/us?) Off the beaten path. Greasy griddle delight. Five stars for the atmosphere. All the friendly neighborliness the other reviews highlight is true. Place was packed when we peaked in - but other customers moved over so we could fit ... at their table! Introduced himself and wife to me ... but didn't make it awkward by trying to talk to us thru the meal. Five stars for locals with acute social awareness. And five stars for the Cajun Sausage Gravy over Biscuits and Homefries ... one-of-a-kind greatness. They offer a number of interesting omelet specials. My wife & kids also enjoyed their more conventional fare ... eggs, bacon, bagel, etc. ... but it was "nothing special," they said. Go for the specials. $25 for family of 4. They take credit/debit cards for the bill. But you have to tip in cash. read more

Lincoln Street Diner - Lincoln Diner Griddle - Diners Near Me - Ithaca, New York

The restaurant is very small so every time I've been, there has been a wait. Usually there is 1 guy (owner?) behind the counter impressively cooking all of the food and 1-2 rather mediocre servers assisting him. If you need anything (more water/coffee, a napkin, ketchup, etc) it's going to take a while. If you're not in a rush and looking for okay diner food then give Lincoln Street Diner a shot. *** They have a $10 limit on credit cards and only accept cash tips so make sure you have cash on you regardless! read more

I have been here a couple of times, and my favorite thing to get here is the Cajun special. It is only available on Saturdays, but it's biscuits with Cajun gravy. This place is so quick and cheap. Best diner in Ithaca. read more

I was staying briefly in Ithaca and decided to give this place a try for breakfast. I took a 2 mile hike because I really wanted to try it out. I walked in on a Saturday at about 1030 or 11:00 AM. The place was only half full with tables and seats at the counter. I took one at the counter and had no more sat down then the owner who is also the cook swing around and barked, "You can't just sit down. There's a line outside and you have to stand in line!" I was shocked that he would talk to a complete stranger and a customer that way. I told him, "there is no line. What are you talking about?" I honestly thought that he had to be kidding because he was so over the top, and I was a complete stranger who had just walked into his business to get him money. At this point, the only waitress there....who I suspect is the cook's wife...very nicely told me that there was no line and then of course I could have a seat. I sat down, but after a few minutes left. Why would anyone want to go to a place like this where you're greeted with rudeness and hostility the moment you walk in the door? Avoid this place at all cost. Hopefully, the owner will wise up to the fact that he needs to treat all his customers with respect. If I could give this place, zero stars I would. read more

Great French toast! Wonderful local restaurant for brunch! It's so happy to enjoy some great food, and chat with each other! Nice spot for Star Wars fans for sure! read more

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Good local spot for a good hearty breakfast. People are great too. Being Halloween, some good outfits. Stop by.

This is the sort of small old time timey place with interesting food like you see on Diners Driveins and Dives. The decor is decidedly out of date on purpose. It's still the 1970s in there. It gets super busy on Saturdays. The best dishes are: Saturday Cajun sausage gravy. Wednesday turkey dinner. Friday mac and cheese. Or blackened grilled haddock. Any day has the best bacon and eggs anywhere. Cheap too. Everything is very inexpensive. read more

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Don't miss this gem! Food & service are excellent. Amy & Chris are the best! We were in town for just 4 days, but days 2, 3 & 4, Amy had perfect recall and had us set up & ready to eat immediately. Now, that's great customer service (not to mention the best breakfast in town!) read more

Great place all homemade items service excellent all locals were there. Worth a visit!

A seemingly chill diner that is in all actuality very not chill. Not overpriced but underserved. Don't expect the staff to throw away your disposable coffee cup you drank while waiting. You can't order French toast or sausage after 11 am. If you want to go to a place that seems like the place Lincoln Street diner is, go to Sunset Grill near Ithaca College. read more

6 of us came here for breakfast on Monday. The place was busy but they managed to accommodate us comfortably. The waitress was an angel. She was so sweet and humble. You could tell that it's an old school diner, most of the people looked like regulars. All our orders came out tasty and fast. They also have parking on the back. read more

Yikes, this place was not good! I went after reading all the raving Yelp Reviews. The restaurant was dirty, the tables were sticky, the floor looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a while. This place was not sanitary! The food was average, nothing to rave about. They also messed up my order (pancakes when i ordered blueberry pancakes). When we went to pay the bill, a huge bug, about the length of my pinkie finger, flew onto my arm. I was disgusted. I will not be returning! read more

After reading the reviews, I really wanted to like Lincoln Street. I love breakfast foods (who doesn't??), and I love a quick unpretentious diner for just that purpose. A nice set of fried eggs, a quick slice of ham, a bit of toast? Easy and delicious. Lincoln Street Diner really didn't do it for me. The entire place is covered with a sticky oily sheen. The cooks don't even bother turning on the hoods over the griddle, so you leave the place smelling of grease, which is a slight improvement over sitting in a restaurant smelling of grease with your eyes tearing from the smoke. All would be well if the food was fine, but my over easy eggs came almost well done, my dry toast came soaked in butter, and my tea somehow turned into coffee. Oh well. read more

After reading how highly rated this place was on Yelp I had to try it out so after being in Ithaca for a year now I decided it was time.....time to have a Saturday morning breakfast at Lincoln Street. (if your asking me why breakfast is important then you obviously are not someone who loves food because breakfast.....is the best meal!) Anyways this place is small, crowded and has all the markings of a run down diner. The only problem is that it's packed! Now this is a good thing, this means it must be good so we went in and grabbed a table. The waiter came right over and was extremely nice, took our drink order and in a timely fashion was back with them and was taking our orders for food. Our food came out about 15-20 mins later, right when I would expect it to. I ordered the Cajun Sausage Gravy as most of the reviewers on Yelp RAVE about it. So I thought I'd give it a go and boy....was I amazed. This is quite possibly the best...BEST! sausage gravy and biscuits I have EVER had. The flavors were phenomenal! It was spicy, but not enough to hide the flavors. I tasted the sausage, the cream, the pepper, the cajun seasoning and the spice all together. The biscuits were soft but held their own when grabbing them with my fork. I downed the entire place in under 2 minutes and wanted more! MORE! Never in my life have I ever loved a breakfast like this before. If you are looking for the perfect breakfast spot hit this place on a Saturday morning when they have their gravy on the menu and get yourself some! You will not regret and will be hooked coming back every Saturday for that meal you can't get anywhere else! This is definitely a gem of Ithaca and I am surprised that they haven't expanded or opened for dinner because by george they could be huge! Also, not a caveat but they only take cash for orders under $10 which might not be a big deal...except their prices are CHEAP! This is a good thing though haha! read more

This small little diner made a big impression on us today! We came about midmorning on a Saturday and were lucky to get a table. When we mentioned that it was our first time, the waitress offered to introduce us to everyone. We declined, but it definitely added to the "Cheers of diners" kind atmosphere. When my BIL ordered white toast, the waitress, in a friendly, motherly tone said, "Are you sure? Because whole wheat is better for you and rye doesn't taste like cardboard, I promise." My husband had a great plate of sausage gravy, biscuits and homefries, the kids split pancakes and eggs, I had french toast (very much like what I make at home...in a good way), and BIL had an omlet. The service was fast (which we love with 2 young kids in tow) and the food was great. We'll definitely be back! read more