Metro is my go to place for breakfast, really, if I had my choice I wouldn't frequent any other place. Our running group eats here after most of our 10+ mile training runs for a reason, the food is GOOD. My favorites are the Eggs Benedict, the SOS (chipped beef) when it is offered, Huevos Rancheros (we share it), and the yogurt with fruit and granola. The coffee is just average if you are a coffee snob, so get over it and ask for a hot water with your Via packet. I suck it up and drink it, the food makes up for it. Many of their items can be served in half portions, such as the French Toast, Eggs, Bene etc. you just have to ask and be nice. The service is usually great, but not always, like the rest of us, they have off days. They also have real maple syrup if you ask for it and for a slight charge. GO EARLY. If you don't get there before 9, unless you go on Sunday when everyone else is in church, you must be prepared to wait; don't whine about it. I would give them five stars, but I don't consider a diner type restaurant a 5 star establishment. For a breakfast and lunch joint, it's pretty much as good as it gets! read more

Today I tried the Yo Hala on the Square with the Blueberry Compote... It was good but the filling wasnt the greatest! I think I'll try the pound cake french toast next time or the shrimp and grits! read more

Metro Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Did somebody say "blunch?" Yes, they did, and then they went to Metro. Taste yourself some local flavor, smell the pre-meal cookings, see some interesting photos on the walls, hear extroverts bloviate, all while experiencing an ass comfort you may recall from grandma's house. It's an all-senses kind of place. You'll probably be waiting a while, as other reviewers said. I thought there was a lot of seating, actually, but certainly a lot more folk than there were chairs. That's usually a good sign, that you won't get salmonella.Oh. Speaking of which, the whites of my eggs weren't actually cooked through. Also, free coffee while you wait. The eggs aside, I was pretty thrilled, and it's reasonably priced. I see references to yo hala on here. My friend ordered a yalo hala, and yes it was delicious. I assume it's the same thing. From what I remember, it's a bready shell with some fruit-materials in the middle. Maybe a waffle was involved? At any rate, it's the kind of place where most everything is good. So enjoy yourself! read more

I don't often visit restaurants for breakfast or brunch, so a place like this is warranted only on special occasions or for diners that are featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It's shameful that after living in Jacksonville for nearly 8 months and having seen this place on DDD that it took me this long to drop in to Metro Diner. There are now 5 Metro Diner locations in Jacksonville but this is the original and is therefore the one I was inclined to visit. Be warned: this place is very popular. You may be waiting a while, especially if you are eating with more than 2 people. The restaurant is small and densely packed with tight, uncomfortable tables. Normally I'd count a strike against a diner for uncomfortable crowded seating but it's forgivable here because no one is coming for a cushy place to sit - it's all about the food. And the food is good. No, the food is glorious! There was absolutely no way I was leaving Metro Diner without putting the 'Yo Hala' down my pie hole. The description on the menu is enough to make you pee your pants in anticipation! You can even convince yourself that you may be eating healthy since it is packed full of fruit. You don't need to exercise on days when you eat food like this, right? Let's just say that food portions here aren't shy. My Yo Hala was massive and is causing me to salivate simply at the memory of it. It was brilliantly concocted and will bring a grown man to tears! I also tasted a bit of a friend's Fried Chicken and Waffle, which comes highly recommended, and was nearly as good as my own choice. I've never been much of a chicken-for-breakfast kind of guy but I could change my tune for this stuff! Metro Diner is certainly one of the places that DDD got right! It's a must-visit for anyone who comes to the Jax area! read more

We went here specifically for the chicken and waffles per a recommendation of a friend! They were super good! Although the menu doesn't specify (I don't think) you can get a half portion. That was plenty for me! My boyfriend got the full and couldn't finish. Don't be afraid of the strawberry butter. It's different but when combining all the sweet and spicy flavors, it works! read more

Metro Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Usually there's a long wait for breakfast here. (Not really sure why, I don't think the food nor the service is that great.) Our friend used to eat breakfast here often so we came here quite a few times. They tend to burn the toast and everything is drenched in grease. It's way too pricey for the quality of the food. The coffee is alright, not as good as beach diner though. The only thing I'd say is good is the fried chicken and waffles (very unhealthy but the chicken is usually cooked so its very tender [if its not tender have them redo it cause it should be] and they can substitute the waffles for something else such as eggs or fruit) Hope this helps. read more

Had to make this stop on my tour of TRIPLE D restaurants and this one is a keeper for sure! First off the owners are Yinzer's and being a Pitfsburgh'er myself I had to make this place a priority and let me tell you they do not disappoint. It said get there early and we arrived at 6:15 and like a kid on Christmas Eve I could not wait to partake of the cuisine. We had breakfast starting with creme brûlée coffee followed by the Yo Hala French toast with a side of sausage links and an order of croissant French toast topped with fresh strawberries and 2 hard fried eggs. Let me tel you this wasn't breakfast, this was a foodgasm! The Yo Hala French toast is stuffed with bananas and creme cheese topped with a sauce of fresh blueberries and strawberries that is indescribable. The croissant French toast was so flaky with hints of cinnamon and crispy from grilling. Now although I only had breakfast if you are not from western Pennsylvania and have never had a steak salad then you have no idea what you are missing and this one looks to be one of the best ever. Listen if you are living in Jacksonville or just visiting this is a must visit. read more

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Its a long weekend and I'll drive one hour an a half for a great restaurant. I'm not going to reinvent the wheel, if you live within a two hour drive of this restaurant you must visit, period. Read all the reviews and trust its the truth, great food and service . done read more

We hit this spot based on the DDD visit and yelp reviews, it did not disappoint. The chicken and waffles was a amazing! Who would have thought to add hot sauce to syrup? The Yo Hala on the square was also very good, but be ready for a nap from the sugar coma. We visited on a Monday morning so no issues with lines. It is a small place so I am sure weekends can be crowded. read more

So, when I feel like stuffing my face with a hearty breakfast, Metro Diner is one of my go to spots, though I tend to avoid this place on the weekends because of how crowded it tends to get. I have always enjoyed my food here, and the service has been okay--at times it has been hard to track down my server to get my coffee topped off, but it's likely because of the fact that they're always busy. Prices are okay, some items seem a bit overpriced, but it's definitely not a basic diner in terms of menu options or portions. read more

I have to agree with Tara M. I am too pretty shocked that this place got some low reviews. My husband and I loved this place for the good food and the staff. We ate here on a Sunday and when we got there it was packed. We decided to eat outside cause 1. it was a lovely day and 2. there was no wait, its first come first serve. I am glad we ate outside cause my husband was telling me that the inside was pretty small. This place is only open from 7:00am(i believe) to 2:30pm serving both breakfast and lunch. They some signature dishes that I would like to come back to try. My husband and I decided to order the two specials they had going, one was the shrimp and grits and the other was a seafood Frittata. Both were absolutely delicious! The shrimp and grits were in a creamy bisque and the seafood Frittata came with some red peppers and some sort of creamy cheese. All in all we had a great experience and would love to come back! The place does have a parking lot but you can also park on the side streets with no problem =0) read more

My family raved about this location so I had to check it out. We opted to eat here on a weekday morning versus waiting for the weekend based on the wait times I read about. Glad we did because we were able to be seated immediately and the waitstaff was attentive. I order the Breakfast Pie with Bacon and was not disappointed. It is a lot of food..I would have been better off splitting the meal with others in my party. I'll consider doing that the next time I visit. There will be a next time! The establishment is small and cozy and I like the idea of cafe seating outside on a nice cool fall morning. Try it, you'll like it! read more

Metro diner is a very busy and very loud restaurant. The staff is attentive and accommodating. They have a lot of food food that I love and some that I was disappointed in. They have amazing shrimp and grits and their yo hola on the square are amazing. And they do a very good job on standard breakfast items. But this past time I went I decided to try their crab cake Benedict. The egg was poached nicely. However, the crab cake was soggy and tasted like it came out of a can, and was definitely not made fresh. I could not even eat the crab cake part, just the egg and the muffin. I was pretty disappointed, considering how much I enjoyed the other items on the menu that I had tried before. I will go back, but I won't order any thing with crab cakes. read more

Was surprisingly disappointed today. Decided to give this place a try after a couple of years. The server did her best. There was confusion on the line in the galley/kitchen. Could see my food sitting to be picked up while other servers hovered and talked over it. Problem was not all of my granddaughter's order was ready so it sat there. Food was cold once it hit the table and still not all of our order was there. Server offered to have order re-cooked, I accepted because we were waiting on other items. Well she bought back the same bacon re-cooked on the grill, oily, crispy and dark and also the same cheese grits that had been sitting. Grits were cold and cheese stiff. Don't think I'll visit again. I think the worst was watching one server in particular with a chronic cough, standing over and preparing to go orders. read more

Tried their Florentine Benedict and it was incredible! The spinach infused hollandaise was amazing. Highly recommend. Smaller place but nice to sit outside of you can find a seat. read more

This particular store is legendary and a classic. Great for a meal above the norm. They're chicken and waffles and blueberry/banana french toast are awesome! Specific ratings: The Service was 4-4.5 (very good wait staff but the wait is brutal at times), Facility 3 (eclectic and a bit cramped when crowded), Food 4.5-5 (Great on taste; portions are large; Has been featured on tv), Price/cost 3.5-4 (comparatively priced with competitors; a lil high overall). Summary: Definitely recommended. read more

Decent food. Skip the home fries, every time I've ordered them they come out soggy. Prices aren't bad. Service is very hit or miss. They have some great servers and a few that need to be replaced. Not a bad place for breakfast on a weekday. Don't even bother on a Saturday or Sunday, food is good but not worth an hour long wait for a table. read more

Really good food! Wanted brunch at 2 and was able to get eggs Benedict which was scrumptious! Place was charming, bustling, great service, got our meal quickly. Definitely on my go to list when visiting Jacksonville. read more

Omg this place is absolutely amazing! Great staff and friendly environment. Absolutely would go back!

Chicken pot pie to die for! Chicken plate equally delicious! Tried "cheerwine" for the first time, which tastes like Red Cream Soda. If I ever come back to Jacksonville I will definitely come back! read more

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The food was awesome! I had Brooklynn's Greek salad. The staff was amazing and really attentive. Highly recommend!

This diner had a nice neighborhood feel with friendly service. The food was pretty good, and served quickly. But most enjoyable we're all the people who were there and it's quaint ambience. read more

This place never disappoints from steak and eggs to fried chicken with waffles it is gas five stars. Take your date or your mom both will be happy and get Chocolate milk you won't be disappointed. read more

Thanks again Yelp! I was in Jacksonville for 12 hours on business, searched breakfast on Yelp.com near my hotel and BAM! Metro Diner looked like the place for me. It was a Saturday morning so the place was slammed, luckily I was by myself so I was sitting at the counter within 10 minutes of arrival. Bit of a tight squeeze, if you're grossly obese you may want to get food to go. Everything on the menu looked great, I was about to order and then I saw the specials menu. There it was , Waffles, fried chicken, poached egged, hollandaise and hash browns on the chalkboard. Now, the place is busy, the waitress isn't going to be schmooze you. She wants to take your order fast and get to the next table. About 20 minutes after ordering I was dining on the best breakfast I've had in months. It was just too good to try to describe. Breakfast was amazing, coffee was always full, got in and out in a reasonable amount of time and the price was fair (not cheap, this ain't Waffle House). If I find myself in Jacksonville I will definitely be returning. My only concern? I saw them making hollandaise with instant canned mix. I know it's a busy place, I was just a little disappointed. read more

Metro Diner - Fried chicken benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

This is a must visit establishment in Jacksonville. Featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, this place really exemplifies the diner vibe. I got the lox and salmon bagel, which was as it should taste. My brother in law got a breakfast pie that looked absolutely sinful. Biggest tip: Come early. We got here around 8:30 with no wait. By 9:15, there was a huge line out the door! This place is POPULAR, so if you don't wanna wait.. get there in the early hours! read more

I can see why Metro Diner is such a hit. They have a fun menu and friendly servers. And the portions are HUGE! There is no forgetting you are in America when you get a giant plate of fried, unhealthy deliciousness plunked in front of you. We tried the meatloaf, fish and chips, and chicken and waffles at our table. The general consensus was that the emphasis was on quantity as opposed to quality. I think I would come back to try the breakfast menu - it looked like good "just came from church and still feeling hungover" food. You're not going to have an amazing culinary experience at Metro Diner, but you're not going to have a bad time. If you're a Jax resident and you haven't been at least once, it's probably worth a try. read more

Let me start by saying this is my new favorite place to eat. Not only great for breakfast/brunch but also dinner We came around breakfast rush so there was gonna be a 10 minute wait- not bad considering it was PACKED. We opted to sit outside at a table under a tree, which was refreshing. Our waitress name was Whitney, super friendly, bubbly and extremely helpful. She made us feel welcome before we even made it inside to put our names on the wait list. We ordered the breakfast pie, a mixture of eggs, onions, meat, peppers and cheese I believe- it clearly wasn't mine. It came with a side of hash browns which were cooked perfectly! Paige couldn't even finish her meal. I got the two eggs breakfast. It came with 2 eggs- your way , toast and your choice of meat- I can't remember if it comes w hash browns but I substituted for grits. I was surprised at how fast it actually came out, especially since it was a full house! It was all very delicious and filling, so happy we picked this place this morning. I've seen people rave about it since I moved down here last October, I can't believe it took this long to finally come. We will be back! Highly recommend!!!!! read more

Metro Diner - Breakfast pie w hash browns- super yummy and filling - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Better than average. They do have specials. Would definitely go back. I know there are a chain but so far haven't had a bad meal, breakfast or lunch. read more

I found the Metro Diner by searching on the internet for best breakfast places in Jacksonville. The crowd of people when I arrived seemed to support the internet! Saturday morning I went here with a co-worker before flying back out to New York. The inside was packed but we were able to get a seat outside, perhaps because it was hot. They had a great selection of breakfast / brunch food on the menu. Between the two of us we got some fancy grits with shrimp and some other seasoning and some stuffed french toast with a lot of toppings. I forget the name of each of the items unfortunately. I know at least one of them was recommended by the waitress. It was one of those I'm thinking of x or y, which do you recommend? The portions were definitely a good size and both tasted great! It was a good thing we had one more savory item and one sweet one because the stuffed french toast was very sweet. Out waitress came by just the right amount to see what we needed. She was also very friendly and was willing to chat the little bit she had time for. The Metro is worth coming back to. read more

After a night in Jacksonville of hard drinking, we just Yelped for some breakfast. I was initially drawn to the photos of the food and didn't know what to expect. Location: There is a small parking lot next to it and available street parking. Would advise to not park across the street because its a 4 lane road. Interior: Once we got into the diner, it was a bustling array of people, chattering and busy work in the cooking line. We lucked out and was able to snag the best seats in the house, in my opinion, which was the diner bar. The interior was well designed and have kept the traditional style of a diner, not too fancy or hipsterish but just the right way. You can watch the line cooks scurrying around while you wait for your food. Food: amazing breakfast. They perfectly poached my eggs and the hash browns with everything in it was a first. Unique and delicious. Orange juice had a nice touch and was freshly squeezed. Service: the waitress was cordial and often checked on us to see if everything was to our satisfaction. Very nice. Overall, would definitely recommend this spot for breakfast! read more

After reading the reviews I found that mention of the Charleston Shrimp and Grits was nearly nonexistent, and so I write... I saw them on the blackboard on my first visit and had to try them even though it was breakfast time. I haven't been able to bring myself to order anything else since because they are absolutely excellent! Having said that, I have tasted other dishes that my family has ordered and found the meatloaf to be outstanding, which is served with mashed spuds and gravy which vies to be the best part of the meal. After reading the reviews of the Chicken and waffles I will need to try that on our next pass through JAX. I have to mention that on one visit we had our dog with us and they graciously accommodated him and us at one of the outdoor tables, complete with a bowl of water. read more

I like breakfast. A lot. Casual diner where locals eat? I'm a local, so I must eat there! This is an example of how great Yelp is--I can find places like this as a recent arrival and then figure out what to order with minimal risk or having to rely on potentially biased opinion of the staff. If it matters to you, this place also has Guy Fieri's stamp of approval. The menu items referenced in the previous reviews are all excellent so I won't waste your reading with those. I will say I wish I had looked up at the specials board to see what limited time options they were offering. Next time, that is IF I don't sample from the Eggs Benedict section. OH, I will order whatever Eggs Benedict special they have--problem solved! Be prepared to wait during peak breakfast/brunch hours on the weekend, but they do offer free coffee if you are waiting outside. read more

Ok, first off, the only Metro Diner worth visiting is the original location off Hendricks Ave. Whatever magic this location has, it did not transfer to their other locations for me. That's not to say the other locations are bad, but there's something about the original that rings true to me. Metro Diner is another place that people around Jax have grown up around. A quick drive by their location pretty much any morning and you'll see a line out the door. It's pretty cramped in there. And it's pretty good food with a smile from the wait staff. Decor is pretty much what you'd expect from a diner. Nothing too far out there, but clean and presentable. I've eaten my way through their menu over the years and have not found anything there that I dislike. Likewise, I've never had anything that I just could not put down. It's good. And that's what you want from a diner. Good food. You'll be disappointed if you expect to be transported to a magical tasteland where your mouth explodes with mountains of flavor and you end the experience in a nirvana of food love. That's what Diners Drive-ins and Dives want you think it is. It's just good food. But if you like good food with friends and family, check it out. It's worth it. The wait time, now that's a different story. read more

So glad I had the opportunity to visit on a weekday! The service was great, young, and knowledgeable. I can imagine that a slack-ass server doesn't last long here at all. They move lightning fast as a weekend habit. There's no way Triple D could have covered such a diversified menu in just one visit, and neither could I. I'd also never have the patience to make an entire weekend out of waiting in line for breakfast, so the man was right..weekdays are the only way to go! read more

Metro Diner - The world famous Metro Diner. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Good as always. I came with a group of about 10 ladies for brunch. We had to wait about 30mins which was to be expected for a group this size (we had a group of tables pushed together in the back room). I was really hungry and had decided that I was NOT eating lite! I told my waitress before she started writing my order that I would need a togo box up front. I ordered one of the specials, the 'red, white & blue' Yo Halla AND the breakfast pie. Besides the food, one thing I always appreciate about Metro is the service. Everyone is always friendly and seem pretty happy doing their job - it's nice. Now my food: the breakfast pie looked good and the overall taste was good. It was a little more eggs than potatoes, but it had just the right amount of cheese and mushrooms, peppers and stuff. The Yo Halla was basically a stuffed French toast type, smothered with fresh strawberries and a blueberry compote. It had a little too much cream cheese for my taste, but I just scraped some out and it was all good. Surprisingly, it wasn't too sweet! I was kinda nervous when I saw how much blueberry was on top, but I like that it wasn't an overload of sweetness. It was just right. A good casual place to get a belly full of food. Lighter options are available if you want them, but when I go, I think of getting stuffed and wanting a nap afterwards. read more

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Best breakfast in town. Been there 3 times with 3 different entries and hit it out of the park all 3 times, never a disappointment. Had the biscuits and gravy with sausage patties today with coffee, best I have ever had! Last time was Belgium waffles, they came HOT, and they where tender not chewy and held their heat. Also had their southwest omelet, loaded with meat, cheese and peppers and onion, perfect balance and flavor. Get there early, starts filling up at 8. Service is top notch too. Management and staff really care! read more

I'm a sucker for diner food, who isn't? If you also love potatoes, eggs, grease, and scalding hot coffee (like myself) then this is the place for you! Metro diner satisfies any diner cravings you may have in your entire life. The menu is endless! And they also have a blackboard that features new daily specials, basically what the cooks feels like sprucing up for that morning. I took the dive, and ordered the "low country Benedict" that was off the special board. So happy with my choice! It was eggs Benedict with English muffins, sliced red potato, crab cakes, and seafood hollandaise! 5 stars for NOMMY and great service!! read more

Metro Diner - Low Country Benedict, with English muffins, sliced red potatoes, crab cakes, and seafood hollandaise, with hash browns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Huevos Rancheros- eggs tasted like egg substitute and were not cooked properly, salsa had to be pace picante sauce, jalapenos and black beans were obviously from a can. If the eggs had been better quality and cooked properly and the salsa didn't taste like flavored ketchup it would have much better. The belgian waffle was decent. Coffee was good. Portions were huge. Overall, we weren't impressed, maybe we ordered the wrong things. read more

So, I'm only in Jacksonville for a few days and decided to try out this place for breakfast/ brunch. It's a small place, but the customer service is great. Walked in and sat at the counter, and with in 5 minutes I had my coffee and food. I ordered the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. Let me tell you it was delicious! The hash browns were just right and the salmon flavor didn't over power any of the other ingredients. I will definitely come back. read more

Metro Diner - Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

this is my go to for breakfast. cheap and always great. mimosas are awesome and they have different specials all the time