Always delicious. Stop here whenever I am in TriBeCa. Try the American Melt. Yum. The service is fast and friendly. Environment is cozy. Been around for over 100 years. read more

The best part about this place is the service; they are really nice and pretty quick. There's also some nice outdoor seating in the Summer. The fact that they are the only real diner in the area makes them indispensable. That having been said, the Square Diner's food is only pretty good. I like the American Melt and their soups the best, and I have been for lunch many times, but not for breakfast. There are quite a few diners with better food out there, so I would say that if you're a local and want diner food go for it. If you're a visitor to town and want a "diner experience", however, I think there are some better options out there for you. 3.5 stars. read more

Okay, first of all - LOOK AT THE PLACE! It's a hole in the wall crappy diner - and you go in there expecting fresh calimari? avocado wraps? c'mon people. On my way back to the office today, I stopped in for a tuna fish and lettuce on rye and a diet coke. THIS is what this place does well. you know, diner food. sandwiches and sodas. I'm pretty certain their fries are good too as I witnessed some being passed around. The guy at the counter next to me was eating a gyro that looked pretty good as well. The tuna fish sandwich was heavenly and exactly what I wanted - heavy on the mayo and celery. The service was speedy and friendly enough - I mean I wasn't expecting a massage while I waited or anything - I just sat at the counter and read a paper while waiting for my sandwich. I did notice the waitstaff yelling across the room to a customer that they were out of string beans - that struck me as a little odd - the entire place is 30 feet long, you couldn't walk over there? Regardless, I got what I wanted and I was very happy with their fountain diet coke instead of them just throwing me a can. Fountain sodas always taste better so I appreciated that the lady gave me a choice. She also included some cole slaw and a pickle with my sandwich - nice surprise, though the cole slaw is a little too sweet for my tastes. My only real complaint is that a tuna fish sandwich with lettuce on rye and a fountain diet coke cost $9.70 total. That seems pretty high to me, but I blame the real estate - it is Tribeca, after all, and I'm sure this diner has been around long before it became the trendy neighborhood it currently is. I will definitely be back for a nostalgic lunch at some point though. :) read more

You know..... this place as been around for a looooooooooooooog time; but it is time for the palate to go elsewhere, unless you are short of time and have a few bucks to spend above and beyond the "market price" for "ok" food. STAY AWAY FROM take-out at the counter, A SIMPLE HAM AND CHEESE ON WHITE BREAD WITH MAYO AND A WATERY PICKLE, IS $9.00 DOLLARS...................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have to be pretty stupid or drunk to pay $9.00 bucks for a plain sandwich; especially when the Korean grocer a block away on Hudson sells a Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better sandwich for $6.95. But, if you don' t have time and just want a "can't go wrong on hamburger and fries" then this place will do................ for that desperate moment. read more

This was one of the most horrific diner experiences I have had - I have been going here for 13 years, with decent service and food. Typical diner fare but today, it was over an hour wait for our food, my scrambled eggs were cold and probably only an egg and half - no way were there any more than that - service was nonexistent. After 13 years, I will be finding a new neighborhood diner since my experience was that bad - and that is saying a lot from someone who is very patient. read more

Hopefully the building boom in West Tribeca, where the Square Diner is located, won't price this old-school diner out of existence. That said, about 65% of the clientele were construction workers from the various jobs located near the diner, and the guy running the counter referred to the orders as such: "oh yah, the Law School job..." "this box goes to the job on Lispenard..." The interior of the Square Diner looks like the inside of a yatch: dark wood paneling, funky old scones, and a strange shape with narrow points and odd angles. The food is delish, some of the best diner fare I've had in NYC, and I've been to MANY diners. The potatoes (hash browns) are dry with a bit of crisp on the edges; the omelette cooked to perfection, with the filler (I had the "homestyle" with feta, tomato, pepper, onion, and mushroom) diced to the perfect size to maximize flavor. The ingredients were fresh, and the wheat toast actually had some tooth to it, not just white bread with wheat "color" added to it. The waitstaff is top notch: quick and courteous when you need them, invisible when you don't. Hang out here long enough and I bet you could land a job in the Tribeca real estate boomlet, and if you want to pick up a construction worker, this is definitely the place. read more

On way to work. Hungry. Corporate Starbucks or seemingly authentic NY diner next door. Chose the Square Diner. Big mistake. A case study explaining the reassuring uniformity of chains: 1: sat down outside. Waitress took my order ok. 2: Coffee poured all over saucer, her hands, everywhere. She just walked off. 3: seeemingly tasty looking lemon meringue pie arrived covered in synthetic cream and syrup. Plate looked like it had been recovered from a dumpster. 4. Second cup of coffee in saucer. Is this a NY custom? 5. Cash only with no prior warning, requiring two block search for atm and the inevitable 3 dollar charge. 6. Complaint met with "I only work here" mentality. Manager absent. Really disappointed. The empty seats should have warned me. The whole experience felt sad and depressed. Dont visit. read more

I've been looking for a place like this for a long time. Sure, you can find some in Jersey and some on Long Island and Upstate. But, never before on Manhattan have I gotten exactly what I wanted from a diner. I wish it weren't so far downtown. While on Jury Duty, I needed a lunch that went beyond the sandwich and salad places. I found this place and was thrilled. For my first and only visit, I had a lunch of the grilled chicken with pesto. They substituted whole wheat bread for a bun. First good sign: special orders do not upset them. And then they brought me a heaping plate of steamed broccoli. Second good sign: they are generous/healthy with portions! Servers were fast and friendly. Prices were very reasonable. There was one screw up. They forgot the mozzarella I asked for. But, I was not charged for it. Looking at the menu, I noticed they offered sweet potato fries, healthy sides like spinach, turkey bacon etc. Its always nice to see that when you're looking for healthier options. I will be returning, preferably for breakfast. read more

Absolutely loved this place, the food was great, the prices were awesome and the staff was fantastic. Our family had a nice summer vacation in NYC and we stumbled on this gem trying to find the fire station from "Ghostbusters". It was the perfect stop for lunch. read more

Square Diner - Fantastic place to eat. - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

I yelped this place on my cell because I wanted diner food near my dentist and voila....thanks yelp! Its not exceptional in anyway but I also don't have any complaints except that its slightly overpriced ($7.50 for 2 slices of french toast, 4 pieces bacon, and one egg....extra $1 if you want "real" maple syrup, lame). read more

Who knows how this place has survived as almost all the other diners in Manhattan have shuttered. This is a find in Tribeca, and restores some of my faith in humanity. Blissfully absent are suits, Tribeca moms, and any sense of pretension. The food is decent enough - it's a 50s diner, and you'll get what you expect. I had a veggie omelette with added cheese and cup of coffee. It was exactly the hangover cure I needed. You pay a little more than you might expect here, the Tribeca surcharge, but still remarkably cheap for its location. Another reviewer compared this to Bubby's - I think that is a difficult comparison, since Bubby's is easily three times the price of Square Diner. While I love locally sourced and organic ingredients (almost certainly absent from Square Diner's inventory), sometimes I just want a cheap diner full of friendly faces and filling, but not too greasy, food. I hope Square sticks around for a long time yet. I believe they have outdoor seating in the summer too! read more

Bad service bad food and super expensive and cash only! Never again! Potatoes are dry eggs and burnt hash.

1940's decore, 1940's prices. I'll take both. Surprisingly their veggie burger is delicious. It's huge, way bigger than the bun, and very green with peas, corn in it. Very, very, very inexpensive food here. Their fries and regular burgers are also amazing. The waitresses seem Eastern European, and if not in ethnicity then in efficiency. Very direct, matter-of-fact and no-nonsense. If you sit outside in the summer, you might want to get a wet rag to wipe off your chair or you'll have black dust on your white Levi's jeans. There is also a ton of noise out there in the summer. read more

Look, it's a diner. But it's a damn fine one. Complaining about dirty bathrooms and smelly waiters, are you kidding me? How long have you people lived in NYC? Square Diner has been around and it shows and so what? It's been here for a few decades, it ain't going anywhere (egads I hope not) There's nothing pretentious here and won't ever be either. You'll get good diner food though. I wouldn't want it any other way. read more

Inherent humor for the win: The building is a triangle! It's a straightforward diner, with good food and fine service. It won't blow your mind, and is a small place, but just right for a super breakfast. No complaints, no raves. Would definitely visit again if I'm in the area. read more

The best diner in NY. Old fashioned cheesbergres Very polite people . This place is a landmark!!!! read more

Great next day hangover cure, the bathroom in this tiny diner is insanely small. Which makes for hilarity when taller and wider friends try to fit. Homey staff, small tables, and terrific breakfast food gave me good times with good friends. read more

Breakfast. Straight breakfast. Just like from your hometown diner. Is everything you need and want. Very friendly staff.

Nice staff, really quick service, and good enough food. I had portobello quesadillas and, although mushrooms tasted as vinegar, I should say I had much worst quesadillas in more expensive places. And they're quick. The place's deco is as much as a diner as you can have being in NY, so as a diner experience it's a good choice. read more

The portion sizes & food are reasonable. Staff: HORRIBLE! unfriendly...unattentive & just bad service. we were overcharged & the server said it was my fault for how I ordered?? read more

I love the Square! First off, they're exactly what you think of when you think of a NY diner--cheap, good food in plentiful amounts. The decor is so old school--wood paneling, wide side-car style, open kitchen, and the tiniest bathroom ever. There isn't lots of space in the Square, but what do you expect? The service and kitchen are super fast, as is delivery. The fries here are so good, I can't stop eating them. The breakfast is solid (I've had everything from the omlettes to the pancakes). Their lunch is pretty good, though I have had a questionable lamb special there once. I pretty much stick to the sandwiches (good-sized with tons of delicious fries) and the breakfast. The pancakes are HUGE and you get three of them--keep that in mind when you're thinking of adding them to a breakfast (a mistake I just keep making!). Bonus--since Law & Order films down in Tribeca all the time, they're often stopping by the Square. Check out the signed photos lining the wall (including Jerry Orbach--we miss you, Lenny!) read more

Their wraps are good. I especially like to customize my own, usually with grilled chicken, avocado, mushrooms and onions. The chicken is always nicely cooked, juicy and tender. Their cole slaw is also pretty good (add pepper though). Onion rings are solid. Chicken salad is light on mayo which is nice, you can really taste the chicken. Their Greek salad is massive. Great omelets! I know I've said it about other places in the area, but this little greasy spoon does a better omelet than Walkers- trufax. Chicken soup is also good. As long as you don't get too adventurous and stick to diner staples, you'll be happy. The service is also nice too. read more

It was a snowy snowy day. Very windy, and cold. No matter where you are, this isn't enjoyable. However, it is that much worse in NYC. However, it is close to Tswift's apartment, so any excuse to go to this area of town I can't pass up. I went to meet up with Gster's best friends fiance. She told me that it was like "Bob's", which is the hole in the wall, horrible, diner in Gster's home town. However, it kind of fit the mood for a snowy day. Walking in, I would agree it is a hole in the wall diner. There is very limited seating, its basically a trailor, and its very small and cramped. Half the people looked like they parked themselves here in 1965 and never got up. However, given this is NYC, this type of setting is rare. The decor is unique, with crazy old fashioned wood paneling.. .everywhere, and old memorabilia/ signs. The food was OK. It wasn't the best, it wasn't any better than IHOP, but it didn't taste gross. The price was right, however, mental note that it is cash only. i wouldn't go out of my way to go here, i wouldn't trek across town mid snowstorm for this.. but for something fast and cheap, it serves its purpose. It also transcends you out of NYC and into the 60's. read more

Hal Hartley fans will recognize the exterior of the Square Diner from his film, "Amateur". Inside what you'll find is authentic diner-style food: sandwiches, pie, burgers, pancakes etc. The food is fresh and of a fair quality....given that you're at a diner and not Nobu. It's pretty easy to get out of there having spent only $10 which makes it a popular destination for locals and fans of the less glamorous end of the TriBeCa eating spectrum. The Square Diner has been open since the 1970's but when TriBeCa became a landmark district the Square became a victim of this blanket listing. In some respects this has kept the building preserved in its classic 70's style but hindered it in other respects. Though able to provide outdoor seating in the summer months, the restaurant is unable to provide weather-protected seating in winter due to the Landmark restrictions. For some inexplicable reason the Square doesn't operate around-the-clock as some of the other classic diners around town like Empire and Moondance, managing to stop serving at a paltry 4pm on Saturdays. A shame for those who are out and about in lower Manhattan and looking to satisfy that 2am burger urge. I suppose the most baffling thing might be that the Square Diner is also shaped like a triangle...erm... A highly recommend eating destination, the Square often provides for some interesting overheard conversations of both die-hard locals and visitors. Eat quietly and you're sure to catch some great chat! read more

I fully agree....my girlfriends and I love to go to this place to chill out for an easy lunch and when the weather's nice, there are adorable tables and chairs on the outdoor patio. Don't be in too much of a hurry (as there is usually only one or two waiters in the joint), take cash because they don't accept credit or debit, and try any of the paninis because they're delicious! read more

I'm definitely not a fan of this place. It is way too cramped in there, the servers are obtuse and the eggs I had there for breakfast were okay at best. The only reason why I am giving this place two stars instead of one is that the food is cheaply priced. For either TriBeCa residents or people visiting the neighborhood, I definitely recommend going to Gee Whiz Diner instead. It is also reasonably priced plus more spacious and the breakfast food tastes much better. read more

Stumbled upon this place while looking for a new place to eat with my girls friend. She wanted happy hour and I wanted dinner and this was a happy medium for us - a win win. They not only served diner food but the place also happened to have a full bar. I enjoyed by Salmon Benedict for dinner and my friend enjoyed her Pasta with a glass of wine. The sever was great. read more

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Just walking around and looking for a place to grab a little bite. Most of the spots in the TriBeCa area seemed a little too nice for just a brunch/lunch type bite so this place was a welcome oasis. It's amazing the size of menu they can pack in a little diner and they also have an outdoor seating area out front that has good shade. It's your typical local old time diner fare, but it's just something nice in that neighborhood where most places seem overly trendy. It's nice to find a neighborhood diner (looks like it's been there for awhile) that looks out of place, but it juuuuuust right. Bon appetit! read more

Went here the morning after we half-marathoned Netflix's Daredevil series. (it was in a scene and we yelled at recognition). Food was good... but TBH for a diner, pricey. but TBH, Tribeca. OH, the drip was surprisingly REALLY good. read more

This Diner is really old skool no debit or credit cards, cash only so be prepared!!! Which is why this is my second time returning because I only had cards on me. Since Yelp was able to help my order my food (Bison Burger, cheddar cheese, sautéed mushrooms with sweet potato fries) were the bomb. Burger was made to order medium well which came out perfect and the order came with a side of cole slaw which surprised me. My only complaint was I didn't get enough sweet potato fries to match this awesome burger, but in all this was amaze-balls. read more

Square Diner - Bison Burger w/Chedder, sautéed mushrooms and Sweet Potato fries. - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Typical diner experience, but even worse food and higher prices. Service was subpar and the chicken and waffles were HORRIBLE. Seriously, don't get them. The crispy chicken salad was delicious. read more

Great breakfast spot if you live close by. Friendly and fast service. Classic breakfast menu at a great price. Bottomless coffee! read more

Square Diner - Veggie omlette with strips of bacon & buckwheat pancakes with blueberries-very good! - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Diner is nice and cozy. Staff is super friendly and accommodating though it is cash only. Food came fast - I ordered the special chicken salad sandwich to go with a side of fries. Fries were thicker and very good. The helping was substantial. Chicken salad was okay. Bread was oily from grill and cheese wasn't really melted. I'd come back and try something else since it's one of the better diners in the area as one of the cheaper options. read more

I flew in from Texas to visit my brother in the area and was exploring around Tribeca with my wife and daughter and we stumbled across this Diner. It didn't disappoint. It brought back fond memories I had for diners as a child. I had a burger and fries while my wife and daughter enjoyed breakfast. All the the food was excellent. The prices are average for the area but an important thing to known they don't take credit cards, cash only. read more

I was studying with a friend at NY Law school all weekend. We were stressed, hungry, and sick of hitting the books, so we took a lunch break to get take-out across the street. I got a GYnormous GYRO, which came with a Greek salad...for like 9 bucks total. The diner itself is hectic -- the waitstaff all seem to be related; not because they look alike, but because of the way they yell at each other. They're probably at least all close friends. It's an awesome, greasy, crazy, slightly dirty, diner where you get your money's worth. read more

Excellent diner with a smokey-tasting breakfast steak. Let those over-easy eggs shower your steak and enjoy a warm-up of a New York drip in best Tribeca fashion. read more

I grew up eating here and it is a great spot. If you do come I highly recommend their vanilla milkshake, so good! I totally recommend the square diner plus it is so cute and in a great location. read more

The food is what you'd expect from a small hole in the wall diner in Manhattan, but the staff was very hospitable and welcoming on a cold day! We were seated right away and they waitstaff was fairly attentive. Their chicken soup was delicious and comforting on a windy afternoon. read more

Neat little diner from the outside and great service. Unfortunately the breakfast I had was pretty terrible. Started with coffee that was not fresh. You know when you add milk to coffee and it does n't lighten/tastes bitter? Granted I ate around 11:30 a.m. but the place serves breakfast all day. Make a fresh pot of coffee for God's sake. I ordered eggs over easy, bacon, toast and hash browns. The eggs were almost there but a little under done. Not a big deal. The hash browns were passable, the toast was on the burnt side. The big disappoinment was the bacon. Like I said, I had breakfast late but the bacon was hard and cold. The kind that has obviously sat around for hours on a tepid griddle or kept in a pan. The kind you would never serve to a guest. My point is that for a $18 breakfast, you would expect to be served hot, fresh, well cooked food. read more

Our food came out so fast, and we were seated right away. I love the old school diner feel and the decor inside. The food is not fancy but it was delicious. I would recommend to anyone looking for good pancakes or French toast. read more

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