Wonderful spot straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting that's been around for decades. On Induction Weekend Friday AM, it was packed with dads and kids, families galore. Our wait was only a minute or two as we assented to sitting at the counter. Breakfast is simple, hot, and fast. I got some hash and couldn't be happier. Cup of joe as well. Really, I don't know what could have possibly made this experience any better. Maybe if Derek Jeter sat next to me and asked to borrow some milk. read more

Dunno why all the raving for Cooperstown Diner. It's a diner. It serves diner food. Nothing more, nothing less. Maybe people are giving a lot more stars for the service, which is admittedly pretty great. read more

The Cooperstown Diner - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

Awesome place and great service and a great place to visit!!! Everyone is absolutely as nice and very accommodating!! Beautiful community!

This is one of the diners of my childhood, as we frequently stopped in many years ago (when it was owned by a family connection) while stopping in town to visit relatives. I am rather charmed that the basic restaurant is largely unchanged - still four tables and eight counter seats, and I swear it's the exact same beat up formica counter top from forty years ago. The smallness of the place, its intimacy, was always a wonder to me as a kid and it's still charming to me in middle age. Some things have changed, of course: the prices have gone up to tourist-town-norms, and the menu has expanded considerably (wraps?), although it's nice to see the hamburger special is still the centerpiece. So you'd think sentiment would impel me to rate the Coop higher, but there's a good and a bad to the place -- and I'm talking about a winter's day visit which was very low traffic compared to the summer high. The food, when it came out, was fine - hot, well done, tasty enough if not spectacular. I enjoyed my nostalgic romp through the cheesburger platter (which comes with only one side and no longer seems to have the house-special free cole slaw as a standard part of the plate), and other members of the party enjoyed corned beef hash and eggs (yum), the hot dog (nicely toasted bun) and pancakes and bacon (the former huge and decent, although the maple syrup is fake, the latter a bit discouragingly shriveled and fatty). Fries were overcooked all around. That said, the down: both the service and the kitchen were incredibly slow. In a small place you can watch the entire restaurant "turn over" as is the parlance, and it took an hour and fifteen minutes to do this. I didn't have my (small) coffee mug refilled except once when I waved frantically for a number of minutes, and we weren't updated once by the server on when our food would be up. And we could see the cook in the kitchen plod about his business. It struck me that both chef and server were simply underexperienced, or perhaps they were so used to having a full house that a sense of urgency has been lost on them. If the owners read this, my message to you is that most especially in a smaller place, table turnover is the key to your margins, and that means peppy service from the servers, frequent checkins, and being able to get short orders for a party of four up in less than 45 minutes. All in all I wouldn't recommend it unless you're patient enough for a long wait or just want to chill out. The diners that day all seemed to be out of towners, so I suspect its days as a locals joint are long gone; that said I could see a common thread of other diners enjoying themselves and chatting until the wait for the food passed that magic threshold moment where annoyance and hunger pangs took over. read more

There are only 26 seats available: 4 -5 tables of 4 (you cannot put them together) and bar stools for the remaining seats. Great food at great prices. Daily specials for all three meals of the day. HINT: Go to the bathroom before you come...I am not sure if there is a bathroom available? (Doesn't hurt to ask, but I know this topic could be important to some readers). Seat yourself. Expect to wait for a table/chair. Wear warm clothes in the winter and cool in the summer because you can't wait inside - there is physically no room available for you to stand unless you want to sit on the lap of a local foodie. I hear the burgers and milkshakes are really good here, but I have not had a chance to try one myself. I will definitely eat here again on my travels back to Cooperstown, and I think you will you too. Enjoy! read more

The Cooperstown Diner - Bacon and cheese omelette with homefries and grilled corn muffin. - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

Small, but don't be intimated by the small size. hang around for a table because the food comes quick and the food is good that it is easily inhaled. The bathroom can be found through the provincial kitchen. My friend loved her biscuits and sausage gravy. It's a must! I enjoyed my mushroom & cheddar omelet that was made fresh with real eggs! Efficient and good service. A good spot to grab simple but good food before heading to the museum. read more

Today i visited the Cooperstown diner for breakfast.. Initially i was surprised how small the diner actually is.. and being a very large man i was hesitant about its size.. But as i walked in ,as busy as it was i was greeted with a warm welcome.. and took a seat at the counter with my companion. I was promptly served coffee immediately, and given a menu. Inside the menu i learned about the very beginings of the building (100 years old) and its history of days gone by., restaurant, bootlegging , and the struggles of both prohibition & The Depression., anyways after reading i met the owner Caspar. what a gracious man, besides being busy with the full house, he found time to make sure every customer was pleased, and if there was anything we needed. also the young server Austin was terrific keeping up getting the orders out, refills served, besides cashing , and greeting new guests. Lastly the good was very good, the bill very reasonable, and i will definitely be back again. for the complainers, if you want a modern eating establishment,, go to a cookie cutter like Dennys .. where the food bland , unoriginal, and the service is lacking in personality.. read more

Went here on HOF weekend 7/2013. I was told that this was probably the best breakfast downtown. All 3 of us had order the homemade corned beef hash, it's fantastic! so much so that 2 of order it before we even finished our breakfast. To top it off I order 1 pancake cooked to perfection with Vermont Maple syrup. The diner is small so the earlier you get there, the better chance you have at finding seats. Is it worth the wait outside ...Yeah.... depending on your schedule and the weather outside . OVERALL GREAT QUALITY read more

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A tiny place with an abundance of excellent, flavorful foods and service. Unlimited coffee, large portions, excellent prices. There's a good chance you have to wait a bit for a table, but trust me, it will be worth the wait. I ordered the sausage gravy biscuits along with two eggs and home fries. The biscuits were warm and soft, it melted in my mouth YUMMMM! I would order it again tomorrow if I could. I would definitely come back to Cooperstown, not for the baseball hall of fame, nor for their breweries or shops, but for this diner right here! Please check it out when you're in town! It's a must! read more

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This place was fabulous. We had lunch one day and breakfast the next. Food and service was outstanding. Would go back to Cooperstown and the diner in a heartbeat. read more

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It is worth trying to get into this place. Yes, it is tiny as other reviewers have mentioned. You may have to wait or eat early or later in the day, but you shouldn't miss their super large/cheesy burger. We were able to get a seat at the counter fairly quickly. The breakfast menu looked tempting, and I think they offered breakfast all day, along with a couple daily specials. This is a place I could see coming to several times if I were in town a few more days. The burgers are huge as you can see from the pictures. I wimped out and went for the junior burger which is still quite hefty and tasty, but my Dad had the full sized monster burger. They are basically the same thing, but half as thick. They have a choice of curly fries or regular, and I enjoyed the curly as a treat since I rarely have fries, and they were quite good. read more

The Cooperstown Diner - "junior" burger is still big and tasty - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

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Let me get the obvious out of the way ...this place is small but they do make the most of the space. Service was friendly but with only one person serving she was busier than a one legged woman in a butt kicking contest. The food was outstanding . Several of us got breakfast and it was tasty ....onto the star of our meal , the burger ! Thick is an understatement, lots of cheese and a nice bun. The burger was juicy too it honestly brought me back to my youth when my grandmother would steam a burger ...clearly the burger is not seasoned but that was ok , just added salt and pepper . Steak fries were cooked perfectly. Cool place and you get your money's worth. The only reason it is not getting 5 stars is because it is so tiny you will have a long wait. read more

Cute small town diner. This place definitely didn't disappoint. I had the Locals Morning Favorite and it was delicious. The potatoes were nice and crispy and portion was generous. Coffee comes with the breakfast meal and it was serve in a cute mug. We came on thanksgiving weekend and sat at the table by the door. It was a bit drafty but, we were ok with our jackets on. Our server was friendly and attentive. Definitely will be coming back when I'm in town. read more

The Cooperstown Diner - Local Morning Favorite! - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

I really hate to post this because there were so many people who insisted we go here and we understand it's a beloved location. The service and staff were amazing and it's a very quaint little place. That being said, the food is sub-par. Again, I really hate posting poor reviews because I want every place to be great but the food experience this time wasn't good. Next time we are back we will absolutely give it another go and hope for the experience everyone else had before we went. read more

Really not sure why this place was 4 stars. Honestly, the food wasn't bad... wasn't great either.. just typical diner food. The service was horrible. There were a bunch of flies buzzing around us the entire time. Really could've done without this experience. read more

This place offers typical bar/diner food. Their forte seems to be burgers or fried foods. The shrimp & scallops were fried well. We were pleasantly surprised by the pulled pork sandwich. Generally a good meal, service was good, considering that it is still COVID season. read more

Fast, friendly excellent food! I had the Biscuits and Gravy with two eggs- it was delicious. The coffee is really good as well. The busboy is very diligent in service and keeps everything clean. Thank you for a wonderful breakfast. read more

Tiny diner with 5 tables and a counter. The ambiance is authentic and the proprietor is very welcoming. Food is good standard diner fare. If you are really hungry opt for the huge hamburger. Otherwise, the menu includes all breakfast items as well as a large variety of lunch fare. We were there for lunch and would certainly recommend it. read more

Lovely place. But the map on yelp took me to the totally wrong direction, thanks to two local residents and google map, I finally arrived here read more

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The food was absolutely delicious, freshly made with love! I ordered the two egg breakfast with sausage and an omelette....so filling! Visiting Cooperstown from California, and Nicole made us feel so welcomed! Great people! Great Service! Thank you for the awesome dining experience! read more

Very cute little diner! Tiny - very quaint and comfy. About 5 tables (maybe max) and a breakfast bar to sit around with chairs (not regular bar height though). Had good standard breakfast and coffee. Solid local diner - breakfast ham was delicious along with breakfast potatoes. They do have option of egg whites which I appreciated. Keeping breakfast simple which I appreciate! I look forward to breakfast again here read more

This place seems to have quite the reputation and/or notoriety. First off, it's a teeny-tiny diner on the main drag of Cooperstown. Secondly, it looks like it's been around for a century or two. I'm not sure about everybody else, but that will usually add on stars for me as it adds onto the overall establishment's charm. The bf and I came in for a late lunch after visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame this past November. We went in at around 4PM, and it looks like we had missed the lunchtime rush and had come in right before the dinner rush. The menu offered some standard American fare, like hamburgers and various sandwiches. I opted for some of their curly fries and a grilled cheese sandwich, while the bf got a cheeseburger. My food was pretty standard, but good. I think the charm and the homeyness of this place made my food taste even more special, as ridiculous as that sounds. The bf felt the same for his burger. Again, as ridiculous as it sounds, I think this place kind of encapsulates the magic and timelessness of baseball. If you like cozy American diners and baseball, I really think you should eat at least one meal here during your stay in Cooperstown. read more

Poor quality food with no flavor and high prices. The place is small, old and dirty. The waitress is slow and rude. Not sure why it's rated so high, except the fact that the restaurant might be one of the originals. read more

Horrible service, nasty attitude. Wanted the outside table - a relative in a wheelchair and a stroller with twins - couldn't get inside. Went to ask about outdoor service and was told "I'm not doing it. I'm not going out there." Then laughed an said "is it snowing out there." It was 50 degrees and not raining. No polite explanation, no consideration, absolutely disrespectful and rude. Couldn't trust what their food was like with that kind of care for their customers! A blight on Cooperstown. Go to another place - there's many that appreciate the business in town. read more

Cooperstown Diner hit it out of th park. Their corn beef hash was a true Hall-of-Famer!! The pumpkin muffin with cheesecake filling were of MVP caliber. Only planned on eating breakfast here but will complete the double header at lunch after visiting the museum. read more

Food tasted great and had a vast array of things on the menu. What killed it was the cleanliness. The cups for water had grease in them floating. This totally killed it for me. Also, the waitress was a little restless as she was alone taking orders and busing. Would have definitely given more stars if the place was cleaner. read more

I'm always on the lookout for a great diner, and this place was no exception. We must have arrived at just the right time, as we waited perhaps 10 minutes to get seated, but by the time we left there was a crowd outside and the wait was quite longer. Great breakfast had by all, and all the typical diner fare that one imagines is on the menu. We enjoyed it and would definitely come back again. read more

This diner is literally a Mom and pops place. Very low key yet totally worth it. The food comes out relatively fast but my only negative is the place is really really small. I wouldn't recommend a big group. The coffee was amazing as well as crispy bacon(my favorite!) read more

The Cooperstown Diner - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

So many people talked this place up. To the point that because I was there over the summer, during Induction weekend, and literally everyone on planet EARTH was there that weekend, I figured, I gotta go back. What causes the hype is that it literally only sits 25. We stopped there, it was late for lunch and early for dinner, so we had some snacks. They were OK. Like they got them from Costco and just threw 'em in the deep fryer. Yes I realize that most diners operate this way, haha. But with the hype I've heard from Cooperstown aficionados, I was expecting, I don't know, more. The service was good. Quiet. Nothing like a nice quiet lake town and hometown diner, I suppose. But I don't need to go back during a busier season. read more

Very small place but you can yell the locals love it. Just a few tables and a bar for seating. Fast service and good coffee

We stopped here, nice little hole in the wall. The food was typical diner food didn't taste bad, but I watched table after table come in eat and leave and nobody wipe the table in between. We tried to sit at a table but we're told we couldn't sit there because there was a breakfast crew coming in and always sit there. We were done eating before they even arrived. I just didn't get a good vibe from this place read more

It's cute on the outside but don't come here unless you want to wait an hour for your food. We literally orders a blt and a burger and left after almost an hour bc they still weren't cooking it. I get it's busy but it's a 5 table restaurant with a counter how long can a sandwich take to make. Much better options in the area read more

I enjoyed having breakfast at this diner which is within walking distance from the motel, and it's across the street from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. read more

The smallest & Cuitest America Diner I've ever eaten at! It seats about maybe 20 comfortably. it's very unique and welcoming. Go eat breakfast early to get a seat it gets packed fast! The service was great fast & efficient! Coffee & food was delicious as well as reasonably priced. Def a must visit!! read more

Just good food! (And generous portions!) That's how I would describe it. Only seats 24 so not a place for groups but a fun little place.

If you're looking for a great way to start the day, the Cooperstown Diner is the place to go! This shoebox-sized diner on Cooperstown's main drag is so small you need to go outside to change your mind. We got there by seven a.m. both days of our weekend in town, so we scored one of the four-seat tables to the left side of the building. There's also a well-worn counter on the opposite side. The owners clearly do their best to add some charm to a bit of a tired interior; when we were there, the tables sported Halloween-themed tablecloths and there were Halloween curtains on the windows. Pretentious, this place is not. When we were there, we seemed to be the only patrons who weren't locals. At one table, two older gentlemen were discussing their hunting preferences, and while I don't necessarily need to hear deer gut pile stories over French toast, their presence made for an authentic small town conversation. Breakfast was filling and hearty. The pancakes are fluffy, making a short-stack a decent meal all by itself. My boyfriend was especially happy with the crispy bacon and the fact that his potatoes came out well done, just as he'd asked. The coffee was tasty and abundant - the waitress came by several times for refills. The service was both friendly and attentive, and the second day we came in, the waitress remembered us and thanked us for returning. It was our pleasure. read more

On a lunch break from visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, one of the employees at the hall told us that a "quick" place to grab a bite to eat would be the Cooperstown Diner, faster than the Doubleday Cafe. Taking her at her word, we walked into the tiny establishment, which resembled more of a hallway than a restaurant. It was packed with people when we first walked in and reminded me of a "greasy spoon"/hole-in-the-wall type of establishment. There was a small television in the corner, but it wasn't loud enough to hear it, and it was, more or less, just there. I was less than impressed with the decor; one would think that it would have had more of a nostalgic feel, but in the way of baseball, there wasn't much to behold. Some of the other customers to our left and right were already complaining about not having been served in a while since arriving. In fact, it took probably 20 or 30 minutes before we were even acknowledged! Once our order was placed, it took about 30 more minutes to receive it! Long before then, several customers had already left. All I had ordered was a maple milkshake and a cold sandwich, so it shouldn't have taken THAT long to receive it! To be fair, the milkshake was pretty good, though I had to wait forever for both, really, and they were a bit overpriced for what they were. My friend had ordered soup and some other dish. He had asked that his soup be brought out first as an appetizer, but they brought it with his meal, 30 minutes later. How hard is it to scoop soup out of a canteen with a ladle into a bowl! Overall, I would not recommend this place at all and will opt for somewhere else, like the Doubleday Cafe, the next time I take a trip to Cooperstown to visit the hall. read more

The food was okay, but our cups came dirty with a mysterious grime on the inside of the cup. We thought the cup was just discolored so we asked for a straw and scraped it to see and it came off. We were hesitant on eating the food. I don't recommend. Over priced for not that impressive food. The biscuits and gravy were kinda gross, did not come very hot. The cheese omlet was eh. read more

Very disappointed. Ordered 3 breakfast to go. Definitely less food than if you ate there. Should not be if you are paying the same if you stay to eat. Quality not as good either. It seams like it is thrown together on take out. read more

Delicious homemade food. Coffee is weak though. Worth the stop. If you like biscuits and gravy it's a must try! read more

The Cooperstown Diner - American Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

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