I always order eggs and home fries from here for breakfast. The only good thing about the food is the price. The home fries never have any taste to them. I'm not sure the cook knows what salt and pepper is. Breakfast is the easiest meal to make and it's never good. I will never come back to this place. I've already given the food 3 separate chances. The owners should be embarrassed! read more

I have never really had a problem with the service here, the staff is usually friendly and helpful. That being said ultimately its about the quality of the food and the price you pay for it.... Last week I ordered some food part of which was a burger for my wife. The burger itself was dry and smelled like an old freezer, so I took a bite of it and the best thing I can compare it to is back 30 years ago, when we were kids, and we got those cheese burgers from the school cafeteria that everyone always complained about because they tasted like they sat on the counter all day. So be it, it was food, it was edible, and she was hungry. My complaint is that it was around 8 bucks, with the fries, and it came served on an English muffin which I thought was odd but it was probably in the description somewhere. EDIT: I lowered my review to one star because when I said something about it I was scolded by who I assume is the owner "Our meat is always fresh and never frozen" .... look I was born and raised on a farm, I still visit that farm on a daily basis because it is a family farm... I have butchered more cows than most people have seen in their lifetime, that meat was most certainly frozen at least once, no question about it. Anyway the scolding continued... "I'm not sure how you wanted your burger cooked but the more well done it is the dryer it becomes." doesn't really explain why it was the same consistency, taste, and cardboard texture, as those cheap boxes of frozen patties you buy from Walmart but ok fine. "Our burgers don't come on english muffins so you must have asked for that specifically." Wrong....who asks for a burger on an english muffin, that's just weird. The chef made a mistake, maybe mixed up an order, and didn't want to own it, whatever, hiring competent help is not my problem or my fault. "Normally, customers tell us there is a problem after the first couple of bites and we correct the problem, they don't wait until they eat the entire meal first." Great idea, but.... what if its take out, which mine was, you either drive all the way back or you eat it and say something later which I did. I wasn't looking for a free meal, I was complaining so someone could correct the atrocity that I paid 8 bucks for. Its cool, there are only a hundred other places to eat in that immediate spot. I work just around the corner so I will make sure all of my co-workers, and customers, know about it, and the scolding. This place may have thought it was funny, or even think they have the upper hand somehow but I'm not the one who has to pay the bills over there, in regards to that money is money, and I aim to give them less of it, doesn't really matter to me if they succeed, fail, or whatever...will not lose sleep over it, but I am fantastic at running my mouth to everyone I see, you know, just to help them out while they pay said bills. read more

Gateway is just your typical diner, good prices and decent food. I came in around 6 o'clock on a Monday night and the place was dead. We were seated immediately. Our waiter was a kind man, didn't have too much of a personality but he did his job and he did it well. He even gave us a whole pitcher of water. A nice gesture, and also better than constantly asking for a refill. The food was nothing special. It was decent, but it wouldn't bring me back. It came out quick, but that may be because of the lack of people inside. Some things I didn't like: The menu's were absolutely disgusting. Menu's are already pretty disgusting to begin with but these were awful. They were greasy and there was gunk all over it. I wasn't to thrilled with the cleanliness of the diner. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. Another thing that I didn't like was the temperature. Some areas it was hot, others were freezing Overall, gateway is a good place to get decent food for a good price. If you're cheap and don't care about the cleanliness, gateway is for you. read more

ryan the waiter ,,was phenomenal. - service with a smile even in an incredibly bu time - he handles everything smoothly - I would highly recommend dining here and ask for him .. you won't be disappointed read more

It was my first time at the diner. Server was pleasant. I don't always want them super exciting and in my business. Do this is what I ordered: Chicken Vegetable Soup (very hot temperature wise) Chicken and penne in vodka sauce (got it without chicken and the portion was huge! I got 2+ meals out of it). Very tasty! Tapioca pudding (very rich and creamy So it was 3 courses for $12.99! Great deal! They serve Pepsi products (plus in my book) I also got a brownie to go. (A little shocked that it cost $4.25!) I shared it with my daughter later on and it was very good! The cakes and other desserts looked amazing so it would be a good place for dessert! read more

I ordered a Yankee pot roast. In the past When I ordered pot roast in a different restaurant it was like a chunky beef stew with a brown gravy, yet the yankee pot roast at Gateway Diner is very thin slices of meat with a tomato paste sauce; and the meat tastes like cardboard ( absolutely no flavor ) and it has all kinds of colors glowing off of the meat ( colors like green and blue and purple-like when you see gasoline residue in a puddle of water ) Since the yankee pot roast was nothing like what I expected I returned it and ordered the prime rib instead which came with two stuffed shrimp ( the shrimp tasted like water (absolutely no flavor at all ) and the starchy batter that wrapped around the shrimp was cold, pasty and had chopped pickles added into the sticky covering. The primerib had a decent amount of flavor yet it was really tough and impossible to chew. Also both meals were cold and I waited a long time to receive them. read more

I just had one of the worst Reuben Sandwich in my manny dining experience The Reuben was made w the first 2 slices of bread small by usual dining experience at this dinner The. Mgr in charge was rude and really did not want to here any of my issues w the sandwich plus dry little sauerkraut no dressing terrible He turned his back and kept on working I will not be gong back !!!!!! read more

This place has standard diner fare which is a food group I happen to love. I got the homemade hash and eggs. The food itself was good and a reasonable portion. The turkey sausage my friend had was not great, but they liked their generous fruit cup. For me, the star was the slice of baklava I ended with. It was huge, and fresh, and oozing with goodness. The staff were so fast and friendly, I'd definitely eat here again. read more

service is friendly, but the food is terrible. the only decent dish we walked away enjoying were the pancakes. the eggs were the driest bland omelettes ever. and we had several different omelettes tasted. don't discern get me started on the undercooked under seasoned home fries. the bacon wasn't even crisp, the sausage a fat undercooked barely hot link. we ate here out of convenience and we shant ever return. read more

The decor was WAY better before the remodel, and the food is so-so. Nothing exceptional about this place. Update: 3/7/10 We decided to stop in at the Gateway for breakfast when the wait at Cafe Madison was too long. we should have waited. Gateway was stuffed to the gills and had the atmosphere of an elementary school cafeteria (loud and crowded). I ordered coffee, orange juice, the feta omelet with spinach and a side of bacon. My boyfriend asked for a water with his breakfast and had to wait over 20 minutes for the waiter to bring it over. My omelet was extremely dry, my bacon was almost raw, and my boyfriend and I agreed that the homefries were the worst we've ever tasted. They tasted like boxed potatoes whipped with margarine...and were more of a creamy texture than a chopped texture. My boyfriend's egg combo was listed on the menu for under $4, but when we got the bill they charged us almost $7. We kind of felt guilty for wasting our time and money at Gateway, cheating on our good old standby Metro 20. We will never make this mistake again. Gateway was just a trashy one-brunch stand, Metro you are the one for us, we will never stray again! read more

PRICES ARE RIDICULOUS. We came here and I wanted a turkey club sandwich, the waitress had not informed me that each topping would cost extra (lettuce tomato cheese etc.). For a regular club sandwich and French fries it came to $17!!!! As I checked out I tried telling them this is unacceptable and they would not change the price. Unbelievable that you would charge $17 for a cold cut sandwich from a DINER. read more

This is one of the best if not the best diners in the capital region. 76 is fancier but the food is better here. Have the soup. They're all homemade and I've never had a bad one. They're about to re-do their menu, and I am PRAYING they don't blow it like the place in Latham did!!! read more

Gateway is pretty much what I expect from a diner in terms of food and menu. It looks to me like the decor was given a face-lift at some point in the recent past, which makes the the dining environment more appealing. The food is pretty much what I expected, advertised on menus which have had a lot of use. You are, of course, greeted by the "carousel of desserts." The staff work pretty well here, thought there will sometimes be some "operating by the seat of the pants" experiences - for example, our table of 6 did not get silverware until we actually got food. For dinner, the $9.99 3-course meal is a good option if you are looking for value. It includes soup or salad, your entree (typically a large portion) and a limited selection of desserts such as puddings, cakes, etc. Be aware that it will take a little longer for meals to get served to larger parties. Otherwise this is a reasonable place to go for a not-too-fancy meal. read more

I'm not typically a picky person, but this place was atrocious. They seated my party at a disgusting booth and the waitress was very rude when we requested a different table telling us to "just get up and move" (steer clear of the waitress with red hair). Their menus looked moldy and had an awful smell to them. The cups they served our drinks in looked like they hadn't been cleaned in ages. The french fries looked and tasted as if they had been floating in oil for 30 minutes, which shocked me because I figured fries would be good considering this is a diner. If I could give this place 0/5 stars, I really would. read more

Trying out a new diner in Albany - I do not plan on returning. Service was ok, food was not worth the wait. I got the Reuban: the corned beef was fried and crunchy and poorly seasoned. Would not recommend. Friends got egg breakfasts, pancakes, and buffalo chicken wraps, and they would not recommend either. The diner was not full, and does not really excuse the 50 minute wait. Overall, not impressed and would not recommend. read more

Went there before a visit to suny Albany my son had the waffle it was ok syrup was pre packaged they didn't bring his sausages even after asking twice about them told they were on the way. My hash browns tasted like they came out of a can even though there was a $2 extra for homemade! My poached eggs were as hard , no runny yolk just like a hot hard boiled egg , cold toast , I asked 3 times for hot sauce . I finally got up and went to the front and got my own. All they had was a bottle with a couple of drops in it. The waitress said it was the last one in the restaurant.! Bill was 18.00 will not come back ever. read more

This place is something out of the twilight zone. Demographics consist of elderly white folks; not diverse at all. Food was terrible! We had the bacon and Texas burgers and to say it was bland is being kind. Bacon was stale and tasted as if it was out for days. I also don't think the beef was at all. The cheesecake tasted like Cardboard and it tasted like it's been out for a couple of days as well. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Eery place and disgusting tasteless food. read more

If you were in Albany after a night of debauchery and had the craving for diner food I would recommend this place. Why? because the breakfast is cheap/good as well as their chicken salad...and they are nice to drunk people. read more

Worst breakfast ever. Went this past Friday morning, my heart set on Eggs Benedict. I would rather have gone back to eating Army C rations. Yes I am that old that I remember C rations. The English muffin was burnt. The sauce had the viscosity of 20 yr old motor oil. The hash browns were woefully under cooked and apparently the cook ( I refuse to call him chef) has never heard of such exotic seasonings as salt and pepper. I will never go back again. Please Yelp, allow negative stars. read more

The staff was very accommodating and friendly but the food was NOT good. The only thing that was pleasing to my taste buds were the French toast. The bacon was BAD. Not fresh. No one I was with enjoyed their meal. We were a group of 9. read more

Our waitress was ditzy or forgetful. We ordered our coffee & tea and she missed a few, then she brought more out but took away 2 drinks when she saw 2 empty seats. The seats were empty after we ordered a few people went to the bathroom. She thought she miscounted and walked away with our drinks. Food looks like typical diner food, however it's pretty bland and tasteless. This place is a landmark and has been there since I was little, so let's just leave it at that. read more

The food was OK, however service was horrible. We had Lisa as our waiter and quite frankly she was rude, curt and unwelcoming. We felt uncomfortable asking for additional water and another order of eggs. We asked for a to go box and literally she threw them on the table. My kind hearted brother in law left a tip still, however if it was up to me she will have gotten none. Will not be visiting again... I refuse to spend my money where I am not welcome read more

Times like this I wish there was a half-rating option because I would definitely rate this 2.5 and NOT a real 2 but at this point it would not be fair to give it another 3. I stopped in on Saturday 3/1/2014 towards the evening, not really into dinner service but later than lunch time. I arrived after my party was seated and went over to where I seen them sitting so I sat down and let my server know what I wanted to drink and I guess no one had placed their order yet so I'm not sure what transpired before I arrived and will only speak for my own experience and not for anyone else in my party. I ordered the same as I had in my previous review because sometimes I like to see if there is consistency in an establishment, especially when I enjoyed the food previously...my review is not based on the food because honestly the food tasted better this time than it had the first time I was there. My server was friendly enough but friendly doesn't necessarily put food or coffee on your table apparently. She appeared really busy with what she later described as "a demanding table" on the other side of the wall from where we were seated. The diner started to fill with patrons as it would for the time of the day that we were there but regardless of capacity the diner should seat folks so there is an even amount of tables so no one server is overwhelmed, especially when the server believes that one table somehow deserves all of her undivided attention. THIS IS WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH: First my coffee and 95% of my meal was completed before I ever seen my server return to touch the table and even check on us. When she did return to check on us she inquired as to how everything was and at that point some of my table wanted to order dessert and I asked for more coffee and creamer... My server returned with the desserts that were ordered and I reminded her that I wanted more coffee and creamer. She returned to the table with the coffee to refill my cup but forgot the creamer so I asked for them and waited a while longer... How long you ask? Let's say that I sat and watched people enjoy their dessert while I sat waiting for creamers. At one point in between waiting for service or table recognition during my experience my server had stated that she was sorry and that she had a very demanding table. BTW, my table was literally 12-15 feet away from the coffee and creamer so please do not take this as a rant or a slight but as the viewpoint of a consumer that believes that if someone is going to work in the service industry that their best or at least that perception is given to every patron equally. TO MY SERVER: I don't know you, I am only there as a customer to experience the establishment that you just happen to work at, that's it, that's the dynamic of our relationship and with that being said NO SERVER should ever discuss or share an opinion regarding another customer, especially involving negative connotations. The fact that you have a difficult customer or table is NOT my problem nor is it my concern. I am not there to hear about your problems and no offense but the fact that you have a difficult table should not take away the service that my table warrants or requires so my experience is not tarnished as it was this past time. So as this rating states..." Meh. I've experienced better." - Especially regarding the service I experienced Saturday afternoon/evening. read more

One if the worst places I've been to. The food was okay but the service sucked. How do you charge me extra for just substituting something of equal value. Then proceed to argue with me and tell me that i should know your policy like I work there. Most rude and inconsiderate place I've ever been to. Terrible service! read more

Literally waited to be seated. As soon as we got seated after 5 minutes. Someone came up to us and sat us right in the back. When we could have been seated somewhere closer to be viewed by the waitress. The store was not packed. We literally WAITED 25 MINUTES and left because NO ONE came up to us. Such HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE read more

Would have gotten four stars, but I miss the old decor. I've been a Gateway fan since high school, and was still bringing friends there right up until I moved away this past year. I can't help it, I love the food. While it is standard diner fare, in my opinion it's delicious standard diner fare. But then, I have an unholy affection for bright orange fake cheese, and I still lust for their curly cheese fries. read more

After a painful night at the clarion hotel down the road and trying their plastic food for breakfast, being at the gateway diner was like the gateway to heaven. The corned beef hash and eggs were veri nice. The french toast used nice thick slides of bread. The service was good all around too. read more

Home fries undercooked (almost raw) for one person and overcooked for another. Service was slow. Waitress was very rude when asking about them and said that's how they come. Won't be returning! read more

I have been going to this diner for several years. For many of those years, the atmosphere was friendly, the service was better than average and the food was always good and prices were always reasonable. I could go there on any night and witness firsthand the friendly environment not only exuded by the customers, but the staff as well. I also enjoyed playing the lottery game, Quick Draw, as many of the regular customers did. The former owner passed away. The change in the place was quite dramatic. There were certain groups of people that I recognized as having been regular customers that are no longer frequenting this place. Currently, there are only a few staff that are still friendly and provide good service. I will add here too, that it appears that the staff is constantly looking "over their shoulders" to see who is watching. This place is so over-staffed now it isn't even comical. It is quite funny to watch some of them try to remain busy even though the customer numbers are way down. They appear to be very paranoid. I can't help but think this new owner is merely interested in the bottom line. He certainly has no concept of the "diner" experience that regular customers should enjoy. Another disappointment came with the new menu. Even potato chips are no longer served with sandwiches. I am pretty sure there is a charge for them. Same goes for french fries that previously accompanied certain menu items. On top of this, the prices skyrocketed. I nearly had a fit when I saw the price of a bowl of chili at around $10.00, when the chili is like Charlie's hotdog sauce with beans in it. I am sure that I am not the only former customer that feels this way, and I know that this complaint would go unheard by the new owner, and this letter was turned away by three area newspapers, so I consider this a convenient avenue to voice my displeasure. read more

Not only was the server rude, I found shells in my scrambled eggs, my gf found hair in her food. The only thing I would recommend are the waffles but let me warn you, don't come with high expectations. read more

The Gateway Diner - Spilt coffee ... Cool.... - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

Overpriced...poor service....poor quality.... We order one of the NO SUBSTITUTE Breakfasts, the orange was very watered down, the french toast was unedible, and the home fries were blaaaa We use to live in albany and go to the Gateway all the time, unfortunately I do not know what has happened in the past 2 years since I was last there, but I will not be returning again read more

Terrible service. Waited 20 mins for soup and app. Ordered the Goulash. it was elbow macaroni with tomato sauce. Place was good years ago. What happened. read more

overall the food is edible and it has the flavor of a downstate diner I like that hustle bustle but this last set of owners needs a wake up call, bathrooms so foul smelling /dirty and in dis repair I would not use them. The food while hot and good tasting and served promptly looked as if the cook thew it at a moving plate YOU CAN DO BETTER ! read more

This is one of my favorite places to go, I love diners and this one never fails me. It's just your basic diner food but I always get things the way I like it. Staff is always polite and nice. read more

Pretty standard diner fare for the area, nothing special. They all seem pretty interchangeable, perhaps I haven't had the "right dish"

Normally I would never give a place like this 4 stars, based on the fact its a greasy spoon. However, they have a wide variety of menu choices and its very cheap. Omletes are around the $5 range. Pancakes are good. Breakfast sandwiches are good as well. Service is pretty decent. Based on food this place is 3 stars, due to it's price It gets a bumped to 4. read more

Was visiting from out of town and found this place on yelp. Was very pleasantly surprised. Typical diner food, but everything we had was very good. We had the steak dinner special and the chicken Caesar wrap. I recommend this place to anyone in the area!! read more

Now that the construction is finished, this is a convenient place to go. The food is regular diner food and the new interior is nice. I especially liked the new counter with seats that swing out for easy access. It's a nice place to take the kids if you don't want to go to another chain restaurant. The staff is very nice. We were there on a weekend, and I noticed that the servers were using an adding machine to total the checks. I thought that was strange since they obviously invested A LOT of money in the renovation and why not use a computer.... I asked about it and the hostess explained that it was too busy for them on weekends to use the computer since they weren't used to it yet and it slowed them down too much. Hopefully they've got that worked out by now. There are two things I did NOT like about the place: floor was deathly slippery on the rainy day we were there. There are TVs everywhere. read more

Meal was very good. Service was very good. Also enjoyed the atmosphere. Felt like the kind of place I could have camped out in all day.

The customer service here was terrible! Our waitress forgot about us and then brought out the wrong food! When we asked for the food we ordered we received an attitude! After we finally got our correct food it was ice cold! Don't waste your money here! read more