I love the food in this place!!!! In Albany for two nights and was lucky enough to grab a burger here the first night. Came back the second night. THE BURGERS HERE - WOW! And the staff are great. Thank you to MANDY the server and ZACH the floor manager - very nice folks. (BTW, I had an omelet here, this morning, that changed my life. LOL). Eat at this diner. Ask Zach to seat you in Mandy's section. You'll be very happy you listened to me. :) read more

Homemade soup of the day was tasty. Their eggplant panini was excellent. Friendly staff. Restaurant looks clean.

The Gateway diner has been around forever. Maybe that is why people take it for granted. I've been coming here come off and on, since the 70s. For the last few years, I have been going to newer and trendier restaurants for breakfast. Today, it was just more convenient to go to the Gateway. You wouldn't think that something as simple as scrambled eggs, home fries, and toast could be that much different from restaurant to restaurant.Well, they were. I don't recall enjoying a breakfast that much in a long time. In addition, the service was fast and cheerful and the prices's reasonable. That was a really good breakfast! I think it's time to rediscover this diner. There is a reason that it has been around all these years. read more

I usually like gateway for my diner of choice but lately it's been slipping and today really sealed the deal. I was served this completely unedible burnt to a crisp omelette. Ummm eggs shouldn't look like this. I was shocked the server would even drop this plate in front of me, when he came back to check on us once he looked at my plate and saw that I didn't eat any of the meal and still didn't say hey I'm sorry but this is extremely burnt let me fix this for you. I didn't want to wait for a new meal as I was crunched for time. Really gross, I don't know that I'll be going back after this experience. Clearly the cooks and servers don't care what they're serving. read more

The Gateway Diner - Burnt eggs , thanks - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

Classic diner with a welcoming feel. Lots of choices on the menu. The food was delicious and done perfect to my liking. The place was jam packed on a Sunday morning. Lots of tables so we were seated right away. The service was just ok. Our waitress's personality lacked charisma. Had to wait awhile to order however the food came out pretty quick. Also the coffee wasn't flowin' either, had to wait awhile for a refill. read more

The Gateway Diner - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

Slow service, small portions, lousy prices! Third time going very disappointed . It used to be a great place for late night food sorry not anymore read more

My husband and I had dinner here. My tuna melt was excellent as was my side salad. However, my husband had a beef gyro and described it as completely inedible. He barely ate any of it. What was worse, no one asked how our meal was. Definitely will never go back and will recommend people stay away.​ read more

Oh, Gateway. One of those diners I really want to like, but it's failed us a couple of times. The Gateway's a large diner in the more modern but still out of date style, neither classic vintage nor truly up to date. There's always plenty of seating in two large sections, although I'd recommend staying out of the front windows, which can be sort of greenhouse-like. The service has been fine, although (again) slow on the coffee refills. The failures here have been the kitchen: slow out of the gate. I appreciate that both the server and the front of the house hosts are on this and saying "the food will be right out" but when that takes a long time even after that -- and them some of the food comes out cold -- well, that's a kitchen management problem, not mine. The Reuben was decent, although very light on the dressing. Hamburgers were oddly done, with part of the burger overcooked and another part undercooked, as if a frozen patty had been rush-cooked. Breakfast has been so-so; somewhat uncrispy home fries, omelettes that were just sort of rolled up scrambled eggs, undersized toast, and bacon and sausage that were cold to the touch when they came out. Sadly, can't recommend. read more

Shiny, red vinyl, chrome, and neon: diners are iconic NYS family run businesses that operate 24/7, where you can always get a burger and a shake or an egg sandwich for not too much money and probably bump into someone you know and where the servers know you by the third time you dine. Those 10 page plus plastic menus that are bigger than the Post would take you forever to consider seriously. Gateway Diner, near the Westgate Mall on Central Avenue, has been a part of Albany's food scene since 1971. Greeks in the kitchen are always a good thing, although the menu here doesn't do that heritage much justice. The rest of it was the comforting, reassuring usual: pancakes and eggs for breakfast, liver and onions, fried everything (especially for apps), something like 15 burgers to choose from, lots of sandwiches including that hot turkey mess with the gravy on the white bread, and a selection of large but standard Amerkin salads (the "California" has cottage cheese - why do I think that's funny???). I'm had the Greek Gyro with chicken ($8.00), basic chicken souvlaki: loads of grilled marinated chicken breast chunks that were pretty good with tomatoes and onion rolled up in a fat, warm, soft white pita and a generous scoop of tangy tzatziki (which I asked for on the side). Good but not well constructed, with all the onions and tomatoes at the bottom and all the meat sitting on top. The staff were all very pleasant, serving up our meal quickly and checking in as we ate, remembering to ask if we wanted dessert or coffee, and dividing up our bill without a blink. Zena, Goddess of Fire read more

The Gateway Diner - Chicken souvlaki again and it was good! - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

Went back again with my girlfriend and our friend. I decided to get the honey stung fried chicken again. This time around the chicken was cooked perfectly, and while there were still 2 larger pieces and 2 smaller pieces, there was more meat on the smaller pieces this time and they were all cooked perfectly. The sides I had with the chicken were the applesauce (yes, again), the potato (this time I went with french fries, they were pretty good), and the soup of the day, which was clam chowder. The clam chowder was horrible. It had a very fishy taste to it, and I had overheard a server tell someone else that it was the bottom of the batch, which could explain why it tasted so bad. Still, for the price, it was a lot of food and it was mostly good. I'll gladly be back, but I'll know to skip the soup next time around. read more

This diner has probably existed for several years and I've been by it an uncountable number of times while driving, but I've never thought of visiting. I've always had the notion of diner food being subpar (me being ignorant) or menu being too scattered, so there can't be anything special about it, right? Well, I was wrong. My friend and I decided to settle for dinner near Westgate Plaza since we were around the area and also always wondered what the $9.99 dinner special that is advertised on the front window would be like. There were plenty of booths available that weeknight and it did not seem busy for dinner hour. The staff were friendly and efficient during our visit. We looked over the regular menu and found tons of variety...from salads to sandwiches, burgers to pastas, rice dishes to Greek specialties, seafood to breakfast foods. On top of that, soups and desserts. We chose to have the three course specials as advertised: chicken and rice soup, chicken penne ala vodka, and rice pudding & house salad, gateway marinated chicken, and vanilla ice cream. The salad nothing spectacular and light green, but the mushrooms and cheddar cheese sauce atop the chicken and rice was a home run as my friend put it. My soup was the typical run of the mill chicken and rice, and I probably wouldn't order it again but the chicken penne ala vodka was not only a humongous portion but pretty good for Italian at a diner. I used the leftovers for lunch the next day and was still filling! The dessert options included in the special were jello, tapioca pudding, rice pudding, or ice cream. If you want a slice of their homemade cake it is a $2 upcharge. I went for the rice pudding which was not bad with whipped cream but it could've used some cinnamon. My friend finished the meal with 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream and did not end up in a food coma. Again, nothing spectacular but the food and service we received were good for the price we paid. I'd consider this diner again if I am nearby and won't object to trying other entrées. read more

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One of the better diners I can count on for a fresh, hot breakfast. I've been here a few times but this past time made me really appreciate this place, after experiencing some not so good diners lately. Today I ordered a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich with home fries. My wife ordered pancakes and a blueberry muffin. The coffee here is one of the best cups I have had in a diner in a long time. Pipping hot and fresh! The food is the same way. I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast sandwich only wish there was more home fries on the plate with it. The pancakes are classic here. No crazy batter or toppings, just old fashion pancakes. Their batter is perfect! I was glad my wife ordered them because I almost eat an entire one myself. The muffin looked a little too dense for me. Next time I look forwarding into trying their french toast, because they make their own bread "in house" as well as there muffins, pantries and desserts. read more

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If you're looking for an inexpensive diner experience but don't want to leave city limits, Gateway is for you. I went with a friend of mine and our waitstaff was friendly, the food decent for what you pay, and the atmosphere of the restaurant casual and relaxed. This isn't a fancy place to go, it is a reminder of Sunday Family Breakfasts and simple food. Pretty standard fare. read more

Gateway Diner has very good food but poor service. I ordered Eggs Benedict. The waitress told me they do not serve Eggs Benedict after 11AM. I have never heard of a diner that does not offer breakfast all day. I settled on a chicken gyro with no tzatziki. The waitress screwed up my order with my girlfriend's. We realized the mixup and switched our plates. For $8, the gyro came with potato chips, cole slaw, and pickle chips. It was a satisfying meal. Gateway gives a generous portion of chicken, tomato, and onion in their gyro. My only complaint about the gyro was that the chicken was a little dry. For dessert, I got a chocolate mousse for $4. It was a good portion and tasted delicious. It was light and creamy. When we brought our bill up to the cashier to pay, he could not print separate checks. We made do, like I did with my order. I would not rush back to Gateway Diner. There are others diners in the area that offer the same quality food and better service. read more

The Gateway Diner - Chocolate mousse ($4) was rich and creamy. - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

Exhausting menu will make you want to come back for breakfast and lunch... oh! And dinner. This diner is truly a spotless restaurant. Great for brunch! read more

The Gateway Diner - Tables with a view of the news and sports TV - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

If you're looking for assaholic managment that doesnt care about blatant disrespect of customers look no further. I called them one night when leaving the bar to see how late they would be open the guy who answered the phone sounded absolutely disgusted by the question and said "at least another hour." I arrived 15 minutes later door is locked. I called he said after I called 50 people walked in. Which was clearly a lie because there we 3 cars in the parking lot. I asked if I could just get takeout then. He responded "I cant control how many people decide to come here" then he slammed the phone down on me. I am 14 years removed from this experience and I'm still aggravated by it. I will never return and everyone I know won't go there either. I hope they go out of business and the management has to file for bankruptcy and they all have to live in the city mission. read more

Service can be spotty when they're busy, but it's much better during off hours. Staff is always very friendly and courteous even when they're too busy to be super attentive. Food is consistent and good. In many respects it is a typical diner -- extensive menu, reasonable prices, breakfast all day. It's open overnight on the weekends, making it popular for cops, drunk people and weirdos. Definitely a hot spot for people watching. In summary, all the things you could want in your local diner, but it's still just a diner. read more

Childhood memory revisited and it couldn't have gone better. So glad I gave the Gateway another chance. My waitress was superb. Name forgotten, but she stated she was a recent hire, a regular customer who dined there often with her son. Thanks for not only a great meal, but a great experience that restored my faith in this post COVID dining world. read more

Have eaten at the Gateway numerous times since I grew up in the area. I have never been disappointed eating there. Vast menu, great choices, plenty of food, friendly service. Great breakfasts for sure and delicious desserts. This is my go to restaurant in the Albany area. Great coffee too, everything homemade. read more

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2.5 Stars to be more accurate. This place is average, and when you want average, going here is a good choice. My 'French toast' was really more like thick slices of bread which needed to be drowned in 'syrup' which came in small plastic tubs. The bacon was on the thicker side of the precooked stuff that just needs to be heated and served. The eggs were a pleasant surprise - ordered medium over easy and cooked perfectly to that specification. Over all the restaurant was clean, tidy, and well staffed. Our waiter was nice, prompt, and not very chatty. Our drinks never hit empty, and we were checked on a non-annoying amount. It had a low level occupation on a Saturday night, and may see more business on Saturday mornings. News was on the TV, but muted (thank you!), and the people sitting at the bar seemed like regulars. If I need breakfast at 8pm on a given night of the week, this will be on my 'maybe' list after checking out other local dinners. read more

Nothing fancy. The service was good. It was steady in here for Tuesday. Then, I remembered it is lunch time. The pancake craving had been feed. However, if this were the weekend I would make the trip to Cafe Madison or NWBB.. read more

Google The pancake was ra w The home fries were ice cold the overall experience was just horrible won't be back

This is my favorite diner in the area!! They have everything you could possibly want on the menu, plus great food, and excellent, EFFICIENT service. I was in an out in probably less than an hour. I ordered an omelette which was out of my comfort zone as many diners don't do them well... much to my surprise this was the best omelette I've ever had! HUGE portions, but you can't put your fork down! The atmosphere is lovely, a very retro, classic diner with the news/sports on many TVs, older men and cops sitting at the bar with their coffee reading the paper, and 1950s-esque decor inside and out. REALLY really great! read more

The Gateway Diner - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

Good diner food. Waitress was very nice and efficient. Would have been a 4-star review, but Fox News was on every damn TV in the place. If this continues to be the case, I will no longer eat there. Literally anything else would be better - local news, weather, sports. read more

Rating: D- Every time I go here I'm disappointed. I only did a take-out order because it was near my CVS. I ordered scrambled eggs with onions, and the onions weren't even in the eggs, they were cooked on the side, like a side order. Missing toast. Too expensive. Only average flavor. I would ask for my money back on the scrambled eggs, and the missing toast, but don't want to risk another Covid exposure. Yuck. read more

When in the area, we try to make a point to stop in at the Gateway. The savory food is decent enough (hey, it's a diner, not fine dining!) but what really shines here are the desserts!!! There is an awesome cake I had there, I still think of it fondly.... cheesecake layered with a chocolate mousse type thing, and chocolate cake. Covered in a chocolate ganache.... oh yum! Also, the have a full bar and really friendly staff, so all in all, it's a go! read more

Food over priced for low quality that it is. Over charged me for wrong order and when I returned some old rude gray haired woman interjected and said she was concerned with my return. You mess up my order, over charged me, and proceeded to be rude. You just lost a very good tipping customer. I may be black but my money is green! read more

Great diner! Food was terrific and the corned beef hash as home made! Also, as a tea drinker they started me off with a cup and pot of tea! We will be back. read more

Outstanding service. Stopped in for a quick dinner with my husband and son. I ordered wine and they didn't have a cork screw. One of the workers ran out to the store to buy one and I had my wine in time for the entree. Greek food is excellent. read more

Just moved here from NYC and I have to say this place is already a favorite. Coffee good, breakfast good, service GOOODDD!!!! Friends reference courtesy of Joey Tribiani read more

Had a great time at Gateway Diner. Both the food and service were great. I'm so in love with the Greek salad and spanktopia I had it was so amazing. My daughter had the pizza burger she loved, my younger daughter had the kids hamburger and fries she also loved. My Husband had the he man which was French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage and hash brown which he stated was great. Our waitress was very attentive and awesome. I highly recommend this place read more

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Love this place since I was in college. Spent a lot of drunk nights and hangover mornings eating here . Staff is super friendly and always greet you at the door and make sure your comfortable all the way to seating . I try to come in once every two weeks to eat breakfast and even if I come in for lunch or dinner I still get breakfast. I love the homemade corned beef hash and my go to breakfast meal is two eggs scrambled with home fries and white toast and sausage split and burnt. I bring all my out of town friends here and they enjoy it as much as I do. read more

I've never had a bad meal here although I usually settle for the corned beef hash, which is homemade, served crispy with rye toast and eggs. But today it was the Wafflwich, which was ham, turkey & swiss served as a sandwich between two tender waffles along with crispy home fries. I went full Diner Mode and had a side of gravy for dunking. It was very satisfying! read more

The Gateway Diner - Diners Near Me - Albany, New York

The last time I was there I asked the manager to ban me so I would never make the mistake of eating there again. I have lost count of the number of times in inexcusable rude waitstaff have severed me cold food, burnt food, called me out of gender, ( I am transgendered and was dressed extremely female) and generally been awful. My favorite example was the weekend I broke both my arms in a motorcycle accident. Since I couldn't cook, I was reduced to eating out. After my food was delivered, MY waitress left while I struggled with the ketchup bottle. I was saved by a waiter who watched me struggle with the cap. The food is mediocre at best, and with the waitstaff , you could do better a half mile in either direction. I will put it this way: when McDonald's is a better choice for service and food quality, you know you are screwed. read more

The management at this establishment is incredibly unprofessional. I called to inquire about renting Gateway's room for a party. The General Manager Dimitri was incredibly rude and disrespectful from the moment he got on the phone. When I told him my targeted budget (far above the "minimum" that Gateway sets to rent the room), he laughed and told me that I would "get nothing more than a pot of coffee and danish." When I asked him to elaborate, he laughed and hung up the phone on me. He did not explore other options (I would have spent more, of course, but apparently my initial number was too low for his taste). After posting my initial complaint on a social media site, I was contacted by a woman named Melissa, who is apparently Dimitri's mother. I can only assume that she is the present owner of Gateway Diner, because I cannot understand why I would otherwise by contacted by a grown man's mother. Melissa proceeded to tell me that I lied about Dimitri being rude and hanging up the phone. She then told me that she understands that it's tough for a single mother who cannot afford things. I am a married, employed, professional mother of an infant, and I do not understand what led Melissa to believe otherwise. Regardless, I'm not sure what one's marital or socioeconomic status have to do with renting the back room at a family owned diner. Since I was a child, I have frequently visited Gateway, but will not be patronizing this diner in the future. I have advised my friends and family to look elsewhere for family breakfasts and coffee spots. I would encourage others to inquire elsewhere about room rentals. read more

I guess I am a sucker for a dinner show. There's something so entertaining to me about some random person's craziness that I just cannot help but enjoy. A couple was sat next to us as we were waiting for our meals to be served and we could hear right from the start that our waitress was in for a real treat. The woman waited until the waitress was carrying a big tray with 6 different meals to stop her to ask questions, then had the audacity to get annoyed when the waitress said she'd be back after serving. The crazy didn't end there, the woman wanted to know how much fat would be on the prime rib that she ordered. The question clearly took the waitress by surprise and the only thing more entertaining than the non-answer redirect she offered (directing to a different cut if fat would be a problem) was the couple's reaction to not having their question answered to their satisfaction. I felt for the woman, as if there were some way she could look into her crystal ball and know exactly how much fat would be on the hypothetical serving should the woman order the prime rib. Then they waited for the waitress to come back so they could berate her as they walked out. Pure class and a wonderful show. As entertaining as it was, and as crazy as the other couple was, the truth is service really was poor. The reason the waitress was carrying six plates at a time was that she took her break as four tables were seated and we all waited until she was done. Then she proceeded to take the order from five tables at once. I understand that she did not want her tables to wait any longer, but any waitress will tell you the cook is not going to be happy when you drop 5 tables on him at once. Certainly someone is going to end up waiting. Perhaps some backup at the stations or someone paying attention at the host stand could have prevented this type of problem in the first place We soon found out that someone was going to be us. After bringing our soup and salad, our waitress decided to fess up that what I was provided an old menu and what I ordered was no longer available. I was almost expecting this answer since my menu did not match my wife's, but after the soup and 10 minutes went by I thought I was in the clear. Not only did she not know the menu changed, but it took her 10 minutes to come tell me and get a new order. Oddly enough, the service did improve after this incident. Our waitress was clearly more aware of her patrons and definitely did try to go out of her way to be as pleasant and attentive as possible. With every meal I plan on reviewing, I ask my wife what she thinks before we end the meal. Her answer "It sucked. Make certain you write that". The soup was pretty bad, cream of mushroom, remarkably salty. The chicken cordon bleu I was denied was replaced by a Texas burger. The burger itself was very overdone, but the toasted challah bread was done well. I won't eat cole slaw and the waitress swapped out the pickled beats I ordered with the chicken instead. She let me know there would normally be a charge for swapping, but I wouldn't be charged because of the problem with my order. I am very glad I wasn't charged because it was rather unpleasant. My wife's NY strip was not cooked properly, and she was having a hard time eating it because of a sore throat. Instead we brought it home to feed to my dogs. Samson and Jackson, however, are very pleased. We got to chatting with some of the other patrons who enjoyed the show. They were all very pleased with their meals. Coincidentally, they all had breakfast items which really did look good. When I was fresh out of college I used to like this place. It was a Greek diner that reminded me of the diners I grew up with in Queens. But after the problems with the health department and the place shutting down for construction, it just does not feel the same. Does a diner really need the dark brown and light blue coloring that seems to be everywhere these days? On the other hand, they seem to have really taken the concerns from the past to heart as the place was spotless. In all, it holds no nostalgic value to me anymore and overall the food and service was pretty poor. Perhaps we'll be back one day for breakfast if the line is too long as one of our regular breakfast spots. read more

I was staying at a hotel around the corner and asked the front desk attendant where they would recommend for a $10 - $15 lunch within walking distance, and they recommended the Gateway Diner. I was a bit trepidatious at first, but thought 'worst case scenario something else will be around', as I wasn't really in the mood for a greasy spoon. When I got to the diner, though, my spirits raised a bit. It reminded me a bit of a cross between a Perkins and a Mel's Drive-In in regards to the ambiance, and the dessert case in front had what appeared to be some really tasty cannoli & carrot cake. So I gave it a shot. I ordered the veal & peppers and greek salad, and while I did have high hopes I was still very aware that I was in a diner. Usually a greek salad means crappy iceberg lettuce with a couple of rings of onion, some mediocre feta, and a couple of olives. i was pleasantly surprised when it arrived. It wasn't the best greek salad that I've ever had, but it was much better than I expected, complete with vine-ripened tomatoes, tasty olives, and decent cucumbers in addition to the normal fare. The feta still wasn't the best, but I've definitely had worse. The veal & peppers was tasty, but the texture of the peppers left me wanting. The veal was better than I expected, with a decent texture and flavor. After it was all said and done, I got out for under $10 before tip, and while I wouldn't necessarily make it a point to go back, it will definitely serve. If you're around, check it out. But I wouldn't necessarily seek it out. read more

Excellent service. All my reviews include the fact that I've got a service dog, and how I'm treated with her has a HUGE impact upon me as a diner. Often I'm hassled and harassed by people who don't know the ADA, even when she's wearing her (not legally required) jacket. Today I was starving and had to make an unexpected stop in my way home from dropping off paintings at a gallery... And when I arrived at the diner I realized I'd forgotten my service dog vest. Oh man... I was really worried I'd be denied service. But here I am, having a great dining experience. The hostess didn't even question it when I explained my dog is a service animal, and neither has any of the serving staff. Everyone is friendly and helpful, the atmosphere is great, and I already know the food is fine diner food. They'll even make special orders! Yay!!! Thanks to staff for being welcoming to people with disabilities who are assisted by services animals. read more

Whenever I drive on central ave, I always used to think what's in store at this Diner which is fancy and huge from outside. Finally today I decided to try it out and as I stepped in, there was no foul smell or food particles on the floor as any typical diner places and that's a big plus point for me. They have lot of choices to choose from in the menu and I was not sure what to order. Food: Usually I stick to omelletes at diner place but I was in no mood for that so I ordered Reuben Sandwich (pastrami) which is odd to try at a diner place. My waiter suggested to have russian dressing on it and glad I listened to him. Sandwich did not bring back my memories from Katz in NYC but definitely has a unique taste. My side order coleslaw tasted good too. Service: Better than typical diner places. Total Bill: $8.00 including tip Bottom line: Yet to find a better Diner place than this in the area read more

nice diner, but the service was so-so. I expected more, but the waitress didn't seem too interested in taking care of us. My son's pancakes came w/o syrup...Hello!!! It's was ok, but I'd check around to see if another diner sounds better. read more