In pandemic times, standards change, and we learn to value what we have instead of complain about minor inconveniences. I was here late one night in October, and when I got back to my friend's house I noticed they'd forgotten something in the order. I don't care. The people at this place were clearly exhausted, working their hearts out to take care of their customers. They are heroes to me and I'm grateful that of all the jobs they could get, these ethnically diverse young Americans chose to make and serve food for my "sitting safely at home with the computer for a year" butt and their community. Also the cake was great. read more

Have been a Gypsy's fan ever since we moved down here in 2001..give or take a few months. The 7, or is it 9? layer chocolate cake awaits anyone that remains hungry AFTER their meal. I usually go for the pancakes - pecans and bananas. If you're not starving, 2 will do. If you're hangry, go for 3. Their chips are made in-house and are really good. They claim to be able to make eggs up a 100 different ways, but I always go over easy or western omelet. Both are done right. I'd like it if they'd give me a pot of coffee to pour from table-side, but otherwise I have no complaints. Trivia: apparently the Town was less than pleased to have a 'shiny diner.' But I'm glad they've made friends. Not too many diners around, and I'll take this over IHOP any day of the week. read more

This was my first and last time at the Shiny Diner. It was clean and had a cool setting. The food was premade had no flavor. The "famous" chips were dripping in old grease and had no salt or seasoning, the burger was dry. The coleslaw tasted store bought and so did the chili. The hotdog was so salty and had no flavor. Would not recommend. read more

This is definitely a diner! Greasy food, large portions, and noisy atmosphere...and I love it. The manager is friendly, and the staff attentive. I've only ever ordered breakfast, and always leave satisfied and stuffed! The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is that the food isn't amazing. It's pretty standard diner food. Good, just not amazing. read more

Had brunch here after church and the food was just so-so. Had eggs and bacon and daughter had chicken salad sandwich. Probably would say we won't go back anytime soon. read more

The Shiny Diner - Cheese omelet - Diners Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Instead of a warm welcome, the "servers" gave us the feeling of being an inconvenience. When we still had a hour left until close. My fiancé and I turned around and walked out. Cant say we will be going back. read more

Everything here reminds you of a 50s diner, from the Formica to the checkerboard floor tiles to the tabletop jukeboxes filled with fifties and sixties classics, to the menu selection that threatens a cardiac event just reading it, to the well-cooked food, mediocre coffee and mediocre service. Avoid the chicken strips, by the way. They are larger than Wendy's chicken nuggets, but are otherwise indistinguishable. read more

I have been eyeing this place since my first adventure into Cary. The outside is so shiny and doesn't really fit in with the surrounding buildings. Now I can say I've finally been. We went in for breakfast on a Saturday. The place was hopping! We waited in line for a table for three -- luckily, we only had a few minute long wait, impressive for a Saturday at breakfast time. Our waitress was prompt in taking our drink orders and answering any questions we had. We ended up trying a nice selection amongst the three of us: I went for the Bacon-na-tor omelet with hashbrowns, the boyfriend got the Wolfpacker (my second runner up) with grits, and my roommate got the Gypsy Jewel per a recommendation off Yelp. Everything was delicious! My first bite of omelet was mostly egg, but once I got into it, it was perfect. I added salsa on top, which made it even more delectable. Food aside, the diner itself is pretty neat. There are little jukeboxes on each table and it is set up in the fashion of a 50s diner. The music selection was enjoyable, the volume was not overwhelming, and the seating was not uncomfortable. (We sat in a booth and I was able to sit criss-cross-applesauce in my seat comfortably.) The price range is a little bit higher than I am used to paying for breakfast, but the portions were much larger and therefore the increase seems justifiable. I would definitely like to go back for lunch someday. The menu had so many appetizing options! P.S. The pancakes smell like lemon poundcake for some reason. read more

Beyond the aesthetic (it's a SHINY DINER!), Gypsy's is a fine little place to eat. They have Gypsy chips which are homemade potato chips served hot with a side of ranch. So delicious! I'm a BIG FAN of "Granny's Chicken club", which is grilled texas toast, smoked bacon, turkey breast, crispy chicken fingers, cheese, & lettuce & tomato. Each table has its own jukebox and if you are lucky, someone will play some Patsy Cline. If you aren't, well be prepared for some Clay Aiken. My bet is that someone high up on the Gypsy's shiny diner food chain is either a HUGE Claymate or is related to him somehow. read more

Passing through from Ohio and wanted something other than Waffle House. Fun, quirky little place to have breakfast (or lunch or dinner). Service is great. The coffee was always being poured. Huge portions! Try the Gypsy Chips! read more

I used to like this place but it has gone downhill. First, we watched as our server passed by our food four times. Then when she finally served it I said to her that I ordered toast and she looked at me and said you wanted dry toast and I said yes that's what I ordered. The food tasted terrible. The eggs were suppose to be scrambled but were leftover from earlier in the day because they were boiled eggs chopped up! The server was quick to serve a bunch of men who got their food right away. Will not come here again! Also the bacon and sausage links were cooked in the morning and reheat as they were dry and hard. read more

The Shiny Diner - Diners Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We came here because the Farmers Market was overrun with out of towners today. We were seated immediately. The decor is cutesy and diner like with the 1950's/60's music. Our server was really nice and our drinks stayed filled. I got french toast, eggs, and bacon. My husband got pancakes, sausage, and eggs. Everything was tasty. It was good, but not great. I'd go back if I were in the area, but it didn't blow my socks off. I do like the crushed ice in my drinks! yes! It was also about 20 bucks for both of us so not terrible. read more

My wife and I have been looking for a diner for breakfsst and Gypsy's Shiny Diner hit it on the head. From the atmosphere to the food. The jukebox at the table to decor excellent. The food was traditional and excellent. Kamm was a very good waitress and we will be back. read more

As soon as you look at the place and walk in its like you are transported back in time. you are in 50s now. The shine flashy steel finish all over the place with bright lights and leather booths. Delightful surprise was personal juke box in every booth. I would have given the place a 4 star but my omlete wasn't good at all (veggie something) but my husband's Stack it all Omlete was delicious. Great Hash browns and even the rye toasts we ordered were not just stack of chewy bread you normally get. The place seemed popular and quick service helps when you are dining out for breakfast. I am definitely going back to give it another go and maybe order pancake sandwiches recommended by lots of yelpers. read more

Great service, food was delivered timely and great food! The best pancakes I have had in a very long time

Very happy with my first visit to Gypsy's. I'm sure it won't be the last. Everything I got was hot and tasty. Fried okra wasn't too greasy. Chicken-fried steak was excellent, and the cream gravy wasn't too thick (like some chains make it). The carrot cake for dessert was also exceptional. Fresh, moist, with cream cheese frosting that was perfect (not too cheesy, not too sweet, not too stiff, etc.). My only complaint was the battered fries. How are these still a thing? French fries don't need to be "improved" IMO but everything else at Gypsy's was great. read more

Why I went ? Hungry. I would have rather eaten somewhere else. Mediocre food. Not tasty and bad service.

Gypsy's Shiny Diner is our favorite breakfast place in the area. I've never gotten anything that I didn't like. We've had eggs, pancakes, home fries, hash browns, toast, french toast, veggie burgers, sausage and gravy, etc. Everything has been delicious. The staff has always been friendly and eager to serve. We discovered on our last visit that the tabletop jukebox machines only play the requested song about 2/3 of the time, though. We just considered it part of the fun. :-) We try to avoid weekend mornings, if possible, due to the huge rush they typically have. Can't wait for our next visit! read more

Came here after church for lunch. Had the blackjack club. It's a big portion at a good price. The roast beef was a little dry, hence the 3 stars. Service was great and very friendly staff. read more

The Shiny Diner - Blackjack club and house chips - Diners Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I love the Granny Sandwich. It has three different kinds of meat, mixing chicken with bacon and turkey. So delicious. The people are very nice and have been there for a long time. It is a nice place to go for lunch in my opinion. read more

First time customer here. Was very happy with our Sunday brunch. Probably some of the best fried chicken I have ever eaten! Seriously. Would return for that alone, but everything else we had was so good we definitely want to try other menu items. Chopped hamburger steak with onions and gravy, homemade mashed potatoes. Fried okra. Yum! We did the fried chicken and waffle thing too. Soooo good. Lively atmosphere. Very good service. Great food. Budget friendly. What more could you ask for? read more

Always have to visit, whenever we're in the area. Great food and great service! They always make you feel welcome and you never leave hungry. The pancakes and homemade chips are two of our favorites! read more

The staff here is so welcoming and make you feel like a member of the family. Once you walk in this place makes you feel like you went into a time machine; I love the music and the overall vibe is just 50's and it is great! The menu is very basic with breakfast, lunch and dinner items but its the type of food you go home expecting from your mom or grandma! The deserts are EPIC the chocolate 7 layer cake is amazing!! I love to get the french toast for breakfast and for lunch/dinner I either get a sandwich or an "open face" plate. I also love to add some gravy to my french fries; it makes me feel like I am back home in New England. This place just makes me feel at home and when I need that good home cooked meal but dont feel like cooking this is my go to place! read more

Very rude blond haired young lady was our waitress. Sucked her teeth and got annoyed when we had questions about the menu and wanted to change our order. We couldnt even focus on the food over how rude and hovering she was! It wasnt like it was late at night or anything it was only 9pm! Its a shame because the rest of the atmosphere and the food seemed so lovely but this waitress was so incredibly rude we wont be coming back or recommending it to anyone. There are better places to get a good burger and friendly service if youre looking for burgers. I recommend Mojoes on Glenwood ave. Same delicious burgers but also good kind service. read more

How do I even start? Robotic greeting at entrance and downhill from there. Strike one. Ordered a burger with onions and chili. Food is sub par. Chili is canned and coleslaw even worse. Packets of mustard and mayo? Seriously? Not sure if the chips are fresh cut but they were soggy so I assumed that some effort was made to deep fry them to make them crisp. Didn't happen. Strike two. Service was no where to be found. Bleached blonde with tattoos barely even tried to wait on me. No engagement and no small talk and no check back. I did want to just chill but throw me a bone. Just try to engage and be personable. The newspaper grabbed her attention over me. Strike three. And btw, there was no music playing so energy level was gone. I have been in the industry since the mid 70's so yes, I think of myself as an expert when food and service are the main components of an experience. Are we that oblivious that we assume as an industry that our mere presence as a server somehow justifies our existence and our subsequent tip? It's sad if we feel that way and that we have fallen that far from reality. I will use this experience for my staff and how not to build sales and the ever important guest base. I have had only average experiences here but this one will push me away for good. I wish Gypsy's well. read more

If you want good food, good customer service, and good prices then this is the diner to go to in Cary. I ordered an omelette and it had all fresh ingredients and no filler. For someone like myself that eats for 2-3 average people, this place had me full with the 10-12 inch omelette stuffed with meat and cheese with a side of homefries and Texas toast. The menu is quite extensive and has something for everyone. My only knock against here would be the desserts looked like heaven especially the 9 layers chocolate iced yellow cake but unfortunately it was dry like toast. Other than the dry cake you should be pleased and full. read more

Went with 2 friends on a Saturday morning. Seated right away. I had turkey omelette. Very good. Lots of turkey. Great hash browns. Well toasted rye bread. Friend had eggs Benedict with turkey. Eggs were overdone. Not runny at all. He was pretty dissatisfied with his meal. Other friend had pancake sandwich. Cakes were big, fluffy, and flavorful. End statement. We will def come back to try more items on the big menu! read more

Great breakfast food !! - hidden gem in Cary. Would come back for lunch too. Great menu and excellent service

Cool diner.....good food but understaffed which resulted in excessive wait. Rumor that the ownership changed recently which I believe shows in the staffing issues but the menu and the food are still solid. read more

Kaela was awesome and the food was as expected. I had the blue plate special and their 2 scoop Sunday was delicious. Try the peanut butter ice cream. Oh I liked the jukebox also... read more

Jusr eat breakfast. Love the corn beef hash, best you can get in this area! Servie is usually really fast, occasionally a little off. read more

I don't know who is in the kitchen cooking, but they can cook! I've been there twice and had the grilled chicken sandwich. It tasted better than chick fil a's. Had pecan pancakes the second time I was there and it tasted better than ihop's. I wish I could meet the cook. They know how to cook. read more

It's basically a doublewide, but you wouldn't know it from the style of the place. There's a lot of metal and formica countertops up in here. The breakfast is good and reasonably priced. The burgers aren't too shabby, but I don't think I'd drive past a char-grill for one. The fries, though, are awfully good. I'm a big fan of certain kinds of fries (hand cut potato style - five guys, well salted/peppered - chilis, just the right amount of spice - bojangles... seasoned deli wedges - fountain dining hall from 1999 to 2003 or so) and theirs fall into the crispy-golden-brown-exterior-with-a-touch-more-greasiness-than-average category. Also, the milkshakes are pretty darn good. There's a good selection of flavors, and they serve it to you in two containers; half of it fills the cup they give to you, but they also bring the rest left in the silver mixer cup. If you have one after a full meal you could easily share with a date and not feel short-changed (one milkshake, two straws please). read more

Laurie was the sweetest server ever! the chicken noodle soup was great and the pot roast was really tender. definitely recommend the oreo cake!! will absolutely be coming here again :-))) read more

Gypsy's shiny diner is everything you want in a diner! My husband had the "jewel breakfast" that had a little of all your breakfast favorites. I had the eggs Benedict with their "world famous" chips. Both meals were delicious. Even the chips were good but not breakfast food. We brought slices of pecan and lemon merengue pie and their layered chocolate cake-all were fabulous. read more

Don't. My wife and I found ourselves looking for a quick dinner at 6:00 on a Saturday night. If you find yourself in a similar situation and think of a place you have tried before, but then see the Diner and think, "why not give it a try?", Don't. If you find yourself in the diner and look on yelp for suggestions and you are thinking about the pork chops,,,,,,don't. No horrible service. No nightmare scenario. Just the worst, toughest meat I have had in a restaurant in many years. My suggestion about eating at Gypsy's: Don't read more

Dissatisfied with the food, especially for the price. Portion was average, taste was average, price was above average.

It makes me sad to write this, as I've come here all my life, but this place has taken a turn for the worse. The service is fine, but the food is very bland every time I go. This last time I went there was also a very unpleasant scent in the restaurant too. Might not be coming back anytime soon, but I hope for the best. read more

It's just what you would expect, nice staff, good no frills food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served anytime they're open. read more

The Shiny Diner - Diners Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Went today for the first time with my husband parents and son. Our waitress was Ruth and she was awesome. Great service and personable without being intrusive. Have lived in the area for over a year and it's the first diner we found that makes us feel at home. Food was perfect diner food fast and affordable. Corn beef hash amazing!!! Will def be back!!! read more