Don't understand the complaints. It's a diner. Pretty standard diner fair. Been here forever so it must be decent at least. I think people on the UWS just like to complain because it's not some trendy restaurant that will be here for a couple years tops until they can't afford the rent. This place you can always count on long after those trendy places come and go. read more

I always feel welcome and happy at Utopia..... Very friendly; courteous staff... Great diner cuisine..........Perfect comfort zone............Thanks all !! read more

Utopia - Always a happy place... Love the staff !! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Overall: 4 As I was making my way back to uptown NY, this little diner caught my attention. I figured its my last day here in NY why not just try something I am not familiar with. The minute we got in an older gentlemen (hisapnic appreance) seated us quickly and told us that we could order whenever we were ready. They had SOOOO many options. Everything from breakfast to dinner. The crowd there was a little on the elderly side. I ordered the Chicken Fajita Sandwich. Based on what I could see around me I figured the food portions would be small. I was quickly corrected when I got my food. My chicken was grilled perfectly and served on a pita instead of a tortilla. It was a lot of food but I really enjoyed it. This diner is a bit on the pricier side, I paid $17 for my meal which was a little surprising. Overall if you are in the mood for diner food and you are in the area I would definetly recommend stopping by. read more

Utopia - Chicken fajita sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Nice little diner on the upper west side. I decided to stop by one day last week for breakfast before work and it was the perfect way to start my day. The staff was very personable and made sure every customer was cared for. I even noticed that some of the workers knew customers by name, which is a good sign that Utopia has good service/food if people are regularly coming back. The food was good, just like any other diner breakfast. I do feel like I barely got any home fries with my breakfast order so I do wish the portion was bigger. Other than that I have zero complaints. Love this place. read more

Ordered a simple avocado wrap with no peppers but with tomatoes. The waiter said "no problem". Got the wrap, with no tomatoes. Returned it. Got the wrap again, filled with peppers. Waiter said sorry did I want to try again? Nope, didn't. Left it there picked over. BTW...didn't come with Mozz or sundried tomatoes either. Bill came and there was the charge of $14.50. I usually would have made a fuss but my friends like that diner and didn't want to ruin it for them. The decor is not nice and for a diner...quite overpriced. Go someplace nicer on the UWS for a few more dollars. read more

Felt like a local's place - ate here for a casual breakfast in a diner setting. A little pricy with 3 meals and several sides - adding up to about $75. I think a side of avocado was $7.50. However, friendly service. read more

Super fast service Nice waiters Delicious UI is overall Good kids menu With good choices Nice manager Try the grilled cheese But bad Mac and cheese read more

Chicken wings: 7/10. Very good for a diner. Bacon: 10/10. Marinara sauce and mozzarella sticks: coffeecup/10

If zero stars were possible that is what I would assign. My late-night post concert omelet was disgusting. I asked for crispy home fried and I received something inedible. Maybe it was an incinerated body. I ordered a California omelet. Note to the Utopia: people in California don't eat canned mushrooms and neither do I. read more

See all

After walking around the neighborhood in search for a good diner or breakfast spot with decent portions I finally found Utopia. I'm not looking for avocado toast the size of my pinky or eggs Benedict the size of quarter. I want a real meal with no frills. I only had an egg white vegetarian omelet so far, but it was cooked perfectly and the home fries were amazing. read more

Utopia - Egg White Vegetarian Omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Popped in for breakfast and catch up time with a friend. Monday morning buzz, filled with locals. Friendly staff, fast and attentive. Basic diner style menu. Had a lumberjack - eggs bacon and French toast instead of pancakes. So busy talking and eating, forgot to take pics. Nice diner with great views of the city! read more

Utopia - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

THIS FOOD IS SO BASIC AND SO EXPENSIEVE. it was served on wilted lettuce the french toast was beyond soggy and bland the home fries had no flavor. I was starving and still left hungry even with a $90 check. They gave us 5 mozzerrla sticks for 18. The chicken fingers costed 18 as well and were so thin and soggy. THE MILKSHAKES. 3 MILKSHAKES WERE 21. THEY WERE MILK. I WOLD B OK IF IT EASNT JUSY MILK AND VANILLA EXTRACT. NEVER BEEN MORE ANGRY. THE SEATS R COMFORTABLE but if i could give the food and price a 0 i would read more

We were in the neighborhood for Levain Bakery and wanted to get breakfast before my family had to leave for their flight. We came across Utopia and decided to give it a try. This place is your average diner where things aren't fancy, the utensils aren't the shiniest and the cups don't look the cleanest. It's a no frills place but gets the job done. I got the California omelette (3 eggs) with avocado, cheddar cheese, mushrooms and tomato. The omelets are HUGE and definitely could have been split. None of us finished our omelets on our own! The omelettes comes with potatoes and toast as well. My brother got the salmon egg's benedict and it looked very average with a bit too much sauce on it. All in all, for what this place is, it's not bad. As long as you don't come here looking for an upscale feel, this place will do. read more

Unfortunately for Upper West Siders who live in the 60s/70s, we don't have a lot of great diner choices. Elite Cafe closed a few months ago, and West Side leaves a lot to be desired. Old John's doesn't serve anything decent besides their burger. Luckily, there is Utopia, which serves tasty diner food, regardless of which meal you go in to. It definitely isn't fancy, but it is what it is: Good meals served quickly and at a reasonable price. When I'm in the mood for a casual brunch, Utopia is my favorite spot. There are some things that could be improved about Utopia. For example, I wish they didn't serve honey mustard dressing in a single serving vacuum sealed container. The one time I had their carrot cake, it was pretty dry. However, that's just water under the bridge. They do all the major things right. Service is prompt. Coffee refills are plentiful. The food is tasty. And that's why I keep coming back and so does everyone else in the neighborhood. read more

I had the veggie burger, which is listed at about $6 and comes with a pickle, a bun, a soggy veggie burger and a bit "o" coleslaw which i don't eat on principle. The waitress said that for .75 cents I could have lettuce and tomato, but I declined. I wonder how much would be charged to put ketchup or mustard on my bun? or margarine? don't get the veggie burger. Not ever. read more

I came here one night after a show at the Beacon Theater with some friends. We sat in a booth adjacent to an older couple. With the low dividing walls, privacy is non-existent, and I could tell our neighbors were perturbed by the conversation with our booth. Clean diner with typical diner fare and reasonable prices. The staff seemed a little slow, but I'd expect that from a late night dining experience. Food was so-so, nothing dynamite. The turkey burger looked like a slab of broiled spam, but taste was average. If you happen to catch a regular named Roz, she is a character with some great stories. Ask her to sing a tune for you or tell you a joke or offer a play on words. She may be somewhat delusional and may chat your ear off, but she adds character (and certainly is one) to an otherwise standard diner. read more

I just had one of the lunch specials, a chicken souvlaki and a cup of mushroom barley soup. Outstanding. With a cup of coffee, $10, and I'm pretty well full. Breakfast here is good. The soups are usually up to snuff. The staff is attentive, the place is clean, big windows looking out on the 72nd street subway. So much better than the Westside Restaurant a few blocks south, which is right across from my building (how I wish that place was good ... but no luck there). read more

Pretty much what you'd expect from a diner. Decent prices, decent food, decently clean. I'm a repeat customer, so they must be doing something right. My pancakes this last weekend were a little burnt, but they've otherwise hit the mark every other time I've been here. The service is interesting. They're pretty nice...in sort of a creepy old guy kind of way. I think the owners are Greek, and I found it charming that the staff was following this Sunday's vote in Greece through an iPhone propped up on the sideboard. read more

Super duper diner! I swear this is identical to a diner I love in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. I have been here for breakfast and had delivery for dinner. In fact, I got to New York City and realized "hey, I'm in New York, I can have an egg salad sandwich any time I want." Then I realized Utopia can DELIVER me an egg salad sandwich. Oh my god...so I had to do it. And it was GOOD. Breakfast is good too. Their home fries are really tasty, the Utopia Omelet is delicious (they'll make it with egg whites only if you ask), and the service is good. Well, the owner is a little touchy-feely, but he's a sweetheart. You can tell people love Utopia by the holiday cards hanging at the top of the bar this time of year. If you get juice, though, get a large. The small is...well, it's a little bigger than a shot glass, but not much. read more

Do you enjoy burgers as big as your head and that are so much more flavorful than your usual cardboard diner burger that you actually kind of become a little angry at all those other diners trying to pass of ground cardboard as burgers as if you're some kind of chump and that are so juicy they make a mess all over your hands and chin and you kind of don't even care or bother to clean yourself up because that would just waste precious minutes you could be using to gorge yourself on your uber-flavorful non-cardboard burgers as big as your head? You do? Then for the love of all that is holy GO HERE NOW. That is all. read more

Best diner on the upper west side! Friendly efficient service. Huge delicious portions. If you are craving excellent diner food - Check this place out. We each had breakfast wraps with potatoes. It was large enough to share. Very good strong hot coffee. read more

Utopia - California breakfast wrap with bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I've found on the Upper West Side what I've always hoped to find in New York--a dive-y little greasy spoon that makes me feel like I'm back at home. If I moved to New York, I have no doubt that I'd be a regular in no time. I came here with a newfound friend from BlogHer '12, who used to live on UWS, and I loved it. I ordered my standard two eggs, rye toast, hash browns, and bacon--the kind of meal that sticks with you all day. My friend opted for a bagel with a shmear of cream cheese and a slice tomato with bacon on the side. We were content with the delicious, cheap food and fast service. If you're visiting Manhattan, you're in close proximity to Central Park and Lincoln Center. read more

Came here fresh off a plane and a bus ride over from Newark. After wandering around Broadway looking for a specific restaurant that seemed not to exist at its address, I settled on Utopia, vaguely recalling its good Yelp reviews when I previously did some research into the area surrounding my hotel. Despite the high lunch hour, I was immediately greeted and whisked to a table for two upon entering. The two glasses of ice water placed in front of me within seconds complemented the cool A/C as a reprieve from the summer's heat outside. The service was friendly almost to a fault. The person who took our order complimented my husband's choice of chocolate chip pancakes (they were damn good). My veggie wrap was a little on the soggy and underseasoned side, but it was huge and I inhaled it greedily due to my intense hunger. The fries were tasty too. A bit on the generic side, Utopia made up for the average food with its outstanding service. read more

Food's ok and the waiters are nice enough. But the manager is brusque, unfriendly and plainly just wants you to eat & go so he can turn over the table. That kind of treatment makes the whole experience less than pleasant. read more

We were visiting the UWS and were looking for a quick lunch before heading back home to Jersey. This place fit the bill perfectly. It is your regular run of the mill diner that offers decent food and quick service. One doesn't usually go to a diner for atmosphere. So I wasn't expecting much in that area. My dining partner had the basic eggs,home fries and bacon and tasted just like any other Greek owned diner in the tri-state area. I had the special turkey salad. It had slices of decent turkey,fresh tasting feta cheese,assorted veggies, and crisp romaine. It was a fresh tasting satisfying salad. The chicken rice soup and clam chowder again were decent and freshly prepare like any other Greek owned diner in the tri-state area. One wonders how they can all taste so similar. They probably have database of Greek diner recipes that they all share with one another. haha This is great place for a quick meal where you will find generous portions,decent food,fast,friendly service and good prices. read more

This is a great diner to stop by at! The overall service was good - the food came quickly, and the waitress we talked to was very nice and would check up on us. Their menu has tons of options to chose from - there's sure to be something for everyone. Basically, this is a solid place to order from, and if you're ever looking for great service, an economical price, and filling food, come here! read more

I hadn't been to Utopia since I was a kid, but decided to meet a friend uptown tonight for a bite and a talk. The waiter was so incredibly friendly and full of smiles, he made the evening so pleasant. I hadn't hung out with this friend in ages, so I felt bad for the waiter who must have waited 45 minutes before we even opened the menu. We had about 3 cups of tea each first. The menu was simple, full of regular American diner food. Their omelets are awesome! I thought the price was reasonable for a diner on the UWS, and the service was quick and friendly. I'd come back for the grilled cheese, and the carrot cake. read more

1-Star is too generous!! The manager is a nasty SOB who cares not about dining experience. Only his pocket! I ordered a Diet Coke which was a fountain soda. Lots of profit for the restaurant. Instead of receiving a full Diet Coke, I received a "snow cone". When I spoke to the manager because I was denied a refill, I was told it was "too bad". I should have requested less ice. I am incensed enough to never patronize them. Their food isn't worth their prices. read more

Went to this diner on a chance because it was near the 72nd subway stop. Majority of the time when you go to diner you are not going to expect the same service and food as a fine dining establishment. My husband and I walked in and was seated. NOTE: If you are tall do not sit in the 2 seater booth because your knees will hit each other. This diner reminded me something out of Seinfeld. The employees were kind and the menu is huge. You can get breakfast all the time. I ordered the breakfast Mexican wrap and it was huge and It taste pretty good. My husband ordered a burger that he said tasted mediocre but nothing to brag about. This will probably visit this place again for quick food. read more

My family has been eating here for at least 20 years. Good food at good prices and a thoughtful professional staff make this the go-to place when you are looking for a simple, predictable NYC meal. They must really take care of their waiters - many have been there for decades. In all the time I've been coming here, I've never felt rushed. Comfort food in a comfortable, stress-free place that's open 24 hours a day. That's NYC at its best. read more

It's was a nice place to catch a quick breakfast... They serve breakfast 24/7 which good for me cause I'm a eggs and bacon, 24/7 kind of girl.. Me and boyfriend order and we were serve in less then 10mins... Can't complain... Did get really crowed after we started eating and not the organize but would recommend of your in the area. read more

Utopia - Pizza Breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Best restaurant in NYC! Been coming since I was a child! I love this place! So sweet and staff is family! Definitely come! Everything I'd home cooked and delicious! It deserves 100000000000 stars! read more

Good food and generous portions but my god is this place expensive. It's a diner! Still, the servers are extremely friendly and the place has a nice old school vibe. The best deal is the falafel for around $7. Everything else is very very expensive (for diner food). read more

Utopia - Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

In New York, your local diner is like your local pub. Is it a place you go for special occasions? No. Is it a place you'd take friends from out of town? Not really. Will it get rave reviews and be deemed the new hot spot by Time Out or New York magazine? Absolutely not. But that's why you love it. It's yours. It's familiar. The food is good. And the staff welcome you with warm smiles and handshakes, and ask you "where've you been?" if you haven't been around for a week or so. Utopia delivers on all these things. It's not a destination restaurant for sure, but if you live around the intersection of 72nd, Amsterdam and Broadway, you should give this place a try. After only a few visits it'll feel like home. Their breakfast food is quite good and they're always packed during weekend brunch. Big, generous omelets cooked the way you like 'em, crispy hash browns, and delicious pancakes. The lunch/dinner menu is ok, but nothing to write home about. I actually rarely order anything other than breakfast items at Utopia--if I'm in the mood for a spaghetti, or a cold cut sandwich or a burger, there are better places in the neighborhood. But overall, this down to earth and friendly neighborhood diner is one of the little things that make living in New York a joy. read more

Unfortunately our breakfast was not very good. The toast was burnt, the home fries were flavorless and the eggs were not hot. The place is not clean. Service is friendly. Really can't go back even though the service was good. read more

I have been a regular at Utopia for 15+ years, and it is still going strong. The service is amazingly quick, yet also quite friendly (or as friendly as possible given the admirable dedication to turning over tables quickly). The food is very good -- you can't go wrong with any of the breakfast and lunch classics. Omelettes, waffles, and burgers are the standards, but I have also had good experiences here when exploring the less traveled corners of the menu. It can be quite crowded during peak time (brunch/lunch on weekends), but usually the wait for a table is minimal (5 minutes or less) since they turn tables over so quickly. I continue to be amazed at how fast the food comes after ordering. I started typing this review immediate after ordering breakfast, and the food arrived before I began this sentence. Here's to hoping Utopia stays a neighborhood fixture for years to come. read more

See all

Everything about this place points to the forgettable and tacky, but somehow it manages to be totally charming. Came here for a gluttonous but judgement-free Saturday morning brunch/gossip and was not disappointed: extra delicious chocolate chip pancakes at a window seat, allowing for prime people-watching. Not sure what others are saying about the service - the place was packed but all the servers working with us managed to be quick, friendly and funny- that and they greeted everyone as they were regulars. Only thing I didn't like is that coffee isn't included with your meal- but maybe I'm just a NYC diner neophyte. read more

The omelettes here are huge, but I almost wish they were smaller, and one or two dollars less expensive. Went here at 11 o clock on a Saturday, and the line was really long. This place has a high rate of turnover, which results in pushy service. An average meal here will probably come out to about 15 dollars per person The food did come out in like three seconds though, which was nice. This is an ok place for a quick brunch. I think I might try to find another neighborhood diner spot though. read more

Did the job. Was looking for a quick & easy option in the UWS that wasn't too much effort and Utopia was close enough. Reminded me that "fresh-squeezed" OJ in NYC diners are never going to meet expectations and would be better off going to the cornerstore and picking up a carton of Tropicana Grovestand. Pricing would be comprable at least. My fruit salad was ok, but lacking the freshly cut taste... more of a "been hanging out for a while, glad you can join, have some fruit." Spinich pie was alright, as expected. Decor was more-or-less proper diner-like. read more

I had pleasent memories of this place from the 90's. I remember ending up here a few times, and thinking of it as a good example of a typical NYC diner. So I was in the neighborhood and dropped in for lunch. Either it's gone down hill, or my tastes have changed. The service was unpleasantly brisk. The coffee was burnt. The soup of the day (chowder) was long on potatoes, short on everything else. A combining of the usual suspect ingredients does not, in and of itself, make a Cobb Salad. All this being said, it was obvious sitting there that the staff takes very good care of the regulars. Most of these appeared to be older, white, natives of the UWS; a difficult species to say the least. So kudos on that! Also, I actually like that the place has not tried to be trendy or anything that it isn't. The decor is authentically tacky. Kudos on that too! I may have had better luck with waffles, pancakes or eggs. Maybe I'll become a regular here when I'm old and difficult. read more