Elsie’s Magic Skillet Restaurant
8166 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA, 22309
Elsie’s Magic Skillet Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Alexandria for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in Alexandria for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
8166 Richmond Hwy
Alexandria, VA, 22309 - Phone (703) 360-0220
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Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey, Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Mark B.
The place is a dive. But that was expected. The food was really good, and ample portions for the price. Had country fried steak and eggs, with bacon. The bacon was crisp and not over cooked or dry. The eggs were seasoned great and cooked to order correctly. The steak was good and tasty and the gravy was so good I asked for an extra bowl. Service was good, but a bit slow. For basic soul food home cooking for the price a much nicer alternative to the large chains.
(3)AL K.
Came here to grab a quick bite after waiting for the technician to install my stereo. I was the only customer and I was greeted by a single server who told me I can sit anywhere. The place is very old that the table creaks and the cutlery had seen better days. I ordered a classic 5oz burger and a Diet coke. SErvice was friendly and the food came out fast! I was hungry that I devoured the entire burger in less than 15 mins. Everything was ok. Pleasant experience. The paper placemats were interesting to read since it is full of useful facts about VA.
(3)Eileen J.
Interior: filthy Service: seated in the very back of a near empty restaurant, with full view of the garbage and other stuff you'd rather not see while you're eating, simply because we were with our 1 year old. Food: greasy, bland, waaay overpriced. Tang for orange juice. At least they took my crabs benedict off the bill because I didn't like it. Summary: Went on the strength of the other reviews, regret it. Will never return.
(1)Samantha E.
Nothing beats a delicious homemade breakfast and at Elsie's you really get a lot for your dollar. For $8 you get an egg plate that includes an obscene amount of eggs, bacon or sausage and your choice of two of the following: pancakes, grits, homefries, or a biscuit. I challenge you to finish one of these plates!
(4)Lori C.
There was just something about this place that called me to check it out. Not my usual hang out joint but curiosity got the best of me. This is not fancy and is quite greasy spoon but... The service was exactly what I was hoping for. Excellent. Attention to detail, down to earth, sincere and kind. I will go back when I need some "home cookin". If you are feeling like you need a little bit of Mayberry- this IS THE place.
(4)Rianna F.
Whenever I don't want to watch what I eat and want a LARGE portion of all-American food, I come here. The food is SO good and the staff is always really nice. I always order to go so I cannot attest to service beyond that. I've tried a couple different omelettes and their Reuben. All good. Definitely recommend.
(4)Katie F.
Do you like peeling dated wallpaper, plaid patterned table tops, and hearty food that will satisfy? Elsie's is for you. The menu is heavy on the breakfast items. Menu section names are cute "Daily Recommended Requirements" with includes juice and fruit, and the "Wet Your Whistle" section is full of beverages. They have a wide section of omelets, breakfast meats, and other breakfast fat. I had the sausage gravy and biscuits. Home run. The home fries were amazing to boot, in fact--they might have been better than the gravy. They also have a variety of plate lunches, including the pork chops and fried chicken that sound amazing. The service staff is friendly and diverse. And, you can probably get in a little O and J (observe and judge) here of the clientele. Be careful of taking your Monday morning walk of shame date there, as the workers surely take notice of the spike in customers. I am betting however this place is packed on the weekends, so a walk of shame date wouldn't make them bat an eye.
(5)Katie V.
FINALLY SOMETHING IS BETTER THEN IT IS IN CALIFORNIA!! Ohh man, this place is insanely awesome. I recently moved here from Southern California and have be disappointed in a lot of the food I've tried but I just had the best biscuits and gravy ever!! I never thought to put eggs on top of biscuits and smother it in gravy but it's something my life has been missing. The portions are a few meals worth...or one if you're a fatty like me!
(5)Victor G.
Let me say holy crap batman that is a lot of food for the money. I went with some friends who didn't tell me how much food there was here and I ordered the meat lovers omelet and a side of corned beef hash. Needless to say I had a to go box. The food was amazing and a great deal best price in DC area in my opinion. Also being from Florida I love my sweet tea, they had some of the best tea I have ever tasted between four of us we finished the goblet of tea 8 times amazing. I wish I had found this place sooner any time I come back I will defiantly go there.
(5)KSU S.
I don't think it smells like smoke, and I'm a non-smoker. Obviously they used to allow smoking, but the smell doesn't seem to linger anymore. The food is simple and greasy, but it's exactly what we want on a lazy Sunday morning. We're regulars, and we're not looking to replace Elsie's anytime soon. Don't forget the added bonus: 10% military discount!
(3)Christina C.
Came on a cold, Sunday morning - ordered bacon, two eggs over easy, home fries (without onions), and a plate of pancakes. The entire breakfast was worth it! These pancakes were so fluffy and amazing; the eggs were cooked just the way I wanted, home fries were incredibly filling, and best of all the bacon was crispy and delicious.. reminds me of my child hood. This place didn't let down at all. Plus our server was fast, precise, and generous. Will definitely be coming back here!
(5)Monk E. R.
Elsie's is that loser boyfriend you keep coming back to. The first time I set foot in here was around 1997 and I've been coming back ever since. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the tacky decor. Maybe it's the memory of Elsie, a nice old lady who since sold the place. Or maybe I have brain damage. But after my last trip, I'll probably be avoiding Elsie's for a while. The lunches and dinners have been pretty mediocre, but at least you get a HUGE portion of mediocre: sandwiches made with cheap lunchmeat and Wonder Bread; meat and potatoes where the "secret ingredient" is salt. But at least the breakfasts have been consistent. Until recently. I made the mistake of ordering the "Skillet Scrambler" which is Elsie's version of Denny's "Just a Big Bucket of Meat & Eggs." You get what's basically yesterday's sausage patties, bacon, ham, potatoes, onions, green peppers, and tomatoes all chopped to hell and covered with a scrambled egg. Remember the last time you were drunk and fumbling around in the back of your fridge for something to eat and found some leftovers that were about to go bad but you ate them anyway? Yeah, it's like that. With a fried egg on top. While it didn't make me violently ill, it did leave a weird greasy film on my mouth that was almost impossible to get rid of. $10 for what would have cost me $6 at Denny's, minus the weird greasy taste. The grits were excrementally runny (but drowned in butter!) but the bacon was nice and crisp. The sausage gravy biscuits come inexplicably smothered in cheddar cheese. Your best bet here is to stick with simple breakfast items: eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes. Actually, strike the pancakes. Those made my kid ill. But the coffee's good. You win this round, Elsie. But I'll be back next year because I have a short memory.
(2)Jeff A.
Breakfast goodness. I get the Magic Skillet, bacon, sausage, plus an order of pancakes.
(4)R R.
Went here for the biscuits and gravy everyone on yelp has been raving about. The food was mediocre...at best. The gravy was cold, watery, and tasteless. And the mystery of why it smells like smoke is solved. My boyfriend could see into the kitchen when the door opened and there were people smoking in there...IN THE KITCHEN. I have no problem with the 1970s decor. I do, however, have a problem with them following health code regulations from the 1970s. Never eating here again.
(1)Summer S.
If you've ever had a real country breakfast and that's what you're expecting, you will be disappointed. I had the sausage gravy over biscuits. It was pretty much tasteless. The homefries were okay but not great. My husband asked for gravy over his homefries but he didn't get it. They did try to charge us for it and it was quite a chore explaining to the cashier that yes, we ordered it but no we didn't get it. The decor is old, which can be charming in other restaurants, but in this one it just looked filthy. The carpet was filthy. When the dining room of a restaurant is filthy, it makes me wonder how clean the kitchen is. Honestly, I can get a better breakfast at McDonalds. I won't be going back.
(1)Kirt K.
When u walk in you feel like you're in a diner somewhere in West Virginia. Actually, I've never been to a diner in W.V. but I'm sure its like this. Everything in the restaurant feels outdated and there's even a sign near the door that tells you not to use cell phones but somehow the atmosphere and vibe in here works well with the type of food. Service is friendly and laid back. I've only had breakfast here but the portions are huge and it's cheap. My goto is the Italian omelet. It's like pizza wrapped with eggs. How can you not like that?
(3)Amanda L.
Gross!! All around.
(1)Marcus M.
Its a cold, rainy Sunday morning. I had no desire to fix breakfast. Running late and having overslept, I missed early morning church service. I head on down to the Mount Vernon/Route 1 corridor where I'm working and slide on over to Elsie's Magic Skillet which has been recommended by more than one of my customers. The food and service did not disappoint. Its not as much soul food as it is comfort food with a down home atmosphere. I had the bacon and waffle breakfast. Good stuff! I'll go back!
(4)Michele B.
I was with my daughter she needed a new tire put on her car and the repair shop wasn't open yet. We saw the sign for Elsie's Magic Skillet so we decided to give it a try. I am a country girl so I'm no strange to southern cooking. We walked in and was given a choice of two booths, coffee was brought right away. The server named Kathy was excellent! She was very friendly and attentive and is the ONLY reason I'm giving two stars. We sat waiting for our food I kept hearing a buzzing sound, I looked around but didn't see anything that could be making it. Our food came pretty quick it was pretty good but the portion was out of this world. Anyway we continue to eat and I heard the sound again so I looked around again and I found what was making the buzzing; a fly caught in a spider's web in the window sill next to the booth we were sitting in. I am known for being very picky about food cleanliness and it sometimes annoys the people I'm with so I said nothing. I went to take a sip of my coffee and realized there was lipstick on my coffee cup. I wasn't wearing lipstick!!!!! That did it for me. I paid the check took my uneaten food (because the server was so nice) but threw it away after I left. I told my daughter about it and she said "that was the time I should have reacted". NEVER GOING THERE AGAIN AND I DON'T RECOMMEND IT!
(2)Steve A.
Bad food, falling down building, and rude service. Now that is an award winning combination. If Union Carbide owned a restaurant, then this would be it. I keep reading about home cooked style food here. I guess if you grew up in a gas station where everything was covered in grease, then this would be home cooked. Some day soon this place should be declared a toxic superfund site.
(1)Lori K.
if i could bottle up this breakfast and take it with me wherever i go, i would. their pancakes are out of this world - literally, out of this world. i thought i might be on another planet while eating them. had i had known how delectable this dish was, i might have skipped out on my bacon and onion omelet (as the bacon was strips, rather than chopped, and the eggs a little runnier than i had liked). however, the pancakes made up for everything. it's a small establishment, only a few tables. it was a sunday morning and i expected it to be more crowded, but i guess we came at just the right time. the waitress was a little snarly, but i don't hold it against her - who would want to be on the other end of the pancakes? not me! next time i go back to WDC i plan on going to this place for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - pancakes all day, erryday!
(5)Squid I.
Don't get all gussied up for this place, it is a dump. However, the Mexicali omelet is awesome! Despite it's unfortunate name, it is a real French-style omelet filled with excellent chili. I know, I know...just try it. We went there for a quick dinner once as well and left pleased after grilled bratwurst. Again, simple tasty food. The service is OK, nothing special. The reasons for subtracting a star was the awful smoking section (filled with Virginia hillbilly's smoking and eating AT THE SAME TIME!) and the low rent decor. Both are easy to forgive when you get a perfectly cooked egg for cheap. This is the kind of place where you roll out of bed, throw on sweatpants and go. Nothing fancy, just simple tasty food.
(4)Erin B.
I went in on a Sunday, I believe, a couple months ago. Not only is it quite the drive up there, it was PACKED. We were seated and I noticed that Eggs Benedict wasn't on the menu, even after hearing that they serve it and it's amazing. I asked the waiter and he said they didn't serve it that day. A Sunday? And you aren't serving one of your apparently popular dishes? I was upset, but eventually just gave up and ordered the buscuits and gravy. They were great, the best I've had in the area so far and they give you a mound of 'em. Eggs underneath as well. It was very filling and the prices were great, too. I was just bummed that what I made the drive for wasn't even available on a weekend.
(3)Heather B.
It was my first time here. It looks nicer than expected inside. The breakfast portions are large. Service was very friendly. We went in a Sunday morning at 10:00, and did not have to wait for a table. Will be going back.
(4)Gin B.
Sausage gravy that is perfectly goopy and spicy. Perfect. Plates and dishes as big as your face. I ate here at 8am and then spent all morning digging and planting in my yard and I still didn't want to eat until 3. Delish. My friend had the ham which is truly grilled. delish. The potatoes tasty like potatoes not grease or tons of spices. Not sure why anyone would say it was dirty - old and worn, yes; dirty, no. i was tempted to go back the next day.
(4)Scott B.
Just moved to the Mount Vernon area and found this place as I was driving down rt. 1 and hitting the Goodwill next door (Also a decent spot to go for some goods if in need!). I had seen the sign a few times while driving and thought...now THAT place looks like the throwback to a better time type dive, I always enjoy. And Boy, I was not wrong! My wife and our 8 moth old have hit it the past 4 Sundays in a row. I may die of a heart attack while under 40 b/c of it, but the food is sooooooo good and goes along with my other favorite thing -- cheap! It is actually unreal how BIGGG my Ham and Cheese ommlette and hash browns were today. I was STUFFFEd when I left -- and had so much food just finished the other half for lnch today. ($7.95 including toast) The server was a black woman in her ?? 50's who when I asked how long this place had been here -- she said child...Forever....like me! Kind of reminded me a Mel's Diner or something. She is always smiling and prompt with the coffee refill and talking to us. Love the fast and personal service. If you want fast meal - this works too...b/c I swear we order, and it is on the table within 4 minutes. Next time I will time! Or just sit aorund with the paper and keep drinking coffee for hours. Either way it is great!. Food value and servers = 5 star. Couple negative notes. As I said I am a fan of dives, so the appearance not a concern at all to me and makes it even better. BUT They really could keep the integrity of their 1970s theme AND STILL take off the dirty ass wallpaper and just paint, and add some new 70's ish carpet. It now looks like it has not had ANYTHING done since I was born in 74' and has seen better days.....and just needs to spend a few days of paint and carpet. For this area is is 2 star at best. if I had to eat off the carpet or walls I'd not be here...but I have never seen any issue at all with food, table, plates, glasses etc. SO don't sweat it! and you wont regret it Also the manager - cashier, owner (?) can be a bit gruff and kind of a dick to servers at times and at register. I don't think he is a bad guy and he is always friendly to me, may be cultural. But as I have said give it a shot. The food and sevicce is unreal at the cost...I even found a 10% off coupon on mail, and all service members and seniors get 10% all the time! Take a trip back in time -- literally in this place!
(4)Sarah R.
I don't know about soul food or country breakfast. What I do know is that my Greek Omelette + spinach was AMAZING!! I couldn't finish it nor the home fries & toast. The decaf coffee was pretty good too. It is a hole in the wall & the tables are cozy. Everyone was friendly & the food was great. I will definitely be back on my next trip out to the area.
(5)paul w.
I had the fried chicken lunch special. The fried chicken was outstanding. However, the lumpy mashed potatoes with gravy made from a mix and the canned green beans left a bit to be desired. But $10 paid for that and a glass of ice tea so that's a good bargain for this area.
(3)Amy H.
Come hungry or don't come at all. Their cake pancakes are large and rich. They are not for the faint of heart. I would also recommend taking this place in moderation as there is no way there is less than a daily serving of fat (butter) and calories (sugar) in every meal. Two words sum it up: comfort food.
(4)Lesley K.
Best biscuits with sausage gravy and cheese and the butteriest grits, well in Alexandria at least. Great staff, quick efficient service, as delicious and artery clogging as southern breakfast was meant to be. Apparently an Alexandria institution, and they even have the old Viginia tourist paper place mats - to bring back those memories of learning about the mountains and the piedmont and the...... kitsch - but in earnest
(5)Chris E.
Growing up in the south I have eaten lots of "soul food." For me it was never called Soul Food it was just called a meal. I have eaten at some the well known places in the U Street Corridor. But I found this well kept secret with a friend one late Friday night. It may be a little off the beating path but is every bit worth the journey. This is my new favorite place in the DC area. 1. The best personal table service in all of DC 2. It taste as good as my Mommas 3. I felt like I was back at Home
(5)Renee C.
My boyfriend and I had high hopes for this place, since the parking lot always seems to be packed on sunday mornings. We could have gotten past the dirty, peeling wallpaper and even the stinky cigarette smell. However, our omlettes were runny and the "cheese" appeared to be velveeta. All together, it made a not-very-appealing package. what a disappointment. We will not be back. If you're looking for a great breakfast, I recommend the Pancake House in Falls Church. If you're looking for something on Route 1, I hate to say it, but you'd be better off at the IHOP.....
(2)Bess Anna C.
C'mon you can't give the hole in the wall breakfast spot a bad review. Yes, there is still a smoking section....You are in Virginia, a little reminder this is Phillip Morris country, V.A. will be the last state to ban smoking. Other than that they have a great breakfast selection and everything is amazing. I love the fact that it looks the same as it probably did a bazillion years ago. Who needs them to change when they've got it right? Nice crispy bacon, perfectly cooked eggs, sausage gravy to die for. Only complaint is the bloody mary mix, Its just tomato juice. But use the tabasco and black pepper on the table and ask for a couple lemons...you're good to go! Ahhh Elsies you are my breakfast spot down the road, even if I'm not hungover!
(5)Julie M.
Way too greasy and overall poorly cooked.
(1)Sharleen K.
Sounds weird, but they have the best breakfast potatoes ever!! I ordered the waffle, but kept picking at my fiance's potatoes cuz they were just so impressive! Not to mention, overall great food at low prices. Atmosphere definitely low key and nothing special.
(5)Brendon G.
Though they serve lunch and dinner we only go for the breakfast thang. Ambiance is hellacious - smoking still allowed and there isn't much separation between smoking and non-smoking areas. But if you're there for ambiance, you're in the wrong place. The Biscuits and gravy are superb - I haven't had better in these here parts. Waitress calls you Hon. Note - if you get the country ham, it's real country ham - salty as all git out. Grits also rule - they usually get messed up in other places. Portions are huge, so bring your appetite, especially if you venture into pancake land.
(3)Sharon P.
This is diner-ama at its worst. The last time (and it will remain my last time) there, I caught a glimpse of an old mildewy towel around the a/c unit in the window just above my head. The place needs a scrub-down from top to bottom.
(1)Justin C.
This place is the very antithesis of fine dining. Lest that sway you from coming here, let me assure you it makes the perfect setting to offer up a rarity in this area, a true Southern style breakfast. That is precisely why Elsie's offers a much more authentic version than anywhere like Georgia Browns or Art and Soul could hope to provide, it's shed the pretension and stuck to the basics. And it's pretty clear from the moment you set your foot in the door. To say this place looks bland ( yelp.com/biz_photos/9zmF… ), if not verging on depressing, might be an understatement. However, take a drive through my home state of North Carolina and little places like this abound, with servers who have worked there nearly their entire life (or at least the portion of it when they were no longer deemed "skilled" labor), and grease pans that have cooked more pork products than I could ever dream about consuming over the course of several lifetimes. You walk in, pick whatever table you like, and moments later you begin the artery clogging joyride that is cooked in bacon fat and covered in gravy. My waitress was expectedly hospitable, even if I could barely return the favor, as I was actually seeking out Elsie's in order to help cure a monstrous headache as a result of the previous night. I had been trying to get people to come here with me before, but few wanted to make the drive even further south of Alexandria than Old Town (this is almost near Mount Vernon), and it's probably a good thing since it let me just monopolize the table and feast in peace. Just a few minutes, certainly no more than 5, after placing my order I was treated to a bounty ( yelp.com/biz_photos/9zmF… ) of traditional breakfast foods, the likes of which I usually only see once a year when I return home for Christmas. Most importantly, and the thing that got devoured first, was the buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy ( yelp.com/biz_photos/9zmF… ). This seems like such a simple thing to make, and indeed it is, but it's also incredibly easy to go astray from the proven format and that's where most restaurants wind up losing me. Elsie's version is pretty damn spot on, although my dad usually makes his sausage (and thereby the gravy) a bit more spicy than what's offered here. I also was a bit skeptical of the shredded cheese put on top, when she asked me if I wanted any I assumed she was referring to my eggs. I didn't actually care for that and suggest you opt out, as it somewhat dilutes the essence of the dish. I also ordered some generic sounding breakfast combo, which consisted of eggs, bacon, and home fries (diced potatoes with pepper and onion, generally). The portion size on this plate wasn't just massive, it was overflowing ( yelp.com/biz_photos/9zmF… ). The bacon slices were twice the size you would normally see, and the eggs were scrambled to perfection, needing just a bit of salt to finish them off. The potatoes however, although more than one man should eat, were missing the necessary onions and peppers that I usually associate with that particular item, and therefore seemed a bit bland and mealy. Ketchup helped some, although much to my dismay the option on the table was Hunts, not Heinz. All of this food cost me somewhere around $10. That is just absurd. Yes, there are obviously some flaws here, but I don't think you can find a better breakfast deal in DC than that, and I challenge anyone to prove me wrong.
(5)Phil S.
I loooove this place! A nice low key, down home, country establishment. It reminds you of grandma's house and the pies on display as soon as you walk in just wreaks nostalgia! I have had the meat omelette, Spanish omelette, waffle, pancakes, honey fried chicken, bacon, home fries and every time it was all good! All the staff is so kind and friendly and accolade every request I have. I leave full and spend a little bit of cash! Love this place!!!!
(5)Allen H.
All i can say is great place! Was the first place i ate at since moving to Va. Try to go back on a regular basis!! If you want a meal you probably cant finish at a great price this is the place #HomeFries
(5)Lucille M.
Two words: home fries! Don't come here everyday unless you're on a weight gain program. This place serves up about the best American breakfast in the country. Two eggs, over easy, bacon, home fries, and toast. It's simple enough, but many places can't do it well. The Skillet can!
(4)Andrea J.
Meh! Nothing great about this place. We got take-out for breakfast and it was okay. Glad we didn't get the family showered and dressed to go here. The food was okay, not great but not horrible. The pancakes tasted like the ones at McDonalds. The waffles were good. The bacon was actually the best part of our breakfast. Cooked perfectly. The home fries were good but needed a little seasoning.
(2)K K.
Okay - not great. Good service. I didn't finish my entire meal. Oh well tried it and won't wonder now as I drive by now that I have. Really hard to say if this is what it is everyday as the reviews are great and then not so great but if you want a quick breakfast give it a try.
(3)S H.
I've driven by this place numerous times, and never stopped. I apparently had no idea what I was missing. The food is delicious and the portions are ridiculously large! Everything was fantastic and neither my boyfriend, nor I could finish our plates. I definitely recommend the skillet or the Country Fried Steak. As someone who loves Country Fried Steak, this was some of the best I've had. Unfortunately it doesn't come with sausage gravy, but their white gravy was still delicious.
(4)Angela I.
Customer service of male owner was horrible and disrespectful! He didn't know how to use his own register and got an attitude with us (the paying customers)!! How crazy is that! I got the honey chicken and waffles. Nothing honey about it. Chicken was ok but they waffle was very good. My friend got scrambled eggs with cheese, home fries, bacon, and pancakes. Pancakes were good, bacon ok, the eggs had literally 4 shreds of cheese in them, and the home fries were just potatoes sloppily mashed up with no seasoning. All-in-all, we won't be coming back!
(3)Michelle H.
If I could give less than one star, I would. Here are the highlights: 1. No egg white omelets on weekends. They will not use shelled eggs; only egg beaters unless it's single eggs. 2. Don't order a hot tea...you'll never get it. 3. The home fries could have been good but they're covered in onions (which they don't tell you and won't fix). 4. I'm a picky country girl but the sausage gravy is cold and bland. 5. The biscuits are canned and stale. 6. The waitress doesn't give a crap if you like the food or not. 7. Your omelet will likely have less than 1/2 of a slice of Kraft American. I searched. Also...egg beaters and cut up, dried out sausage patties. I was hoping this would be my go-to Sunday morning dive but even as dives go...it's a dump.
(1)Trey W.
Nice little "hole in the wall" breakfast place. I had the biscuits and gravy - thought I was going to need bypass surgery but it was really good. I recommend.
(3)Mermaid Q.
So good we came back the next day! Our server was great and food was exactly what I expected/wanted from a restaurant named The Magic Skillet! Eggs Bene were on point, home fries were fresh not rehydrated nastiness, waffles were sooo yummy! Chipped Beef gravy was not the beat, but I am a bit of a snob when it comes to gravy.
(5)Candice B.
Came here for breakfast around 7:00 AM on a Saturday morning. The place was pretty much empty. I ordered the corned beef hash with two eggs over medium and french toast. The french toast was perfect. Just like my dad would make, rich and delicious flavor with a touch of cinnamon. I love corned beef hash and usually get it if a place has it on the menu. There's is good, but pretty much out of the can, they are definitely not making it themselves. Not to say I don't enjoy the canned variety, but homemade is nice. It was formed into a patty and crispy on all sides. The eggs were cooked perfect. My husband had chicken fried steak with eggs, an English muffin and home fries. I tried a bite of the home fries and they had really good flavor and there were a ton. I wish they were more crispy though. He said the chicken fried steak was good, but I didn't have any. Plenty of coffee refilled frequently and a friendly enough waitress.
(3)Alex D.
Yikes. Menu is a lie and says a dish comes with two sides when it doesn't. Food is just basic breakfast and completely overpriced for what you get. 2 eggs alone is almost four bucks!! 10.99 will only get you a waffle, two eggs, and meat here. No potatoes, no grits, nothing. You're better off going to the Dennys down the road.
(2)Asha B.
For starters when our waters came to the table the cups looked dirty. Then we found a fruit fly in one of them. The waiter seemed confused about what we were ordering.The actual food was decent nothing was really special about it. Just your everyday waffles and sausage. My friend ordered the French toast and said it tasted very bland.
(1)Iris R.
I thought the omelet w feta was very good! This restaurant is old school! I'm looking forward to coming back to try other entrees on the menu.
(4)Ricky M.
Not good , I could have made this at home. Sausage taste like it's been frozen for months , and the pancakes are amateur
(1)Sofia M.
Can't talk about the food because I left right away. We went in and the floors were super gross. The hostess/register person not very friendly. In a nutshell , I wouldn't eat at a place that is not clean. Can you imagine the kitchen where you can't see the floor? I say, no thanks.
(1)Lendsey C.
I've been seeing this place on Route 1 since I moved here in 2006. It has always boggled me as to how a diner has stayed open all this time with other externally appealing restaurants just a hope, skip, and jump away. My curiosity got the best of me and I decided to stop in. Parking lot was empty, seriously EMPTY. When I walked in I could see why---I was time warped into 1983---and I wasn't even born then! The decor, lol, what decor?! It was all wood paneling, stiff old booths, a small, static filled television sat in the corner and the fake plants overtook nearly every corner. I wanted to turn and run but the waitress had greeted me too quickly. We were trapped. She sat us down, we had our pick of the entire restaurant, all the while the creepy manager stood behind the front desk and watched us with one eye. I made the mistake of asking what was in some of the dishes and he rushed over, quick to try and defend their recipes. Can we say aggressive? I was just asking about the ingredients for allergy purposes. We finally ordered, making of fun of the off brand ketchup and sauces while we waited, snickering at the time stamped 80s place-mats. When the food finally arrived the plating wasn't amazing but the portions were large. We tried the Italian omelette (pepperonis and pizza sauce coupled with 6 eggs!), and I had the steak and cheese. We also had a plate sized pancake and I'll admit the food was better than I thought (maybe that's how they've stayed open?) but it's nothing worth returning for. The angry looking over-the-shoulder manager coupled with the outdated decor and menu really drive the nail in the coffin for me despite the well seasoned food. There really wasn't anything magic about this skillet place.
(3)Hannah H.
My coworkers and I came here for some brunch on a PD day. The restaurant itself is sooo cute, and I was so excited to finally try it out as I always pass by it when driving on Route 1. We were greeted right away and were seated at one of the wooden tables. The server was very sweet and friendly. I ordered a patty melt that came with french fries; some of my coworkers had a breakfast platter with eggs, omelet, and a side of homefires. The patty melt was okay, but the ground beef was a little underseasoned. I was a huge fan of their side of homefries as it had a nice crispy crust around the edges, and great with the ketchup and hot sauce. Cute little old-school diner; I would like to come back and try out their other breakfast platters such as their country fried steak! +homefries!
(3)Aju M.
To be fair, the breakfast was good; just don't go expecting service with a smile. This is about the customer service. God forbid you leave your wallet with all your personal information behind, you will definitely receive no empathy-from the I'm not sure what he is, since he never bothered to introduce himself. I went to the restaurant to eat breakfast with my in-laws and noticed later that evening, that I did not have my wallet. Since, it was the only place I visited, it was an easy trace. The only issue is that went I went back to inquire during operating hours, with the "Open" sign lit, the man, (the I'm not sure what he is, since he never bothered to introduce himself-I assume he is at least a Manager, since he seemed to be in the cash register each time I have come by) ignored the phone calls and numerous knocks on the door and the window. I went back this morning and the same man proceeded to cut the host off from speaking with me, cut me off for questioning his servers honestly. I had to politely explain to him that I am not questioning his or his server's honesty, but he does have customers that are in and out and someone could have taken the wallet upon our departure. I simply asked if he reviewed the video surveillance. He proceeded to tell me where they were, as if I couldn't see with my own eyes that there was one by the booth I was sitting in earlier, yesterday. Unempathetic, he offered no suggestions, he does however cut you off politely, by saying Maa'm and Excuse me each time while rolling his eyes. I gave him a 2 because he did-after all my suggestions and reasonings ask for my phone number to call me, if someone turns it in. The only magical thing about this Manager's? customer service was the amount of times he cut me and the host off.
(2)Buck R.
My favorite after the club hangover breakfast spot on the highway. I dont know much about the dinner menu but i can say their Ruben is awesome. The french toast is also great along with the pancakes too. But thats all i can speak on ... I just stick to what i know is good. Interior is super outdated and has the feel of some old ladys house but who cares its inexpensive and is a good hangover cure like i said lls
(5)Jordan T.
We used to eat here every week with friends before gaming, but have since decided to take our business elsewhere due to the TERRIBLE service. The food is just "okay," that is if you can get the waitstaff to serve you the correct dish.
(2)Lawrence H.
The best hangover cure ever created is eating something nice and greasy. So when I walk in and have my seat after an amazing night of partying with my friends and feel like the party is still going. I look the waitress straight into the windows of her soul (her eyes) and I say give me the biggest, greasiest, juiciest, cheeseburger you have. On this cheese burger I want tomatoes, extra bacon, and if you can fit it sista put a fried egg on that sucka! It's so nice I got it twice, and it tastes even better the second time. It's around noon when I make it here and I love it because there's no bad time for breakfast. The waitresses are nice and very patient. They are also very attentive to whatever is going on at your table. The place is usually busy, which is why I gave so many stars because the waitresses actually still manage to get around to everything that needs to be taken care of. The guy at the front register though... He is the reason I dropped a star because he was so rude to one of his waitresses that tried to help him, and I didn't like how he talked to her. Other than that everyone else there made my day! BOO-YAH!!!
(4)Summer B.
Tried it again, it was a miss. The potatoes were literally disgusting. Such a shame. The sausage was kind of gross, too. A waste of my money, really. Service was great though. I put my pics up. I finally used the restroom to wash my hands. I put pics of that up, too. Not dirty... Just... Wow.
(3)Justin C.
We weren't really impressed by anything here. I got two fried eggs which were as good as they are anywhere else. The biscuit was really good but the sausage patty seemed like something that's kept in a warmer tray all morning. My wife's bacon looked like it was slid over a hot pan for two seconds and put on her plate. Not a crisp part on it anywhere. Home fries were average and seemed kind of sloppy. Service was not friendly at all. Not sure if that is the norm or not. There weren't a lot of options in this area and we wanted somewhere we hadn't been before and wasn't a chain. Looking back we should have found a Panera's.
(2)Nikki J.
OMG, such a slice of heaven. I've been going here for the past ten years and it's always a pleasure to return to the area and eat at this quaint mom and pop shop. The area is vastly changing but knowing this is a costant fixture and consistent place to get good food is a great feeling not to mention uber friendly service!!
(5)Barbara H.
We ordered waffles and fried chicken and French toast and fried chicken and home fries. Great service and good food. We will definitely come back and try something else.
(5)Tony S.
Food is great place is clean quiet a great place to wake up early for a amazing breakfast...
(5)Mo A.
Elsie's, Elsie's, Elsie's Magic Skillet. What to say....what to say. Well, not gonna lie, the exterior and interior look a little scary. It feels like you're watching an old rerun of Matlock or In the Heat of the Night, both of which go out of their way to replicate and accentuate Deep South (I'm talking Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, rural parts of GA/Carolinas) environments and traditions. Hellloooo 1981! The interior will make you wonder if this is really how desperate you are for food. Labeling the décor as "basic" is a bigger complement than I can describe. Additionally, if you're a minority, this place may make you wonder if there's an overall clad gentleman with a huge confederate flag tattoo somewhere in the kitchen. It may make you curious as to whether this is a Paula Deen owned establishment. It may also make you think twice about passing out fliers for the local Trayvon Martin rally. That's the thing though, looks can be deceiving. After all, what better unifying element is there than food? Needless to say, once seated in the dining room, it's clear to see that diverse staff and diverse customers are working in harmony to serve and consume some down home comfort food. I tried the Chicken and Waffles and the Waffles with Corned Beef Hash. The waffles are not only gigantic but also quite fluffy. Kinda like eating a pillow, in a good way. The chicken wings were large and meaty but perhaps a little overdone. If you like your wings fried hard, this would be your treat. The corned beef hash came in generous portions. The flavoring was good as the corned beef and potatoes played off each other very well. I would have preferred the hash to be a little crisper as it was on the softer side. Two meals along with juice came to around $20. Now that's a deal that you don't see too often. It's really easy to overlook this place due to aesthetics but that would be a mistake if you're looking for a hearty, stick to your ribs southern inspired breakfast. The cherry on top? In a region (DC) where you pay top dollar for location and style, at Elsie's you pay bottom dollar for substance and hospitality.
(3)DJ L.
Had the eggs, hash, and pancakes. Everything was boring, no seasoning, lacked flavor. Waiter barely spoke English and was hard to understand. Food was expensive for a diner. Most breakfasts for $9 to 15. Won't be returning. Still on the hunt for a good reasonable diner.
(2)P L.
I am a fan. The Skillet is close to me, and is the perfect place to have a good breakfast. Nothing fancy, but reliably good to OK. However, their coffee is terrible--weak and often not hot. I write this hoping somebody there will read it and realize that if they serve great coffee the breakfast will be much more satisfying. I'm willing to bet that customers will notice, and show up more frequently for excellent coffee. It would be a big change, but worth a try.
(4)Thalia R.
The only reason I am giving this place 3 stars is because they are not consistent. There are times where the food is "oh my god amazing" and there are times where I wish I would've cooked breakfast at home instead of coming here. It's really hit or miss.
(3)Dara B.
Food was good. Service was alright. Atmosphere could use a upgrade. Decent hole in the wall.
(3)Ellen D.
Went to Elsie's after 2 other places were either not serving breakfast or had a long line... We thoroughly enjoyed this homey little place - great home-cooked food, friendly hardworking waitress named Joyce, reasonably priced. Fast food service! Endless cups of coffee and iced sweet tea which was offered to us to take home too... Our booth was a little tight, but the food and friendly service more than made up for that. We left feeling very satisfied!
(4)Donald O.
I've driven past this restaurant many times over the years, so I finally decided to stop by Elsie's for an early morning Sunday breakfast. I arrived a little past 7 am (they open at 6 am on Sundays). There were a few folk already there, so plenty of seating was still available. I was greeted right away and took a few minutes to look over the menu (the small print didn't help). I decided to have coffee and a Waffle with honey fried chicken. The coffee was dark but very weak. My breakfast came in a reasonable time and looked nice. The waffle was served with a side of butter and there were three pieces of chicken; a small drum and wing with a large breast. The waffle was cooked well, and the chicken was very crunchy (in a good way). The breast was quite moist, but the other two pieces of chicken were just ok. This makes sense since I prefer white meat. All things considered, it was an acceptable breakfast. After my meal I went to the bathroom to wash the chicken grease off my hands. In the small mens room I was greeted with the unpleasant aroma of fresh cigarette smoke. It sounded like a vent fan was running, but it was certainly not doing its job very well. Although my food was acceptable, I don't plan on returning.
(3)Ashby C.
We absolutely love Elsie's magic skillet best place on the highway for home cooked meal!
(5)Jeremy B.
Straight up, american breakfast. Strong coffee and good grits. Fast service. Good prices. Place hasn't changed in 30 years.
(4)Navia G.
Freaking delicious. Every time. Been going here, sparingly, since high school. Food is typical diner food, but done very well. I've only ever eaten their breakfast, and I order something different every time and it's always spot on. This time I ordered the biscuits with sausage gravy with eggs and hashbrowns. It was probably the best breakfast I've had in months. Great choice. And to think, we were considering going to IHOP... This place is definitely a hole in the wall with career-waitresses and the like, so don't plan on sharing a fancy brunch with anyone. But if you're hungry, and not looking to impress, this is a great choice for breakfast!
(5)Kim L.
Service was good but food was far less desirable. Eggs were undercooked and other food was dry and tasteless. Will not return to this place.
(1)Chris S.
After reading some of the reviews on here, I was pretty pumped to try this place. After all, when you live in the country, there aren't chain restaurants, there are mom and pop diners with damn good food. So seeing a diner here in my suburban area was a welcome site. Sadly, this place fell short of the mark. When we entered, I was pleased to note the decor hadn't changed since 1970. For me that makes a homely diner feel. Accompanied with that should be delicious, greasy, and abnormally large portions of food. The magic skillet hit on just two marks; Large portions and greasy food. I ordered two eggs sunny side up, scrapple, home fries, and a side of biscuits and gravy. The eggs were severely undercooked. I realize they are runny eggs, but there shouldn't be a thick membrane around the whole top of the egg. The scrapple was dry, but that's a risk I take every time I order it. Scrapple seems to be a dying breakfast choice, so I'm sure it tends to sit around for a while. Now the home fries were flat out gross. They tasted like an old antique store and were essentially mashed potatoes. To top it off, the biscuits and gravy everyone talks about were weak. The gravy was bland and the biscuits were store bought. This place could be great, but unfortunately I wouldn't recommend them. Basically its overpriced mediocre food.
(2)Tom C.
Service is great, prices are great! Decor and food...far from great! If your feeling adventurous and got some time to spend on can this is the place for you! =x
(1)Christopher C.
very good! if in the area give a try. only came for chicken and waffles was very pleased.
(4)Carian D.
Elsie's Magic Skillet is awesome! I always get the honey fried chicken and waffle which is great! The honey fried chicken tops the charts for fried chicken. The place looks like a dive but turns out large portions of deliciousness. It is one of my favorite breakfast places. I just wish it was closer.
(5)Michael L.
Excellent food, excellent service. Don't let the looks of the place fool you. In a town that doesn't have a lot of options, this place is a gem - high-quality (and plentiful) breakfast fare.
(4)Dan B.
This is a greasy spoon. A dive. If you are expecting anything more you will be disappointed. Decent grub, grumpy servers. But satisfying.
(3)Mason S.
Perfect diner food. Gigantic breakfasts at very reasonable prices make this place a weekly tradition for me and my gal. Way way better than ihop or silver diner. Try the pancakes.... They're a side here somehow!
(5)William T.
I have been coming to Elsie's off and on for a few years. There are many chain breakfast establishments up and down the Route 1 corridor. However, Elsie's is by far the best. Elsie's is not a chain restaurant, and has more of a down home, quaint southern feel to it. The décor is very dated. However, not to sound like a Hipster, but I think that is a part of Elsie's appeal. You won't find any place like that left in the area. The food is delicious and served in huge portions. Also, the food is pretty cheap. Can't go wrong! My personal favorites are the biscuits smothered in sausage gravy, sunny side up eggs, and scrapple. This is the only breakfast place I know of that serves scrapple! The place can get packed on weekend mornings, however during the weekdays and evenings it is practically empty. I have eaten their dinner items a few times, and those too are your standard 1950s classic Americana diner meals (cheeseburgers, meatloaf, sandwiches etc...). I do enjoy their dinner food items, but I think Elsie's is more renowned for its amazing breakfast.
(4)Charlotte B.
I cannot justify the use of the term restaurant (or diner even) in relation to this establishment. A more accurate description would be an over-sized pantry and freezer with a seating area where you pay to have pre-fabricated items tossed into the oven and then carried out to you. From the outside - this is a standalone diner in need of a little "magic". The tan paint and sinking parking lot leave much to be desired. The inside is not much better. Although I am a fan of nostalgia, this place needs to be updated. The brown painted straight backed booths are compact and lacking in comfort. The picnic cloth printed tables are covered in condiments and paper mats dated pre-2000 with Virginia state factoids. The menu has a wide variety of items, and based on the amount of premade items presented to our table yesterday, it is safe to say that this place cannot handle the size of the menu. Unlike most of the commenters here, my table chose items off of the lunch/dinner portion of the menu. For $40 (tip included), we got: - An appetizer plate: frozen fries (unsalted), six frozen shrimp, three mozzarella sticks, two frozen chicken tenders, and six frozen onion rings. All of this was served with a bowl of marinara sauce. - Two orders of chicken fried steak with what tasted like packaged butter gravy (no salt, no pepper), BBQ baked beans (reminiscent of Bush's), Kraft macaroni and cheese, cole slaw (reminiscent of the Dole mix found in your local veggie section), more frozen fries (again, unsalted), and two pre-made rolls served with room temperature tubs of yellow butter spread that clearly read "keep refrigerated". - A pitcher of iced tea The best parts: - The chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks (they managed to get the cheese melted enough to be gooey and runny). - The refreshing iced tea. Service was quick, a little brusque but friendly enough (we were the only patrons in our section). My table regretted not ordering breakfast, but we weren't enthusiastic enough about what we received to make a return trip.
(2)Corie D.
Preface: I'm originally from Metro Detroit, where Coney Islands and whole-in-the-wall diners w/ cheap, delicious and quickly-served breakfasts abound (just give me two scrambled eggs w/ cheese, homefries, bacon, and toast. Add in a coffee and/or OJ). I miss those places and would love to see more here. That said . . . This place, in a minute: expensive, suspiciously-fast-on-service (um, were those eggs just sitting there waiting for us?), poor food quality hole-in-the-wall. No. No. No. We unfortunately ended up here on Veterans Day after bargain-filled and mediocre-but-fits-the-bill-for-a-simple-affordableÂ-breakfast Denny's and IHOP were jammed packed. Don't get me wrong. I love a good hole in the wall.And I like a friendly server. Both of these, the Magic Skillet had. HOWEVER. A breakfast-serving hole-in-the-wall should not cost two adults and two toddlers $50 ($40 + $7 tip). Breakfast is supposed to be cheap. I only pay a lot for breakfast if it's a special event. THINK: Brunch date w/ my husband at Del Ray Cafe (PEOPLE, YOU CAN GET A $50 DELICIOUS, DECADENT BREAKFAST AT DEL RAY CAFE - WHERE THE DIGS ARE FANCY AND THE FOOD IS TOP-NOTCH.) A hole-n-the-wall complete breakfast should be $5/person or $20-25 for two adults/two toddlers, tops. When I look around this place, since it's so underwhelming (which, again, I tend to find charming and cozy), I wonder: where is the money going? No, really. Where. Is. The. Money. Going. It's certainly not going to overhead. My sense is the servers were the two co-owners. So, again, I ask - where is the money going? (Think carwash, Breaking Bad . . . ) I have no idea. I only wonder. As for the pricey food itself. The food came suspiciously fast. And I also like fast service (I have two toddlers; time is of the freakin' essence). My husband ordered the omelette, I ordered the two-egg meal, my kids each ordered a kid meal (pancake and eggs, respectively). OJ all around. The eggs: not scrambled. Rather, they looked like ribbons - flat, lifeless egg scraped off the griddle. The potatoes? Not messily and tastily roasted on a seasoned grilled. Rather, black, bruised tomatoes thinly seasoned (just salt and pepper would do. Oh, and healthy potatoes. Last time I check, potatoes are pretty cheap. Why skimp on quality?). The butter on the toast? suspiciously deep-yellow in color. What was it? Again, plain ol' butter (nothing fancy - not Irish, not French) would do here. The hole-in-the-wall is there. If it had decent food w/ the same cheap, cheap ingredients and 25% lower prices, awesome. I'd return. But something doesn't make sense here. Expensive, yucky tasting, and dingy interior just doesn't add up. I won't be returning.
(2)Jesse S.
Prices were reasonable and the portions were big. Breakfast potatoes had no taste, no salt or pepper. The sausage gravy was heavy and very bland. I could see sausage in it but couldn't taste it. Had to add salt to everything.
(3)Kimberly M.
Wanted a good hearty breakfast, decided to check Elsie's magic skillet. On Sunday, the restaurant was packed. We ordered and within 5 minutes we had our food. Huge portions. Pancakes, home fries , bacon and corn beef hash patties all good.
(4)Ryan M.
Worst breakfast ever. I ate the greek omelette and i cant describe how it was all fillings and barely any egg wrapped around it...really. the coffee is 2.50 a cup and old tasting. 3 dollars for four small pieces of bacon..i dont mind a dirty breakfast dive if food is food but people who said food is food have no idea about quality. I asked locals at barber shop about this place and they all laughed and said it was good years ago but newer owner ran it into the ground..obviously
(1)Pamela J.
This morning I had the pleasure of being a tad hungover and this place was perfect. The gigantic omelets and the wonderful senior citizens were the highlight. I had grits that were also great. I enjoyed the food so much that I will overlook the bland no interaction ass waitress.... The inside could use a little Lysol. None the less, a nice homey cooked meal.
(4)Aubrey N.
The first time I went to Elsie's Magic Skillet was around 2009 when my friend recommended the place. I remember having an omelet, home fries, toast, and a cup of coffee. As a hungry 19 year old who was being treated to breakfast I have to say that the food was great - big portions, affordable prices, friendly service, and classic diner food. The morning rush was there and it was a pleasant atmosphere to talk and enjoy a Saturday morning at. That was four years ago. Yesterday I was yelping and decided to go back and get a bite to eat. I got the signature omelet for dinner. It tasted the same as when I went years ago (although it might have had less cheese this time). Actually, looking back everything about the Magic Skillet looked the same as when I went years ago. Kind of reminded me of a diner you'd see in a movie from the 80's or 90's. The menu had a pretty good selection of items, I kind of wish I branched out and tried something different like the Philly cheese steak or the country fried steak. Maybe next time. I personally like this business, and I'm impressed that they've stayed in business for so long.
(4)Greek M.
We were looking for a small, non-franchise, diner to grab breakfast at and happened upon Elsie's. My hubby and I ordered the Country Fried Steak breakfast with homefries and pancakes. The steak was yummy, the homefries a little greasy, and the pancakes were big and fluffy. Even though they were busy, service was fast. It is a greasy spoon type of diner, I liked the atmosphere better than the hustle and bustle of the corporate breakfast shops. We'll be back!
(4)Rick S.
Quick fast service. Inexpensive but tasty food. Friendly service. Excellent non-chain place to catch a quick bite or nice breakfast.
(4)Mary H.
Great breakfast. Just what I was looking for, eggs, bacon and grits and coffee the minute you walk in!
(5)Greg M.
Elsie's is pure magic - I'd driven past many times before giving it a try and was very glad I did. For the price point, it's hard to find a better place for breakfast. With a lengthy menu and helpful staff, it's hard not to have a good time here. Be prepared for limited seating and a pretty homey feel to the restaurant. The décor and staff are all entertaining, don't be put off. It must have German roots as they offer German beer and food during lunch, but it appears to be asians running it - don't know how to reconcile that except to say that their breakfasts are excellent and I look forward to trying the lunches soon. The food is great - hearty, well prepared, good attention to detail, perfectly cooked. I consistently order one of the skillet omelets and am never disappointed. They are happy to customize orders and will provide you good feedback. Check out Bobby K's review for a more in-depth analysis, but I'm a real fan of this place - check it out.
(4)Dan T.
Our first visit to this diner, and I'll have to try it again for breakfast or brunch. The dinner we had wasn't outstanding by any stretch. The service was great.. Our server took the time to explain the menu and describe her favorite dishes. The salad had lettuce and tomatoes....that's it. The tuna melt looked and tasted pretty good, but the flounder stuffed with a crab cake was greasy, bland, and soaked in a pool of butter. The crab cake was mostly filler and very little crab meat. The coup de grace was the bland, frozen veggie served as a side. I've been reading the reviews about the breakfasts at this restaurant. I'll have to try it sometime, but I doubt I'll be back for a dinner.
(2)Lindsay C.
I was surprised at how decent this place was since the outside is pretty kitsch. The inside was pretty tacky, too, but that's ok given the prices, friendly wait staff, and quick service. I've been for breakfast and lunch now and both were your standard quality diner food. Had an omelet and home fries and a biscuit for breakfast. Very generous portions. Enough to bring home for lunch, too. My mom was surprised that her omelet didn't have cheese in it. I didn't notice, but that did seem strange. Make sure you ask for it, I guess! For lunch I had a tuna sub which was large and good quality, better tasting and a better deal than most sub shops in the area. I haven't been on the weekends when the parking lot is packed so I'm not sure how long seating takes at that time but I would be wary of this. I will certainly return.
(4)Stephanie S.
I have a thing for dive breakfast places, so I begged my husband for months to go here. One day, he relented, and he is sorry he waited so long. The service is great, the food is better: tons of butter, sugar, lard, and cream: just the way breakfast was intended to be cooked. Now I sort of want to tell my boss I have a "doctor's appointment", and go here for breakfast in the morning.
(4)Dorothy M.
in a word: scary in two words: scary, uncomfortable in three words: scary, uncomfortable, weird
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