City Diner Restaurant
5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 22041
City Diner Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Falls Church for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Falls Church for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Falls Church for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5616 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA, 22041 - Phone (703) 671-4108
- Website https://citydiner-restaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 10:00pm
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 : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Greek Cuisine
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
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Mariam R.
The boy and I have been coming here for the past three years and we love it. We usually get breakfast, but have had lunch and dinner a few times. We've never left disappointed or hungry. My favorite would have to be the pecan waffle with whipped cream. Yum. The omelets are big and satisfying and they have so many different omelets to choose from. The Hobo Banquet isn't bad. The country fried steak is usually okay, but sometimes it's a little tough. If you order an entree salad, be prepared to not be able to finish it - I had the chef salad and couldn't believe the amount of meat and cheese it had. You get your money's worth here. The staff is friendly and they remember their regulars (maybe that's a bad thing?) ;-)
(4)Dawn B.
I love their whole-wheat pancakes! It is one of the only places in the DC area that I have been able to find them. Really reasonable prices under 7 for breakfast potatoes and veggies or an omelet. Try this place out I'm sure it would be anyone's style; well at least if you enjoy greek diners.
(4)Mac O.
I've driven by this place a thousand times and never given it a second glance -- it's so uninviting from the outside. But major disappointment with Northern Virginia breakfast spots finally forced me to expand my limited scope, and City Diner found itself squarely in my snare. Lucky me. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day long, any time you want it. Obviously I'm going to get breakfast. Options -- interesting ones at that -- abound. Eggs any way, scratch-made pancakes (including whole wheat!), waffles, skillets, pastries, cereals, fruit, and decent coffee. Not peel-the-paint strong like I like it, but decent. And the omelets? Nom nom nom...they're cooked to perfection and come in a million incarnations. I like the spinach, mushroom, artichoke (and add Swiss cheese), and the Jalapeño Hell Hole -- with cheddar, onion, potatoes, and pickled jalapeño, hold the ham. Husband really enjoys the eggs benedict (perfectly poached eggs atop perfectly toasted English muffins and perfectly cooked, fresh spinach) and the sausage and gravy biscuits (savory sausage gravy and pillow-soft biscuits). The lunch and dinner menu is novel-length, a study in Italian, Greek, and American specialties from burgers to pastichio to chicken parmesan. Prices are really reasonable -- hardly anything on the menu exceeds $15, and that's for a crab-meat stuffed grilled trout. What? Yeah. Not sure about diner crab-meat...or trout...but I haven't tried either, so I'm gonna go ahead and give them the benefit of the doubt. The kitchen seems to know what it's doing. Décor is funny. It's definitely diner-ish with its neon, vinyl, and glass-brick. But it's also overrun with odd little tchotchkes collecting dust -- not so appealing. We're talking African masks, American flags, Mexican sombreros, French Eiffel Towers...apparently the "city" in City Diner refers to all of them. I love that this place is family-owned and operated. Everyone chips in to bus tables, work the crowd, cash you out, take your order. Plus the servers are efficient, and the food comes out quick. Glad I finally stopped in after years of blowing right by City Diner. We've happily made it a regular breakfast stop. **Major bonus points for the all-you-can-grab Richardson mints. I'm a sucker for those things.**
(4)Greg S.
Now my daughters favorite restaurant. Huge milkshakes, great service, good food. This was on a Friday morning around 10am for breakfast. The restaurant was about 80% full and there was no wait to get a table. Good family restaurant.
(4)Bobbie O.
If I could have given another half star, I would have. My first visit was the other day for breakfast, a meal which I thoroughly enjoy eating out. I ordered a veggie omelet well done, which is - mercifully - how it arrived. It was LOADED with FRESH vegatables: broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, onions, and - as I recall - tomatoes. The accompanying home fries were good, and the toast was nice and crisp, not the flabby under-toasted type often served in diners. I also appreciate the fact that I could taste coffee in the coffee. The breakfast menu is extensive; I have never seen so many omelet options, for instance. Out of curiosity, we asked to see the lunch/dinner menu as well and discovered that it is about 8 pages long. As for ambience and decor, the outside - a basic diner front - did not prepare me for the inside, which is encrusted with "artifacts," memorabilia from various trips perhaps? I could tell right away this was not a chain restaurant. I will definitely eat at this family owned and operated restaurant again.
(3)Michael F.
The City Diner is a good stand-by when you're looking for greasy-spoon diner food. The Greek food is also very good too. Their lunch specials are particularly magnanimous. I would only order one if I was very hungry. Definitely try their bread pudding. For all of their good food, they're not without some weak points, though. I'm not a fan of their fried chicken which I thought was too heavily battered for my taste. I also steer away from their burgers. Their pork tenderloin souvlaki is wonderful, however. Their soups are also very good particularly their matzo ball soup. It's best to think of this as a Greek diner, with a few NYC Jewish deli favorites scattered through the menu.
(3)Drew S.
Good food, good service, and a lot of tables (more than it looks like from the outside). I've never had a problem with the food or service, and you can always get a seat. Just wish it was open 24 hrs.
(3)David K.
Craving biscuits and gravy, I checked Yelp for the closest offering. City Diner won out. Located in Bailey's Crossroads, it was a bit of a hike but there on the menu was the biscuits and gravy. As a self described biscuits and gravy connoisseur, I was able to pinpoint that City Diner uses Chefmate brand sausage gravy, sold at Costco in nearly a half gallon quantity. Not to say this is a bad thing, it is more flavorful than most sausage gravies offered. The biscuits weren't very big though and were a bit of a disappointment. We didn't really care for the home fries offered here also. The prices are low, the service is friendly, and if I lived in the area I'd be back, but alas, I live two blocks from Bob and Ediths so no need. I did enjoy the fish tank near the hostess stand.
(3)Deanna J.
Don't let the location put you off. A friend that's tried every diner in a hundred mile radius brought us here. A very nice Greek family owns the restaurant. The prices seemed a bit high, but the portions are huge. Desserts are amazing.
(4)Noel O.
I'm a fan of a diner, and being a newcomer to this part of Arlington, I decided it was high time to check out this place. City Diner is near a lot of other shops and parts of town, so if you're in the area it's worth checking out. That being said it's a diner, so don't go out of your way unless you're hard up for some hangover food. That's not exactly why I was there this morning, but regardless of reason I took two of my boys who both hale originally from Long Island, so they felt right at home walking into this place and seeing a dessert counter with beautiful looking cakes and cannolis. We were sat immediately, which was surprising because similar places in North Arlington would normally have a wait of thirty minutes or so on a Saturday morning. The menu was quite extensive and catered to all your usual diner fare, though I was impressed with their omelet selection. I ended up choosing a Country Fried Steak to see how theirs compared to other joints I knew from the area. It was fine--nothing special, but nothing to write home to momma about. All in all a good way to start out one's weekend.
(3)Ross S.
Went here for the first time and this place is very comforting. Its nice for breakfast. If you like corn beef, i suggest you get the Hobo Banquet. I love it. Place is family operated.
(5)Hendrik J.
Looks better on the inside than it does on the outside. Glad we went in. My measure of a diner is the Gyros Platter. City Diner's platter is about $15, which I think is high, but I suppose that's the going rate these days. I must say I was impressed with the portion size, and I'm not used to getting soup included in the meal, so that was a bonus. The gyros meat doesn't seem to be from a spit, and usually that's a deal breaker for me, but it still was quite tasty, and it's the only local non-spit gyros that I would consider eating again. The french fries were particularly yummy. These are the battered kind. The menu was impressively large. I was also impressed with the overall atmosphere and general cleanliness. This was one clean greasy spoon restaurant. Freaked me out. We went at mid-afternoon on a Sunday, and service was excellent. I have no idea what the crowds would be like during peak times. We'll be returning.
(4)Kara D.
As a transplanted New Yorker, I've been looking for a real diner in the DC area. City Diner is as close as it gets; its not a chain and family owned...with a menu that spans pretty much every cuisiene. I highly recommend the Hell Hole Omelet for breakfast or their Greek specialties for dinner. Burgers are good too.
(4)Lulu B.
We are lacking some home cooking places around here and after the roach problem at IHOP on Duke we needed to find a new place to get waffles and pancakes from, we tried this place to possibly fill that void. It's a little outdated with old fixtures and furniture but the service was friendly. It didn't look as clean as a place I want to eat all the time but for pancakes and waffles it was ok. I probably wouldn't order any meat from here though.
(3)Gwyneth F.
This was such a great place to eat as a family! Was recommended by our hotel front desk and we were a little nervous going into a city and never have had a personal referral to a restaurant . The owner was so nice and all of the wait staff was excellent. Totally recommend.
(5)Mister H B.
I was there today for the first time, was not too bad, I ordered Huevos Rancheros and was not too happy with what I've got. I will probably give them another try sometime. The portions were NOT very generous and the pork was tasteless.
(2)Jon W.
Here is the straight dope - relatively good food, good prices. That is it. LARGE portions with large amounts of grease. I got the belgian waffle and eggs. I think the worst part was the THICK syrup, but other than that it was very good. What else is there to say, its your basic diner that emphasizes on Greek food.
(3)Michael S.
I was getting my brakes worked on my pick up truck at Just Tires across the street from this diner. I made the quick dash across a busy morning rush hour packed Route 7 and popped into City Diner. It was pretty cold out this morning and I was glad to be out of the wind. It was very quiet, a few people enjoying their breakfast on a weekday morning, it was about 09:00. I work 3rd shift so I usually get to enjoy eating on the off hours of business. I ordered a cup of coffee right away and it came out, real snappy. I went with standard omlette with cheese, onions, and green peppers, with home fries. All the passing bus boys, waitresses, and hostess all made an effort to say good morning as they went about their business. The food came promptly and overall it was pretty decent. They were a little light on the home fries, but thats probably for the best. My waitress kept my coffee full and piping hot and I was able to enjoy the wait until my brakes were done. See my review of Just Tires for how the brake work was done!
(3)Charles S.
We had visited this diner a number of times and were generally happy with it. Yesterday was a major, fatal exception. After we were seated an impatient, grim-looking waitress started taking our order, then she left and ordered another waitperson to take our order, and he came to our table. He was even more serious and grim looking, even frowning. A few minutes later they seated a young family very close to us with several children who were screaming their heads off, which we find very distracting. I went to the front desk and asked for a different able due to the children. The "manager" replied gruffly something like, Okay you can take a different table if you want, we don't have a booth. He actually turned his back on me as he was speaking. We moved to a different area and he came with us, as we chose a table, and he was snarling, "I'm not throwing them out just because they have children! YOU were children once!" Although we had already received one of the dishes, we walked out, never to return. I had previously seen this individual greeting guests and bringing them to their tables, wearing a filthy T-shirt that looked like he had been doing mechanical work underneath a car.
(1)Mikkela T.
Best Matzo ball ever! In a Greek diner! So we came back because we needed egg white again. And I can eat almost anything at a diner. It's a Wednesday night -- empty, the Olympics on the big screen, couples not talking as they eat their dinner. It's like a home away from home. But without the dishes. I ordered the Chicken San Francisco, a dish with chicken, asparagus and melted cheese. Could I get rice with it? Sure, I'll have the Matzo ball soup. The soup was home made, glistening with shmaltz, a golfball size dough ball topped with noodles and pieces of white chicken meat. Classy! The Matzo ball was airy and flavorful like a ball of soft rice. Or the inside of freshly baked bread. Delicious! The best I've had. EVER. My main dish was okay. Fresh but the chicken was flat and dry. Our waiter brought extra rice for me even though I had not asked for it (clearly I needed extra rice), the home style fried potatoes with the omelet were wonderfully waxy and not greasy (I ate them with my rice and chicken). Also, they had pineapple juice (and it was good, not tinny or over-sweet). Plus, our waiter was the ultimate in professional, friendly, concerned that we were getting what we wanted and enough of it... AND he would bring us a single extra napkin, one at a time, as a way to check on us. Very clever. Nice touch. This place is as one wishes a Greek diner to be. Like home, without the dramas but with the souvlaki and friendly family. And it only cost us $14.41 each excluding tip (we gave a good one), but we were not charged extra for anything. But the juice cost $2.50 per glass. Maybe it was fresh squeezed. So, a recap: two glasses of juice, a six egg white omelet with toast and home fries, a chicken San Francisco, a divine Matzo ball soup, extra rice, and awesome service for under $20! Our waiter thanked us for visiting and said that he looked forward to seeing us again. Me too.
(4)The Domestic G.
So after an hour of shopping for Halloween customes in a chaotic Party City store my husband and I decided to eat out since it was too late for me to cook. I've already wanted to try diner food, because fof the raves it gets on tv. The place is nice and clean but the food sucked ass. My husband and I ordered the country fried steak. My husband didn't want the gravy, I did. I know for a fact that Northerners make their "country fried steak" with ground beef which is just retarded, so I asked the waiter if it's made with ground beef or with real steak, he said no to ground beef and that's it's fried like chicken. So we accepted. The fried steak is made with ground beef and tastes horrible. My husband and I were pissed because we asked the waiter and I specificly told him that I don't like country fried steak made with ground beef. The gravy was tasteless, but the toast was good. The potatoes sucked. I made a complaint and the waiter caught an attitude so we spoke with the manager who offered us something else. My husband was fed up and opted out, but I was still hungry so I ordered corned beef hash and potatoes with sunny side eggs, which were horrible and they stuck a slab of fake cheese underneath the eggs. All in all the food sucked. I explained to the manager how real country steak is made after he told me no one makes it with real steak because it's too tough and he looked surprise. I know how to make a great country steak with real steak curtesy of my grandma, and told him to try it. He then informed me that he got the recipe from another diner in DC and that the people hated it. Why put something on your menu if the people hate it....duh!!!
(1)S. E.
I miss this place. We lived in Alexandria for 2 years and became regulars here at the City Diner. After nearly 3 years in Chicago, we have yet to find another diner we like as much as we liked this one. The biggest plus for me was the HUGE selection on the menu--you could have anything you wanted. I usually got the chicken soup--yummy, and I loved the Chicken Souvlaki platter, which came with a cup of soup, a sizeable side salad with great vinaigrette dressing, grilled chicken with warm grilled pita bread, and a pile of fries. And their fries were oh-so-good battered fries. Breakfasts were always yummy--omelettes were large, served with home fried potatoes. A good place to go for a quick dinner. Waitstaff always friendly, and Teddy (the owner), and his son, who looks just like him, always amusing.
(4)Melissa P.
Slow service on a Sunday morning, but had great Banana Nut Pancakes and husband had a really nice BLT. Simple food with no frills, but done right and not overpriced. It's definitely not a fancy place, but I liked that it was casual and not overly noisy like many of the other diners in the Arlington area. Definitely a better choice than the gross IHOP on Route 1 in Alexandria if you're looking for a cheap place to get breakfast.
(4)Jeffery W.
Great breakfast place...even at 2pm (slept in late that day). Good coffee, good portion of bacon, eggs cooked just the way I asked and tempting selection of pies - one of which came home with us for later. The ambiance was cozy as diners go and the wait staff was friendly and attentive. They kept the coffee coming without being asked. Overall, it was a pleasureful experience and we are looking forward to going back.
(4)Clarence J.
The City Diner has good greasy-spoon food, and lots of it, for a great price. The menu is pretty large and the desserts seem to change regularly. (I qualify the latter only because I've never had enough room after eating here to have their desserts, but they seem to have different cakes and pies in the dessert case every time I go.) There's a decent amount of kitsch around, but it's mostly a modern place. The service is always warm and friendly, and I've never had a long wait despite the mid-day crowds when I'm usually there.
(4)Michele O.
Where are all the diners in Northern Virginia? After living in the Ann Arbor area for several years and having several diners within spitting distance at all times, I'm suffering out here for a good omelet at 8:30 am (yes, my kid wakes up early). I think City Diner is our answer. It's spacious and nicely decorated inside, there's parking, and they've got a diverse menu. They brought my 2-year old crayons a coloring page. My pancakes were a bit bland (I don't know whether the syrup was lacking sweetness or what), but not bad at all. The rye toast was exactly perfect. EXACTLY.
(4)Rick A.
Good, no-frills, you get what you pay for diner. The family that owns it is great, and make you feel welcomed. That is nice to have in a very pretentious based restaurant market. The meals are what they are, and they don't need a fancy name to make you feel like you need to pay more. Good portions. Excellent service. It is easy to make your go-to place.
(3)Dave W.
Food is good, staff is friendly, especially to regular customers. Quality of food and selection is comparable to other "New York" syle dinners and is preferrable to going to a chain such as the Silver Diner.
(4)Gillian E.
This is a great little low key diner. The food is very good and the service fast. The 5 stars are for the incredibly friendly staff who made our visit a real experience! We just had lunch here after a visit to Babies R Us next door. After Babies R Us with a 21month old, we needed soothing! The hostess (possibly the owner or manager?) was SO friendly and inviting. She played with our little girl, chatted with us, came by our table to check on us and even had a little surprise for our daughter when we left! As we headed out, she and our daughter were fast friends, busy making funny faces at each other. If the people at this diner are as warm and inviting to everyone as they were to us, you're guaranteed to love it too. if this diner were in closer to home, we'd be weekend regulars!
(5)Michelle B.
So, this past Sunday morning found us hauling one friend's dog and two hangovers out to Bailey's Crossroads on Route 7. I had a hankerin' for The Original Pancake House but the church crowd beat us to it and the wait was way too long. We swam upstream and happened upon the City Diner. I honestly have to say that I've always been a little reluctant to try it based on the outward appearance... and I was wrong. Located across from the MVC Late Night video (don't act like that's not a landmark for you), The City Diner is actually much, much bigger than it appears. We were led to a table right away by a guy who looked like a friend of Will Ferrell's character from "A Night at The Roxy." Behind us were a table of nuns and next to us were three unsupervised children who managed to crawl on and under the table and adjoining booth throughout the meal. Also peppered throughout the place were people who appeared to also have a hangover, senior citizens dining solo and reading the paper, and the church crowd. The menu is your typical fare; reminded me a lot of the Amphora with the obligatory pie and cake displays. The waitress was prompt, friendly and on top of the coffee warmers. I had the sausage gravy and grits... and they were the good kind... not watery and bland. T had the pancakes which were actually fluffier and lighter than Original Pancake House's. (GASP!) It's decorated with the usual tacky tchotkes but when you're feeding a hangover, none of that matters.
(4)Anna Louise G.
The City Diner is one of my favorite places to eat. It has great music (i.e. REAL oldies), wonderful food and the people who work there are just lovely. I definitely recommend going to this diner if you are in the area.
(5)Kitty W.
City Diner is one of the best kept secrets in the area, especially for breakfast. The food and coffee are always good, the wait staff is competent and attentive, and the restaurant is very clean (for example, the syrup dispensers are never, ever sticky on the outside). The mellow, neighborhood atmosphere tops off the experience. I realized today that I just love this place.
(5)Roy B.
Good place. Had a nice Greek salad. Quiet atmosphere on Sunday night. Friend loved his meat loaf . And waiter was great
(3)Lindsay S.
this is another place that i am sad i did not try sooner. for some reason the outside is unappealing to me. i'm not sure why but i thought it was a chain, which it's not. it's a greek owned establishment and the food is great. we were getting my hubby's car inspected next door and figured we would give it a try. i had the breakfast sandwich with side of potatoes and hub had an omelette and one pancake. everything was on point, fast service, and good coffee, too. none of that typical watery diner coffee. you could tell that the food was home made. it was obvious the potatoes were not frozen out of some bag and the pancakes were just right. they had a steady crowd for a saturday morning. we will definitely be back.
(4)Mac S.
I have never had a bad meal here. Gyro platter alwys hits the spot!
(4)S M L.
The diner was empty when we entered on an early Saturday morning, which was not a good sign. For some reason, the menu had a picture of the Las Vegas strip on its cover... because Las Vegas is also a city? The menu included Greek dishes so I knew that it was a Greek diner. Our server was courteous. I ordered the eggs hollandaise and my husband ordered the "Lumberjack" special which had eggs, corned beef hash, toast, and potatoes. My eggs were overcooked and the yolk was not runny, and when they poached the eggs, they tore the egg whites and left it behind so on the plate, the eggs looked small because all there was was the yolk. The potatoes were ok but the portions were small for almost $10. My husband also ordered poached eggs and same deal. But the best part was that his corned beef hash was obviously from a can, and they topped it with 2 slices of processed American cheese that weren't even melted because they just slapped it on at the end. WTF? If I wanted to open up a can of hash, overcook some eggs and slap some cheap cheese on a plate, I can do that at home for a fraction of the price. Again, small portions for almost $10. In conclusion -- pros are the service and cons are the food quality, food value, and decor.
(1)Peter H.
Yes, five stars, and I think it's well deserved. Even though we live in DC proper, when we're craving diner food, there's no place better in the area. From the moment you walk in the door, the staff is fantastic. No matter how busy they are, I've rarely seen hosting done better anywhere short of a Michelin star restaurant. You feel welcome and valued--other places should come just watch them work! The servers are equally excellent, friendly and efficient. But of course, we're there for the food. Straightforward and always good, I've never had a bad thing there. It's hard to beat their hash browns, crispy, buttery and perfectly seasoned. Everything that is made to order comes out hot and with the perfect cook. Really good coffee as well. And yes, it hasn't been renovated for decades, but that's a key part of their charm. I love so many restaurants and cuisines, but I can't imagine a more go-to comfort place any time of day. Don't miss!
(5)Mary H.
This is our "go to" breakfast stop for my family. Half of us prefer breakfast while the other prefers lunch. This is our compromise since they have a full breakfast and lunch menu. The service is friendly and helpful with options. I love their Greek omelette! Their home fries are hit or miss... Better choice is the fruit! They have a big menu... I haven't had time to try all the other options yet... Their prices seem a little high but they do serve big portions... We have only done breakfast here. I would give actually 4 stars because of service.
(3)Marc Alen D.
This place is so comfortable. I ordered a hobo platter (i think that's what it's called) and it was delicious. The building is easy to miss since it is kind of tucked away right before a traffic exit, but if you're in the area, definitely try this place out. The servers and hosts were wonderful.
(5)Darrin B.
I've been here many times in the past year and a half or so, and there's definitely a good reason for that. It's a wonderful little place. It's more a diner in style of food than actual diner quality, but I'm 100 percent okay with that because the staff and and atmosphere definitely give it a diner feel, even if it's not necessarily an authentic "diner experience." I typically come here for a late breakfast/brunch during the week, and they have a pretty solid turnout. Not super busy, but a good amount of people for 11:00 on a weekday morning. I've never had a bad experience with the staff here. They're generally pretty friendly and always ready and willing to assist. I can generally arrive and be seated pretty quickly, too, which is always a plus. The staff have a pretty good selection of regulars, it seems, and they always seem to remember them and greet them in a familiar way, which I love. As you would expect, City Diner can get quite crowded on weekends, but I've never had a problem getting a small table for 1 or 2 on Saturdays or Sundays. They also seem to have a pretty quick turnaround time, too, which is great. Service can feel just a little more rushed on the weekends, and servers sometimes feel a bit less attentive, but I've still never had an problems. The food is delicious. Definitely a bit more expensive that a typical "diner," but not unreasonable at all, especially considering the wonderful food. I love the Belgian waffle. They serve breakfast all day as you would expect, but they also have a good lunch and dinner menu, as well as alcohol. I've never had a bad meal. And the food comes pretty quickly, like very fast, but the quality of the food is still fantastic, which is a major bonus. Overall, I'd very highly recommend City Diner. Whether you're looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or anything in-between. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Dennis F.
Always a good meal. The waitstaff are great and the food is good. It's nice to be able to go to a diner that actually has diner food and isn't trying to be something it's not.
(5)Elle K.
It's a very solid four stars. City Diner has long been a favorite, and I am reviewing after a weekday breakfast there again today. We'd been away for a bit, but I was pleased to see that the staff and food are still just as good. And, for my persnickety tastes, they've returned Heinz ketchups to the table tops. Everything was tasty, our waitress was busy, but friendly and efficient. We're putting City Diner back in the regular rotation. I'm a fan of the cheese blintzes and my husband had a three egg omelet.
(4)Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Great place to stop in for a quick breakfast if you are in the area. I was in the vicinity looking for a hearty breakfast and noticed City Diner. The menu is huge with so many options for breakfast. This is what I ate: I ordered two eggs with sausage, grits and wheat toast. You have a choice between home fries or grits. The eggs were cooked as ordered. The sausage was delicious. The grits nicely buttered, good thick texture, hearty and delicious. Coffee is strong.
(3)Adam D.
This restaurant is the best for a variety of different reasons, especially for breakfast. 1) The service is SUPER fast (and I mean quick) and always friendly and welcoming. 2) The variety of food choices is really impressive and there are choices for every different kind of eater (I.e. Healthy eater, hardy eater, adventurous eater, or old fashioned country cooking eater). 3) The food is always hot and great quality and decently sized portions. You can't go wrong with this restaurant in terms of quality and the prices (almost all breakfast dishes are less than $10). 4) I leave Washington, DC and specifically visit this restaurant in Virginia because it's so good. It beats any other restaurant in DC (when looking at price, service, and quality of food) This restaurant is hands down one of the best. I highly recommend it!
(5)Jack K.
Indeed there are several friendly servers at City Diner. Alas, mine was not one of them. This guy was disinterested in his job and totally lacking in any personality. Worse, he assured me that I could get fresh jalapenos on my burger (and I pressed him on that) and of course it came back with the pickled, canned kind. So, he wasn't paying attention either. I noticed that there were several regulars in the place--they got they friendly waiter, so perhaps I got stuck because I was unfamiliar? The burger itself was excellent, the host friendly and the restaurant itself, spacious. Too bad they have a bum waiter to distract from these attributes.
(3)Kirk S.
Old people seem to love this place. I'm not sure if I do. The City Diner is exactly what it says: a diner. In Arlington, a city. It appears to be run by a Greek family, so it's like a diner in NYC. It has lots of breakfast foods and a healthy selection of lunch/dinner offerings, and it's all basically what you would expect. I hate to treat this place as if it's a generic diner like every other diner, but... that's kinda what it is. The food itself is plentiful, but not amazing. I got the "Lumberjack," which was a mixture of a sweet carb (French toast, pancakes, or waffles - I got the first) with sausage, egg, and bacon. The French toast was rather good and thick. The eggs (which I asked for scrambled) were VERY undercooked and weirdly runny. The bacon was tasty, but a bit mushy. The sausage was rather good. This place is frequented by a ton of older folk, like virtually every diner in the area. This is likely because of the volume of the food for the rather reasonable price. Problem is, I just can't see the appeal - there are way too many good brunch places in Arlington to hit up a diner. Once I get massively drunk or old, though, I might change my tune.
(3)Jamie G.
Came to City Diner for breakfast and enjoyed it. The challah french toast was delicious. Can't wait to come back to City Diner. Definitely want to try one of the dinner specials and dessert :)
(4)A J.
This is a great place, a great breakfast and lunch/brunch place. The food is good there service and love the family type place. The french onion soup is a great start
(5)Laura W.
Love, love, love this place. They have everything imaginable on the menu,any item an excellent choice. Im especially partial to their amazing moussaka, their very fresh and excellently prepared sea food (our favorite is the captains platter with salmon, crab cakes, shrimp and scallops), and their sirloin burgers.My husband especially loves the crab cakes. It's a family owned business where every member exudes excellent customer service. They take pride In giving each customer quality service and making your visit comfortable and memorable. They ask u at least four times before seating u, "how u doing", a cultural carryover from New York. The wonderful customer service combined with great tasting food is a winning combination that keeps me coming back every time.
(5)Dina B.
Favorite breakfast place. It gets crowded on weekends, but there's a reason for that--- the food is so good. Service is excellent. Great omelets and pancakes. Love this place. I've occasionally been there for dinner, which is very tasty and hearty. I've never ordered the desert, but they look wonderful.
(5)Robert H.
This was a great find, The area is limited on quality breakfast locations and this will be our new weekend stop :) I had the western omelet with home potatoes. It was tasty Good little place for breakfast, we will be back
(4)Chrissie P.
My boyfriend and I wanted a big hearty breakfast and he suggested City Diner. I looked up the reviews and saw they were Greek owned and run, am I am Greek so I like to support my people. We walk in and a guy, owners son , just stuck two fingers up ad said Two? Grabbed two menus and just threw them down on the table and walked away. Rude. My bf wanted a booth so we asked for a booth from an older man and he say us down near a big party. Two waiters kept passing us, definitely noticed us and still never even have us menus. Nothing. 20 mins passed and we just sat there like hello Helloo. Lol Nothing. We got up and left. This was today on New Year's Eve. This is the poorest service I have ever had.
(1)Michelle W.
This was a pleasant surprise among the strip malls and adult bookstores along Route 7. Great diner atmosphere with kitsch everywhere. Pretty ordinary diner fare, but fresh and hot and the perfect lazy Sunday morning meal. I don't normally trust places with huge menus, but this one was so much fun to read, with lots of pictures
(5)Scott C.
Great omelettes and staff highly recommended the sausage skillet with eggs, cheese, peppers and onions. Great breakfast for a fair price and service was top notch. Great breakfast option.
(5)Eileen T.
Side portion of corned beef hash was enormous and delicious. Eggs with bacon came w 5 strips of bacon and hash browns and toast. Waitress was friendly and attentive. We had coffee straightaway and refilled constantly My daughter had blueberry pancakes w plentiful blueberries. Breakfast cost us 30$. Pancakes/2eggs n bacon hash browns n toast/corned beef hash side portion.
(4)Brian K.
Great service! I was very impressed with the staff. Polite, friendly, and attentive to my dinning experience. The food was prepared incredibly quick. I certainly want to return and try more dishes. I'm a big fan of breakfast food so this place is perfect for an anytime breakfast meal.
(5)Sandy R.
I love their menu. Lots of variety in food to pick from and breakfast is served all day. They always give you generous portions. Your food is served quickly despite how busy they get. The desserts are elicious too. You will be tempted by the cake station.An excellent staff!
(5)Charles H.
I met a vendor for breakfast one day at City Diner. Arrived at 730am on a week day and notice a sparse crowd. The interior decor resembled a diner with a nostalgia 1980's feel. It didn't bother me as the waitress was prompt taking our order. Ten minutes later my waffles were delivered hot and crisp. The size and taste of the waffles resembled any other waffles. I'll check out the other items at City Diner in the future.
(3)Randi F.
I have spent a fair amount of time in Long Island and NJ diners. I feel like i know a thing or two. Is this a great and reliable diner, yes. Is this a LI or NJ diner, no. That being said the food is exactly what you would expect from a Greek style diner and the wait staff is nice and attentive. I have gone there with just a couple of people and with a large group. Each time the food and service is consistent and tasty.
(4)Haley S.
Officially me and my boyfriend's favorite restaurant. We are convinced you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorites are the belgian waffle and cheese blintzes. Best I've ever had. Also amazing: the matzoh ball soup, the gyros, spaghetti and meatballs (comes with free bread!), the fries, egg creams, biscuits & gravy, sausage & eggs, eggs benedict... and those are only the things we've tried so far! I cannot say enough good things about this place.
(5)Tonia S.
I LOVE this place. It's the only place I'll go out to for breakfast. I live right by. It's a very family oriented place. Such a cozy cute old style diner. Not like an ihop or bob Evans. This is a small unique diner. With GREAT homemade food. I RECOMMEND this place to anyone that comes and visits me
(5)Julianna W.
Great customer service! Awesome French onion soup. They gave us a free black and white cookie-- can't complain!!!
(5)Frazier E.
Been here several times but has really fallen lately in quality of food and service. This mornings breakfast omelet was slimey and inedible. The mushrooms and fried potatoes tasted like they were out of cans. The managers response was that is how we always have done it. They did comp the meal but we doubt we will be back.
(1)Dennis F.
I always get breakfast at this place. They only ever got my order wrong once and it was a small mistake. The French Toast is delicious. I always get fried potatoes well done with extra onion... So good! One bad thing about the place is that the sausage is easy too fatty. You can tell it's cheap.
(4)Aleseia S.
I've visited this restaurant quite a few times during Breakfast Hours. Fast service and good food. My favorite breakfast entree is the Short Stack Pancakes Deluxe (bacon and eggs) for $8. Can't beat that deal.
(4)Karen L.
This place is great!!! Best Matzoh ball soup outside of NY - fresh and delicious breakfasts and delicious desserts.
(5)Keith Z.
Like this place based on proximity to where I live. Has serviceable breakfast, haven't been here for anything else. Usually get an omelette or waffles. Nothing that really knocks my socks off, but never had a bad meal. The place is quite strange with all the eclectic pieces of "art" on the walls, and thankfully they've taken the saggy football Jerseys hanging on plastic hangers off the walls. Staff is always friendly and service has always been good.
(3)Bob T.
One of, if not the, best places for breakfast in Washington. The omelets and "skillets" are personal favorites. My daughter loves their pancakes and I like taking her to this kid-friendly spot.
(5)Dan N.
City Diner has a huge menu, which is usually a red flag that quality might not be up to par, but this restaurant really is the exception. I've tried many of their breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, and I've very seldom been disappointed. Go to City Diner if you want a relaxed atmosphere and simple, good food with a home-cooked presentation. The dinners are large, so you'll likely have leftovers for the next day. Be warned that on Sunday morning the diner can be very busy and the staff can get overwhelmed.
(5)Karen D.
Was staying at the Hampton Inn down the road and wanted a quick, decent dinner. Chose this diner based on Yelp reviews and since this was close. Ordered the roast beef sirloin dinner with chicken soup. Soup was a large serving and had lots of chicken. The dinner was good, though I didnt care for the vegetables. Portion huge. Owner and staff very nice. I think every person that worked there had stopped by my table. Will go again if I am in this area again.
(4)Christopher S.
My mom used to come here and like it. So, we used to go with her. The staff is mixed in ability and language. The owners are very nice and try their best at quality control. The menu is quite large. Breakfast is especially full of choices. They have numerous specialty omelets. I would try them just out of curiosity! Their waffles are excellent and made the way you would want them. I believe I will come back occasionally with my sis but not go out of the way for it.
(3)Amanda M.
I can't even count the number of times I have driven past this place. I finally popped in one Sunday after volunteering the St. Patrick's Day 8k. It was probably around 12:30, the parking lot was almost completely full, and when I got inside there were very few empty tables - good signs for a diner. Since I was alone, I sat at the counter. I ordered 2 eggs poached, with ham, homefries, and biscuits. The eggs were poached perfectly, the ham was a generous-sized piece, and the homefries were delicious. The biscuits on the other hand tasted like they came out of a can. I also ordered a bloody mary - I wouldn't order one here again. But the coffee was fine. Good diner food. Friendly staff. Casual atmosphere. Solid breakfast experience. I will be sure to try the lunch menu the next time.
(3)Ches A.
Took my whole family to eat breakfast here, a lot of people but the wait time wasn't very long what so ever. Once the food came we were very much please by the amount of serving but did not enjoy the fact that we called the waitress twice to pour more coffee and she forgot both times. The place is very over price but is worth a visit in my opinion
(3)Anthony C.
Fast, friendly service with OK food. I had a club sandwich and it was fine--I've had better and much much worse. I appreciated that the waitress asked me if I wanted mayo--usually they just slather it on if I forget to ask them for no mayo. The turkey was fresh sliced, not pressed. But it was a bit dry. I think given a choice between the two I would take a good deli turkey. But it was fine otherwise. It was nice they tossed a few onion rings on top of the fries. Both were good. They got me in and out fast, which was nice (and necessary).
(2)Sandy R.
I absolutely love this place! I have had breakfasts and lunches there. The food is delicious. The hostess and waitresses are great for customer service. Only one time I did not care for the food...Thanksgiving Day -Turkey Special. Don't get it if you are expecting good gravy with your mashed potatoes and turkey.
(5)Dave F.
Came here for Saturday lunch with my girlfriend. While the exterior and decor didn't quite resemble the northeast look of a diner, the food was phenomenal. I've found that the diners in NoVa are all Greek owned and they always include a good variety of their dishes. Ended up getting the Greek Combo. Comes with spinach pie, mousaka & pastitsio, green peas, rice, and a house salad. Every bit of it was great on the spot and reheated later for dinner. My girlfriend had the chicken souvlaki sandwich platter and it was great as well. It also came with soup. We added an Egg Cream to the check and it tasted authentic. Service was also really great, but not sure how it would have been if it was a lot busier than it was at the time. We're not down in this area often, but we'd definitely come back.
(5)Rob K.
Arlington does not have many diner type places, this place is hidden gem. Went here for brunch after a night on the town. The service is fast and the staff is friendly. Food was out in what felt like 5 minutes. They kept my coffee filled to the brim at all times (I crush coffee). Our waitress smiled when helping us and had an overall friendly disposition / joked with us and grabbed anything we asked for quickly (to some this may seem like a standard practice in the service industry...this is not the case in the DC metro area). The food was delicious diner brunch comfort food.
(5)Lillian F.
Love this place! We go every Sunday after market and they treat us like family. Great breakfast!
(5)Brian K.
Not the best location unfortunately. This place has a classic diner feel to it. Food was out in under 7 minutes (or close to it). They are great keeping coffee cup full at all times. Food is classic diner food, and they do a solid job with it.
(5)Vishal S.
A jewel diner in the DMV area. If not for the bad level of service (slooooow), I would have given it a five star rating. This place is generally always busy during weekends and a wait of 20 minutes is normal. They make good food is what they do, everything else could take some improvement. Service, as I said, is painfully slow - to place orders, to get food, to get something else too! Our food made it to our table eventually but we had not silverware. It took me over 5 minutes to locate our server and get some silverware. I did see a few customers walk over to the place where they stored silverware and help themselves! Apart from that, the food is the only reason to visit here. I like their omelettes, waffles, grits (yummy)! The Athenian omelette (with gyro meat) is delicious! A must go place if you like diner food above the IHOP experience.
(4)Cynthia V.
1 star short of 5 for no particular reason, food here was fantastic, service friendly, simple dish truly delish! Only problem was I couldn't eat it all, but leftovers will be good, again!
(4)Karen M.
I expected Robert Irvine to pop in at any moment. That pretty much sums up what City Diner is like. Decor? Old and dusty. Service? Needs improvement. Kitchen? ...I don't even want to know. Menu? WAY too big. And not in a Cheesecake Factory kind of exciting way. Their specials included lasagna, a greek something or other, chicken livers, and I think a salad. All over the place. I ordered a veggie omelet with artichoke hearts, spinach and feta. You know how omelets are supposed to be fluffy? Mine was dry, overcooked and had too much "egg" taste. I know. Thats weird because I know its supposed to taste like egg...but it was just.....too much. Its like they took 8 egg yokes and fried them up then as an afterthought added veggies. The home fries were greasy, as home fries usually are. I ordered wheat toast with my breakfast. Sara Lee? You're missing a couple slices.... I wasn't impressed.
(2)Mauro S.
Great food! Great service! The burgers are awesome and the breakfast is incredible. If you're in the mood for good diner food you'll love this place.
(5)Charlie W.
This is a great place if you don't know what you are in the mood for. Breakfast all day. Great main courses and home made deserts that I rarely get to eat because I'm full from the large portions.
(5)Kim B.
Being a Northeast person, I love diners and grew up with them. In the NOVA area this is one of my favorites to visit. I've been here several times because of the extensive menu and nice staff. The decor is funny with tons of signs and Tchotchkes. They have a lot of great soups and a decent dessert selection (though I have not tried much of it myself). I have had omelets and dishes off of the light menu (mainly chicken - my usual - and salmon). This is a good stereotypical diner that is a reliable option when you want lots of choices at an inexpensive price.
(4)Leichardti F.
Always saw this place when driving up and down King St. Gave it a try. Not spectacular but relatively cheap prices for the amount of diner food you get! Still full from my open face roast beef sandwich 6 hours later. Good service, family owned.
(4)Neal N.
Great service, friendly warm staff, great variety on the menu, comfortable pleasant atmosphere, large portions. Great diner just like those in Jersey and New York. Hard to find in DC metro.
(5)Richard F.
This is your typical Greek style diner. And we ordered typical Greek style diner food. It was fine. This is the kind of place that is what it advertises to be and delivers what it advertises.
(3)J D.
I've dined here several times now primarily for breakfast on Sundays before the diner crowds up with customers breezing by after services. Except for one occasion, my dining companions have all been regulars who gather here with different circles of friends at different times. As a result, our table has a regular server who serves us promptly and efficiently with a hint of the bantering that goes on between frequent patrons of a restaurant and the staff. My observation with regard to other not so frequent patrons is that the service is still efficient but somewhat more formal. That said, the breakfasts here are solid. I've generally ordered an omelet with different fillings. The omelets are nicely sized and seasoned, with substantially more than a smattering of filling. My favorite accompanying meat is gyro, which transports my experience into more of a lunch feeling. Again, the portions that are given are substantial. I've deviated from the omelet formula on occasion and tried waffles ( toasty, good, not great); eggs cooked different ways (over easy is best); had grits (good but that is more a comment on the amount of butter in the dish), home fries (nicely seasoned and very filling), among others. Breakfasts are a nice treat here. I've also eaten here once for dinner and ordered take away once. At dinner, the leg of lamb was excellent with rosemary and garlic permeating the meat. The sides were not memorable - what one would expect from a diner. The takeaway experience was a good one - early on a snowy weekend day trying to finish errands before the real onslaught of snow. There is a lot to be said in favor of eating a gyro sandwich with the full monty of accompanying condiments well before 9 in the morning.
(4)Meg H.
Well looks like we have found our breakfast spot. Five stars for the food- great diner breakfast. Boyfriend had the Athenian omelette which was really creative and he loved. I had just plain pancakes and scrambled eggs. Omg were they good, there was like a hidden cinnamon or nutmeg in them that was just yummy. Seriously great pancakes. The eggs were also very good. This is a diner, so there are cheesy decorations and such. This is not a Georgetown brunch, but it was a great breakfast. For two of us, pancakes, eggs, omelette, corn beef hash side, two glasses of orange juice it was only 30 bucks. We got there at like 12 30 and maybe had to wait five minutes. Great great little diner! We will be back!
(4)Laura S.
I stopped by here for breakfast during a weekday. I was impressed with how quickly my food arrived. The staffs were friendly but not as friendly as I hoped. The host (I assume the owner) was the friendliest of all. I had two poached eggs with bagels, home fries and bacon. I say it was pretty decent and I didn't leave feeling hungry. Definitely better than Denny's.
(3)Nick A.
Very cool, family owned Greek diner - with an absolutely massive menu. Everything I've tried here has been great, and the wide selection on the menu means that there will always be something to choose from, even if it can be a convoluted and time-consuming process to arrive at your decision. The problems? Iffy service; I've never had anything as terrible as what some other reviewers have mentioned, but I'll also not be signing it's praises from the mountaintop. It's not squeaky clean, either - typically the glass and shiny stainless steel edifice of a diner like this forces you to believe it's clean, after all, it's so shiny! Dark carpets and dark (sometimes a little sticky) tables don't do much to help. Do I recommend it? Yeah. The food is awesome. Will I be back? Absolutely. But I don't really see myself bringing a group of people here unless we are wasted or hungover, and I definitely wouldn't recommend it as a first date.
(3)Chris R.
Breakfast stop... Had the wheat pancakes and 2 eggs and bacon with coffee and juice. Pancakes were light and delish...tasted a hint of cinnamon in them. Bacon was good and crisp just the way I like it. Service was prompt and friendly. Enjoyed this place more than my normal haunt (diner in Bradlee Center). Will def be back.
(4)Margarita M.
Oh my beloved City Diner. You have gone down in quality. I think there may be new owners because food quality has gone down and of course, prices have gone up. I think the new owners were robbed in this deal because there are regulars but the regulars aren't going to be enough to keep this business alive. I got super sick from the food, I have a sensitive stomach so i warn you, but I tend to do well with like fast food and chipotle so not that sensitive. I ordered the chicken soulvaki, it's pretty good, but it made me sick. How can grilled chicken make you sick? It was probably bad. My mom's sirloin was gross, just massed defrosted meat and ewl. The food is decent but doesn't jive well with my tummy, it's just a restaurant dying for a Restaurant Impossible make-over.
(1)Greg G.
The interior of the City Diner reminds me of my grandma's house -- lots of unattractive knickknacks! But it's clean and appears well-kept, so I really can't knock it. The staff were also quite friendly (but not freakishly so!). I went for breakfast and had the Italian omelet, home fries, wheat toast, and coffee. The omelet was generously sized (3 eggs) and had a nice amount of filling (sausage, green peppers, onions, mozzarella cheese). My only complaint was the sausage had a slight hint of maple flavor. There was nothing wrong with it, but I would have preferred an Italian sausage in an "Italian" omelet (in fairness, the menu simply listed "sausage" in the omelet). I usually think of "home fries" as being small chunks of potatoes -- not at the City Diner. Theirs were slices of potatoes that were nicely cooked with a good amount of browning. My guess is that they were sliced from whole potatoes in the restaurant. The toast was unremarkable, but perfectly acceptable. The coffee was slightly better than average. The City Diner probably can't hold up next to the best diners out there, but it does a respectable job for the Northern VA area. I'll be back.
(4)Joe G.
Our "favorite place in the world". Hardly a weekend passes without at least one breakfast there.
(5)Judith G.
I have had more good experiences than bad here. I've never had any problems with slow service. Finding parking can be rough but I have never had to wait for a table/booth. On my very first visit, shortly after the year of multiple Snowmadeggons, I went and had an entree that included spaghetti. I could taste the cinnamon in the sauce and LOVED it. Went back shortly there after and ordered the same dish. No cinnamon in the sauce and the server didn't know what I was talking about. Said they never put cinnamon in the sauce. (Cinnamon in the sauce is sometimes a Greek thing.) I went yesterday morning bright and early and ordered the hobo platter with rye toast. It was delicious and I took leftovers home. My coffee cup was never empty and the price was right. My friend raved about her Belgian waffle and when she sent her bacon back so they could make it more crisp, the waitress gladly accommodated her. I did notice that the plants and knick-knacks are in serious need of dusting. The last time I went I had a patty (burger) melt which was surprisingly great. Even though it cost extra, I asked for onion rings instead of fries. When the dish arrived, I had four onion rings on top of the fries. I was annoyed until I tasted the onion rings. Then I was grateful to the server for NOT giving me and charging me for the onion rings. Cold and nasty. The fries on the other hand were hot and tasty. The time before that, I was with a party of three other women on a busy Sunday morning and when we were finished, the waiter asked if we wanted separate checks. We appreciated the gesture. Hell, one time after paying at the register, the owner insisted on giving me a free piece of cake to take home because he saw me drooling at the dessert case. And it was delicious, fresh cake! The place was filling up yesterday and it looks like they have a serious contingent of regular week day morning customers. I grew up going to diners in NJ so I don't have exceptionally high expectations of diner food. I think City Diner is decent, friendly, reasonably priced, and more like a diner I grew up with than Metro 29 or Silver Diner. I think they are doing themselves a disservice, though, by having such a huge menu. I just don't think it's possible to have a massive offering like that and serve fresh, quality food all the time.
(4)Nichole B.
This place is pretty decent. The food is good, love the pancakes and french toast. The service is always good when I do go and the price is reasonable for the Arlington area. Weekends expect at least a 20 minute wait, but no more than that. I like that it's family owned. The menu is very vast, so there is alot to choose from. This is my go to spot in Arlington for good diner food
(4)Tia W.
I love this place! I eat breakfast here on the weekends. It's family owned and operated. They have a lot to choose from but everything I've tried had been great. I take people here who visit me all the time. Prices are also great.
(4)Renita W.
I've only eaten here for breakfast. With that said: Solid french toast! I love how their eggs with cheese just has a slice of cheese melted on top. I'm not a fan of the cheese being mixed in --- throws off the texture. Skip the pancakes --- but in addition to the French toast the waffle, corn beef hash and breakfast sandwiches are a winner.
(3)Jeffrey S.
Working from home today and not in the mood for cooking lunch, I searched Yelp for the closest diner as I was seriously craving a hot open-faced turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy. This quiet and unassuming restaurant just off of Bailey's Crossroads was among the closer diners to my home. Sitting inside the medium-sized room were more patrons than I expected for a 2pm lunch. There were seniors, a few families and a handful of single diners like myself. There was a lot of your typical diner fare on the menu that I didn't even bother to look at. I knew what I was there for and my hot open-faced turkey sandwich definitely hit the spot. The portions were generous so I left feeling satiated and happy. Service was also very quick and efficient. I did surmise that this is a family-run business and everyone pitched in to help seat me, place my order and pay for my meal. The servers seemed to know all of the patrons as regulars. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the decor of the City Diner Restaurant, which I found oddly fascinating. There are all sorts of random tchotchkes that adorn the walls and ledges of this place. It was hard for me to establish any type of theme or identity as it was without settled direction, aim or purpose. It even became amusing enough for me to jot down what I could see from the focal point of my booth while waiting for my meal: A NY Jets Football Jersey A Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey Numerous Sombreros Models of Clipper Ships A Ballerina Figurine Pepsi/Coke Retro Memorabilia A Jewish Menorah A Model Train Numerous Fake Plants/Flowers A Wind Chime A Few Birdhouses A Washington Redskins Construction Helmet A Toy Dump Truck A Wooden Shoe Lighthouse Figurines An Old fashioned Burl Coffee Grinder A Bugle An Aquarium with Live Fish Egyptian hieroglyphic Art A Bust of Venus de Milo Fishing Lures An African Tribal Mask A Statue of Liberty Figurine Model of a Retro Fire Truck All in all, the City Diner Restaurant serves it's purpose. It may not be worth a long trip but if you're looking for a quick & satisfying meal that's close to home, this might be your spot.
(3)Mike J.
I stopped in for a late night dessert. Got the banana split which seems like it should be a simple thing, but was not good. Poor, icy ice cream and I just don't remember any real flavor other than sweet. Was also scared by the massive, massive menu - may speak to the quantity over quality issues I had with my order.
(2)Michael G.
City Diner is a great neighborhood diner. Breakfast and Lunch portions are very generous, as well as delicious. I've had many a lunch and breakfast there (Challah French toast a favorite); they are willing to make your meal any way you want it. Had the Brisket special for dinner last week . . . yum!
(4)Joel B.
We only do breakfast here and I think it's one of my favorite places to eat breakfast. The food is very tasty and the prices are good. They have alot of choices for breakfast and it's easy to order to much. The only gripe I would have is sometimes the help wears to much cologne.
(4)Rachel D.
Favorite diner. My family almost always goes for the breakfast menu. The staff is very friendly and the kids love checking out the dessert display. TVs are up in the corners for sports enthusiasts.
(5)BERT O.
I really enjoy this place. Everything I've had has been pretty good. Fairly priced and the service is great. I like everything from their tuna salad melt, crunchy calamari, delicious wheat pancakes, and their nicely seasoned jumbo shrimp. My wife loves the chicken souvlaki. I wouldn't say their food has a "wow" factor but it has that nice home cooked taste.
(4)Keila H.
I have now taken everyone who visits me here. And I always have the waffle. And it's always delicious. And my guests are always glad I took them.
(5)Anna W.
Classic diner! Always speedy and satisfying.
(4)Amy S.
Great breakfast with a ton of options. Good omelets with toast and grits, always consistent. Recently I've been stuck on the veggie omelet with egg whites and the vegetables are fresh and delicious, not soggy or frozen. It's a diner (it even says DINER in the name!)..... Know it's limitations. Don't order steakhouse food and you'll have a great meal.
(4)Bro H.
Solid diner if you're in the area already, but a bit pricy. You probably want to go to Bob and Edith's, but if there's a line, you can't go wrong here either.
(3)Leigh R.
Okay, we love breakfast food, any time, anywhere! That said...our first trip to City Diner was much anticipated! But alas, our excitement was short lived when upon our arrival at 11:00 on a Sunday, we had to wait (which I'm totally okay with!). When we were seated, I noticed at least 6 empty tables...with at least 6 parties still waiting! Get a move on and seat people!!!! Initial server greeting was almost 10 minutes, bathroom was FREEZING with non locking doors, 35 mins from seating to food delivery, one waitress for what appeared to be over 8 tables!the decor is a weird form of "kitschy", maybe?! But really just confusing. On the plus, nice waitress, very nice and attentive and plentiful bus staff and descent, standard breakfast fare. Many menu choices and reasonably priced. Overall: mediocre, meh
(2)Donna W.
I ordered the pita w/grilled chicken/onions/peppers/feta and French Fries. Food was hot, fresh, well prepared and delicious. French fries were crunchy and tasty. Cost was good for the portion size. Service was good and friendly. Dining room clean. Everyone enjoyed their meal. We had lunch at noon on a Tuesday. It was busy but not packed.
(4)Michelle P.
I LOVE this place! If I am feeling like a good, old-fashioned breakfast, this is the place to go. I adore the hobo banquet. The serving sizes are large and the menu is huge (despite this, I tend to order the same few items every time I dine here). I can't forget to mention that their service is super fast and friendly. My only hang up is the ambiance...a little shabby and some of the tables are too close together.
(4)Karla P.
I love their french toast! I like the MOM and POPS feel to eat. I've only been there for breakfast but I would like to try to go there for dinner or lunch. The only thing is that is a bit expensive for a diner.
(4)Bob T.
I grew up eating in diners on Long Island NY, Home of the Diner, and this place was just like the NY experience. I think the owners came to VA from NY as there were some knick-knacks around from NY, including a NY license plate on the wall. The menu had a Greek influence and I suspect the owners are Greek. I consider this a good sign in the diner business since many of Long Island's diners are Greek owned. The place was generally clean and the food was good. We had a turkey club sandwich, meatball sub, chicken gyro and open faced turkey sandwich. Everyone in our party was happy with their meal. The french fries came as a mix of fries and a few onion rings, which was a nice surprise. The fries outnumbered the rings but the mix was appreciated. Service was a little slow but it was a sunday noon-time crowd and the place was hopping with the brunch crowd. Our waitress appeared somewhat inexperienced which probably added to the meandering service. I gave 3 stars based on Yelps rating system of 3 = A-OK. I think I recall seeing a sign that said Open 24 hours, but I am not positive. Suggest you call first.
(3)Doug W.
This is one of my semi-regular haunts. Food is good and portions are large, which allows for the higher prices that some complain about. There's nothing on the menu that makes you go, "Wow!" But this is a diner, not a five-star place. It's just your basic Greek-run American diner. The only complaint I have is with the mix they make the biscuits and pancakes with. Both come out with too much of a flour taste. But overall, a place for a reliable meal, even if not a stellar one.
(3)Mary H.
We found this diner on Urban Spoon when searching for some place for breakfast. Breakfast = Diner food, right? When we pulled into the parking lot, it felt promising that there were many cars already in the parking lot, as we figured the locals probably ate here and it couldn't be too bad. When we walked in, we were greeted by a mix-mash decor of a diner that went beyond eclectic, and instead was just cluttered, worn down, and quite frankly dirty. I didn't notice it until after we'd been there awhile and were waiting for our food, that everything had a coat of grime--from the torn carpeting, to the tile dropping from the wall, to the baseboards (which some places were actually on the wall, and some were missing). The vinyl table cloths looked (and felt) like they'd been there since the Nixon Administration, and the vases on each of the tables containing plastic flowers looked like they had NEVER been cleaned and the one on our table was smeared with dirty finger prints and the standard coating of grime that seemed to be everywhere else in the place. Here's something gross that signified we should have gotten up and walked out--while waiting for our food (which I was crossing my fingers that it wouldn't give us food poisoning), I killed TWO flies. AT OUR TABLE! Here are the okay parts, and why I gave it two stars instead of one--the food was actually okay and didn't give us food poisoning. And the service was fine (not the best, but certainly not the worst). It didn't take much time to get our food, in spite of how busy they were, and there was a guy (who was POURING sweat) who came by to check to see how we were doing, and then later was working the cash register when we left. (Maybe he's the owner?) But, when I enter a resturaunt and it's filthy and cluttered and falling apart, I have to wonder what in the hell the kitchen actually looks like and how clean it is. The only thing missing that should have been there was a sign that said: Eat at Your Own Risk.
(2)Kristen C.
Confession: I am OCD about how my eggs are cooked. When I cook breakfast, it takes me FOREVER to make eggs because I'm so picky and they have to be perfect -- fluffy, nice and yellow, no strong egg-y odor, and ab-so-lutely NO brown parts. For this reason, I rarely ever order omelettes or any kind of eggs for that matter. HOWEVER, I was drawn to the spinach and eggs grisanti -- spinach, bacon, and grated cheese. I was a little nervous but it came out perfectly! It was really delicious. SO, even if you have egg peculiarities like me, you can try this one -- I'll vouch for it!
(4)Joye P.
$9 for an omelette? Diners aren't supposed to be that pricey. Food was good, service was good, ambience was definitely not posh - so why the expensive price tag?
(2)Bryan C.
This was a very nice, family owned diner. Went for breakfast and there was so much on the menu I had trouble picking. I ended up getting a "Lumberjack" breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, and whole wheat pancakes. This was a lot of food ... And yummy too! The people were very friendly. Service was quick. Overall, I can't complain. I would go back.
(3)Shannon S.
I'm gonna keep it simple...great food, great service, great prices and a cozy feel! These things are so hard to find these days...keeps me coming back!
(5)Ken H.
City Diner scared me a bit simply because the menu was huge. Common sense (and Gordon Ramsey) will tell you that a restaurant just can't be good at all things. I only got up the nerve to try the club sandwich and fries, but the service was friendly and prompt, the food came out quick, and it was delicious! I'm pretty jaded about french fries (no one does them right!) but these were amazing. I saw people dining on things as varied as pot roast dinners, gryros, and fish platters. Everyone seemed happy. After eating there I took the time to look up some reviews, and found that people just seem to love this place. I definitely need to try it again the next time in the area.
(4)Jack F.
CliffsNotes: It's no IHOP. City Diner is quite popular among the locals but it's hardly a worthwhile destination. The only reason I ended up here was because there wasn't anywhere else opened for Sunday breakfast or brunch nearby. The country fried steak puts Ted's Bulletins to shame but the home fries are more accurately labeled potatoes gratin. The whole wheat pancakes were bland and inconsistently mixed. Given the number of dishes offered, I'm not surprised that the kitchen has difficulty pulling everything off. At the end of the day, it's not somewhere I'd particularly recommend nor is it somewhere I'd dissuade you from coming. [Original Visit: October 24, 2010]
(3)Jen M.
It's exactly what you would expect from a no-frills Greek diner. Which by the way, this area needs more of. Maybe the friendly competition would bring the quality of City Diner's food up a bit. City Diner has an extensive menu so no matter what you're feeling like, you can probably get it. We really only come for breakfast and stick to the omelettes since they are pretty good. The food is OK - some is good but a lot is just average. They also have a dessert counter in the middle of the store with several pastries to choose from. Nothing to rave about. The service is hit-or-miss. However, if you have Gina (Tita Gina, if you're also Filipino) as your server you will leave there with a smile because she is so pleasant and helpful. She's one of the only reasons we haven't written this place off completely.
(3)Ankur B.
Went there for a meal around brunch and had the athenian omlete, lady friend had a belgian waffle. both were pretty good, homefries are an interesting mix of sliced and diced potatoes, onions, peppers. service was friendly, prices reasonable, probably would try again.
(3)