Chelsea Royal Diner
487 Marlboro Rd, Brattleboro, VT, 05301
Chelsea Royal Diner Menu
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Address :
487 Marlboro Rd
Brattleboro, VT, 05301 - Phone (802) 254-8399
- Website https://www.chelsearoyaldiner.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Christine C.
Delish! Wow! I was a little hesitant eating here when my husband suggested it, but it was a delightful surprise! We started with the claim chowder which was homemade in house and by far the best I have ever had! I almost ordered a second bowl but so glad I didn't because the baked Mac and cheese came out next! I was again blown away by how delicious and creamy it was! Wow! I ordered the Bison Cheddar burger which came with chips, lettuce, tomato, and onions on the side. By this time I was getting pretty full and couldn't finish more than half my burger! My husband ordered the Apple Cinnamon Pancakes which came with powered sugar and local Maple Syrup. He devoured them and said they were amazing. The service was fantastic! Katrina was very knowledgable and friendly with our questions as out of towners. The inside decor does need some renovations but the food, what is most important, exceeds expectations! It only takes cash or instate checks. There is an ATM outside though!
(5)Mj W.
We've been to the Chelsea several times over a span of 7 or 8 years, its always been hit or miss. We've had some really good meals and some not so good meals. So today we figured we'd go for breakfast, it has been probably a year since our last visit. I'm not really a big complainer but let me say that this was a HUGE mistake. Let me start by saying to have 7 problems with one sitting is mind boggling (and that was just mine, not including fiances). problem 1. ordered coffee, it was like mud mixed with tar. Problem 2. Utensils were dirty and had syrup on them. Placed our order: I ordered 2 eggs over medium, home fries, toast Problem 3. Got order, hash browns instead of home fries. Problem 4. Eggs yolks were cooked solid (over hard), tasted alright but definitely not cooked how I ordered them. Problem 5. Server brought me over a plate of home fries... They were not edible, they tasted like potatoes left over from the day before. Server assured me that they were cooked today. That being the case I can only assume they were cooked in the dishwasher. Problem 6, Fiance gave me the ham steak included with her meal, which was dried out and lets just say an interesting color, didn't eat. Problem 7, my personal favorite and the coup de gras. I was 3/4 done with the hash browns (which I decided to eat because the homefries I couldn't eat) and I found a HAIR. So, that was a hell of a way to cap off a lousy meal. My fiance only made it half way through her meal also. On a positive note: server was nice. Bacon & toast were good. The overall condition of the dinning room was ok but I did notice the floor looked like it had not been swept or moped in a very long time. I have to wonder about their commitment to cleanliness as well. So, needless to say that will be our last trip to the Chelsea Royal. It was memorable, but not in a good way.
(1)Marc L.
I have eaten here a few times over the years and have liked it, particularly for breakfast . And the ice cream stand outside is outstanding. We ate dinner here on Sunday night (Mothers Day) and found the food to range from bad to OK. There were many appetizing specials posted on the wall. Not a great selection for vegetarians. The service was not good because there were only two servers (the restaurant fortunately was not packed) who struggled to keep up. I do like the atmosphere, it has a good vibe. Our table for six in the old railcar section seemed cramped and uncomfortable. In comparison to what one would expect from a New England diner, Chelsea needs a lot of improvement .
(3)Steven R.
This diner is awesome. It's very casual, as would be expected, but is a really fun place to eat. The waiting staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. The portions are enormous though-be warned! But the food is absolutely incredible. It's also not very expensive either, especially considering how much they give you. This was our first time ever passing through here, but if I ever find myself going down this highway again I will certainly take the time to stop here for some good Vermont eatin!
(5)Michael O.
Everything's homemade. Locally sources ingredients. Prices are reasonable. Can't go wrong.
(5)Zee J.
Fantastic and wildly popular diner. I had the Cajun Skillet breakfast and it was excellent. Besides that, the service is pretty slow, the wait was pretty long and no credit cards in 2015 is also relatively hard to grasp. Recommended.
(4)Maria B.
This is a roadfood.com recommended place. I'm not sure why, other than cuteness. It is cute. Standalone building, nicely painted and decorated. Inside there is a small "bar" area with old-style swivel stools. Then booths and tables. When I was here it smelled odd. Not sure what. not mold or anything like that. Not cleaning product. But odd. My service was very harried. It was not crowded so I'm not sure why. Nary a smile was seen. They have three styles hommade bread, one of which was the sunflower seed one. That's what I had. It was good, but the portion was small. Butter is salted, no jam on the table. Poached eggs tasted farm fresh and I enjoyed them a lot. Bacon was probably also local and good, if a little thin, but the serving was generous. I found prices fair, but I am not sure Id come looking for this place again. It was fine. Easy parking and easy wheelchair ramp to get in. I'm not sure it would be easy once inside, its a tight place, but you could get to the door and I imagine by moving some chairs away would be comfortably seated as well. Poor phone reception here (AT&T).
(3)Steven H.
This place oozes rickety old diner charm and sits conveniently on the north side of Route 9 as you venture out of Brattleboro on the way to Mount Snow. The food is acceptable though not memorable, and it's cash only, so come prepared. Service was prompt though I visited on a weekday morning and note that some reviewers bemoan the weekend crowds.
(3)D E.
After Dot's in Wilmington, Chelsea Royal is our favorite breakfast/brunch place. Reasonable portions, their pancake/egg/bacon/toast/OJ/coffee/biscuits & gravy plates deliver the goods. My first meal here was miserable on all accounts,, fast forward a few years and I'm here a few Sunday's a month. Classic diner waitress banter always makes us chuckle for one reason or another. I grew up in New Jersey diners, this is a good substitute. Beware the warm spoiled butter and creme if you are sittin on the eastward-facing booths when the heat is on full-bore, it blasts down right onto the tables and the dairy gets nasty quickly.
(4)Jane T.
Awesome find! Stopped in this diner on the way back to Brattleboro after skiing at Mount Snow. Arrived around 3:30pm on a Sunday and we were skeptical at first because we were the only ones there but it was awesome. They have an impressive variety of dishes for a diner. Everything from all day breakfast, to sandwiches, burgers, pasta plates, and seafood. Despite our large group of 7, we were served quite quickly and everyone loved their food. We had the chicken pot pie, shepherds pie, buffalo chicken sandwich, veal parmesan, and thought everything was great. We couldn't pass up dessert after such a great dinner so we sampled a number of desserts. Our favorites were the Gluten free chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and vanilla ice cream, which tasted like an incredible warm hot fudge sundae, and the carrot cake, which was super moist and had the best cream cheese frosting. The servers were incredibly friendly, and it was a cute atmosphere. Definitely a five star diner and would go back again for sure.
(5)Steve L.
I've been here twice -- it's a great place to stop for a relaxing meal if you're driving up to or back from some place in Vermont and want to take a break from the highway drag. Both times have been very pleasant and I'm sure that will be true for anyone as long as you can realize that you're far far away from urban hustle and can survive waiting more than 3 seconds after you ask for a coffee refill. Get any special from the whiteboard and you won't be sorry. Also, I might have a crush on the waitress Rachel J...
(4)Robin J.
I had been here years ago with my mother, and was quite impressed back then. So when my husband and I visited Southern Vermont Columbus Day weekend, I insisted we eat here. There was a long wait, but most good places had the same situation, so we waited on the benches in the front. We were glad that we did. Although the place was packed, our waitress was on top of things. We ordered and received our food surprisingly fast. I saw someone at the table next to us having the clam chowder, and it looked so good that I ordered a bowl of it. Wow. It was one of the best I've ever had. If we were leaving that day, I would have ordered a to go quart for home. I also had the open-faced roast beef, which was good. The fries it came with were pretty good. My husband had the Buffalo Bill Feast, which had a bison burger and a bison hot dog. He's still raving about it. Especially the hotdog, which tasted more like a sausage. The sweet potato fries he got were the best I've ever had. Definitely not frozen, and not at all greasy. We will be back the next time we're in the area.
(4)Gillian T.
Driving through Vermont and came across this cute local diner. FOOD: We had the banana bread French toast and home made crab cake Benedict which were awesome. Get the side of Vermont maple syrup. The corn beef hash was ok and inferior compared to our other two dishes. ATMOSPHERE: The decor is a little old, but it made it feel homey and classic. You can tell its a local favorite that's been around for years
(4)Liz S.
I have to say, I love this little place. It's quite small, but the food is very good. It's tasty country cooking that is made fresh daily. The beef is sourced from locally grown and grass fed cows. Service is very friendly. We eat here passing through on our way up to see family in Vermont.
(4)Rick W.
Greeted promptly and served coffee almost immediately. That's important. I had the sausage omelette w/ sausage gravy and a side of hash. My buddy had the Cajun skillet. Food was prepared well, served hot and very tasty. Coffee was good and refills offered in a timely fashion. Price was right and everyone was friendly. Nothing bad to say about this little joint.
(4)Michael D.
Made a return to the Chelsea, this time with the GF. I still love this place. And now J. does too. She loved the fact that they serve local food, and they do it well. One word of advice: Local, grass-fed Angus beef runs a little leaner than the beef you are used to, so order it rarer than you normally would. Other than that, the experience was perfect. Great wait staff, great food from great ingredients. Still earning those Royal 5 Stars!
(5)Rebecca B.
Great old-fashioned diner with some surprisingly modern choices on the menu. My teenage son had a Reuben and I had a burger made with grass-fed beef from a local farm. Everything was delicious and our waitress was a delight. The desserts looked and sounded fantastic, but we were saving room for the cider donuts we bought down the road at the sugar house. We sat at the counter, and the only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 was because the appliances could have been a lot cleaner. But we would definitely go back, and I've already recommended it to friends. Note: Cash only. There is an ATM on site.
(4)Chelsea E.
Was excited to eat here from all the great reviews and being from out of town love trying new local places but disappointed with the service. Long wait on a Sunday morning so placed our name down on the list and waited. As we waited, spots at the front counter became available which we would be fine with taking as the hostess announced that as an option for anyone waiting. As we walked up to grab them, a party of 3 waltzed in the door without having the chance to even put their name down on the wait list and took them. Didn't care that there was already a list of folks waiting and that we were right there ready to sit down. Should have been given to anyone waiting first and had those walking through the door wait to see and if no one on the actual list wanted them...then give to them. Disappointed, we walked out and had a great breakfast at Vermont Country Deli down the road!
(1)Rob L.
Came in for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised by the variety of breakfast dishes on the menu. We tried the Cajun skillet and avocado benedict, both of which were great. Coffee was excellent especially by diner standards. We'll be back next time we are in Brattleboro.
(4)Ian W.
The Chelsea Royal Diner in West Brattleboro is one of my favorite places to stop for a meal on my drives between NH and NY, which serves up breakfast (all day), lunch, and dinner. They have quite a good selection of dishes on menu to choose from at reasonable prices. Daily specials & blue plate specials are offered everyday, plus $7.99 early bird specials (Mon-Thurs 4PM-5:30PM), $11.99 prime rib (Fri-Sat evenings),and the $2.99 Breakfast Special (Mon-Fri 5:30AM-10AM, except holidays). During the warmer months, the ice cream stand is open April-October. This cozy and clean diner is definitely one of the better places in the area for a great breakfast. The $2.99 Breakfast Special (2 eggs, 2 toast, 2 meat, & homefries) and a fresh brewed cup of Mocha Joe's Coffee ($1.60) is what I usually order when I stop here for early morning breakfast on the way to work in NH. The food is not fancy, but tastes pretty good. The scrambled eggs are soft and fluffy. The homefries (small potato cubes) are grilled and seasoned. The ham slices are tender and chewy. Also, they sometimes offer the Avocado Benedict on special which is also very good. The service here is prompt, I usually can get my breakfast in about 5-10 minutes on a typical weekday and refills are given on the coffee, which is much appreciated. The waitress at the counter also chats with the regular customers too. Next time I stop in here, I'll have to try and make it in on a Friday or Saturday night when they serve up Mexican food.
(4)Bryant N.
$40 dollars for burned coffee (between three people), canned veggies, and sub-par service (had to get my own silverware and napkin). Only thing it had going for it was a neat traditional diner atmosphere. Either serve cheap diner food at a cheap cost, or good fresh food at their current high price. But as it stands now, I won't be returning.
(1)Jay B.
I agree with the positive reviews and am surprised to see negative reviews. I've come here several times for breakfast. It is definitely worth the trip. I've had the smoked salmon eggs Benedict, the blueberry pancakes, and probably in the past the French toast and omelette. I also had the coffee, The food has been superb. The coffee is strong but I won't say it's excellent. The place is very quaint and lovely, the atmosphere is charming, and the waitstaff pleasant and friendly. This place remains a favorite of mine, Some things obviously went wrong for other diners, though, since I see more than a few authentic looking negative reviews. But I want to add my voice to the chorus of happy customers.
(4)Tiffany W.
I drove by this place on my way between NH and NY for 15 years before recently stopping by for brunch. I was so pleasantly surprised! Tasty food, lots of options on the menu. My egg sandwich was yummy and my husband's Cajun skillet was awesome. Kid friendly. Be prepared that it's cash only!
(4)Felicity F.
I stopped here on vacation because the reviews were good and I wish they had said how ridiculously priced the food is. I ordered breakfast because it was early and a diner should be able to make a good breakfast. The portions were meager for the price and the breakfast was subpar. Up charged for some "famous" Vermont maple syrup, pretty sure it was the cheap stuff and I paid more for it. The coffee was meh and the service wasn't great either. I also ordered a side of hash browns that was pale and undercooked when I ordered them crispy and they came halfway through the meal. The portion was extremely tiny for the amount I paid. Overall just disappointed.
(1)Mikki M.
I haven't had such a bad time here in a while, but it seems to keep getting worse. This particular time I brought my son with Aspergers, who is intense in high volume areas but I bring him out to expose him to it when I can, and wanted to meet my sister there for breakfast before we all headed out for a hike together. The first thing was we were told at the front of the line, no partial tables. Which means my son and I had to sit at a bench in front of the single use bathrooms and watch people get in line to use. I didn't even use them because I couldn't imagine they were clean with the amount of volume going in and out. Second when my sister did arrive we were promised to be taken care of right away, but weren't so we waited in line. We were promptly given a corner table with scattered amenities, no silverwear and no napkin box or ketchup like everyone else. Apparently none of the waitresses wanted to take us, so we were left there. My sister took it upon herself to get the menus. When a waitress did come over she took our drink order, then grabbed some silverwear and took some napkins from a napkin dispenser that was occupied by another table and put it all down in front of us. At this point, I look at my sister and say "What did we do?" It seemed like we were pegged from the get go to get mistreatment. Then different waitress comes over to take our drink order. We tell her someone came to get it already. Then a third comes over to do the same. Again, I look at my sister and wonder if we should just leave. My son was content in the corner that they gave us so we stayed. We ordered for us but I told them I needed them to come back for my sons order. They never did, and no one was available for eye contact so we just waited. My sisters and my food, came out and the first waitress asked if my son ordered anything. I didn't want to explain so I asked for somehting quick and smple for him. For the remainder of the time no one checked on us. No one asked if we were ok. My sister had to get up again to get some ketchup from the front. The food was not what it used to be. I could get the same at Denny's and pobably be better served. I'm sorry, we will never go back. But I thought it should be said what we went through.
(1)Margaret T.
I went out of the way to visit based on the reviews. The service was ok. The place was crowded and hurried. Utensils and dishes had dried crud on them and the seats were sticky. The blueberry pancakes were very good but more complex dishes were not successful. Prices were set for affluent tourists and incongruent with what was delivered.
(2)Lauren M.
No, no ,no every time I leave it's with a belly ache but inevitably someone from out of town want s me to take them there. The bathrooms are horrid! And according to someone who goes in their kitchen, there is literally mold growing in the walk in fridge. The staff are stressed, but really nice and great at their jobs. All of this shows in the end result on your plate. This place has a really cool ambiance with the train car and counter with swivel stools, but if you look closer it's really dirty. Lots of tourists go here, maybe they don't notice? It's a real shame because the chelsea royal could be so fantastic if it would get a deep cleaning and better quality food. If you have to do it, get a grass-fed cheeseburger or a cinnamon bun at breakfast. I will change this review to more stars as soon as I have a better meal there! I'd love to see this place improve!
(1)Kathee B.
Loved it! Great hometown stop on the way back from a winter getaway. Boyfriend had a headed burger and said it was great. I had an omlet breakfast which was pretty good too. I appreciated the unique variety on the menu (potato pancakes!) And highly recommend the chili hot chocolate. With enjoyed cream. Go big or go home. Be sure to appreciate the wall art in the restrooms too.
(4)Bill S.
We hate to disagree with so many other Yelpers who love it, but to be honest about it, we had a lousy food experience here and others need to know about it. We stopped for lunch just after noon and ordered a breakfast and a lunch. The eggs over easy were good; the bacon--which we asked to be crispy--was definitely uncrispy, ther hashbrowns had a crust that a knife couldn't cut easily, and the the toast came with the tiniest slices we've ever seen. The coffee was hot and weak. The luncheon dish was barbecue chicken/ribs which was mostly inedible because of extreme dryness. In fact, it was so dry the bones cracked easily. The slaw side was filled with mayonnaise, a no-no for us. The waitress, while friendly, never brought ketchup and never offered a drink refill. The bill was $26, not awful but considering the poor food quality, exorbitant. We know this comment runs very much against the grain of others, but what's the purpose of Yelp if everyone falsifies their experience in order to go along with others?
(1)Michael W.
This is a place I've eaten at during motorcycle rides in Southern Vermont and it is one of those places where your memory plays tricks on you. I always seem to go here thinking that it was really good the last time I was there.....the truth is that the breakfasts here are good (not great) and the lunches really kinda suck. During my last visit I ordered a bison burger....the best way to describe my burger was....think about the last time you had one of those overcooked frozen three decades ago Wholesale Club hockey puck burgers...got that image in your mind?.....good now think of a really bad one of THOSE burgers and you can begin to understand why you should not order the bison burgers at this roadside diner. I had ratatouille as a side and when the vegetables are cooked so long that they lose their molecular integrity....well that ain't good eats. One of the guys in our group said he really enjoyed his meatloaf sandwich.....he is also the guy who gets worked up about the rooty tooty good and frooty pancake special at the local IHOP.
(2)Karen S.
We went back to Chelsea Royal Diner because we had a good experience the first time. This time however, left us feeling disappointed and annoyed. We didn't have to wait too long for our food once we placed our order and the food was decent. But the problem was that we had a different waitress then we did the first time. She was nice but she seemed to forget about us. No refills offered for my husband's or two son's drinks, took forever for her to take our order, we had to ask for things like jelly, and she kept walking past us when we were sitting there with empty plates waiting for our check. My husband had asked for some lemons for his water but he had to wait forever for the lemon. When she finally showed up with a cup of lemons the waitress merely stabbed one lemon with a fork and passed it over for him to pull off the fork. She was only going to give him one lemon so he had to ask her to "allott" him another one. (We didn't realize that lemons need to be rationed out) She never offered us butter for the waffles and pancakes that three of us ordered. However, she gave great service and attention to one of the regulars as she kept walking past us and ignoring us. My other complaint is that this diner really could use a good cleaning. I understand that it is an old diner but cobwebs, grime on ketchup bottles, and dirty utensils (hair on my husband's fork) is unacceptable. I enjoy the food at this diner but I am in no rush to go back because of this waitresses poor service and the issues of cleanliness.
(2)Mark M.
Went here this AM based on the Yelp recommendation. It was good but did not wow us...the corned beef hash needed a little something and my wife's potato pancakes had nice flavor but would have been better if they were crispier. The coffee was very good and the service was awesome.
(3)ImaYesfa N.
Great grass fed burgers with locally sourced beef & local cheese is fairly awesome for the price. In the summer they get a lot of their veggies from the backyard. Great pies and yummy cakes, all homemade. Daily blue plate specials too. The Royal Diner has been here since 1939 and when im in town i always stop here for dinner at least once. I tell you no lie the ice cream out in the front is the best ive ever had. Today they had Organic strawberry. Never seen that before! It was delectable. You cant miss it on RT 9 near to Brattleborro . Old time charm!!
(4)Lulu A.
Negative reviewers --- it's diner food! Don't expect anything more than that! I had the grass-fed burger with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and Canadian bacon. It was FANTASTIC! Delicious burger and pretty standard, thick-cut french fries. We just got off of a long backpacking trip (Sunday evening) and were starving -- this totally hit the spot. They seated us immediately upon entering and the waitress was speedy & efficient. Surprisingly, they have beer and wine available too! We didn't try any of the desserts, but the portions that passed by us looked GI-normous. It IS diner food, but great for what it is and an authentic local spot - worth a pit stop.
(4)Danny B.
On My Way Back To Connecticut From a Awesome Vacation i Had in Vermont We Decided to Break up the Trip And Get Some Lunch We Decided to Eat Here The Food Was Delicious Had a Bacon Cheese Burger The Staff Was Nice and Friendly Came and Checked on Us All The Time Made Sure Everything Was Good Quick Service as Well
(5)Jeff F.
I have to ask myself great diner or greatest diner? This is a cut above the typical diner menu - they pretty much have a dozen different items I would eat there (only had the tuna melt and grilled chesse - both awesoem). And they make their own ice cream onsite - will try it on a return visit. Requisite spunky staff with more personality than all of the staffs at my last 15 restaurants combined added to the charm/atmosphere. Great call if you need quick food off of 91 - worth the 8 minute drive off the exit
(4)Robert M.
This is a very balanced diner. Great food and bad service. So it is three stars. So what do I mean by bad service? Well the waitress was really nice and engaging, but simply would not stop by very often. She spent a lot of time in a little area chatting with the other employees. It took 1/2 and hour, and no I am not exaggerating, to get the bill and get it paid. We spent in total, 1.5 hours for a corned-beef and eggs and a hamburger. I can appreciate that some place are more casually passed, but this was bad. It is sad because the lady was really great, especially with my 4 year old daughter. The way up side, the food was really really good. Their Black Angus Burgers are a great addition to the menu. The Corned-beef hash was really well done. Their Mac-n-cheese was AMAZING (once you added just a touch of salt). So if the staff would have been a little more prompt, this would have been a 4 star, easily. Maybe you sit at a booth and not at the counter. I know that sounds a little strange since the counter should be the place that deals in quick service, it just does not happen here.
(3)Jake G.
This place def gets the job done: quick service, good prices, ample serving size, good food, and genuine diner cart atmosphere. Perfect spot to fuel up before a day of skiing at mount snow!
(4)Allie M.
Great! But you have to be in the mood for disgustingly fatty and greasy food. The food is probably not all that fresh, so keep that in mind, but it is pretty good for a diner and for the prices. It is a weekend favorite for lunch when we want a tasty meal and dont mind feeling guilty afterward.
(4)Elise H.
Best breakfast ever. Cajun Skillet is the main reason I go to Vermont.
(4)Dee B.
I'm not always a huge fan of diners, particularly when it comes to non-breakfast foods. The Chelsea Royal Diner, however, was wonderful! We only had time for lunch in Brattleboro and sadly many of the better/more interesting restaurants seem to serve only dinner. That's where this diner came in handy... I had the grilled bbq chicken breast sandwich and I asked for a side of green beans. The sandwich was good, but the beans were surprisingly scrumptious! They were very fresh, sauteed with some red peppers and garlic, and even lightly charred. Honestly, damn good green beans! For dessert, I had an awfully difficult time making a decision. All of the items listed on the chalk board sounded awesome. I was particularly intrigued by their homemade ice cream, so I decided to go decadent and chose the tollhouse sundae. Oh dear sugar and chocolate gods, was this ever a fantastic dessert! And, yes, their homemade ice cream is wonderful. So, if you're ever in Brattleboro, I highly recommend stopping at the Chelsea Royal Diner and treating yourself to dessert!
(5)Catherine Y.
This is what every diner should be. The staff was super friendly. They got our order wrong, but we got extra ham and bacon from the mistake. So not much to complain there. The food was delicious! I got the royal feast, which included 2 eggs, 1/2 belgian waffle, a short stack of pancakes and ham/bacon for 7.99! Pretty cheap coming from boston! We also ordered the Vermont maple syrup. GET IT!! It made the meal so much better than it already was :)
(4)Mindy L.
I have so many memories of Chelsea Royal Diner from growing up... Stopping in for ice cream with my Dad after softball games... Craving their mac'n'cheese after having my tonsils removed... Having dinner before semi-formal my sophmore year of highschool... There are so many reasons to visit here, but first and foremost is the local and delicious food. Came in with a couple friends and my Mom to enjoy the organic breakfast (with all proceeds going to the Strolling of the Heifers educational fund - yay!) and very much enjoyed my Eggs Benedict and the homemade cinnamon roll (they don't hold back on the ooey gooey goodness). I'll continue coming here every time I'm home in Brattleboro - and suggest that if you're making your way up or down Route 9, you stop here for some local grub, too!
(4)Melanie H.
Maybe it's just that I am hungry for dinner right now, but I can't get this place off my mind. I went to Chelsea Royal Diner yesterday for brunch and I would drive the two hours northwest to Brattleboro simply for the delight of eating this amazing diner food again. It could have been the coffee, the (homemade) sunflower wheat toast, the farm fresh eggs, or even the intimate diner ambiance, but Chelsea Royal Diner- you have my business whenever I am in southern Vermont. Woohoo! As good as it gets!
(5)Douglas W.
I'm taking off one star because their French fries are a disgrace---limp, pale and greasy. Maybe the fryer was overwhelmed as it was very busy that day, but fries done in tepid oil shouldn't be served, If I go back and they've fixed it I'll add the 5th star. Other than that I love this place. Our waitress was very cheerful and swift and remembered everything. Drinks came immediately (real brewed iced tea, fresh tasting, with a proper slice of lemon) and she knew the answers to questions we had about the menu. My large bison cheddar burger was served rare, just as I asked, on an artisanal looking light textured bun with the pro-forma iceberg lettuce and tomato. It was not the hockey puck referenced by an earlier reviewer, but remember that bison is very lean and needs to be undercooked. My companion's grass-fed cheeseburger was large and juicy. As I saw other people's plates being delivered I wanted to come back to try more food because it all looked great, in a genuine dinerish way. The old school decor also looks genuine, i.e. not all quaintified for cuteness. Nothing fancy here. Just honest diner food served in a cheerful setting at a good price. Looking forward to mac and cheese with a footlong. And I very much appreciate the locally sourced ingredients and meat from humane providers. And for the record, I take issue with an earlier reviewer who accuses people of falsifying their reviews in order to go along with the crowd. This place doesn't do haute cuisine---it's a DINER for Christ's sake. 4 stars for spreading happiness. A 5th star when they sort the French fries.
(4)Riz H.
En route to NH we stopped here for lunch. I ordered their special hamburger with horseradish sauce and cheese and god knows what else. I got a regular hamburger, I noticed the cheese missing, waitress apologized and brought it back with a slab of cheese thrown in (unmelted). After taking a bite I realize that there is no horseradish sauce, waitress apologizes again and brings me the sauce on the side. One star for waitresses apology. Food is nothing to talk about. It ain't royal, and coming from nyc it certainly ain't no chelsea - yuck!
(1)Kate B.
Love this spot! The service is excellent and so is the food. Get the chipotle burger!! And best maple walnut pie around. And to New Yorkers complaining about a waitress' mistake, try to remember she's a human being and makes mistakes. If you like your ny diners so much maybe you should stay down there.
(5)jim b.
I like this place. I only went for breakfast. Standard decent diner food at fair prices. I'm adding a star for the vibe. Good setting and fun workers. I sat at the small counter and the interplay between the staff and the regulars was aces. I liked these ladies a lot. Thoroughly enjoyable. Always surprised that Brattleboro doesn't have more breakfast options but at least now I have a go to.
(4)SJ M.
Updated after nearly 3 years of semi-frequent attendance. Changed from 4 to 3 stars. It's so hit and miss. Getting really sick of how dirty everything is: picking up a condiment or salt or sugar container, or touching the napkin dispenser is like entering a filthy germy minefield. And I have a preschooler so my standards are LOW as I deal with a lot of stickiness and germs! Don't bother with a salad or anything green and leafy, but do try the veggies sides as they are often delicious. Breakfast and burgers are your best bet here. Service can be great or can be dismal. Burgers are sometimes cooked perfectly and at others a "medium" is still mooing. I don't have many other places to go, and I'll still frequent the Chelsea, but for the love of god, clean, please! From July 2012: Excellent service. Great food. Local grass fed burgers-- not your typical diner! You or your friends ever use the phrase "diner gut?" Like that inevitable pain in the gut that makes you run to the loo 10 minutes after you eat at a diner. Not happening here. Still not amazing food, but a very nice surprise to see a lovely salad made of romaine lettuce and lots of other fresh veggies. Insanely delicious ice cream next door. Only complaint was that the diner was really dirty. Like sticky fingers after touching the salt shaker dirty. Needs a mega-deep clean then it gets 5 stars!
(3)Christian G.
As close to the Platonic ideal of a New England diner as you can get. I've been a patron since the early '90s - and the best things have remained unchanged since those epic undergraduate Sunday brunches, while new elements and a more adventurous and locally sourced menu have been introduced to make everything else, beyond the egg frontier, even better. Cozy, friendly, always hits the spot, affordable: A perfect choice for casual dining with good friends.
(5)Robin M.
My husband and I were on a day trip to southern Vermont from Boston. On the way home, we wanted to stop at a local restaurant. As we were passing through Brattleboro on RT 9, we passed a diner, decided we should eat there so we turned around. Glad we did-it was fabulous. Our waitress was cheerful and pleasant. We sat it what we believe to be the old part of the diner and it was like going back in time with the old style fridge and wood ceilings. The meal (burger and Ruben) were perfectly cooked and arrived very quickly. We were seated, waited on, served quickly and didn't have to wait for the check. Next time we are in the area, we will stop!
(4)Rina C.
passed by here and like the little dinning cart room they have so decide to dine here. too bad they were out of their blue plate special "lamb shank" so I had to make a hasty decision (since there was only one waitress working , didn't want her to wait long) by ordering the fried big belly clam, which was a mistake. the fried clam come with French fries which doesn't look appetizing since the fried clam and French fries has the exact same color. they should have put veggie or something to make the plate look more appetizing. so I couldn't even finish half of my plate. My friend helped me finished my other half. the maple sundae is pretty good, however, I made another mistake by subbing the vanilla ice cream to chocolate ice cream so now everything looks dark brown. Nevertheless, it taste good.
(3)Spoon S.
As a local, I have been to Chelsea Royal many times, and have never been overwhelmed with joy, but my last visit really had me questioning ever returning. First of all, the service was horrifying. It was a busy lunch, but there were tables still open, so they were by no means swamped. Our waitress was not able to bring water to the table until AFTER our appetizers came out (after we asked her twice to bring water!). The food was so-so. It usually is here, in my opinion. For a diner, its about average. The onion soup was pretty good, but the entrees were pretty unappealing. The meatloaf (which is oddly marked as a "favorite" item) was dry and tasteless. My waitress asked me if I wanted gravy, and i said yes, expecting it to be an average amount or on the side. The meatloaf came out DROWNING in gravy. You couldn't even see the surface. The whole thing was just gross. My boyfriend's caesar salad with shrimp was good, but it was extremely overdressed, and he could not eat most of it. To top it off, when we asked for our check, our waitress unprofessionally tossed it over the side of our booth onto our table. This was by far the worst service I've received anywhere in a long time. To sum it up: OK food, (usually) OK service... better off getting food elsewhere and stopping at Chelsea Royal after to get some ice cream.
(2)Bryan R.
The very popular, once king of Burlington, VT dining Chelsea Royal Diner is a great spot to stop if you are looking for fresh food. Even worth driving a little out of your way. I have been going to the Chelsea Royal Diner for as long as I can remember. My father and I would stop on our way to or from New York from New Hampshire. I have always marveled in the fact that most of things that they offer their are either grown or made on site. The back drop to this location is a 50+ acre farm, which all the vegetables come from. I believe they have around 50 varieties of ice cream, most if not all are hand made. Only available in the spring/summer. With some flavors that you can't get in the store or really any where else. The food, likewise is fairly fresh some of the options you can't find any where else. I have been looking for a Creamy Dill salad dressing as long as I have been going here without any luck. The salads are an obvious choice on what to get. The blue plate special is always a good way to round down the number of options to a manageable level. Definitely not the cleanest place I have ever been. The staff is very friendly and dedicated. I would avoid for breakfast, despite how good a job they do because we have always waited at least 30 minutes+, if you are just passing through it isn't worth it. Worth stopping in for dinner on an odd night or when you can.
(4)David B.
The native cuisine of northern New England is the diner, closely followed by the brewpub. These diners are ubiquitous - we ate in five of them without looking very hard - and they are not the cutesy fifties retro pseudo-diners you find in California. They're mostly authentic old pre-fab structures. The food is cheap and quite good. In Vermont the syrupables come with genuine maple syrup. In New Hampshire you can have the genuine maple syrup for an extra fifty cents, and you'd better do it or they'll come across the river from Vermont and git you. We had lunch and dinner in diners too, but breakfast is the canonical diner meal. A "Vermont omelette" (cheddar and bacon) at the Chelsea Royal Diner was among the highlights.
(4)cassie r.
I can imagine this place is a love for locals - and while I was a little disappointed in the food, Chelsea Royal Diner does have a lot going for them. First, this joint is quaintly divey. In other words, the well-worn kitsch of this place has a certain charm to it. That said, their menu has your standard diner options -- and while I was excited to try the maple glazed chicken sandwich, I was disappointed to find there really was no maple taste to be had. The sweet potato fries were a great side option though. Luckily, dessert is top-notch. My parents and I shared a piece of the maple walnut pie with homemade ice cream - hallelujah this stuff was gooooooood. Chelsea's prices aren't bad, and they do offer a few local brews too. Downsides: this place is cash only. Another downside, we weren't given the specials, and missed out on trying moose - which is something I'd have loved to get a taste of. Being a Chicagoan, moose is not a frequent addition on any menu around the city. Oh well, I guess I may never know what I'm missing...
(3)Tiffany F.
Chelsea is best for breakfast, sweet potatoe fries and milkshakes. The breakfast special for $4 is complete with essentials: eggs, hashbrowns and toast. The chocolate chip waffle used to be large and rich, but the quality has decreased. Instead it's crispy and thin. Don't miss the sunflower toast and homemade jam. It's the best item on the menu.
(3)Barry A.
It's hit or miss here, but always filling. We've eaten here for years as a "cheap eats" last minute kind of place. The meal may be o.k. or suck really, really bad. The ice cream is not as wonderful as many seem to think, but it's not the worst I've ever had. I've had the best black bean soup here, and the worst. I always find the mushroom soup tastes really good, but not consistantly the same viscosity, sometimes really thick, others really thin. The waitresses bust butt and we find they are the best reason to stop by, as it isn't that cheap. Employees can make or break a business (not a familiar concept in Brattleboro, VT as one might conclude by visiting a few times or by the # of empty retail real estate in town ) but at the Royal, they make the business.
(3)Lynee G.
Went here for a special organic local farm breakfast for the strolling of the heifers weekend. It was delicious! I had an egg omelet with vermont cheddar and chives. The home made sunflower bread was delicious. Mom had a yummy french toast breakfast. Both were specials for that weekend. There is plenty of parking, and the place is filled with locals which is always a great sign!This retro diner was one I had always passed and wanted to try. Next time I will definitely stop in maybe for some ice cream as well!
(5)Jonathan C.
Excellent diner must have breakfast there. The maple walnut pancakes are delicious. Friendly staff quick service clean. And you can't beat scenery in the Green Mountains
(5)Dean H.
Looks enticing from the road but the place has a dark side. The bacon and eggs were greasy and the potatoes came as a hard block. My friend tried the corn beef hash that was mostly mashed potatoes. Staff was distracted and summoned new customers from afar rather than a greeting near the door.
(1)Daniel H.
Very friendly staff (although we did feel somewhat rushed despite being seated over an hour before the listed closing time). I ordered a Spanish omelette with home fries and rye toast and my companion ordered the Popeyes omelette. She seemed to enjoy her meal thoroughly. I liked the home fries and the toast just fine. The egg itself was cooked properly and tasty but the "Spanish" part of the omelette seemed to just be salsa from a jar. I was expecting some freshly chopped tomatoes, onions and peppers. We also had some maple pecan pie for dessert, which was very good. Another thing to note, we went at about 7:45 pm on a Tuesday, and we were the ONLY customers besides an older gentleman seated at the bar who was clearly a regular. Cash controller seemed to be parring a register while seated at the bar near the gentleman. As much as I enjoy the trust implicit in this act, I worry about the employee's safety if a less than good person were to stumble upon that scene. Anyways, thanks for the nice service all, hope you can rope in a bit more business.
(3)Ramunas B.
Great food at a great price.
(4)Grinning F.
Steaming rusty stripes Succulent necessity Sweet potato fries
(5)Rick D.
Old time diner, local food and vibe, and just perfect. I'm almost afraid to give such an excellent review because the wait time will be longer next time I'm in the neighborhood. Burgers, breakfast food, coffee won't upset.
(5)Ryan H.
It's always a pleasure to find "the diner" in town. You know the food will be greasy, cheap, and the selection will be big. I was up for a macaroni & cheese plate + a foot-long hot dog deal for $5.50. The mac & cheese wasn't baked, but it was still real Vermont cheese on there, so it was good. The hot dog came with saurkraut, mustard, and relish, as long as you ask for them. Constant Companion had a baked four-cheese ziti for $7. Not bad at all. This is the kind of place I could see myself frequenting if I lived in Brattleboro. As an added bonus, the restaurant has an ice cream stand attached to it. I've had the blondie (toll house brownie) sundae, and a ginger milkshake there. Yes, ginger ice cream! Guys, they make their own ice cream. So you know it's good. I, for one, have never had ginger ice cream, which did not, mind you, taste like gingerbread. No, it had the slight pink hue of pickled ginger. It starts creamy and cold, and finishes with a spicy aftertaste due to the slices of real ginger. Go try it. The girl at the counter asked if I wanted my milkshake thick. Of course I said yes, because who wants a thin milkshake? She handed it to me and said, "You can try to drink it through the straw, but you won't be able to" which sounded like a dare. Anyway, I could, but it WAS thick. A diner with an ice cream stand attached. Can it get any better?
(5)M. L.
What a disappointment. My friends and I frequent local diners as often as possible and this place had all the makings of a fantastic diner experience. Unfortunately, it failed to live up to the hype on Yelp! and other review sites. The service was ok; nothing awful, nothing uber-friendly. The food was not good. My omelet looked fine with onion, bits of bacon and some kind of cheese, but had zero flavor. The hash-browns were thin bricks in both shape and texture. My friend ordered her frequent favorite, huevos rancheros. Her plate arrived with brown guacamole... that is never a good thing. My biggest gripe, though, was the coffee; it was weak. I needed good, strong, classic diner coffee that morning and was surprised to get mild watery stuff at such a local favorite. This place just did not do it for us.
(2)Jeff W.
I have been going since 2003. It's simply the best diner in the world! You must stop at this place on route 9 off of exit 2 on 91. The royal feast and the cajun skillet, and finish with some mean cinnamon rolls. You will start telling everyone too!
(5)Krystal Y.
I occasionally frequent this diner, most of the time the food is pretty good. I love the Cajun skillet, it's huge with sausage, potatoes and peppers covered in cheese and eggs. The service is usually your traditional crotchety diner waitress, but you can get over that being that it is a diner and all. Steer clear of the Chesapeake bay Benedict, it's eggs Benny with crab cakes, but the crab cakes are super fishy and really gross. I ate my meal, but not before scraping the crab cakes off, I would have ordered something else but they were super busy and my waitress never came over to see how we were doing, honestly I didn't have time to wait for a new meal, when I did tell my waitress about the crab cakes she took my $1 coffee off the bill, big whoop. I'll be back, mostly for the sake that there aren't any other real breakfast joints in Brattleboro.
(3)Zara B.
It's a dinner, so the food isn't amazing, but it's a damn good dinner. And even if it is in Vermont, they offer real maple syrup as an option, and therefore get super extra bonus points. Solid diner coffee, and the girls always fill you up with a smile. The Royal Feast is a pretty awesome combination of pancake, waffle, eggs, homefries, and breakfast meat. I never get through it all by myself, but I still end up wishing it came with some home-made toast. Cajun Skillet- There's no way to describe this cheezy, spicy, meaty, eggy awesome. It's a plethora of good, and stay warm for as long as you can eat it due to that nice cast iron plate. My honey likes the mac cheese & foot long hot dog that he's been ordering there since he was a kid. The ice cream in the summer is banging. I had a peach cinnamon ice cream that nearly made me squeeeeel in delight.
(4)John B.
Great food, great service, immense portions. Most everything important is homemade, I strongly recommend the cinnamon roll as an example of what I mean. My favorite diner hands down.
(5)Steven G.
Stopped there on a Saturday morning driving east across New England. As expected, it was crowded. The waitress was nice but had a lot of tables to handle. The food took a bit longer than I would expect, but it was crowded and I was hungry. Everything tasted good and the pancakes had maple syrup that came out of a nearby tree. Probably not special for a VT restaurant in October. The portions were large and the prices were at the upper boundary of reasonable. The one negative was that they do not take credit cards. I did not like having to pay for this meal with cash. I will return here next time I drive through Vermont for more good food. I will take more cash with me on my next trip.
(4)J S.
I have only made it here once, but some good friends are regulars. It is a fine example of a diner, brightened by a wide use of local food in many of the options, especially the specials. There is also a creamee stand on the outside.
(4)Emily M.
Chelsea Royal is the diner I grew up going to, and it has spoiled me for life. It is maybe the one place in the world where I will happily wait 30 minutes to eat breakfast. The food can only be held to the standards of diner food, but it is really very good diner food. I love that they have seasonal specials, their own eggs (you can see the chickens out back!) and bake their own delicious sunflower wheat bread. The only thing that could make breakfast better is if they didn't charge extra for real VT maple syrup. In addition to loving breakfast at CRD, I love their outdoor ice cream stand. Their own wonderful ice cream, sundaes, and simple outdoor eats. Yum.
(5)Eric M.
Hit or miss. Food is generally good, depending on what you get. (grass-fed burgers are WAY better than the standard burger...spend the extra!) Same thing with the service. Food usually comes out quickly, but don't expect anyone to refill your drink or ask if everything is OK.
(3)Tommy H.
Was in the area and randomly stopped here for breakfast. They had a specials menu and the food was fantastic. A bit of a hole in the wall but excellent food and good service. Looking forward to eating here again.
(4)Brett R.
Best breakfast at a restaurant, ever! Definite must-stop on future morning trips north on I-91, 2.6mi off the highway. I had the fresh eggs, potato pancakes, bacon, & toast special, done perfectly. Friend had eggs, hash brown, bacon, and blueberry pancakes with real VT syrup. Service was great at 6am! Will be back for sure.
(5)Michael D.
Perfect diner atmosphere. Local flavor. Delicious hash & eggs!
(5)Matthew A.
Best for breakfast, this local diner is a cheap way to enjoy historic Brattleboro. Check out my Yelp list of other fine (and not so fine) diner establishments around New England.
(3)Deb F.
The diner is part of a larger restaurant and no longer looks quite like a usual diner. The counter is in the other part. They have a lovely Diner Don original watercolor of it on the wall by the entrance. The blueberry muffin was split and toasted. So delicious! I don't usually like muffins that much, but I could have eaten the whole giant thing (if it was mine and not my husband's). The corned beef hash was definitely home made and NOT a cat-food pancake, which is good. Unfortunately it didn't taste as delicious as I would have hoped. The peach plum pie had a delicious filling. I don't think the crust was the tastiest ( I doubt it was a butter crust), but it's hard with refrigerated crusts. My homemade butter-crust pies don't go into the refrigerator, so they keep their texture better. But I don't have a health department peeking into my kitchen. The coffee was pretty awful, though. Burnt and bitter. And I couldn't seem to get a smile from the waitress. Food just tastes better with a smile. Oh well. Still definitely worth the stop.
(3)Herb B.
We stopped in while sightseeing in VT. The food was very good the diner was nostalgic and the service was fair. However, to give them the benefit of the doubt the waitress was very friendly but due to the crowd we never saw her again until we requested the bill.
(4)mai l.
Visiting the boy in Vermont and talk turned to breakfast places. He suggested the Chelsea Diner because they use their own eggs in a few offered dishes each morning. We were in a hurry (on the way to the airport), but we somehow made it work. He had the Mediterranean omelet and I had the potato pancakes with some of the best eggs (fried over medium) I've ever had the privilege to eat. Service was nonchalant, but decent and we got all our food relatively quickly. The restaurant is in an old train car, very cute and the place feels like a local hang-out with just good food as the aim. I would definitely recommend this place to people who care about what they put in their body.
(5)J E.
All I have to say is nom nom nom. Stick with your favorites and you can't go wrong!
(5)Bob M.
the ice cream's great, but after living in the area for 10 years, i've Still never had a good meal here, and had some that were downright inedible. absolutely Crazy wait times, bad service, bad food, high prices and extra charges for things that should come with the meal. sorry, local institution or not, it just doesn't cut it. go to Lindy's in Keene if you want an actual diner.
(2)Daniel H.
Seeking some comfort food I was escorted to the Chelsea for the foot long hot dog and macaroni and cheese platter. The hot dog bun was buttery and toasted. Add a side of macaroni smothered in Vermont cheesy goodness makes this meal perfect. The ice cream is homemade on site, so have some in a sundae, milkshake, root beer float, etc. Just remember to save room for some ice cream. Also this place is cash or check only.
(5)Robin T.
I stayed in Brattleboro as a stopover on a long drive to New Hampshire. We were at the Ramada and asked for a breakfast place. The front desk ladies suggested the typical near-by places and the Ramada's own restaurant. "NO! We want your favorite place," we said. Then the cleaning lady got very excited, started raving over this diner and gave us some quick directions. It was everything she told us it was. Their accolades are proclaimed on their walls. The food was terrific - and they had biscuits, which I have lately been requesting as a sub for toast! I had some excellent coffee - and I am not a regular coffee drinker, but this left zero bad taste in my mouth, even an hour later. I also had the very basic eggs, bacon, and home fries. Cleaned my plate! Very cute interior with 2 rooms, a small counter, friendly server. They weren't pretentious, just matter-of-factly. We could tell it was good because it was buzzing at 10:30 on a weekday morning. Apparently, on "Mexican night," they really do it up, and do it well. I also grabbed a local paper, as there was no USA Today or anything. This turned out to be perfect, as all the local news made the experience seem really quaint (not that it was all good news or anything), and I was on a trip to get away from the rest of the world. The best thing was, when we were leaving, noticing the large backyard garden and hen house, where they grow lots of their veggies and get their own eggs! Fantastic experience, and if I'm ever looking for breakfast in Brattleboro again, I'll be at the Chelsea Royal Diner.
(5)Randy R.
As good as it gets in the throwback Diner category The place is a throwback in every sense of the word. From the decor to the menu it's the way I remember Mom and Pop restaurants before franchising took over the world. That's not to say that it's better than the corporate food, just different. More home cooked, (Which as a matter of fact everything from the ice cream to the Ice tea seems to be made in house) more variety, much more local flavor. They do serve wine and beer which seems unusual for this type of place. Yesterday I had the pot roast dinner. Just like Mom's! Generous portions, excellent value, cut with a fork, taste great. From the outside it looks kind of run down and dilapidated. I drove passed the place for years until a friend dragged me in one day. Now I stop every time I am in the area. Just me and the locals. I gave the place 5 stars in the throwback Diner category because I enjoy the place and wouldn't go anyplace else for breakfast or lunch, but don't think of it as anything other than a unique place to be a little different and get your money's worth.
(5)Lindley E.
You like old neon? Old diner cars? Typical diner food? Then Chelsea Royal Diner is just your endless cup of cofffee. Go for the ambience: rich, vintage wood ceiling, comfortable old booths, the counter and the tile floors. The food is average: the blueberry pancakes (three to an order) were recommended to us, but hardly held up to the fluffy, stellar buttermilk pancakes at the Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown. Maple Syrup - the real stuff - is $1.25 extra. The overall menu is typical diner fare - there's nothing really exciting, food-wise going on here. There's no taking advantage of the rich Vermont bounty here. You want that? Go to town. You want easy, uncomplicated and typical? CRD is your place. All that being said, if you happen to be on 91 and are bored, take a quick stop at Rt 9, go west for about 4 miles and it will be there on your right.
(3)Jack M.
Not bad. Decent size menu. Food is usually pretty good. They do serve beer, though. They do have specials, but not very many of them. I have never been impressed with the food here. It's pretty standard diner fare, I suppose. A little on the bland side, I must say. They gotta jukebox. And the service is usually OK. It's not bad. Just don't expect to be wow'ed.
(3)Christopher C.
This place is just fantastic. Its a dinner that has great food Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner and they serve beer! I spent about two months staying over in Brattleboro, VT for the Vermont Yankee outage last fall and this dinner was the best place in town for the food and price. Very nice wait staff in this local joint. They have daily specials and most are worth getting. They also have a great selection of micro brew beers on tap, most notably Magic Hat and Long Trails. Id go so far to say this place is the best diner Ive ever eaten in and for a guy that travels thats saying a lot. I try to make the trip over from Manchester about once a month just to have a meal here, its that good.
(5)E. W.
Classic diner food with a difference. Fresh greens and eggs from their backyard. Outside eating and ice cream in the summer.
(3)John O.
It was your average diner experience. The wait wasn't terrible because there were only 2 of us and we set at the counter. Seemed alot longer if you were waiting for a table. The service was all right, took a while to get our drinks, and refills were almost non-existant. The food was good, and I really liked the spin on some diner classics. The Brattleboro benedict was good with bacon and tomatto with poached eggs and holendaise sauce. I will say I was dissapointed with the home fries. It tastes like a few of them went unnoticed on the flattop and burned, and they were all around unseasoned.
(3)Rick C.
We stopped here for breakfast after hearing this was a good place to go. It was excellent. There was about a 15 minute wait for a table. Everything was cooked to perfection and the prices are very reasonable.
(5)J. R. H.
We've stumbled across Chelsea Royal Diner a few times over the years, and it's high time it was properly yelped as classic diner fare. The specials are always well worth trying and the prices are extremely reasonable for the quality of food and the portion size. I've seen some of these stingy review ratings below, but pay them no heed. You'll be sorry if you don't order that slice of pie after lunch or dinner. Chelsea Royal Diner also makes the Best of the Breakfast Scene with ease. The wait can be long, but again, it's always worth it. Standard diner fare from the griddle to biscuits and gravy. I take exception to the "mediocre" comments from others. Where have you had better on the road, and especially when there's nothing else around? In addition, this place holds that special flair for kids and kids at heart, even with the expansion. But be sure to come with CASH--the only form of payment they'll accept.
(5)Sam R.
Hey, I'm from NYC too, and love this place! I come here every year and even order a couple of quarts of ice cream to take back to NY .. that's how delicious it is. Special thanks to Olivia, her waitress-mom named Jen, and the owner, Todd, for making me feel at home in this funky little place with great local fare and spirited, friendly service.
(5)Ed A.
During my past three visits to Chelsea Royal Diner over the years, I have never been excited about going there but since my aunt from Pennsylvania loves their chicken pot pie, we went there on July 1, 2011 for lunch. Of course she had the chicken pot pie priced at $8.99, others in our party had the cheeseburger at $5.99, the fishwich at $5.99 and I had the Philly cheese steak at $6.99 which was on a small roll, not the typical larger roll. This was about the only time I enjoyed eating at Chelsea Royal Diner based on past visits. Although, I feel the chicken pot pie at $8.99 is over priced the other meal pirices were reasonable and it seemed everyone enjoyed their meal. The servers can be a littly sassy at times if you do not order when they are ready rather than when the customer is ready, so some fine tuning is needed in that area. I did enjoy going a few days later to their ice cream stand as the selection of flavors is great as is the ice cream and prices.
(2)Meg M.
Imagine you are riding along 2A on your way through Vermont. You are passing sandwich shops, fast food chains...but you wait because you are SURE you will find something better. You tap your breaks at Vermont Sandwich Company. Should we just stop? No! Keep going... we are gonna find something amazing. We come up over a small hill and like an open faced sandwich oasis.. it appears. The Chelsea Royal Diner. Voted best Mexican food in 2007 by the Brattleboro Reformer (holla). Which is weird cuz they only serve it on Friday and Saturday fiesta nights. Its okay though... we are dying of hunger and not in the mood for Brattleboro's best Mexican on this particular journey... we my friend, are in the constant pursuit of an amazing sandwich. We pass by the farm dog who sheds on my leg when I pet him... grab the handle to the door and enter the land of open faced, gravy slathered bliss. THIS is the Chelsea Royal... Five shining happy sparkly stars for this diner. Dan C and I decided to hit up a quick weekend road trip up to Mt. Snow to hang at my ski house and we stumbled upon this awesome place. We plan to be making the trip many more times this winter and have already vowed to stop at the Chelsea Royal each time we head through Brattleboro. He will probably hail the glory of his open faced roast beef sandwich in his own way, so I'll leave that to him BUT I can hail the glory of my Thanksgiving sandwich here too. It was delicious. Perfect amount of stuffing and turkey with a touch of mayo. Hold the cranberry. Served with a big portion of mashed potatoes and yummy homemade gravy. Perfect thing to put into my hungover celtics game stomach from the night before. Its a cute little place and we sat at the counter and had some quick service from a cute waitress. There is simply nothing bad about this place. We will be back... repeatedly.
(5)Jessica M.
Their huevos rancheros are to die for!!
(5)Kevin B.
Was up in Vermont for some cheese tasting and we asked the folks about where we could go on a Sunday morning to get some solid breakfast. The lady at the cheese shop recommended the Chelsea without hesitation. Everything you have read in the other reviews is true. Fast service, good food, reasonably priced, heavy local hangout. I would go back here in a heartbeat if I find myself up that way again.
(4)Timothy D.
Excellent breakfast selection. Sausage links a bit tough and chewy. Sausage gravy a bit bland, though filled with big chunks of sausage. Hashbrowns good, my eggs perfect, though my wife's were a little runny. Good, fast service here, and definitely a locals hangout. I would definitely return. Charming interior.
(3)Brian P.
Awesome homemade pie!
(4)Joanne N.
I finally went to eat at this place after 3 years of living in Brattleboro. Wish I had been sooner! This place had good sized portions of very good food and the price was right for me as well. The waitress maybe could have been a bit friendlier but maybe she was having a bad day. I really want to go on Mexican night sometime since everyone says how good it is.
(4)Stephen H.
Ok, the food is classic diner fare. I happen to enjoy classic diner fare. Breakfast is a must, if you're in the area. I love their Cajun Skillet- been eating it for years. Also notable are their omelettes and pancakes. Remember to get the real Vermont maple syrup! The waitstaff varies from great (the old crew) to spotty (the meth-addled youngsters). I never have eaten there for dinner, though.
(4)Wing M.
Just had these chicken fried pork and tomato bisque last week. Easily the best fried pork I've had in this country---sorry, Teriyaki Time in Lynnwood, WA, you don't get that honor anymore. I need to give them that extra star now.
(5)Dan H.
Cute roadside place barely outside of Brattleboro proper. Very friendly wait staff. Most of their grub appears to be homemade, including soups and desserts. I had their local beer on tap, McNeill's Firehouse Amber Ale. Nice! For those of you into burgers, they advertise local grass-fed beef. Also, although I didn't bring home any leftovers, the waitress assured me they have Earth-friendly biodegradable take-home containers.
(4)Greycella L.
This place is an institution in town, and when it was just the railcar without the addition sat downtown before the parking problem it caused forced it out on to rte 9. Downtown went downHILL and this place had the last laugh- because locals faithfully flock here irrespective of wait times. Or it seems, of the undeniable fact that it's merely mediocre food. Don't come here unless you're looking for a down-home diner vibe. Best for breakfast on the cheap, yesterday I got two eggs sunny side with hash browns and bacon for 4.50 and was a happy and full camper when leaving but a few weeks prior had been bitterly disillusioned with this place because of some coagulated hollindaise sauce atop my eggs benedict. Stick with the simple stuff and you should be all set. Update: I'm removing one star. In spite of the many memories I have of this place, I'll no longer be found sitting in one of their booths in search of grub. They can no longer pull off even the simplest of breakfasts and their waitstaff has become downright rude. I'm on the hunt for a new diner haunt, sadly.
(2)Jessica K.
We got in here just in time; after we sat down, a line formed & while turnover was quick, there was always a line from that point on. Had a great breakfast here, though the food didn't come out quite as fast as anticipated. Kids had hot grilled cheese, pancakes, & biscuits & gravy. I had a piece of a really good quiche, & dh had a clam roll--one of the best we've tasted in ages. This was another pick based on Yelp reviews, which didn't let us down! The dessert menu was posted over our table & a couple of us were debating ordering desserts, even we'd just eaten breakfast...we held off in the end, but only because we were stuffed. Good portions, good prices, great breakfast.
(4)Rue B.
One of the best diners you could ask for. In a converted old Worcester Lunch car in an unexpected roadside location on the edge of hilly pretty nowhere. Good soups and specials. Coffee is local (Mocha Joe's) and way better than your average diner coffee. Prices are right. And just like two of my other favorite local places (McNeill's and People's Pint breweries), they only take cash. Be prepared! Only thing better would be someone (preferably some guy with a mustache) cooking on a grill in front of you, but those kinds of diners are a dying breed. Try the Shady Glen in Turners Falls MA, Blue Moon in Gardner MA, Blue Benn over in Bennington, or any of the ones in Fitchburg or Worcester MA, if you dig the open grill charm.
(5)Judy G.
I generally make it a point to stop here when in southern Vermont. Breakfasts have consistently been great. Lunches and dinners not a memorable, but I still keep coming!
(4)Jim Z.
Not that you have much of a choice around these parts, but there's basically everything you need in a diner. Two main gripes are the fact that it's not 24 hours and they don't take credit cards. Interesting selections include the Buffalo Burger and Hot Dog and a really great selection of homemade ice cream. Also, could very well be the only place in Brattleboro to get Mexican food on Friday and Saturday. The food's fairly consistent and I've eaten there for days on end for every meal and turn out okay.
(4)John W.
When you see the Chelsea Royal you expect greatness in the diner realm but it is my humble opinion that this classic falls short. I have eaten at this location many times and I must say I have been disappointed almost every time. It is classic diner fare but for some unknown reason it falls short. It can't hols a candle to local historic diner star "The Four Leaf Clover" in Bernardston, Mass. or New England All Star "The Maine Diner". One would say what do you expect at a diner and I guess the answer is very simply "a little more". The service is fine and the setting is super but the food itself always seems to just lack the final attention to detail and in these times if a restaurant is going to get my hard earned cash I want the food to have the extra care that I deserve. I know many will disagree but for my family this local institution can specialize on tourist who may accept the quantness in exchange for the extra care on the food.
(2)Megan C.
Do you need more reasons to try this place? They have homemade ice cream to die for. There are some great blue plate specials on Fridays typically along with other seafood specials). The one thing I don't like about this place? Their onion rings are way too greasy, and have a thick breading, so stick with the French fries, which are delicious and hand cut.
(4)l g.
tried this diner a few weeks ago for dinner. tremendous amount of choices on the menu plus daily specials. too many choices! homemade sunflower seed bread, huge salads, gigantic cuts of meat. there seemed to be very big plates coming out. good food takes time, so although it's a "diner", the service isn't lightning diner speed, and the selections are fancy for your average diner. which isn't a huge deal. most diners don't have a mexican menu or bison burgers. fun building, nice staff. I would come here again, if ever in the area.
(4)