Capitol Restaurant

We live in the area and love stopping by on weekend mornings! Other Unilocalers are correct in saying that this place is not trying to be something it’s not. Come here for a solid breakfast and not for the hipster crowds that jam into other morning spots around the area. The burger and egg breakfasts are solid! Just remember to bring cash and leave your pretentions at the door.

For your typical quick New York breakfast hit this little spot. Place looks like someones grandmothers basement from the 80s with the wood paneling but the staff is friendly, food is decent, and price is cheap. Try the uptown omlette. Cash only.

If you’re in the mood for a vintage diner that is unassuming and relaxed, then this is the spot. My husband and I came for the first time today and we loved it. Reasonable prices, generous portions, relaxed vibe and classic diner favorites on the menu. We’ll be back for sure!

Alright. In the mood for a snappy Manhattan brunch with a bottomless mimosa? This joint will clearly frustrate and disappoint that intention.
Want a low-​pressure morning sit-​down that’s not desolate, but also isn’t pretentious in a hushed but not dead environment? Then come here!
Have a super-​taster in your midst who just can’t even be pleased with the overpowering dinner rolls severed at your favorite restaurant? Bring them here!
At least the breakfast will be passable, if only just so and the coffee won’t cause any jitters (even though it’s bottomless).
No, this place isn’t for the food. It’s for the ambiance. I haven’t tested this theory, but I believe you could sit there for three or four hours on any given morning and not incur the ire of the owners.
Just remember
— it’s cash-​only.
— it’s not trying to impress.
— it’s great for a quiet conversation with your super-​taster sister-​in-​law
and you will be fine.
Enjoy!

Just walked out of Capitol Restaurant and had the BEST fried shrimp on this planet. It was super busy and only one waiter, yet everyone was satisfied. He is able to run that place Blind! I’m a foodie and I was super satisfied. It has and old diner feel, very cozy and relaxing. Will DEFINITELY be going back!

Stopped by on Friday for the first time. The food and coffee were better than expected. It’s a time warp and deserves the communities support. In a sea of bland corporate perfection, unique small places with truly historic aura need to be protected. This is one of them. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the breakfast and coffee served. Do not order fillet minion or a latte in a place like this. It’s eggs, omelets and home fries with toast people! Well done. Soak in the atmosphere — stay awhile in the large booths or chat it up at one of the counter stools. You’re gonna love it!

A dying breed. This place is struggling in an atmosphere of high rent and speciality cafes. When I moved to the neighborhood 24 years ago, The Capital was larger. Now it’s chopped in half — the other half was sold to another business. The place hasn’t been refurbished in years. It’s drab and the waiters are old and tired, but really really nice, and they pay attention to you and recognize you as a neighbor. This place needs support everybody! This is the only diner we have left in the neighborhood. I happen to think the food is fine. It’s classic diner fare.

I wanted to love this place. Really, I did.
I had a really long, stressful week and thought it would do my spirit good to finally check out the little greasy-​spoon diner that looks as if it hasn’t been touched since the Sixties.
I ordered the Rueben Deluxe and my friend ordered Spaghetti. When the food arrived, I was incredibly disappointed. My Rueben Deluxe was nothing but a clump of dry, corned beef on a piece of un toasted white bread, surrounded by fries that were overlooked. It was basically inedible.
My friend’s spaghetti was greasy and tasteless. The sauce had a real bad taste, like it came out of a can and had sat there for a few days. It was really gross.
Needless to say, I won’t be going back and it certainly was not worth the $ 28.50 we paid for that garbage. Oh, yeah! And it is cash only… you find that out when you attempt to pay, which leaves an even more bitter taste in your mouth than the meal you somehow managed to swallow.
AVOID.

Not impressed. The place looks run down and uninviting. Very dark and desolate. The service was awful. The guy didn’t even say a word to us the whole time. He put the menu down and some water and didn’t come back until I eventually made eye contact. Food came out prompt (grilled cheese and pancakes) but it wasn’t worth it. Then we go to pay… cash only. Thanks for the warning. The experience as a whole was displeasing and I won’t be going back.

I’ve been going to the capitol for over 30 years — when it was one block north. originally, it was run by a different owner — professional and pleasing. for the last 20 years it’s been run by two guys who have some kind of dysfunctional relationship. the waiter is usually surly, but not always. coffee is still ok — breakfast is ok. DON’T have dinner there. it has a run-​down look about the place, and if you’re a woman, never ask for a coffee refill unless it’s offered.

Not much to say other than that the breakfast food is reasonable, consistent and the coffee refills are free!

This is really a premier greasy spoon diner. It’s been around since 1927, and all four walls have different treatments, which I think is amazing. It’s super cheap, unlimited coffee, and the people who with there are awesome. I’m a big fan, & definitely recommend going there to nurse a hangover.

Cheap breakfast, last of the traditional diners in inwood. Service is nice and food is hot and fast. I’m a fan of diners and its better than average Id say

A classic Greek diner! This place is a fun time machine! Excellent breakfasts and Greek salads. Good fish dinners — stick with the broiled. Reasonable drink prices for beer and wine. Family friendly and welcoming. Good coffee and rice pudding. And ever-​present Gregory is the best waiter in NYC.

Good place for diner food. The atmosphere could be better, especially if they fixed up the exterior a bit. I think that would put them on par with some of the Broadway diners on the UWS.

One of the few diners left in my area of Inwood. It’s not bad just nothing really stands out and its a bit pricey for the level of effort they put in. They have a pretty small kitchen so it sometimes takes a while for you to get your food and the waiters really don’t care.
Despite the negatives we keep going back, because nothing about it is absolutely terrible. Come here hung over and in dire need of some eggs and coffee.

Came here this morning for two eggs over medium, home fries, and sausage links– Yes, they are real sausage links not the fake crap. Also ordered a bran muffin and some grapefruit juice. The food is OK for what it is and is reasonably priced. Like what others have said, it is an old looking, hole in the wall. Service was mediocre and not much to expect since it’s an older looking gentleman serving for all. The gentleman is a bit standoffish and is in his own world. He was offended/​disgusted (?) when I asked for a refill on my coffee– enough said.

This is a magnificent diner. The Irish omelet with bacon, bangers and corned beef in it was hot and tasty — decent potatoes and coffee, too. Another good sign: cops eat here. We were all watching Greek soccer on TV and when Kerkyra (from Corfu) scored, two of the guys proudly got out a photo from when they played for the team back in the 70’s.

Not a top shelf diner, mind you… but it’s still pretty good in my opinion. Some people hate diner food, while others love it. I happen to fall into the «love it» category. Usually I tend to get thew chicken shish kabob dinner, which is just soooo good. But if I can’t & they run out of it, the specials are well worth their price also.

It’s ok.
I really wanted to like this place. Old looking, hole in the wall dinner. But in the end, it was just a dirty looking place to get a mediocre breakfast. It’s really not that hard to make a good breakfast, so I am not sure what’s up.
Also, it’s cash only.