Athenian Diner Restaurant

Yes, it’s just a diner.
Once a recommended, frequented though painfully and guilty-​pleasured repeat-​business diner seems to be wearing itself out. The long-​time Athenian network of diners has its Middletown chapter on Washington Street, serving what’s tiresome, overcrowded in parts New York/​Long Island and even the CT shore parts.
Food is predictable greasy-​spoon with a wide-​spectrum encyclopedia menu with occasional stock photos and selection that please the quick-​bite, paletteless or drunk and hungover late-​night amid daily doses of seniors and travelers keeping seats warm. Fare is expected to be mediocre and bland, effortless and widely previously-​frozen Greek diner fare. Breakfast here is an easy staple yet satisfying enough but never impressive array of overly-​cheesed and dedicate omelettes and overbuttered white bread toast as favorites. Those looking to stay safe will go for a burger or triple-​decker sandwich, keeping it around $ 10 and not complain about what’s in front of them.
Décor is unsettling as it’s been since 1987 with a obnoxiously glossy sheen and wall-​to-​wall neon-​accents that hope to push you out as quickly as possible. Tables and booths are heavily worn, some ripped, looking overall rough these days. This place is starting to look ratty and in dire need for ownership to intervene with more than a road sign replacement but a long overdue, much needed interior remodel.
Times are changing and far better quality can be had for much less, but the Athenian doesn’t need to know or care, just churn out the same old. Customers will continue to throw money into another uninspired 24-​hour pit while ownership pockets as much as they can.
Try Chip’s over on Silas Deane. It isn’t gourmet but a far better mold broken than what you’d get here for comparable prices.

Went back to Athenian Diner this morning. I haven’t been here for many months. A woman (Laura) who seem to be management recognized me right away and call me by my first name. Had my usual omelete which again was very good. Potatoes and toast came with my meal. Potatoes very good.
Price reasonable.
Although my server was slow in serving me, LAURA kept filling my coffee cup. When I paid my bill with the tip added, I joked that Laura deserved part of the tip. She made up for the lack of service from my waitness.
And I was leaving, Laura made you feel appreciated.
TRAVEL KAL

I try my best to give my kids actual food so that’s the reason I love diners. It’s nothing special, just simple and real food.
Today when I arrived, with my youngest daughter in toe, the diner seemed pretty busy. It was a few minutes after 1:00 and I quickly noticed that most of the people there were just about finished up from their lunch and it quieted down pretty quickly.
For a waitress who had just gotten through with the lunch rush, our waitress was happy and pleasant.
I went straight to the lunch specials and ordered the «Happy Waitress». It was a simple bowl of chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese with tomato, and French fries. Our waitress brought everything out rather quickly and piping hot. There was plenty of food for both myself and my 3 year old.
The floors and booths were clean, so was the bathroom. The bathroom did lack an infant changing table, we don’t use one anymore but there was a time (not long ago) when I would have been perturbed about that.

This place is a joke and very expensive. I got a kielbasa omelet and fries and a soda cost me over $ 14.00. The kielbasa tasted worse than a low end kielbasa at your local grocery store. The fries are pretty bad too, I swear this place uses very low end products to serve their customers and charges high end prices. This place even charges you a to go fee, if you wish not to dine in. The service isn’t that great either at times and also is understaffed alot, which I don’t understand with their high prices and to go fees, they definitely can afford to hire more help.

They’re stealing from their customers. A previous review was correct, their home fries are lumpy bland mashed potatoes. Ordered eggs with potatoes and sausage, got bacon. Waitress gave me a plate to put the bacon on, I said I’ll keep it so it’s not wasted. «Someone in back will eat it.» So after receiving my cold microwaved sausage links, I ordered homemade corn beef hash. Bland too! I asked for the bill, which she had the audacity to give tho no food was eaten. They actually charge customers for this. Unlike the previous Unilocaler, there will be no second chance. Please, save your time and hard earned money. They clearly don’t earn their money. It’s as if seasoning isn’t available, tho there’s a grocery store across the street.

Had the surf and turf. Very good. pleasant waitress. Friendly staff. the coconut custard pie was out of this world. The sald was fresh and loved the blend well balanced.

One of my girlfriend and I’s favorite places to eat any time! Great that it’s 24 hours. I usually stick to breakfast fare, and she usually gets the chicken caesar salad wrap. Service is almost always spot on, food is made consistently well, and the portions are a little above-​average compared to other places I’ve been. A great «standard» diner!

Great place to eat ! Went here while we were visiting Middletown for a soccer tournament. So much variety that it took a while to decide on what to order ! Hard to believe they can keep so much food in stock and have ready to prepare. My friends salad was enormous! The kids were happy with their meals ! Great place ! We shall go back if ever in the area again

Nice clean diner. A substantial breakfast can be had here, although once again, breakfasts EVERYWHERE are no longer ‘inexpensive’. I order a one egg special which comes with ‘everything’. The ‘everything’ is bacon, potatoes, toast & coffee. Some days are better than others. I keep returning to measure their level of consistency. When I ask for everything well done, I now get BURNT toast [that’s kitchen attitude]. The bacon is plentiful and that’s a positive, but too often greasy. This because most diners prepare bacon well before the morning rush. Either one gets tepid flat-​tasting bacon strips or worse, strips placed in a ‘deep fryer’ to cook them ‘well’. Whatever happened to good old-​fashioned FRESHLY PREPARED bacon? Even on days with almost no patrons, there is a tendency for the kitchen to be lazy. The eggs & potatoes are fine. And I like their bottomless cuppa. My last point is about the level of ‘friendliness’ of wait staff. Some days cheery, some days grrrufff. I don’t expect loud hurrahs [or groans] when I walk in anywhere, but I do expect the same level of service which female waitresses offer male patrons. I like my morning wake up diner call to be ‘most pleasant’ plus efficiently served. I’ve no issue with their service here. I just like HAPPY. Might we please be a few steps above funereal?

Considering the limited number of diners in the area I give them 4 stars instead of 3.
Food is good and the typical diner fare. All prepared well and good portions. So if you’re in Middletown and like diners this will meet your needs.

Great diner. You can get breakfast all day and it’s a hearty breakfast. Also great for lunch and dinner. Everyone is very friendly and the service is very fast.

So I haven’t been to this diner in ages. I remember the last time I was here the service was awful (2 years ago). But this time the service was way faster the waiter I had was super nice. I was seated right away with my family. I was impressed with their service.
The food on the other hand was just sad. I ordered a turkey burger and it tasted like nothing. It just wasn’t good. It doesn’t even look like a turkey burger tbh. The fries were good (unsalted though). And the glasses of water were so tiny. I drink a lot of water this tiny cup was so unsatisfactory.
My godmother liked her breakfast sandwich and her onion rings, and mom got a gyro which she said was awesome. Her sweet potato fries were awesome. I guess I just picked something bad off the menu. I guess don’t lose hope in this place. They were satisfied.

Diner fare at its finest. Breakfast or a burger and fries 24hrs a day. The service is always quick and accurate. Plenty of parking. I have NEVER waited to sit down even when it’s packed. Places like this bring me back in time.

Great diner with pretty standard, no-​frills diner fare. Ordered a Greek omelette with fries — all were tasty.
Service was fast (we got our food in under 10 minutes) and very friendly. Will definitely come back again when I’m craving diner food.

Went there once couple years ago, all I remember is that their service is terrible. When we walk in, I told them if we could have a seat not too close to the draft, because I get cold easy, sure enough, they put up right in front of the front door. That was in the middle of the winter.
So yesterday, we are around the area, and we decided to give it a try again. Well, we waited 20 min for our breakfast (we ordered a waffle meal and a omelet), and when the food came, it was very disappointing. The home fries barely had any color in it, it’s basically mash potato chunks with a little chopped onions in it. Waffle was okay, the bacon sucks, taste like the microwave bacon (not execrating).
Speak of price, it was expensive. They don’t really have combo meals, so you have to order everything as add on. My husband’s waffle, bacon and 2 eggs is about 10 dollars and change. my omelet was 6.95 (that came with toast and mash potato chunks). My Husband also ordered a Mimosa (around 6 dollars), our total bill was 28 and change.
FYI — the menu said «WAFFLES» but it’s just one waffle, no «S».
Service was okay, our waitress is not bad, keeps apologizing for the wait.
The parking lot is full of deep pot holes.
I would not recommend this place. Expansive and not worth the food they serve.

What a dump. Canned spinach. Lousy service. Bad food. We had to go to the front desk to ask for a piece of cheese just to make my turkey burger edible. Couldn’t remember to ask how our meal was or refill my mother’s coffee but they remembered to charge us an extra dollar for the cheese… save your money. There’s a taco bell across the street…

We stopped in when we were looking for a quick dinner after playing at Kid City with our three year old. And boy, were we pleasantly surprised. The food was what you’d expect from a diner. Nothing to go out of your way for, but nothing to avoid. The staff and servers were extremely friendly. And they were very accommodating to our precocious three year old. The inside as clean, bright and inviting.
We were served quickly after we ordered and the food was hot.
We look forward to out next visit!

Clean, retro-​ish décor. Not the freshest veggies. Little pricey. Husband had hash that was canned. Home fries were terrible. Coffee was weak. Server was very attentive and service was quick. If you are looking for a gourmet meal, skip this place. Good if you want to grab something basic on the fly– like toast and water. Probably going to skip this place my next time through town.

The Quality has went WAY… Down the past year, massive food poisoning. Stay away from the chicken, soups, and salads. It’s all expired and gross. Also the prices have sky rocketed.

This place is a classic — glass, and mirrors, food, liquor, and 24 hour service. Oh yeah! I’ve been coming to the Athenian for as long as I can remember as my diner of choice in and around Middletown and I’m always satisfied. Their breakfasts are good (excellent omelets), as are their sandwiches and deserts. Food is usually well prepared and while its all sort of no frills, it tastes good.
For example, A couple visits ago I got a Monte Cristo sandwich. I wasn’t expecting much, but what I got was my battered bread with thickly sliced turkey and ham, not garbage deli meat. It was hearty, real meat. They don’t skimp.
Good parking, good service, a classic motif, and decent food makes the Athenian the archetypal diner and i’ll keep coming back.