38th Street Diner

Costumer service is so bad, no wonder why this diner is so empty. I was trying to get a sandwich for take out but there’s a mean Asian women on front that say that they don’t take credit card that they only take cash money??? C’mo whoever own this place try to do something asap. The place is nice from outside but the service inside is very awful!!!

The window had an A in the window. We ate at 6pm and no one was in the diner. We ordered sandwiches with French fries. No complaints. Good service. Fast if you are going to a show.

Don’t go here. Unfortunately, I would give this place zero stars if I could.
I had a baked potato and took one bite of the sour cream and it was way EXPIRED. Tasted so terrible and made me kind of sick.
One order of our fries was under cooked.
They forgot multiple parts of different orders so they had to come back and ask.
It’s so sad because management is very nice but this is terrible food. My stomach is still uneasy thinking about it.

Cockroaches!
NOTE:The other positive reviews are for the previous owners!
Worst experience ever! The Asian lady tried to act like she didn’t understand english when I tried to complain but when a contractor came to talk to her her english improved dramatically! I should have known something was amiss when at 10:00am I was the only customer.
I waited almost a half hour to be served!
No breakfast specials!
$ 9.00 for two runny eggs, toast with less than a thimble full of butter, three skinny strips of bacon and, this is the kicker, barely two forkfuls of home fries. When I asked her why so little she replied“that hi grade potato.” then smiled in a condescending way!
Coffee was$ 2.00 a cup! It tasted like muddy water! When I saw it was labeled as «columbian Roast» She said” oh yes, see the beans over there, very fresh!“
It was Crap!
But the real worst part was the Cockroach I saw scurrying out the front door!
Evidently even he had better sense!
Lousy, dirty, expensive!

i ordered through Seamless and it took 1.5 hours to receive my order of cold and wet breakfast omelets, of which had no taste. Called the restaurant to get an update on the order and spoke to someone with limited to no English skills whom was extremely unhelpful. Told me the order was «on the way» and meanwhile that meant another 20 minutes. For the amount of time this ordeal took, I could have walked upstate to a farm and got the eggs from the chicken’s nest myself and made a better omelette.
Will never order here or step a toe in this dump ever again.

When I entered the 38^th street diner, I already assumed I was going to love it. Growing up in the suburbs you quickly grow a strong fondness for diners and their inexpensive price and wide selection. Sadly we experienced disappointment after disappointment. I would prefer not to relive this experience again but to list it out.
Food was cold and unappealing
Worst French onion soup I have ever tasted
We were one of two tables in the restaurant and food took well over an hour to arrive.
It was almost comical how bad everything was. My recommendation is to not eat here.

This place is everything anyone should ever want in a diner: greasy omelettes, crispy standard-​issue French fries, locals at the counter, and reasonably friendly service. The only things missing were the rice pudding cups in the refrigerated display case. I’ll be back, and soon.

Terrible!!! Do not eat here!!! If I can give it zero stars I wish I could just finished having a quick breakfast at this place before work I ordered a regular coffee cream on the side with turkey bacon scrambled eggs cheese and home fries.
The waitress brings me my coffee that looked awfully light like just water. I go to add some cream and sugar I take a sip and it tasted like sh*t very watery no coffee in it. I send it back with the girl I told her how it tasted and asked for a glass of water instead in which they should of automatically should of brought me water anyways when I first sat down. Breakfast was just OK nothing great very blah. I ask for the check and it says $ 7.95 for the food and they charged me for the coffee $ 1.95
Now I ask the Asian lady whom I assume is the owner and she knew right away I was gonna question why they charged me for the coffee that tasted terrible and I only had a tiny sip and sent it back she said well its not our problem you probably want an espresso that nothing was wrong with their coffee. It was an all american regular coffee and whether I sent it back or not she needed to charge me for it!!!
Insane the waitress ran away because she knew her boss was f**king wrong a complete SH*T SHOW THIS MORNING… Please I advise anyone who even thinks of have a quick coffee please stay away from this crappy diner. They are a money hungry empty diner that is looking to collect as much pennies as they can to make ends meet because their diner sucks!!!

Don’t. I cant even describe the sh*tshow I witnessed at lunch hour. Thankfully I walked out after waiting 15 minutes for a soup to go, before noticing the C grade on the window.

It’s a standard diner with the usual menu you see at all diners. By no means is this place a 5 star restaurant, mainly because it’s… a diner. Unilocal defines 3 stars as «A-​OK», and that’s what this place is. Good food that comes fast out of the kitchen, and friendly people. They’ll give you the Wi-​Fi password at the front if you ask.
I had French Toast with two eggs and sausage. It was good, but again, this isn’t an amazing restaurant so I can’t give it four of five stars. Again, it’s… a diner. If you need to get breakfast or have a quiet, relaxing meal, this is your spot.

Wondered over here while waiting for 23 948 049 832 hours to march in the Pride Parade this year, wanting a snack of some kind. Of course, milkshakes are always a cure for anything. To my disappointment, my strawberry «milkshake» was anything but that, unless milkshakes consist of simply blending some flavored milk with ice. I really don’t think there was even ice cream in it. #FAIL. Especially for $ 5. My friend Jess L. got one as well and received the same mess in a cup. Sad moment. The woman at the counter was also resistant to letting Pride marchers use their bathroom, which most bars/​restaurants along the waiting routes were doing. It seemed like the marchers were providing more business than they’re typically used to otherwise, so it seemed strange she would try to turn people away.

$ 5 for a «milkshake» that’s only milk? Rip off. Plus, the woman at the counter was stingy on the bathroom use.

I did not realize this place existed until today. I am in the area often enough, but I guess not on W 38^th Street that often. Nice enough diner. Good service, reasonable prices, free wi-​fi but you need to ask for the password. Now that I know that it’s here, I will try it again. Today I just had an English muffin and coffee. Next time I will try a full breakfast.

Holy overpriced food batman.
You’re in Midtown Manhattan, I get that, but holy crap. 15 dollars for an omelette and coffee.
Shame on me for not checking the menu prices, shame on you for the sky high prices.

Accueil très sympa. Pas cher mais pas super bon

This review is for Fan #103.
This place was real nice because most lunches were 7 or 8 dollars. Service was quick. Real French Fries. Nice people. Fountain sodas with free refills. Some meals probably won’t outstand, but most would do. Real food.

My family and I discovered 38^th street coffee shop when walking around New York. My daughter was pleased with her grilled cheese and fries. My husband and I were in agreement that our meals were what we ordered, but nothing more. My daughter and I returned for breakfast and she ordered pancakes, they tasted rancid… I contemplated notifying poison control. Luckily, my waffle was edible, so I handed it over to my daughter. Basically, this place will fill your stomach… but you won’t particularly like how they do it.

I used to eat at this spot when it had two names — unlikely ones like Wolf’s Bay and something else I can’t remember. Then it closed and reopened, remodeled, and with different employees. The sign says: «38^st Coffee Shop» like 1^st (first) but 38^th. I know they mean 38^th Street, but it makes me think of something like the 38^st Airborne Division or something, if that makes any sense. (Very little is making any since to me since I’m on this new medication.)
I got a very odd feeling from the people working here. It was a good feeling, a kind of unusual warmth and honesty for a diner anywhere, and especially midtown Manhattan. What it felt like is that the employees all knew each other from someplace else– like maybe a bunch of people got talking at their 20^th high school reunion and a dozen of them decided they all wanted to run a diner, so they all went in together and bought the place and were sharing the workload equally. I mean, it’s kind of strange, but good– I’m all for this kind of disorienting love.
My one criticism the first time I ate here was that there were too many different kinds of light fixtures– too much brightness in general. Fluorescent ceiling fixtures along with wall mounted incandescents is just overkill, and unpleasant. A couple blocks to the west there’s an Andrews Coffee Shop that really knows how to light a place. But then, the last time I walked by the 38^st, I noticed that they had replaced the wall lights with red and green bulbs, and that made me happy. Kind of nautical feeling I guess, the red and green. Reminds me of two of my formerly favorite cocktails, the Starboard Light and the Port Light.

This is my new favorite lunch place in midtown. The buildings here are tall, and I’m often distracted by the big, shiny buildings. I’m glad that my old boss Jay B. brought me here… ’cause otherwise, I never would have found this place.
I like that it’s a hop away from Blaggards, which is now my more exclusive on the expensivey side –with guests– place for lunch. The Coffee Shop is more of a place where you can go it alone and not feel bad. They have breakfast food (which, as you know from some of my other reviews, I often find myself craving) and a pretty good lunch selection as well. They also make really good coffee… which ya know, they should. Since their name implies it and everything.
I also really love the people who work here. They make you feel welcome right away, even if it is your first time. This place can get mega busy during lunchtime, but the waitresses never seem to get stressed out. I’m fan of this place, and usually try to hit it at least once a week. Recommended.

This is my office’ go-​to sit down lunch spot also known as the «Sketchy Diner». We label this place Sketchy not because it is unsanitary or creepy waitresses… once you walk through their glass doors, you’ll know exactly what I mean. It gives a very Monk’s Café circa Seinfeld, definitely.
Good diner food and great friendly service. A+ for sweet potato fries too!

It’s probably a breakfast and lunch place so place was very empty after seven o’clock. Friendly staff. Good food. Great price! Just your regular, American diner.
Very new. Doesn’t even show up on Google maps yet.