The Gem Diner

Do not order the pizza. Bit had a weird old grease after taste and smell. With that said, I brought it up to the waitress and she took the pizza to the chef and he came out and apologized. Also saying that he did tasted it and it was strange. He offered free desert. However we we full from an early lunch and we rejected the offer. The waitress did discounted the check in half. Great service at least.

I came here after a morning event downtown, mainly because my group and I assumed Stella’s would be packed. The parking seemed full when we pulled up so I assumed the wait would also be long. I was so wrong!
(Btw, there is overflow parking right next door so don’t worry if you don’t find a spot in the parking lot. to be honest the parking lot has MAJOR potholes in it so I’ll probably just park next door as a default.)
I walked in with my group, they told us 10 minutes, which was fine, and then we were seated in less than 5 minutes. It’s way bigger inside than what it appears like from the outside.
Our waitress seemed very edgy and gave off a vibe as if she just couldn’t deal with another table. At first I chalked this up to just being tired, but after reading some reviews I fear it might be a trend here.
The food was delicious, I got the meatlovers frittata and it was incredible. A great balance of bacon, sausage, and every other toppings along with great melted cheese. The toast that came with it was just OK.
The real star of the show was the order of sweet cream pancakes that we got ordered for the table. They aren’t on the menu so you have to ask for them, but they are definitely worth it, especially if you’re craving something sweet for breakfast. Think of a cake batter/​funfetti flavored pancake. You honestly don’t even need syrup or anything else on top of it.
⁴⁄₅ — will definitely be back soon!

Ate at the Gem Diner last this week. May I suggest if you are thinking about eating there be sure to wear warn clothes as it is one cold diner. I would suggest hat and mittens.

Another great meal the staff and manager very helpful. It’s funny the last person could not make it. New person new menu past owner should quit making excess. It’s only food and service

I have been to The Gem a handful of times, the parking lot is always packed and there is always a wait but you are seated and served quicker than expected. I can’t seem to order anything other than the burger breakfast, it is delicious! A large burger topped with fried egg and cheese.

I enjoy the Gem, but came here once again because Stella’s (my first choice) had a very long wait. I ordered breakfast, the Light Special; two eggs, choice of meat and a pancake. Huge amount of food for a «light» special. Plenty of coffee and tasty food. I was seated in the «patio», whose decorations consist of framed movie star photos and the largest, most bizarre hand painted mural I’ve ever seen. Only a few of the individuals portrayed are identifiable. I must have spent the entire breakfast staring, in amazement at the wall. Must be seen to be believed. For obvious reasons, the mural isn’t signed, LOL!

The restaurant is in a relatively remote location somewhere in Solvay I think. The exterior is cute, the interior is a little bit sad and dark. Our waitress seemed bothered about something, maybe having a bad day. We ordered some coffee and orange juice, both of us got bagels and hash browns. It was okay, a little bit mediocre but still edible and decent. Somehow that added up to $ 30, no refills on anything except coffee and water. I don’t think the drive and food are worth that. Most likely won’t return.

Nice diner, clean and with decent service. Ordered a frittata which was an enormous quantity of food for the price, and was good but somewhat bland. Overall an okay experience, but I probably won’t return.

Good service and lunch — fish sandwiches were good sized and tasty. Fries were a bit on the cold side and sweet potato fries were a little undercooked. It’s a great place to go — price is right and the desserts look amazing.

This is a fantastic diner! Great food, good prices, and pleasant service. And, this diner has delicious coffee. Stuffed french toast, Eggs Benedict, and yummy hash browns. One thing I love about this place too — is that it’s spotless. Most diners are dingy and dirty, but this one is so well maintained.
Perfect fuel before a morning at the farmer’s market!

I love everything about this place. From the large variety of food (insider tip, breakfast isn’t the standout here) to the friendly, vibrant staff and cleanliness, I wish I had more time to spend in ‘Cuse and hit up this place every one to two weeks.
Not difficult to find, right off of 690, probably less than a minute off of the ramp… they have ample parking as the big sign greet you at the entrance. I have a soft spot in my heart for diners and this one excels at just about everything they do, from the entrees to the desserts. I’m not used to alcohol being served in a place like this coming from Massachusetts but kudos for NY state to allow a diner to serve beer from a keg!
I tried the burger after it won local awards and then was hooked to come back a few more times. The burger was massive and perfectly cooked but I felt my waistline expanding as I was eating it so I tried a few other options during my next visits. My favorite of them all was the shrimp scampi and wish I had gotten it more than once. Who would think that a diner would do a dish like that so freaking well? I didn’t but I’m glad I gave it a shot.
Their pies were spectacular as well, even to gawk at in the case. The young but vibrant staff always made me feel welcomed, kept my drinks full at all times and were a pleasant bunch while sitting at the counter. No issues with anything at this place. Just do yourself a favor and remember they are open for dinner most nights and not just for some eggs on a lazy Sunday morning.

This is my 2^nd time here. And I love both times I’ve went. The first time I got the blue cheese burger with pancakes. I enjoyed my meal very much that I decided to invite 11 other friends to join me today.
Today I ordered the chili cheeseburger and 3 strawberry & banana pancakes. Loved it. First of all, I took note of how well the patty was cooked. It was moist, juicy, and a tad of pink. Make sure to get the patty done medium. The chili was good enough to be eaten alone (unsure if it’s offered as a menu item.) It was hearty with ground beef and red beans. It’s a bit spicy, just a bit more than Tabasco. I didn’t see crushed red pepper, so I’m going to assume they used paprika. The buns were toasted, crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. The big downside is that it’s a huge mess, but I appreciated that they stuck a toothpick through the middle of 2 halves of the burger for a cleaner presentation and plating. ⁸⁄₁₀
Okay, I know you’re probably cracking up at how detailed this review of DINER is, but I actually enjoyed it. And the pancakes were good. There’s just a tad of crisp on the outside of the pancakes, so I assume they oiled the pan or something. And my favorite part… the batter made the pancake spongy! It was holey in all its thick, moist, but a bit airy goodness. Prices are a bit high, but I would suggest you get the strawberry & banana pancakes, because it’s only 25 cents more than the regular ones. ⁸⁄₁₀

My wife ordered a hot turkey sandwich and a soda. I had the chicken and biscuit special with soup and a salad.
1) Never got the soup — had to tell waitress.
2(Salad came then everything else. They were faster than McDonalds.
3) the chicken and dumplings had an odd taste. There was something in it I did not like. I sent it back and ordered the hot Turkey sandwich since I was eating my wife’s fries and gravy. Tasted fine.
The owner came over to the table. Asked what the problem was. Explained the problem and told him I did not like it because it had a funny taste. It was not the gravy. He said the gravy is the same on the hot turkey. I don’t want to throw out another dinner. Told him I would not have anything then. He walked away.
He obviously is a jerk who does not care about his customers satisfactions or needs.
I will never return again because of his bad attitude.

This place has a very cute, «old-​timey» diner feel to it, but they don’t commit to the experience. The staff seems overworked and there doesn’t seem to be any sense of community. It has more of a chain restaurant feeling to it, which was a total bummer.
I’ve read a lot of hype about this place in local papers and blogs, but I honestly don’t see the appeal. The owner seems to be pretty self indulgent and it seems as if he’s just shoveling money into the nice façade, which sucks because this place has the potential to be really cool.

This place is clean and cute and obviously popular (there’s always a wait during peak breakfast and dinner times) but I found the food to be lacking. I ordered the first item on the menu, Eggs Benedict. These were possibly the least appetizing eggs Benedict I’ve ever had. That’s not to say they treated bad, they just didn’t taste like much at all. The eggs were overcooked and the hollandaise sauce had no flavor. Even the ham was almost flavorless.
My son ordered the strawberry banana pancakes and said they were delicious, so perhaps if I go there again, I’ll have to try them instead.

Most of the time the food is very good and the service is great. I’ve had a few meals that were daily specials and I must have hit the end of it because they were soggy and over cooked. But the owner always takes care of this, I guess I’m not sure why the cooks even serve it at this point as I’m sure most people would want it.
Imo it’s I’ve off the better dinner in syracuse these days, really cleaned the place up and overall it worth the trip

A shiny decorative exterior which encloses a disappointing dining experience inside. The Gem is clean and attractive looking so, I would expect that an owner who put that much care into the renovation and maintenance of the building would equally invest in employee training and customer service practices.
As far as the food, I can cite some examples. On one visit, I sat at the counter and found myself close to the cash register. Initially I did not realize this until customers and staff alike were almost huddled over me passing money and checks over my head around my side etc… I packed up my coffee and moved about 4 chairs away. Then the waitress said «that was not a great spot to sit». Timing is everything.
On two occasions, I had 2 or 3 people serving me without one knowing what the other had done already or what I had ordered. Once, I chalked it up to a shift change time but, it happened on another visit at a different time of day so, I can’t chalk it up to this factor. Employees who are not working or who are working and have nothing to do, gather and sit at some prime counter space shooting the breeze and engaging in some loud «shop talk». Cardinal rule of the restaurant business: the restaurant is for the customers not the employees.
The“Lightweight”, a breakfast dish of 2 eggs, 1 pancake and choice of meat was quite good. I really enjoyed it but, would have enjoyed it even more if not for the chaotic shift change gathering taking place immediately in front of me. At another visit, I ordered the «Cheeseburger Breakfast» which is a hamburger topped with cheese, bacon and a fried egg served with hash browns or home fries. I ordered mine cooked medium rare and instead received a very rare burger. Rather than send it back for further cooking, I ate the burger. It was good, not great. The homefries were appealing in appearance but, were not even luke warm and lacked any fresh potato flavor. These I could not eat.
While eating and enjoying the sounds of gathered employees, I realized the atmosphere of this place just isn’t conducive to enjoying a meal. On each occasion, I ate and immediately left after finishing my meals. Oddly, I still think if I select a different area to be seated and limit my selection to a breakfast item, I might like this place. Why should I risk more of my money to test this possibility? Back to Mama Nancy’s down the street…

Came here for the first time on a Sunday morning with my partner’s parents. It was crowded but only had a 20 minute wait, which was much nicer than Stella’s.
Service was a little slow and our waitress seemed a little frazzled, but that’s to be expected on a busy Sunday morning. It was totally worth the wait — I ordered scrambled eggs, home fries, and potato pancakes. All delicious, although the home fries aren’t really home fries like you’re used to at a diner. They are crispy roasted potatoes, which is delicious anyway. The eggs were surprisingly really good. I don’t usually like restaurant eggs, but I liked these. The coffee was what you’d expect from a diner. Nothing special, but decent.
The décor is super cute, certainly looks semi-​new on the inside too. All in all I’d come back again.

I wish I could say more, buT the Gem is lack luster at best.
our food was not Hot, but It waS medum warm, frittata had cool sPots. fries are reaLly averAge.
It took forever to get the food. It wasn’t Crowded, so I don’t gEt it. Service was lUke warm too.
one refill on my Coffee near the end of my meal, maKes it a hard choice for a return viSit.

O the fond memories of this place after a night listening to Dracula Jones and bone china. Having been gone so long I was expecting the same slop I remembered but to my surprise it was actually improved. The breakfast burger is actually good it’s not a frozen Sysco patty. Overall what a surprise it’s not just for drunk times after a crappy local rock show