LocalGrubber.com

Old Westbury Diner: A Staple of Classic Comfort Food

I always try to visit the local diners on Long Island.  They are a dying breed that reminds me of my youth.  I had fond memories of eating at various diners around.  Their menus used to be as large as a phone book and you could order breakfast for dinner.  It was just a great experience!!

Times have changed but my love affair with diners remain.  We went to the Old Westbury Diner  for lunch and felt like we were transported back 25 years.  The décor is a classic dinner with a whole bunch of booths and a dessert counter.  Also there is a bar right by the entrance.  I have to remark that in my many years of going to a diner, I do not recall seeing many people (any at some) drinking at the bar.  I must travel in the wrong circles.

My first reaction was a surprise that the menu is now the size of a printed newspaper.  For those of you who have not seen a newspaper recently, they tend to be paper thin with few ads and fewer articles.  Our menu was a four page one with breakfast, lunch and dinner all rolled together.  They did have our favorites so no harm or foul.

I have to remark that I never understood how diners could have such expansive menus and be able to cook any item on the menu so quickly.  That fact has amazed for so many years!

The waitstaff was incredible friendly and helpful.  I have been on a tear with getting such good servers that I now feel blessed.  Our server answered all of our questions and brought our food so quickly.  It was a great experience.

For food, we ordered an Egg White Wrap and Greek Salad Chicken Wrap.  Each item came cooked to the right temperature.  In fact the French Fries that I had must have been cooked right before it was plated and served to me.

We really enjoyed both wraps and felt that the food was fresh and tasty.  They did a really good jobs with our sandwiches.  Yes, I consider a wrap a sandwich!!  It meets all the requirements of the definition of a sandwich.

As I was talking to the host, I asked about their hours.  During the week, they only opened from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm (on weekends, they are open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm).  This surprised me since I always remember that diners were open 24 hours a day.  I guess that is a thing of the past similar to free refills.  But the 8:00 am start time is really surprising because I would think that there would be some business breakfasts that would start prior to 8:00 am.  Do they not have that kind of clientele?

In summary, the Old Westbury Diner is a solid choice for those seeking a traditional diner experience with good food and a friendly atmosphere.