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Agawam Diner
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
48 reviews for Agawam Diner
Review Highlights
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"Cream pies, fruit pies, pudding pies, custards." In 4 reviews -
"This place serves some of the best pie I have ever had." In 9 reviews -
"I love corned beef hash, and Agawam's is pretty tasty." In 2 reviews
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48 reviews in English
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Review from Catherine G.
Salem, MA
11/26/2011
I have eaten at the Agawam for over 25 years, and stop by for lunch or coffee/pie snacks whenever my errands take me up to Rowley.
It's a diner-lover's diner, with the right food and atmosphere to fit the stereotype of the all-American eatery. Yeah, the waitresses can be self-absorbed in their chit-chat, but here is the secret to successful diner dining: Be Assertive.
Yes, don't stand quietly in the doorway waiting for someone to direct you to an empty, clean table. Just go and sit yourself down! I mean, it's a DINER, not The Four Seasons. There is no maitre'd or hostess, unless you count the owner, in his late 80s, who naps at the cash register.
If no one waits on you within 3-5 minutes (a reasonable wait period for getting acknowledged), just amble up to the counter and take a menu or two, or say to the gabby waitstaff, "Hi! We're a hungry gang and would love to order breakfast/lunch/supper! Could we please get some menus and someone to take our order? Thanks!"
It works. I know it's nicer to be greeted and have someone promptly come over, but in these casual times sometimes we have to start the process ourselves. I find that being polite and cheerful but assertive does the trick.
Anyhow, back to the Agawam Diner itself. It was owned by Greek-American brothers, but one passed away around four-five years ago and the other brother, well into his 80s and nice chap, can still be seen around (at least, he was last time I ate at the Agawam). He snoozes at the cash register like I said. Maybe he's not still alive, I didn't check. But he is usually at that register next to the door.
The place serves all the diner basics, from clam chowdah and tuna salad sammiches to a bunch of different omelettes (Western, American, etc.), fried chicken, burgers, pancakes, and of course diner coffee.
But the best thing about the Alpha-Delta (that's what ambulance drivers and cops call the Agawam... their haven for late-night and early-morning meal breaks), is the PIE. Yes, the pie alone gets 3 of the 4 stars I awarded. They will sell it by the generous slice or the whole pie, and they are one of the few diners and restaurants around that have cream pies: banana cream, chocolate cream, coconut cream. Drooooool.
Also, apple, custard, coconut custard, cherry, blueberry, strawberry rhubarb, Boston cream, and sometimes others. Never met an Agawam pie I didn't like.
I think they use a mixture of beef tallow and lard for cooking fat, and it makes the batter on their fried fish and fried chicken light, flaky and delicious. I love the fried chicken with mashed badaydahs, gravy and cranberry sauce, cole slaw. Then finish with a cup of coffee and a slice of chocolate cream. When I go alone I never have to wait because there is always a stool at the counter, or one that will open up quickly.
So, don't get your feelings hurt if the waitresses seem preoccupied. Just sit down at the table. Fetch a waitress or catch her attention. Don't worry, you'll get fed. -
Review from Courtney N.
Gloucester, MA
3/20/2012
I really wanted to like this place, but I've eaten there twice and been violently ill a few hours after each time. Yuck. The first time I went, my friend and I did not like our meal and only ate a few bites. The waitress was nice and took it off our bill and we each tried a piece of pie (which was delicious).
I went just the other day and had breakfast. I think there is an issue with cleanliness in this restaurant. I noticed my friend's cup was dirty around the rim and her silverware was very dirty. I checked mine and wiped it off just to be sure with a napkin but it is kind of gross how dirty everything is in there. The table is dirty, the seats are ripped and dirty, the dishes are not exactly sparkling clean. I have to assume this is why I've been sick twice after eating there.
Obviously, I'm never returning and I would caution people about eating there. If you do go, be extra sure to check your cups, plates and utensils to make sure they're clean. -
Review from Jessica W.
Beverly, MA
5/23/2012
This is a pretty classy diner. It has all the usual food and it seems like a pretty hot spot. I went there for lunch one day and it was packed. We had to share a table since it's such a small space, and I ended up having a common friend with the guy who sat with us. I got an omelet and it was pretty darn good. I guess just make sure you don't go when it's busy, but maybe you'll meet someone new?
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Review from C B.
Wilmington, MA
4/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Just about always get the same thing a cheeseburger and coleslaw. I love it here and everything is reasonably priced. Also have the best fries anywhere golden on outside soft on inside.
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Review from Liz C.
2/23/2012
Agawam is the quintessential diner. The food isn't spectacular, but it's good. ...ya know what I mean? It's the charm and downright unpretentiousness of this place that keeps you coming back. Sitting down at the bar, and savoring a pastrami sandwich and slice'a banana cream pie... nothing can beat it.
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Review from Dina B.
Haverhill, MA
2/23/2012
I just love the Agawam, I always get a burger, cole slaw, fries, and a slab of chocolate cream or banana cream pie (yeah, I eat a lot for a girl!). They are a traditional diner so nothing really gourmet and they use iceberg lettuce...stuff like that...so that is why I didn't give them 5 stars. But, if I just rated the meal I always get and the service, well, I'd give them 6!
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Review from Nicholas H.
Clayton, CA
5/28/2011
Nuts.
I got sick after eating here.
Four stars for staff. They are most friendly. Place has lot of charms. Food, now that is half the story.
NO taste. Just boring and greasy.
Please check out my url. Yelp took too long to load photo this day. -
Review from Michael W.
Melrose, MA
7/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty amazing and has a lot of historical character. It's a traditional boxcar diner dating back to 1941.
Service is like you would want and expect in such a place- indifferent.
The food is great classic diner food. I've had breakfast here a couple of times over the years (they serve a full menu all day long) and the food was great greasy spoon fare, but where they really shine is pie.
This place serves some of the best pie I have ever had. They make a dozen (or more) pies fresh daily, and you only have to ask the waitress and she'll rattle them off for you. My wife and I have been eating our way through these pies for the last year or two and haven't had one that isn't stellar. In particular, the lemon meringue, chocolate cream and custard pies are fantastic.
Stop in for a cup of coffee and a slice of pie after a long day at Crane's Beach. You will be happy you did. -
Review from Craig C.
Boston, MA
3/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I had Fish Chowder - delicious. $2.50 for a cup
French Fries - Gravy - Diner Food. Yummy
Chicken Salad sandwich on white bread. - Great.
Little old school Juke Box on table. Retro City.
We need more Diners like this in BOSTON!!!!!!
Make it so. -
Review from Paul E.
Staying with good friends in New England, I roll out of bed on a dreary Monday morning. Despite the threatening skies, I'm feeling good; just a few hours earlier I was at Gillette Stadium watching the Pats lay a smackdown on the Packers. Joining my friend in taking care of his honey-do list for the day, we decide that recharging our batteries is at the top of the list. Something hot and filling, and greasier than Jermaine Jackson's jheri-curl is the order of the day. When it's 20 degrees out, you need all the calories you can pack into a single sitting. With those criteria in mind, my friend suggests Agawam.
Agawam Diner is one of those places that you'd literally miss if you blinked, owing to the fact it's basically an old streetcar someone turned into a diner. Definitely cozy, since I had to suck in my gut and hunch my shoulders a bit to squeeze into the tiny booth tucked in one corner; the heavy meal I was about to gorge wasn't going to make getting out any easier. The menu is typical homestyle diner fare...burgers, fries, chili, omelets, and what have you. I'm feeling breakfast, and for some reason, an omelet. While I normally don't go for eggs, something drew me to the corned beef hash omelet, with cheese.
After placing the order, and waiting a few minutes for the feeling to return to my lower extremities...yeah, I was wedged into that little booth tight...the food arrives. The omelet doesn't look that inspiring, just your typical beaten egg folded over a filling. But when that filling is a thick, hearty helping of hot corned beef hash, something happens. The sun shines a little brighter, birds sing a little louder. I love corned beef hash, and Agawam's is pretty tasty. Even the slice of white American cheese folded inside, which I'd otherwise consider an affront to fromage, didn't feel out of place. It added a cheesy, gooey goodness that works well with the beefy hash.
About the only thing that wasn't working for me were the home fries that came on the side, which were kinda bland and a bit too crisp on some parts. But the chocolate cream pie I had for dessert - yeah, you can have dessert for breakfast - made me forgive that. Creamy chocolate, real whipped cream, and a flaky crust gives one amnesia in regards to lackluster spuds. While it's cramped, and not fancy by any stretch of the imagination, Agawam is one of those old-time spots you can't help but love. Serving up hearty food for good prices, it's just the thing to fuel you up for one of those cold New England winter days. -
Review from Joe G.
12/17/2010
The Agawam Diner is a North Shore institution; whenever you go - morning, noon, or late into the night - expect a large crowd of both locals and people who'll drive for almost an hour just to go there. It's an oversized trailer dating back to the 40s or 50s and has been basically doing the same thing for a long, long, long time, and they do it well. There's nothing fake or forced about it; it is what it is, and it is good.
With the craze surrounding "comfort food" and how to do it right, the Agawam knows the trick: smother everything in oil or butter, serve it in large portions, and serve the same menu items for 50 years. It really is the epitome of "home style" meals; I've had meatloaf, a hot turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce and gravy, and turkey tips, each time coming with gobs of gooey mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables.
The Agawam will leave you feeling very, very full no matter what you get, and while nothing has blown me away everything has been good and, well, homey.
It's not a cheap diner - don't let the trailer fool you, you'll pay "casual dining" prices. But it's worth it, as you get what you pay for in quality and quantity.
Another cool thing about a trip to the Agawam (and it usually is a trip for most people who go, it's not exactly located in the most populous part of Massachusetts) is that there's some other interesting stuff nearby - a very good farm stand with fresh fruits and veggies, and an old hobby shop, among other things. Definitely worth a trip for anyone living in or around the North Shore. -
Review from Kathleen H.
Beverly, MA
Updated - 8/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
The cheeseburgers are still good: this time I got my bacon cheeseburger with mushrooms, which were little canned ones, and that worked out fine. The fries were awesome too, the kind that are crispy and greasy and salty on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside.
Pie - I'd never tried the pie. I had the strawberry-rhubarb a la mode. It was good diner pie.
The coffee was hot, the red leather booth in the corner a perfect conversation spot.
And I still give this place a star for just existing, thank you very much.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/1/2008
I went here with my boss because she said it was the best ever and just the thing to quickly and… Read more »
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Review from Bob C.
Gloucester, MA
2/19/2012
Went there a few times with friends but got tired of the heaven or hell service (two waitresses, one cared and one was really annoyed that customers actually expected to be waited on) and mediocre food. It's a local landmark but not being Stepford diners we pass it by as often as possible -- yeah they have a large pie selection but is it really worth it?
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Review from John M.
Newton Upper Falls, MA
11/11/2011
I've been eating there for 20 years and it's like a time capsule. I've tried about the entire menu and the only thing below par was the chicken croquettes and the fried chicken.
My girlfriend and I split the chicken pie and finish with a slice of banana creme pie. Doesn't get any better. -
Review from Renee M.
7/19/2010
"What is this, an omelet for ants!?"
Warning: I am about to rip this place a new one.
If you are ever traveling north on Route 1, chances are you could get shipwrecked, like a dingy in a storm, and end up inside the belly of the whale, the Agawam diner.
From the 1950's look inside and out, one can tell that this is not your typical diner. Your typical diner of course consists of good service, friendly people, and decent food for a ass cheap price. So in that regard, Agawam is not your typical diner.
The service would be good if were a caged animal or a prisoner in Tibet. The first wrong move they made was mixing up coke for water and then pulling a Houdini for fifteen minutes. I still don't understand which dimensional vortex I had landed in where water meant, "bring on the diabetes and charge me three dollars for it."
However, the cardinal sins were committed with the food. I had the veggie omelet with cheese, wheat toast, and home fries. By dining mate got French toast with a side of bacon (doesn't that make you think of the POV commercial where you are looking down a dog's snout for beggin' strips?).
The omelet was the worst processed crap....ever. It was obvi frozen and the portion was no bigger than my hand. The food was great if you happen to be a hostage.
If I were blind, I would guess my home fries were charcoal. But when covered in ketchup they magically transformed into ketchup saturated charcoal. The best part of the meal was the toast that I could have made at home with the assistance of a toddler.
The bacon was odorless and tasteless, comparable to carbon monoxide.
The only beacon of light in this shit storm was the french toast which was warm, soft, and full of flavor. I like to think of this toast as a Dementor that sucked the life out of everything in the room.
Then the check came.
I would only recommend this place if you are a dog that likes chewing on rocks or if you are depressed and hope to remain in that state. I do, however, know one place worse than the Agawam diner and that is the Haverhill soup kitched. However, that food is free.
But after eating at Agawam, gruel doesn't sound so bad.
(review assistance by Phil Crean) -
Review from Mark W.
Beverly, MA
12/31/2008
It is all the good stuff...nothing pretentious or phony or retro...this is the real deal, pies and all.If you like diner food and I do...this is a destination. Get your kids here before this one goes......we used to have three or four when I was growing up in Beverly..now the last one is a Subway :( sadness..but I will go out of my way to eat at this place, this great restaurant, with wonderful staff and those pies!
Thank you Agawam for keeping the diner alive and well on the North Shore! -
Review from Matthew A.
Salem, NH
2/23/2007
An old New England diner at its finast. Traditinal menu, and charm.
Check out other diners on my list of New England Diners. -
Review from Eve L.
Brighton, MA
4/26/2007
Really good food, and a really convenient stopover on your way to or from Plum Island.
My spouse loves their liver and onions.
I love their juke boxes.
Solidly good diner food, solidly good diner feel.Listed in: Best Brunch Spots, New England Diners
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Review from Mimi B.
Boston, MA
10/10/2010
This place is amazing! An actual diner on Newbury Turnpike. What a surprise. there is an old man who sits at the front cashier greeting you--I think he is the original owner from 1946! Crowded during rush times, but it goes fast. The Menu is perfect and the prices were so reasonable.
Burgers and fries were great. Pie? to die for. Huge slices of really great pie. We went back for breakfast and were so happy with the everything we ordered. Service was amazing both times--lots of attention and refills--just what a diner should be! -
Review from Dean H.
Gloucester, MA
3/29/2010
Not sure what all the hub bub is about this place...I'll say its edible and if I had a hangover and there wasn't a line I might hit this place up again but there really is nothing special about this place.
The people are friendly and the food isn't overpriced but this place would rank towards the bottom of the diners I've been to. That makes this place all the more disappointing because the Yelp reviews made this sem like a killer place you would see on Diner's, Drive-In's and Dives...this place feel waaayy short of that.
If you are curious because you have heard great things about this place, don't be...its just food...nothing more.
Yelpers...why hast thou foresaken me? Its time y'all step up your game and activate your taste buds because this place ain't all that. -
Review from Kristan O.
Salem, MA
2/28/2009 1 Check-in Here
Great diner food!
It's open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and open till 10 p.m. on weekdays, i haven't found any diners on the north shore as of yet that is open past 3 p.m.
I ordered the "Franks and Potato Salad" dish which came out looking delicious and to my benefit lived up to it. Two beef franks grilled with a full plate of yummy potato salad and coleslaw (both were exceptionally good, just enough dressing and seasoning) and last it was served with two hot standard dinner rolls with butter. it was $7.25 and well worth it!
As my husband and I sat at the counter we watched the waitresses bring out several freshly baked pies and cakes, all looking equally phenomenal. I heard someone order the Pineapple Cheesecake and I knew I had to try it...the crust was amazing, light buttery flaky heaven...I wish I could have tried all of them, they had Brumbleberry Pie, Chocolate Mousse Pie, Blueberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Cheesecake, Oreo Cheesecake, Apple Pie, Banana Creme Pie and on and on and on!
The diner itself was aesthetically pleasing...nice and cozy.
Everything was reasonably priced and well worth the money. I can't wait to come back and try the breakfast! -
Review from stacy a.
Haverhill, MA
3/24/2010
Agawam diner, you disappoint me. I had high hopes. Everyone else raves about it. I mean, it has 4.5 stars here. That's practically unheard of. In fairness, I've just gone the once, for breakfast last Sunday to be exact.
My opinion of the place might have been higher if the service had been better. There were only 2 waitresses in the place and no bussers. Our waitress was pleasant enough, but inattentive. She was an older woman, had probably been there forever, but still, I'm going to want more than that first 6oz cup of coffee. No refills were forthcoming. The waters I asked for initially never came, we needed to ask more than once for the chocolate frappe my boyfriend ordered. Who gets a frappe for breakfast? He does. That was the highlight of the meal. He's been looking for a breakfast joint that serves frappes. Found it! Too bad the homefries sucked. Well, I thought so, he liked them. They were too mashed up for me. And they tasted like meat and were orange. I don't like any part of that.
I also didn't like their Bisquick-y tasting blueberry muffin. I did not like my fried egg sandwich to be runny after I requested it over-hard. I did, however, like the look of their cream pies. And I liked that it LOOKED like a diner. But looks only go so far.
If I went again, and I'd give it another shot at some point, I'd I look to see who the waitress was and seat myself accordingly. No offense to the older woman, but I want someone who is still young and eager to please. -
Review from Julie A.
Arlington, MA
3/31/2007
Locals galore, they've been coming here for decades so why not you?
This place is your average diner. Nothing unique, nothing bad. The food is your basic diner food, no frills, and super cheap prices.
You can get a full breakfast or lunch for less than $5 and walk out of there full.
It gets crowded from flea market goers on Sunday's so be prepared to wait a while.
Fast and friendly service, and the classic vintage 50's diner atmosphere combined with the cheap prices make this a good worthwhile visit. -
Review from Chrissy H.
Revere, MA
5/31/2009
Went for breakfast on a Sunday morning. There was kind of a wait so we opted for the counter which was quite enjoyable. The staff was very pleasant and friendly and we met some colorful characters seated next to us.
The menu was short and sweet. My food was very delicious at a super reasonable price. (2 breakfasts, 1 coffee and 1 doughnut came to $12.45!)
But the best part was the glazed doughnut the hubster and I shared from their local bakery and I must say, I was sorry I had agreed to half it. I could feel tears of pleasure welling up in my eyes as I finished the last bite. Pure joy. And only 90 cents. That's how much happiness costs.
John ogled the many pies they had but we decided it was worth the trip back north to try them another time. -
Review from Graham C.
7/3/2007
I dragged my brother up here this past Sunday. I had heard raves about the fried chicken, and it was good indeed. It was crowded, as well.
I wanted to like this place more. I found the service slow, and not because there wasn't enough staff. There were a lot of ladies milling around. Some of them staring at me as I used furtive ocular muscles to signal that I wanted to eat something. To no avail.
And while the food was good, I wouldn't call this a destination place. But if I was in the neighborhood and wanted to eat decent food at really great prices, I'd totally stop by.
And you gotta sit at the counter. Seriously. -
Review from Jill D.
Wakefield, MA
8/21/2011
I've never had breakfast here so cannot comment upon the quality but quite frankly, I find some of the negative reviews to be so out of touch with the truth of this place as to be perhaps faked.
The lunch and dinner food here is fantastic. I love the turkey club sandwich. It's got real turkey in it that's tender and delicious. The bacon is crunchy and the sandwich has just the right amount of mayo to make it go down beautifully. The fries are a treat - big, crispy and fresh. Meatloaf and burgers are equally as good.
One more big positive - they're open until 10 PM, even on Sunday.
My only wish is that the tables would be bussed sooner so you don't end up sitting at one that's not been cleared yet (it's that busy, usually) and have to wait for it to be cleaned.
Okay, one other wish, that the jukeboxes still worked but apparently the broken mechinisms are too expensive to replace, and probably very hard to find at this point in time, siiiiiiigh.
Other than that, you can't beat the place. Good food and service, neat atmosphere (real, original diner, not a new, fake clone) set in a peaceful country town. -
Review from T K.
Boston, MA
7/12/2009
A real Diner!
I love going here. It's fun to sit and flip through at the variety of songs on their Mini jukebox players on the tables while waiting for yummy food and the best pie ever!
Favorites include their coffee, egg salad sandwich with fries, and the best pie ever! Did I mention the Pie?!!!! It's all good.
The waitresses work their butts off and are very friendly.
They do not hover over you to finish your food like The Rosebud "Diner" in Davis Square. -
Review from Jeremy B.
Dover, NH
10/10/2008
I always try to stop here when cruising through Route 1.
Like any classic diner; no unnecessary pleasantries, prompt yet attentive service, bottomless coffee.
Arrive hungry and leave satisfied. -
Review from Mariah M.
Rowley, MA
11/12/2009
I love that they are open when I am on my way to work at 6am. The woman behind the counter recognized me after the second day, this is why I left NYC, a little humanity.
After a long weekend with no sleep and lots of manual labor, a big stack of blueberry pancakes really makes me happy. -
Review from Stephanie C.
Somerville, MA
12/17/2011
After living in Boston for school, there's nothing like coming home and going to the 'Ag. Being surrounded by friendly people...the warm nostalgic atmosphere. I'm a vegetarian, and there isn't much I can order on the menu, but the two times I've asked they've made me a custom veggie sandwich that was amazing. It had any vegetable they could find, grilled on a bun with cheese and mayo. I finished it and wanted two more. But I settled for the chocolate mousse pie. This place can get really busy sometimes, but at dinner it's usually relaxed. The fries are good too, and the breakfast egg and cheese on a bagel. Yum.
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Review from Stimp Y.
Newburyport, MA
5/2/2009
Now that's a diner.
Honestly, I grew up on this place. When I was a kid I used to go there for some kind of massive open-faced burger meal when they would cover the entire plate in brown gravy. Wow. Remember those days when you had the metabolism of a ferret?
It's frequently crowded with a line out the door on weekends, but if you've never been there and love diners, it is worth the wait. Bring cash, which you will hand over to the elderly gentleman at the door, who hasn't changed in 20 years and may make some crack that hasn't been PC since HE was a teenager, but it's all part of the charm. -
Review from Mrs. R.
Rockport, MA
4/29/2010
Breakfast, Burgers and Pies Oh My!
The Agawam is an institution on the North Shore. Great for a simple breakfast anytime or for a quick sandwich. Tonight I swung by after shopping at Market Basket in Rowley to check out the soup (they also have great soup) and it was Boiled Dinner night. Got one of those big @ss dinners and it fed 2 people plus! Also got some Beef Stew that smells great which will make for a great lunch while I'm working around the house tomorrow.
Back to the Boiled Dinner. Heaps of tender corned beef (brown type like roast beef), boiled potatoes, turnip, cabbage, carrots and beets served with the Agawam rolls. I don't usually care for their rolls, but they go perfect with some of their entrees, Boiled Dinner being one. I plan to stop and get this $8.00 Special a couple of Thursday nights a month.
I love the Agawam's grilled cheese with a milk shake and they make a great American Chop Suey (not as good as mine, but it will do).
Sure, it's not fancy food but the quality is decent and there is plenty of it. Most meals will feed 2 people. Entrees also come with soup.
Pies, pies, pies! Try the Angel Pie, it's like a reverese Boston Cream with Chocolate cake and a cream center. The fruit pies are also great, in fact all the pies rock.
You can't find nicer staff anywhere-everyone at the Agawam is friendly and always smiling. Even if I sit down at the counter alone I always feel at home at the Agawam because a visit there is like a moment in time that never changes. You can't say that about much in life. -
Review from Erin C.
Ipswich, MA
7/14/2010
The Agawam Diner has been such a huge part of my life living up here. All of the comfort foods that I love and could probably make at home are right here at the Agawam Diner and are made far better than I could do myself!
There is typically plenty of parking but be prepared to wait for a table during busy hours (breakfast & dinner after 5pm). WARNING: CASH ONLY. Locals know this but many tourists find themselves in a pickle when they try to hand an American Express card to the woman in front of a 1950's style cash register.
The jukeboxes at each table are always out of order which is fine with me because those things are never updated and some kid will play the same song 5 times over. Just as well.
My favorite things on the menu:
Grilled cheese: classic.
BLT: perfection.
Fish sandwich: good portions.
Chili: only available certain days/ times of year so get it when you can!!
If you leave here without trying one of the cream pies, you're missing out. I personally prefer the coconut but they're all to die for!
The staff here love their locals but are friendly to everyone (usually). The Agawam diner is lost in time and we wouldn't have it any other way. I eat here quite frequently and have never ever left unsatisfied. -
Review from Erik K.
Boston, MA
5/12/2011
Classic American diner. Always packed. And the food does not disappoint.
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Review from Charoline D.
Greenwich, CT
11/12/2007
Generally speaking, when I'm out all night mixin'n'minglin', the last thing I'm thinking about the next morning is filling my stomach with 3 eggs, 2 pieces of toast, and bacon...but, when duty calls....
My roommate had plans to meet her friend and her baby @ Agawam this past Saturday morning. I arose from bed, hair looking a little too bram stoker dracula like, but in a really cool way....with electric blue eyeshadow and eyeliner still fresh on my lids. Normal. I'm not sure if you've ever heard that Fergie song, G-L-A-M---OR-OUS YEAH. In a word, me.
I stumble into some jeans and darling tshirt with a lobster screenprinted on it and we pile in the car. Brooke says we're going to the Agawam Diner to meet up with Tanya and Emma....we're 10 mins into the ride, and I think my brain has just started functioning. I've forgotten to put my contacts in and I yelled "WAIT A MINUTE, AGAWAM? I AM *NOT* DRIVING TO WESTERN MASS FOR BREAKFAST, FUNK THAT....unless six flags is still open and I can ride Superman immediately after". I found out that it's actually in Rowley and I had actually been there before with a boyfriend from West Newbury up 133 not too long ago. Wow, ok. And it's allcominbacktomeeeee....
Thankfully Tanya had assured us some seating, and the 5 of us slid into a booth. Our waitress was eager to get us in and out, Emma was teething and sporadically screaming when she wasn't gnawing on paper napkins or whatever else she could get her filthy baby mitts on. I'm not terribly fond of babies, my father had always said that everyones baby is annoying, unless its your own, and then you start to black out. Emma screamed, then giggled, then screamed some more....and I looked down at my eggs and french toast. Delicious, decent portions of both toast, eggs, and bacon. They even had real maple syrup which is kind of unheard of for a diner, and like McDonalds..I'm lovin it. Even when I really want pancakes, waffles, or french toast....if there's no real maple syrup, and just that motor oil corn syruppy crap people label as maple....I won't do it, it's eggs all the way. Waitress was prompt, attentive, but slightly crabby but understood when you're taking up her largest table on a Saturday brunch shift, and while I won't be driving back up here anytime soon, it's a good option if you're staying in the area.Listed in: Brunch-a-Munch
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Review from DAVID L.
South Hamilton, MA
9/21/2010
The Agawam is a North Shore landmark and institution. It is a place that my wife and I used to visit every few months for good straightforward comfort food, but that will no longer be true.
About six months ago, we went to the Ag for breakfast. My corned beef hash oozed grease and my wife's pancakes were partially cooked. We assumed that they were having a bad day, so we went back three months later to try again. Once more the food was badly cooked.
Two weeks ago we gave them a third chance. My wife ordered French Toast, well-done bacon and paid extra for real maple syrup. The bacon and the pre-packaged small portion of maple syrup were fine, but the toast was oozing liquid egg from the middle. She ate around the outside and left the centers on the plate in a puddle of egg and made a joke about needing to put a chalk outline around the remains.
It was late in the day, and frankly I just didn't want to be faced with another failed breakfast so I ordered "Prime Rib". I have had this meal at the Ag before and although it is not a gourmet feast, it isn't bad ... well it didn't used to be. What I got was a thin slab of grayish meat, a portion of peas and carrots that had been in a can a short time before, and some poorly re-constituted instant mashed potatoes. All of this had a thin layer of canned gravy over it.
I have eaten (and cooked) in a lot of greasy spoons and I'm a charter member of the clean plate club, but this was just about inedible. I ate a bit of the meat but a taste of the potato and veg were more than enough. The meal tasted and looked as if it had been made a week earlier and sat uncovered on a plate in the refrigerator until being microwaved.
This was the third strike. The Agawam Diner is off my list. -
Review from Elizabeth T.
South Hamilton, MA
2/22/2007 1 photo
If you're looking for a real classic diner, for better and for worse, this is it. The Agawam is a great old Fodero Company diner built in 1954, still run with the traditional menu and style.
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Review from Ashley W.
Boston, MA
9/21/2011
Id come here when I was younger. On the weekends its not uncommon to wait awhile for a table. Its diner food, so its cheap. The one thing I would recommend her is the pies. Coconut Cream is OUT OF THIS WORLD.
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Review from Bryan O.
Salem, MA
9/27/2010
A delicious landmark.
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Review from Gail L.
Jamaica Plain, MA
10/9/2007
Breakfast is good, lunch is better because then you can have dessert...PIES!!! They bake about 20 different kinds right there in the diner. Cream pies, fruit pies, pudding pies, custards...all amazing...they also sell whole pies to take home. Their fried fish is good too. Coffee is okay. Waitresses remember everyones order...no writing down, she REMEMBERS EVERYTHING...all the extras, all the substitutes, all the juices, sodas, toast and egg orders...who gets what and it all gets to your table FAST!
Listed in: Diners
