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Casey's Diner
- Nearest Transit:
-
Natick (Framingham/Worcester Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10:30 am - 8 pm
Sat 10:30 am - 4 pm
Sun 11 am - 3 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$
- 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
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
79 reviews for Casey's Diner
Review Highlights
"Hot dogs are the example of simplicity."
(in 29 reviews)
"...dog casings have that fresh "snap" when you bite into them."
(in 3 reviews)
"There's also a walk up window outside if you don't need to..."
(in 3 reviews)
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79 reviews in English
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Review from C-pher M.
North Attleboro, MA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
My buddy took me there for the first time. DAMN!! This was some good eatin'.
Now, we weren't able to get inside, and thank goodness for a 60 degree January day! So, we ordered from the side window and ate on the hood of his truck.
I got a few dogs and the Onion Smashed Cheeseburger..
Now, the dogs were crunchy on the outside...pure yummyness on the inside. I got them with a little ketchup, brown mustard, and ketchup. I ate them before the burger even came out.
Then, for course two, that perfectly cooked cheese burger with grilled onions smushed into the bottom of the burger was like a little taste of heaven on a bun!
I was dreaming about these burgers and dogs all night. Now I can't keep them off my mind. I feel like I need to stalk them in the bushes outside...if they had them...tell them that I love them, and that they really need to have extended hours on the weekends so I can get out there...as it's a bit of a hike for me.
I can't wait to get out there again....but I think that I'm happy that they aren't close. I worry that if they were, I'd become Fatty McButterpants in a few weeks. Only because I'd be eating there every day. -
Review from Scotty B.
Having a craving for hot dogs, I ventured over to Casey's knowing I would not be disappointed. I actually had visions of sitting inside to soak up the atmosphere and try one of their burgers for the first time, but it was not to be. Not only was it busy inside, there was a line at the side window. I would have to settle for a couple to go.
Nothing fancy here, but some great steamed dogs and buns.
Staff was friendly, but no kibitzing here. Place your order, pay for it, and be on your way.
Definitely at the top of my list when in the need for a quick bite. -
Review from John M.
Franklin, MA
11/26/2011
Steamed hot dog on soft white brad bread bun. Nothing fancy. A bit pricy at $2.50 considering the size. No place to sit as the eight or ten bar stools were all taken. had to order at takeout window - where no menu was posted! Friendly staff. Burgers smelled terrific and if I ever go back, I'll try one. I would not go back for a hot dog.
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Review from Jeff C.
Wayland, MA
5/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I checked out Casey's Diner after getting a hot dog craving and scoping out Yelp for advice. I'm a little baffled at the people raving about the hot dogs here. They're good. Yes. But, there's nothing amazing about them. They're nicely steamed versions of hot dogs and buns you could get at the supermarket. They're cheap, and they're good, and if you've got a craving for a hot dog, definitely grab one there, but don't expect something unique and mind-blowing. I have a feeling even the (super-friendly) staff there would agree with this, so I feel no guilt saying that.
Now... On the OTHER hand, these guys make an AMAZING burger. The burger reminded me of the ones at Mr. Bartley's in Harvard Square (minus the fancy toppings). Grilled to perfection, with a thin, crisp-burnt "crust", juicy but not sloppy/greasy, it practically melts in your mouth. I tried the Pepper Burger upon recommendation at Yelp. The slightly grilled peppers added a great crunch. These peppers are the only "fancy" topping you'll find here, and I'm OK with that.
Oh, and don't ask for fries - they don't make them. Someone came in and asked for fries and the staff went into a mini version of the old SNL "Cheezborger, Cheezborger" skit (which is actually true - they have "no fries - chips, no Coke - Pepsi)
The ambiance is great - a classic tiny greasy diner. Definitely check it out. -
Review from Matt A.
North Augusta, SC
10/8/2011
I've had the opportunity to eat here twice in my life when visiting my grandparents in MA. The first time was a great an unique experience, and I was happy to get back to Casey's eight years later. Delicious franks in their own special buns; served in an old wagon cart any way you want. Very good! Next time, I hope to try the hamburger, which my family enjoyed.
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Review from Sean J.
Cambridge, MA
10/19/2011
I have not been here in a long time, but I remember that they had literally the best hot dogs I ever ate as a child. The last time I visited the spot (probably around 10 years ago) I was told I couldn't sit at the counter because the available seats were all reserved for "regulars". I guess I can respect a joint for being loyal to its customers, the gruff manner in which I was told off turned me off from ever going back.
I'll probably visit the diner again if I'm in the area, because the food is fantastic. I was just left with a rather sour taste in my mouth the last time I visited their establishment. -
Review from Michael S.
Natick, MA
12/23/2011
Friendly service, GREAT grilled cheeses, hot dogs and burgers. Just wished they had fries but it is such a small space probably not feasible. A real local gem.
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Review from matt c.
Brighton, MA
9/12/2011
The best hotdogs. Steamed, simple, and succulent. Quick, casual, friendly service. Go to the side window if you're in a hurry.
In the mood for a burger? Get the "Friendly Burger": A hamburger placed between a grilled cheese sandwich. Tasty. Quick. Get a 2 dogs, chips and drink for under $10. -
Review from Deb F.
Boston, MA
7/31/2011
Believe the hype! For a long time, we resisted going. The menu just sounded too limited. Hot dogs and hamburgers. No fries. No home made pie. But Diner Don (the diner artist) told us we really needed to go. So we did. Fortunately we read the yelp reviews, so we knew to get a burger as well as a hot dog.
First off, the place is charming and well-maintained, in spite of its age. The flowers add a a lovely touch of homeyness. Unfortunately I forgot about the review I had read that the front door slides open, and I was afraid we wouldn't get in. Fortunately someone inside helped us out.
The hot dog was pretty ordinary. But tasty. Heck, I don't think I've ever met a non-tasty hotdog. It would have been better with sauerkraut, but they don't have it.
The hamburger, on the other hand, was sublime! They cook it to get a beautiful crust on the outside that elevates it far beyond the humble hamburger. And they'll cook onions into it, which tastes terrific.
The service is of the brusque, but friendly hockey player Boston-guy type. Needless to say, it's attentive, since you're always only 2 feet away (if you eat in).
It doesn't sound cute, but it really is! Can't wait to return.Listed in: Diners
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Review from Sally B.
9/13/2010
Casey's made my weekend complete. I loved my $2.60 grilled cheese sandwich. It warmed my heart to be in a place where the cooks had everyone's order memorized and men weren't afraid to order chocolate milk.
I wish they had had pie the day I visited, but I guess this just means I'll have to come back! -
Review from Paul F.
Boston, MA
5/26/2011
This is my 2nd favorite place to grab a hot dog. Talk about historic little diner, I once went to Coney island in Worcester and had four hot dogs, then stopped at Caseys for two more. If you can get a seat at the tiny counter it makes it so much more fun. Love the sliding door to enter the place. It began as a hot dog cart on wagon wheels and got pulled around Natick before landing on a foundation, very neat history.
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Review from Rebecca D.
Natick, MA
7/21/2011
Great hot dogs! I love the "snap" sound they make when you first bite into them. I think I'm addicted.
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Review from Michael A.
Boston, MA
2/7/2011
This places takes you back! I use to come all the time when I lived in Natick. The dog casings have that fresh "snap" when you bite into them. I remember one lady ordering an "Atkins" dog, the whole place nearly croaked ha!
I miss this place.. will have to make it a point to come back in the summer. -
Review from Dana B.
11/11/2010
In our quest to see the beautiful foliage outside of Boston we forgot to search restaurants in the area. I pulled out my handy iPhone and Yelp App and found Casey's Diner. Honestly I was expecting more when we pulled up and even the hubby questioned Yelp once we saw the industrial type area we were in. Our hunger pains convinced us to give the place a try.
Once we were inside of Casey's I was surprised at how small it was... 10 stools at a bar and the cooking was done right in front of you. We both ordered cheeseburgers and chips. I inhaled my burger, it was so damn good and cooked just how I wanted it (medium). It was a simple Hubby agreed, very good burger and especially for the price. There are no frills to this place but frills aren't required for good food.
The employees are friendly and gave us a rundown on the history of the diner. This seems to be a local favorite since everybody in the joint knew each other. If I lived in the area, I know I would be a regular. -
Review from Greg P.
Natick, MA
6/19/2010
I've been going to Casey's for years and love the place. The hotdogs are great - the allaround is the standard - with mustard, relish and chopped onions. I usually start with one or two of those - which are usually provided within moments of ordering.
After that I have a cheeseburger. I go with onion in (which means they're grilled into the patty), mustard and pickle. Dee-licious. I'm also a big fan of the ham and pickle sandwich. This is very good. I'm pretty sure the pickles make it healthy or something.
Aside from the food, the overall experience of Casey's is something to relish (hahahahahaha). There are maybe 10-12 stools in the diner's comfortable confines. You site cheek to jowl with your co-diners and that's more than OK. Many people know each other - if only by sight - and even if they don't there's no harm in jumping into the conversations at the counter.
Pat, who runs the place, is the man at the dog station. As was his father and his father's father before him. It's an institution that has earned - and maintained - its reputation over generations. Check it out. -
Review from Lauren B.
Worcester, MA
10/20/2010 6 Check-ins Here
My boyfriend and I were Natick-bound a few weeks ago, and after spending a few hours running around getting errands done, he elected to take me to Casey's for lunch (as it was one of his regular haunts when he was at home).
Casey's is this cute, little old-fashioned diner that offers either counter service or window service to it's customers. The staff is unbelievably friendly - I rarely meet a group of restaurant workers that are so attentive and that joke around so whole-heartedly with the customers as these people do, and this really made me like the place all the more.
As for the food, hot dogs were my fare (you guys have to know how much I love them by now).
Casey's offers properly steamed hot dogs: one's that have the right snap when you bite into their casing, which gives way to the warm, tasty center of the dog itself. When this is coupled with the warm, white bun on which it is served - voila! They have perfectly steamed hot dogs.
This is a fantastic find for me, however mundane it may seem, because a lot of places I have been to lately screw steamed hot dogs up, and they have a special place in my heart right next to their grilled and fried counterparts.
So go to Casey's, and you won't be let down - I certainly wasn't. You're sure to have a great time with the staff as you sample their fare, and you're sure to come away satisfied. -
Review from rita g.
Hudson, MA
5/18/2011
What a dog! What a dog!!! Caseys is as New England as New England diners can get.... Pricey, tight, with dogs that give ya the NE snap from the first bite! All around of course! (means the works). Can you steam these pups at home? Of course... but if you are away from your nest, then let these fellahs entertain you, dine you and crack you up. They are a well orchestrated group of short order maestros! For us "dainty dames" (Ha!) they split the dog in half... for the rest of the sardines in this oh, so charming little can, you get your stuff whole! Burgers are great, sandwiches are great. NO FRILLS, no if butts or whatevers. Its a greasy spoon tiny little diner that has a lunch conga line that many finer establishments would die for! (No fries, but no worries, they have chips if you want them... its the meat you go for!)
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Review from Ana R.
6/9/2010
Two hot dogs fixed the way you like, a soda and a bag of chips - best lunch ever!
I was taken to Casey's the first time by a Natick townie, and I'm hooked. I've been back and brought friends and THEY are hooked. It's a Phantom Gourmet pick for a reason.
I haven't been able to sit inside yet, since it's always busy, but the window on the side means FAST service. There are picnic tables around the building, too.
Hot dogs are the example of simplicity. Steamed on a regular bun, with condiments as ordered. It's fresh, hot and delicious, and CHEAP.
The funny lingo the cooks have appropriated is not a colorful mask hiding any secrets. These are dogs and burgers, plain and simple.
And they have ginger ale! -
Review from Cameron H.
Dover, MA
10/5/2010 3 Check-ins Here
There are few things in life better then a good old fashioned hotdog, and that's exactly what you get at Casey's.
Seating is limited to just counter space and a couple of small tables outside, with parking just as cramped. There is a takeout window on the side, which I typically order from and just eat in my car or sitting on the curb. Hotdogs are extremely inexpensive (~$2 with toppings), boil cooked, and tasty. There is no bend or squish to them, just a nice hard snap. Buns are just the way I like them, soft and moist. Toppings (ketchup, relish, etc) seem out of a can, but still quality goods. Orders usually take no more then a minute or two, and the staff is friendly as you'll find.
They aren't the best dogs I've had before, but certainly some of the better, and for the price, you really can't beat them. I believe they do serve some other items, but all I've ever had are the dogs, and never had a complaint. Certainly recommend if you're in the area or just have a craving. -
Review from Alissa L.
Natick, MA
5/3/2011
article about Casey's Diner on Natick Patch:
http://patch.com/A-c33K -
Review from Kevin S.
San Francisco, CA
3/11/2008 4 photos
For my 1,500th review, I celebrate a place that may be THE quintessential eating place, in all the land. A place where simplicity reigns. A place that is just over 85 years old and has stood in its current spot for 30 years, all in the caring, loving hands of one family, the Caseys of Natick, MA.
What is a restaurant? A place to enjoy good food and service, with good company, in a pleasing atmosphere.
Across the country, people in the restaurant craft strive to create a winning blend of food, service, and milieu. Millions, even tens of millions can be spent making or remaking a location to achieve the perfect physical space.
Chefs spend thousands of hours learning their art, wracking their brains for the perfect concept, the best dishes their hands and minds can conceive and execute. They seek financial backing, the best ingredients, great help in the kitchen and in the dining room.
Casey's Diner required no millions of dollars, and no culinary degree, and yet it is truly holy ground in the world of restauranting. It's been on the National Register of Historic Places for the last 30 years. This diner started its life as a Worcester horse-drawn diner car in 1922, and the Caseys have lovingly cared for it ever since, right down to the original varnish on the all-oak, original interior, with ten simple barstools cozily arrayed along the bar.
Here you will find a very simple menu of hamburgers and frankfurters and a few other sandwiches, like fried egg and ham and cheese. The burgers and sandwiches are grilled on an ancient old gas-powered griddle. The buns are heated on top of the meat.
The frankfurters, Casey's signature item, are steamed in an antique copper hot dog steamer, and served up in a classic split-top New England-style bun. You can have a bag of chips or a soda in a can to go with your sandwich, or a cup of heavenly coffee from an antique gas-powered urn. There are no fries, or onion rings, and you'd be crazy to want them. It's all about these lovely franks and burgers, my friends.
I mentioned service and by service I mean a warm, low-key welcome by Pat or Fred, a hot dog served moments after you ask for it, and burgers that go on the grill as you finish stating your order. It is simply not possible to have fresh food on a plate in front of you any faster than this. It's like magic.
When you step inside, locals who have cherished this place since childhood glance your way, and you'll hear them call out orders for favorites that are clearly etched on their memory's tongue. "Three all-arounds, please!" An all-around is a frank with mustard, relish, and onion.
These hot dogs make that perfect snap when you bite into them and you'll find yourself polishing off one or two just as an appetizer. They are delicious, perfect in every way.
The hamburgers are just as simple and just as perfect. You can have white American cheese and a number of toppings, but I urge you to order the pepper burger with cheese and mustard. A pepper burger is topped with slivers of sweet pickled red and green bell peppers that are griddled right alongside the burger, and with mustard and cheese it makes an absolutely perfect, zesty lunch. It was so good, this jaded food grump felt tears stinging his eyes.
On my second visit in the two days I was in Natick, I ordered two dogs and two pepper with cheese and mustard, and I left for my plane ride home almost giddy with delight at the simple, clean, pure taste of these treats.
This place gets swamped just about noon every day it's open, with the ten stools in heavy rotation by hungry diners and the walk-up window at the right side a scene of constant activity as the locals line up and call out their regulars orders. Pat and Fred seem to know everyone and how they like their dogs and burgs.
As I munched my lunch and snapped a few pictures with permission of the Caseys, I soon found myself the lucky recipient of stories of way back when and the beaming pride of locals who are glad that a stranger far from home appreciates the treasure they have kept going with their loving patronage over decade after decade. Pat proudly showed me the picture of the diner hitched to a horse that hangs on one wall, a snapshot of which I'll post shortly.
If you love frankfurters and hamburgers, and you are within a couple of hours drive of this national treasure, you owe it to yourself to make time to plant your elbows on the counter and order up a couple of dogs and a burger or two, and enjoy this lovely piece of culinary history.
As the guy who kind of invented the "milestone" review on Yelp, I normally review a non-business, like a park or a service organization for a milestone. For my 1,000th review, I celebrated a dumpy Chinese diner in Ohio that I enjoyed with my late father. But for this, my 1,500th, I am delighted to point to a magic little spot and to thank the Caseys for loving and caring for it all these years. -
Review from Kimberly L.
Middlesex, MA
10/14/2009 ROTD 10/27/2009
I have been chowing down on their amazing crack-cocaine-esk food since i was two feet tall in a tutu, and my loving addiction hasnt ceased 20 years and 5 states later.
Yea its a "diner" as in your typical side of the road out of a restored box car kinda deal, but lets be honest nobody comes here for anything else but their awesome hot dogs and burgers. Who thought a hot dog could be so amazing? Boiled to perfection and slopped together in less than a minute for you, these babies are so good its proven literal torture to try and eat just one. I'm a cheese with everything girl, but most days I like to keep it simple as an all-around.
I cannot ignore the fact that they do serve a killer burger, though. I had one for the first time a few weeks ago due to the stellar recommendation from a friend, and was pleasantly surprised by the juicy goodness explosion that occurred in my mouth a moment later. It don't know if I would drive two towns over to get one the way I would their dogs, but it was still very good and worth noting.
Best part for me is how nice the guys are. The same 3 guys are always in there, and have been since I was a little girl. Thanks for not selling out Casey's, as you will forever have a place as a clogged artery in my heart! -
Review from William M.
Venice, CA
11/24/2010
I've been going to Casey's for almost 10 years. Casey's is truly one of THE great diners! Everything from the hot dogs to hamburgers to even the egg salad is all incredibly tasty. A business cannot be open as long as Casey's unless the product is truly outstanding and everything at Casey's is OUTSTANDING!!!
I read the review about someone saying that anyone who like Casey's must have their "taste buds in their tonsils"...Well, not to toot my own horn, I've traveled the world several times and have been lucky enough to dine at some of THE most elite/expensive restaurants in the world and at the end of the day Casey's simple american cuisine holds its own. When you just want something simple, tasty and affordable - GO to Casey's!!! -
Review from Michael T.
Millis, MA
1/2/2011
Not to say their hotdogs are not wonderful but it' the BURGERS that are amazing at Casey's, (and greatly priced) I love them! The real burger place with real meat patties, unlike those frozen discs you get other places. Casey's always has a great ambiance. The staff there is always welcoming and "Cheers-like." So drop in real soon and often there for an amazing Bacon Cheeseburger and 2 apps (Hotdogs ketchup/onions/relish!)
Love this place! -
Review from Karim K.
Boston, MA
7/24/2011
Great place for a quick meal. Tasty made-to-order burgers and hot dogs.
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Review from Kelly G.
Somerville, MA
1/5/2009
Casey's is a hidden gem in the truest sense of that word. With no sign on the front, it's easy to blow right by if you're not careful, but it's apparently a landmark to the locals.
Our party of 3-- read 30% of the seated capacity of the place-- showed up at the right time. 11am on a Tuesday. As our food (great burgers that totally hit the spot) was being concocted, the place began to fill up, the pick up window opened and closed about a hundred times. Every single construction worker, brick layer, plumber, and joe worker-guy in about a 10 mile radius showed up for lunch.
The diner lingo was flying between the crack two-man team of diner-dudes. Burger, walk it through the garden. 2 dogs all around. Burger, Scottish. (whatever that means)
It was quite the experience. And being there and served before it really got going was like quietly having lunch in the eye of a tiny hurricane.
The one thing I will say is that I wasn't sure if it was adorable or offensive that my burger and that of my lady dining counterpart were cut in half while the exact same burger of my gentleman dining counterpart was not. I'm not sure if it's cute or weird that his can of soda was plopped in front of him and mine was served with a glass and a straw. It was done with an air of that's just how they do it.
The one thing that gender did not effect was the size of the slab of pie we were each given. I think I was served fully 1/6th of the apple pie....and while I didn't finish mine, aforementioned gentleman dining counterpart wolfed his down. It's not made in house (nor could one expect it to be for the size of the place) but it's tasty.
In short-- show up at the right time and you'll get a seat, if not take it on the road. But bring cash, as that's all they take. Also, be flexible in your ordering-- apparently the menu board only gets changed once every 20 years or so. So they don't always have everything on it. -
Review from Jamie S.
2/4/2007
Truly an honor to be the first to review - hopefully word will spread.
Casey's is a truly religious experience. Steamed hot dogs, burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, blt's...pretty much anything you'd want at a fast food joint except for fries and onion rings (no deep fryers here)...but surprisingly you don't really miss them.
Cheap ($2.00 for a dog, $2.65 for a cheeseburger if I remember correctly), and delicious. They steam the hot dog rolls as well, which makes them sweet and sticky, and really adds a lot to the experience. You bite into a dog and it snaps on cue, just the way a yummy steamed mystery meat log should.
The burgers are tasty as well, and you can get them piled high and not break the bank.
A little lingo as well: an all-around is defined as a hot dog with mustard, relish, and onions. I am of the firm conviction that it should be illegal to eat a hot dog without chopped onions on it, and these guys don't disappoint.
A Natick institution, it's a funny little diner car that has been around since the 1920's, although I believe it has moved a few times in its history. Well worth driving to, it's the best hot dog you can find. If I worked in the downtown area, I'd go at least twice a week for lunch.Listed in: Natick: Home of Champions
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Review from Anna D.
Cambridge, MA
4/19/2011
Why go to a McDonald of burger king? caseys is almost as quick but 10x's better.
Fresh pattys, easy/fast ordering and locally owned = my kinda place, try it next time ur in natick center -
Review from Stephen D.
Santa Cruz, CA
4/1/2008
Walk up to the window and watch it explode open.
Order a couple dogs, ketsup, mustard, onion.
Sit on the hood of your car and enjoy.
Caseys is simply wonderful. Welcome to old school at its best. The inside of the grounded street car looks like a time capsule and the food, whateber it is you get, is incredible.
I cant wait to go back home!!!!Listed in: Masshole!
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Review from Brandon M.
Natick, MA
7/11/2007
Not much to say that hasn't already been said.
The food is good, but simple. Although the burgers and the dogs are delicious, the lack of fries or any other creative side item is always a disappointment. Of course, you could always just order two burgers or two more dogs and then you'd never even miss that side of fries.
I'd suggest getting there before or after the lunch time rush so that you can take your time and "explore" the inside of the caboose. There is a history of the diner, of sorts, sprinkled throughout the photos on the walls. The patina of the wood bar and the worn leather of the bar stools speak to the longevity and popularity of the place. -
Review from Geoffrey R.
Natick, MA
1/2/2010
Sorry, but if you like Casey's, then your taste is in your tonsils.
This is an ordinary, commercial hot dog in a Sunbeam white bread bun - vulgar food, really. There is an absolute lack of excellence.
I went with my son one Saturday and we got two seats at the counter for hamburgers, which I reasoned might be Ok. Sitting right in front of the prep area, we saw all the good, bad , and ugly here.
The final word for me was when the chief cook for burgers greeted an incoming patron with a warm handshake, skin on skin, and then went back to making what was to be our hamburgers!! No gloves, no wipe on a towel, no intermediation of any kind - just straight from the palm of a stranger to my burger!
I was so shocked, I put it under my hat, so to speak, but Yelp is a fine forum to let the world know what I bore witness to - would you want to eat food made under these same conditions?
Truth is it's a lot less about germ phobia and a lot more about respect for one's customers. How can the cook treat his customers that way?
What else might he be capable of doing? it does make one's mind consider the possibilities...
I'll buy Pearl hot dogs from Roche Bros or BJ's and make them at home myself. I've had enough "color" and "atmosphere" for one outing. -
Review from megan b.
Natick, MA
6/28/2008
After reading a bunch of reviews on Yelp, we decided to head to Casey's for lunch a few weeks ago. It was one of those crazy days - right after a bunch of little league games finished up - so we ended up ordering at the window and eating outside.
There are definitely rules about how to order and we didn't know how to do it quite right. Fortunately, we ended up with mostly what we ordered - a burger and a hot dog for each of us, sodas, chips, and most of the toppings we wanted. It was so tasty....
We took friends back there a couple of weeks later. That time we ended up sitting at the tiny counter inside. This is the way I'd recommend you try to experience Casey's, if only because the banter of the guys working there reminded me of the lunch counter (sadly closed) in the tiniest grocery store in my teeny-tiny home town in northern Minnesota. The food was even better the second time, and the orders were 100% correct.
Yum! -
Review from Douglas D.
Ashland, MA
5/27/2011 15 Check-ins Here
What can I say about this place that hasn't already been said. One of my favorite lunch spots. Hot dogs are awesome. Burgers are good here too. Nuff said.
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Review from Nicole S.
6/8/2008
Casey's Diner is just pooping old timey charm. Very authentic, a lot of original-looking details. The hot dog itself was really tasty and cooked well, I was a bit disappointed with the topping options. Cheap, good quality food. Burger was good too. They were out of a lot of things on the menu, which is weird. But I guess that adds to the old school authenticity?
Would eat here again when in the mood for a yum $3 burger. -
Review from Allison R.
Somerville, MA
9/22/2009
It's a crisp almost-autumn day, and my assassin team is a bit hungry after picking apples and purchasing some home brew supplies.
I walk up to the door of Casey's Diner, which is really more of a converted old train car type thing. "Slide it!" I hear from behind me, as my friend calls out the command and I attempt to pull the door open. "Slide it!", a hearty voice bellows from within as I attempt to push the door open, thrusting much of my weight it its general direction.
Then, it dawns on me that I am to slide this door open, train car style, to enter the restaurant.
"You can always tell a rookie," one of the guys behind the counter says with a laugh in his voice.
It was warm from the griddle inside, and the menu of sandwiches, burgers, and eggs looked tasty. But, I was told to stick with the hot dogs. I wasn't sure one would satisfy me, so I abstained from ordering.
Then, magically, one of my friend's hot dogs came missing some key ingredient (he hadn't noticed), and we were given a free dog with cheese, mustard, and relish. Not my typical toppings choice, but I consumed it anyway.
I experienced the perfect crunch as the casing gave way to a warm, boiled hot dog that could very well be the stuff tailgate dreams are made of.Listed in: metrowest in exhile
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Review from John F.
Somerville, MA
5/14/2008
Apparently this is a Natick institution. Somehow, my (I now suspect evil opponents of happiness) coworkers kept it secret from me for over a year, even though it's within walking distance. I hold it against them, because Casey's is pretty damned excellent!
You can either sit at the counter in the tiny building, or order at the outside window. They have the typical fare, burgers and hot dogs. One might be advised, if having trouble choosing, getting both. The food is cheap and delicious. I highly recommend stopping by whenever able! -
Review from Angela H.
Boston, MA
5/30/2007 2 photos
My dad used to take me here after dentist appointments in elementary school. This is the best hot dog joint in the nation, as far as I'm concerned. Although I haven't really toured the country specifically with this purpose in mind.
Aside from being delicious, cheap and charming -- as everyone else has so aptly pointed out -- the place is just a delight to be in. When it's not terribly busy and you're one of about five or so people at the counter, the customers and the dog guys all talk to each other. It's incredibly relaxed and old timey in these moments, and it just makes you feel good.
There's also a walk up window outside if you don't need to wait for a table. -
Review from Jessi E.
Brookline, MA
8/19/2009
If Casey's hot dogs were crack, I'd have a problem. They really are addictive.
The steamed buns melt in your mouth like a warm krispie kream doughnut (I'm a fat kid at heart). The crisp wiener. There's nothing like biting through the skin of that little wiener.
Burgers and egg salad sandwiches are also good, but not nearly as special and crave-able as those dogs.
They've been on vacation for two weeks. I've been waking up at night with the shakes. Come back! -
Review from Obiason W.
Wellesley, MA
4/27/2011
Great dog amazing how simple frogs and burgers cam be made so fine
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Review from Ryan K.
Boston, MA
8/3/2009
Sitting there at the counter watching the hot dogs steam made them feel almost natural. Like, they grew out of the ground like that or something. It just seemed like that's how hot dogs were meant to be!
Yeah, I know, hot dogs are made out of all sorts of nasty things, but seriously, who cares? These were fantastic.
Fantastic experience. Place is nostalgic, like a previous reviewer said, "to a fault". There's an antique cigarette vending machine there that just looks like it fits right in.
Dogs are cheap, with just the right amount of sauce, and the burgers are fresh and very, very tasty. Judging by the local clientèle the place is very popular, and though I'm rarely in Natick, I will definitely swing by the next time I'm around as well.
Start up a chat about the Sox or the history of Casey's Diner. Worth it, lunch becomes just that much more entertaining and educational!
