East Greenbush Diner

Been here three times... there is something to say about New York diners... nothing like them in Massachusetts for sure. NY and NJ certainly get it right.

First time here was the 4th of December 2015 and it's fitting I am back on the 4th of December 2018. Business brings me here every so often, but I once stayed the night at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge and still made the trek to this fine diner.

Everything is great. Old school diner, decorum, and flatware. You'll feel like you are back in time with an old friend.

I usually take in breakfast food. But they have one heck of a diner menu and specials. Let's not forget about the pies, cakes and muffins. The coffee is wonderful. The parking is ample. The staff is fantastic. Absolutely no negatives. A diner from a generation past. Highest of recommendations.

Five stars!

Ahh, the good ole' East Greenbush Diner! I used to come here a lot for breakfast and dinner in the 1990s for the omelettes and comfort dishes. I stopped here for lunch recently and the place was fairly busy. The clientele here are senior citizens, families, and cops & troopers (Schodack PD and NYSP), the diner is technically located in Schodack. The atmosphere is very classic with tile and wood panel walls, marble floors similar to my elementary school and booths, tables, and lunch counter seating.

The menu offers typical breakfast dishes (served all day), appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, pitas, burgers, Italian food, Greek food, chicken, seafood, steaks, chops, prime rib (Fri-Sun), comfort dishes, and desserts (bakery items, pies, puddings, ice cream treats). Most entrees come with soup or salad. The portions are generous and the prices are fair (sandwiches under $10 and most entrees $8.99-$19.99). Senior menu, Kids Corner menu (under 12), and Daily Specials offered and full bar menu available.

I was contemplating ordering the Spaghetti & Meatballs ($9.99), but I got the Moussaka ($8.99) served with soup (chicken pastine or cream of turkey) or garden salad (plate of fresh iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, dressing) & bread, which had layers of ground beef, eggplant, and potatoes in a tomato sauce & rich béchamel sauce, tasty and very filling, so no dessert. The service was quick and efficient. Complementary Italian cookies at the register. I can't believe I haven't stopped here in a very long time for the good eats.

A decent enough, close enough "on/off" option located near the I-90W corridor if you're traveling to NY. Service was good and our waitress Amanda was polite. The hot turkey sandwich special with chicken orzo soup is a solid recommendation. I suggest a table away from the window since the A/C is noticeably drafty. The chocolate ice cream that came with the kids meal had freezer burns on it.

After being ignored at Friendly's for thirty minutes we decided to on eating at the EG Diner. I had not been here in at least twenty years even though I lived minutes away. Yes, it looks dated but I'm not here for the decor but for the food, which was what one would hope for at a diner. I had an omelette that was cooked just right. Our server was on top of it and none of our glasses went empty and the food was brought out in a timely manner. She didn't rush us either.

On our way to drop off our son at SU, we stopped in for lunch. Not knowing what to expect, we were very pleasantly pleased! The service, food and portion sizes were very good for a hungry bunch. Notable mention was their sweet potato fries and meatloaf. We will be coming back!

East Greenbush Diner is an very good underrated diner. I came in about 8pm and it was surprisingly empty. I ordered the hash and eggs with pancakes. The corned beef hash was delicious and the eggs were cooked perfectly. The bacon was crisp, but not burnt and the sausage was good. They were links and were seasoned to perfection. The pancakes were also good. They were cooked right, not too doughy or burnt. Everything was scrumptious and the atmosphere was nice and cozy. The service was fast and the waitress was friendly. Overall, East Greenbush Diner was a great place to eat and for some reason is incredibly underrated.

Should be no stars. Never got serviced and left after 5 minutes or longer sitting in a booth while the waitress looked over at me from the counter and simply ignored me. I guess they only service locals.
Drove down the road and found the Skyline Diner.
Walked in there and immediately got a hello and serviced with a smile.
Stay away from East Greenbush Diner

This is a regular go to place. Great food. Fast. Great service from the lovely waitresses. I'm surprised this place isn't busier than it is. The only thing that I don't like about this place are who I assume to be the owners. They are kinda grouchy. They are the first people you see when you come in and the last people you see when you leave. If I didn't know how great the food and service was, I would leave instantly.

A great place for all !! Hostess was very gracious to help me with my Mom who is in a wheelchair, and the waitress was very friendly & efficient !! Made me feel like family :)
The desserts are homemade & look fabulous, but I was already stuffed from my delicious meal !! The baked haddock was fantastic & portions are very generous !! The senior menu is definitely a deal !! The menu is extremely diversified with some Greek options as well. I believe everything on the menu would taste great !! The only con I can provide is that the bathrooms are very small & not fully equipped for wheelchair accessibility. I would definitely stop here again if in the area !!

So, I was a little skeptical as we pulled off the highway for a "diner". And the reviews on Yelp weren't particularly generous.

But I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Is it a gourmet place? No. But it's a solid diner with above-average service.

I had the chicken parm sandwich -- which my waitress said was one of her favorites. I wasn't disappointed. A nice flavorful thin piece of chicken with a rich marinara and a gooey cheese melted on it. Delicious.

The cream of chicken soup that it came with was fine. Nothing special. Other dining companions had a egg sandwich on a fresh bagel (no Lender's bagels here) and a chicken sandwich. Both enjoyed it.

The price was reasonable.

But truth be told, the decor is straight out of the 70s and., after all is said and done, it is a very ordinary (but solid) diner.

If you're looking for a place besides Denny's or Cracker Barrel (nearby) for breakfast or a solid diner fare, this is a great middle of the road choice. Won't win any award, but won't leave you disappointed either.