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Neils Coffee Shop
Categories: Restaurants Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
961 Lexington Ave(between 69th St & 70th St)
New York, NY 10021
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
(212) 628-7474
- Nearest Transit:
-
68 St - Hunter College (4, 6, 6X)
Lexington Av/63 St (F)
77 St (4, 6, 6X)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Jaclyn L. said: "I was recently introduced to this place since it's right near my office. I love their sandwiches especially Armando's Delight! Everything's priced reasonably and prepared quickly--I never have to worry about getting back to work late…" read more »
50 reviews for Neils Coffee Shop
Review Highlights
"Typical no-frills old school coffee shop / diner on the UES."
(in 9 reviews)
"Service is fast and friendly."
(in 4 reviews)
"It was a cute little place, cramped, "classic diner," etc..."
(in 4 reviews)
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50 reviews in English
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Review from Edgar S.
Oh Man! Talk about OLD school.
Neils is like stepping in a time warp. The signage outside. The decor inside. The feel and of course the customers. Everyone was easily over 65 years old, probably the same peeps coming here since it opened in 1910.
Anyway, my type of joint. Breakfast served all day. Greasy as hell. Archie Bunker autograph on the wall. Seriously, can this get any better? -
Review from Mike O.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
You hate to be hard on diners, because it's not like they are supposed to have the best food or service in the world. The idea of diners is always better than they actually are, but this one doesn't even quite live up to that.
It is a standard city diner. Booths, to-order cooks, brisk service.
This place felt rushed, but not in the good, we're-so-busy-we're-good-at-this-way. It was more like: hurry-up-hurry-up-but-it's-not-like-I'm-going-to-b e-Johnny-on-the-spot-when-it-comes-to-something-yo u-need-but-I'll-still-rush-you.
I ordered the veggie burger (why did I do that?) and it was...crap. The thing was falling apart and tasted bland. My wife ordered the waffles topped with bananas, which looked browner than I would have liked. Yes, I am nitpicking because I didn't love the experience here.
For a place that advertises coffee on it's sign, the coffee was simply MEH, nothing to write Yelp about. Wasn't bad, either.
My wife also ordered a side of sausages, which she had to ask for a second time because apparently the server who was rushing us had forgotten. He didn't seem to concerned with my empty coffee cup, either. The breakfast sausage was delicious. Best thing about the place.
One thing our server WAS concerned about was how quickly he could get us out of our booth. So concerned that after he told us to pay at the door, a couple minutes later he returned to take our bill to the cashier himself. Perhaps he should have had that brilliant idea to begin with.
Ahhh, to hard on this place. Poor diner. I've had less bad experiences here. It's a diner. It's there in a pinch. It takes cards. If you're starving or desperate or don't care, this place may serve your needs. -
Review from Glenn G.
10/24/2011
is this place for real? i walked in around 10:30 am and not a single customer in there (and across the street at Corrado Bread & Pastry was a packed house).
Just about every table had papers and boxes on them (as if they just got a delivery or were in the middle of inventory). The place seemed dirty and gave me the feeling this place just wasn't happening. By the look of the decor, it seemed it stopped happening awhile ago, as this place is truly dated. No one was there to say "have a seat anywhere" when we entered, so we just stood there for a moment wondering if they were even open. That was enough for us to base our review on (had no food or coffee).Listed in: Hankering for Coffee
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Review from Phi N.
Poway, CA
1/19/2012
Service was great but the foods deserved 2 stars. Philly chesesteaks with barely any cheddar cheese....cheddar cheese??
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Review from Phil H.
Typical no-frills old school coffee shop / diner on the UES. Since it was so nice out this morning, and they have some outside seating, I decided to enjoy the cool dry air and have some breakfast in the shade.
The inside looks like the same original decor from the 1970's and really needs a good face lift. Fading pictures of celebrities hang on the walls from a time long ago when a few of them actually ate here. Old neon sign hangs outside. Same old school style waiter that doesn't talk too much or crack a smile. Kind of comforting in a way knowing that these places still exist.
Basic big diner menu with the normal breakfast, lunch, dinner options, and daily specials. Had scrambled egg whites, home fries, bacon and coffee. As usual, diner coffee kinda sucks. I asked for well done home fries and that request was ignored. Asked for bacon to be made crispy and it was so-so. Also, why do all these places only give you one small packet of jelly for two pieces of toast? Ugh!
Still, the food came out quick and tasted good. Coffee was refilled at just the right time. Outside seating is a nice plus. Nothing to go out of the way for, but only good if you crave diner food and are close by.Listed in: Diners! Opa!, Diners I like that are close…
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Review from Joan R.
7/7/2011
I love diners. They have such character with their no-frills, brusque, ultra-casual way about them. Neil's Coffee Shop does not disappoint.
The place is small and cramped but the booths are comfy. It's cleaner than most diner's I've been to and it's pretty old-school inside.
Service is fast, they took our orders and gave us our dishes promptly. Every time I've been there it was the middle of the afternoon with not a lot of people so they didn't complain or hinted at us to leave when my friend and I lingered to hang around and chat.
Extensive selection food consisting of your typical Diner-fare: breakfast dishes, sandwiches, salads, specialty burgers, steak, and etc.
Price isn't too bad, you get enough food for your money's worth. Cheaper than most places around the area.
I recommend the chocolate milkshake. It's thick and creamy and it's a great dipping sauce for one of their thickly cut french fries.
Maple walnut pancakes are OK but the pineapple pancakes are superb!
Can't complain with acceptable service and good food to fill you up. -
Review from Sara L.
Raleigh, NC
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cute little place, the food was alright but not great and the decor was outdated but the service was fairly speedy. Its nothing special but it is a nice local place to have breakfast now and then.
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Review from Jorge R.
Manhattan, NY
11/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Get the Waffles!!!! MMMMM!! so yummy!!! This shop gets pretty full during lunch and weekends, so if you can, sit at the counter, you always get faster service. But yes, those waffles taste so good, so home made!! So glad its only a block away for those hangover mornings or afternoons by the time i wake up !!
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Review from Will S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/26/2011
Standard diner. Acceptable option if your in the UES. Nice corner location (lots of light), counter/stools, vinyl booths, tight/cozy layout. Had a club sandwich - $13.85 w/ tax before tip.
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Review from Eric L.
Manhattan, NY
10/30/2011
This is your typical old school diner. Decent little place that offered a tasty breakfast for a reasonable price and the service was very quick and friendly. Will definitely be back in the future
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Review from Holly N.
4/18/2011 1 photo
I really couldn't find any major fault in this place. It completely met my expectations, in fact it exceeded my expectations. I knew I was in for a down and dirty diner breakfast experience, but this one was authentic... even the retro Greek decor somehow added to it's appeal. Hipsters would dig it here.
We walked in on a late weekend morning and were quickly seated in a booth and given some H20. When evaluating the menu we decided that the breakfast combos were the best value and were right! Coffee, OJ, and entree for about $11? Yes, please! I went for the broccoli cheese omelet, which was filled with veg and refreshing.
Service was quick and to the point. The one thing that would have made this place 5 stars would have been prompt coffee refills without asking. -
Review from Luke F.
Southampton, NY
1/13/2011
What's not to love about Neil's. It's an NYC coffee shop/diner straight from central casting. It's a little cramped & kinda crusty, but thats the charm of the place. I always sit at the counter for soup and a sandy and have never left disappointed. They slice their turkey thick and I'm a fan of that. Soups are always great; I'm a big fan of their lentil.
Neil's is what it is... No pretense whatsoever. Keep your expectations reasonable and you'll leave happy and full. -
Review from Brice P.
Manhattan, NY
4/2/2011
From the outside, Neils looks like the coffee shop your parents or grandparents would have gone to. It even has that old neon sign hanging above its door. The nostalgia continues on the inside; you can choose to sit at a counter or a tiny booth where you can eavesdrop on the conversation around you. Service is fast and friendly.
The price though, well thats another thing. The cheapest item was two eggs - for $5.50. Burgers without fries were in the $6.75 range (with fries were upwards of $9.00). I got a tuna club - nothing special, just throw tuna, a few slices of tomatoes and some lettuce on bread with fries - $10. If you're looking for cheap eats, go elsewhere. But if you're ok with the prices, definitely come here. -
Review from Becky O.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2011
It's a diner, so don't come in here with high expectations. However, if you're in the area, want to have a quick breakfast, I would say give this place a try. Service is fast, pleasant and they have a decent selection of diner + items to order from (including a number of innovative pancakes).
I stuck to the basics--eggs, bacon, home potatoes and a side of toast. It was ah'ight. -
Review from Lily T.
11/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place is dirty! My review is based only on the apple, blueberry pies and their teas!
We came in on a friday night and the place was empty. The waitstaffs were friendly enough. The place is very small, dirty, cramped together, and old with flies flying around.
The pies were decent. But nothing special. Food prices were cheap.
I would probably not come back here again because the inside was just too dirty and sticky -
Review from Gerard P.
Staten Island, NY
6/19/2011
Very adequate. Good service, but too many flies.
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Review from Grant E.
New York, NY
11/16/2010
Neils is your typical diner with diner prices. Overall, the food is as expected....good. The atmosphere and cleanliness of the restaurant leaves a little to be desired.
Our food was good (ok, it's breakfast food...can you really compare an egg to another egg?)
Service was a typical road side diner ("we are who we are and you will eat or not eat")
Cleanliness...well, let's just say the homeless guy on the street corner probably complained about the smell and dirty tables/floors. -
Review from Lucy G.
Brooklyn, NY
11/13/2010
I've eaten at Neil's quite a bit in the past year since starting courses at Hunter. It's true, there are absolutely no affordable food options in the area, short of Neil's and pizza. Sandwiches and burgers that are $7.95 on up are a little pricey, but at least the portions are a good size. I have to say, I'm not so keen on their burgers. They're smallish and a little bit soggy. What I usually get is a Greek salad wrap, a gyro, or sometimes an omelette and fries. Those are good bets. Maybe it's just because I'm in there a lot, but I've always found the staff to be really nice and very quick. And once when I was there this woman started choking and one of the waiters dove behind her and immediately gave her the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life. Hand to God.
It's not my favorite diner, by a long shot (that would be The Argonaut on Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers, thank you very much), but if I'm up by Hunter and I have a choice between a pretty big $7.95 wrap at Neil's or a freaking measly $7.95 sandwich at Corrado Bread and Pastry, I'll take Neil's. -
Review from andy t.
4/19/2010
Is it me or does the Upper East Side have the most old-school coffee shops per capita in Manhattan?
Seems to me that the UES is indeed the unofficial capital of the coffee shop. And Neil's Coffee Shop is a case in point. This place has it all: a full menu featuring sandwiches, salads, burgers and breakfast stuff; tables and counter service; persnickety waitresses; and nasty coffee that I can drink for hours.
Neil's also has some fine bacon. I got my two eggs over medium with a side of bacon and rye bread, and let me tell ya that was some mighty fine bacon -- thick and chewy and smokey. The home fries, a critical component of any breakfast, were also pretty tasty.
I'd come back here any day of the week because Neil's doesn't try to be something it's not. It's just an old-school coffee shop, offering homemade comfort food for the right price. -
Review from Dos T.
New York, NY
12/15/2010
As far as diners go, we've had better. Much better. This place has an awkward set up, was extremely loud, and dirty. Slow service and no communication from the waiter were both minuses - our food was supposed to come with cole slaw and didn't, and when we asked, he said they didn't have any left. They forgot the pickle and forgot the anchovies in the Greek salad.
The French toast was uninspired but they do serve breakfast all day, if that's your thing. From the street, this place looked cool, but I would never go again - even though I love diners, work a few blocks away, and it's super cheap.
Thumbs down. Edible, but not to be repeated. -
Review from Chita D.
New Erection, VA
12/18/2008
I've only had coffee here...on several occasions.
The coffee was good, decent prices...waitstaff was/has always been nice....non-intrusive too...never limiting my time to chop it up with my coffee-drinking companion.
I don't think I'll ever have a bad thing to say about Neil's- memories of coffee-induced cathartic conversations. -
Review from Rafael M.
Brooklyn, NY
10/11/2009
Ewww!
Ordered a bleu cheeseburger medium well and it arrived with part of the bun blood-soaked. That's funny, I don't recall ordering it cooked a la a lion's preference. I flagged down the waiter and told him that I asked for medium-well and it wasn't a problem.
A few minutes later a freshly cooked burger arrives, and with a bloody taste in my mouth, I cautiously picked up my first burger's replacement, afraid it too might have a pulse of its own. To my astonishment, it was cooked as ordered but then I looked down at my plate and saw the giant unappetizing blood stain on which my burger had been resting. Really?! I sent the burger back because of the amount of blood that accompanied it and then you cook a new burger and can't spare a nice clean plate?!
Oh Neil's, don't you know I normally prefer my blood directly from my victim's neck? Hmm, I guess Halloween's approaching.
oh BTW, the cherry coke is not actual cherry coke and the burger was bland bland bland, as were the fries. -
Review from Katrina W.
Wilmington, NC
12/31/2008
I love this place, it's very cozy--Reminds me of those old school diners you see on TV...They even have an original Hamilton shake mixer, which is pretty cool to see in such a high tech era. I think seeing that mixer made me realize why this place is, as good as it is.
Think about it, they're not throwing away money replacing things that aren't broken, which means their is no skimping on what really counts, the food and the service.
PLUS they serve beer, how cool is that...Imagine waking up with the worst hangover, going out to grab breakfast, and swigging' down a brew to nix that horrendous feeling you have....Thats what I'm talking about!
The service is great too, the wait staff is very attentive. -
Review from Bill A.
4/16/2010
I don't know how this place can charge $7.85 for a full breakfast and still keep their location on Lexington Ave. But they can.
The food is good, the prices are crazy low, and the floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the front are great to sit by. -
Review from Debbie W.
New York, NY
10/12/2009
Neils is a great corner coffee shop-- from the outside it looks like it belongs in a movie. It is the cornerstone, literally, of one of my favorite blocks in Manhattan....great cafes, really pretty small shops, trees. I dont know what it is, there is something about standing on 70th and Lex and looking north that is just perfect.
From inside Neil's particularly at the front counter, you have a nice warm lunch with a people watching view that cant be beat. The food is nothing revolutionary but its good coffee shop food. Stop in on your way to the park.Listed in: W3
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Review from Albert C.
New York, NY
10/30/2007
I used to really like this place, but it's gone a bit downhill for me, given that the last couple of times I've been there, the service has been inconsistent and the food quality just keeps declining.
I always get the french toast lumberjack and I always forget that I don't like the fatty sausage or the overly crisp (some people like it that way, I don't) bacon that comes with it. The french toast has been undercooked the last couple of times I've been there. I used to go there almost once a month, I have to admit that there are better choices in the neighborhood for a weekend brunch.
I love the idea of a casual neighborhood place and this has that feel to it, even though it is cramped and honestly slightly dirty. I prefer the back room or the booths up in the front of the restaurant, as the space near the kitchen just feels very cramped. -
Review from Justin R.
New York, NY
12/11/2007
First place I ate at when I moved to the neighborhood, and I keep going back.
Fantastic coffee shop, great atmosphere, great place just to meet some friends for a casual lunch/breakfast. As a student at Hunter, this is a usual place to grab lunch with friends after class. Food is good, expecially their chicken specials, but don't get it on a bun.
Service is great, waiters aren't uptight at all, and overall is just a great place to relax. -
Review from Jimmy T.
Brooklyn, NY
3/18/2011
Grimy diner food on the upper east side. Waffle, ham, and eggs for $10. No fancy pants allowed.
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Review from Dave D.
New York, NY
3/19/2011
New York through and through, this coffee shop is more than just a little busy at lunchtime. Service is fast. Food is good. Prices are a bit higher than I'd like, but it's a good place all around.
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Review from Sam B.
Brooklyn, NY
8/17/2011
i like having this diner right next to my school, since there arent many places to eat in this neighborhood. itts a typical diner with typical diner food, prices may be slightly higher or the same i cant remmember but i go here for breakfast mainly and I dont think ive ever had a bad meal.
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Review from Fabio P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/26/2009
I have a lot of love for Neil's Coffee Shop as it's my favourite local diner. The coffee itself is apalling-- that acrid, overwarmed stuff that Americans are so fond of but those with a slightly broader knowledge suffer through as a hangover cure.
I have only had the breakfast food and I probably only ever will. The banana pancakes are lovely, as are the belgian waffles covered in strawberries. It's a perfect way to start the weekend-- with some good, filling, reasonably priced food, before making your way downtown to enjoy New York feeling ever so slightly less hungover. -
Review from Craig M.
NY
2/3/2007
Eat early, eat late either way you are guaranteed a decent, quick meal. The staff is extremely friendly and will serve your food in a flash. Come with an appetite especially if you order the Lumberjack Meal (French Toast, Eggs and your choice of sausage or bacon). Best diner food on the UES that I have found so far.
Stay tuned for my professional reviews of UES diners... -
Review from Roma T.
New York, NY
2/8/2010
I came into this diner because I had been walking all day in the freezing cold and needed some hot coffee. As some other reviewers have said, Neils looks like the perfect movie diner/cafe from the outside (and inside too). I had a cheeseburger here, and I thought it was pretty good. The coffee was decent. The waiters let me take my time and were all friendly.
Overall, the food is decent but I think the feeling of the diner / location made the experience memorable. I definately will continue to stop by here for coffee and classic diner food when I'm in the mood for nice, warm Manhattan diner atmosphere. -
Review from kathleen c.
New York, NY
6/1/2008
i was just wandering with a friend looking for a cup of coffee when we found neil's coffee shop (it was actually the word "coffee" that grabbed my caffeine-deprived attention, but i digress...).
it turned out that they serve diner-type food as well, so we ended up eating brunch in addition to getting coffee. they serve breakfast all day (or so it seems) and it appeared to be pretty standard fare. i got pancakes with sausage (sausage is a food group, right?) and the pancakes were fluffy and flavorful. they also came with hella butter and syrup that you can put on as much as you like. the sausages were AMAZING. none of that farmer john's drinky sausage crap, these were juicy and deRIcious!
my friend ordered the lexington burger which seemed like a lot of meat that wasn't dry at all. downside--i think the mushrooms were canned. ick.
coffee was pretty decent, too. but on top of that, the service was prompt and accommodating, they were really friendly really efficient.
other things that looked tempting, but that we simply had no space for were milkshakes made with those old school machines, desserts that looked pretty good (although i'm not sure how i feel about jello sitting in a pan all day) and pastries lining the counter, although these in and of themselves seemed pretty mediocre.
watch out for the bathroom, sometimes the door locks by itself. so if you're waiting in line for a while and you hear no flushing sounds (or sounds of life, for that matter) then go upstairs and have them open it for you. apparently it happens pretty frequently--enough for the regulars to know to bring a knife with them when they go downstairs to the toilet.Listed in: Brunch
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Review from Katey M.
New York, NY
8/8/2008
I went to Hunter College, and would go here frequently with friends. It was a cute little place, cramped, "classic diner," etc, etc, etc... but after awhile I realized that I was getting sick to my stomach EVERY time I went there. The egg dishes in particular made my stomach turn--perhaps it's the oil it's cooked in or something? Anyways, despite my love for diners, the lack of affordable food options around Hunter, and the habit of going to Neil's...I had to break the habit. My stomach thanks me.
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Review from essy s.
New York, NY
6/17/2010
This adorable little coffee shop looks super old timey and as if it popped off a movie set. This is what attracted me to Neils.
However, decor and charm are where the pros end.
...Cons:
-overpriced: 7 and change for a mediocre garden salad? i think not.
-while i am not a coffee drinker, according to a friend this COFFEE shop has "ehh" coffee.
-extremely rude service! perhaps it was a bad day but the waitress was pushy and impatient. totally unappreciated. -
Review from Keeley S.
New York, NY
2/9/2007
Am I the only person who finds this place to be kind of gross? There are definitely better diners and it is cramped and uncomfortable in here. The servers are very friendly however and the prices are good.
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Review from joe r.
Brooklyn, NY
6/20/2007
The salami and egg sandwich is perfect here. No one can ever do it better, not even if Superman and Santa Claus had a baby. The staff are all pros, really great service. The guy who runs the joint looks a little like my pediatric dentist. So I always remember to brush my teeth after I eat at Neil's.
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Review from Aaron T.
Los Angeles, CA
5/10/2010
This place is an absolute GEM if you find yourself on the Upper Eastside and are looking for an affordable breakfast. I suggest that you try the strawberry pancakes because they are delicious. The staff is very friendly, without smothering you with customer service.
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Review from Lina L.
East Elmhurst, NY
12/21/2009
From the outside the place is the cutest looking diner, like from a movie..however the inside is so filthy and tight...I mean I understand its the upper east side, and the rent is high but seriosuly they need to maintain it. The food is awful every single time I had it ther..the chicken tastes old and stale. The coffee is ok. The staff is always nice. Overall not a bad place to go to for last minute eatery.
