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8th Ave-42nd St (A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, S, 7, N, Q, R, W)
this place brings back so many memories, memories that i am not going to bore you guys with... just know they exist...
basically. great menu for a diner, meaning you can pretty much have whatever you want... greek, italian, american... now execution isnt always pretty, but lets face it, if you are reading this you are looking for somewhere thats open 24hrs so you can have a bite to eat when you are shit faced... this place will succeed... anything tastes good at 4:30 in the morning when you are drunk and stoned...
the staff... if you go during the day you better keep your silverware on your napkin because these guys will walk by so fast it will blow off...(i hope that painted a picture for you)... for real tho these guys do not slow down, you order, they circle the restaurant and are back with your eggs.. hooray...
i love this place specifically because it holds a dear place in my heart/ drunken stomach.
Last Saturday, during Jen S.'s esteemed 23rd birthday, we happened upon this place while looking for a post Dave & Buster's chill eatery. This turned out to be exactly what we needed. I liked this place because there were people inside, but it was by no means crowded... and it was on a Saturday night in Midtown. Everywhere else was super packed. You read my reviews? You know I hate that.
I got SO MUCH FOOD at this place. Including banana pancakes... because it's fun to say "banana pancakes" to your waiter. I also got my ol' staple of bacon and eggs, and got a appetizer sampler thing for Jen and her friend. The food was just okay, but what do you expect from a depressing looking diner on 9th? I do have to say... the food looked kind of gross when we got it, but tasted pretty good once we started digging in. Jen got french onion dip I think, and was pretty happy with hers.
This is a good hang out place if you're in the area and looking for a place to go. Some people were around us, more toward the back, having a party or something. They started to get real loud before we left, so we got while the going was good. Probably a better lunch/brunch place than anything else, but I'd go here again. Probably wouldn't seek it out, but never say never.
Thankfully, Midtown West has a 24-hour diner where $12 can buy more than half the entrees on the menu (kick that up to $15 and I think you've covered everything but the steaks).
The cheesecake dessert was awful. You are much better off going to the Bread Factory literally one block away (43rd and 9th).
The pasta entree was fine; a great deal for $12.95 including soup + salad + rolls. I'd probably be closer to 4 stars except the meal took forever to arrive (the waiter apologized for the delay, possibly a one-time problem).
A dining counter at the back of the Westway Diner is a beautiful reminder of what was lost with the passing of the Cheyenne Diner. The Westway diner proudly exudes the traditional diner aesthetic especially with the good food and efficient service. A nice touch is the very roomy dining room with lots of booths. Some selections on the menu are not always cheap, but the good thing is that the menu is large and extensive. I come here for the burgers and their desserts, the banana cream pie is a favorite. Finally, an extra great thing about this place is the unintrusive service, you can linger here and have a great conversation without being hustled out! Yes!
I came stumbling in here last Monday morning after a late-night boozefest. What I was really craving is a traditional Irish breakfast with black puddings - if anyone can help me out with this, please let me know. Anyway, I ordered the eggs florentine - $7.75, which was just runny eggs with spinach and what I thought was cheese, which I smeared onto a piece of toast. The homefries were gross - no amount of salt or ketchup could salvage them. I think my plate was dirty, too, with some dried up leavings of a previous breakfast branded on the surface. Living over in New Jersey (gasp) as a displaced Bostonian (double gasp), I will say that the ONE thing they have over in Jersey, even the shitty diners, are better than what I've experienced in New York (so far).
Only reason I give this place two stars is because I wasn't running for the toilet afterwards.
Nicely appointed seating area, good service, moderate prices, decent breakfasts. I have been in a few times, never had a bad experience. Food is OK but not great so only three stars.
This diner's solid
and quite good for a quick lunch.
Efficient service.
For being a "city that never sleeps" the late-night dining options are pretty few and far between!
After taking the redeye in to NY and not eating since my Wendy's salad at lunchtime I was STARVING. Panicked searches on google and Yelp didn't identify anyplace still serving food at midnight near the hotel, and room service was shut down....
So I hit the street, asked at the first pub that looked like they might still have food...but no. Bartender said "go to the diner at 9th & 44th, they're good".
He was right, "they're good". Nothing trendy, just old-school diner with a massive menu. Way more choices than I would have expected. I ordered the chicken-fried steak sandwich and a root beer -- it was tasty, and I went to bed way overfull.
Decent, straightforward food; clean place; efficient service. Recommended!
This diner helped undrunkify me when I needed it more than I have in a long, long time.
Food was good, greasy and fairly priced. Waiter was hilarious and totally unfazed by my groups drunken and totally inappropriate conversation topics.
It's my new favorite place to get fat when I'm in Hell's Kitchen.
It gets the job done! This diner has basically the same menu of any other diner in Manhattan (I swear they are all owned by the same person). However, what makes this different are 1) prices, 2) service, 3) cleanliness.
1) unlike some other diners in the midtown area, this doesn't creep up into the "wtf" zone of $10 for french toast etc. Brunch prices are spot on with french toast fully loaded (eggs & bacon) around $8. Haven't spent more than $10 here yet (I always drink water though). You are paying the right price for the fare that is offered.
2) very quick, no hassle, no bs. They leave you alone to sit, read, people watch, they've got better things to do than to hover. If you need anything, just get the attention of the nearest waiter walking by. Everyone is helpful.
3) This is a very well-lit, sunny, diner that doesn't fall into the trap of small-town grunge and grime. The kitchen area is towards the back so I can't judge that, but the dining area is bright and pretty clean.
It's around the corner, so this is definitely my new quicky spot on the weekends.
Woke up on our first day in Manhattan, rolled out of bed and strolled around the corner from our rented flat looking for sustenance, and found Westway.
The place was the quintessential idea a born-and-raised Californian thinks would be a New-York-Dining-Experience.
Waiter didn't mess around, was right to the point and expected us to be the same. No questions should be asked - know what you want when you sit down - kind of place.
We were into having that kinda of experience, so it was fun for us.
Waiter: Whaddayouwant?
Me: Hotblackteacreamandsugartwoeggssunnyupnomeatwheatt oastpotatoescripsyifpossible.
My husband: Samebutnoteacoffeeinstead.
Waiter: Right.
What seemed like 3 minutes later, everything was as requested and sitting in front of us.
The bustle of everyone was exhilarating. What a great ride! I'm glad this place is here.
Lots of tables, no wait, prices are typical of Manhattan eateries. The service was quick.
The food was less than expected. With the windows and doors adorned with newspaper clippings and stickers from food raters....my expectations were higher than the typical random diner. Well....they really need to remove those stickers and newspaper reviews.
I ordered the Cajun Shrimp dish (grilled baby shrimp, marinated with cajun spices, served over sauteed mixed vegetables). There was a good amount of shrimp, the veges mainly consisted of bell peppers and onions with a few Florette of broccoli....all this in a pool of salty butter sauce. The dish was tremendously salty. It doesn't help that the dish doesn't come with anything else...bread, pasta, rice....nothing to tame the saltiness of the dish. It sounded healthy on the menu....it wasn't.
My fellow diner ordered a bacon cheeseburger. It looked plain and drab. Nothing out of the ordinary. Looked like it came off the grill of a backyard bbq.
I gave this place one more try and ordered the vegetarian panini (grilled eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, roasted peppers and fresh mozzarella) and was disappointed again. At first bite, the vegetables were falling out and the flatbread was soggy. The panini lacked taste and had more mushroom than anything else.
usually, 3rd times the charm...but i have a feeling, not in this case.
It's so hard to pick what you want here because there are just too many choices on the menu. I got the strawberry parfait with a side of iced cappucino which were both decent. Getting food here is pretty quick and easy.
It's a diner! Giving it four stars seems a little far-reaching, but I was really impressed by Westway.
The servers here are really nice and friendly. There was no wait when we went, as there are lots of tables, and everything was clean.
I was with a friend who ordered a BLT with extra crispy bacon and extra done fries. Both requests were fulfilled without a hitch.
I ordered a Chicken Caesar Wrap, and it was great. The wrap was moist and the chicken was juicy.
Prices were lower by a few bucks than other diners I've been to in the city, and that's ok to me!
I will definitely return. Westway hit a fuzzy spot in my stomach and made me feel mm, mmm good.
Coming from Jersey, diners are kind of my "forte." I don't want to sound like an ass but this diner was pretty lackluster. I thought it would be better considering the neighborhood but my food was so blah. I had the bowties with sausage and broccoli which was dry and rather tasteless. Soup and salad were out of a big pot of stuff, ya know, the typical diner type of soup and salad. My brother had a reuben which looked alright. He really liked the fries though. The buffalo wings were also pretty dry. All in all I was expecting much better from a Manhattan diner. Then again they're about the same as the Tick Tock Diner on 34th street...
Living in New Jersey for the past few years, I've grown very accustomed to driving all of fifteen minutes in virtually any direction and find an affordable diner. In New York City however, it's not as easy - especially in the zone of fancy restaurants, limitless Thai places and fast food. In the Times square/Theater District, Westway Diner is one such oasis.
I generally have the omelets here and they're all fantastic. My favorite is their feta and spinach. Their home fries are cooked up really nice, but unfortunately they no longer offer them after lunch time, but you can substitute a baked potato or french fries which is great. I also enjoy their salads a lot, which are very filling and fresh. In a bit of a surprise, they also have a fantastic beef chili. I didn't expect that in a diner in the city, but theirs is very rich and tasty.
Service is super fast and efficient. Once and a while they get super busy so you may spend a bit of time flagging down your waiter, but those times are few and far between. There's not much to say about the decor, I mean, it's a diner and a non-fancy one at that, but it is comfortable and welcome all the same.
Short Version: Whoa! Slow down!
Long Version: Here is the strongest memory I walk away with from Westway Diner; the wait staff sprints from table to table. This place has, by far, the hardest working staff I've ever experience in New York. Sure, other restaurants have hard working, diligent staff, but here, you know it. You feel it. As far as the food, this diner is your usual fare, though the menu is rather extensive, which is nice. But the service is fast, being seated is fast, and the food gets to your table fast. However, I have to mention that I never felt rushed to finish and leave; if anything, I was made to feel comfortable. So, if you're looking for a place for a decent meal at a reasonable rate, this is a great diner to go to. But notice the staff working; it's remarkable. Check'em out!
The ideal Brunch is:
1. Accessible
2. Comfortable
3. Leisurely
If you go to any city that considers itself to be a "cool" place to live, the people there will say that their city has an unusual habit of eating brunch. As if its some kind of "alternative" meal. Well, it's time to face facts and admit that brunch is a mainstream meal. And why not? Brunch is awesome. You get up late, maybe you want breakfast food, or maybe you want lunch food, well you can have them BOTH. With alcohol.
So why do so many New York places mess up brunch? Seriously do you think that taking a train to the village and waiting 45 minutes for a cramped table will give you a better eggs/bacon/BLT experience than the Westway??
Legend has it, back when Larry David lived in Hell's Kitchen, he and Seinfeld would come here to talk about the show.
Back when I lived in Hell's Kitchen this was one of the only places around that I truly enjoyed, though I haven't been back since I moved out. Seriously if you live nearby you I hope you appreciate it. Not every neighborhood has a place like the Westway...
In short: good food, good prices, fast service, great waiters (shout out to Alex and Spiros!), comfy tables. Beware the breakfast sausage because its really good at first but gets a little heavy after a few bites.
False advertizing much? The big sign proclaiming them the "Best Diner in New York" (or some such dribble) was obviously made by one of the owners kids.
I digress, because I am not in a bitchy enough mood to mock that sign as it justly deserves. Westway lucked out tonight.
It's a diner so by default the food would be sub par right? Wrong. With competition so stiff in NYC, your money so precious because of the recession and the fact there are many other better dining options in the same vicinity I would skip Westway completely.
The best thing to get would be breakfast which is served all day. And by breakfast I mean eggs and sausage - that's the only things they don't mess up. Eggs I recommend sunny side up (their omelets are rubbery and scrambled eggs are dry). Even the eggs which looked like their were cooked in some bacon/ sausage grease, having that slightly burnt/ papery edge was ok. The sausages are delicious though. Juicy, flavourful, cooked to perfection, just a bit of burn - Mmmmm....
Their pancakes are wannabes that can never be, rubbery, flavourless disappointing.
A friend had the spaghetti with meat sauce which I sampled - I think they opened a can and dumped it on the pasta and heated it through.
Their chili is average. Banana cream pie average. The salt and pepper shakers were average. The floor is average. The waiters are average.
Mediocrity at it's most mediocre.
Their bathroom facilities are nice though.
Ahhhh Westway. We've had so many good times together. You have basically been my go-to place if I or a friend is having a bad day. Just got dumped? Let's go to Westway. Just got fired? Westway cares. Just found a mouse in your apartment? Westway will quell your fears.
Oh the several healthy items I've ordered here, I will quickly run through my list of favorites:
-Onion Rings
- Spinach Dip ****(YAY!)***
- French Fries
- Nachos
But take warning: the lasagna blows. My old roommate and I ordered it after a rough day and we found that it had a very bland taste. We tried to revive it with Parmesan cheese and hot sauce (don't judge) but it just wouldn't work. Damn.
Westway Diner is not far from my place and I've only been there once. We got the omelets, and they were OK. The coffee was OK, and the service was also OK. We went at a time when there weren't many people awake/there and the service was still mediocre, so I would say it's actually kind of bad. I have thought of much better ways to start my morning.
We had a nice time reading the paper, and relaxing on the big cushioned benches. That's the nice thing about this place I guess, you don't really feel cramped for space like some diners; I would say this place is the size and quality of your average Denny's.
Don't be dooped by the sign. We only went because my Dad saw their sign that says 'Best Diner in Manhattan' and just had to go. Good old Dad. Well, they're definitely NOT the best diner (or the best anything) in Hell's Kitchen. I can't say there's anything worth coming to the place for, unless if you're in need of a near-Denny's experience in NY, and you happen to be between 43 and 44 on 9th Avenue.
Ah, the morning-after brunch. Luckily, mine wasn't as awkward as they tend to be.
I had eggs benedict with lox (a favorite of mine -- also the eggs florentine), a tall glass of O.J., home fries with avocado, and a cup of coffee. Overall, it was pretty good, though it was hard to eat in the casserole dish they gave me.
The diner is very clean, and had lots of space -- not cramped like a lot of diners in the city. They also claim to be the best diner in Hell's Kitchen -- but there really isn't that much competition -- so, I'll give it to them.
The server left something to be desired. I think he only came to our table twice. From across the room, it looked like he was too busy counting tips the whole time. He looked Italian too, so every time I looked over at him counting, I'd get this vision him pulling out a Tommy gun with a cigar in his mouth. What an ignorant Midwestern boy I am :-(
I've been coming here now for more than a year as a lot of my friends live in the area and we just end up here.
I always to manage to get the coked out waiter from but this time I got some other guy.
We sat down and were kind of rushed to order. There was dirt in my friends drink and then we were told that the kitchen would be closing soon. I was shocked as this is a 24 hour diner. Shortly after our food had come exterminators with large machines, hoses, gloves, and tarps came in. We asked jokingly what was going on and he replied that they were going to clean the kitchen tonight.
So nice to know that they were going to clean the kitchen after serving us.
Typical diner and prices.
The eggs are good and when I get the burger deluxe I seem to never be able…
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This place has two main sells:
1. You won't have to wait for a table.
2. You won't have to wait for your food.
The food is no better and no worse than your average diner. The walls by the front door are covered with reviews that speak highly of the selection, but I've eaten there quite regularly and found it to be just average. The servers are practically running as fast as they can from table to table, which makes you feel like they're working in a sweatshop.
After attending the absolutely bonkers tree lighting at Lincoln Center, a friend said he knew of an amazing diner nearby. A handful of blocks later, we were at Westway.
I had a Reuben, which was divine and perfectly Reuben-y. The Boston Cream Pie I ordered, however, was mediocre at best. The service was quick [the minute I set down my empty water glass, a new full one was in its place] and the prices were reasonable.
I'll probably return, if only to let the 10-page menu boggle my mind some more. So much to choose from!
There are plenty of tiwsts on the NY diner - the hip diner, the retro diner, um...the hip retro diner - but I like my diners old school.
I expect:
- big ass menu that includes some greek dishes, maybe some Italian (but I'd never order them), never Asian (wtf Vynl?)
- booths and a counter
- older men and women of indistinguishible descent wearing some semi-formal uniform taking and serving the orders
- even older men and women making and swallowing/slurping those orders
- a spare daily news or ny post laying around in case i'm alone and want to check out the sports
- open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night
- neither disappointed nor blown away by my order
- toothpick and mints at the register
- bonus points if they have a little jukebox in the booth
Based on these criteria, Westway Diner delivers. Quite a big place but it was packed when I went for lunch. As many retirees as 9-to-5ers. Ordered the turkey club with fries and a diet coke. Was pleased but not blown away. Read the Daily News and got me a toothpick + mints at the register.
Thank you Westway for meeting my 3 star diner expectations. Keep it real.
I knew I was going to have a problem with the Westway Diner when I saw the Monte Cristo listed under their breakfast items. Then I saw that the Reuben sandwich offered a choice of corned beef OR pastrami. Where the hell was I, Des Moines? (Don't start flaming me with messages about the "Rachel" sandwich, which is a Reuben with pastrami. I know about it, but it's another creature altogether. It comes with cole slaw, fahgadsake!)
After looking through their immense menu -- I'll give them that -- I decided to try the Monte Cristo after all. (This, despite the fact that it came with a side of syrup. Swiss cheese and maple syrup -- yum!) Big mistake. It tasted okay -- the ingredients were good -- but it was served open face, and smothered with cheese. If it was 4 in the morning and I was hammered, this might have hit the spot, but it was certainly not the sandwich I had in mind.
Best chocolate milkshake of my life. Period. Like whipped ice cream, but imminently potable.
Sure, it was 3:30am, and I was dehydrated, delirious, and feeling ruminative with a certain high-profile yelper, but I know my shakes. And this shake was good. damn good.
I love love love this place. I live just round the corner so go a lot and I've never had a bad meal there- granted the food's not fancy but that's not what you expect from a diner is it?
The waiters are all lovely, food is brought quickly and the prices are ok. I like the atmosphere too. Only downside is - presumably due to location it fills up with tourists, especially on weekends (get your arse out of bed early if you want to avoid them)
Another diner, another hefty menu...
But this place stands out, not for its decent food or its decor that might be a not to tourists that have wandered just a little too far west. No, this place stands out for its liberal use of avocados. You can get an omelet with avocados (yummy but needs hot sauce because it's a little bland), avocados on your burger, avocados in your pasta, even just...an avocado (overpriced, yes, but still, it's there!!). Blame it on the recent Cali vacation, but I loved the word "avocado" appearing at least once on every page of the 12 page menu.
Typical diner style. Service is fast. There's always lots of customers but, in spite of this, you do get your order pretty quickly. I've become a sucker for pasta dishes thanks to Westway.
The have a killer chocolate sundae...freaggin' delissshious!
The didn't get the precious fifth star from me because they gave me a spoon that appeared to be a little dirty and it grossed me out. And also, because the waiters don't appear to be on the side of making sure you have a pleasant experience overall, instead they just want to take your order and get the heck back to doing whatever else.
Otherwise, the food is really good, been there a few times for lunch.
So far my favorite is the Pasta with Salmon.
There are some places where you just feel odd eating all by your lonesome, especially when you walk into the place at 4 in the morning all by yourself with big saggy bags under the eyes. I strangely felt dwarfed by the establishment and being the only person in there. This may be due to the fact I was seriously lacking sleep and possibly loopy. However...
The coffee is sufficiently strong here to keep you going and the breakfast food hits the spot just perfectly. Sometimes it helps to just have some eggs cooked up the way you want it.
Decent pricing, typical diner food. Their breakfast and large wide windowed view of the street suckered me in.
This place has some sub par food. I had the chicken cheese steak wrap and was pretty bad. My friend had the eggs and home fries. you would assume that you really can't mess that up, but I was wrong. It was pretty bad. Service was okay, but they need to step it up when it comes to the food.
One of the few diners left in Manhattan. My service has always been fast and friendly. Gets busy around dinner time and lunch.
Good breakfast food, and a great place to stop in after a night of partying in Hell's Kitchen. Not many tourists which is always nice for Midtown.
I like Westway Diner, but things have changed. I've been a party of one every Saturday morning...for long enough that the waitstaff does not wait for me to order before bringing my coffee, and they know I don't need a menu. And they know I tip. Heavily.
This morning, however, they had a new(?) hostess. The joint was busy but not crazy, with six open booths. Hostess asks me if I want to sit at the counter. I did that a long time ago and I'm not going to repeat that mistake. So she tells me it will be a minute.
Okay, I understand, they may be changing a shift of waiters or something. No biggy. Only after ten minutes, in which the hostess checks back NOT EVEN ONCE, a couple walks in and is seated immediately.
SO the lesson is clear: parties of one need not appear at the restaurant after 8:30 or so. Once the place has gotten even a little bit busy.
Galaxy's counter service is wonderful, by the way, and the food is better though a little bit higher-priced.
Edited in January 2009: best solution: go out the door. Walk West to 11th Avenue, turn left, discover Market Diner (bis), the best diner joint in the City, bar none. Even if Westway were not rude to parties of one, I would go to Market Diner in preference to any place of that kind.
The waiters keep the Splenda in their pockets, and they'll begrudgingly give you one (two on a good day) if you ask really nicely. It helps if you're a girl. Basic items are done decently (sausage, eggs, home fries), but don't be swayed by more complicated items like frittatas, which came out oil-logged and unappetizing. They have a brunch combo that includes a screwdriver/bloody mary/mimosa, but you're mostly better off ordering a la carte, due to the stick-to-basics factor. Service is decent when you can flag your waiter down, but the restaurant is pretty clean and there's not much of a wait ever.
Voted "Best Diner In Manhattan" by the NY Daily News -- which begs the question "Mr. Westway, who did you blow at the News?". The food is below average, as is the service and the decor. Would I visit more than once? I have - but it required me being so plastered that I literally had to eat that very minute or pass out. If you happen to be on Westway's block and suffer the same predicament --Go! Otherwise, walk 2 blocks south to the best diner in the neighborhood.
A 24 hour place near Port Authority that's not gross. You can take your girlie here after she arrives on the late bus from Des Moines.
Larry David supposedly came up with the idea of Seinfeld here (and not at Tom's Diner on the UWS).
I mean, sure, it's your basic 24 hour greek diner. But it's a happy happy place at 4am after a long night of drinking. And they have amazing fries. I love the club sandwich.
I walked in here and ate breakfast by myself the other morning. It was the least pathetic single-dining I've experienced since equating single-dining with pathetic. Maybe it's New York City, maybe it's this diner; either way I'm a little thankful for it.
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