The Gateway Diner — Restaurant in City of Albany

I have never really had a problem with the service here, the staff is usually friendly and helpful. That being said ultimately its about the quality of the food and the price you pay for it.... Last week I ordered some food part of which was a burger for my wife. The burger itself was dry and smelled like an old freezer, so I took a bite of it and the best thing I can compare it to is back 30 years ago, when we were kids, and we got those cheese burgers from the school cafeteria that everyone always complained about because they tasted like they sat on the counter all day. So be it, it was food, it was edible, and she was hungry. My complaint is that it was around 8 bucks, with the fries, and it came served on an English muffin which I thought was odd but it was probably in the description somewhere.

EDIT: I lowered it to one star because when I said something about it I was scolded by who I assume is the owner "Our meat is always fresh and never frozen" .... look I was born and raised on a farm, I still visit that farm on a daily basis because it is a family farm... I have butchered more cows than most people have seen in their lifetime, that meat was most certainly frozen at least once.

Anyway the scolding continued... "I'm not sure how you wanted your burger cooked but the more well done it is the dryer it becomes." doesn't really explain why it was the same consistency, taste, and cardboard texture, as those cheap boxes of frozen patties you buy from Walmart but ok fine.

"Our burgers don't come on english muffins so you must have asked for that specifically." Wrong....who asks for a burger on an english muffin, that's just weird. The chef made a mistake, maybe mixed up an order, and didn't want to own it, whatever, hiring competent help is not my problem or my fault.

"Normally, customers tell us there is a problem after the first couple of bites and we correct the problem, they don't wait until they eat the entire meal first." Great idea, but.... what if its take out, which mine was, you either drive all the way back or you eat it and say something later which I did. I wasn't looking for a free meal, I was complaining so someone could correct the atrocity that I paid 8 bucks for.

Its cool, there are only a hundred other places to eat in that immediate spot. I work just around the corner so I will make sure all of my co-workers, and customers, know about it, and the scolding. This place may have thought it was funny, or even think they have the upper hand somehow but I'm not the one who has to pay the bills over there, in regards to that money is money, and I aim to give them less of it, doesn't really matter to me if they succeed, fail, or whatever...will not lose sleep over it, but I am fantastic at running my mouth to...

UPDATED: JUN 2023 We went for lunch at 3 in the afternoon. I counted about 10 tables and 5 employees on the floor. Service was extremely slow and the food even slower.

It took our server 7 minutes to come to our table. Potato skins came out 33 minutes after ordering. The sandwiches took another 16 minutes. Our lunch on a slow afternoon took 65 minutes in total.

Potato skins were covered in what seemed to be a melted Cheese Whiz. They were delivered to our table with no plates so we ate them over napkins as our server was no where to be found. The breaded chicken patty on my panini was dry and lacked flavor. Fox News was playing on the TV.

We won't be going back.

ORIGINAL: MAY 2022 The Gateway Diner is an Albany mainstay serving up good food with great service.

I don't know many diners which cater to such a wide clientele. They offer many diner standards hash that they make in-house, to meatloaf, to incredible looking cakes and pies. This diner also has a liquor license allowing them to serve up adult beverages as well. Whatever you're looking for, it seems they've got you covered.

I didn't have high expectations going in other than to possibly have to wait for a table given how full the parking lot was. However, the restaurant is much bigger than I thought and we were immediately seated.

Our server quickly greeted us and made up for the lackluster welcome that our 'host' gave us. She was friendly, answered our questions and offered suggestions, and she was there to check on us a couple of times throughout our meal. She definitely gave us 5-star service.

Our server said they just updated up their menu so it seems their online menu varies a bit from their current dishes. I believe I got the Gateway omelette which now comes with spinach, mushrooms, onions, hash, and cheese which was a delicious combination. The corn beef hash is made in-house and was tender and full of flavor. I added onions to my home fries and a side of rye toast. All was good.

My husband had the poached eggs. He said the hollandaise sauce was great.

The only short comings were that my omelette was a bit over done - crisp on the outside, the poached eggs were overcooked, and the well done home fries were more tough than crispy. Despite that, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal.

Great value as there's plenty of food for the cost and great service from our server. We'll definitely be going...

Gateway Diner: a taste of pure joy. From the second we stepped inside, the vibrant energy of The Gateway Diner hit us like a wave. The buzz of families, the inviting aesthetic, and a lightning-fast greeting made it clear we were in for a special experience. Our waiter, Jordan, then took things to another level. With incredible positivity and infectious humor, Jordan transformed a lackluster morning into a truly amazing afternoon. This wasn't just a meal; it was an event, and the first impression was spot on. Our culinary journey began with the sensational Loaded Nachos and Jordan's perfect suggestion: the Loaded Fries. Both dishes were a masterpiece of flavor, piled high with perfectly seasoned beef, melted cheese, fresh tomatoes, onions, and a zing of pickled jalapeños. The crunch and flavor were absolutely immaculate. Next came the main event. The classic BLT was anything but typical—a true bang for your buck in both size and flavor. As for my Gateway Panini, it was a flavor explosion. Loaded with turkey, corned beef, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado ranch, and tangy coleslaw, every bite was a testament to fresh, perfectly prepared ingredients. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, Jordan's final suggestion arrived: a slice of the house-made Oreo Cheesecake. This dessert wasn't just a treat; it was a revelation. It melted in my mouth, each bite a perfect balance of savory and sweet. I devoured it as if it were my last meal, every bite telling a story of pure indulgence. I absolutely recommend a visit to The Gateway Diner. This culinary gem, located at 899 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206, has been an Albany staple since 1971. It blew me away, and I hope you have the same unforgettable experience. Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Overall: 5🌟's! Thank you for reading! “Where every bite...