The Great American Diner & Bar — Restaurant in Issaquah

We got breakfast here on a Saturday morning hoping this was the next regular breakfast spot (it’s usually raging river in Fall city or Lil Jon’s in Bellevue).

We got a table and ordered some basics, the service was super friendly and the wait time wasn’t too bad. Coffee and tea were both good. Price was appropriate and parking is fine for downtown Issaquah.

Now the complaints. The dining room is awkward, it feels like a hospital waiting room and made my wife and I uncomfortable. No music, tables super close together, it felt like I was having breakfast with everyone else there. They need to open up the wall shared with the kitchen and create more of a diner feel, maybe include a bar too. Doesn’t feel like a diner in the slightest. The decorations and appliances feel like they were taken out of one of the nearby vintage/antique stores, very old and somewhat calming but not really our vibe (not a criticism just a preference).

Next, the food. Easily the greasiest eggs and hashbrowns I’ve had, topping even ihop. Made my wife and I both sick and we couldn’t eat anymore than half of our plates. We’re no stranger to greasy diners, we get the appeal. This was literally swimming in fat, to the point where I skimmed the top bit of eggs that weren’t drenching in grease at the bottom of the plate. Gross.

There’s potential but you have got to nail the basics when it comes to something as simple...

Pros: The place seems clean. Everyone was professional and polite.

Cons: The decor is awful. It feels cheap and poorly planned. Put live plants on the tables, paint the place a current color, get new tables and chairs. The lacquer dark cherry furniture with the turquoise plastic seating is jarring.

This is never what a diner looked like or should look like now.

Music was a mix of early 1970s women singers. Think Karen Carpenter. Why? Play current music.

Now the food. What I wanted was reinvention of some American classics brought up to date.

Chicken and Dumplings Chicken Corn Dogs Spicy Chicken Sandwich Chicken and Waffles Pancakes with fruit Great burgers and fries Onion Rings

My husband ordered the veggie omelet. It was soggy and included broccoli. The fries were drenched in grease, heavy, and just not good.

The service was slow, but that is expected with a new place. It is fine if it is worth waiting for.

This is a great location. Bring in a consultant before it is too late! You have a great staff that wants...

First time - Amazing experience!!

Ever wonder how good a restaurant might be? This place is SO good, I called my mom to tell her about our stellar experience.

My husband and I decided to try The Great American Diner this morning for the first time. We have gone to all the breakfast spots in Issaquah, and this is by far the best!!

Our experience began when walked into a warm welcome!! We were seated, without a wait, and met our lovely waitress, Linda.

The menu is filled with plenty of options, which they serve all day. We ordered our food, and enjoyed the relaxed home-y atmosphere!

The food arrived pretty quickly and was delicious. The bacon melts in your mouth, hash browns are cooked to perfection, the eggs delicious, waffle/french toast is amazing!! Might I add, everything is fairly priced, with great quality! The food is fresh and non-greasy, as a person with a sensitive stomach, I felt AMAZING after!

From food to service to atmosphere this place is wonderful. My husband and I are making this our regular spot...