Diner 24 NYC — Restaurant in New York

It's 1 a.m. on 7/22/24 and I'm in need of a chocolate fix .. After seeing reels on Instagram about Diner 24 my partner and I take a 30 minute train ride from the Bronx to see if the hype was real. As we approach the establishment I can see the neon sign. It's a retro feel. Excited, we walk through the doors and I realized, this just might be a business that I can frequent often ❤️. Looking around I can feel that hip retro-style diner and it instantly took me back. I can see a few digital jukeboxes at some of the tables. A warm greeting from Juan-Carlos, our server and although I didn't catch the other young man's name I can tell he Loves his job. Donned in the classic back-in-the-day service wear, I was instantly taken back to an era where you had the classic burger and shake combo. But this wasn't just any diner. Order their smash burger.... They offer it in doubles and triples 😲. Best I've had so far. They fine shred the lettuce and thinly sliced tomato with whatever sauce was on there was PERFECT! Comes with some well seasoned fries to perfection french fries. Usually I don't finish all of the fries but, they were SO GOOD I finished it. Even though I'm full, I had the Black Out shake.... A chocolate shake topped with whipped cream, chocolate cake and a cake pop. The glass was rimmed with fudge and chocolate candy! Even though my partner wanted the salted caramel vegan option (he's lactose) it was unavailable. The server behind the bar had the best idea of using caramel vanilla vegan ice cream off the menu and oat milk for him. To his surprise he finished that too.

I just wanted to add there was a woman there who was on the phone and she was cursing up a storm. (I felt bad on whomever was on the other end of that conversation). She definitely has some issues and made her presence clear there as she paced back and forth. If she works there I hope this isn't her normal routine as she also donned a white dress. Besides that, I am coming back for another trip. It wasn't crowded when we arrived so if you're looking for something late night make your way to this place. Thank you for the service Juan-Carlos, and to the young man that went out of his way to make our shakes, you definitely put the...

It's possible that I missed the point of this place, which might be to serve instagrammable food.

I was there after midnight and a drunk guy fell on me. It was 2am Sunday so a lot of people were expectedly loud and drunk. Even recognizing that, a lot of the clientele seemed like pigs to me

I ordered a $24 tuna sandwich on toasted rye and iced decaf coffee.

After I ordered the most expensive tuna fish sandwich I have ever ordered, I waited the longest time I have ever waited for a tuna fish sandwich.

When it arrived it was two very large mounds of tuna, each decorated with a large slice of tomato and melted cheese.

The tuna was good quality but the bread had turned to mush underneath it and it wasn't much of a sandwich. I tried to pick up each half but the dissolved bread wouldn't hold together.

I started eating it with a fork but there was something about eating undressed tuna with a fork and paying $24 for it that made me feel like I was being pranked.

It was two mounds of mooshy food. A Tuna sandwich kinda needs a sturdy bread , both for mouthfeel and for structural stability.

It was a real George St. Geegland and Gil Faizon moment. I literally told the manger "I don't know how to eat this. It's too much tuna."

They brought me more bread and I made a properly proportioned sandwich out of a third of a the food.

The greasy fries messed up my guts. When I got back from the bathroom someone had cleared my other sandwich away.

It seemed like a pretty clean place. No vermin, clean bathroom.

But other than that: The clientele sucked. The food was bizarre. The Service was really slow.

I think they mean well and want to be good. I sense an earnestness behind this place. Maybe I came in at the wrong time and ordered the wrong thing.

Dining experiences can leave you feeling all kinds of ways. This one left me feeling like I'd been tricked.

Additionally: the restaurant responded and saud they took it personal. It is personal! I think they're scum. Im not just not coming back. I actively hope this...

As a night owl and native New Yorker, I have a deep appreciation for 24-hour spots that keep the spirit of "the city that never sleeps" alive—especially as that legacy fades with fewer late-night dining options. That’s why places like Diner 24 NYC initially stood out to me.

My first visit was great: I ordered a pasta dish that came out hot, well-seasoned, and in a reasonable amount of time. The service was attentive, and the overall experience made me want to return.

Unfortunately, my second visit was the opposite. I ordered the 12 oz Prime Skirt Steak ($45) which, according to the menu, comes with fries and spicy cowboy sauce. After a 45-minute wait, what arrived was a single strip of steak on a bare plate, with a small paper cup of sauce—and no fries. The waitress was inattentive throughout the night, and when I flagged another staff member (not a waiter) to ask about the missing fries, he casually asked if I wanted them—as if I had to opt in to what’s already included. He then forgot to bring them. When I finally got the waitress's attention, she also asked if I wanted fries. By the time they arrived—another 45 minutes later—I was nearly done eating. The steak itself was average (honestly, something I could’ve made at home), the sauce unremarkable, and the fries were basic. Definitely not worth $45.

The late-night staff felt unprofessional and disengaged. And while I get that standards sometimes dip at 3 a.m., Diner 24 NYC’s own “About” page promises a culinary haven that revitalizes the NYC spirit—a standard they should uphold, regardless of the hour.

I might give it one more try given my first experience, but consistency matters—especially in a city that claims to never sleep.

Update – June 29, 2025 Thank you for the owner’s response. I appreciate the acknowledgment and the intent to address the issues. I may stop by again and will ask for you if I do. Diner 24 NYC has potential—I just hope future visits reflect the consistency and quality your “About”...