City Diner — Restaurant in San Jose

This diner is a slice of Old Hollywood served up with nostalgic photos, movie posters, cardboard cutouts, miniature classic cars, Fifties chrome and vinyl seating, half a classic [Chevy?] on the wall, and the Oldies playing faintly in the background (the perfect volume for a pleasant dining atmosphere--you can just hear the songs, but it doesn’t overpower your mealtime conversation).

I hadn't had a bite to eat since dinner last night (and I'd had a BAD start to my day today!), so my uncle treated me to lunch here. I'd never been before, but I was pleasantly surprised. My mother was a HUGE Oldies and Old Hollywood fan, so I grew up listening to The Beatles, Chubby Checker, Buddy Holly--you know, the Oldies!--and watching classic movies (as a little girl, I grew up with a crush on Cary Grant!), so this restaurant was perfect. It made me feel as if my mom were still alive and enjoying the immersion with me! (There's even a movie poster of one of my favorites from Old Hollywood: "Rebecca" with Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier.)

Since I'd never eaten there, I took my uncle's cue and had the California omelet. He'd told me that I would be VERY full after eating at City Diner, and he was right. My gosh! The plate was HUGE! The omelet (a concoction of eggs (duh, right?), avocado, bacon, and Jack cheese) was very plump, filled to overflowing with the avocado stuffing and smothered in the cheese. Then there was a choice of hashbrowns, red potatoes, or [something I can't remember], and I chose the potatoes while my uncle had the hashbrowns--and both covered half of the plates while the omelet covered the other! And then it came with a side of toast or [something I can't remember], so we both had whole wheat. (Our waitress was Lindsey (or Lindsay?), and she was very good and attentive. She was always right there the moment my iced tea was empty, asking if I wanted a refill.)

I came in HUNGRY, but I wasn't able to finish my meal because there was SO much to eat.

The prices are on the high side (our omelets were $15 each), but you get a TON of food, so you won't feel gypped.

I'm glad to've found this little diner. It's kind of tucked away off the street. There's a big ol' Starbucks right on the street that you just can't miss, but if you look to the right of Starbucks to the end of the little shopping area, you'll see the sign, City Diner. It's Monday, and we went around noon. We were able to walk right to a table, but there were several tables already taken and more filled up while we ate. (By the way, masks are required to enter.)

I look forward to returning. They claim to make classic milkshakes, which I want to try, and there was a couple at the table behind us who ordered a side of onion rings, which looked delicious, so maybe I'll try a classic Fifties burger meal next time. (The verdict's still out as to whether I go in a poodleskirt and saddle shoes! By the way, the wait staff doesn't dress in costume.)

(Ooh! This would be the PERFECT place to film a scene in my book (if it were ever to become a movie), "Unconditional Love" (by A.J. Strickland, available on Amazon). The hero and heroine go to a Fifties diner...just as City Diner! (I know, I know. Shameless plug! But I couldn't resist. 😊) )

I recommend City Diner. I don't think you'll be...

'The City Diner'

If you want a little bit of a taste of the 'San Francisco Cliff House,' with pictures of celebs that adorn the walls of a pleasant stop in South San Jose, on Monterey Rd. & Lewis, then look no farther . . . You'll get it all and more, at this fine and very clean little restaurant that will be sure to take you back to the B-Boppin 50's & 60's. A wide variety of meals to choose from, and tasty too, you might want to come a bit earlier then planned, as the menu has that much to offer, and, there may be a little more confusion than you bargained for when trying to make your final selection. Get a 14 ounce Rib Eye Steak, and all the trimmings, for just $28, or, an old fashion workhorse of a meal - fish & chips, for $15.50 There is also a varied selection of salads to choose from, from Chinese to Classic Caesar. They also serve wine, beer, and Champaign. If you start early in the morning, you can get the combination, 3-item breakfast for $8.50 - served between 8 & 11am. Or, if snacking, like I do often, you can get something quick and simple, like a good cup of coffee; a baked potato / served after 4pm./ and, finished off with a banana split, that will likely have you wanting to photograph it, just before entering it into wholesome consumption. And, now to receive your added bonus, of a wide array of creamy milk shakes - 66 no less - just to make sure that sweet tooth never gets left out. Why 66? It is in commemoration of highway Route 66 (from Los Angeles to Chicago, and the 66 towns along the way), and the TV series - 'Route 66' (staring George Maharis and Martin Milner), of which episodes I credit in building for me, strength of character. Pick the 'Vinita' (no. 43), a banana coconut deluxe, or, 'The Williamson' (no. 51). a Butterscotch Oreo, or, check this popular favorite out . . . Hold on. . 'The Lexington' (no. 55). The Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Banana shake'!!! How tantalizing does it get! You'll find it all here and more, in a warm and cozy atmosphere. 'The City Diner,' also provides two TVs, to either keep up with the news, as you might sit at the soda fountain counter, or, just to relax in the cushiony booths to see how your favorite sport channel might be doing on TV. Even as you walk down the hall to the ultra clean restroom, there will be pictures to test your movie-going past. So, here is your eating experience, all to be enjoyed, as you're accompanied by a nostalgic background of pleasant music, that just might be worth a few more minutes of hang-out time, when all is said and done. 'The City Diner,' is open 7 days a week, starting at 8am., however, on Mon., it closes at 3:00pm. All the rest of the days, it will be open till 9pm., except for Sun., when it closes an hour earlier (at 8pm.). And is located at 2951 Monterey Rd., in a little plaza (across from 'A-1 Storage,' and 'United Rental,' and, next door to 'Tina's 'Beauty & Beyond,' shop' (a true artist), in transforming your appearance, if so desired. There will be pleasant hostesses to greet you, so, don't miss out on a wonderful eating experience! 'The City Diner'

Review by Doug Obujen

Doug Obujen writes movie and restaurant reviews, to help keep the public...

In years past, the food, as well as the service, was quite good. Unfortunately, neither holds true anymore. On this particular day, the food was "decent", at best. I ordered the corned beef benedict, while my wife ordered the roast turkey sandwich.

Starting with the benedict, it had a healthy helping of corned beef, but the poached eggs were overcooked to the point that the yoke was half-cooked. The country potatoes were a mixture of properly-cooked, well-overcooked (to the point of being mushy), and well-undercooked (not quite "crunchy", but close enough) pieces. Moving over to my wife's sandwich, for the price charged, we would have expected 3x the amount of turkey. What she got was a sandwich that had about one inch worth of lettuce, two slices of bacon, two slices of tomato, two very thin slices of avocado, and three deli-thin slices of turkey. As for her fries, they were extremely dry.

Moving over to the service, our server, Tania, was somewhat attentive, at least up through checking on us after delivering the food (although I will point out that she didn't check on us until we were approximately halfway through our meal...industry standard is 3-5 minutes). Unfortunately, after that, she never stopped at the table again until she dropped off the bill. When she dropped off the bill, we asked for a small to-go box, when she never brought. Not only did she never bring the to-go box, she NEVER stopped back at the table. I had to ask a different server for the to-go box, which she promptly brought. Likewise in regards to paying the bill, as another server asked if he could take it...and he was fairly prompt in returning with my credit card & paid bill.

It's not as if they were overly busy...there were 3 servers when we arrived, and 4 servers by the time we finished eating, with approximately 12-14 tables seated (when we left)...so there's absolutely no reason for such slow service. As for the food, City Diner had been on a decline for (at least) a few years now. The last time we ate here, the food was good (albeit, not great), and the service was slightly better than decent. This time, calling the food "good" would be somewhat of an overstatement. As for the service, I'll just say that this was our last time eating at City Diner...we will NOT be back. The quality of the food has gone downhill enough that, for the prices charged, it's not even close to worth it (there are numerous places where you can get a FAR better roast turkey sandwich, and for less money). As for the service, considering that my wife & I, both, waited tables, the teenagers serving don't appear to have much of a clue (if any) as to what "customer service" means...in terms of those words individually, as well as those words when placed together.

City Diner has lost our business for good, and, for anyone who asks us, we'll both be certain to tell them to avoid...