Laurel Diner — Restaurant in Southbury

Wow , where to begin.. first off super tacky.. their menu is written on the walls so you give your whiplash as you twist you head to read it all. But let's talk about the real issue and what i believe is the core of their inflated reviews ... I was in a party of 4 and we all ordered something different which gave us a full range of their breakfast menu... IT WAS ALL BLAND.. ever item was horribly bland, I've tasted more flavor out of a bottle of water or a bowl of dry cereal than this whole meal had . Now my suspicion is because of location , it's southbury a town who's median age is 100+ and clearly has lost all sense of their taste buds ... I mean how do you not taste that your pancakes are charcoal flavored ??? Everything was burnt , pancakes, French toast , it was was charred on the griddle and flavored with charcoal. So when you eat just the top then it had no flavor ..they restaurant purely survives on local love and their bland existence.

But it's not all bad ..the wait staff is very kind and lovely ..they were attentive , fast and ever so helpful .. the talent that their waitstaff has is wasted in this restaurant and their servers could prob earn 10x times more and a better restaurant so i wish...

Walked into this blue collar cosey dinner for the first time today. Perched between men who breathe concrete and have hands of leather. I ordered a burger named “The Beast”.

"The Beast" was hands-down the most unforgettable hamburger I’ve ever tasted. a flood of savory juices that dripped down the sides with every bite. The flavor was rich and primal, with just a hint of smokiness that made you feel like it was forged over an open flame.

The bun was no slouch either—a toasted poppy seed brioche, golden and slightly sweet, with a soft, pillowy interior that held up to the onslaught without getting soggy. Layered on top of the patty was a slab of sharp cheddar, melted just enough to ooze over the edges, paired with thick-cut bacon that crackled with every bite, its salty crispness cutting through the richness, that elevated the whole thing into something almost indecently indulgent.

The toppings were a riot of texture.

They called it "The Beast" for a reason—it was massive, messy, and unapologetic, served with a side of thick, crispy potatoes. Every bite was an explosion of flavor, a balance of hearty and refined that left me full, satisfied, and already craving...

11/10/23: Decided to go to Laurel Diner as the reviews made it sound like we HAD to try it. Parking was available. Our party of 3 arrived at 11:30am for breakfast. They took our name at the cash register & we were told to wait outside as there’s absolutely no extra space inside this tiny little restaurant. We waited about 25 minutes to be called. We were seated at the table by the door, so I was constantly bothered by the in/out foot traffic. It smelled like pancakes and grease in the air and the menu options were written all over the available wall space. The waitress seemed like she was overworked/ tired, and didn’t have any pleasantries left to share. We ordered our morning drinks, 2 sets of short stacks (2 pancakes each), 2 orders of scrambled eggs, and one 3-pancake stack. Once the food arrived in a timely manner, the eggs disappeared before I even thought to get a photo (we were starving.) The pancakes were good. Not fluffy… more like flapjacks. For what we got, I feel the food is overpriced and not worth the long wait. The establishment is cash-only. We’ll probably try other restaurants next time we...