City Diner — Restaurant in Virginia

Our latest visit was just bad all around. First of all, for someone new, the menu is TOO big! Too many choices and not enough pictures...and the pictures posted don't have the dish's name on it. Our server didn't know the specials but he found out and got right back to us (kudos to him). My friend ordered the BBQ ribs and a loaded baked potato. What the server failed to mention was that "loaded" meant bacon, broccoli and sliced American cheese - also the ribs were pork although pictures of ribs in the menu were of beef ribs. I ordered the Lumberjack Special which included pancakes - I asked if I could get the Banana Nut pancakes instead of plain and he said yes. The eggs and ham were tasteless, even after covering them with salt and pepper.

The main reason for our visit that night was for the dessert case. So many awesome-looking desserts! How disappointing it was to get those to our table to find them cold, stale and tasteless except for the dollop of whipped cream they added before bringing it to our table.

When the bill came, I had been charged $1 for bananas and $2.05 for pecans. When I asked my server about it, he said that I was charged because I substituted flavored pancakes for plain. I expressed to him that extra charges for substitutions were not listed in the menu, nor did he mention it AT ALL when I asked if I could get the Banana Nut pancakes instead. He just looked at me and said that of course there was a charge because I substituted, and I said again that he should have told me when I ordered it. I can understand paying more for substitutions (IHOP has it right in their menu...but they charge one rate for substitutions, not an extra charge per ingredient!) but what I couldn't stomach was the server's haughty looks and attitude when we had this discussion.

To top everything off, we got to enjoy the ending of our meal and conversation while talking over the vacuum cleaner in the dining area! At least they didn't vacuum at our table but they were at the next table over.

So frustrating to have such a bad experience in a place that seems to be getting...

AMAZING! So happy we found this place in our new neighborhood!

We're from NY. Moving down to Virginia we've had to retrain ourselves to the slower pace, but City Diner is a true taste of home. The menu is what you would expect of a good diner, it's huge and full of every option. You could walk in thinking of what you want to eat and most likely, it's on the menu already. Inside the diner's perfectly weird and eclectic decor, if I shut my eyes, it feels as if I could be in a diner Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

• Staff: Always friendly and fast.

• Prices: We've never spent more than $40 here for dinner for 2. This seems like a spot for the older, social security collectors in town, not an overpriced place by any stretch of the imagination. I don't know what people are talking about when they say it's overpriced for a diner.

• Food: Excellent every time we've been! The coffee is delicious, the french fries are crunchy and amazing, their sandwiches are great. The potato salad and cole slaw I'm going in to order to-go, if I ever have a bbq...just everything is great.

As far as people's poor reviews, OBVIOUSLY, it's a diner aka "greasy spoon." Don't expect a 5-star steak house dining experience, it's perfect the way it is. If you're looking for a reliably delicious, quick bite to eat while shopping in the area, etc., skip the slower, usually disappointing chain places...

My husband and I pass this diner several times a week and keep saying we should check it out; so this past Thursday evening we decided we had a craving for the diner experience and pulled into the parking lot at City Diner. We were greeted and shown a table promptly. I know this diner is known more for its breakfast, but the menu is quite diverse and we were there for dinner, we decided we had a hankering for Greek cuisine. We ordered the stuffed grape leaves and hummus appetizers. I really like stuffed grape leaves, and though the best stuffed grape leaves I've had in the DC area are at Taverna Cretekou, City Diner's version hit the spot as well. The hummus and pita bread are both delicious as well. For our main course we ordered the athenian combo, which we realized after, was enough food to feed two people....the portions are definitely filling at City Diner. The platter has tasty gyro meat on a pita, spanakopita, salad, and french fries. You also get another side of salad or soup! Did I mention you will not leave hungry?! :-) This a definitely a place local diner fans enjoy and I can see why...from the decor to the super friendly staff, we felt at home the whole time. We plan to comeback to try breakfast or shakes and pie sometime soon. Thanks for a great traditional...