Moody's Diner — Restaurant in Waldoboro

We arrived at Moody’s Diner on a Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Parking was ample, and the wait to be seated was about 20 minutes—reasonable for a weekend. After being seated, it took another 10 minutes before our server introduced herself. Service was courteous, if slow, but the food and its consequences were far more troubling.

I ordered a straightforward breakfast: two slices of French toast, two eggs over hard, two sausage links, and coffee. The French toast was dry and thin—not the thick, custardy style one expects from a diner with decades of tradition. The eggs were greasy and undercooked, nowhere near “over hard.” The sausage links were small and forgettable. My companion had a similar meal. This was our only meal of the day, as we had a full schedule on the water.

Unfortunately, about an hour after eating, we both became ill. I experienced severe stomach pain that lasted into the next day, and we both lost our appetites. Our afternoon and evening plans—booked weeks in advance—had to be canceled. Whether due to undercooked eggs or poor food handling, the aftermath was disruptive and disappointing. The total cost for two breakfasts and coffee came to $28.03—high for the quality received.

At the entrance, Moody’s displays a framed certificate from the Waldoboro American Legion and a poster from the Mid-Coast Veterans Council labeling the diner as “Veteran Friendly.” As a veteran myself, I took note. The certificate is a thank-you from a local post, dated February 2021, recognizing Moody’s for “service and support to veterans.” The poster features patriotic imagery and a general endorsement.

However, there was no indication of any actual veteran discount—not on food, not on merchandise. I checked the clothing section and asked about pricing. Nothing was offered. While symbolic recognition is appreciated, “Veteran Friendly” should mean more than a framed thank-you. It should reflect tangible support—especially in a business that serves the public daily and benefits from its reputation as a community institution.

Moody’s Diner may be steeped in history, but on this visit, it failed to deliver on food quality, safety, and the kind of meaningful community support its signage implies. The service was fine, but the meal left us sick, and the pricing didn’t match the experience. For travelers and veterans alike, I’d recommend...

I ordered the Appetizer Platter with Fried Pickles, Chicken Wings, and Fried Mac & Cheese, the "By Thunder" Burger with French Fries and Coleslaw, Hot Turkey Sandwich, and finished off with a Peanut Butter Fudge Pie and Chocolate Whoopie Pie. For the appetizer platter, the chicken wings were incredible! They have a great crisp and are full of meat. The fried pickles weren't my favorite as I'm not a fan of the breading style (spongy over crispy). I don't typically love Mac & Cheese, but the the bites were unique and taste great. The burger is hefty, but well cooked and the bun is what makes it. If you love a good burger, this will hit the spot. The fries and coleslaw are both good, especially the coleslaw. The Hot Turkey Sandwich is really good, with the caveat being you've got to like real turkey. This isn't the overly processed turkey from other restaurants. The peanut butter fudge pie is delicious, but rich. The chocolate fudge was my favorite part. I'd probably order a different pie next time.

The service was tremendous. There was a short wait when we arrived, and we checked in with the cashier to get a pager. Rachel provided excellent service and recommendations our entire stay. She also kept the refills coming. She was kind, friendly, and shared the story of Moody's that connected us to the diner. Dan, the owner, made the rounds regularly and works as hard as his employees.

The story and atmosphere of Moody's is the foundation of why this place is great. It's the quintessential small town diner, with its history seeped in every brick and picture covering the walls. It's easy to fall in love with this place, and I'll absolutely be back...

One of the best iconic diner's of all time. The cheeseburger I ordered was cooked to perfection at medium rare. The lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles very fresh. The burger was so juicy and absolutely delicious. Their fries are awesome too and their cold slaw is chopped vs shredded, not drowning in mayo, crunchy and fantastic. The smothered streaktips with onions were great too and their homemade potato salad with dill is incredible. The potatoes are cooked so you still have a bite to them and not mooshy. They are not over dressed either. My bad for not taking photos, we ate to quickly. Now the best part of Moody's and why I drive the over 2 1/2 hours is their pies. Coming from a family who owned a bakery for 54 years I'm extremely fussy when it comes to pies. They're deep dish cream pies are insanely awesome and their fruit pies equally good, their crust is simply perfection!! Their coconut cream, chocolate cream, banana cream, peanut butter cream, even custard pie, are huge. They are a true deep dish pie like grandma used to make. Their mixed berry pie has a crust that's over the top amazing. I did grab pictures of the pies and will add them later. Please do yourself a favor and add this incredible diner to your bucket list. Service is so warm, friendly and accomodating, and don't get me started on their homemade southern...