Beginners Diner

This is located INSIDE the Lafayette hotel. From the front door it's in the back left corner. The vibe is very fancy adult. I wish I didn't go with who I brought, I wish I dressed up a bit more. I figured the diner was chill casual but it was not. Service took a while zero help finding this no one was helpful or friendly. Food was alright but highly over priced. Overall the thing that saved this place was the atmosphere it is gorgeous to look at, the hotel is also beautiful. But expect to spend a lot and dress amazing to fit in and be comfortable.

Such a cute spot in the Lafayette Hotel - makes you feel like you’re in the 60s. Great service and food, but the food is a bit overpriced in my opinion. We ordered the Greek salad, patty melt, and chicken skewers which were all fantastic. Their banana and coconut as well as chocolate hazelnut milkshakes are terrific!! Will definitely come back here.

Retro diner decor, very cute, very Johnny Rocket's. Honestly, I was a little skeptical about the food. Many places with too fancy a decor or one that is too on-the-nose usually have sub-par food. We came on an early Sunday for breakfast (brunch menu starts at 9 if you want that) and there were less than 10 people (yay!). I got the classic benedict and my dining partner got the 2 eggs breakfast. They were both decent and not too insanely-priced. Nothing to rave about but also not disappointing.

Located inside the infamous La Lafayette hotel this diner is a perfect fit! With the decor and artsy booths take you to the 1940's! Great vibe very friendly service. We had a large group and they were accommodating to us. We ordered different items off the menu from eggs Benedict, matza ball soup, to avocado toast, and English muffins not one of us was disappointed!! The coffee was the only thing that prevented me from giving the food 5 stars. The food was great but the coffee had a bit of a stale after taste. Everyone is really friendly and the atmosphere is just extraordinary!! Parking is an issue unless you valet you have to find street parking. Great place to take pictures, the 1940s decor is beautiful ❤️

Believe everything you’ve heard about Beginner’s Diner and the Lafayette. I never imagined my 2024 Christmas dinner to be classic diner sandwiches but, my god, these were amazing. After my first bite into my patty melt I was already thinking about the next time I’m visiting Beginner’s Diner. The club sandwich is hands down one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had in my life. That black pepper mayo was everything. We ordered both curly and regular, straight fries. Definitely go with the curly fries. And anyone who knows me, knows how much I love diner coffee and their coffee was one of the best I’ve had. This place delivered on all things. Vibes, flavor, service. I honestly did not want to leave my seat at the counter. We will without question be back for breakfast.

What a chic diner. Feels like you’re stepping back in time into another decade. We came here on a week night and it was filling up by 7pm. My friend and I shared a dipped sandwich, deviled eggs, and their lemony pie. Definitely share the pie since it’s quite rich.

Want a fun 50s diner experience? BD has the vibe and looks like it's open 24 hours. Wait at the front to be seated. The booth nearest the door on the right pulled out from the table to give a bit more room and the other side of the booth has a narrow fit. They have paper straws in the old timey dispensers. It would have been great to be cheerfully greeted and welcomed with a run down of some of the house favorites. Friendly small talk, enthusiasm, and a smile are free, soft skills that can be cultivated. We tried the chili (has pork in it), which was good but it was a small portion in a flat plate-bowl. For the price it should be in an actual bowl. We tried the pickled veggies (a mini carrot, some tiny mushrooms, a couple tiny slices of yellow bell pepper, garlic, a lot of onions) and they had a very strong, distinct taste. There were some left on the plate, so apparently they weren't the best hit. One person tried the Greek salad with the added $8 of chicken. It would have been great to have an option of salmon, but that was about $20 more. A second friend had the French dip. She wasn't sure that it was Waygu beef. How do you know nowadays? I ordered what everyone said was the favorite, the Patty Melt. It was two patties and was good, not too greasy. It came with a pickle similar to the pickled veggies and sorry, I usually love dill pickles, but not this recipe. In addition, it came with a tiny container of runny ranch dip for the fries which could have been bigger and thicker. Another friend had the Schnitzel Chicken with gravy which was great. The gravy has pork in it. She ordered the baked potato and the fixings for an additional fee. For dessert, we tried the chess pie. One friend said it tasted like custard and tres leches had a baby. It was different and I wouldn't order it again. The cinnamon roll was warm and had a white icing on it. I wouldn't go out of my way to order it again. The boozy chocolate hazelnut shake was in a small container. At every other diner I've gone to, the shakes have been generous with the silver cup with extra shake in it. This seemed pretty small for the price. The big striped straws were fun. But all the shots and ice cream We had a handsome, patient waiter help us. The water glasses were a bit small so we had to ask for water refills a couple of times. My friend got a diet coke and it comes in a small bottle with no refills. Around the time we got the desserts, four fruit flies or nats were buzzing around our table which was concerning. Where did they come from and why were they there? The bathroom is outside the restaurant, across the bar and down the hallway. The music was not too loud, thankfully. Would I come again? It was pricy, could be more generous and homemade-y.

The whole experience at Beginners Diner was great. The design and environment is well done and really speaks to the 1940's era. The decor and music all play into the vibe. I ordered the Patty Melt and a strawberry milkshake. Everything was delicious and had that comfort food feel. The service was great as well. Mallory was our server and very helpful! I can't wait to try more items on the menu. Eat up!!