Blue Ribbon Diner

I had dinner at Blue Ribbon Diner and left with mixed feelings about the experience. I ordered the veggie plate with green beans, cabbage, and fried okra. Unfortunately, both the green beans and cabbage had absolutely no flavor — no salt, no seasoning, just very bland. The fried okra wasn’t much better, which was disappointing since I usually enjoy southern-style vegetables that have some richness or seasoning. There was also a kids’ spaghetti at our table, and it looked okay but tasted a bit dry. The Apple Jack grilled chicken was a better choice — the chicken itself was flavorful and well-cooked — but again, the cabbage on the side brought the dish down. On the bright side, the desserts and drinks were the real highlights of the meal. I had a vanilla milkshake that was thick, creamy, and delicious — exactly what you’d hope for from a diner. I also tried the sweet potato pie, which honestly didn’t look like much when it arrived, but it turned out to be surprisingly delicious with great flavor and texture. The peach cobbler, which came highly recommended, completely lived up to the hype — it was warm, sweet, and hands-down the best thing we had at the table. The atmosphere is exactly what you’d expect from a classic diner — casual, family-friendly, and a bit nostalgic. The customer service was great, and the staff were friendly and attentive throughout the meal. Overall, I’d call this a hit-or-miss experience. The entrées and veggies were forgettable, but the desserts and service really stood out. I would go back just for the peach cobbler and milkshake, but otherwise, it’s your typical small-town diner with average food and great hospitality.

My wife and I stopped by the Blue Ribbon Diner today, and overall, it was a mixed experience. The place definitely has that classic diner vibe, cozy booths, retro decor, and a welcoming atmosphere. The staff were friendly and attentive, and our food came out fairly quickly, which we appreciated. We ordered three meals, and while the portions were decent, the flavor was lacking. Everything was just kind of bland, nothing really stood out or made us want to come back for the taste. It was okay, but definitely not memorable. We also planned on getting banana milkshakes, but unfortunately, they were out of bananas, which was a bit disappointing. Overall friendly service and quick food in a classic diner setting, but the flavor didn’t quite hit the mark for us.

We have been coming to Blue Ribbon for years now, and while we miss the Mebane location, this one is very good. We visited during a busy lunch hour and you wouldn't have noticed it. The service was on point and the food came out hot and fast. Their chicken is by far the best thing on their menu second to their ranch dressing. We enjoyed our lunch and look forward to future visits.

Stopped in here for a quick bite last weekend. The staff was super friendly, and my waitress was great. She was super attentive and always made sure I had what I needed. I ordered the cheddar chicken sandwich basket. Which has their 'famous' chicken marinated in their apple jack sauce. The chicken that came out had some of the sauce on it and it was very tasty. I could definitely taste the vinegar in the sauce though, just as an FYI. The piece of chicken I got felt really lacking.... like I was looking for the other half of the piece of chicken got lol. The fries were pretty good, but would have been better with some seasoning. Cheddar Chicken Sandwich - 7/10 (Prob would have been 8.5 if the piece of meat wasn't so small) Fries - 7.4/10

Updated : My last couple of visits here were much better. Burgers were cooked correctly, and so were the fries. The size of the burger patties appears to have gotten considerably smaller, but other than that everything was good, and had a great flame grilled taste. Not as good as it used to be, but not much is. I did not get any free food or get paid to write this review. I have lunch money, thank you very much. This place is a classic in Burlington and I come here quite a bit. Nothing beats the old Blue Ribbon Bacon Burger Basket. Bring back the old burger patties please. Usually this place is good. It’s been up and down. Today I was served a burger that was nearly raw. Still red in the middle. Service was good, but looks like I’ll have to find another burger place. It’s not rocket science people. Learn to cook a burger.

When we walked in, we actually got ignored.Nobody tried to seat us.We set ourselves because we didn't know we had to be seated.And nobody talked to us when I was trying to get the manager's attention.He looked over me until I finally got loud enough that he heard me. And he said, you have to wait to be seated.I said well, the girl didn't say that. When we first walked in, the girl looked straight at us didn't say anything. So that's why we just went ahead and sat down when the next group of people came in she did seat them. But the manager was not that friendly he had quite a bit of a bad attitude towards us. But we were told that that was his usual always had a bad attitude. And the food was not that great, not enough to put up with the attitude we had from the manager and the hostess. Our server was very good. That would be the only reason I would go back would be to try to find Her. Alexa, I give her 5 stars.

First time at this location. Food was great and service was impeccable. Very pleased.

You know the food is good when even after a 15min drive home, it is still fresh, flavorful and hot. Chicken fried chicken (w fried okra & mashed potato) & Cheddar chicken sandwich (w sweet potato fries). Genuinely so impressed!

Hadn't been here in a long time! This is an oldie but goodie, a Burlington staple! You definitely get that diner appeal. The fried pickles are very good. Crispy. Briny. Tasty. Wasn't too crowded today. Sometimes this place can be packed. The parking lot is usually pretty full though. I ordered my favorite meal. Honestly I am not sure if I've eaten anything else. The Dirty Dig Basket. What is this you ask? Beef hot dog with chili, cheese, slaw and a slice of bacon. Yes. Bacon. And it's served with fries. I get chili and cheese on those too! Pro tip: those fries are hot like lava. Let them cool a bit. While they are cooling drizzle some ranch on them. Yyyeeeaaahhh! Trust me! My colleague had the bacon cheese burger. The burger diameter almost equal to the bun. She quipped "this is a good burger"

We did a carryout meal and were expecting a decent chicken tender, but instead, I got 3 nuggets! These were barely an excuse for a nuggett. I went in and spoke with the carryout employee who agreed that the chicken tenders were quite small so she spoke to her manager who came out and proceeded to say those were normal and that's what I get. If you want a decent size meal, you might need to order 4 meals! This meal is the equivalent of a small childs meal. The manager needs instruction on customer service.

Great diner atmosphere .. coffee was sooo good .. chicken tenders are the best I've ever had ! Onion rings, okra, fries , all excellent! Waitress was friendly and attentive We'll be back !

Food was good but the portion sizes have gotten ridiculous! You still feel hungry when you leave. Chicken breast very small and the mashed potatoes they give you now you hardly get any. We were told you get bottomless fries and when we asked for more someone else said they don't do that anymore. Its sad cause you use to get more on your plate. Not worth the $$ the pic looks like more than it actually is.

Good food for a long time and really great milkshakes to accompany meal! Hard to beat!!

As far as diners go, Blue Ribbon is top notch. From the old-timey atmosphere, like bolted-down bar stools and aproned, smiling staff; to the sizzling patties of a hot hamburger, it's an absolute delight. The fried pickles and fried cheese curds are my favorite.

Great little diner with great service and friendly staff. They had a line waiting but it was very quick til we were sat. Awesome little find.

I have been there many times the food is excellent, Lisa was our server the first time we went, she is friendly, efficient and very informative about the area ( we are new to this area) we've been back many times all the servers are very nice & friendly it's a good family place & I thank them for the hospitality

Full disclosure: I worked here for several years as a high school/college student so this spot will always hold a special place in my heart! Blue Ribbon isn't what you typically think of when you hear the word "diner". They don't serve breakfast and they're not open late, but they do have a (decorative) jukebox and classic checkered-floors with retro counters and bar stools. The employees are always helpful and friendly, and the owners pop in often to show love to the many regulars. Working here was my first introduction to small, local businesses and I've been hooked ever since. Speaking of hooked... everyone in Burlington knows about their Applejack (aka Apple-Crack) Sauce, the most heavenly honey mustard substitute in the world. When I moved across the country, I admittedly begged my family to ship it out to me on dry ice. One can dream. I have dipped literally everything on the menu in Applejack and can promise you it all tastes great. As a southern girl, Blue Ribbon provides tastes of home: sweet tea, fried chicken, fried okra, chicken pot pie, meatloaf, mac n' cheese, cornbread muffins (get it at lunch while it's still fresh!), hot dogs, burgers, milkshakes, peach cobbler... the list goes on. Did I mention they also serve Endless Fries!? If you're in Burlington (or Mebane!) looking for a family-friendly, affordable and local spot, Blue Ribbon Diner is it.

Always forget sauces even when asked, called to speak with manager, some Joke named John answered and wanted to tell me my sauces don't come with the order, when I explained I asked 3 times for them, and he's being ignorant, he wanted to hang up. Absolute worse service. Do not go. Go to the one in mebane. It may be better. Burlington staff is struggling. Not to mention, went 2 weeks ago and they completely screwed my order up with my whole family there. Didn't even get my food until my whole family was done eating. They decided to make me still pay for my food and give me a 15$ coupon. Food is one thing, disrespect is another. Screw you john at south church st blue ribbon

Excellent vegetables. Good proportions for the price. They were very busy but the take out pick up in your car was very efficient.

Went there for dinner, had eaten here before, ordered the steak special with mashed potatoes, it took a while to get the food, our waitress was 1 of 2 that I saw so I understand that it takes longer being short staffed, after we got our food it was so bad I literally took one bite from the steak and one from the potatoes, luckily we were close to the bathroom, I got sick almost instantly, when we were checked on I didn't say anything about the food hoping the waitress would notice and ask. Nope.... Spent the next 30 mins in and out of the bathroom... unfortunately I have tried to call a couple times and no one answers the phone... the food was worse than a frozen dinner from the grocery store. Hate going places where nobody cares about what they are doing...

My husband & I tried this restaurant again. Heard they had cleaned up their act. They have removed the blinds which needed to be. Everything else appeared the same. We sat at the counter, it was 7:00 in the evening. And I overheard the wait staff (not our waitress) exclaim she had already completed her break down for the night. I'm guessing that meant she was ready to get outta there at closing time. My husband ordered a burger & potato salad. I ordered the chicken in a basket with chili cheese fries ( my old time favorite) and was very pleasantly surprised that they had gotten new fries!! FINALLY! These were much better! Everything was very good & our young waitress was very pleasant, sweet & accommodating. I noticed the prices had increased, which I know with the pandemic most restaurants have. But the chicken strip basket was about $8.00 chili & cheese was extra. So about $10. for 3 chicken strips & fries with chili & cheese added. The husbands burger & side was $10 also. The restroom was clean & stocked with the essentials. I'm giving a 3 stars because of a waiter that had long shaggy hair. No hair net, only a ball cap, which didn't do anything for the hair hanging down. Don't know if this is a lack of management on the nighttime staff, hadn't seen that during the day shift. But we hope to be back regularly again.

The server was very polite, our food was very good and hot. We truly enjoyed ourselves and will return.

Great food. Good portions. Awesome service! I have enjoyed Blue Ribbon since I was a kid. The chicken Parmesan is amazing!

Family of 4 ate for $42 before tip. Food portion to cost is good. Flavor and seasoning good. Clean place with 50's motif. Good solid place for a good meal.

I've been coming to the Blue Ribbon Diner since I was little. Their famous Apple Jack Sauce is by far the BEST sauce around!! I literally could eat it on just about anything, it's that good! Sometimes I will buy a pint of it to use at home. Their chicken tenders are great, their grilled chicken is great, veggies are pretty good. Their portions are definitely on the small side but it's probably the portion sizes we SHOULD be eating. I got takeout tonight and we live 30 minutes away. Everything was great except next time I should ask for the side salad in a separate container so it's not put in the same container with hot food. Not a good combination. I have celiac disease and HAVE to avoid gluten. I get grilled chicken, apple Jack sauce and veggies or salad and I've never had a problem with gluten. So I would definitely recommend for a few gluten free options.

We went today for the hot dogs! They were great !!! I've ordered a dog for over 25 years!!!!

Frozen burgers that are over cooked. Cheap fries, overpriced. What happened to this place? Good news is the server was very friendly. Eating out is becoming a luxury so I don't believe I will be paying these prices for this quality.

I lived in town when this place was built many moons ago and it was great. Decided to drop in today with my son and sad to see it has dropped in quality considerably. Bugers were cooked to the brink of ash, fries were cold and limp and the onion rings were cold and soggy. On the plus side the waitress was friendly, the place was emaculate in cleanliness so at least they got that going for them. In afterthought should of went to Skid's down the road. Sorry Andy

My wife and I were looking for a place to eat on Independence Day as we traveled to Greensboro for an event. We always check out any place with the word "diner" in the name, and we weren't disappointed here. My burger was really good, and my wife's shrimp salad (yes, fried shrimp on a bed of lettuce, tomato, and cheese) was great--better than you might expect. And our server was polite, professional, and prompt. The only criticism (and it's not much of one) is that I firmly believe that, if you call yourself a diner, you should serve breakfast all day (or at least in the morning). No breakfast here, but our lunch was still well worth the stop.

Walked in today for a late lunch. Maybe 4 tables were full. 2 waitresses & 1 waiter walked right by us without any acknowledgement of our existence. We stood there 6 minutes just waiting to be acknowledged before walking out the door not to ever return again! I understand being short staffed but a "hey how are you, we will be right with you" goes a long way. Especially on a Sunday afternoon at 3pm when hardly anyone is in the restaurant. Will never return again!

Great little diner with super friendly folks. I even bought a coffee mug as a souvenir! Try their grilled chicken salad, one of the best I've had. And don't forget the sweet potato pie! I'll be back!

Friendly service, pretty mediocre diner food. I love a good diner, but sadly I think this one is just okay. I went for lunch with a group of 5 today and only one of us was super happy with the food. The positives: - our waiter was incredibly attentive, accommodating, and friendly. Judging by the smiles and pleasantries we got as we were entering and leaving, I'd say the staff leaves a good impression. - the decor is really cute and fitting and they have jukebox like every good diner should. It's a good size restaurant with plenty of booths and tables that accommodate larger groups. - the menu has a lot of variety, from burgers, chicken, seafood platters, salads, to blue plate specials like country fried steak. The desserts sounded great, especially the pies, so if I were to return I'd definitely try a slice. - my family member said the fried grouper was excellent. - prices are really good! - clean women's restroom with plenty of stalls. - plenty of parking. The negatives: - no breakfast! How can you call yourself a diner without serving breakfast? - the fried food wasn't fried particularly well, so the cheese curds, crinkle cut french fries, and shrimp we ordered all lacked the crunch you typically get from frying. They could have benefited from hotter oil. Speaking of oil, these items were really greasy because of not being fried well. - the portion of the cheese curds was laughable. And the curds themselves were tiny, too, but the cheese was at least tasty. - the shrimp that is served are really small. I wouldn't mind that if the menu had specified popcorn shrimp, but I was expecting the shrimp to be more substantial.

I had a bacon cheeseburger with crinkle cut fries. The menu has lots of options. The Sunday special is chicken pie. I kept seeing it come out of the kitchen and it looked fabulous. The diner looked a lot like and old diner.

Love the food here! Perfect hand-spun milkshakes and the 50's themed diner is awesome! Make sure to try the fried pickles!

This is one of those places that tries too hard to be retro - it is way too shiny, way too much glass, way too little old school wear and tear. The food is decent - burgers, dogs, usual sandwiches, some plates, spaghetti, and fish, and salads. All are decent, none are spectacular. But the milkshakes are spectacular - thick, very rich, you could even use a spoon on it.

The other day was my first time there and it was a nice change of pace from fast food lunches. The prices are not bad but my waitress seemed a bit on the pushy side. I had Chicken Fried Chicken and I had not ate my cornbread muffins and she was like you need to eat them they are the best. Well, I ate them but they were not awesome but rather average.

Y'all: we need to talk. I am not sure what kind of voodoo they are serving up in that kitchen but you need to try the Fried Cheese Curds. I came in last week and I can't stop thinking about them. I don't even know what they are but they are little delicious kibbles of yummy goodness that melted in my mouth. Our waitress rocked and all of our food was good but those cheese curds.... Holy shenanigans. Man oh man were they amazing!

Good diner style food. Loved the atmosphere. Didn't get a chance to try a milkshake but will definitely be back to get one!

We were out in Burlington for the day and my husband wanted a chicken fried steak. We were told this was the place to go. On a positive note he thought it was good. The fried pickles were okay my food was not. I just got a simple hamburger and it looked like it was still raw. I could not eat it. I did eat the fries and they were alright. The ranch dressing was watered down a lot. This is a place that will not get a second visit. High note our waitress was nice other than that its not a good place to eat.

I was very disappointed with the Blue Ribbon Diner. what kind of "Diner" doesn't serve breakfast foods. might as well call it the "Blue Ribbon Dinner." The waitress also told me she saw the print through my pants and she liked it. It made me very uncomfortable but I appreciated the compliment. but seriously no breakfast foods at a diner?

NOT A REAL DINER!!!! IT DOES NOT SERVE BREAKFAST NOR IS IT OPEN 24/7/365!!!! It has no real everyday diner foods. Like meatloaf, turkey dinner, pot roast or fried fish. It is mostly a burger and chicken basket place which are ok. The spaghetti plate is bland at best and tastes canned at worst. The service is good. Needs Wi-Fi and tv to distract one from the poor food selection.

On our visit we had very good food, we did have to send back one side, they cheerfully replaced it. I like the diner concept and execution. The service was excellent. The pricing is very reasonable, and we enjoyed it very much overall.

This place has become an institution in Burlington and even after all these years they don't disappoint. The retro decor is fun, service is always friendly although not always as fast as you would hope. The milkshakes are a highlight, as well as the grilled chicken with the applejack sauce, onion rings, and the chicken pie. I live in a different town now but I always have to make a stop here when I come home.

I think the Blue Ribbon Diner has some pretty good food. They have good burgers and their Apple Jack sauce is fantastic. The AJ sauce is versatile - put it on your salad or dip your fries in it! You also get unlimited fries with your order. They have fantastic milkshakes too, but I really dig the Haw River Mud dessert, which is plenty for 2 - 3 people. It's basically just a warm brownie covered in chocolate syrup served with ice cream, but man it's delicious. It's also the only place I know of that serves a burger and fries covered in gravy (knife and fork burger). The layout of the restaurant is pretty neat - kind of what I picture a 50's diner to look like. Every time I've been I've been seated quickly and my server was polite.

Consistently good food. Great milkshakes. Strawberry cobbler. Excellent wait staff. Great for kids to senior citizens. Try their fried pickles. Our family visits at least 3 times a month.

The server suggested the meatloaf and I'm so glad I tried it. Great home-cooked southern comfort food! Do yourself a favor and try this place out!

While Blue Ribbon Diner won't knock your socks off by any means, I think its really one of the better places to eat in Burlington. With a 1950's style diner theme, they offer a range of solid menu items. Their spaghetti (which they advertise as being in high demand and sell the sauce by the pint) is good served with a salad and garlic toast. They also have tasty chicken dishes, hot dogs and fish sandwiches. Probably one thing overlooked is their variety of vegetables. They offer a vegetable plate which includes your choice of three (choosing from mashed potatoes, fried okra, pinto beans, green beans, cabbage, etc.). The milkshakes look tasty (I've only had the gingerbread holiday one, which was like having Christmas in your mouth), but I need to have more tastes to make a definitive ruling. Bottom Line: If you want an old fashioned, casual spot that will please a variety of tastes, Blue Ribbon is a good choice. And in Burlington you can't do too much better. Give it a try.

I went there for lunch to get a break from the office. I was wanting a non-fast food burger and my search led me here. FOOD: Though a diner, the menu is certainly more varied than your typical short-order cook variety. Along with your basic hamburger and chicken sandwiches, you'll see salmon burgers, chicken parm and grouper tenders sandwichs. Appetizers include such comfort foods as cheddar fries and onion rings but also "Dog Bites" - a basket of mini hot dogs. The salad list offers both salmon and shrimp versions above and beyond your typical grilled chicken or dinner salad. There is a standing Blue Plate special for all seven days AND a unique daily special. After you throw in their Black Angus steaks and what they identify as their "signature marinade" used on all chicken dishes called AppleJack you end up with non-mainstream diner food-wise. I ordered the Ancho Chipolte Burger basket with Pepper Jack cheese. Fries come with most baskets but you can also go with a choice from one of about 10 veggies. I picked a side salad with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The burger was pretty tasty as the black Angus meat was full of flavor. It was served hot and the bun was warm and soft. I'll say that I was expecting a little spiciness from the ancho/chipolte combo but it was not spicy at all...kinda bummed about that. The salad was about average though I appreciate the healthy amount of fresh, ripe tomatoes and the dressing was good too. They also several beer and wine choices but they are all the bland, boring brands you see everywhere. 3 stars for Food - it was tasty and without faults but the ancho chipolte was a little underwhelming. SERVICE: My server, Morgan, was great. She greeted me right away when I first walked in, sat me an took my drink order politely. She seemed to know the menu well and was friendly and efficient in handling my order and checking on me. No complaints. 4 stars for Service. VALUE: My burger and salad was $6.99. You can spend that much at one of the fast food joints for something they poop out of a machine. Most menu items are in the $6 to $8 range with the steaks a couple of bucks more. All in all I'd say the prices are about average and maybe a bit better in some cases - 3 stars for Value. ATMOSPHERE: OK, so it feels a little a bit like its right out of Hollywood's "American Graffiti" but its neat and clean even if it is a lot of red, white and chrome. I see some think its too much or trying to be something its not but I'm cool with it. It's more than fine for a quick, casual meal alone or with some friends/fam. The restroom was clean and up to date too. 3 stars for Atmosphere. Overall, I'm happy I drove the extra distance for something different. The burger was strong on Angus but not so much on the chipolte. Service was very good and the place is clean and well kept. I'm sure I'll head back because the AppleJack chicken options sound interesting. Food: 7/10; Service: 8/10; Value: 6/10; Atmosphere: 7/10

A few more choices have been added to the menu lately. Try the fish or the spaghetti. A special every day keeps the prices low and my sweet tea never goes unrefilled!!

An Ok place... Nothing special about the food, but the layout is pretty cool. It's what I imagine diners look like back in their "Hey-Day".

It was really good, everything was well prepared, and service was fantastic. We didn't rate it higher because there wasn't anything outstanding. The food is very reasonably priced.

Love this place. Went on our first date here. They've changed the fries though and it's not an improvement. Now they are small crinkle fries and they don't get crispy, they mostly just taste old. We went during the lunch rush and They are usually really quick. Today they were meh. Just not happy this visit but normally they are awesome. Hopefully they will perk up next time. And change the fries back! Get the fries cheese curds. They are amazing. The applejack chicken is amazing too.

The food was awful, the service was awful, and I have nothing good to say about this place. I love diners and I was hoping to found a gem but we will not be coming back here. The one bright spot was the grilled cheese they served my toddler.

Good food. Great deserts. Limited to mainly chicken and beef entrees, which is why I give this business 4 out of five stars.

Great buffalo chicken sandwich. There fried okra is really good. Desserts are to die for... You can't go wrong with the peach cobbler or chocolate chess pie.

Great food, daily blue plate specials, and more. This place is been a favorite since my college days. Try their chicken with the applejack sauce and a chocolate shake for dessert!

There spaghetti taste like chef boyardee... yuck. The spaghetti also comes with dried plan toast, even though it says it comes with garlic bread...the service wasn't all that either. Not coming back..

Good food. 50's style decor. Fast friendly service. Really a burger and chicken place. Not a wide variety of sandwiches. Remember 3 stars is A-OK. A diner should have more choices on the menu.