Capitol Diner

https://onthegrid.city/new-york-city/inwood/capitol-restaurant

18,031 Postcards · 834 Cities

On the Grid : Capitol Restaurant

"In life, we need certain things that we can depend on. A down-home place. A greasy spoon. An agreeable spot to sit for hours with nothing more than a cup of coffee. We need to feel comfortable and unadorned. Speak to me of diners, and it isn't just the eggs, potatoes, and toast. Speak to me of diners, and you're speaking to me about a friend that I trust and feel completely comfortable with. A friend that I grew up with. A friend that I come to hungry and in need of a chat. It is a rare love that every neighborhood and person needs. In Inwood, that place is Capitol Restaurant." - Jeanne Henry

18,031 Postcards · 834 Cities

"Capitol Restaurant, Inwood. In life, we need certain things that we can depend on. A down-home place. A greasy spoon. An agreeable spot to sit for hours with nothing more than a cup of coffee. We need to feel comfortable and unadorned. Speak to me of diners, and it isn't just the eggs, potatoes, and toast. Speak to me of diners, and you're speaking to me about a friend that I trust and feel completely comfortable with. A friend that I grew up with. A friend that I come to hungry and in need of a chat. It is a rare love that every neighborhood and person needs. In Inwood, that place is Capitol Restaurant."

18,031 Postcards · 834 Cities

https://ny.eater.com/2018/8/20/17759926/nyc-diners-old-school-historic

@eater

390,870 Postcards · 10,986 Cities

8 NYC Diners That Still Maintain an Old-School Look | Eater NY

"I learned that the Capitol Restaurant is the oldest restaurant in Inwood, having started as a coffee shop called Coffee Pot that served trolley workers when the Broadway trolley line was installed in 1900 (the subway arrived five years later); the restaurant has evolved only slightly since then, retaining a late 1960s interior with scalloped counter seating and mustard-colored stools." - Riley Arthur

Cee Q.

Google

Don't let the exterior fool you. Very clean and inviting in this cozy diner. Food was good, pancakes were delicious! Liked the home fries and beef sausage as well. Great coffee! Nice little spot to drop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Staff is friendly and attentive. Overall, I really liked this diner and will visit again when in the area.

Charlie H.

Google

Thank You soooo much! the bistec a la mexicana was a lifesaver. absolutely amazing. thank you for making me my carrot/orange juice even though it wasn’t on the menu. i do really appreciate it.

Nicholas D.

Google

Came in for some french toast and I was absolutely pleased!! The service was great and I loved the setting the diner set. It's small inside and feels like home. Thanks for the great food and service!

Genesis L.

Google

Great food! Lovely service! No complaints. Very reliable and they have a huge menu, great for picky eaters.

Google

Pleasant atmosphere and staff. The portions are generous for the price. We mostly ordered the typical diner breakfast items as we had a craving for them. I definitely recommend this place if you're in the mood for good diner food. May have some wait during busy times.

perle75nyc

Google

Very clean and cozy diner with friendly staff. Food was cooked very well and fresh squeezed orange juice was really fresh. Everything was perfect until cashier charged wrong price and insisted it was correct even though we showed the correct price on the menu and to go menu.

cociamo71 4.

Google

This is a hidden gem! The exterior of the restaurant is not very appealing but the interior is designed very nicely. It’s very clean and has a cozy vibe. The customer service is nice but the food is what earns this place five stars. This is NOT your average diner food. The Greek waffle is a must to order!!! Very happy with this place!

Tian C.

Google

Update: IT WAS DELICIOUS! Fast and warm service. I felt like I was home. I told them I wanted the bacon medium and not too crispy and it came PERFECT, just how I like it! —————————————————————— My Mom came here once and told me it was so good and has great prices! I went in to get a menu and was immediately greeted by Ana. They have great artwork on the walls, table, booth and I think counter seating. Very warm and welcoming. I can't wait to try it myself!

Kenny M.

Yelp

Called a few times before to get food from here ,food is great but a recent Call for delivery that was just five minutes away they would not deliver over the 207 bridge guy on the phone says he don't deal with Fordham rd I was shocked it's just 5 min on a bike Shit service but good food ‍

Jessica P.

Yelp

This diner usually is on point but today it just wasn't . I ordered a spinach and feta omelet but the cheese came non melted and it wasn't good. I feel that they rushed my order and now I'm here waiting for the fix. I'm always satisfied with what I order here which is why I gave 3 stars. Today I'm not sure what happened.

Tinesi P.

Yelp

The BLAT sandwich is $10 and as you can see it has more lettuce and tomato than bacon. I asked my servicer for an expensive sandwich can they at lease give one strip of bacon more and he said no because the will charge me $2.50 for that The star is for quick service, cool diner vibes and location. The sandwich itself was aiight. And the ice coffee was okay.

Justa B.

Yelp

Go to diner around the way, food taste good, quick service, cozy and delicious. We order takeout frequently, good portions and nice team.

Iris t.

Yelp

Ordered a western omelette with homefries... it was over priced & nothing special about it.

Stephanie G.

Yelp

Quaint little spot with apx 5-6 booths and 4 (4 chair) tables and 4 bar stools. Quick, friendly service but the food wasn't tasty. My friend ordered blueberry pancakes and was pleased, I ordered (with the recommendation of the server) the Huevos Rancheros and it was not. I ate 2 bites and tossed the rest. The tortilla was old and stale, not a drop of seasoning added, it was quite unsavory. Due to the difficulty finding street parking and the subpar food, I can't recommend this establishment.

June S.

Yelp

This diner has changed its face and its owner recently. I never visited the old diner, but we decided to check out the brand new diner. The inside is very bright, clean, and cozy. They had some baked goods on the counter, such as muffins and bagels. We didn't try them, but they looked pretty good. I tried their Banana Smoothie. It was very thick and totally banana-y. Came in a plastic cup, which was kind of funny, no frills here. Tasty! We were there for brunch, and their menu is quite large! It took me a few minutes to decide what to get. I went with Pancakes Decker - layered with Greek yogurt, blueberries, strawberries, & topped with honey. Now, the actual Pancake Decker looked very different from what was shown on their menu... It didn't come with honey either. The pancakes were fluffy, and the berries were ripe and sweet, which was great. Even though it didn't live up to the photo, it was still a tasty dish. My hubby went with Monte Cristo. It was a bit smaller than expected, but still a nice size. It was very tasty, nice flavor and seasoning on the meat. It didn't look like much, but we enjoyed it. I would like to go back to try some other items on their menu, but not based on the photos off the menu...LOL.

Shantelle C.

Yelp

I do not know if it is just my experiences but "after COVID-19" I have been having more negative than positive times at restaurants. I came to Capitol Diner, which I have ordered from (AND SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC) probably 20+ times and it has always been on point... up until this most current visit!!! With that being said... the steak was just a big piece of fat. Like what goes through someone's thoughts when serving that to a paying customer? Also, the grilled chicken wrap was another disaster! The chicken was rubbery and barely cooked. It was as if they grilled each side for about 30 seconds and called it a day! To accommodate for the lack of quality, they gave us a $8 dollar discount... when it is nothing since we literally left more than three quarters of our food!!!

Judy C.

Yelp

Great service, promptly seated and had our order in within 5 min. Average diner food.

Matthew L.

Yelp

So this was interesting- I just ordered Huevos Rancheros. They called to let us know they had no rice and I okayed to substitute fries. The Huevos arrives and there's also NO Beans and NO Guacamole, both of which are supposed to come with it. In the previous discussion about the rice- no mention about the other missing ingredients. I got 2 fried eggs, 2 tortillas, a small salad and fries but they charged full price for Huevos Rancheros. We will not be ordering again from them for a VERY long time if ever. Do they not know that they are in New York City with about 100 restaurants in a mile radius of them that compete for business? Just WOW, WTH Dude?

Elena R.

Yelp

Just ordered this $20 "avocado toast" that was soggy, the avocado was totally ripe, ingredients were missing, and the overall taste was revolting. Unsure how there are any good reviews for this food.

Fawn T.

Yelp

Sometimes it's nice to have simple and homey diner food. The buffalo chicken sandwich and curly fries were delicious! The pizza burger is also fantastic. The menu is endless here! They have so many options.

Jenise A.

Yelp

Great family style food, the ambiance was upscale. Worth the price, going with a group is best.

Edward K.

Yelp

Totally NEW Capitol Diner. New owners, with old name. Pros: Fast, friendly, accurate, clean, inviting, delicious, CLEAN. No menu misspelling! They actually seem to care, keep it up. Cons: Smaller?, not inventive menu, boring banana split, cheaply remodeled interior, misspelling on specials insert. I'll be back to try more of the menu.

Leila B.

Yelp

I have been a patron of Capitol Restaurant for many years. Until last weekend my experience there was positive. Last Saturday I went to Capitol diner and was denied a vacant, available table because I was alone. When I pointed out to the person in charge of tables that the table was vacant and also there was no one in line for it other than me, I was told that tables were reserved for parties of two or more. I pointed out that this was illegal and discriminating against me as an older woman eating alone. I was told that he wasn't being disrespectful he was doing his job. When I told him that this was disrespectful treatment, illegal and asked to speak to the manager I was left waiting over 10 minutes for a menu, service and never got to speak to the manager. The young man told me in spanish to calm down. Not appreciated. I am 63, single and tired of literally not being seen when I go to diners, etc. It goes without saying that I will NEVER eat a Capitol ever again. If you plan to go there and your are an older female make sure you have someone with you if you want to be seated, served and receive better treatment than I did.

Rockey N.

Yelp

I'm really liking the Delivery from the New Capitol! The Mexican Specialties and diner classics are really good. Love the burgers, fries, burritos, quesadillas, meatloaf and soups were excellent! Very fast delivery!

Andre S.

Yelp

It's a little hole in the wall in the heart of Inwood on the A line.. The servers were very busy and it took about 4 times to ask for the check.. Although In a rush to serve the other patrons in the place they kept bumping into my gf without any form of apology.. This place is more suited for take out than dining in

Ofelia E.

Yelp

I'm usually not a diner person but this place was pretty good. Food was tasty, not overly greasy, and with good presentation. Staff was very friendly and attentive. I got the chocolate chip pancakes (topped with strawberries for additional charge), and an espresso and orange juice. My friend got scrambled eggs with home fries, bacon and toast. Everything on his plate was good but my only complaint is that the bacon was a bit overcooked, too crispy for my taste. Their freshly squeezed orange juice is actually freshly squeezed and so good. My pancakes were huge, filled with a lot of chocolate chips and topped with plenty of strawberries. Everything was great and cheap (total was around $37). Will definitely go back if i'm in the area again.

Jim S.

Yelp

It's a renovation and new ownership for a neighborhood favorite. This was long a breakfast meeting place but is now a perfect diner for the neighborhood. You can actually have a conversation in the restaurant which is rare in NYC. Food was great dinner food plenty to eat and reasonable price. I had fajitas and I had everyone looking at the plate because it sizzled for a long time. Manager was very attentive and asked if I wanted more tortillas even before I finished my last one. Where do you get service like that. It's not gourmet but good food. Neighbor had Belgian Waffle and fried chicken and it looked like it could serve three people. I'll be back.

Aldemar D.

Yelp

I used to love this diner, but it looks like they have been resting on their laurels lately. Items are missing, or they ignore the instructions, every single time now. Ordering via Seamless is pointless, because I end up calling them anyway and asking them to send the missing or correct items. And yet, when I call the order in and explain everything in plain English (they don't know what a "tossed" salad is, by the way), they still manage to get it wrong. If anyone opens another diner in Inwood that will deliver to my address, they'll never hear from me again - even good food is not worth the aggravation. (Too bad - everything started off so well with these guys!)

Phillip C.

Yelp

Excellent eatery! Great servers, clean comfortable environment! The food is great and prepared with care! I love this diner and wish them a long success!

Sparky C.

Yelp

I'll admit I'm usually not a huge fan of diners because I like my complicated spices and sauces and whatnot, but sometimes you just need a really good grilled cheese sandwich, home fries, pancakes, waffles, omelets, etc. Capitol makes some really delicious comfort food. The food is clean. Service is fast and very friendly. The vibe is nice and there is a good variety of Uptown folks in attendance. I appreciate Capitol's tasty eats and will continue to visit when the mood strikes.

Sheilla A.

Yelp

Just tried the new Capitol Diner and it was great. My husband and I were there at 1pm and got breakfast food. I got 2 eggs over easy with home fries and sausage. My husband got the Mexican inlet with home fries. Diner food at a very reasonable price. We paid about $23 dollars for both our meals. We finally have a real diner in the hood that has good food and is not ridiculously priced. Our waiter was very nice! Place looks nice and clean but was a bit tight. I'm glad it is getting foot traffic. People were waiting for tables to open up. Will update review when we try lunch/dinner.

Kevin S.

Yelp

Last time ordering here. They cannot grasp the concept of toasting a bagel. Also. Iced coffee. Sent me brown liquid from the sink it seems. And this is not the first time. Very sad to see this place go downhill.

Caroline A.

Yelp

This place gets 5 stars for being exactly what Inwood needed. I am so glad they kept the spot a diner and upgraded it. They serve breakfast all day, which for those who venture out after noon, is a real hit! The food is exactly what it needs to be - decent pancakes and French Toast (although adding challah bread as an option would be cool), consistent eggs, and good coffee. I will be back to try some other options but by mastering these basics I can't complain. The prices are fabulous and make heading out for breakfast or lunch less of a guilty pleasure. The staff are friendly, the owner is sweet and out on the floor checking on guests. The AC worked, the tables, floors, and dinnerware were clean. Music was vintage and the art matches the feel. We used to have to go to Tibbetts in Riverdale to get the full diner experience, and while we may still pop back there from time to time for the price, portions, and service this place definitely will become a regular spot. Between this place and G's around the corner there isn't much more we could want for comfort food in Inwood ok our lazy Weekends.

Jeff C.

Yelp

I'm visiting for several weeks and a local friend recommended this place for standard diner fare. I ordered the California Omelette for takeout, and it absolutely satisfied my cravings. 3 eggs and lots of fillings, 2 hash brown patties, and toast. The counter guys were friendly, food was ready quicker than they'd said, and they gave me a few extra condiments when requested. I'm definitely planning regular orders here. I'll update if necessary, but this seems like the real deal when looking for a diner.

Teresa A F.

Yelp

Absolutely love this place! Have dined in as well as gotten delivery. Never been disappointed. Their burgers are fantastic. The chicken salad club was the best I ever had. I adore their Belgian waffle. Their fries and onion rings are incredible. They have wonderful desserts and muffins. The lemonade is fantastic. Staff is great. It's a very comfortable place to sit and eat. Brought a friend who normally hates diners and she was won over, too. Definitely my go-to place in the neighborhood. Prices are reasonable.

Andrea G.

Yelp

We've been living in the area for a while but for some reason didn't know that this awesome diner was just up the street. We opted to sit outside today to have a late breakfast and the food was great! Our waiter was very friendly and the food arrived so fast! I thought we would be cold but the outdoor structure they have built kept it quite cozy and we didn't need our jackets on. We will definitely be back again soon!

Robert R.

Yelp

We had a late breakfast/early lunch on a Saturday. Bacon and eggs with toast and fries was generous and tasty. All the health protocols were observed and the waitress was pleasant and attentive. Lots of activity on the street and many shops to browse. This is about a half a mile walk to The Cloisters. Then up a hill.

Sebastian B.

Yelp

My spouse & I were curious about trying the food here. Unfortunately, we never had the chance because we left before being seated. The man who greeted us was outrageously nasty with my spouse who has a disability. Then he refused to give us seats. Even more disturbing was the behavior of the seated patrons. Who seemed to support discrimination. We never went back here again after this horrible incident. We reported this diner for a violation of the ADA. I hope that justice prevails.

M D.

Yelp

Alright. In the mood for a snappy Manhattan brunch with a bottomless mimosa? This joint will clearly frustrate and disappoint that intention. Want a low-pressure morning sit-down that's not desolate, but also isn't pretentious in a hushed but not dead environment? Then come here! Have a super-taster in your midst who just can't even be pleased with the overpowering dinner rolls severed at your favorite restaurant? Bring them here! At least the breakfast will be passable, if only just so and the coffee won't cause any jitters (even though it's bottomless). No, this place isn't for the food. It's for the ambiance. I haven't tested this theory, but I believe you could sit there for three or four hours on any given morning and not incur the ire of the owners. Just remember - it's cash-only. - it's not trying to impress. - it's great for a quiet conversation with your super-taster sister-in-law and you will be fine. Enjoy!

Butter c.

Yelp

Pre pandemic, was happy to see they renovated the old diner and made this place more appealing and the food was decent for diner food. However, on our most recent visit, I was pretty offended and hurt that as soon as we were seated, the waitress ONLY looked at me and asked for my vaccination card. She didn't ask my partner nor did I see her ask anyone else who came after me including the gentleman that was seated very close to us. I took out my card and placed it on the table but she didn't seem to acknowledge it. The food looked okay, unfortunately, it missed the mark with the lack of flavor. Safe to say, we will not be returning especially after the whole incident about the vaccine card.

Jason E.

Yelp

The new Capitol is just thing Inwood needed. Fast and friendly service. The food is really diner level so while it may not knock your socks off it will fill you up and unlike a lot of diners, it's not too greasy or salty. It's a great addition to the neighborhood and I hope it does well for a long time.

Elia R.

Yelp

This place is the best. So quick, so friendly, amazing food. What's not to love!! They also now accept credit cards!

Laur C.

Yelp

Hey Capitol Diner- any chance of incorporating vegan dishes to your menu? Lived in the neighborhood for years and always have to venture out of Inwood to enjoy a vegan meal. I fantasize what it would be like to be able to walk around the corner from our home and sit down to enjoy a reasonably priced cruelty free meal! Lots of vegans in the area with business potential. Would love to check you guys out but don't see an item that my family can enjoy. Thanks for listening and considering

Jon O.

Yelp

Typical old school diner. Breakfast entree was pretty good and reasonably priced. Can't go with breakfast or a burger at this joint. Not too many old school diners left in NYC.

Samuel B.

Yelp

LOVE this place. fast, affordable, good quality. So happy this place is open and part of the inwood community.

Loretta K.

Yelp

This place is a neighborhood gem. I have never had a bad meal or bad service ever. The pancakes are amazing, fluffy pillows of deliciousness. It is almost always packed on a weekend so be prepared. It is small but since they are fast and efficient the wait is never long and always worth it. I'm there every weekend and by now they know all the regular clients and it feels nice. Highly recommend this place.

Jay R.

Yelp

I have lived around the Inwood area for years and would frequent Capitol Dinner. I'm glad to see they actually kept the dinner around as we are missing actual dinners in the neighborhood. They gave it a much needed facelift. I so happen to stop in last week and was surprised the menu was pretty much the same. Breakfast was good, coffee was good too. Will continue to support our local neighborhood dinner.

Karl B.

Yelp

This diner ignored my request in the Grub Hub app to include Russian dressing with my my Reuben sandwich today. Not only did they ignore my request, but even after 2 calls over 45 minutes to request the dressing, and after telling me it would come in 2 minutes, an hour later it still hadn't come. In fact it NEVER came. The comments section in Grub Hub is not there so it can just be ignored. After the dozens and dozens of times I have ordered from Capitol you would think they would have cared more about correcting their own mistakes.

Brendaleah B.

Yelp

Nice little restaurant. A bit pricey...ask for prices cause when the bill comes your like....confused

Jim D.

Yelp

Recently tried this place out while visiting family in Inwood. It's a great, classic diner. Solid food, quick and friendly service, great location, pleasant ambiance. The food won't win any huge culinary awards, but it's diner food so that's kind of the point anyway. Sounds like the renovations I'm seeing mentioned in other reviews have really paid off.

Regina C.

Yelp

I have been going here since I was a little girl. Feels good to have an old fashioned burger at a truly reasonable price. Breakfast is good too. Happy they didn't change to cater to all the yuppies around here like all the other places did.

Jan K.

Yelp

Very old school spot with a lot of history. Place has been here since 1926 and it was a restaurant even before then. Coffee was way better than your usual diner drip, pancakes were delicious and the staff on point. It's got this long lost glamour that's hard to find these days.

Patrick R.

Yelp

Don't bother with this place. They literally don't care once they have your money. Something missing from your order? Not their fault. You asked for no Mayo on your sandwich? Too bad, you're getting Mayo. No they can't send you another one. They argue with you when they screw things up and refuse to make things right. At least order on grubhub so you can get a refund when they screw up your order and refuse to fix it. Or better yet, just order from literally anyplace else in the neighborhood.

Wandy R.

Yelp

Love the old capitol but this one here is becoming to be just as good, breakfast be on point.

James P.

Yelp

Great food, great service, good prices and best breakfast spot in Inwood! I really enjoy the Texas Burger, Burritos are slamming and the Eggs Benedict is near perfect. Unlike other restaurants in the area, they have set prices that don't change based on your race. To often you get overcharged based on how you look and speak, it's refreshing to be treated equal. Give it shot, we'll worth it!

Dakota S.

Yelp

The guy seems very nice, but it's kinda a tight squeeze didn't have anything on the menu I asked for which was kinda annoying. But again the guy seems like a very nice hard working man who just needs to update his menu

Texican J.

Yelp

I wanted to love this place. Really, I did. I had a really long, stressful week and thought it would do my spirit good to finally check out the little greasy-spoon diner that looks as if it hasn't been touched since the Sixties. I ordered the Rueben Deluxe and my friend ordered Spaghetti. When the food arrived, I was incredibly disappointed. My Rueben Deluxe was nothing but a clump of dry, corned beef on a piece of un toasted white bread, surrounded by fries that were overlooked. It was basically inedible. My friend's spaghetti was greasy and tasteless. The sauce had a real bad taste, like it came out of a can and had sat there for a few days. It was really gross. Needless to say, I won't be going back and it certainly was not worth the $28.50 we paid for that garbage. Oh, yeah! And it is cash only...you find that out when you attempt to pay, which leaves an even more bitter taste in your mouth than the meal you somehow managed to swallow. AVOID.

https://onthegrid.city/new-york-city/inwood/capitol-restaurant

18,031 Postcards · 834 Cities

On the Grid : Capitol Restaurant

18,031 Postcards · 834 Cities

18,031 Postcards · 834 Cities

https://ny.eater.com/2018/8/20/17759926/nyc-diners-old-school-historic

@eater

390,870 Postcards · 10,986 Cities

8 NYC Diners That Still Maintain an Old-School Look | Eater NY