City Diner

Our visit to City Diner in Falls Church, VA, was a mixed bag of experiences. The server was kind and attentive, which added a positive note to our meal. However, the food itself was mediocre at best. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what was missing, but it lacked that extra something to make it memorable. That said, after a workout, it was filling and did the job. The restaurant's decor is quite an experience in itself. Stuck in a time warp, it gives off vibes reminiscent of grandma's antique closet. The eclectic mix of textures is all around—from neon lights to dolls and lighthouses, all interspersed with Christmas-colored seating. It's a quirky ambiance that some might find charming, while others may find it a bit overwhelming. Despite the middling food quality, the diner wasn't hurting for customers. The place had a steady stream of patrons, suggesting a loyal following or a draw for its unique atmosphere. While we're unsure if we'll return, City Diner does offer a distinctive dining experience that's worth trying at least once. It may not have hit all the right notes for us, but it clearly has its own appeal.

Wife and I had a day date without the kids and started with brunch at City Diner, based on online reviews. Had never been there before but I am extremely happy that we followed online advice. Wife ordered the French toast with side of grits while I had the pancakes with side of home fries. Everything was amazing, even for my wife, who is very sensitive to salty food; all of our grub was just right. I'd say the best item was the French toast, followed closely by the home fries (which included peppers and onions). Coffee was also excellent. We finished off brunch with slices of red velvet cake and cheesecake, also both amazing. Cheesecake was the perfect sweetness level, not overdone like many restaurants make it. Service was very friendly and prices lower than any comparable place near us (Ballston). Highly recommend!

Great little dinner in Falls Church area. Prices are definitely on the lower end but the service and food are great. Staff are friendly and the ambience is that old diner feel.

I have been here a few times now, but only for breakfast. I highly recommend the gyro! My favorite breakfast item is the two over easy eggs with gyro meat (also served with home fries and toast). The eggs Benedict with gyro meat is also very good. City Diner has decent coffee, and attentive service, as well. I have always been seated right away and there is always enough parking. It's a great place to get a quick, cheap (for Arlington) meal. The booths and tables are also big enough for groups and families, and there is also a decent kid's menu!

This is exactly what you’d want in a mom and pop diner. Nothing stood out food wise as special except for the fries. They were crispy, greasy (without getting your fingers greasy) and tasted potatoey. They were fantastic. Everything else was what’s you’d expect from a local diner. We did the Texas fries, buffalo blue cheese burger and chicken livers over rice. We both had hoped the dessert fridge would have had desserts, but it was early in the day. Not their fault. Then a couple of regulars asked about the pie which wasn’t ready yet. At that point we felt like we were definitely missing out. So that means we’ll have to come back. This time I’ll do the Ruben and the Fran stuffed mushrooms. Overall it is worth checking out. It’s like a small rural diner in the suburbs.

The food would have been great had it been hot. The grits were so cold that the butter they added to the side didn't even melt and they forgot the pancakes. I'm not sure if it was a kitchen issue or a server issue as the food took forever to arrive. Once the dishes were cleared, the server brought the pancakes - without cutlery and he had just cleared the table. On the positive side, the lukewarm omelets were pretty decent. I doubt that we'll be back though.

This is the typical dinner with good comfort food. Love to have breakfast here. Today we had lunch. The chicken parmesan was perfectly breaded and the sauce was well seasoned. My partner had the salad chicken melt and said the flavor was nice with the rye bread adding extra aromatic zest to it. I will come back again.

Vibe: 8.5/10 - if you're a fan of the classic diner vibe with cute, mismatched plates and mugs, you'll love this. Service: 9/10 Egg white garden omelette with home fries and wheat toast: 7.5/10 I love omelettes where the veggies are mixed in like this, so this was great! Just would've preferred the veggies cooked a bit more. The home fries were also delicious (but not the best I've ever had!) and the toast was perfectly buttered and toasted Pancakes: 7/10 Eggs, bacon, sausage platter (to go with pancakes): 7/10 Overall: 7.8/10 (3.9/5)

City Diner never disappoints. My niece was visiting from FL and we enjoyed our breakfast. The staff was super nice.

Old school diner that feels like it's been around forever in a good way. Place feels comfortable almost like it could be a movie diner set. Portions are huge and I've never had a bad meal here. Been here for breakfast most but also enjoyed dinner the couple times I've had it here. Can't go wrong with a waffle or pancakes and a side of bacon or grits or both. Coffee is just right too. Service is always very fast and friendly. I've enjoyed many meals here and will keep coming back.

We visited on a Sunday morning. It seemed disorganized and messy inside. Maybe we just missed the rush. We waited about 30 minutes to be seated. Menu is pretty standard for a large diner. All food we ordered was OK. Not bad but not amazing either. I thought the French toast was a little overcooked but not terrible. Bagel was very basic...more like bagel shaped bread (definitely not a NY style bagel). With so many diner options in NOVA I'd rather go elsewhere like Silver Diner, Bob and Edith's, or Ruthies All Day.

Ordered breakfast. Oily, greezy. Meh. Soggy home fries. Sausage was not good. The bread/toast was the best thing on the table.

Greasy-spoon diner with a huge menu of food that is... fine... I got a turkey burger with fries on the side. The fries were solid, but the burger itself was not my favorite. The portion was very large however The place itself is a little run-down

Great classic, old school dinner. One of the few places in the DMV you can get a bowl of matzah ball soup, from scratch.

This was my first time in City Diner with my partner and I have to say it pretty good with the breakfast it's your typical breakfast diner but it displays what it used to look like before and have fun little display of throw backs! It's a lot on the menu but if you ask the waiter for help they will definitely give you feedback and answer any questions! Will be coming back for sure!

Vibe: 8.5/10 - if you're a fan of the classic diner vibe with cute, mismatched plates and mugs, you'll love this! Service: 9/10 Egg white garden omelette with home fries and wheat toast: 7.5/10 I love omelettes where the veggies are mixed in like this, so this was great! Just would've preferred the veggies cooked a bit more. The home fries were also delicious (but not the best I've ever had!) and the toast was perfectly buttered and toasted Pancakes: 7/10 Eggs, bacon, sausage platter (to go with pancakes): 7/10 Overall: 7.8/10 (3.9/5)

Ordered via Grubhub and EVERYTHING was amazing. Traveled well. We had waffles, French toast, sausage, egg whites, and the "hobo banquet." I really like corned beef hash so the hobo banquet was a hit. It was even good as leftovers the next morning. (That's how large the portions were.) This is the place if you need to have an indulgent breakfast.

The people there are wonderful. The food is good but nothing great. The prices are reasonable. Go here if you're in the area, but just expect "pretty good" but not fantastic. Again, the people were wonderful and friendly and the service was great. The food is OK.

This is an old diner, with older guests who probably love coming here on a Saturday afternoon to have coffee and a simple breakfast. However, the staff is so friendly, and it kinda makes up for the VERY mediocre food. For example, my omelet was flat and dry. The spinach looked like an herb...it was so flat! The omelet must have cooked in a brick oven because it could've been mistaken for a pizza!!! The home fries were potatoes with added green peppers as an afterthought, like oops! I forgot to add the peppers...sprinkle, sprinkle. Lol Lastly, the coffee was as weak as Popeye with spinach! I paid, I tipped and said goodbye, forever!!!

City Diner consistently delivers exceptional dining experiences with its expert prepared Greek, Mediterranean, and American cuisine The menu boasts hearty portions, daily specials, and delicious homemade dishes that cater to a variety of tastes. The to-go service is efficient and convenient, making it a great option for those on the move. Additionally, the lunch specials are a standout offering, providing both quality and value. What truly sets City Diner apart is its top-tier customer service, where patrons are welcomed and treated like family. Whether you're craving comforting classics or seeking a cozy diner atmosphere, City Diner is the place to be. For a delightful meal that hits all the right notes, City Diner is an excellent choice that guarantees satisfaction with every visit.

I had high hopes for this place, as I love a local greasy spoon diner feel. The staff are extremely kind and friendly and the atmosphere def feels like a chill diner. It feels like a place you can drop by for a casual feel with an expansive menu. I bet it's easy for folks to find something they want to eat here (barring specific allergies or restrictions like gluten free or vegan). I ordered a garden omelette with a single pancake. The garden omelette was super watery eggs -- I think it sort of felt like the broccoli was frozen and then thawed out when cooked. Same thing with the tomatoes! Maybe it's just the nature of ordering omelette with watery vegs, but I didn't find a lot of satisfaction from it. The home fries were classic. The pancake was also fluffy and good! My husband ordered the farmers omelette with a side of grits. The grits were extremely watery and looked more liquid than a solid mix. We know we aren't in the south so we aren't expecting super high quality grits, but these definitely were not it. I don't think we'll be back, mostly because there's other diners nearby with competitive prices. Maybe someday we'll give this another try.

Meals not pictured: country fried steak and tuna club, kids meal chicken tenders My family and I decide to stop in after church on Sunday. The diner was busy but the hosts/greeters were attentive, welcoming and kept things moving. We were seated within minutes of arriving. Out waiter came over and noticed my 2 year old niece. Asked what she wanted to eat and drink and got her food out right away. We appreciated that and she enjoyed her meal. Once my parents and I ordered our food, there wasn't a long wait time and they refilled our water without asking. With such a busy crowd we appreciated the attentiveness of the staff. We're no strangers to this place we'll certainly be back. Overall our meals were good, the salmon wasn't my favorite but I'm glad I tried it, portions were large enough for left overs and everything was hot. Tasty meal and friendly hospitality made for a very nice Sunday afternoon.

This is a classic New York / New Jersey diner, transported magically to NoVa. Food was great, service was great, and the owner is engaging and fun to talk to. Decor and ambiance are on point for a diner - I love it. I was too full to try the pie and carrot cake, but I'm coming back for them soon!

Phenomenal service goes a long way and this local diamond in the rough has it in spades! The locals seem to know each other and there's a kind, familiar vibe here. The food was excellent amd the lunch specials include soup and dessert! I ordered the rueben and was not disappointed. Hot crispy fries and excellent dressing made this a fantastic American meal. Don't forget to save room for dessert!

Great experience. They were incredibly busy on a holiday morning but pulled it together for a great breakfast.

Good friendly restaurant that you will keep coming back. Good family oriented restaurant. Good food and good ambiance.

Great place. Classic diner with a large menu, pretty much something for everyone. Seems like the same people work there for a long time so I assume they treat their employees well. Food is very fairly priced for the quality. The family that runs it is very nice and friendly. We've been going there for 5 years and never had a bad experience.

Don't let the outside appearance of the City Diner dissuade you from going in. The service was great and the food was very good. I had the farmer's omelette and pancakes. Coffee was hot and good. Affordable price too. I'll definitely come back.

This place was fantastic. The waiter was a bit quiet and there was a lot of table packed in so they could allow more customers. However, the food was fantastic. From the pancakes to the waffles to the eggs and home fries and bacon. The service was quick and over all loved the experience.

First time customers here. We stopped in about 30 minutes before closing time on a Wednesday and were seated immediately and greeted warmly. Not too many people in the restaurant. Maybe two others besides us. Kinda bummed there were no Coke products to drink but that's ok. We got water. We ordered omelets with home fries and a pancake. My dining companion ordered a side of bacon. The food seemed to take quite awhile for being so few customers and close to closing but that's ok. There's old time lounge music playing on the speakers and it was cute! So. The omelet when it got to the table was fine. The home fries and pancake not so much. The pancake came later, not with the meal. Some of the home fries just weren't done while others on the plate were done. The pancake tasted like paper, unfortunately, not light and fluffy. The bacon seemed deep fried. The server was nice and did her best. We tipped her well. It was an ok experience but we probably won't be back. It's a little out of the way for us. We came, we ate, we left.

Love city diner. The menu is extensive and the service is great. Their prices for Arlington are very reasonable and the portions are large. I love their pancakes and waffles specifically. I ordered the salmon lox omelette this time which was also tasty. The restaurant is very large with a bunch of cozy booths to sit in.

Went in today for breakfast: still delicious food and but slow service today. While waiting I noticed the window sills n blinds needed to be wiped down and there was stuff on the salt n paper shakers. A few minor things, but when one waits you start to notice. Definitely would recommend: daily specials would be great.

Food was okay and service was fast. Not as packed on a Sunday morning as compared to other local breakfast places. My issue is with cleanliness. Bathrooms are awful, I don't know how an owner can just conveniently overlook this. Renovation is desperately needed in the bathrooms, but that's not the issue. The issue is that no one seems to have cleaned those bathrooms for weeks. Simply disgusting. Makes you ask how the kitchen looks like... We will not be back.

Eaten here for years and never had a bad meal. Classic NY/NJ diner in the heart of northern VA. Will keep coming back!

We were looking for a diner for breakfast and was glad to find this place. Low key, simple hearty breakfast. Staff were nice m. The restaurant is pretty big with lots of seating and an expansive menu. Will definitely return.

WOW! Amazing, homemade authentic Greek food!! The best spinach pie I have ever had. Super fresh Greek salad with the delicious Gyro meat really satisfied!

We were excited to try this place after reading so many rave reviews and found it to be a little lackluster on a weekend morning. If you are looking for a greasy spoon with mediocre coffee and a basic breakfast menu, this is place. Standard diner food and feel. My boyfriend had a waffle and I ordered the eggs Benedict. The waffle was decent. The eggs Benedict, though left much to be desired. the eggs were fried rather than poached and the hollandaise had little flavor. I had asked for a hard poach - one was medium the other was more like an over easy egg. I knew getting eggs Benny at a diner style restaurant was a risk, but the worst part of the experience was our service. It took our server forever to come over after our food was dropped and even then he just quickly refilled our coffees without asking us anything or checking in. The home fries were a little lackluster, too, so I ended up eating only about half my plate. Eventually, we caught our servers attention to tell him about the eggs and they did offer to remake it, but by that time, we had finished everything else and we're ready to go, so didn't take them up on it. All in all, we probably wouldn't go out of our wway I ended up not eating

This may have been a good place in the past but when I recently visited I noticed that the 1970's decor was getting long in the tooth. Carpteting was filthy. Shortly after being seated three regular patrons arrived and were greeted by the manager. While I understand the concept of service animals the third patron was an extremely poorly behaved dog. Okay this place is for the dogs, not me.

This is a true diner with delicious food. Breakfast served all day. We had the broiled seafood platter which was ok. Fried zucchini sticks were delicious. Cheese cake was ok a little dry. They had other items I will try next (breakfast items). Our waitress was great. Service was amazing. City diner has a classic diner feel. I need to try other items on the menu. Overall a 3.5 - 4 star. I will need to return and try something different.

I got spaghetti and meat sauce here with garlic bread. It was good, I think the manager or maybe the owner took my order to go.

Came here for brunch on my goodbye tour of NOVA and was not disappointed. Challah French toast is what's up. The whipped cream was amazing. The home fries came highly recommended by a local Facebook group (I was looking for the soft fried skillet potato version). Friendly service and hosts. All in all, a perfect diner experience except for the crowded parking lot.

Very good food huge portions highly recommend the breakfast items. Service was very friendly as well. Nice place to eat. Please try it out. You won't be disappointed.

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Service was good but that's about it. The food was just not good, I couldn't even finish my meal. I downloaded yelp just to give this review

Great food and service. This is my go-to diner!! Highly recommend if you haven't tried it!

Friendly service. Great breakfast! Family feel. Convenient location. I will be going back.

My husband and I came to City Diner for dinner on Saturday evening. We arrived around 6pm and there were only two other tables. When we left there were a few additional, but I'm betting that breakfast is truly their busy time. With that in mind, however, do not sleep on dinner here! The menu is diner-breakfast all day-but leans towards Greek and Italian. Interestingly, they also have matzo ball soup. Prices are super reasonable (much like a diner) with our meal costing around $25. Service was attentive and friendly. Waters were refilled regularly. The atmosphere is very dated, but is as a diner should be. I ordered the gyro platter which came with French fries and a Greek salad. The tzatziki sauce was delicious, the gyro meat tender and well-flavored, and the pita bread soft and fluffy. The fries were crisp and hot, although I suspect they were of the frozen variety. I loved that the salad was substantial including lots of feta and kalamata olives. My husband ordered the homemade lasagna. It came with vegetables (peas, carrots, etc-definitely frozen) and a soup or salad. He chose the matzo ball soup and it was well-flavored and the matzo ball was legit. Rolls were nothing special but were served prior to dinner. The desserts looked delicious-maybe next time we will save room! You won't get amazing food here but you will get a hearty, decent meal at a reasonable price. Don't forget the key lime pie mints on the way out!

Came here yesterday morning for a quick brunch. The place definitely has that old school diner feeling,- outdated decor, with friendly staff and usuals they recognize. I appreciated that traditional diner feeling. We were seated immediately and ordered coffee. My boyfriend ordered a mimosa as well, which we were surprised was on the menu since most diners don't do the mimosa-morning alcoholic drinks. He said it was good, like a typical mimosa. One thing we liked was it wasn't pre-made like most places do in the DMV area, and they made each mimosa on the spot. He even requested more champagne and only a splash of juice, which they obliged. The coffee came with unlimited refills. Nothing special, typical diner coffee. Their menu itself is also extensive with many options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For food, my bf ordered the Hobo Banquet, which came with over-easy eggs, corn beef hash, home fries with melted American cheese on top in a skillet. I ordered the Belgian waffle deluxe which came with scrambled eggs, and your choice of meat- I got bacon, and I added a side of home fries ( I was hungry don't judge! Lol). Our food was delicious! My waffle was so perfectly made, my scrambled eggs were wonderfully fluffy, and the bacon was made just right- Crispy and juicy! The home fries were also good and the side portion was huge! My boyfriend really enjoyed his dish as well. His only critique was he wished they added a Little more corn beef hash than home fries. But he still enjoyed it and ate every bit in his skillet! We were impressed by how well made everything was, and came out quick! Our server was also pleasant and attentive. Overall, we had a real good experience and seeing as this place is down the block from my boyfriend's place, we expect to be visiting quite frequently.

The breakfast sausage is delish! Matzoh ball Soup is also very good but mostly just taste like chicken noodle. A bowl of soup was very filling! Great service! Haven't spent under 10 $ for lunch since maybe forever.

Ambiance - Pretty nice , quite a big place. Hosts are friendly and service is pretty quick !! We tried the breakfast menu, which was great !!

I know it's going to sound funny but I rate my diners by their Ruebens, egg's Benedict and hash browns. That being said the Rueben at City Diner is served open faced (not too happy about that), it has plenty of corned beef, sauerkraut and 1000 island dressing. I would definitely get it again. The service here is very good. Servers are friendly and helpful. We have gone back many times and will continue to go here!

My wife & I wanted breakfast & did a yelp search of diners, we were pleasantly surprised to find this place. Excellent pancakes, grits were good. Very reasonable prices & great service. The bacon was a little subpar but we liked everything else. Didn't try anything but breakfast foods but table next to us got burger & fries. Looked good, I'll try lunch sometime

TLDR: Great brunch spot, awesome pancakes, great service, and reasonably priced. We have been here twice, both for brunch. We ordered pancakes, eggs, French toast, fruit, and bacon. The food is awesome. The pancakes are fluffy and you get a large portion. The fruit is very fresh. For 9-11$ you can get a big hearty breakfast. Their service is good and family employees are very welcoming and kind. This is our new favorite brunch joint in the area.

My coworkers and I stopped by here for brunch after an early morning meeting and the restaurant was huge! The portions were also very generous and the prices were very reasonable. The menu had a bunch of different options as well. I definitely recommend and I would go back if I was in the area!

So I ordered from City Diner Restaurant today. Now.... This was my first time trying this restaurant, so I think I went in with too high of an expectation. I wanted breakfast and they definitely serve breakfast! I ordered the Lumberjack, which came with 3 pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage & ham. I also ordered a side of scrapple, grits, strawberries & whipped cream, a slice of strawberry cheesecake and the harvest salad. Upon seeing the food, it looked delicious and the smell was delightful. When I opened the container housing my pancakes, there was a black speck right in the middle and a major dent in it, like someone tried to dig the piece of whatever it was out of the pancake. The pancakes were huge and really fluffy, they were about 6.5 inch cakes. The eggs, bacon and sausage were housed in one small container all on top of one another with the ham on the bottom. The oils from all of the meat gathered at the bottom of the container. My scrapple and grits were missing from my order, which sucked! The strawberries were good for the most part, except I could see where they tried to salvage some of the berries and the scooped out the parts that must've been bad. I would've just cut the berry or trashed it altogether. There were NO utensils in the bag and for the 3 big pancakes, they sent only 2 small syrups with my order. Which I asked for extra! The flavor of the food was good, but not exceptional. There were broccoli bits and egg shells in my eggs, talk about disappointing, chomping down on egg shells while chewing. My slice of cheesecake was broken and falling apart in the container. I will say there was a nice amount of food, however, I wished that my entire order would've arrived, so I could've enjoyed the parts I was really looking forward to. So in giving the benefit of doubt, all of this combined is why I've given a 3 rating. My experience may not be your experience, so I say, "Give them a try!" I may try them again, just to see if those 3 's will stand. Maybe today was a bad day, or someone was rushing. Who knows ‍..

I mean, for what a local greasy spoon offers, this is great. Service is prompt and (usually) polite. The menu has a lot of options, but you can't go wrong with the Greek skillet with a side of kielbasa. There's plenty of parking which is good with how busy this place is. No frills, just sit down, get some food in the face and go home happy.

Solid 4. Casual dining experience with an abundant menu. Portion size is fabulous. I ordered the lox bagel and it was colossal! My party ordered French toast, a yelp fave and waffles as well as an omelette. Piping hot coffee and friendly service. Would return. Kindly suggestion, clean the dust on the neon lights.

Always forget about this place but recently went for brunch trying to avoid large crowds and waits. Delish! French toast for baby girl and a fajita omelette for me. I usually get the same omelette at IHOP. Not anymore. City Diner's looks and taste so much fresher from the eggs to the veggies to the chicken! You won't be disappointed!