Dan's Diner

My husband and I have drove past this place a couple of times driving into NY from MA and finally had time to stop in this morning for first time loved how old fashion it is inside (reminded me a lot of my grandma diner she worked at when I was little in NJ) it’s small but cozy perfect for a quick stop for breakfast or brunch, food was good had perfect flavor! They won me over with the corn beef hash having real corn beef in it! Definitely will be back when we have a chance again.

Man oh man oh man. This place right here is a staple nestled in Columbia County. You got that vibe as soon as you entered the place. Retro feel, old timer/local vibes. Watching Austin do his thing on the grill is watching pure artistry. Be prepared to wait a little while, but you get a show while you do. Food is really good. I got The Molehill and my partner got a grilled cheese with fries. We both shared a pancake, which was light and fluffy. 10/10 experienced for sure. Going back again.

Its great to see a restored diner that has been lovingly brought back to life. While it couldn't handle a large crowd, it is an intimate reminder of what dining used to be. Friendly staff, delicious food and a relaxing atmosphere.

Our omelettes were delicious and having gone there just to see the vintage diner it was a very nostalgic experience. They had just on one waiter/cook the day we came, but boy did he work hard to get everyone's order and food to them as fast as he could!

Such a cool little diner off the beaten path. You literally can sit in front of the cook. Has about 14 small bar seats.

The wait might be long on the Saturday around lunch time inbetween the to go orders that stack up but 100% worth the wait. It’s family operated, friendly, and fresh off the grill. Buy the Ruben sandwich with their fries. 😮‍💨🔥 Blueberry pancakes with their thick cut bacon is 😮‍💨🔥.

Charming, authentically-restored O'Mahony diner from the 1920s. From the gleaming oak woodwork to the marble countertop and period tile, the place is aesthetically gorgeous. As was the custom back then, there are only counter seats, so the number of seats available is limited, but they have tables on the rear patio that are open in nice weather. Food and service are great, featuring diner standards and daily specials. We didn't try any, but they seem to specialize in custom fresh-squeezed lemonade; we'll try some next time.

We had breakfast at Dan’s Diner and really enjoyed it! The food was fresh just what we needed to start the day. Big shoutout to our server, Stepney.she was kind and made us feel right at home. Definitely a spot we’d return to!

Road hut. Waitresses yelling about "alimony payments"! 16 year old chef, complains how he orders dog food on Amazon. Isn't that just like lip-smacking food talk? It appears, said by the cook himself: that the ingredients of your food are from Walmart cans. Freezing shack with stale eggs. Review: 3

Another owner but still good food. I was at this diner pre covid so about 5-6 years ago and enjoyed it so on my day trip (staycation) I decided today I would come back. It's only counter service so the stools are not the most comfortable but the food is worth the stay. Service was good, not as quick as I may have liked but not horrible. Nice to see ladies dishing it up. We started with coffee while we waited for our meals to be cooked. We ran out of coffee quick, I think my friend finally got us some more. My biscuits, gravy, eggs, bacon and sausage was delicious. I usually like a good homemade cornbeef hash which my friend got and I tried and was glad to settle for what I ordered. There are no bathrooms here so make sure you go before coming or somewhere off the beaten track afterwards, not that I had to go just giving out info. They have nice outdoor area for nice weather if it gets full inside. A local lady sells her jams inside and I bought a cilantro lime that caught my eye, can't wait to try it. If in the area it's a must try.

Just an amazing old diner incredibly well restored. Food is excellent. Only counter service with outdoor tables in the summer.

Tourist review! This was one of two places my fiancé and I made a point to visit more than once (the other being Harvest Smokehouse). You've got to be early or lucky to get a seat at the counter -- it's a tiny trolley car -- but haha, we did just that! We came for breakfast both times, and everything was absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked. The ambiance is amazing if you love historical decor -- and I don't mean kitschy decor, I mean faithful restoration and design choices to have verisimilitude with a bygone decade. I was so delighted by the fridge -- wooden front, many small doors like a cabinet. Someday... someday we shall return.

Great food, made in front of you. Friendly atmosphere. Counter seating only but that adds to the intimate atmosphere. Outside seating in warmer weather

Really great restored railroad car diner from 1925. Feels like entering a time capsule in terms of ambiance. Sometimes I worry that diner food isn't going to be as good as other breakfast places but Dan's food was stellar. Thick cut bacon was delicious and the home fries were perfectly crunchy and really well spiced. You can see the cook make all the food from scratch on the griddle. Next time I'm getting the french toast which looked incredible. I also got the fresh squeezed lemonade. It looks expensive but that is only because they give you a huge quantity. Could see them make that too. I think locals are trying to keep this place on the down low because it was packed but I couldn't find much about the place online. Menu is not extensive but diners are for the basics.

This place was so cute! Really loved the interior design of the old train car and felt very homey. The diner had a variety of breakfast dishes, specials, juices, and lunch options, all for a very affordable price! My friends and I came in a Sunday morning around 10am and found seats for 5 along the counter after 10 minute. We had pancakes, French toast, eggs, ham, home fries, and omelets. All the food was solid and it came under $10 for each of us! Service and fast and we got to see Dan's son cook in front of us (who runs the diner now). Highly recommend!

A genuine gem - think It Happened One Night - good food, more than reasonable prices and plenty of nostalgia. Highly recommend

The most adorable, kitchy place with fantastic food! Clean, comfortable and quaint.

Amazing service, great value and made to order homestyle plates. Staged in a retired train dining car, it's really as unique as it gets. I'm a sucker for antiques so when I found Dan's on Yelp I knew we had to check it out. When we first stepped into the car our first impression was that that looks small but once we got settled it was really no issue at all. I had to get chocolate chip pancakes - there were two in a short stack and that was enough! They filled the plate and I could barely finish them. I had to force it not only because they were so delicious but I felt the guilt of turning in an unfinished plate to the woman who had made them directly in front of me. Do yourself a favor and check out Dan's Diner if you're in the mood for an old school treat. Can't wait to come back myself.

Visiting family in Ghent. They recommended this diner as one of the local spots. Stopped in for breakfast on our first day. The pancakes were buttery, eggs & meat tasted fresh! We ended up going back for lunch later in the week. Got a simple grilled cheese and onion rings. Both were perfectly cooked and seasoned! There is only one chef who cooked each ticket individually - it did take a while, but the waiters were attentive and friendly! Charles was great!

Anyone who has given this place less than 5 stars is doing so in attempt to keep this gem hidden. Everything is always spectacular! The food is phenomenal and service is good. The atmosphere transports you back in time. I've noticed some other reviews complain about slow cook time. If you are in a rush maybe don't go to a place that's whole schtick is having one grill cook and one waitress? Even so, I thought everything always came out in a timely manner. I usually get the kielbasa sandwich, my siblings usually get the French toast and pancakes with fresh strawberries, and then we share it amongst ourselves. I wish I had photos but to be honest we usually inhale everything immediately. The fries are fresh cut, the pancakes are fluffy, and the glasses & plates are all vintage that Dan sourced from across the US. Selfishly I want to beg you not to come so that I have a stool open next time I stop in, but honestly you would be an idiot not to try it.

This place is awesome. Great space and vibe. Excellent diner fare. Love it. Cool vintage cartoon drinking glasses too. Love the wood curved ceiling and old space.

Wonderful, quaint breakfast nook in what I guess used to be a trolley (?), with the the sliding doors and all. Got to enjoy breakfast with the regulars whilst traveling thru the 2022 blizzard; might pick up a t-shirt next time ( yes, they have souvenirs). Waitress Steph was great. So glad to have discovered this place; a once in a lifetime thing.

Very upsetting service here. Don't bother if there aren't any seats!! Arrived and all seats were full, but no one behind the counter acknowledged us. After about 15 minutes of standing behind everyone eating, we finally said something and asked to eat outside. The waitress told us we could order takeout and eat outside. We looked at the menus and decided but were never acknowledged again. After another 15 minutes of waiting we stormed out. Please improve your staff - just acknowledging someone would go a long way! It seems they just want people to leave if there are no seats. Huge shame because the food looked amazing.

Great local spot. Even better food made with love by Austin (had the breakfast). Great service. Great atmosphere. The entire place seats about 16 people which makes it feel super cozy.

Best breakfast I've had in a long time! Definitely worth going here when in town! They make you feel like family here!

I love this place. The people are great and friendly and the food is outstanding. You know how no one can make a burger like the one you make at home well they can make a better one. It was special. I loved it. I also love the old dinning car style. It does not get cooler than that.

I moved to the area for work in August and have made a point to come here once or twice a month. The food is simple but cooked to perfection. The corned beef hash is the best I have ever had and their pancakes are fluffy and delicious. If you're in the area it is worth a detour to have breakfast here.

What a charming little restaurant. I came here with my family of four. We got an egg sandwich, made perfectly and only $2.50 due to the half-off special; two eggs with hash browns (homemade! We saw all the cut-up potatoes on the counter); French toast which was how my mom used to make it; and a seriously fabulous grilled cheese with tomato. They grilled the tomato, a sign of dedication to making it actually taste like it belongs in a grilled cheese. Definitely coming back.

This was a great place to stop!! It's tiny but so much better than a chain place I hope to make it back sometime!

Great food and what a cute setting! Great people serving and cooking. You'll love this place!

Nothing beats simple diner food and Dan's does it well. The space is small but the food is great. Always a family favorite.

Awesome atmosphere, the staff were super kind and the food was great! A definite gem to stumble upon!

Can't say enough about this charming place. Feels like eating with your family. The patrons and the owners are super friendly and the food is out of this world! We travel the country with a A Christmas Story, the Musical and have eaten all over the world. This is easily one of my top ten breakfast places, although the lunches look good too! Be sure to look through the photo album chronicling the restoration process. A true labor of love. We will be back every time we are through this way!

Show me another place as classic, yummy and friendly as Dan's in Spencertown, NY and I'll come a running. Dan himself is behind the one-counter-with-12 stools joint and he's as nice as can be. The chef is methodical behind the grill and the host is a'ready with the coffee pot once your cup is low. We tried two of their omelettes and gobbled them down, licking the plate soon after we finished. A highlight was the blackberry jam packet - a welcome sight from the usual boring grape and strawberry options. Why not 5-stars, you ask? To early to tell, is my answer. More visits are necessary.

Oh my what a wonderful and lovely restaurant! We were passing through and looking for a quick place to grab a meal. Saw the many star reviews and this place did not disappoint! The service was excellent and the food was absolutely delicious. The 4 of us devoured our meals and enjoyed the fresh squeezed lemonade. This place will definitely be our go to stop on our way home from MA. Do yourself a favor and give this awesome place a try.

Excellent place, worth a stop, about a mile from the highway. Was hunting for a new food stop after O's Eatery burned down, found Dan's and it's a hit. Our food was delicious, with reasonable sized portions. Charming service. Charming restored diner. It's not O's, or Roscoe Diner, or McDonalds, thank God, so don't go here expecting a ten minute stop or a 20-page menu. As a note, Waze tells you to go south on 203 from the Taconic (exit 99). While directionally technically correct, the highway signs refer to 203 EAST.

Couldn't say enough good things about the breakfast here. Charming location with an awesome chef making some of the best breakfast I've had in a long time. Pro tip, the biscuits and gravy are legit!

(Not) Dan's Diner is my favorite breakfast spot. A unique trolley car setting, with lots of quirky memorabilia, good food and great staff. What more could you want? Owner Austin (aka Not Dan), along with Stephanie and May are friendly and fun to talk with. Food is good standard breakfast fare (also lunch, but I'm usually there for breakfast). This is not a soy latte mocha oat milk place. Pancakes, eggs, French toast, etc. is what's on the menu. Prices are reasonable, and portions are generous.

A great diner next to the Taconic Parkway. If you're driving by early, I highly recommend dropping in for some breakfast here. The diner is adorable and a must see. The menu is diverse and everything is great by dinner standards. I had biscuits and gravy and my wife had a croissant sandwich and it was quite tasty. I saw one reviewer had an issue with the portion sizes but I thought they were more than adequate. The service was spot on. Very attentive and pleasant servers. They always made sure we had what we needed and that our drinks were filled. All in all, I would highly recommend this little spot.

Old school diner, super friendly staff, good diner food, best pancakes in the area. Definitely worth the trip. And be sure to read the history of the diner on the back of the menu.

If you listen to Susan B. you'll miss out on a great experience. The meals are prepared with down-home love and the freshest ingredients. The rail car is absolutely charming and completed by Dan himself! Better that you follow the 4 and 5 star recommendations for a truly unique setting for a delicious meal.

As a child growing up my grandfather was a big fan of diners, and he knew just about all of them, but what I found interesting was he never referred to them as diners, they were always lunch wagons, and it wasn't until years after he passed away that I fully understood the difference between a lunch wagon and a diner, and my breakfast this morning was a prime example. This morning on my way home from Western Mass I read about a place for breakfast called Dan's Diner in Spencertown, New York, a real Lunch Wagon, just east of the Taconic Parkway. Dan's Diner is run by Dan Rundell and his wife, Christine who I had the pleasure of meeting when I was there. As Chris explained it, her husband purchased the 1925 18-seat Jerry O'Mahony diner, that was built in NJ but spent most of it's life in CT. Dan it brought up on a flat bed and put in a barn on his property, where he started to restore the diner with authentic materials. The food is great and while there are no tables, the counter is a perfect place to chat with the owners while chowing down on their great food...I had something called Hot Mess: Peppers, onions, ham, cheddar, home fries scrambled into two eggs. It was delicious! Next time your travels take you up to Albany or the Berkshires, leave time for Dan's Diner...it's worth the visit!

Unbelievable find! We had a fabulous brunch at this tiny little converted train car restaurant. The corn-beef hash was delicious. The decadent Cinnabon french toast was rich and tasty. The pancakes were massive and filling. All the ingredients were fresh and delicious. Clearly a bunch of regulars frequent this diamond in the rough. Can't wait to visit again!

Wow. Best breakfast I've had in a long time. We were just passing through on the way home from Albany. I wish we had a place like this close to home. Staff was friendly and welcoming. The food came out fresh and fast. Home fries were crisp and the hash wasn't over salted.

Horrible experience at this diner, after a couple of mediocre experiences in the past. I write this as a big fan and frequent patron of diners, and one who actually grew up in a diner - our house was attached to it. I like a diner where I feel welcome when I walk in. Don't expect that here. Two teenagers behind the counter. One is grumpy and anything but welcoming. The other isn't focused. No offer to help us find seats together from the owner or staff - had to walk up the row of stools and work it out with the patrons themselves. Something like this would have made us feel very welcome, "Hi Folks. There are a few people just finishing up down this way. Give us just a couple of minutes..." After a few minutes seated, had to go out of my way to ask one of the teens for waters and coffee. That's not how a good diner runs. Only got one water. Big deal. But the tone was set and continued. Distracted teen missed my order of sausage. Food took longer than it should for the diner being only moderately full. Arrived without silverware. Food is fine. But not worth the poor overall experience. And DO NOT expect to use a bathroom when you're here. There's a bathroom in a separate building that is an auto shop or garage - so you can imagine how clean that is. No soap - dish detergent. Gross sink has two separate faucets: the cold doesn't work and the hot was too hot to use. So now we're stuck with dish soap on our hands. Look elsewhere for that old fashioned diner experience - including an experienced waitress who will call you "Honey" as soon as you walk in.

Dan's Diner is cool all American railroad car diner. Everything is made fresh right in front of you. Only negatives to that is there's not that many seats. I ate with a party of four and everyone loved there food.

Awesome little place with lovely people and great menu! A hidden secret off the Taconic and kid friendly !! Thanks everyone for your lovely hospitality!

This is exactly where you want to stop when you need for an early morning stack of flapjacks & a side of bacon or a nice BLT for lunch while passing through Spencertown.

Great throwback roadside diner with out the indigestion. Great simple, fresh food, with a friendly staff and great decor. Stopped here for lunch with the family and it was great. I have to come back and try breakfast, I imagine it's awesome. Be back soon

Best Homemade Hash I've had in forever. Small renovated (using 3 old Diner cars for parts) Classic Diner. If you love those type Diners you will want to check it out. The Hash and eggs were terrific. Hash fresh homemade, you'll be hard pressed to find better. Coffee very good. Friendly, personable service. Great prices. Only thing stopping me from giving 5 Stars is its all Counter Seating and the stools are not very comfortable. Still a great stop if driving on Taconic (easy few minute drive). Sure I will be back again.

All I need to say is Home made corned beef hash, but Yelp makes me feel bad if I don't add details. Not from a can! Made with red bliss potatoes and real corned beef. Go now. No not now. It's probably closed. Wake up extra early tomorrow and get there early, because this tiny diner just basically the counter stools and plenty of outdoor seating. The ladies running the joint are sweet and the food is made on the grill right in front of you. Charming would be the best word to describe the entire experience. The place feels like you have been transported to another time...a simpler time when a diner menu wasn't so massive

Pros: cool place - decent prices - interesting locals and tourist mix. The diner itself is worth seeing. The inside has been restored. Friendly service. Turkey was fresh. Lemonade is made fresh with real lemons. Coffee was excellent. I will try to post a description. Cons: very slow service. Two turkey sandwiches took about 20 minutes. Not crowded at all. Bread is packaged stuff so I think it's fair to say that some of the food is mediocre. Saw packages of instant oatmeal and Cheerios. Don't come here looking for healthy alternatives.

Do yourself a favor and DON'T go to Dan's Diner. Dan ( the owner) is only is able to cook one order at a time VERY slowly, so if you're 5th or 6th in line, you're in for an extremely long wait. 1hour+ to get a burger and a small wilted salad, both of substandard taste and quality. The wilting lettuce is kept on a shelf below the counter in a bag next to the plates and other miscellaneous kitchen items. They ran out of the side selected for the burger (mac salad) but only figured that out when our order was finally being plated, at which point he announces he's out of mac salad with a shrug. We select an alternate side, which he proceeds to cook without giving us the food that was ready... we had to ask for it. We also had to ask for our drinks after we were there for over 30 min. The counter woman didn't seem to be able to process more than one small thought at a time and spent a majority of her time staring at her hands. Dan instructed her to charge us for the "add on" side because it was not part of the inclusive meal offerings. Their internet went down while we were there and they could accept cash only. It didn't seem to bother them that the man dining next to us (at the counter), had to drive 20+ minutes round trip just to get to an ATM. They don't greet you when you arrive, readily supply utensils or give you water. The place is not clean. We did not see any of the 3 staff (including the owner who was the cook) wash their hands once... handling food, raw & cooked, money, dishes (dirty and clean) and everything else without any concern to cleanliness or cross-contamination. AND the toilet is in the mechanic's garage across the way. I would give this place a negative star if I could. Save your time and money... eat a granola bar and just keep driving.

Our breakfast was as delicious and generously portioned as the interior is warm, charming & delightful. Totally worth a detour.

This place is certainly a hidden gem in the rural area of Vermont. We almost walked away upon seeing the tiny diner. And I am so glad that we didn't. Everything was hot and fresh. The home-made style fries was awesome. The tomato soup we had was simple but rich and creamy. We ordered three different plates and an spinach omelet, including a burger, fish and chips, a pasta bowl. My in-laws who are not fans of American food also enjoyed a wonderful and affordable meal here. The owner was super friendly. Sitting outside could be a great choice when the weather is nice. But since the flies and bees could come pretty quickly, make sure you keep an eye on your plate.

You see this cute, cute totally restored lunch wagon and you have to stop. It's in Spencertown just outside Chatham. As others have attested, this place is labor of love. Dan, his wife and another woman are at the grill. There is only seating at the counter, but it lets you in on the action. The pancakes I had were spectacular---made from scratch, generous portion, light, fluffy and with real maple syrup. I had the fresh limeade, almost a quart. Delicious. My friends enjoyed coffee, waffles, burgers and a reuben with delight. The service is slow. Your food will not be delivered together and it takes them awhile.They will answer questions, but are a bit reserved. The prices are not inexpensive, but the food is fresh, great quality and worth it. There were regulars there, so they have a local following. So come with these expectations and you'll enjoy..I'll be returning.

Please don't discover this absolute gem -- interesting story of restoration for sure .... but the "staff" (cook was just amazing to detail) and food were so, so special -- talk about an open kitchen. A friend and I were traveling to Tanglewood earlier this week and noticed it as we drove by. Somehow I managed to find on the way home and WOW. Decent food, decent prices and great cooking. But don't discover (LOL)!