Diner

The Diner is the absolute best breakfast and lunch restaurant around JOCO. All the food is home cooked and made with all the right seasonings! Did I mention the selection of hot sauces??

We stopped here for breakfast while visiting the area. The pancakes were probably the best i have had, omlettes were fresh and also so were the grits and potatoes.

Breakfast that has everything...and the kitchen sink. Located in downtown Smithfield the Diner is centrally located for a quick grab and go or a stop in to grab a good breakfast to get the day started. My go to is the Kitchen Sink Omelet and home fries. As the name implies it has a variety of items that fill you up. This comes in a omelet or a breakfast wrap. I enjoy coming in here eating and seeing the people of Smithfield come together for family meals or just a group of people wanting to share fellowship. Be aware though: On street parking, so fold in your mirrors! Also this is a Pepsi establishment.

The waiter was friendly. The food is okay. I got the shrimp plate with Mac and cheese and onion rings. Everything was okay except the Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese looked and tasted like store bought leftovers. My daughter ordered double grilled cheese sandwich and side salad. The lettuce was nearly all white. The most disappointing part was the attitude of the lady owner when paying. Not only was she rude but she expected my daughter to have understand her with her my full of food and seemed mad that she misunderstood what she was saying. She then threw the credit card at her instead of handing to her. I doubt we will ever be back or recommend this place.

Amazing southern food with affordable pricing. Daily specials for $8 - lasagna Wednesday is my favorite! Must try home fries. Locally owned by friendly people ❤️

6-5-25 Breakfast. First time visit. Excellent meat omelet with grits and toasted biscuit. It was great!! Highly recommended!

We stopped by for breakfast on the way to the outlets. Quaint diner in the downtown area. My wife and I split the Kitchen Sink omelet with home fries and rye toast. Good coffee and sweet tea. Fast service. Very nice Mom & Pop restaurant.

I adore the atmosphere here! Customer service is superb! They work diligently to take and fulfill orders. Food is delicious and seasoned wonderfully. The portions are very generous!

Classic small town charm with some fantastic cooks. First visit for breakfast. Home fried potatoes. Best I've had in 10 years and hundreds of breakfasts. Order them. Side pane cake came out hot and fluffy. The batter was so enticing I shared it with my friend. Had too. Only polite thing to do. Renegade Benedict. Was asked how I wanted my egg, the waiter countered my poached with over easy. I accepted. Gravy was fantastic. The sausage gravy was on top of another whole sausage patty. Dare I say sausage on sausage was too much. Biscuit- fluffy and firm. Will be back for a lunchtime or two. Many of the items are home made.

If you want good diner food from a good "diner," The Diner in downtown Smithfield, NC, is the place to go. After 18 years at it, they've got it down to a smooth running family-run machine. I sat at the counter right where all of the food comes out of the kitchen and watched one masterpiece after another flow from the grill. The workers seem to never slow down as they all seem to help each other keep the smiles on customer's faces. A rare find in a fast-food world!

Food was good. Service was great. Cool country diner ambiance with old signs on the wall.. the menu was surprisingly diverse. Worth checking out if you are in the Smithfield area. Would definitely return

Stopped for Lunch on away to a movie at the Howell Theater and to my amazement the service and food was excellent! It was a great find and will definitely be back and let everyone know of my find today!!

It's been a minute, but back again for breakfast. Yummy tenderloin and gravy sandwich, home fries are always hot, fresh, seasoned. Unsweetened, fresh brewed iced tea. Yum. Fried egg, tenderloin for my guy, home fries, bisquit. Can you tell we're breakfast people? Why cook at home when you can get this great fare for a great price, support local! Wish we didn't have to drive to Smithfield for it, but we eat here when in town. Lunch specials on a whiteboard, sodas, Pepsi products, served in can. Today, busy, even a number of NC Highway Patrol dining in. Only a few tables empty, bar full of patrons as well. Glad to see business is booming. Try this place, you won't be disappointed. Open for breakfast/lunch.

I really wanted to like this place as I enjoy diners. The service was friendly. You can seat yourself and someone brings you a menu and takes your drink order. The prices are reasonable too. I went with the french toast with bacon. The bacon was amazing and really crispy but the french toast was soggy. I've not had soggy french toast before so wasn't sure if it was cooked long enough. It was hot. I'm not sure if they used too much milk or the wrong type of bread. I think I should have ordered eggs and bacon.

I'd love to say just OK! Or it's just all right, typical commercial fast food! Nothing gourmet about this place! More like frozen food! Typical Johnston County King of fast food!

The food was okay. nothing amazing. The service was terrible. Having been the only latinos there, the staff didn't check on us as often and other patrons made us feel unwelcomed. Not to mention the chef handling money and scratching his butt while cooking. Haven't been back since, and don't plan to.

A real local dinner with excellent food. We were to late for breakfast, so opted for some lunch items. I enjoyed a nice juicy cheeseburger and my friend sampled the BLT. They have daily specials and homemade desserts. This is a place where the locals hangout and they do quite a brisk carry out service. Next time, I want to have the breakfast.

We had 4 people in our group & each of us were very pleased with our choices. One person had the Philly steak wrap which was better than expected & another the brown gravy with tenderloin which again was excellent. The other two people in party were happy with the choices & said it was delicious. We had a window seat which was nice to see the locals in town. The lady that waited on us was very friendly & overall and great experience.

One of my favorite local mom and pop places. .. definitely need to come in here for your breakfast and lunch .. This place is truly one of the local gems and a place you go to for some fun banter and laughs with the owners and locals . Food here is pretty good and rather come here for breakfast and lunch than some of the other places like Cracker Barrel or Bob Evan's . Also check out their facebook page for daily specials also.

First timer here! So worth it just wish we'd come before breakfast was over (ends at 11am) but will need to come back to try that menu out. Walked in and first impression was - quaint & cozy, mom & pop-type of diner. The staff was personable and cordial. There was a sense of "family and welcomeness." The coffee was very good, not watered down as in most chain establishments - it was served in a tall coffee mug and just like I like it, steaming hot! There were two of us, the other person opted for a grill bacon/ cheese with fries (they are super picky and totally enjoyed it - "well done, not greasy" as they put it lol). I opted for the bacon cheeseburger with fries - it was decent. Bacon nicely crips not overcooked, the burger wasn't as thick as in other diners we've visited but still delicious. Fries also ok, not as thick as in other places - these were more like shoe-string fries not steak fries but like I said, decent. Overall it was a good meal at an affordable price and would recommend everyone giving them a try. They are in downtown Smithfield across from the Ava Gardner Museum and the Johnston County Museum - two nice places to visit after the diner and a great way to support the local businesses!

So yummy! Fast service, flavorful food, great customer service. Will definitely be back!

Everything about this place is amazing! From the service to the food I totally recommend this family owned restaurant. Make sure to order some French toast. The ambience here is very friendly and welcoming.

One of the best breakfasts I have ever had in a restaurant. No salt or pepper needed. Eggs and home fries were seasoned perfectly. We will be back again.

Small mom and Pop restaurant downtown Smithfield great place to grab some breakfast or lunch able to get in and out fairly easy parking can be a challenge. Sometimes it would be nice if parking directly in front of the restaurant would be available once in a while, everything else is superb. The customer service is great. The coffee is great. Definitely recommend it for a great place to grab some breakfast. Super clean restaurant definitely relaxing area to enjoy your coffee.

Breakfast or Lunch it cannot be beat! Nice menu and great food. Love Mom and Pop places like this.

This place is amazing! We just happened across it one day while we were in town for some shopping. It was our first time there and it will definitely not be our last! The staff were great! Super friendly and quick service! Food was delicious! Cooked fast and made to order. Price was very reasonable. I got a delicious steak and eggs with potatoes for only $12! Great environment with a cute mom and pop feel to it. Highly recommend.

I like The Diner. I usually order a patty melt, and it is just right. One time, I ordered the turkey club, which was served on a bed of fries. It was enough for two meals. The turkey was carved, not that thin deli stuff you buy at Food Lion. Sometime, I will try the specials, such as meatloaf on Mondays. I wish they would get some lemon packets for iced tea.

Breakfast is okay nothing to talk about I try to give business to my neighbor but every time I go there services is not that friendly and some times breakfast is not looking that appetising but I still go there

I have never been to The Diner until today. I had a business breakfast with a mortgage lender and the food was good. Another place that is not high end but that is my preference for most places I visit. I felt welcomed. The atmosphere was cool with a lot of signs and stickers on the wall. I will definitely be going back again and taking my family with me.

I've wanted to try The Diner since I first heard about it and it did not disappoint!! Fun atmosphere with entertaining signs donning the walls! Food was great- diner food but really good quality (just what I hoped for)! Hubs had a veggie chuck wagon which he said was "super-good". I had a veggie omelette and a blueberry pancake! Yum! Staff was friendly and engaging- Amy was the best - funny and a wealth of information! We'll be back for sure!!

I ordered the patty melt and it was made with the heels of the bread. I throw the heels away at home, as do most people, so I'm not sure why they would use the bread heels for a meal you pay for. This food is lackluster as is the service. It's on par for Smithfield but wouldn't be able to stay open in any other town. 3 stars because it was at least edible. I can't say that about every place in town.

I walked in asking if they could seat 5 of us 15mins before they stopped serving. The lady let us in and then gave us great recommendations about what's good on the menu. She was really welcoming and so gracious to seat us. The food was good, the service was great, and overall a great experience. Total diner food, which was exactly what we were looking for as out-of-towners. We'll return if we're able!

I like small family run diners. This was the first one that wouldn't serve lunch items at breakfast that I have ever been at. I am sure there are more that are that way. This was my first experience with one though. We only ate there as we were driving through and will probably never eat there again. The food was good. Nice large portions and seasoned well. The service was a little to be desired. I am used to small town friendliness but this was a little like Flo off the old show Alice.

First time here. It was about 12:30 but I figured a diner would have breakfast all day. Not this one. Stopped at 11. My friend and I enjoyed our food. Hand cut fries were great. Waitress did not check on us once after delivering food and drink. I needed a refill so never got one. We were there at least 45 minutes, eating slow and batting. Again, not one visit from waitress. Not even with our bill. Wasn't that busy, about half full max.

Amazing breakfast! High quality, cheap prices, staff is like family on first visit. Hate that I live a hundred miles away but I will be stopping in anytime I can make it to Smithfield!

Queen & I gave the Diner a try after passing it a few times. The Darkened windows had scared us away, but we met staff at Flowers Plantation concert and decided to give it a try. It was much smaller & crowded for lunch time. They need some new and additional chairs for their tables. The place has that old time feel with the checkered floor & old pics. I had the jumbo burger deluxe which had bacon, cheese, onions a few mushrooms that was accompanied by FF. Tasted really good, sinfully good, but it is fried. Queen had the smothered chicken which she really enjoyed. Although she asked for star mushrooms and less onions, it came out the opposite to her disappointment. One cook & one waitress manned the place and it took longer than expected. I would'nt necessarily pass on the place, but I would not go out of my way either. You maybe shut out on seat if you arrive late for lunch.

Just tried this place for the first time and will order from here all the time now! Burger was cooked to perfection and the hand cut fries were insane! Place is small but my order was hot and fresh. I did take out but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

As always, The Diner never disappoints!! I had my usual BLT on a bagel, and my daughter had her usual pancakes, but my husband and son ordered some different stuff than usual. A new omelet for my husband, and a bacon/egg/cheese biscuit for my son. My son LOVED his biscuit! They certainly didn't skimp on the bacon or egg. There was enough egg on there that when my son got his plate, he cut around the biscuit so he would have "extra" egg to eat on the side, ha! He cleaned his plate. It looked really good, too. We eat here on Saturday mornings at least 2 or 3 times a month, and I've started coming in for lunch as well. I'll sometimes take my daughter, or if she's at preschool I'll take a book and just chill out and read while I have lunch.

Classic diner hole in the wall with great food and service. Simple menu and home cooked quality. Highly recommended.

We stopped here for breakfast on our way through to Florida from NY. Our waitress was rude, everyone in there had a stink face. Food was ok but the rudeness killed it for me. I'm from NY, I'm not used to the most friendly people in the world..... These people were rude, didn't answer questions, and didn't crack a smile at us at all.

Holy CXXP. I was mildely excited to stop here, as I envisioned a great lunch with a true small town feel. I ate at a similar place in WY and was blown away by the quality of ingredients and service; well that was not to be had here. The is a two person operation with the husband(?) working the grill and the wife(?) waiting tables. There was a kid cleaning up tables and chatting with some frequent customers. Service: Do you have an hour for lunch? When I say hour, figure on waiting most of that hour, unless you get the daily special. My coworker and I ordered two clubs and it took 40 minutes! Getting refills is near impossible as there is ONE waitress for the entire place. So when she stops at a table to chat about a vacation she took or is taking, I can't recall the 10 min conversation: all action stops! Food: Well, my club was a joke and basically had 1/2 a chicken breast sliced thin and with a few strips of bacon. My coworker had the "pricier club" (About 50 cents) and it had the other 1/2 of my chicken, along with plenty of ham and turkey. So lesson learned.... Saw several folks get the special (lasagna); again waiting for about 40 min, so plenty of time to look around. The cook, working ticket by ticket over the grill, proceeded to take a huge can of Kraft Parm Cheese and douse it all over the lasagna. Really? While I would have loved to make this a weekly lunch stop; I just don't have the patience and the food does not warrant the wait.

We happened to stop by for an early lunch and happy we did. Greens were amazingly delicious and the burger was on point. We will definitely come back.

The diner has amazing breakfast. The home fries are to die for. They have awesome lunch specials every day as well. My favorite is smothered chicken or the brisket !

My wife and I eat here often for lunch. The food is great, the portions generous, and the staff is very accommodating, as my wife and I are kind of picky. There are daily specials, which are pretty good. A lot of times, I just go for a hamburger steak, medium rare, with vegetables. Or I have gotten a Philly cheesesteak without the bun. All excellent. The staff can be a little intimidating for some patrons, but once you get to know them, it adds to the feel. It's a small time diner, with small town feel, and a chef who knows his way around the grill.

I found this place by accident while I was hungry and looking for another restaurant after filling my car with gas on a trip from Richmond,VA to Fayetteville,NC or vice versa. I have never been so glad that I did not find the place I was looking for because the food was unique and original like homemade and the service was so good here. This cozy place is still my stop and get my grub on spot while traveling. I only wish that they were open on the weekend.

I THOUGHT SOMEONE WOULD HURT ME. My sister and I were on a road trip and stopped for breakfast expecting a friendly and nice local spot. I gave this place three stars because our wraps were delicious. All the men at the bar stared at me and my sister as we ordered along with the chef. Listen, if you make your customers uncomfortable and perpetuate an atmosphere women are objectified, you need some serious work.

Perfect little Southern diner on the Main Street of a one-light town. I had the "Chuck Wagon" with "the kitchen sink" and my buddy had the "Red Neck Benedict." He also had grits and said there were legit. Lots of memorabilia that brought to mind American Pickers. And it's only about five minutes off Interstate 95, so worth a stop on your way down the coast.

The food was cheap and Meh, like you'd expect from a diner. I gave this place a lower rating because of the decor. The entire kitchen and seating area was covered in aggressive bumper stickers and signs. Some were kind of mean in a funny way, but more than half made my skin crawl. i.e. : "Illegal immigrant hunting license" Yeesh. I just wanted an omelet.

A decent diner for an extremely small town. The food was good, but the service was sub-par. The chef basically had to do everything from charging credit cards to informing one of the helpers how to butter bread...all while grinding out 5 meals at the same time on the griddle. Do not expect to get a refill or hot sauce from the one server they have working at a time. Our breakfast on Friday was pretty damn good, but the server was terrible and had a b*tchy attitude. On saturday, we gave it another try for breakfast before the race at GALOT Motorsports park, but we sat at the bar and watched the whole operation unfold. (The server for the dining room was a different lady today, who was trying way harder than the lady from the day before). The chef could only be halfway pleasant for so long before getting frustrated at the world and started to making snide remarks.

The food was down home cooking and very good. Tables are cramped together. Poor service. Seem to cater to home town people. We were out of town. Seemed to ignore us after they brought our food

Last time i ate here i had egg shells in my eggs. Not just a few either. The entire egg was cooked and scrambled. Havent been back since.

I had a very good lunch at The Diner yesterday with my father, sister, and niece. We arrived shortly after 1pm, and headed for the only table available. We sat down and Amy took our order quickly. My father chose hamburger steak with lima beans and greens, I had the special - ham, jalapeno and swiss wrap, my sister had a hot dog, and my niece had a cheeseburger. We got our order quickly, all of which was very good. My father had never been to The Diner before, but really enjoyed his food, and I think he'll soon be a regular!

Excellent food, Excellent service and Great Prices!! Nuff said!!

Great locally owned establishment where the owner cooks and wife serves. Daily special such as meatloaf on Monday's.

The special sandwiches are awesome. My favorite is fish tacos. They have great wraps. All their food is cooked to order. Great family owned business.

Food was excellent service was good. Try the redneck benedict (sausage gravy on english muffins with eggs grits or homefries). Small town diner feel eith welvoming people.

After reading other reviews I see I'm not the only one who thinks the waitress/owner is rude! I stopped in for breakfast on Sat not realizing they are only open until 11 am... on a Saturday! Every other day they're open until 2 pm. I arrived at 10:50 and the place was full. She came over with no smile, no friendliness at all. She took my order and that was the last I saw of her! Another girl brought my order. There was only one creamer at my table, I had to grab a container off another table. I had no silverware or napkins. I had to walk over to the counter and get my own silverware! She never came back to check on me at all. She was very busy talking with other customers that she apparently knew quite well. Boy, I'm sorry that I walked in 10 minutes before they close... but I honestly didn't realize they closed at 11 am. I've been in there a total of 3 times now and every time breakfast was real good. But because of the way I was treated on Sat I will not be back! It's a shame because I am local and I've always loved a good diner!