EJ's Luncheonette

A great choice to enjoy breakfast in the Upper East Side, where you can enjoy tasty Eggs Benedict and a delicious extra crispy French Toast. The waitstaff are friendly in a very casual setting.

Stopped by for a late breakfast after having to fast for a medical procedure nearby. This is a typical old-school New York City diner with all the classics on the menu. All I wanted was an omelette with a bagel and coffee and it really hit the spot. We had a lovely waitress, very attentive and efficient. My only issue is the prices, kind of eye popping, but I guess they can get away with it on the upper East side. I think my omelette was $22.

This was the cutest and most nostalgic diner! The ambiance was amazing and they had the cutest Christmas decorations. The food was absolutely delicious and reasonably priced, at around $25 per meal. The desserts were even better! I would recommend the carrot cake.

A classic, NYC diner experience. Is it overpriced - a little, but the service is top notch, the portions are big, and the coffee is free flowing! Its got all of the diner plates you'd expect like omelets, burgers, sandwiches and the like. The servers were attentive, professional, and not overbearing. The GF pancakes were dry and crumbly, i used a half a bottle of the syrup they gave me and they were still dry. The bacon was cooked perfectly though. Also, heavy and fancy coffee mugs! You'll spend a little more than you want to, but it's eating out in NYC so you should expect that.

EJ’s Luncheonette Est. 1992 Layout/atmosphere *Merchandise by host stand; 10 seat wraparound counter with TV; booths; side room (booths, tables) with full length windows/open view of street Food/drink *Orange juice (with pulp) - good *Belgian Waffle with Homemade Blueberry Compote - solid; the blueberries made the dish *Greek Omelette (Spinach, Tomato & Feta) with home fries & white toast - Good; home fries were seasoned potatoes

Best meal we’ve had in NY. Great service, we waited a bit longer for the food after ordering and the waiter offered we only have to pay for one meal. The food was delicious, very well seasoned and made out of fresh components. Would definitely come back!

We ordered Thanksgiving dinner and it was delicious! Arrived a bit early with juicy turkey and delicious sides. The stuffing was amazing + the pumpkin pie was huge. High quality, great price!

A NYC staple. This diner is incredible. My wife and I have gone here after every baby appointment over the last few months and they never miss! We love their omelettes and as you can tell from the pics, clean plate clubs all around. The staff gets you your meal efficiently and are very welcoming. I enjoy building my own omelette whereas my wife gets the Greek omelette. She gets the everything bagel and I get the challah toast which is better imo. The atmosphere is very cool and super positive which I’m a fan of. They never rush you and they always leave you with a smile and full belly! We’re looking forward to taking our son there soon.

EJ's is your run of the mill diner. When you think of a diner in your head, this is exactly what it is. It would take a lot for me to rave about any sort of diner as I find they typically have average food and EJ's follows suit. Nothing about our food was bad but nothing to write home about! The chocolate chip pancakes and breakfast wrap were good. The service was extremely quick and everyone was nice! If you haven't made it here yet it's 100% worth a try!

Food: delicious! The Huevos rancheros is so good! Service: even though the waiting time is around 1 hour but all the servers are really nice. They even treated us free fruit because we waited so long by the bar Very local brunch place. Everything on the menu seems good.

This place does not disappoint! I've been here a few times and it definitely can get busy with a wait but I feel it's worth it! There was no wait this time because I came before the brunch rush. I ordered the challah French toast which was soo good and my husband got the grilled cheese and sweet potato fries which he said was extremely tasty. I tried some of the fries with ranch and it was delicious. The ambiance is your classic diner vibe which I loved as well since it was decorated still for the holidays.

One of the better grilled cheeses I've ever had! We didn't have to wait despite the restaurant being completely packed (it was NYEs around 10am) Our waitress was very attentive and kept filling up my water. Most importantly, my food was delicious. Great grilled cheese, my sweet potato fries were also good and the ranch I got with it was excellent. Will definitely come back next time I'm in the area.

Well, we're movin' on up, to the East Side To a deluxe apartment in the sky Movin' on up! To the East Side We finally got a piece of the pie... George and Weezy probably wouldn't have eaten here, but I could see Florence and Ralph the Doorman coming here on their days off. Now if I lived in the Upper East Side, I'm guessing I would've turned into a regular here. They serve the kind of comfort food Jamie W and I knew we'd end up craving when we're in Manhattan. We took the M101 bus on Third up to the bustling diner and got seated in a booth right away. Jamie was lured by one of his favorites, the $18.95 Southern Country Breakfast with two scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, grits, and a buttermilk biscuit with country gravy (photo: https://yelp.to/p40rqgcYhp). He deemed it pretty good, not outstanding as the gravy was lukewarm. I had better luck with the $19.50 Homemade Corned Beef Hash, which was definitely not out of the can. It came with two fried eggs sunnyside up and a couple of slices of challah toast that tasted a tad stale (photo: https://yelp.to/YnQpR0fC0y). With a cup of hot coffee, it was the mid-morning gluttony we were looking for under a lot of construction scaffolding. Fish don't fry in the kitchen Beans don't burn on the grill Took a whole lotta tryin' Just to get up that hill Now we're up in the big leagues Gettin' our turn at bat As long as we live It's you and me, baby There ain't nothin' wrong with that FOOD - 4 stars...they get the ingredients right, execution may get away from them a bit AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...plenty of seating SERVICE - 4 stars...they move quickly in here TOTAL - 4 stars...dependable diner on the Upper East Side RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2YS9ELs

Back for a late breakfast. No matter when I come here I always seem to have the same waiter - a lovely guy. We were allowed to linger at the table. Coffee was excellent. The breakfast sampler was really really good. I wish there was a menu item that offered pancakes and eggs without toast instead of an upcharge per egg. A bit more expensive than other diners, but the service and quality of food is absolutely worth the premium. It's no fun on weekends because there's a long wait. It's great at an off peak time.

I feel like it's kind of weird why the ratings are so low here, I had such a great time at EJ's. Walked in and they were able to seat us immediately although there was definitely less people than usual as it was raining pretty hard. I ordered the Homemade Corned Beef Hash and it was pretty good. I really appreciate the serving sizes as they were huge and the potatoes and beef were incorporated very well together. The toast was very buttery as well. I got to try some of my friend's foods like the Eggs Benedict and I think that next time I come, I will definitely have to get those as their dishes was delicious. Overall, not a bad place to get brunch at all especially compared to other cafe options where the prices are around the same and the portion sizes are a lot smaller. Will definitely come back for more!

EJ's is an upper east side staple. Although expensive (it's the upper east side) their food is consistently good, and they almost never have a wait due to how much seating they have. The inside is very cozy, and reminiscent of a classic fifties soda counter, despite being opened in the nineties. Honestly, it would remind one of the peach pit from 90210! For breakfast, I love their classic eggs benedict, and the super thick slice of Canadian bacon that it has on top. I also tried the chorizo benedict yesterday and really enjoyed it! The perfectly poached eggs, smoky and spicy chorizo, salsa verde, and smooth guacamole were all delicious, and no one flavor or ingredient was too overpowering. For something on the sweeter side, I prefer their fluffy challah French toast!! However I believe they charge you for real maple syrup, which is kind of annoying. For lunch, I really like their chicken salad sandwich, and they have a lovely soup and half sandwich combo. I've only been here for dinner to order their burger- which is better than any diner burger I've ever had. Instead of a one inch thick puck of burnt beef, their burgers are juicy and delicious, and are actually cooked medium rare when you ask. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody in the area looking for some reliable, tasty, and comforting food.

EJ's is seriously one of my favorite places to visit on this island. To let you know the extent, I live on the west side...and travel here frequently for the food. It's a little pricey, but I feel like it's worth it. I also like that they accommodate my Sally Albright-like modifications. Their social says you can get their salads in wrap form. So I get the crispy chicken Cobb salad wrap with no tomatoes or cucumbers. The kicker is the wraps are off menu. So their servers may roll their eyes behind my back!! but at least they smile, and make sure my wrap is up to snuff. Good breakfasts: my husband likes the breakfast burrito. I like the southern breakfast. It's so choice. They also make a bombastic brownie sundae (also off menu, but just trust me on this one). Gets busy on weekends, but I usually get seating outside.

The food is consistent and generous. UES faire that draws in the whole neighborhood. Breakfast - THE BEST.

Great no frills diner with a diverse menu. My boyfriend got breakfast, while I opted for the tuna melt. We both enjoyed our meals. Our server was attentive, quick and came by to check on us often. While the prices may be slightly higher than other diners, the portions are very generous. In the tuna melt pictured, I had already eaten one of the 4 sections, and I couldn't finish the sandwich from being so full. Would definitely return and either try the matzo ball soup or breakfast next time.

I walk by here all the time and have always wanted to come try it out. My friends and I came here on a Saturday night and despite it being very busy, we were seated within 5 minutes of arriving. The diner is cute. But I think for diner food everything is overpriced. My friends each got the Turkey Club sandwich, was kinda small. My other friend got a hot chocolate. I got an Apple Pie ($7.50) a la mode ($2 extra). When the pie, it was cold. Not even room temperature. I had to ask for it to be heated up. They apologized but still. They were definitely understaffed and super busy. We didn't get any water refills or check-ins. I don't think I'll come again. It was nothing special.

My friend and I were sat at a very random table that was a tight squeeze and strange location, but oh well! The food was pretty good. I was craving a smoked salmon eggs Benedict (my go-to brunch meal) and this satisfied. The poached eggs were a bit underdone and the potatoes could've been seasoned a bit better.

One of my favorite diners in the city - I was expecting the food to taste like typical non impressive diner food but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the coffee and the French toast and omelette -- if you're a fan of corned beef hash DO NOT miss out. It was delicious !! The French toast was good not great. The omelette and corned beef hash were great! The fresh squeezed OJ was good but def had better. The vibes are immaculately diner-esque.

Been passing by for years. Always saw a line. Not a big place, but good enough size. The outdoor dining helps them a lot. We were quoted about a 20 minute wait for 2people. That was pretty much what it was. We were seated at the "bar" counter. We enjoyed it. Our desire was to get a Chocolate Egg Cream! And it was made perfect! We ordered a cheese burger deluxe and a grilled mozzarella with tomato and bacon. Service was excellent! Decor was nice too. Food was superb.

In the area for work ... what a great find for breakfast ! Quick & friendly service... hearty portions that were cooked well. Spacious dining area. *No parking Prices are a bit high for my liking but so is everything these days, especially in NYC.

This place is overhyped. It is a basic diner that provides a standard breakfast. The red velvet pancakes were more bland and lacked sweetness. Had to pour lots of syrup and add fruit for taste. The truffle fries were excellent! Definitely a busy place and servers are kind and enthusiastic. However the service was slow and they gave my group fresh fruit due to the long wait. Portions were generous but lacked taste.

Exactly what I've needed and been missing in my life. A good ol' fashioned diner. The service was great and the space was cozy and welcoming. Food was superb. Strongly recommend the steak & eggs and the challah french toast. Everything was delicious and came out in a reasonable amount of time. Must have: french toast 10/10 would recommend.

Loved the open-faced pastrami Rueben and sweet potato fries- easy to split with huge portions. The seasonal special gazpacho was super fresh and delicious! Excellent and quick service. Fairly large establishment for NYC so plenty of seats.

Worth the long wait! I went for brunch over the weekend with some friends. There was a 20 min wait without reservations, and it took a while for food to come out once it was ordered, but the booths inside give you a direct view of the chefs and it was clear they were working really hard to get everyone their food quickly. There was a pleasant buzz in the air as friends and families spent the late morning getting together for food. We got the challah French toast and chocolate chip buttermilk flapjacks, which were delicious. We also got truffle fries to share. I wish they were a little crispier but they were tasty and the truffle flavor really came though. Our waiter was incredibly nice, and service was great despite the wait. I would come here again to try other things off their menu!

Came to EJ's for a Sunday brunch with friends and we were seated right away which we were not expecting! Service was great and friendly but we did feel a bit rushed as the waiter kept coming by every few minutes. Overall, the flapjacks were pretty good but you do have to pay extra for every topping, as well as the maple syrup. The hot chocolate was a good average cup. We all agreed it would be fun to come back for a lunch!

EJ's Luncheonette brings the charm of an old-school diner with its iconic status and a menu to match. I stopped by to try their Southwest burrito, hoping for a zesty, flavorful meal. It didn't quite live up to the robust flavors you might find in Spanish Harlem, let alone the Southwest itself. At its price point, I was hoping for a bit more wow in the wrap and a bit more food than it came with. That said, the atmosphere at EJ's carries a nostalgic appeal that's hard to beat. The service here adds to that charm--warm, friendly, and quick, making sure your coffee cup stays full and your needs are attended to swiftly.

If you're looking for a traditional American diner, this is the place!! It has all the classic breakfast/brunch items that will satisfy your cravings one way or the other. Amongst the pancake, french toast, and sandwiches, I opted for the crab cake benny which was very solid! Although I wished it was saltier and for the biscuit to be a little softer, I really like the nicely poached egg with the gooey yolk, the thick piece of crab cake with legit crab meat, and the creamy hollandaise sauce. The home potatoes were also very tasty and well seasoned (albeit a little on the saltier side). Their pancakes looked really good with the volume and toppings. Alcoholic drinks are only available after 10am on Sundays. The mimosas were a nice mix between alc vs juice and went very well with our brunch meals. Loved the traditional diner feels with the coral blue booths, brown tables, and fans. Staff was very attentive to our needs and able to accomodate for a party size of 10+. Again had a great time overall!

Gross food. Asked for a medium burger and got rare (very rare instead. Also the heavyset chef in the kitchen wasn't wearing gloves. Pricy to boot. Next!

Classic diner vibe with tasty food. The western omelette was delicious. The French toast was good but not great. Sat at the counter and good quick service.

I stopped in to try the meatloaf. I had been told it's delicious. I find it unbelievable that a good meatloaf is impossible to find. PJ Clarke's had the most amazing meatloaf but stopped selling it as soon as they found out that I loved it, lol. E.J.'s meatloaf was especially yummy and if in the neighborhood I will definitely stop there again. The staff is super friendly. It's not fancy but who cares as long as the food and service are awesome!

Very good dinner food. I've ordered from here a few times, and the meals are always delicious. This time, I only ordered the Power Greens Salad to go, but I've tried other options such as the burger. It was very good, offering a variety of textures and flavors, including spinach, kale, lettuce, chicken, craisins, corn, carrots, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, and tomato. I wish the kale had been marinated, as it was very raw. Ambiance is classic dinner. Also, they alway take an order, no matter how close they are to closing time!

EJ's is a cute retro looking on the UES for diner breakfasts but ultimately nothing about its food or service sets it above the dozens of other diners in uptown Manhattan. Service is ok (had to flag people down for coffee refills), prices are about average aka shockingly expensive if you remember what diner food used to cost - $19 for a breakfast burrito?! - and ultimately while the experience was fine, there was not enough deliciousness or ambiance to make me want to go again unless it was the only thing open.

Been coming here for years. Decided to try again today as it's been awhile. Easy to get a table, waitress was nice. But what I ordered and what I ate was different. I'm not sure what happened in between, but it was different. Still good, but there was a disconnect. Ambience was fine, hasn't changed.

EJ's holds a special place in my best friend's heart which is why she took me there on my last day in NYC. I ordered the french toast and she got a classic burger. Almost immediately we could tell the server did not like us and he showed it. We did nothing wrong and ordered everything like normal, weren't loud or disruptive, or anything that would even qualify this kind of treatment. We ordered our drinks which never came and had to flag down for water refills several times because we were ignored the whole time. When our food arrived, no joke, he threw the plates onto the table and then walked away very quickly. I still can't believe my friend tipped, just because of how generous she is but damn. Would not return. As for the food, it was alright. The service was what really left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Excellent local spot! A bit pricey but great food and service. Don't miss the pancakes!!

Memorable diner that I would always want to go to with my mom when we would be in the area. I remember it being bright and welcoming and packed and delicious.

I ordered the BBQ chicken salad. I was disappointed because I received little salad and a big pile of overcooked small chicken pieces slathered in a sweet BBQ sauce. I'm writing this so the owners can adjust the description on all the on-line delivery services so it won't happen to others.

The service is great the grilled salmon sandwich is delicious they give you plenty of food it's my favorite diner . Good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Comfortable, seating window seats to people watch Or main room with booths or tables never had a problem been going there for years

Wandering around the upper east side, we were looking for a little breakfast spot for maybe some pancakes or some eggs and we found EJ's. (Where have all the deli's gone?) EJ's is an old-school breakfast diner that is fairly popular. We sat at a crowded bar and ordered off the large menu...Gluten-free flapjacks with a blueberry compote and turkey sausage links and a couple eggs over medium with bacon....The flapjacks were weirdly dry and the compote was nothing to write home about, or even write to you reading this post. The eggs were just ok for over medium..overall the place lacks much of anything. The staff is not super accommodating and the place feels unwelcoming. We would have rather eaten off a food cart on the street.

Really wanted to like the chocolate chip pancakes here after wanting to try them for years- however, the pancakes were not great. They were a bit gummy and didn't have much flavor. I would go back though because the salads and grilled cheese looked good and the staff were pretty friendly!

I used to go on EJs on the west side when I was a kid 15 years ago and loved it so of course I had to go to the one on the east side. The host was very nice and accommodating - the waiters not so much. I had to ask for mustard three times, and the first two times I tried to get their attention they blatantly ignored me. Other than that I'd say the food was fine but overpriced. I had the avocado toast and they put black beans on it which kind of ruined the taste for me - it made the meal a lot drier. But love the atmosphere! I was just full of nostalgia.

After 5 years of hesitations i decided to give EJ's another chance. I must admit that I wasn't disappointed. The food was fresh, the avocado and tomato's was fresh as well. They also had Matzah brad. I know its easy to write bad review and hard to right a good review....so here is a good review, they deserve it.

Amazing - delicious breakfast & attentive staff. They have cold brew coffee now, which is delicious. Eggs Benedict was great- excellent hollandaise sauce!

EJ's Luncheonette has been on my radar for years! Every time I go by it's usually the weekend and it's so busy. Today I decided to go during a weekday. It's still a very busy classic diner. The recent reviews have been good. I was in the mood for a waffle and strawberries. First thing walking in I was welcomed. Everyone was really nice. I said I need to use the restroom and then I'd like to sit at the counter. I was pointed in the direction of the restroom. Getting there I took a tour of the whole place. I love the old school layout and wall decor. The two unisex restrooms are down a flight of stairs in the rear. It's nice downstairs with a bench in case you need to wait for a restroom I presume. The restroom I used was small but clean. After I returned I sat at the counter to order the Belgian Waffle and strawberries I wanted. In no time the order came out just the way I placed it. I asked for a side of melted butter. The waffle is supposed to be buttermilk. The taste was very delicious but the texture was unusual. I had trouble cutting it with the butter knife. It was somewhat chewy. The taste definitely made up for the texture. The strawberries were so fresh and delicious. I couldn't believe I cleaned my plate. The waffle is $15 and add $2 for the strawberries plus tax and tip. It's full service and a classic atmosphere. I'd like to return for a traditional breakfast. It's a good place to bring friends and family that are visiting from out of town. Just remember it's less busy during the week, but it's still a busy place. It's a good thing they have lots and lots of seating inside and outside!!

I've been wanting to try this place since it is one of the only spots on the UES that has a good old fashion diner breakfast! I came here today to get breakfast but I knew I didn't have time to eat there so I sat and had coffee and ordered my omelette to go. The omelette came out very quick and was delicious!! It's always packed on the weekends, but week days are usually pretty clear!

With all the area's glitz, glamour and celebutant air- is EJ's on 73rd & 3rd the best UES has to offer? With several restaurants I checked on the Lower East Side either packed on Memorial Day or not taking reservations, we thought we might score on our way up home. Despite ratings, we came here anyway. EJ's is big. Line was out the door. They have the permitted outside, street level too, there's a covered sunny sit-in area, booth seating inside and if you want to relive those 'Five & Dime' lunch counter days (my fave was Woolworth's in the South Bronx back in the early 80s), ask if those seats are available. 15 minute wait for outside seating was fine so was our waitress with her upbeat mood. Entire menu reads well. Hubs was on the fence with his Blueberry compote French Toast and the crab in my 'Crab Cake' was the real thing- except it was engulfed in breading. The eggs in my 'Crab Cake' Benedict were perfectly poached, no hollandaise as requested and opted for a side salad instead of hash browns. Their motto is "Come for lunch, stay for Dinner". That's almost true- because by the time you sit down, wait, order, wait some more and wait- of course it'll be dinner. My eyes darted back and forth on the owner and manager(?) who kept a close eye on their waiting list, making sure tables are cleaned and a new party seated quickly. And then again with the same round. Again and again. While our waitress didn't rush us (service is slow anyway), these folks are simultaneously turning tables as quickly as possible AND sacrificing quality. At $50+ change, I wished I had a JG Mellon Mozzarella Grilled Cheese and hubs wanted their burgers- who are just a block up. Anyhow. These folks can definitely pick this up several notches. I hate to sound like a suburban snob- but after everything was said and done, I wanted to go back to Westchester.

Breakfast @ Ej's. Not my usual eat on the on the upper east side.They are positiinrd of the corner of Dallas BBQ. And i always mean to stop in, but I often visit the BBQ instead. My server Jaime G was so attentive from the time of the most considerate pass off from the hostess. I was quite happy with the seating and the flow of the restaurant. Being melinated I love the sun so I enjoyed the window seat. While most of my non-melinated counter parts shift away from the light. Lol. I choose breakfast, Belgian waffle, an egg scramble and bacon. The waffle cooked through and through, along with almost burnt bacon who's fell apart in my mouth made the eggs delightfully fuller tasting. I would suggest if you are in the neighborhood try something allot different. A litte pricy but you know your budget. They got the flavor, you order according to your budget. It's worth the treat.

Disgusting open pastrami sandwich Got food poisoning here No clue what the big fuss is here 1st time and last time I will step into this establishment You want good pastrami go to 2nd ave deli

Steak was way overcooked (asked for medium). Staff was friendly and drinks were good. Nice local spot. Just didn't LOVE it

This was a great little diner to have dinner. I had the honey dijon chicken wrap with fries and a salad. It was such a good meal but the portion was so much I saved half to take to-go. The servers were kind; I got my order quick but I didn't feel rushed to leave when I finished my food. The space was clean and had many areas to chose from for seating. Its really cool for people watching since most patrons seem to be locals enjoying a quick meal or having a drink at their counter. I wouldn't hesitate to come back and bring friends/family.

Came in here starving. I haven't eaten at an EJ's since they closed their Village location, and that used to be my favorite place for breakfast or lunch. East side location was convenient to me yesterday, and I felt nostalgic walking in. We were greeted warmly and shown to our booth. Waitstaff was initially responsive; quickly took our order and brought out our salads and drinks. Entrees arrived in due time and were hot and fresh. But upon first bite, our experience abruptly changed. We both ordered 1/2 roast chicken, which arrived hot with our respective sides. The chicken was rather dry and tasteless. We dipped the meat into gravy to make it more palatable. After dinner we sat with a table full of dishes for at least 20 minutes while three waitstaff stood and talked amongst themselves within earshot of us, neglecting us- and we were the only table in this section. It took us prompting them to clear the table and offer us options for coffee/dessert. No water refill or checking on our experience. Still, a nice remembrance of past experiences at the Village location. If only for that we enjoyed our visit.

Loved this spot! Classic diner food with some unique twists. It was super hot on a Saturday evening. We sat outside and ordered two salads. I got the Granny Smith salad with fried chicken (instead of grilled) and my friend got the salmon avocado bowl. Both salads were huge and worth the price. The service was great; very attentive and our food came out quickly. Their menu is extensive so I'm excited to come back and try one of their brunch options.

I looooove a good diner. The service is quick and they have a perfect menu filled with all of the best comfort food. I needed a quick meal before a flight and stopped by to grab some of the fluffiest French toast I've had in a while. They also sell Ess-a-bagels here!